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All The Stars In The Sky	By : lemonsqueeze13 Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5428 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
The winter holidays passed without further incident, and soon found everyone returning to Hogwarts on the big red train. While the usual festivities were over and done with, there still remained one more event on the social calendar. The start of term Slug Club party.

It wasn’t an overly formal affair, just a gathering of a few of Slughorn’s favourites, and whoever they chose to attend with. Ara was of course present, escorted by his date for the evening Ellie Stafford. The two were making light conversation, as a hurried Slughorn approached them. To the outside observer he’d seem the same as ever, friendly and boisterous, but the strained smile and rushed demeanor was a clear giveaway to those who knew him better. Ellie tapped her date on the shoulder and brought his attention over to the arriving potions master. Ara immediately picked up on his head of house’s nervous air, and decided to give him his immediate focus.

“Good evening to you both, I hope you’re having a pleasant time. Ms. Stafford I’m glad you could join us tonight. Ara might I have a word in private?” Without even giving them a chance to respond, he fired off his greetings quickly and immediately got down to why he had come over in the first place. Seeing that something was seriously bothering his professor he decided to acquiesce and go along. Putting his hand on his slightly stunned date’s elbow to get her attention, he whispered something in her ear and walked off with Slughorn. This caused Ellie to sulk a little, not exactly a confidence booster when your escort drops you for an old man; even if it is temporarily. Taking her flute, she drowned the rest of her purple party punch and stomped off to go find some more.

“Easy there, I’m not sure chugging mixed fruit juice is going to do anything, there’s no booze in it. I checked.” Ellie turned to her left to find Bellatrix Black, looking at her with mild confusion and barely concealed apathy. Seeing a viable outlet for her frustration, she decided to respond.

“Where’s your date then? Abandoned him too did you? Is this like a family thing?” Bellatrix was now intrigued. Her face quickly twisted into a teasing smile.

“Well aren’t you just cheery my dearie? What happened? Has my Ara dropped the pretty little head girl and decided to find himself another tart for the night?” Bellatrix mocked her in her grating baby voice.

“If only. He’s absconded off with Slughorn of all people.” She chose to ignore the ridicule, laying out her complaint instead.

Seeing she wasn’t taking the bait Bellatrix dropped the act. Finding that she had nothing better to do, she elected to humour the girl; if only just to pass the time. “Well, considering who you chose to come out with tonight, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that he’s not focusing all of his attention on you. As far as rumours go, the ones surrounding my cousin are usually semi-accurate at least. And no offense meant, but you’re not really his usual flavour. Not to mention he’s got his eye on someone else, if what I’ve been told isn’t complete hogwash.” She explained to the sullen head girl, who just shook her head.

“I knew that already. It’s precisely why I asked him to accompany me in the first place. I’m not looking for commitment, I just wanted a fun night out for once!” She exclaimed in slight irritation.

“... I wasn’t entirely expecting that.”

“I’ve spent my entire time at Hogwarts with my face stuck to those moldy old tomes in the library, I busted my arse to become a prefect, ace my exams, and now I’m head girl. All of this just to realize that I’ve forgotten to have fun in the process. I’ve wasted my school years chasing after accolades that out there don’t even give me much more than a slight leg up. That anyone who knows the right people can just be handed what I worked so hard to earn!” Bellatrix silently watched as Ellie continued her diatribe, clearly her annoyance ran much deeper than what she originally thought. Plus, It’d be incredibly awkward to try and escape now.

“NEWTs are coming up, and I’m not going to have much time left to make up for all that, unless I decide to throw my last seven years into the bin - which I’m not about to do. So that’s why I made him take me. I was hoping that I might use his reputation, so that I could get to have my fun. He’s owed me for a few years now as well, so I didn’t really give him a choice when I cashed it in. But now here I am, alone, wallowing with a glass of party punch.” Bellatrix stood there a little dumbstruck at how forthright the other girl was being with her intentions, not something you often experience being surrounded by Slytherins all the time. ‘Well in for a penny in for a pound’.

“Ok, well first thing, what do you mean he owes you? He doesn’t exactly go around asking for favours. Avoids them quite religiously actually.” Bellatrix queried.

