"...these are creatures born out of an emotion opposite of love. Everything about them is dangerous, so do not be fooled. There is no use of weapon, spell, or force from their part. Instead, they hurt you with what you've got. Your fear."

At the front of the classroom, Professor Longbottom watched silently as the group of students were torn between gulping in anticipation or staring off into space, uncaring for the lesson. 

"Different from Dementors, who rather feed off your every happy memory until you are paralyzed with fear, Boggarts use every terrible thought you've had to defeat you," the professor continued. "It is said the only person to have caught a glimpse of the true identity of a Boggart was Merlin himself. However, this cannot be proven true, can it? But that is exactly what a Boggart does, it takes form of anything. It transforms itself into your greatest fear. A way to repel....." 

Professor Longbottom's lesson became a faint noise when Ariana turned to look out the classroom window. Her silver eyes followed the path of a stray cloud in the sky before she blinked down to the evergreen grounds of Howgarts; a group of students were huddled together for their Care of Magical Creatures class, others roamed the hills on their way to their own lessons or as leisure for their free period. Then, over the trees, she spotted the Quidditch posts in the distance. Her heart swelled at the memory of wind in her hair as she soared. She loved flying; it was the only time she felt nothing weighing her down.

"Miss Malfoy."

Startling herself upright, Ariana met the eyes of her professor. "Yes?"

Professor Longbottom continued to frown. "I do hope you've been taking notes all this time. This will be on your final exams and I am not fond of repeating information." 

Ariana glanced down at her blank piece of parchment.

"The spell, Miss Malfoy," said the professor, "to rid yourself from a Boggart is Riddikulus. Alike your attention span, apparently."

A round of laughter broke out in the classroom at Ariana's expense. She narrowed her eyes, balled a fist under her desk, and held herself back from letting the professor know her mother taught her all about Boggarts before she could walk. "I'm sorry, Professor," she said instead, because her mother had also taught her manners, "I'll go to the library and do my research."

The bell rung throughout the castle, signaling to the students they were dismissed from their current classes to head for a spot of lunch. 

"Miss Malfoy, stay for a moment," the professor ordered. 

Ariana nodded obediently, remaining in her desk as the others shuffled out, still laughing and teasing.  

"I said Miss Malfoy, Potter. Not you." Frowning at the lingering Slytherin that had not gathered his belongings and walked out with his house-mates and the Gryffindors, Professor Longbottom motioned him out. "Now, Albus."

"But I was going to ask you about—" Groaning in resignation from the firm stare, Al tossed his schoolbag over his shoulder. "Fine. I'll leave. But if I fail my next exam, it is all on you, Hannah."

Professor Longbottom snorted at her student as he stomped out, eyeing Ariana once before he really crossed the threshold. 

"Is something wrong?" Ariana asked, almost impatiently. 

"I don't know, Ana. I was going to ask you the same thing."

Ariana's lips tightened into a thin line before saying, "I had no sleep the night before. I'm sorry for not paying attention, but I will have my parchment filled with notes by next lesson."

"I don't care about the notes," Hannah said, crossing her arms as she leaned her back against the edge of her desk. "You are very bright, Ana; I know for a fact you have all this material—and more—down. Mind you, I will not give you special privileges for it, but you are required to at least give me some effort."

"Got it," Ariana said, standing. 

"I'm worried about you," the woman added, halting her. "You grow more isolated every year. I know you have friends—friends that love you—yet you pull back. This is not just my concern as a teacher, but as someone who cares about—"

"I appreciate it, Professor, really," Ariana offered, cheeks pink from anger, "but I think that is my business. Now, if that's all, may I leave?"

Hannah Longbottom gave a firm nod, motioning to the door. "I'll see you, Ana." 

Ariana barely had a chance to let out the breath she was holding when she was bombarded by eager emerald eyes. Albus kicked off from the side of the door. "What did Hannah want? She didn't ask about the mandrake that went missing from Neville's greenhouse, right? Because Scorpius and I didn't knick it, promise. And if rumor ends up being true, well we are only using it as a prank on Lysander Thomas, just so he can lay off Alice."

