The journey north on the Hogwarts Express was, for the first time, a tranquil and studious affair. Without the boisterous energy of Ron or the constant, low-level anxiety that often surrounded Harry, the compartment became a mobile library. Ariana and Hermione spent the hours in a comfortable, focused silence, engrossed in their respective texts. Ariana delved deep into the alchemical principles Nicolas Flamel had introduced her to, while Hermione, inspired, devoured De Novo Artificio, her brow furrowed in intense concentration.
The peaceful atmosphere was a stark contrast to the chaos they knew was likely unfolding back in London. But Ariana, having set her pieces on the board, felt no need to worry. She had created a logical failsafe. Now, she simply had to wait for the system to work.
They arrived at Hogsmeade Station as evening fell, the familiar sight of the castle's glittering windows a welcoming beacon. They joined the throng of returning students, making their way to the horseless carriages that would carry them up to the castle gates. The first-years, a huddle of nervous, excited faces, were being gathered by Hagrid, their journey across the lake about to begin.
The Great Hall was as magnificent as ever, ablaze with the light of thousands of floating candles. Ariana and Hermione took their seats at the Gryffindor table, the familiar buzz of reunion filling the air. As she settled in, Ariana's gaze swept over the crowd of new first-years waiting nervously at the front. Her eyes found two figures she recognized from the story. One was a small girl with flaming red hair and a face full of awestruck excitement—Ginny Weasley. The other was a girl with straggly, dirty-blonde hair and a dreamy, distant look in her protuberant eyes, who seemed to be observing the enchanted ceiling as if it held far more interesting secrets than the ceremony below—Luna Lovegood. A new generation of players was entering the game.
The Sorting Hat sang its song, a new verse warning of unity in the face of uncertain times, and the Sorting began. Ginny Weasley, to no one's surprise, was sorted into Gryffindor, and she ran to the table to be enveloped in hugs by her brothers. Luna Lovegood, after the Hat seemed to have a quiet, contemplative conversation with her, was placed in Ravenclaw, where she sat down and immediately began reading The Quibbler upside down.
Just as the last student was sorted and Professor Dumbledore rose to speak, the great oak doors of the hall swung open. Professor McGonagall entered, her expression a thunderous mixture of fury and immense relief. And flanking her, looking sheepish, soot-stained, and utterly miserable, were Harry and Ron.
A ripple of whispers and gasps went through the hall. The two most famous second-years had missed the train and had just been marched into the feast like prisoners.
McGonagall led them to the Gryffindor table, her lips pressed into a line so thin it was almost invisible. "Sit," she commanded, her voice a low hiss. "We will be having a long conversation after the feast." She then swept up to the staff table, her back ramrod straight.
Harry and Ron slumped into the seats opposite Ariana and Hermione.
"What happened?" Hermione whispered, her eyes wide.
"The barrier wouldn't let us through," Ron grumbled, stabbing at a potato with his fork. "Just sealed up solid. We were about to… well, we were thinking of a way to get here, when an Auror came over. Said a student had reported the barrier was unstable." He glanced at Ariana. "He just touched the wall with his wand, said some fancy spell, and it shimmered and let us through. He brought us to Hogsmeade on a Ministry broomstick."
"It was lucky he was there," Harry added, looking profoundly grateful and embarrassed. "He said if we'd been a minute later, we would have missed him. He's launched a full investigation into the barrier's malfunction."
Ariana simply took a serene sip of her pumpkin juice. Her plan had worked perfectly. No flying Ford Anglia. No Whomping Willow. No broken wands. Just a quiet report, a timely intervention, and a logical resolution.
Dumbledore, who had watched the entire scene with a knowing twinkle in his eye, rose to his feet once more after the feast was over. "A few start-of-term notices," he began, before launching into the usual warnings about the Forbidden Forest and the list of banned items. When he had finished, he paused, his gaze sweeping over the Gryffindor table.
"Before we retire for the evening," he said, his voice carrying a note of distinct approval, "I believe a few points are in order, not for deeds of daring-do, but for foresight and responsibility."
The hall fell silent. It was highly unusual to award points on the very first night.
"This afternoon," Dumbledore continued, "a potential magical security breach at King's Cross Station threatened to leave several students stranded. Fortunately, due to the quick thinking and proactive measures of two of our students, a Ministry official was alerted in time to rectify the situation, ensuring the safe passage of all."
He beamed down at the Gryffindor table. "For demonstrating a level of civic-mindedness and logical problem-solving that all students should aspire to, I award ten points each to Miss Hermione Granger and Miss Ariana Dumbledore."
A smattering of polite applause broke out across the hall. The Gryffindors cheered, delighted to be on the scoreboard already. Hermione blushed a brilliant shade of pink, thrilled and flustered by the public praise. Ron and Harry just stared, a dawning comprehension on their faces. It hadn't been luck. It had been a plan. Ariana hadn't just predicted the problem; she had solved it before it had even fully occurred, and had done so in a way that earned them house points instead of losing them.
Harry looked at Ariana. She was calmly buttering a piece of bread, her expression utterly placid, as if being awarded points by Dumbledore for outmaneuvering a rogue house-elf's magic was the most mundane occurrence in the world. He was beginning to understand that while he might be the one destined for grand, dramatic confrontations,
Ariana was playing a different game entirely. She was the one who saw the entire board, moving the pieces with a quiet, subtle brilliance that ensured the drama never had a chance to unfold in the first place.
As the students began to file out of the Great Hall, McGonagall descended upon Harry and Ron. "My office. Now."
The boys trudged off to face their reckoning, while Ariana and Hermione made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
"That was brilliant, Ariana," Hermione said, her voice full of admiration. "You knew it was going to happen."
"I assessed the probabilities and took a logical precaution," Ariana corrected gently. "It is always better to build a bridge than to be forced to swim a raging river."
She settled into her favorite armchair by the fire, Tom Riddle's innocuous-looking diary safely stowed in her trunk upstairs. The year had begun. The players were in place. And she, having already averted the first disaster, was ready for the next move. She had a Chamber to investigate, a Basilisk to consider, and a certain memory in a diary that she was very much looking forward to deal with.