“I just introduced him to my father, he’d heard somehow that my dad’s in the property business and wanted to meet him. I don’t really know the details but my dad helped him out and he said he owed me. Ask him for clarification I wasn’t really involved, I just used his debt out of desperation.” She explained offhandedly. Bellatrix was increasingly intrigued by her explanation. ‘Ara wanted help from a muggle property man? … odd.’

“You know you could have just used your favour to get him to help you out after Hogwarts right? The old pureblood families aren’t exactly royalty or anything, but we have enough sway that the right word to the right people can open more than a few doors. I’m sure he could pretty much talk you up to a senior official in any job vertical you want, if you’re as worried about all that as you say you are.” Ellie stared at Bellatrix in mild shock.

“... I didn’t even think of that!” She said stupefied.

“Explains why you aren’t Slytherin or Hufflepuff. Ravenclaws, loners, the lot of you. Now listen up, because I’m going to tell you how to handle Ara.” Ellie nodded and gave Bellatrix her full attention.

“When he comes back, you’re going to guilt trip him into rescinding this date as a favour. Use that later. Next you tell him exactly what you told me with respect to what you want out of him tonight. I promise you, he’ll give you exactly what you want and more. So enjoy yourself.” Ellie frowned in concentration as she committed the tactic to memory, Bellatrix seemed like she knew what she was talking about. She focused on the other girl and asked.

“Why are you helping me?”

“Because you’re so utterly pathetic.” Bellatrix replied without batting an eye. Ellie was immediately taken aback by the savage response.

“It’s weird you know? I’ve never helped someone out of pity before. Is this what sympathy feels like? You’re like a dog or something.”

“I-I’m not sure how I feel about that...”

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much doggie. Just go get your bone when my brother gets back.” And with that Bellatrix turned away from the conversation and walked away to find something else to entertain her. Ellie Stafford was left contemplating her new status.

“Wait! Did she just call me a bitch?”

While that was happening, the whisked away Ara was doing his best to calm his professor down.

“You can’t go! You mustn’t. You’re already at heads with Mr. Malfoy, it won’t be safe!” Slughorn gestured passionately.

“I’m fairly certain me pissing off Lucius has no bearing whatsoever. If I went after the Lestranges however, it might be a different story.” Ara tried to pacify the older man. He’d been going on for the last few minutes, doing his best to dissuade him from attending the summer ball. Evidently Sluggy had been invited too, and encouraged to attend on top of that, which only served to spook the easily excitable potions master further.

“This is not a time for jokes!” Slughorn scolded seriously.

“These are powerful people. Dangerous people. You don’t have a gathering of the most influential wizards in Britain just for a cup of tea!” Ara continued to silently listen.

“And If I’m right about who’s going to be introduced, and I know I am, the event will be much more perilous. This is not just a mere social call, everyone who has been called has been chosen for a reason. And I’m worried it’s not a good one.” Slughorn’s voice softened. He reached over a tightly clasped his hands around the younger man’s.

“I’m begging you my boy. Do whatever you have to do to get out of attending.” Slughorn implored desperately. Ara had been growing slowly frustrated at Slughorn’s paranoia, but couldn’t help but set aside his irritation. Heaving a deep sigh and shaking his hands out of Slughorn’s, he focused on him.

“I understand. It’s unsafe. But you must realize I don’t really have a choice. And more than that, even if I don’t go, the rest of the family will. I’d honestly have a worse time leaving them alone in a hostile environment. As arrogant as it sounds, If I’m there I know they’ll be safe.” He patiently explained. Slughorn immediately grimaced, realising that there’s no getting his favourite student out of this.

“It’s bad enough that he already keeps an eye on you, It’s only going to mean he’s even more wary of you once he learns that you attended this sort of affair.” Slughorn quietly said to himself after letting out a forceful breath.

“What do you mean?” He enquired. Slughorn was momentarily sidelined, and cursed himself for his lapse in attention. He wanted to brush this off, but felt vulnerable because of the pressure from so many sides, and decided to confide in his pupil.

“It’s… Dumbledore. He’s one of the very few who have realized the magnitude of whatever’s been happening recently. And he’s worried. He’s seeing battle lines being drawn and is taking stock of his own options. With how things in Slytherin have been this year - and please don’t be insulted- with who your family is, he is extremely wary of you. Any word that you’re at one of these recruitment parties just makes you look even more circumspect.” Slughorn confessed.

