disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella and her story.

Hello old friends and new! Well, here we are, the last chapter of the first book... Again! I hope you all liked the changes so far. While writing the Potter and Black over the last couple years, my writing has matured and I wanted to make changes to the books that show cased my writing in a better light, especially the first couple books.

The changes I have made are mostly grammar and some characterization in Arabella and the way people perceive her as Sirius's daughter. These changes have and will stay true to who Arabella is as a person. Anyway, I hope you all like this chapter!

The Man with Two Faces

"You!" gasped Arabella and Harry.

"It was you this whole time?" whispered Arabella, staring at him in disbelief.

Quirrell smiled and his face was not twitching at all. He looked confident and smug. He looked nothing like the teacher they had the whole school year.

"Me," Quirrell said calmly, "I wondered where I'd be meeting you here, Potter. I am surprised that you are here, Black, but you would be a pleasant reward for the others."

Others? Bellatrix? Arabella shivered and hugged her arms. She could feel the heat from her scars.

"But Snape –"

"Severus?" Quirrell laughed and it was cold and sharp. "Yes, Severus does seem the type, doesn't he? So useful to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat. Next to him, who would suspect p-p-poor st-stuttering P-Professor Quirrell?"

"But Snape tried to kill Harry!"

"No, no, no. I tried to kill Potter. Miss Granger accidentally knocked me over as she rushed to set fire to Snape at that Quidditch match. She broke my eye contact with him. Another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom. I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering a counter-curse, trying to save him."

"Snape was trying to save me?" asked Harry in disbelief.

"Of course," said Quirrell coolly. "Why do you think he wanted to referee your next match? He was trying to make sure I didn't do it again. Funny, really… he needn't have bothered. I couldn't do anything with Dumbledore watching. All the other teachers thought Snape was trying to stop Gryffindor winning, he did make himself unpopular… and what a waste of time, when after all that, I'm going to kill you tonight."

Kassandra's face flashed in Arabella's mind. Kassandra, dead and screaming for mercy – she did not need to die, but if only Arabella did something to help her – scream for the neighbours, contact Remus – then maybe she would have a mother. She did not help Kassandra then, but she will protect Harry now.

Arabella stepped in front of Harry and flung her arms open. "You will not touch him. You will have to get through me first."

Quirrell gave a small laugh of amusement. He then snapped his fingers and ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves around Arabella, moving her asides, clearing Quirrell's way to Harry. She struggled against the ropes as they tightened around her arms, legs, chest and neck. The more she struggled, the more they tightened. She started to choke against them, gasping for some air.

"Let go of her!" yelled Harry as more ropes wrapped themselves around Harry.

With a wave of his hand, the rope around her neck loosened, but there was still a strong grip. She started coughing as the ropes held her in place.

"You're too nosy, Potter," said Quirrell. "As are you, Black, but your time will come later. Both of you, scurrying around the school at Halloween like that, for all I knew the two of you would have seen me coming to look at what was guarding the Stone."

"You let the troll in?"

"Certainly. I have a special gift with trolls – you must have seen what I did to the one in the chamber back there? Unfortunately, while everyone else was running around looking for it, Snape, who already suspected me, went straight to the third floor to head me off – and not only did my troll fail to bet you to death, that three-headed dog didn't even manage to bite Snape's leg off properly. Now, wait quietly, Potter. Stop struggling, Black. There's no point. I need to examine this interesting mirror."

Arabella only then realized that the Mirror of Erised was standing behind Quirrell. She looked into the Mirror and saw her reflection in the corner. Sirius Black was smiling at her.

"This Mirror is the key to finding the Stone," Quirrell murmured. "Trust Dumbledore to come up with something like this… but he's in London… I'll be far away by the time he gets back…"

Arabella had to think of something to say, something to distract him with. She struggled to get words out, "Harry… saw you and… Snape in the Forest –"

"Yes," said Quirrell lazily. He walked around the Mirror. "He was on to me by that time, trying to find out how far I'd got. He suspected me all along. Tried to frighten me – as though he could, when I had Lord Voldemort on my side…"

Quirrell stood in front of the Mirror again and stared into it. "I see the Stone… I'm presenting it to my master… but where is it?"

"But Snape always seemed to hate me so much," said Harry.

"Oh, he does," said Quirrell, "heavens, yes. He was at Hogwarts with both your fathers – you too, Black. They loathed each other. But he never wanted you dead, Potter."

