Haunted

Weeks had gone by in a blink of eye at Hogwarts, but not for Ariana. Ever since the dementor incident with her Professor, Ariana could not stop mentally hitting herself for what had been said between the two that night. Now it seemed like Professor Lupin was fully ignoring her, only addressing her in class if it was absolutely necessary, he only called on her when no other hands were up to answer his lectionary questions. There were a few occasions where the two had bumped into each other in the halls, Professor Lupin would quickly apologize and go about his way. Ariana knew this was all her fault, she shouldn't have said anything about her "feeling" to conjure a Patronus charm. She also knew it would probably be at her best interest to apologize to her Professor soon, she couldn't keep dodging the subject Ariana had to build up the courage to talk to him, after all was a Gryffindor or was she a Gryffindor?

Tomorrow….Tomorrow after class I'll talk to him. She said to herself. Ariana sighed; well at least her homework was finally up to date so she could take her time walking back to the dormitory. Finishing patrolling the dungeons, Ariana was about to make her way to the staircase that would take her back to the main floor when she saw a small girl walking.

"Oy! You there!" Ariana jogged to catch up to the girl. When she was in front of her she noticed that the girl's robe was from Ravenclaw. "What are you down here? It's after hours you should be in your common room." Ariana stated and the girl just bound her head in shame.

"Are you a first year?" the girl nodded.

"Then what are you doing in the dungeons hours after dinner? First years have to be inside their common room by seven."

"I know…..I….I'm sorry I….I was lost." The girl looked down at her shoes.

"You were lost?" Arian asked.

The girl nodded furiously. "It's been weeks since the first term began, how can you still be getting lost?" Ariana asked but the first year girl did not reply instead she just lowered her head to the ground once more in shame. There was a tinkle of regret stirring inside Ariana, she felt somewhat like a bully now, somewhat.

"The castle is quite big though for one to get lost I suppose." She offered a smile. "My name is Ariana, I'm Head Girl. What's your name?"

"Julie." The girl replied.

"All right Julie, come on I'll walk you back." She put her hand in the girl's shoulder in a caring manner.

Just as the two made the way through the staircases and were about to reach the Ravenclaw common room, Ariana saw Mikael walking towards them.

"Hey." He nodded to Ariana

"Hi." She replied quietly.

Ever since the argument she had with Mikael in the common room, the two of them haven't been in best terms. Well, they were in no term at all since both had been avoiding each other when they were alone. Ariana couldn't stand Mikael's indifference towards her the past few weeks. She knew she had upset him but then again she was mad at him too for invading her privacy.

"I see you caught one tonight." He was referring to Julie.

"She was just lost." Ariana replied.

"Oh. First year?"

Ariana nodded. "We were just on our way to the Ravenclaw common room."

"I'll walk with you." Mikael said.

"Ok." She replied. As they arrived in front of the Ravenclaw portrait Julie came to a sudden stop, hesitating to go in.

"What's wrong?" Ariana asked.

"I don't know the password."

Arian sighed, her patience beginning to wear thin. "There's no password for Ravenclaw you have to answer the riddle surely you knew that?" She eyed the girl.

"No I always walk back with my friends." Julie answered.

"What goes around your house and in your house but never touches your house?" The Portrait figure guarding the Ravenclaw common room asked.

Julie looked helplessly to Mikael and Ariana clearly having no clue to the answer of the riddle.

"The sun." Ariana sighed.

"Correct." The portrait swung open.

"You should have been in Ravenclaw." Mikael simply said.

"You sound like my grandmother."

The walk back to the Gryffindor common room was quiet. Neither of them knew what to say to each other. For a few times Mikael opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Finally, when the two of them reached the common room Mikael caught her arm and stopped her just before they walked through the portrait of the fat lady.

"Ariana, I wanted to apologize for our argument. I didn't mean to be so rude…..I just worry about you know what..."

"I know." Ariana sighed. "I'm sorry Mikael I didn't mean to be so harsh wit either. It's just…I wish u could trust me more I'm fine really. I've been dealing with them all my life, my family will never change you know that, there's no point in fighting them."

Mikael now turned his head forward and away from Ariana drawing a deep breath. "You don't have to deal with this alone you know. I'm here if you ever need me, for anything really Ariana." As he finished his thoughts out loud he looked at her once again and cupped her cheek with his hand. "You've been through so much already; it's not fair for you to carry all these heavy rocks on your shoulders. If…if you'd only let me help, I could carry some of those heavy rocks for you." At this point Mikael's lips were inches away from Ariana.

Ariana completely froze. What is he doing? An alarm shook through her body. Is he going to kiss me?