‘This is going to be an issue’ Ara thought internally, bringing his arms and crossing them he looked down and frowned in concentration. ‘Damnit old man, why are you worried about a student? Go spend your energy trying to find out who’s already on his team or something, why are you rolling up your sleeves in preparation of getting in my way?’

Ara was growing frustrated with Dumbledore’s attitude. As Harry had gotten older he had reflected on his life and come to realize how large a part the venerable wizard had played in it. Right from his placement with the Dursley’s to his walk down to the forbidden forest in 7th year; Dumbledore was the guiding force behind every major decision in his life. That’s not to say Harry was being groomed for slaughter from day one by a duplicitous evil mastermind; just that so much of the bad in his life could, in one way or the other, be traced back to Dumbledore. It had left a terribly bitter taste in his mouth when he had come to that conclusion, he’d always deeply respected the man.

There’s no doubt that Dumbledore did those things with the best of intentions, but unfortunately Harry's life seemed to be the price Dumbledore chose to pay.

His views on the headmaster probably aren’t entirely fair; after all the man had been heavily involved in two devastating wars in his lifetime and had taken up the reigns for a third as a very old, weary man. But that's not an excuse. At least not a satisfying one. He was the one who put himself in three incredibly influential positions. Positions he could have used to do untold good and prevent so much blood being spilled, if only he had chosen to act proactively instead of when something actually became a problem.

Dumbledore undoubtedly knew what Tom was capable of essentially from the get go, but chose to leave it until it became a festering wound he could no longer ignore. And after Tom fell the first time, he forced forgiveness for so many of the undeserving. Had he just sucked it up and made sure that the murderers on Tom’s side paid for their actions in the war, the likelihood of Voldemort’s second coming would have been immensely reduced, and so many innocents would have been saved the suffering the next time around. Harry wouldn't have had to suffer his life the way it was.

At times it felt like Dumbledore was atoning for his own actions from his youth with Grindelwald and his sister Ariana, as Harry and the greater wizarding world had learnt, by allowing those monsters a second chance; but in the process he forgot the innocents that rightfully deserved their first chance.

To Ara, Albus Dumbledore was a man whose every action was mired in the memories of his past. It sort of explained why he and Snape got along.

It could even be argued that unconsciously Harry’s life was modeled after Tom’s by Dumbledore, in an attempt to vindicate himself and his decisions in the run up to the first blood war. A way for him to ease his aching conscious, by using Harry’s life to prove to himself that there was nothing he could have done to prevent Tom Riddle from turning into what he became.

It was becoming clear to Ara, that even now Dumbledore was fully aware of what was going on but was choosing to sit back and observe for the time being. And for whatever reason he had become someone to look out for in the headmaster’s books.

Ara needed to be careful here, it would get very difficult for him if he got hamstrung by the old man. And it wasn't going to help anybody if he made an enemy out of Dumbledore either. He needed to draw attention away from himself, or at the very least find Dumbledore something else to obsess over.

“What’s wrong? You’ve gone all quiet.” Slughorn pulled his student out of his reverie.

“Hmm well, it’s just a little concerning you know? I wasn’t expecting Dumbledore to be interested in any of this, and certainly not interested in me at all.”

“Yes, Albus does tend to be a little nosy, that's why I’d rather you not be in his periphery at all. He’s most certainly a good man, but if he sets his sights on you, Merlin have mercy because he is so very very persistent. Believe me, I know better than anyone.” Slughorn said in exasperation. Ara’s eyes widened in realization momentarily. ‘Wait a minute! He wants Slughorn’s memory of Tom!’ Ara wanted to smack himself for his stupidity, how could he forget about the Horcruxes? Even if he was the only one who knew they’d be completely useless, he still should have remembered something so important. This was his chance to get Dumbledore off his back and maybe even spook Voldemort in the process.

“You make it sound like he wants something from you.” Ara commented. Slughorn nodded in agreement and frowned into his glass before taking a sip of the fruity punch, and idly fiddled with the cup.

“He does.” Slughorn responded after a minute of silence.

“Then why don’t you give it to him? It doesn't seem like he’d ask if it wasn’t important.” Ara probed the other man. Slughorn started to retreat into himself, uncomfortable with the topic. Seeing that his window was closing Ara took his shot. Casting a look around to make sure nobody was watching, he cast a muffliato charm to hide their conversation. Slughorn took notice and eased his tension a little.