She furrowed her brows when Al gripped on the strap of her schoolbag, holding her in place. "Alice Longbottom doesn't need you or Scorpius meddling in her love life. And if you idiots hurt Lysander, I will turn you in. He's a good bloke."

Al huffed. "We aren't saying he isn't, but there are rules, you know? Dash fancies Alice and Lysander is in the way." 

"Is that the way you handle your feelings, then? By being barbaric?"

"I'm not barbaric. For you I would—" Al stopped. Something glimmered in Ariana's silver eyes and he found the world around him disappear. His body wanted to direct him a step forward, closer to her; it wanted him to place a hand at the side of her face, running a thumb on her pink cheek, before pressing a feathering kiss on it. 

Ariana held her breath again, the air cold when she could sense his intentions. She felt the pull in her chest; she knew her heart was singing out for him, a song only he knew, but she wanted to smother it. She was inclined to silence it before the line was crossed and nothing would ever be the same. 

"Ri," he murmured, hand slipping from her strap to slide down her arm, slowly making way to her hand. His fingers dipped into her palm. "For you I would...I would be—"

The moment was crushed when a familiar blonde intercepted them in the middle of the corridor. Ariana was never happier to see her big brother and his glaring eyes. 

At her distraction, Al blinked back and zeroed in on Scorpius. Immediately, he jumped back from Ariana, brushing his hand against his robes to erase the trace of her skin on it.

"Why are you with the beast?" he directed at Albus. "I told you we needed to meet on the first floor."

"I wasn't with her," Al mumbled, stepping back further from Ariana. "Hannah held her back and I just wanted to make sure the professors weren't onto us about the mandrake thing. That's all, mate."

Scorpius kept his scowl, turning it from his best friend to his sister. "Well?" he snapped as she lingered.  "Don't you have a table filled with Gryffindors waiting for you? Get out of here, Ana."

"Twats," she hissed at both, disappointment growing in her chest when Al never met her eyes.

Of course she was isolated, Ariana Malfoy was surrounded by idiots.

                       
X

"What do you even see in him?"

"What don't I see in him?" Dominique Weasley retorted as a response to the harsh, invasive, judging question she was asked. She spooned her soup, bright eyes bored at all the peering faces. "He's witty, charming, hysterical, cynical, an excellent lover— what more does a girl want?"

Glaring at his sister, Louis stabbed his steak. "He's no good for you."

"You say that about everyone, Louis," Dominique scoffed. 

"Not true. I liked that Ravenclaw girl you dated last summer. She was nice."

"She was," Dominique offered, "but she also wanted to remain in the closet."

"Not that I agree with Louis," Rose chimed in, scooting aside to make room for incoming friends and relatives, "but Erik Krum is known to be a two-timing git. He's been with half of the girls in this castle."

Dominique grinned. "So have I."

"He won't commit to one person, either. You know this," Rose added. 

"I never said I wanted a husband, or to be monogamous," Dominique shuddered at the word. "Honestly, I don't understand you, Rose. You're a beautiful, charming girl, yet there is so much of Uncle Ron's tame side in you. Be like my dear Aunt Pansy! Embrace your sexuality and freedom!"

When Roxanne leaned over to high-five their cousin, Fred pulled his twin sister back. Frowning, he said, "Let's not talk about sexual revolutions when all of you are related to us. You don't want to hear about ours, we don't want to hear about yours."

Dominique laughed loudly. "Hear about yours? What yours? No girl wants any of you ugly tossers. Trust me, I know."

"Please do not include me in this group," said Scorpius, smirking brightly back at the curvy redhead as he casually threw an arm around Rose's shoulders. The latter stiffened at his action, but made no intention of shaking it off. "You and I both know I'm popular among the girls in this castle."

"I snogged you by accident," Dominique huffed, aiming an apologetic stare at Rose before lifting her chin. "And I still have nightmares about it."

"It was the best snog you've ever had," Scorpius returned as his sister appeared, taking a seat across from him.

Louis put his hands over his ears. "Don't want to hear this."

"Please stop," added Fred. "There are children present." He pointed a finger at Peyton.

"So? Not like he'll never be snogged in his life," said Angelo Zabini with a chuckle. "Honestly, we've seen worse things in the Slytherin Common Room than you little prude Gryffindors can ever imagine. Like this one time, Lana McLaggen—" 

Smack.

