The rest of the train ride went without a hitch. Some first years had tried to enter her room, but had been stumped at the locked door. It remained locked for the entire journey.
Ariana tried to hide her nervousness as she walked up the steps to Hogwarts side by side with Harry and Ron. The former looking for a familiar face, whilst latter wanted to spend more time with the boy-who-lived, although he was also interested in the pretty girl.
Professor McGonagall gave them the welcoming speech and it was time to get sorted. All around her the first years were discussing different theories about the sorting ceremony. Some being reasonable, whilst others were outrageously stupid.
"I heard you have to duel the head of a house, and if you do well you get to join."
"My brother said the house member vote for who they want."
"That makes no sense at all. My uncle told me you have to battle the house sigil for whichever have you wish to join. I'm going to fight a lion and become a Gryffindor!"
Tuning out the verbal diarrhea it wasn't long until they reached the main hall and walked past the seated students. Some stared at them with curiosity or anticipation, mostly the second and third years. The older students seemed indifferent, having seen this process a couple times already.
Just like normal the sorting ceremony began, and one by one students stepped up. Fortunately for her anyone who mattered seemed to be sorted into their original houses.
"Ariana Rose!" Professor McGonagall called loudly.
Hearing her name, she walked up confidently and without hesitation, taking a seat the hat was gently placed on her.
"Hmmm. What to do with you? Hufflepuff maybe? You were certainly one of the nicer children in your orphanage. Yes, yes, I think that'll do just fine." The hat whispered dramatically.
Hearing his words Ariana eyebrows shot up, "Gryffindor! Please, just put me in Gryffindor and let me go" she muttered.
The hat went silent for a moment, as if thinking deeply, before speaking. "Well well well, isn't that strange? I can't find any reason as to why you'd want make that choice in here. You hadn't even heard of Gryffindor before entering these halls. It wasn't explained to you, nor had you read it anywhere."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. Her mouth turned dry and she struggled to find the right words.
"Even now when you make this request I can't find where this desire comes from. Mmhh interesting, very interesting. Whatever this is it goes beyond any protection of the mind I've come across. Now don't be nervous It's not like I'm allowed to disclose this information."
Ariana's heart calmed somewhat. It didn't matter what the hat knew then. Zoning back into the reality of the her surroundings she realised she caught some attention. It seemed the hat was taking longer then usual.
"What I can see of your life, I'd say you're ideal Gryffindor, however all I can feel from you is the intent to 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚. Not just me, no but everyone. It's clear I haven't got the entire picture. Well, we shouldn't keep them waiting. Pureblood as well? Seems I've made the right decision."
Ariana could see where this was going and immediately went to convince the hat otherwise.
"You don't unders-" her line of thought was cut off by the hats booming voice.
"𝐒𝐥𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧!" He thundered.
McGonagall swiftly removed the hat from her head, and ushered the young girl to her house table.
Ariana's fists were clenched in frustration as she slowly walked to the Slytherin table, her steps uncertain. A quick glance at the Gryffindor and she found a shocked Harry staring at her.
It seemed the boy's good impression of her didn't quite fit the image he had of Slytherins.
The applause was from her new house-mates was dull at best. It seems they aren't too enthusiastic to be welcoming a possible muggle-born into their ranks.
The red-head swiftly took a seat towards the end of the table and did her best to ignore everyone around her. 'What to do?' She thought. She couldn't pretend to be muggle-born, not in a house that placed so much importance in blood supremacy.
'No doubt there are a few Muggle born Slytherins, but I doubt they're treated well by the other students, and I don't want to be worrying about a bunch of kids all the time.'
Across from the students at the staff table two teachers gazed intensely at this worlds new addition. The first being the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. The old wizard would be lying if he said his heart didn't jump when he heard the little girls name.
Ever since his sister passed he hadn't met a single Witch by the same name, and barely uttered it himself.
But the larger shock was the girls resemblance to Lily Potter. From the red hair to the green eyes and the air of curiosity all Muggleborns had, it was like he was witnessing history repeat itself. It was for this exact same reason that Severus Snape couldn't take his eyes off the child.
Gazing at her, all the good memories, the dark thoughts, and the ugly truths came rushing to the forefront of his mind. Feelings he had been suppressing for decades, resurfacing within seconds.
The head of Slytherin House rapidly rose from his seat and marched out the Main Hall as quickly as his feet could take him, whilst trying not to lose his composure. To most of the teachers and all the students except one, nobody gave Snape a second look as he left, thinking nothing of it.
Watching the potions master as he walked passed their table, Ariana wondered if the appearance really was overkill.
"Half-blood or pureblood?" A snarky voice tore her attention from Snape.
Finding where the voice came from she saw a tall, dark skinned boy with a well kept air about him. The arrogant smirk he sent her way stood out the most. Ariana didn't recognise this kid at all and quickly dismissed him as a no name Slytherin.
She was more focused on his question. Answering honestly didn't seem like the smartest choice, all things considered. Someone would probably ask for her heritage which would out her as a member of the Rosier family.
Yea, she doubted that would help her situation. 'Might as well get the dark mark printed on my robes.' She snorted quietly.
Seeing the boys impatience she answered. "My father was pureblood and my mother was a muggle, I guess that makes me Halfblood." She announced.
The boy nodded his head in acceptance, although she caught a slight grimace at the mention of a muggle mother. "Passable, we don't want too many of the wrong sort, I'm sure you understand." He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Ariana hesitated for a moment, "Uh-yea, I understand completely. Can't have any Mudbloods weaving their way into our house." She tried to hide her wince at the slur.
The boys eyes widened in surprise, he clearly hadn't expected that. Ariana wondered if it was too much.
He gave a genuine smile before sticking his hand, "Good. My names Blaise Zabini, it's a pleasure."
...
It was after the feast and Ariana had been given the basic tour of the Hogwarts along with her class schedule.
She was now resting in her new Slytherin dormitory along with 3 other girls she had never met before. The first two being Pansy Parkinson and Sadie Baldock. The young witches had been giddy since arrival and had quickly become good friends.
The last was a girl called Tabitha Bainbridge, the only other Halfblood in the dorm, with Pansy and Sadie being Purebloods.
They spent most of their time getting to know each other, and Ariana was pleasantly surprised by how polite the Slytherin girls were. She knew it was only because they believed she hated Muggles as much as them, but still, it was nice.
Lying in her bed, she couldn't help but ponder the future, all the terrible things she was bound to do and began to wonder if she could go through with it. It was easy to talk about doing something, but could she really kill someone? No doubt she'd have to and possibly sooner rather then later.
With a sigh her thoughts shifted to the plan.
Her current plan? To put everything into motion as soon as possible. Starting with stealing the Philosophers stone and handing it over to Quirrell so Voldemort could revive earlier. This should instantly gain the Dark Lord's trust and favour. Hopefully
Pulling her wand from her pocket, Ariana checked and saw the others were still in bed before retrieving her book of spells. She grabbed the book and begun systematically practising the spells. She wouldn't move onto the next spell until she could cast the the first.
....
It was officially the first day of the new academic year and students started to flood into Hogwarts's hall for breakfast.
Ariana stood lurking not too far from the entrance waiting for a specific boy to turn up. She didn't have to wait too long.
"Harry!" She called.
The young boy froze in his tracks. Looking around he spotted a familiar face, "Oh Uh-good morning Ariana" He greeted quietly, fiddling with his sleeve.
Giving him a bright smile she got closer, "How's Hogwarts been so far? I love it here. Thought I'd be lonely, but luckily you're around. So that's one new friend to write home about."