"But I heard you a few days ago, sobbing – I thought Snape was threatening you…"

"Sometimes," said Quirrell, with fear in his face, "I find it hard to follow my master's instructions – he is a great wizard and I am weak –"

Arabella gasped, in shock and for air. "He was in the same classroom as you?"

"He is with me wherever I go," said Quirrell. "I met him when I was travelling the world. I was a foolish young man, full of ridiculous ideas about good and evil. Lord Voldemort showed me how wrong I was. There is no good and evil, there is only power. Since then, I have served him faithfully, although I have let him down many times. He has had to be very hard on me. He does not forgive mistakes easily. When I failed to steal the Stone from Gringotts, he was most displeased. He punished me… decided to keep a closer watch on me…"

Quirrell's voice trailed away and then he cursed under his breath.

"I don't understand… is the Stone inside the Mirror? Should I break it? What does this Mirror do? How does it work? Help me, Master!"

To Arabella's utter horror, a voice answered and it seemed to be comes from Quirrell himself.

"Use the boy… Use the boy…"

Quirrell rounded on Harry. "Yes – Potter – come here." He clapped his hands at once and the ropes fell off Harry.

"Harry!" yelled Arabella as the rope around her throat tightened once again. "Don't you dare hurt him!"

"Silence, Black!" snapped Quirrell. "Potter, come here! Look in the Mirror and tell me what you see."

Harry walked towards the Mirror as Quirrell stood close behind him.

"Well?" said Quirrell impatiently. "What do you see?"

"I see myself shaking hands with Dumbledore," said Harry. "I – I've won the House Cup for Gryffindor."

Quirrell cursed again.

"He lies… He lies…"

"Potter, tell me the truth!" shouted Quirrell. "What do you see?"

"Use the girl… Use the girl…"

Quirrell huffed and said, "Potter, you leave me no choice." He turned toward Arabella and waved his hand. The rope withdrew from her body and she let out a big gasp. She could finally breathe properly as she massaged her neck.

"Crucio!" cried Quirrell.

Red light flew from his wand and Arabella screamed. He did not hurt her as much as Bellatrix, but the wind was knocked out of her and she slammed backwards against the floor. She felt hot and cold. Her body was radiating heat, but there was something cold on her arms. Blood.

She struggled to get on her hands and knees when Quirrell shouted again, "Crucio!"

Arabella let out another scream as her body shook. It didn't help that her scars were open or that blood was soon covering her arms. It gave her small comfort when she realized she was wearing long sleeves.

"Stop it!" yelled Harry, as he ran to her side. He helped her to her feet and stared at the blood that was now on his hands. He looked at her in horror and whispered, "Are you all right?"

"That was just a taste of some pain, Potter," said Quirrell. "I will not hesitate to do it again if you don't tell me what you saw in the Mirror."

"Don't… don't tell him anything," Arabella said in a hushed voice. She was panting and leaning against Harry.

Quirrell pointed his wand at Arabella again, but the voice spoke.

"Let me speak to him… face to face…"

"Master, you are not strong enough!"

"I have strength enough… for this…"

Arabella and Harry didn't move a muscle. They watched as Quirrell reached up and began to unwrap his turban. It fell away. Quirrell's head looked strangely small without it. Then he turned slowly on the spot. It was the most terrible sight Arabella had seen in a long time. There was a face on the back of Quirrell's head. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.

"Harry Potter…"

Arabella's hands tightened around Harry's. She was trembling badly as they stared at his face.

"See what I have become?" the face said. "Mere shadow and vapour… I have form only when I can share another's body… but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds… Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks, you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the Forest… and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own… Now… why don't you give me that Stone in your pocket?"

With whatever strength she had left, she pulled Harry behind her once again. "You won't touch him. I won't let you." She tried her best to sound brave, but her voice was shaking and she was terrified.

"Don't be foolish," snarled Voldemort. "Better save your own life, Arabella Black… Join me… Lead a better life… you'll do your family proud… or you'll meet the same end as Harry Potter's parents… They died begging me for mercy…"

"LIAR!" Harry shouted.

He made to move towards Voldemort, but Arabella held him back. He was no match for Voldemort or Quirrell. She did not want to see him hurt, she couldn't.

"Harry, don't," she whispered.