With a swift movement their lips touched. Mikael was fierce with his kissing, almost as if he wanted to teach her a lesson. His lips were rough against hers, almost dominating.

Ariana finally came to her senses and pushed on his chest as hard as she could to separate him from her. At long last, she succeeds pushing him far away from her so she could take a breath of her own.

"What the bloody hell Mikael!? Why would you kiss me like that what's wrong with you!?" she demanded.

"What's wrong with me? How could you ask that Ariana, don't you know?"

"Know what?" She hissed.

"How I feel damn it! Can you honestly say that you've so naïve all these years?"

Ariana looked at him blankly.

"I'm in love with you goddamn it!" He shouted.

"Well that's a nice way to put it." Ariana said irritated.

Mikael looked at into her eyes deeply finding the answer he was afraid of, after all these years he had known her he never had the guts to ask. But now, now things went to far it wasn't supposed to happened like this. "I see. You really are your parents' daughter. I was wrong with what I said before, the sorting hat shouldn't have placed you in Ravenclaw it should have placed you in Slytherin."

After Mikael said this Ariana was utterly shocked, her lower jaw completely dropped. "Take that back!" she screamed with tears in her eyes.

Mikael knew he stepped over the line, he went too far now and there was nothing he could do. Their friendship was already over from the moment he kissed her.

"We cannot be friends anymore Ariana. I'm sorry but you'll have to find someone to be your slave boy because I quit!" And with that Mikael walked away from her, leaving a sobbing Ariana behind.

The next morning Ariana did not move from her bed while everyone went down for breakfast, she had no appetite for food, even with Rose imploring and nudging her. Ariana didn't care though she didn't want anyone to see her face specially Mikael. She didn't want to see that his words affected her so. The circles under her eyes were darker than usual, her face was paler than usual with tears stained on her cheeks. Ariana did not want anyone to see her weakness so she promised herself she was going to avoid as much human contact as possible.

She had just lost her best friend, the person in which she had grown closest too in Hogwarts. Ariana still could not believe Mikael could be so cruel with her. But than again…he said he was in love with her. For how long than? Had he always been hiding his true feeling for her? Also, realization just dawned to her that she never found out why Mikael was so afraid after the night with the dementors in the train. And I probably never will.

Ariana decided to get up knowing the students would probably be back from breakfast to collect their books any time now. She decided to gather up her stuff as well and head out to Merlin Myrtle bathroom, it was the only place she could think of right now that was safe from any prying eyes, and she needed to be alone. Mikael's words had cut her deeper than any blade ever could.

Later that day…..

Remus' POV

"That will be it for today class. Don't forget tomorrow is the final and last day to hand in your essays." I dismissed my last class of the day; Ariana's class….Why wasn't she here today? Has she fallen ill? She would never miss class unless it was something important I suppose, and she hasn't turned in her essay yet which is unusual. Ariana is always the first to turn her essay in before the due date, what could have happened to make her miss my class today? Maybe the other professors will know.

I made my usual preparations before dinner and began to walk down to the Great Hall, on my way there I ran into Snape.

"Lupin your wolfsbane potion is ready. Come by my office tomorrow to retrieve it."

"Thank you Severus." I replied with a short nod in gratitude. I had almost forgotten, the full moon is a few days. How could I forget something so trivial?

As Dumbledore made one of his famous speeches to the students and professors alike, we began feasting on our wonderful food displayed in front of us. The other professors were engaged in a conversation that I didn't tune in until now.

"It's strange, Miss Lyall would never miss class and no one seems to know where she is." Minerva McGonagall stated. "Was she in your class today Remus?" she asked me now.

"No. No she wasn't, I was wondering why, I mean she is one of my best students and she hasn't turned her essay in yet, and usually she is the first to do so."

"I think it's best to round up a search party for her. Let's hope Miss Lyall is just feeling ill today and decided not show, all though I fear that is not the case." Minerva suggested and I simply nodded in agreement. Where could she be? Has something happened to her? Has she….no let's not think negative thoughts Remus. Like Minerva said, she's probably just ill and didn't feel like going to her classes today.

After dinner the other Professors and I split up to go search for Ariana. Apparently she wasn't in the Gryffindor common room nor was she in the Hospital wing. Oh no, she couldn't have wondered off into the Forbidden Forest again could she? I was instructed to go to the second floor while the other professors searched elsewhere in the castle.

After endless moments of wondering in the second floor with no sign of Ariana, I finally came to a stop before reaching the girl's bathroom to catch my breath. Where could that girl be? Panic started rising within me, what if something dreadful happened to her? No Remus, you mustn't think such thoughts she is all right, she has to be.