"Ow!"

"He's eleven, you thunderhead!" Rose hissed, aiming another smack at Zabini. "Corrupt my brother's mind and I will make sure you sleep with the flobberworms tonight."

Growing bored of the argument, Scorpius turned his eyes on his sister, raising a brow. "Where have you been?" he asked her. "A little late for dinner, don't you think?"

"And you care because....?" Ariana returned. 

No one missed that Al was not among the group that night. 

Before Scorpius could tell her just that, Savanna Zabini approached the table, waving a letter. "Ana," she said, "McGonagall wanted me to give you this. She said it was important."

"That's it, beast. You're done for it," snorted Scorpius. "The Headmistress is sending you back to live with the trolls."

When Ariana was about to pocket the letter, Savanna screeched, "no! Open it now! Come on, Ana! You know I need to know. Think about the gossip."

Rolling her eyes at the Ravenclaw, Ariana unfolded the parchment:

An attack has been reported from Malfoy Manor.  

Your mother and sister were visiting your grandparents when they were ambushed.    

The manor is destroyed. The condition of your relatives is yet to be declared.  Auror Potter wished me to inform you about the recent news and suggested you remain clam. They'll try to send Trainee Lupin with news as soon as more is discovered.

Control yourself and your brother, Miss Malfoy.

    -M.M.

The world fell on Ariana's shoulders, crashing all around her. Silence plagued her ears as those around her continued to laugh among themselves, oblivious to her panic.

There was one person who could always find her through the commotion. Silver eyes met silver, locking in. Scorpius' filled with worry, fear, but all Ariana could do was let the note slip like it was cursed. She opened her mouth to tell him something, but nothing came out. The only logical thing— the only thing she could do was run before the walls of the Great Hall caved in and suffocated her. 

She needed to get away. 

Her lungs hurt when oxygen no longer traveled down to them. She didn't know how long she ran for, just that she pushed her limit. She always knew that Hogwarts castle was huge, but it seemed endless now. It stretched out and took up the entire world; a thought so deluded that she didn't know if that was the case or it was because her body was commanding her to stop.

But she couldn't.

If she stopped, she'd never get to where she needed to be. She'd never get that weight off of her, wouldn't be able to breathe normally again. She wouldn't be able to survive the internal battle that was going inside of her. She would lose, and then all of those horrible thoughts would win.

"Where are you headed, Miss Malfoy?" a drawling voice entered her eardrums after she burst into the Head Office. 

"She left through here, didn't she?" Ariana turned to the voice, clutching on to her sides before kicking the Headmistress' chair from in front of the Floo. "She doesn't like to apparate. My...my mum...she told me."

Past his painted, hooked nose, Severus Snape said, "You are the one who was supposed to keep her composure. If I still had the life and power, I'd take ten points from Gryffindor for such display of commotion."

"Severus, just tell me!" Ariana bellowed, desperation in her voice. 

"I don't know who you are more like, Ana," he said. "Your mother or father. I suppose more Draco. It's in your eyes, in the way you carry yourself."

"Please," Ariana squeaked. "My mother...my sister...."

Snape narrowed his dark eyes, not at her, but at the emotion that was crumbling her. "St. Mungo's." 

"Thank you."

"Don't," he cut in, silencing her gratitude as she grabbed a handful of powder on the side of the fireplace. "She'll never allow you to come back in here if she finds out it was me who let you pass, Ana."

"I'll send my regards with Al, then, Professor," with a trembling lip, Ariana tossed her Floo Powder into the fireplace. And with a burst of emerald flames, she was swallowed whole. Her destination still echoing off of the walls of the Head Office, startling an old man inside a portrait from his apparent slumber.

"What's worse, Severus," blue, twinkling bespectacled eyes peered at the portrait across, letting the mocking gaze stare into the dark one of Severus Snape, "a Slytherin, for his undying nerve, or the undying bravery of a Gryffindor?"

Snape settled himself more comfortably inside of his portrait. "Combined with Granger and Draco's genes, it's impossible to tell, Dumbledore. It's something that has never been seen before, and the outcome is going to be deadly."

 And he was right, like always. The worst was yet to come for the Malfoy family.