Attacks

                                    

                                          
Aravyn woke to the sounds of Lily unwrapping her presents. "Morning dear, Happy Christmas!" She said. 
"To you too," Aravyn mumbled, leaning forward and grabbing her stocking. On the top was a small box, from James, of rare Chocolate Frog Cards. She set them on her bedside table. 
She moved to Remus' next, a small, Royal Purple poof of fluff with a little face on it. It squeaked at her when she lifted it up. "You know what this is?" She asked Lily. 
"Looks like a Piggmy Puff, little pet, they squeak a lot but are sweet," Lily replied, opening her present from Aravyn. "A signed one?!" She screeched, jumping up and hugging her friend. 
"I'm glad you like it!" She smiled. 
She opened her last present, a large package, wrapped in gold paper. 
"What's that?" Lily asked, sitting next to her on the bed. 
"Not sure," Aravyn pulled the ribbon off and tore open the paper. Within was a worn leather jacket, she smiled wide. 
"What is it?" Lily asked again. Aravyn gave it to her. "It's his isn't it!" She smiled and nudged him. 
"What did James get you?" Aravyn smirked, snatching back her jacket. 
Lily went bright red and averted her eyes. "Uh, he got me, he sent me, uh, this," she took out a small golden necklace with a small doe on it. 
"Aw Lily it's beautiful!" Aravyn laughed. Lily's face was about as as red as her hair. 
Aravyn slid the leather jacket on over her black tank top and pulled on a pair of maroon jeans and combat boots. 
Sirius was down in the common room with some seventh year boy with short brown hair. 
"Happy Christmas!" Aravyn said hopping over the back of the sofa and setting her feet on Sirius' lap. 
"I see you liked my gift!" Sirius winked at her. 
"Like it was already mine!" She smiled back. Lily sat in the chair closest to the fire and closed her eyes. 
The day was dreary and little happened. Sirius was still convinced that the note should be taken to the Head of House, Aravyn refused. 
                          
Aravyn sat on the stairs, looking out the window to see if any of the carriages were coming yet, returning from their Christmas Holiday. 
Peeves swooped down from above her cackling, " Little Ari, all alone, Little Ari, so Morose!"
"Hack off Peeves," she snapped at him. 
"Oooo someone is Snappy!" Peeves cackled, soaring away. 
She sighed and snuggled deeper into Sirius' leather jacket. 
She peeked out the window again and saw the first carriages returning, this time guided by older wizards. Aurors, she guessed. 
The great hall that night was packed, girls hugging and screaming and laughing and guys handshaking, screaming, and laughing. 
Aravyn hugged James and Remus and Peter, welcoming them back. Aravyn nudged Sirius as Lily wrapped James into a hug, causing him to go bright red. 
"Oi mate! Where did you get the necklace?" James asked, looking at the large fang, tied around his neck with a strip of leather. James peered closer to it and saw the howling dog burnt into the front. 
"Well, erm," Sirius looked at Aravyn who shrugged. "Aravyn got it for me. For Christmas. Over break," 
Lily covered her face with her hand at Sirius' awkwardness. 
James looked at Aravyn then Sirius then Aravyn again, seeing the leather jacket. He broke into a rather stupid grin, "is there? Oh, there is!"
"No! There's not!" Sirius and Aravyn said at the same time. Both went red as the strawberries on there breakfast plates. 
"Oh no, of course not," James said evilly. 
Sirius was about to retort when a large post owl swooped over him and dropped the daily prophet.
 "Hey listen to this!" Aravyn said, having snatched the paper away from Sirius. 
           MINISTRY OFFICIAL FOUND
                          MURDERED
Taylen Smith was found murdered in her home late Sunday Night! The head of the Magical Security Committee, was discovered by her daughter, currently at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, late at night, last Sunday. There were no signs of forced entry and no seeming of a struggle. Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge said, " Smith was a strong witch, often helping bring in the most wanted dark wizards, (i.e. Aston Avey, James Vaughn, Maxon Hedges) and has controlled many difficult situations, she will be dearly (at which both Sirius and James snickered, causing Lily to elbow them both) missed, here at the ministry." It appears that Rufus Scrimgeour will take her place as head of the Auror Office, (con.pg.2)" 
"Wow, that is Mandy Smith's mum!" Lily said. 
"Who?" James asked. 
"Mandy Smith, the Ravenclaw chaser, she's a fourth year I think!" Lily said, rolling her eyes. 
"Oh, that one, well that sucks," Sirius said.  "Look, I got to go, I have a detention with McGonagall!" He said, not looking at Aravyn. 
That night, with the Dormitory full of the sounds of bed-ready girls, Aravyn looked at Lily. 
"What does this mean, I mean the prophet doesn't out and say it but it was obviously You Know Who!" She said. 
"You never know, I mean, I could have been an accident!" Lily said, climbing into bed. 
Aravyn did the same, muttering Whatever, then falling asleep. 
                          
The snow began to melt as the spring began to move in. The weather was indeed drizzly and dark, most students kept inside, even during the Hogwarts visit scheduled in March. 
Aravyn and Sirius walked down together, much to the delight of James. 
"Look at them, my babies are all grown up!" He had said to Lily, watching them walk. 
"Where would you like to go? Please don't say Madam Pudifoot's!" Sirius half pleaded. 
"Don't worry, I wouldn't set foot in there!" Aravyn said. 
"That's my girl!" Sirius joked, walking towards Zonko's. They passes a small alley way and heard voiced. Aravyn paused, listening. 
"Call your mum!" It was the voice of Lucius Malfoy. "Oh wait, she won't be able to help you anymore!" He laughed. 
"Come on Lucius, give the poor girl a break!" A female voice said maliciously, there was a sickening crack and a muffled scream of agony. 
Aravyn burst around the corner to see Mandy Smith, crying silently on the ground, clutching her right arm. Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy stood there smirking at her. 
Sirius stood next to Mandy, coaxing her to her feet. 
"Aww look, a couple of strays!" Bellatrix sneered. 
Aravyn had her wand in front of her, pointed at Bellatrix' chest. 
Sirius had his wand drawn, pointed at Lucius. 
"Pick on someone your own size!" Aravyn growled. 
"You heard them!" Bellatrix sneered to her accomplice. She turned and shouted, "crucio!" 
Just as Aravyn had shouted, "Stupify!" The hex sent Bella flying backwards, as Bella's curse hit her in the chest. Sending her writhing on the wet ground. Sirius was busy with Malfoy, and provided no help to Aravyn.
 Bellatrix shouted, " crucio!" Again and Aravyn writhed harder. 
She finally managed to shift to her back, thought the pain and muttered an incantation, causing Bella to freeze completely, falling to the floor, a crazed look frozen in her eyes. 
Suddenly Malfoy came flying past her, hitting himself hard on the wall and slumping down, not rising again. Sirius looked to Aravyn, who was lying on the floor, blood streaming from her lip, and a cut across her cheek from hitting the ground hard. 
"What it the Devil is going on here?!" Professor Sprout asked, flying around the corner into the alley way. "Oh dear," she said taking in the scene. Aravyn, half conscious in Sirius' arms; Mandy, still crying, sitting against the alley wall, clutching her arm; Malfoy slouched, unconscious, against the wall; and Bellatrix petrified on the wet earth. 
"They attacked us Professor! I promise! They broke her arm they used the Cruciatus curse on Aravyn and came at me!" Sirius was practically pleading with the older woman now. 
"Is it true?" Sprout asked the, still crying, Mandy. 
She nodded, tears still streaking down her cheeks.