"How touching…" hissed Voldemort. "I always value bravery… Yes, boy, your parents were brave… I killed your father first and he put up a courageous fight… but your mother needn't have died… she was trying to protect you… Just like Arabella Black… how ironic... Now give me the Stone, unless you want to see your friend die like your parents…"

Quirrell snapped his fingers and the ropes once again wrapped themselves around Arabella. She was lifted off the ground and the ropes were tighter as she was rising higher and higher. She started to lose feeling of her hands and she started wheezing, struggling to breathe in some air. Her vision was becoming cloudy and she was sure she was about to die.

"LET GO OF HER!"

Arabella continued to struggle against the ropes as Harry charged towards Quirrell. The ropes bounding her suddenly vanished. She dropped to the ground with a thud. The last thing she remembered was Voldemort screaming, "SEIZE HIM!" before falling unconscious against the cold floor.

Bellatrix was laughing… There was red light surrounding her… Someone was screaming… Someone was crying… She was covered in sweat… Blood… Tears… Flesh was burning…

"Join us…"

No… no…

"You do not have to fight it anymore, poppet… Embrace us… Embrace your new family…"

No… I can't… No…

"Miss Black… Miss Black… Arabella…"

No… please… no more…

"Miss Black… Arabella!"

Arabella woke up with a start. She inhaled loudly and wheezing a little. She started at the ceiling for a second before sitting up. Her arms were wrapped in bandages and Dumbledore was sitting on the chair next to her.

"Good morning, Arabella," said Dumbledore pleasantly.

"Professor! What are you doing here? Harry needs you! Quick –"

Dumbledore continued to smile at her. "You need not worry, Arabella. Harry is fine. His bed is right beside yours"

He pointed towards Arabella's right. There laid Harry, fast asleep with a peaceful look on his face. There was a bandage around his head, but it seemed as though he was all right.

"I – I don't understand," said Arabella. "What about the Stone? What about Quirrell?"

"Quirrell is long gone. Voldemort left Quirrell to die, and as for the Stone, it has been destroyed."

"Des – destroyed?" asked Arabella. "But doesn't that mean that Nicolas Flamel and his wife are going to die?"

"Oh, you know about Nicolas?" said Dumbledore, delighted. "It was Harry who destroyed it, and, well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat and agreed it's all for the best. They are arranging their affairs right now, waiting to take their next step."

"Next step?"

Dumbledore smiled at her. "You are quite young, Arabella, surely you must understand that the next step in life is death. It must seem absurd, but for Nicolas and Perenelle, it is really like going to bed after a very long day. They have lived for many, many years, and death is their next great adventure. They seem excited to spend it together."

Arabella nodded and contemplated his words for a moment. "Death is the next great adventure… My mum has something like that on her tombstone. Do...do you think she's still there? Beyond life, I mean…"

Dumbledore seemed sad at the thought. "I think that your mother's spirit lives on inside of you. You stepped in between Harry and Voldemort, you defied him and you showed a sort of bravery that others could only wish to possess. You mother was the same way, and I believe that Kassandra Anastas truly lives within you. You only need to look within your own heart to see it."

Arabella nodded. "I thought of her… I thought of my mum when I did it. When I stepped in front of Harry. I couldn't let Voldemort do anything to him. I couldn't stop Bellatrix all those years ago, but I couldn't let him hurt Harry… I was… I was trying to fix my mistakes… I just wish I could have saved my mum."

Arabella bowed her head as she stared at her hands and the blanket.

"You were a child, Arabella, you cannot blame yourself for what happened."

"But I do," she said quietly. "I could have screamed for help, screamed for the neighbours or somehow contacted you or Remus, but I… I just watched the whole time... I couldn't do that again. I am no match for Voldemort but I couldn't stand by and let that happen to Harry, not again."

"Arabella, if there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. Love is a powerful mark – not like a scar or visible sign – but love gives us protection. Harry was protected by his mother because of love and Voldemort could not touch him. You, who have suffered greatly, protected Harry because of love, and it was agony for Voldemort to touch a person marked by something so good and pure." He paused for a moment before saying, "Your mother would have done the same. She would have stood in front of death and defied it if it meant protecting the people that she loved and cared about. And you showcased that, Arabella, when you decided to do the same with Harry. Voldemort will never understand that."

Dumbledore looked towards Harry as Arabella wiped her eyes. "Does anybody else know?"