“Ok professor, just hear me out for a moment. I’m going to take a wild guess here and say that whatever Dumbledore wants somehow involves the party, the ‘special guest’ and by extension whatever we think he’s involved with. We both know, that nothing Riddle is doing is good for anyone. So if you know or have something that could help deal with Tom in anyway, it’s not a poor idea to let Dumbledore know. He clearly has a vested interest and is only going to do the right thing.” He tried to convince the older man. Slughorn’s face contorted angrily.

“NO! Albus doesn't know everything! It’s impossible for me to have helped someone do something so heinous and vile!” The potions master shouted, secure that no one would hear him. Ara sighed, he took his professor’s shoulder in hand in an effort to calm him down.

“I think you know that people will surprise you, and usually not in a good way. Whatever it is that you know, I think you realize deep down that Tom will have been capable of it. If you didn’t, it wouldn’t bother you this much. It’s weighing you down because you can’t do anything about it, but if you think Dumbledore can you should tell him.” Ara persisted. Slughorn whimpered slightly as his eyes moistened.

“You… you don’t understand. If my suspicions are confirmed… it means I have blood on my hands Ara.” He said in a shaky voice.

“Then all the more reason for you to tell! You can either put a stop to it now, or wait till the situation gets worse.” He scolded Slughorn lighty who just looked down dejectedly.

“Whatever it might be professor, no one is going to think poorly of you. I promise you that I don’t. You can’t blame yourself for the actions of somebody else, but you can be blamed from keeping information that could stop him committing more atrocities.” Ara compelled the elder man. Slughorn took a deep, shaky breath, and nodded hesitantly.

“... Alright. I’ll tell him. I think it’d be for the best.” Ara cheered internally. He covertly slipped his wand back up his sleeve, happy that he wouldn’t have to resort to using the imperius on his potions professor. Basic survival - always have a plan B.

“That’s great. I’m sure you’ll feel better if you get it off your chest. But if you’ll excuse me I think it’s high time I got back to my date. And you should go mingle, shake off your bad mood; you look like your amortentia stopped smelling like your wife.” Slughorn laughed softly at that.

“Thank you for talking to me my boy. You really do have a knack to get me to stop spiraling, especially this year.” He said with genuine sincerity. Ara looked at him for a moment before turning around and heading off to rejoin Ellie.

“Anything for you professor.” He said leaving. Slughorn continued to watch as the young man walked towards Ms. Stafford, smiling at how caring the boy often was. If he didn’t know any better, he’d be worried at how easily he was charmed by the lad, no one since Tom Riddle had accomplished that.

He kept tracking Ara as he came upon Ellie, who immediately pounced on him and seemed to be exchanging some impassioned words. Slughorn frowned when he realized that he was the cause for that. That frown very quickly turned into a blush as Ellie reached over and grabbed a handful of Ara’s bottom. And after exchanging another quick dialogue proceeded to rush themselves, arm in arm, out of his party.

“Oh my!” He choked out, turning away from the scene in embarrassment.
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The semester continued as normal from then on. January and February had both come and gone. It was now the 5th of April. It was late in the afternoon and classes had just finished for the day, Andromeda, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Sirius were all laid out on the vast lawn. Pandora had joined them and was unloading a picnic basket.

Sirius was sprawled out, spread eagle and let out a loud groan of extreme discomfort. “Oh thank Morgana’s tits there isn’t any training today.”

The Black sisters had half a mind to reprimand him for his vulgarity but were far too drained to bother. They’d just been through a hellish week of training courtesy of Ara, leaving them battered, bruised, and entirely broken.

Pandora finished unloading the food and demurely tucked her legs underneath herself and sat back comfortably.

“It’s a little weird seeing you all together like this.” She received a tired grunt as her response, and wasn’t entirely too sure who supplied it. “I’m assuming Ara ran you all through?” Another ambiguous grunt. Sighing at the lack of intelligent response, she grabbed a Cornish pasty and took a bite. She looked up and squinted at the glaring sun, she was about to shade her eyes with her hand before a long shadow passed over her face. She shifted her gaze and found professor McGonagall staring down at all of them with her usual stern and slightly scolding expression. ‘Resting witch face’ she thought to herself, causing an amused smile to come to tickle her cheeks.