I was losing all lack of hope to be honest. I searched and searched the second, third, and even fourth floor but nothing. I found my way back into the second floor again, with all hope lost in me I came upon a decision she left on her own, hopefully it was that and not something awful. I was beginning to think this was my entire fault, that if she indeed left Hogwarts for good it was because of me. Our talk that night…..as I drafted along with my silent thoughts in the back of my mind, something made me stop gain in front of the girl's bathroom, Merlin Myrtle's bathroom. A little confused and distraught I crooked my head to the right as I starred at the door not knowing why I have stopped here again.

As I pushed the door my eyes immediately fell upon a small curled up figure on the floor. I squinted my eyes to get a better vision, than; to my horror I recognized the figure on the floor to be none other than Ariana herself. She looked dreadful, her cloths were torn up in different places with stains…..are those…..blood stains? My face paled even more as I realized the dark stains on her clothing was indeed blood.

I quickly kneeled beside her and took her limp body in my arms. I tried to feel for a pulse and thankfully, I found one. Her pulse was weak but it was still there. Her skin was growing colder and colder by the minute and her face was paler than usual. I inspected the where the blood stains where coming from to see her wounds, there were many, too many to count with just my set of fingers. She had slashes and bruises all over her body from what I could see, and her stomach…oh god…her stomach was the worst set of wounds. She had a deep cut running sideways through her stomach and another slash going horizontally from her chest to her belly button. Her blood was warm still even though her skin was cold, this means that whatever happened to her didn't happen too long ago. Knowing that her time was running out, I did my best to heal her worst injuries with the healing spells I knew. What could have happen to her? Who could have done this?

As quickly as I finished healing her the best I could, I picked her up into my arms and ran as quickly as possible to the hospital wing. Luckily, I made it there in just a few short moments.

"Madam Promfrey! Mada Promf" I exclaimed out of breath and surely enough Madam Promfrey came rushing out.

"Oh my! Quickly, quickly put her in here." She motioned to an empty bed.

I followed her instruction and placed Ariana's feeble body in the bed. "I healed her as much as I could on my own, I managed to stop the most of the bleeding."

"I see that, well done Mr. Lupin." Madam Promfrey replied as she inspected Ariana's wounds herself.

"How bad is it? Will she be all right?" I quickly asked.

"Some of her injuries are quite serious yes, and she has lost a good amount of blood but nothing I can't patch up. I presume she will have to stay in the hospital wing for the next week or so." I let out a huge breath of exhale that seems I was holding forever.

"Leave us now! I need to remove her clothing." Madame Promfrey stated and I quickly nodded in return. "I best go find Dumbledore and the other Professors." I said at the same time I turned to take my leave.

In Dumbledore's Office…..

I had told the Headmaster everything that transpired only moments ago tonight. He sat and listened with a mysterious twinkle in his eyes, I couldn't help but feel that there was something he was not telling me.

"Hmmm interesting." Was all he said.

Dumbledore looked up at me. "I haven't the faintest idea as to how Miss Lyall was injured in such a way Remus; however, one can only assume what one already knows of someone." Dumbledore said barely above a whisper, the last part of his sentence seemed more to himself than me.

"Sir?" I intrigued.

"Oh I'm sure it is nothing of the sort." He smiled. "We shall find out what happened to Miss Lyall once she awakens won't we?"

I nodded and took my cue to leave, slightly confused.

"Oh and Remus," I turned around to face Dumbledore once more. "when the time comes, I shall ask you to take care of Miss Lyall. By take care I mean keep a closer eye on her, become her friend if you must."

"Sir?" I asked again.

"All will be clarified in time Remus." He smiled once more. "You and Miss Lyall have more in common than you know. Perhaps you will both learn from one another."

I hesitantly nodded, not sure of what he was speaking of and went about my way more confused than before.

Ariana's POV

I opened my eyes and found myself lying in the hospital bed. My mind was running faster than I could keep up with. I tried to get up but it was futile, pain rushed through my body as soon as I tried to move. I looked down upon myself and found that there were several bandages around my body. What had happened? Then, I felt a sting in my stomach that burned its way up into my spine like a spider runs up a wall when it's scared. It was at that exact moment everything came back to me. It was him.

"Miss Lyall?" Madame Promfrey asked. "Oh good you're awake." She smiled. "Professor Dumbledore would like to have a few words with you if possible?" she asked and I simply nodded, not finding my voice to speak.

A moment later I saw Madame Promfrey entered the room again followed by Dumbledore. "Miss Lyall how are you feeling?" he asked.