"The whole school, naturally," said Dumbledore. "What happened in the dungeons is no secret as this school has no secrets. I wrote to Mr. Lupin three days ago –"

"Three days?" asked Arabella, shocked. "I've been here for three days?"

"Unfortunately the fall did you some damage," said Dumbledore gravely. "Remus was quite shocked to hear what had happened, but seemed relieved that you are alive and well. Though I would warn you that a lecture is in your future."

"The Cruciatus Curse didn't affect me, did it?"

"You did lose some blood, but, it was the fall that made you unconscious. But I sense that there is something else you wish to talk about."

Arabella took a deep breath and stared at Dumbledore for a moment. "Down in the chamber, Quirrell said that… he said that I would be a reward for the others. He was talking about Bellatrix and the others, wasn't he?"

"Unfortunately," sighed Dumbledore. "During the First War, Voldemort had a large army with him, and one of his most loyal and devoted followers was Bellatrix Lestrange."

Arabella winced for a moment. "She… she killed my mum and she's my aunt."

"She alone believed herself to be his most loyal servant. Instead of claiming that she was under the Imperious Curse, she went into hiding with her husband, plotting their revenge in Voldemort's name. After the war, many Death Eaters claimed that they were under his threat, claiming their own innocence, but she was loyal 'till the very end. You would have been her reward for her years of loyalty after Voldemort's downfall."

"But… why?" asked Arabella, suddenly feeling as though her insides were hollow and empty. "I… I never did anything to her. She was the one who came after me!"

"I cannot tell you this, Arabella. Not today. You are too young to be burdened with such knowledge. Perhaps when you are older, you will know."

Arabella nodded. "All right. I have another question… Why does Snape hate me?"

"Professor Snape and your father were in the same year together at Hogwarts. They hated each other, and naturally, his hatred for Sirius is still there. Quite silly, if you ask me, to carry such a childish grudge, but our minds work in funny ways. Now, is there anything else?"

Arabella thought of her own funny mind. "I… I see Sirius sometimes when I look into the Mirror. Is it bad for me… is it bad that I want him in my life?"

"There is nothing wrong with how you feel about Sirius –"

"But I shouldn't want him in my life," Arabella said instantly. "He's a… he's a monster and I don't understand how there is some part of me that actually wants him here with me."

"Arabella, there is nothing wrong with wanting Sirius in your life," said Dumbledore. "You never got the chance to know him. There are some good parts of him, parts that you will never get to understand or experience. But, however, the bad parts outweighed the good, and wanting to know your father is only natural."

"It feels as though I'm ruining my mum's memory or something," she whispered. "How could my mum fall in love with him? And Remus. He took care of me, raised me, thought me everything I needed to know, and yet… it just feels as though I'm betraying him. Like it's some sort of horrible, dirty treachery."

"I am sure Remus understand," said Dumbledore softly. "It is only natural for you to understand why your mother fell in love with him. After all, he was not to so terrible when he was younger since you became a result of their love."

It seemed as though it was meant to be comforting, but it really wasn't. Arabella nodded as Dumbledore stood up and showed her a table piled high with sweets and gifts. Harry had another table as well for himself.

"Tokens from your family, friends and fellow Gryffindors," said Dumbledore. "Andromeda Tonks wrote me a very long and strongly worded letter about your safety. I remember her from her time at Hogwarts. Smart and quick with a wand. I suspect that if anything else would have happened to you, she would personally hex me."

"I wouldn't put it past her," said Arabella, smiling.

Dumbledore beamed. "I believe your friends Mister Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you and Harry a lavatory seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse the both of you. Madam Pomfrey, however did not and confiscated it. Now, I suggest you make a start on these sweets. It seemed as though Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger bought you three months' supply of Chocolate Frog. May I have one? I do like to collect the cards."

Arabella nodded as Dumbledore opened the packaging and looked at his card. "Alas! I've gotten myself!"

"Just five minutes," pleaded Harry.

"Absolutely not," said Madam Pomfrey.

"You let Professor Dumbledore in," Arabella pointed out.

"Well, of course, that was the Headmaster, quite different. The both of you need rest."

"We're resting, looking, lying down and everything," said Harry.

"Come on, Madam Pomfrey," said Arabella with a smile. "Please-eeeeeee..."

"Oh, very well. But five minutes only."

And she let Ron and Hermione in.

