The Raven and the Snake

The First Book

Ariadne would've been hurt by the estrangement that was happening between herself and her family this summer if she wasn't so busy. She was only thirteen, but they didn't even ask what she was up to as she went about squirreling away things to multiple locations in case something happened to get her expelled from school. They barely even glanced at her permission slip they'd had to sign to allow her to leave the school grounds and wander about the town Hogsmeade with the other students this year. They had simply signed it, no questions asked.

She'd taken more precautions, she couldn't exactly stop the Ministry if they came to snap her wand, but she'd worked hard to create more talismans for her personal protection. She didn't know how effective they would be against truly great wizards like Dumbledore, but it was all that she could do.

The familiar owls like the one the twins used which always seemed to be on its last leg were used to waiting around on her fire escape while she prepared a reply. About two weeks before she was due to return to Hogwarts for her third year, she got an unexpected letter from a different owl.

"Please stay a moment," she asked it. "I might need to respond."

The old screech owl had wavered, but stayed in exchange for some meat from her kitchen. Ariadne looked at the letter. It was from Dumbledore. He requested that she return a couple days ahead of the other students. He would send an escort.

Ariadne frowned at that. No students were ever asked to come by the school early. There was no precedent for this. Even prefects and students with responsibilities around the school weren't called to just come by.

She sent a reply with the owl saying that she wouldn't need an escort. She would take a bus to Hogsmeade. She was cautious and would continue prepare to the last moment. She'd even hide a go bag somewhere in Hogsmeade before meeting her headmaster at the school gate.

She informed her grandparents of the change in plans. They didn't even really look interested. They were planning a vacation for the following year. They'd already stated that this year's Christmas would be somewhat lackluster as they were saving money, so the presents would be homemade. She didn't mind that, but they're adamant reminders that she need not prepare them anything at all stung slightly.

Not long after that, she went outside in the late evening with her school bag which was considerably smaller and lighter than it had been in previous years, despite her course work increasing in her third year. She stood in the quietest residential street, hiding just shy of any street lamps and held out her wand toward the road.

There was no spell, she simply held it out and waited for a couple of minutes. She didn't have long to wait. A horribly ugly, bright purple, triple-decker bus came charging to halt in front of her.

An older gentleman with his wiry, grey hair pulled into a ponytail introduced her to the Knight Bus. He was spry when he went to scoop up her bag, ushering her on board.

"Where to, love?" He smiled in an almost creepy way.

"Hogsmeade station, please."

The bus had beds rolling around behind the driver's seat instead of the traditional seats. She sat down on one and crossed her legs in a lotus pose. She'd been working more diligently on her meditations over the last few weeks. Her temper needed to remain firmly in check this time. She couldn't have any more childish outbursts that would most certainly get her sent away.

The conductor laughed at her pose. "You want some cocoa, sweetheart? Or a toothbrush?"

She shook her head. She wouldn't be sleeping. She kept her bag close to her and braced herself on the bars of the bed.