“Would one of you please point me to where Mr. Black is?” She asked in a terse voice.

Sirius not above taking the obvious bait managed to raise his arm and waved. “I’m right here!”

McGonagall huffed a little at that. “You know good and well I’m referring to the other one.”

“Oh my mistake! He’s only nine right now professor, he won’t be joining us till the year after, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait till then.” Sirius chimed in again. Pandora’s giggle managed to break through.

The transfigurations professor immediately lost her temper. “Can someone except him please tell me where I can find Ara Black?” She almost shouted while pointing at Sirius.

Seeing that everybody was too knackered to explain to the irate professor that they themselves had no idea where he was, Pandora decided to take pity and responded instead. “We don’t know, he’s been gone all day. Sorry professor.” She shrugged while saying so.

McGonagall’s last thread of patience snapped. “This is ridiculous! I need to speak to him about the upcoming ball. I’ve been around to each of his lessons and he hasn’t shown up to a single one! This is inexcusable behaviour. Especially for a prefect. Surely one of you must have some clue as to where he might be.” She interrogated the group.

Narcissa was the first to cave in at the stern address, sat up, and answered in a quiet voice. “We really don’t know professor McGonagall.”

Andromeda chipped in. “It’s true, he’s done this disappearing act every year we’ve been at Hogwarts. Whenever April rolls around he just vanishes for a day or two, no one knows where or why.”

Bellatrix rested herself on her shoulder to look up at everyone else from her position. “He’s been doing this long before we even came to school. Used to drive aunt Dorea absolutely spare. I’m sorry, but you’ll just have to wait for him to show himself. It shouldn’t be later than the day after tomorrow.” And with that she promptly closed her eyes continued with her respite.

McGonagall left quickly following the end of the discussion. Steaming, not unreasonably, at her fruitless search for the wayward Black.

“She’s going to tear him a new one when he gets back isn’t she?” Sirius asked while watching the professors retreating form.

“Without a doubt.” Andromeda confirmed, as she too lay back down.

Meanwhile, Ara was currently lounging on an old sofa in a, seemingly, abandoned home. His head was resting on the armrest, while his feet dangled off the tatty two seater’s other end. He brought the straw of his cup up and took a loud, long sip of his strawberry milkshake. Smacking his lips in satisfaction he set the styrofoam cup down and picked up the last chip from his paper cone of fish and chips.

This sparsely furnished home located in a residential area in the muggle part of Edinburgh was somewhere he had only recently managed to purchase this past summer. He’d needed it done discreetly, since he didn’t want anyone else to know about it, and had done so with the help of Ellie Stafford’s father. He sincerely hoped that Ellie enjoyed their night together, because he really did. Easily top five.

This specific house was freshly on the market after the previous tenant decided to finally pack up and sell it off. He’d been trying to buy it for the last three years - pretty much the day he got Mr. Stafford’s contact information - and had finally succeeded in wearing the old owner down this last summer. Leaving the house now officially in his name. Turns out it’s not impossible to buy your own landed property at fifteen as long as you have enough money. Who would’ve thought?

The reason he had been adamant in buying this specific house, was because it was the home he once lived in with Andromeda and Teddy when he was Harry Potter. The Tonks family home.

Over the course of his time as Ara, he had understood - and to a certain extent - come to terms with the fact that his mere presence in this timeline had altered the sequence of events irrevocably. He didn’t know if Nymphadora, Luna, or any of his other friends would ever be born. He didn’t know if the Weasleys would end up having the same family. He didn’t know if Harry’s parents would ever get together. But what he did know, was that his beloved son Teddy would never be born. He knew this, because when he accomplished what he came back to do, circumstances wouldn’t allow it. As long as he didn’t completely fuck it up, there would be no second blood war, which would mean there would be no need for Teddy’s parents to ever get with each other.

Finding this out, and leaving Luna had been his two greatest regrets.

So every year, on the anniversary of Teddy’s death Ara removed himself from his normal life and secluded himself to mourn the loss of those that one day could have been. Should have been.

A day just for Harry Potter.