"Harry! Arabella!" Hermione looked as though she was ready to pull them into hugs, but Arabella was quite glad that she held herself back. Arabella's head was sore.

"Oh, we were sure you were going to – Dumbledore was so worried –"

"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?"

Arabella and Harry told them everything: Quirrell, the Mirror, the Stone, the torture and Voldemort. Ron and Hermione gasped at the right moments and when Harry told them about Quirrell torturing Arabella, Hermione flung her arms around Arabella and did not let go until the story was over.

"So that Stone's gone?" said Ron finally. "Flamel's just going to die?"

"That's what I said," Harry agreed, "but Dumbledore thinks that – what was it? – 'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure'."

"I always thought he was off his rocker," said Ron, looking quite impressed.

"So what happened to you two?" asked Arabella. Hermione was now sitting on her bed.

"Well, I got back all right," said Hermione. "I brought Ron round – that took a while – and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the Entrance Hall. He already knew – he just said, 'Harry's gone after him, hasn't he?' and hurtled off to the third floor."

"D'you think he meant you to do it?" asked Ron. "Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?"

"Well," exploded Hermione, "if he did – I mean to say – that's terrible – you could have been killed."

"It's not terrible," said Arabella. "He already knew what we were going to do and he gave us a chance."

"He's a funny man, Dumbledore," said Harry. "He knows more or less about everything that goes on here, you know. He taught us enough to help him. I don't think it was an accident he let us find out how the Mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could…"

"Yeah, Dumbledore's barking, all right," said Ron proudly. "Listen, you both have got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course – you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrolled by Ravenclaw without you, Harry – but the food'll be good."

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey rushed over.

"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT."

"We want to go to the feast," Arabella told Madam Pomfrey. "Can we?"

"Professor Dumbledore says you are to be allowed to go," she said stiffly. "And you both have another visitor."

"Oh, good," said Harry. "Who is it?"

Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual when he was indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed. He sat in front of Harry and Arabella, took one look at them and burst into tears.

"It's all my fault!" he sobbed, his face in his hands. "I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only think he didn't know an' I told him! The two of yeh could've died! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"

"Hagrid!" Arabella and Harry shouted.

"Hagrid, he'd have found out somehow," said Harry. "This is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him."

"Both of yeh could have died!" sobbed Hagrid. "An' don' say the name!"

"VOLDEMORT!" yelled Arabella, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped crying. "We've met him, Hagrid, and we're going to call him by his name. It's just a name, Hagrid. Nothing to be afraid of."

"Have a Chocolate Frog," offered Harry. "I've got loads…"

Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said, "That reminds me. I've got yeh both presents." He handed Harry a leather-covered book and gave Arabella a leather jacket.

"That's yeh father's jacket," said Hagrid. "He wasn' all the bad when he was at Hogwarts. This jacket proves that he was a good person at one poin'. You should have somethin' like that. Found it in Filch's office. Crazy, old git confiscated it fer no reason." He then turned to Harry and watched him smile at the photos. "Sent owls off ter all yer parents' old school friends, askin' fer photos… Knew yeh didn' have any… D'yeh like it?"

None of them spoke, but Hagrid understood.

Arabella stared at the leather and slowly traced her fingers over the stitching. It was hard to believe that Sirius was ever a good person. But he must have been. He wore a leather jacket when he was younger, and Kassandra fell in love with him. He mustn't have been so terrible when he was younger.

She brought the jacket closer to her chest and inhaled the leather. She swore she smelled coffee coming from it.

Everyone was already there when Arabella and Harry made their way into the Great Hall. It was covered in Slytherin colours to celebrate their winning of the House Cup for the seventh year in a row. When they walked in, there was a sudden hush and then everybody started talking loudly at once. They took their seats across from Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table. Arabella smiled kindly at Hermione and the others, and tried her best to ignore the whispers.

Dumbledore arrived a few moments later and the noise soon died. "Another year gone! And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were… you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts…

"Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here needs awarding and the points stand thus: in fourth place, Gryffindor, with two hundred and sixty two points; in third place Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two points; Ravenclaw have four hundred and twenty-six points and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two."

A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. It was a sickening sight.

"Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into consideration. I have a few last minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes…

"First – to Mr. Ronald Weasley for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Ron's face turned purple in the face as the Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be heard telling the other Prefects, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"

At last there was silence again.

