Kindred

~Chapter 4~

Once the train stopped, huffing and puffing in the station Draco woke Arianna gently “We’ve arrived princess,” he murmured in her ear.

She awoke with a smile. He was the only one she allowed to call her princess, he used it as a term of endearment rather than a title. She wanted to be treated no differently than any other student. In fact she insisted on it.

They made their way off the train and she took note of how the other students stepped aside and let Draco pass. Once off the train she was directed to join the first year students to be ferried across the lake. She would have to be sorted just like them and after all she had insisted on equal treatment.

The sight of the huge castle in the growing twilight was simply breathtaking. Arianna could barely contain the hope and wonder she felt surging through her at the possibilities of her last year as a young woman before assuming her duties as the ruler of Transylvania.

The gathering made their way up the steep stairs to be met by Professor McGonagall who was waiting on them just inside the door. She took great care to explain the houses and rules to the wide-eyed first years. The rules were much the same as they had been at Durmstrang. The houses of course Draco had explained to her just the past week as they had lain in each other’s arms, looking up at the star filled sky and discussing the future.

Professor McGonagall escorted her charges to The Great Hall. The nervous tittering of the youngsters reminded Arianna of herself and her friends all those years ago, their first year as students.

One by one, the Sorting Hat was placed on head after head as Professor McGonagall called their names, in alphabetical order. She was surprised when she was skipped. Groaning she just knew they would make some big production of her sorting. Finally when she was the only student still standing she glanced nervously over at the Slytherin table to find Draco smiling at her reassuringly.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat “Her Royal Highness, Princes Arianna Dawn Marie Huntington of Transylvania,” she announced and the Sorting hat practically bounced on the stool. Arianna walked to the front of the room, conscious of the eyes watching her every movement. Even the slightest twitch of a finger would be analyzed in the common rooms later that night.

Professor McGonagall placed the hat on Arianna’s flaming curls and the hat hummed around her head.

“A foreign born Princess, come to us from far away, what shall we do?” The silence in the room was deafening as the hat perused her heart, her personality and her motivations. “Certainly not Hufflepuff, that simply would not do...Ravenclaw then? No!” The hat shouted causing everyone to flinch ever so slightly. “That leaves two. Slytherin or Gryffindor. I see so much that could be...so much that will be...You are ambitious yes...but not without a conscience. Heart pure and true...off to Gryffindor with you!” the hat announced.

Draco stared in shock and horror. His beloved Arianna...a goody goody Gryffindor? It simply wasn’t fathomable. “No!” he shouted shooting to his feet. “Do it again!” His outburst caused virtually every mouth in the room to drop open. Some of them opening and closing several times resembling those stupid Japanese fish in his garden at home.

Professor McGonagall tsked “Mr. Malfoy! Control yourself,” she admonished.

“But...But...she can’t be...she has to be Slytherin!” He bit his bottom lip. He sounded for all the world like petulant child denied his favorite toy.

“The hat has spoken,” Professor Dumbledore said solemnly.

“Ten points from Slytherin for Mr. Malfoy’s disruption,” added Professor McGonagall hastily.

Draco slumped back into his chair as the Gryffindors howled in triumph. The prize of the night was theirs. Princess Arianna was one of them. She pasted a smile on her face and walked to the Gryffindor table. Hermione had pulled a chair next to her and offered it to Arianna.

Neither Draco nor Arianna heard a word of Professor Dumbledore’s speech as they stared across the room at each other. He simply could not believe it. Had she been sorted into Slytherin the question of her blood would no longer be an issue...only purebloods were sorted into Slytherin, everyone knew and accepted that as fact. Not that other houses didn’t have purebloods but...he was heartsick at the thought of not being in the same house with her. He had envisioned nights of studying together in the Slytherin common room, her cheering him on as Keeper and Captain of their house Quidditch team. So many things...and now...she would be spending a lot of time with those mudblood lovers, and of course the head mudblood herself; the know it all Granger.

Arianna tried in vain to pay attention to the conversations going on around her, but found it impossible. She too had hoped and prayed to be placed in Slytherin. She cared as much about the blood part as Draco and his family and friends did, but for very different reasons. If she wasn’t truly Alfred Huntington’s daughter she would lose her home, she would never be allowed back in Transylvania. And she could lose the one thing that suddenly meant more to her than even Transylvania did: she could lose Draco Malfoy. The thought caused tears to spring to her eyes unbidden. She blinked rapidly trying to keep them at bay. She was unsuccessful as they slid silently down her face, streaking it with her tears.

Hermione of course noticed and took Arianna’s hand. Pulling her from the table towards the foyer the Head Girl caught Professor McGonagal’s eye and jerked her head, pleading for help.

The older woman excused herself and followed the girls from the dining hall. “What seems to be the problem Miss Granger?” she inquired with concern.

“Arianna...umm is not feeling well Professor. May we be excused?” Hermoine looked over her shoulder as she kept her arm firmly around Arianna’s quaking shoulders.

“Certainly Miss Granger. Take her upstairs. The new password is Inkous Dubious,” she informed the girls quietly.

Herimoine led her up the stairs to the Griffyndor tower. Pausing in front of the Fat Lady she said "Inkous Dubious!" the portrait swung open the two girls stepped through the opening. Herimoine led the princess to a couch and sat her down "You okay Arianna...did Malfoy do something to you?" she asked suspiciously. The redhead had watched Malfoy carefully since she'd entered the great hall.

Arianna's eyes shot up "No, not at all...he...I..." the tears started again and she ceased to speak, burying her face in her hands.

Hermione sat down next to her and slid an arm around her shoulders. "It'll be okay Arianna...whatever it is. If you want to talk..." she trailed off. She knew the girl had been through a lot in the last few months, what with her father killing her mother and being sent to Azakaban, then being sent to live with an aunt in a foreign country. She felt bad for the petite redhead.

Arianna wiped the tears from her face and drew in a breath "Draco and I...well..."

The realization dawned on Hermione "Oh...and you wanted to be in Slytherin to be with him," she murmured.

Arianna nodded "That and well...I'm sure you know of my situation."

"Yeah, but just because you are in Gryffindor doesn't mean you aren't a pureblood...you know we have several here."

Arianna smiled "I do, it's just that..."

"Draco," Hermione said. She couldn't understand how anyone could like Draco Malfoy at all, let alone in a romantic way. The idea was completely foreign to her.

Arianna gave her a small smile. "It would have been nice."

Hermione patted her shoulder as she heard the portrait swing open. It wasn't long before they were surrounded by the other students, everyone chatting and the noise was deafening. Hermione took Arianna to her room and told her they would share, even though as Head Girl Hermione should have had her own room. Hermione used her wand to conjure the room into duplicating so that there was two of everything. In seconds they had the room situated and the girls started unpacking the trunks that had recently materialized.

Arianna was grateful, she liked the other witch a lot.