"I've been better." My voice was horse and could feel that my throat was dry. Madame Promfrey handed me a potion seeing though my discomfort.

"Here you go dear, drink up you'll feel better I assure you."

I simply did as she asked and swallowed the dark green liquid. I could immediately feel the potions work on my body. My skin began tingling with relief of the pain.

"There there, better now?" she asked.

"Yes thank you.' I replied.

"I'll leave you to it than." She looked at Dumbledore.

I opened my mouth to ask but then closed again. Somewhere along my head knowing it was better I didn't say anything. Things already looked bad enough as they were for me.

For the longest moment Dumbledore just stared at me, as if he was trying to examine me or worse read my mind. Wait he couldn't do that right? I mean I know Dumbledore is one of the most powerful wizard alive and he was a very wise man but he couldn't read minds could he? Well it would explain how sometimes he knew so much about people, my other side argued. Nevertheless, I began feeling very uncomfortable under his gaze. As if reading me completely he spoke at last:

"Miss Lyall, can you tell me what happened to you?" Dumbledore finally asked.

"I don't remember sir. The last thing I remember was going to the girl's bathroom and then I woke up here." I lied hoping he would buy it."

"Interesting." He whispered. "So you have no recollection of what happened last night?"

Last night? Have I really been unconscious for an entire day? "No sir." I replied again.

"I see.' Dumbledore said. Something told me that he didn't fully believe me.

"Miss Lyall if there's anything you wish to tell me but for some reason you feel you can't…" Dumbledore paused, leaning forward, waiting for a response.

"No sir. I honestly can't remember what happen." I nodded my head no.

He leaned back again, standing full and tall once more and slightly nodded. "Some things are best left unsaid for you case I presume." It was a question this time, it was a statement. I had a feeling he wasn't going to let me slide this easily.

"However, I will add this…" He continued. "Whatever you think you must hide Miss Lyall and I know that you are, perhaps it isn't the best decision." Dumbledore looked at me seriously. "But for now I shall let you rest."

And with that Dumbledore left me alone to my thoughts, I signed in relief. At least, for now, my secret was safe for a little longer.

The next few days actually went on by faster than I expected, considering I was in the hospital wing. Rose and Lyall came by three times a day to make sure I was doing all right and to drop all the work I missed, but Mikael didn't come at all. I knew he was probably still pissed at me but I also knew he was worried. Sometimes he would ask Rose how I was, and the flowers and candy Rose and Liam gave me I knew some belonged to Mikael even if they said it didn't. I'm sure Mikael wouldn't want me to know he still cares about what happens to me since our last argument. I smiled to myself; he's always so stubborn Mikael is not the type of guy that admits anything.

"You know someone else has also been asking about you." Liam smirked.

I looked at him confused with a raised eyebrow.

"Professor Lupin was asking how you were and when you were going to get out of the hospital. He sounded really…concerned." Liam smirked again.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I think you might be Professor Lupin's pet….you know the teacher's pet thing, well you're definitely Lupin's pet." Liam smirked once more.

"As if." I rolled my eyes. "Professor Lupin is concerned for all of his students well-being." I replied.

"That may be….but you're still his favorite student. Come on Ariana it's obvious you are."

"Whatever."

"So when can you go to classes again?" Rose asked, breaking the tension.

"Madame Promfrey said that if I'm doing better tomorrow I can return to my daily activities but I have to take it easy for a while."

"Which knowing you, you won't." they both said at the same time.

"Come on guys I'm not that bad." I laughed.

"And there's also no giant octopus living in the lake." Liam stated and I gave him a look. "What? I'm just pointing out the obvious." He smiled.

"We should let you rest." Rose said taking Liam's arm. "Well come by tomorrow and see if you are able to leave."

'Ok. Good night guys and thanks….for everything."

"You don't need to thank us Ariana." Liam said softly, I've never heard sound so…gentle. "We're your friends." He simply said.

The rest of night I lay in my bed silently starring at the hospital's ceiling thinking about everything that has come to pass so far this semester. Than something stroke me as odd, Liam had said that Professor Lupin was worried about me. Could that be true? Could he really care? Of course, you're his student, my other side argued. However, somewhere, something inside of me was hoping for something more. I rolled over to my side to try to shut my mind off and wait for sleep to come take me. As I was almost falling to a deep slumber something awoke me. I heard footsteps coming closer to me and the sound of a chair scraping against the floor.

I slowly turned in the bed, afraid to see who was watching me. To my surprise, there sat a professor Lupin looking rather frustrated with himself.

"Professor Lupin?" I asked lazily.