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There was a definite air of tension surrounding the final week at Hogwarts. But that soon lifted, and Hogwarts as a collective breathed a sigh of relief as O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. week was officially over. The smell of frantic depression was diffused by the excitement surrounding the first annual Hogwarts Summer Solstice Ball.

This event organized by McGonagall and Ara, with more than a little help from the resident house elves was well underway. The ball was being held on the great lawn during the early afternoon. It was the Saturday before the Hogwarts Express was scheduled to leave for another year.

The perimeter of the cordoned venue was surrounded by alternating bushels of boom berry shrubs and Niffler’s fancy, courtesy of professor Sprout. Wooden tables were strewn about in an organized chaos, tables of different foods piled high were to the back, and a large part of the lawn was left free to dance around the lit bonfire. Schools of brightly coloured fairy and pixies flittered about, drowning in the exuberant, and happy magic being emanated from all around. Students blissfully danced, ate, spoke, and hung out without reservation. There was no talk of status, no talk of houses, just an exhilarating mood of merry.

Professor McGonagall made her way to the front of the bonfire and raised her arms to gain everyone’s attention. As the merrymakers focused on her, she reveled in the faces of joy and the atmosphere of fun that she found terribly infectious.

“I want to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for your attendance to the first ball held at Hogwarts in over a hundred years. It brings me immense delight to look upon this sea of faces, and for the first time in I don’t know how long, witness camaraderie and cheer.” McGonagall took a pause from her address as the population gave a resounding applause.

“We celebrate this holiday in anticipation of a successful harvest and fertility; we use it as a time to recognize and respect our equality as magical peers; and to honour our families, hearths, and homes. We show this by shedding our usual finery, and adorn only the simplest of robes and dresses, so that we may feel the magic here freely wash over us and sink our feet into the grass below. And I am so glad that all of us here have taken the effort to do just that. And I hope that we are able to continue this next year and establish a new tradition at Hogwarts.” Everyone quietly listened as she explained the significance of the festival. McGonagall swiftly raised her goblet and shouted loudly “CHEERS!” a gesture that was eagerly returned boisterously by everyone.

Finishing her speech, McGonagall made her way through the party, trading pleasantries with approaching students and colleagues alike, thanking her for the event and congratulating her on her success. Even the originally sceptical Dumbledore, was now happily enjoying some cake as pixies braided flowers into his beard.

Minerva was actively looking around for Ara. None of this would have been possible without his help, so she wanted to personally convey her gratitude. In all honesty, she had never suspected that the slytherin son of the Black family would have been anything like he was. Peering around the milling crowds, she saw students from all houses mingling and having a generally good time, but hadn’t managed to spot him. She even tried to spot him around the larger gatherings of girls, his reputation was apparently very well earned, but still had no luck. McGonagall finally managed to spot him standing by himself at a table in a far corner of the clearing, dawning a melancholic smile, carefully studying the entire scene. She hesitated momentarily at the alien expression on his face. He normally showed condescending stoicism, and sometimes hints of amusement as well, but nothing like this.

Ara noticed her and made his approach. He gently tapped her on her back and left his hand there. “Professor McGonagall, I’m glad I found you. I just wanted to say thank you for this.”

“That’s what I had actually come over to say myself. I don’t think we’d even be here if it wasn’t for your proposal.” She replied in kind.

He just shook his head a little while still smiling. “Nevertheless, just thanks for sticking your neck out on this. Not many people would have done that. I think the results speak for themselves.” Ara once again brought his sights up to the party, he found Andromeda and Pandora happily dancing together around the fire. Sirius, his old parents and some of the other first years were all hunkered over table laden with food happily chatting away, Narcissa, Snape, and Skeeter were with them also. He even saw Bellatrix sat down with Ellie Stafford. He smiled wistfully again and thought ‘This is what I came back for. I’m not sure when the next time I’ll get to see this will be, but this is what I’m protecting now. I promise Tom, you won’t take this away from me.’

Pulling himself out of his reverie, he noticed that McGonagall and he’d gone into a companionable silence, he followed the line of her gaze and found her staring at the dancing couples around the fire. Without further preamble, he applied a small pressure on her back and guided her towards the fire.

“Where are we going?” She asked, jolted by his sudden insistence.

