Chapter Twenty-One

ARIA RACED OUT of the classroom and into the dark corridor. It was still nighttime - Aria wondered how long she had been down there for.

She immediately headed for her father's classroom, stopping in her tracks when she realized that he had in fact lied to her. He'd told her that Narcissa was not her mother and to never refer to her as such. Aria doubted that voicing the topic again would do any good, even if that had been years ago. He'd probably only lie to her again

She felt the need to confide in someone. She had to share the brilliant news, but with who? Who was trustworthy enough?

There was Malfoy. Did he know already? If he didn't know, would things change? There were too many risks to take when it involved Draco, so Aria mentally scratched him off her list.

A distant thud caught her attention, reminding her that she was still out after hours. Aria ran to the Slytherin common room, praying that Filch didn't catch her or her father, Merlin forbid.

There was only one other person that Aria could think of - Annabelle. The two were somewhat friends again and her being Aria's only friend, she decided that it was safe to confess.

Aria hurried up the stairs and to her dorm room, she ran to Anna's sleeping figure and violently shook her awake. The other girls stirred in their sleep and Aria quieted down. She didn't need them knowing, least of all Matilda. If that nosy rat found out it wouldn't be long before the whole school knew as well.

"Aria?" Annabelle questioned, wiping her eyes. "What time is it?"

"I have to tell you something!"

"Can't it wait 'til morning?" She groaned and lay back down.

"No! Anna, please. This is so important!" The girl sighed and lifted her head, resting it onto the palm of her hand to keep it up.

"Alright. What is it?" She yawned.

"I found out who my mother is!"

Anna's eyes shot open. She eyed Aria curiously. "Honestly, I didn't know you were searching, but go on then, who is it?" She appeared to be wide awake as Aria proceeded to explain.

"Narcissa Malfoy, Draco's mother. I'm almost certain she's mine as well."

Anna quirked an eyebrow. "What makes you think that? You don't even look like her."

"I know, I know. There's this mirror I've read about, the mirror of erised. It shows what you desire. I went looking for it this evening and found it. I wanted to see my mother and it showed me Narcissa!" Aria wasn't about to tell her friend that she had snuck out with a first-year. The small details didn't matter.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Anna nodded. "What does your father say?"

"He doesn't know that I know and he can't find out. Understand?" Aria threatened. The last thing she needed was her father huffing and puffing over this discovery. She'd tell him when she was ready.

"Yeah, yeah..." She brushed it off and yawned.

"You can't tell anybody, okay?"

"No." She snorted and lay back down. "I'm going to tell Dumbledore." Even on the verge of unconsciousness, Anna still managed to be sarcastic.

Although her words may have been meant as a joke, Aria didn't take it as one. She needed solid proof regarding her claims and if one person knew the truth it would be Dumbledore. He knew everything.

She had to speak with him, but first, she needed her wand back and she knew two people who would be very interested in helping her accomplish that.

ϟ

"Fred, George!" She whispered across the Potions classroom after having watched their concoction turn a yellowish shade before disappearing. It was the first lesson of the day and Aria was startled to admit that she had never wanted to spend to anyone more than she did the Weasley twins at that moment.

Their ginger heads turned to face her.

"I need your help. Meet me after class."

"And just why would we help you?"

It took little convincing and once she uttered the words "prank my father" they were pretty much putty in her hands.

Eventually, the class was dismissed and the twins awaited Aria outside, down the corridor. "What's this all about then, Snape?"

"Yeah, thought you wanted us to leave your father alone?"

"I did, but things have changed." She poked her head around the corner to see if her father had left his classroom yet, she knew that he had a free lesson coming up. "He's taken my wand and won't give it back."

"What do you want us to do?"

"I expected one of you to be the brains of the operation. Aren't you all skilled in pranking or something?" Aria had expected them to jump at the chance to help her. Their lack of enthusiasm was offputting.

"Hold on, Freddy..." George had a mischievous grin on his face.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Georgey?"

Their identical smiles reached their ears. George reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial filled with black powder.

"What's that rubbish?"

George snorted. "Rubbish? This here is the key to getting your wand back."

"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. It creates total darkness, tremendously helpful in situations like these," Fred added.

"That's perfect!" Aria cheered, waiting eagerly for her father to leave the classroom, when he didn't, she knew that she'd need help. "Come on, then. I'll need backup."

The trio approached Professor Snape's classroom, trying extremely hard to appear innocent to any passing Professors.

"Aria."

She turned at the sound of her name. "Now's not a great time, Cedric." She glanced between him and the classroom where her wand lay, waiting.

"Because you're hanging out with them?" He gestured to the twins almost teasingly.

Aria felt the need to defend them, but the feeling soon passed. "It's not like that. We have some Potions homework to complete. I'll find you later." She shoved past him and towards the classroom. She couldn't help but catch a whiff of fruity perfume, but she ignored it.

All three of their heads peaked through the door.

"Alright, George. Throw it in."

A small clump of the powder landed in the center of the classroom and it wasn't long before nothing was visible.

Aria hurried inside, sure that she could make it in and out easily, but ended up bumping into every table and cabinet on her way to her father's desk. She felt around eagerly and grabbed her wand when she found the thin, woody structure.

She was almost free, she could practically taste the outside world when the blackness started to fade.

"Aria Jane Snape. Not so fast."

She stopped at the words. Now she was in trouble.