The return to Hogwarts was a somber, surreal affair. The Ministry, in a state of panicked chaos, had finally, officially, acknowledged the return of Lord Voldemort. The Daily Prophet, in a stunning reversal, was now hailing Harry Potter as a truth-seeing hero and Albus Dumbledore as the steadfast leader of the light. The students, once so divided, were now united in a shared, palpable fear.
The end-of-term feast was not a celebration, but a solemn assembly. Dumbledore gave a grave speech, quietly acknowledging the dark times that lay ahead. The house banners seemed less vibrant, the enchanted ceiling less bright. The war had begun.
On the final morning, before the Hogwarts Express was due to depart, Ariana was summoned to the Headmaster's office. She arrived to find not just Dumbledore, but Sirius and Remus as well. Their faces were grim, the reality of the renewed war having settled upon them.
"Ariana," Dumbledore began, his voice weary but resolute. "The Ministry is in disarray. Fudge is on the verge of being forced out. Amelia Bones is doing her best to rally the Aurors, but the old pureblood factions are already sowing discord. The board is in chaos."
"Chaos is a state of maximum opportunity," Ariana replied calmly, taking a seat. "It is the ideal time to press our advantage."
Sirius looked at her, a fierce, eager light in his eyes. "What's the plan, then? We take the fight to them?"
"We do," Ariana confirmed. "But not with wands, not yet. We will engage in political and economic warfare. It is time to execute the Malfoy Protocol."
The two Marauders looked at her, then at Dumbledore, who nodded his assent.
"While Voldemort is distracted, trying to consolidate his power and understand how his plan at the Ministry failed so spectacularly," she explained, "you, Sirius, as Lord Black, will formally enact the revocation of the marriage contracts for both Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. You will file the claim with the Goblin Liaison Office and Gringotts simultaneously."
Her voice was cold and precise. "You will legally repossess Malfoy Manor. You will not allow them time to move. The moment the magic of the old laws takes effect, the wards of the manor will recognize you as their true master. Voldemort and his entire inner circle will be, for all intents and purposes, evicted without notice. They will be homeless, their primary headquarters and all the dark artifacts within it suddenly lost to them."
Sirius let out a bark of triumphant laughter. "Throwing Voldemort out on his ear! I love it, It is the best part of the plan!"
"The second part is the financial blow," Ariana continued. "You will seize the contents of the Malfoy family vault as repayment for Narcissa's dowry. You will bankrupt Lucius Malfoy, crippling his ability to bribe and influence Ministry officials. He will be reduced to nothing."
"And the Lestrange vault?" Remus asked quietly.
"The Lestrange vault," Ariana said, her gaze becoming intense, "will be seized as well. And its contents, Sirius has already agreed, are to be turned over to me for 'analysis and containment.' I have reason to believe Bellatrix was entrusted with another of Voldemort's Horcruxes—Hufflepuff's Cup. It must be secured."
The plan was audacious, ruthless, and brilliant. It was a crippling blow delivered not with a curse, but with a quill and a legal document.
"It will be done," Sirius vowed, his eyes gleaming with a marauder's mischief.
"There is one more matter, Professor," Ariana said, turning to Dumbledore. "My own academic progression."
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "Indeed?"
"The standard seven-year Hogwarts curriculum is structured to dispense knowledge at a pace suitable for the average student," she stated. "My requirements are no longer average. The war has begun. I cannot afford to spend another two years studying introductory transfiguration theory when I could be mastering the advanced principles of spell creation. My time is our most valuable resource, and it is currently being used inefficiently."
She met his gaze, her intent clear and absolute. "I wish to take my N.E.W.T.s at the end of this coming summer."
The silence in the room was profound. Even Sirius was stunned. To take one's N.E.W.T.s—the most grueling, advanced exams in the wizarding world—two years early was unheard of. It was an act of academic ambition so extreme it bordered on insanity.
"Ariana, that is… unprecedented," Dumbledore finally said, his mind reeling at the audacity of the request.
"The circumstances are unprecedented," she countered. "I have already mastered the entirety of the Hogwarts curriculum through my own studies. The formal examinations are merely a bureaucratic necessity to grant me the legal status of a qualified adult witch. A status I will require to operate freely in the coming conflict without the constraints of underage magic decrees."
She looked at him, her expression unwavering. "I need you to appeal to the Wizarding
Examinations Authority on my behalf. Frame it as a special case, a recognition of my contributions to magical science and national security. If they refuse, I will speak with Amelia Bones and Minister Fudge myself. Fudge, in his current politically vulnerable state, will not dare to refuse a public request from the girl who just saved his career from immediate doom. He will grant the exception to appear strong and supportive."
She had planned for every contingency, every argument. She had laid out a path that led to only one logical conclusion: her own empowerment.
Dumbledore looked at the young woman before him. She was not asking for permission. She was informing him of her intentions. He saw the future, not as a misty prophecy, but as a clear, calculated campaign being orchestrated by the brilliant, logical mind of the girl who sat before him. She was no longer just his secret weapon; she was his co-commander.
He let out a long, slow breath, a smile of profound pride and a little bit of terror on his face. "Very well, Ariana," he said. "I will draft the letter to the WEA this afternoon. I suspect your summer is going to be very, very busy."
Ariana nodded, a quiet satisfaction in her eyes. The summer offensive was planned. The war was on, and she was ready. She would finish her education, consolidate her power, and prepare for the next phase of the conflict.