“We’re going for a dance. Come on.” He grabbed her hand pulled her into position, and although she was initially reluctant, they both quickly settled into rhythm together and performed their turn. She returned his bow as they came to the end of their dance, slightly flushed from the sudden exercise, as well as the attention they’d garnered from the surrounding party.

Just as she was about thank him a voice sounded from behind her. “Mind if I cut in?” It seemed Pandora Stern had come around for her own turn. McGonagall handed him over to the young girl, and left the two teenagers to it. They’d stayed together for the remainder of the party.

As the evening was drawing to a close, Ara and Pandora, were still slowly swaying together. “You dance really well” she softly sighed into his shoulder, her arms circled around his neck, playing with the hair on the back of his head.

“Mum.” Was his one-word response. Pandora couldn’t help it as a smile graced her lips, this just felt so good, so right. “So when are you finally going to do it?”

“Do what?” he answered, confused the at her question.

“Ask me out.” She simply put out. He immediately stiffened and their easy comfort was broken. Lifting her head from it’s place on his shoulder, she looked up at his bewildered expression. This caused a frown to mar her previously pleased appearance.

Ara floundered for an explanation, or just someway to stall this conversation. Pandora mattered too much to him, he sorely wanted to be with her, but his track record of serious relationships wasn’t something that inspired any level of confidence in him. And even if he had accepted that change was inevitable, he couldn’t help but shake off the thought that he was selfishly abandoning Luna again, by getting with her mother.

He couldn’t keep the conflict from showing on his face and Pandora immediately latched onto it. “What is it?” she impatiently bit out. She just couldn’t see why he was hesitating with her like this. She was certain about their mutual affection; it was inescapable to her.

“I don't want to mess this up!” He blurted out. “I don’t want to screw this up. I’m sure I’ll do it some way or the other, and I don’t think I could stand losing you because of that.” He finished in a quiet voice.

Pandora just looked at him for a moment and eventually said “That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You don’t want to make a mistake so you won’t even try?” He looked so unsure in that moment, Pandora was taken aback. He was always so self assured, did the prospect of ruining his relationship with her truly scare him that much? How do you even stay angry at someone like that? Relenting her piercing gaze, she once again lowered her head to his shoulder, and a moment later they were once again moving together.

“Listen to me very carefully Ara. I don’t know how things will be with us, because as much as I would like to be, I’m not a seer. But what I can tell you, is that as long as you don’t want it to, our relationship, romantic or otherwise will always be an important part of our lives. I’ll make sure of it; even when you’re as stupid as you’re being right now. So stop holding back and tell me what you really want.” She did her best to convince him, and by the feeling of his arms tightening around her back and being pulled flush into his chest, she’d succeeded.

“You promise?” He whispered into her ear, sounding like a small child. She was staring at him again, and he looked so vulnerable. Bringing her palm back to cradle his cheek, she looked him square in the eyes determinedly stated. “I promise.”

He studied her eyes, looking for even a sliver of doubt, but saw none. Letting go of his own hesitation he finally pulled her in and brought their lips together in a kiss that he’d been longing for far too long, and she melted into him immediately, like she’d been wanting to. All. Damn. Year.

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All too soon, Ara once again found himself in front of his mirror assessing his outfit. Full formal robes this time.

He’d spent the entirety of his summer break thus far holed up in the training chambers, putting himself through the strictest regiment he could concoct for himself. He wasn’t about to take any chances at the Lestrange ball. He would’ve like to spend some quality time with his - finally - girlfriend Pandora, but she was visiting her grandparents in America. They did their best to make up for it with almost nightly floo calls though.

Currently however, his train of thought was on a different tangent. It was finally the night of the Lestrange gala. He, along with Andromeda, Bellatrix, and the rest of the adults were set to attend. The kids were being left behind under the care of Kreacher.

Dorea entered her son’s room to fetch him for the party. He’d been anxious about it since Yule, and it was alarmingly evident in his behaviour this summer. She’d considered calling the whole thing off on account of his strange demeanour, but he’d hear none of it. He was intent on going despite the fact that he clearly didn’t want to. She chose not to dwell on it any longer, there wasn’t any getting out of it now.

“Are you ready dear?” He didn’t turn back or acknowledge her in any way. Just continued to burn a hole in his reflection. He closed his eyes and drew in a long breath to fortify himself. ‘This is it’

“Yeah. Let’s go.”
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All The Stars In The Sky