"Second – to Miss Hermione Granger for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Hermione buried her face in her arms and Arabella was sure she had burst into tears. Gryffindors up and down the table were beside themselves – they were a hundred points up.

"Third – to Miss Arabella Black…"

Arabella early chocked on her own spit.

"… for standing in between the face of death to protect a friend, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

Arabella stared at Dumbledore with wide eyes. The Gryffindor table was cheering more loudly as were getting much closer to the amount of points Slytherin had.

"Forth – to Mr. Harry Potter ..." said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet. "... for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."

The ruckus was deafening. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points – exactly the same as Slytherin. They had drawn for the House Cup – if only Dumbledore had given Harry just one more point.

Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore with a smile. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

It seemed as though a bomb went off from the Gryffindor table. Arabella, Harry, Hermione, and Ron piled up on Neville, who was white from shock. Everyone was cheering as loud as they could for him. He had never won so many points for Gryffindor before. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws joined in as well as they all celebrated the downfall of the Slytherins and Snape.

"Which mean," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, "we need a little change of decoration."

He clapped his hands and in an instant, the huge Slytherin serpent vanished, replaced by a towering Gryffindor lion. It was absolutely one of the best nights Arabella has ever had.

Arabella had almost forgotten about the exam results. With Snape, the Stone, and the idea of Voldemort returning, her exams were far away from her mind. But they came. She passed everything with good marks – perhaps not the best in History of Magic, but she got full marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration.

She did better than Harry and Ron, but, of course, Hermione came top of the year. Even Neville scraped though with his good Herbology mark making up for his Potion's. She had hoped that Crabbe and Goyle might have been thrown out for bad marks, but they had passed as well.

Suddenly, it seemed as though their trunks packed themselves and they were soon boarding the Hogwarts Express. They had spent the whole ride talking, laughing and eating Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans. They soon changed into their Muggle clothes as they pulled into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station.

It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform as an old wizard made them go in pairs so that they didn't attract Muggles.

"You must come and stay this summer," said Ron. "I'll send you all an owl."

"Thank," said Harry. "I'll need something to look forward to."

As they moved forward back into the Muggle world, people called after Harry:

"Bye, Harry!"

"See you, Potter!"

"Still famous," said Ron, grinning at him.

"Not where I'm going, I promise you," said Harry.

The four of them passed through the gateway together.

"There he is, Mum, there he is, look!"

It was Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister, but she wasn't pointing at Ron.

"Harry Potter!" she squealed. "Look, Mum! I can see –"

"Be quiet, Ginny, and it's rude to point."

Mrs Weasley smiled down at them.

"Busy year?" she said.

"Very," said Harry.

"Thank you for the fudge and jumper, Mrs. Weasley," said Arabella.

"Oh, it was nothing dears."

"Arabella," came a voice behind Mrs. Weasley. Remus stood there patiently and smiled at her.

"Remus," she whispered before running towards him and flinging her arms around his neck. They stayed there for a moment before pulling him closer to her friends. "I want you to meet my friends. This is Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter." Two more people showed up and she added, "That's Fred and George Weasley."

Remus nodded politely at all of them. "I'm Remus Lupin, Arabella's godfather. How have you been, Molly?"

"Oh, never mind about me," said Mrs. Weasley, waving his question off. "How have you been? You still haven't come around the house yet."

"Well, I've been a little busy with my job and all," Remus smiled at her. His eyes then focused on Harry and it seemed as though he was looking at a ghost.

Fred and George had gone to say goodbye to their friends as Remus said, "You look exactly like your father, Harry. But you… you have your mother's eyes."

"You knew my parents?" asked Harry, shocked. Ron and Hermione looked at Arabella, but she only shrugged.

"Once," said Remus pleasantly. "We were friends at Hogwarts."

Harry opened his mouth to say something when he was interrupted by a very unpleasant looking man.

"Ready, are you?"

"You must be Harry's family!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"In a manner of speaking," said the man. "Hurry up, boy, we haven't go all day." He then walked away with his wife and son.

Harry hung back for a moment and then turned to Ron, Hermione and Arabella.

"Hope you have – er – a good holiday," said Hermione as they watched Harry's uncle walk away.

"Oh, I will," said Harry as he grins. "They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…"

Remus chuckled as Harry walked away. She was sure he was listening in on them.

Arabella then hugged Hermione and said, "Stay in touch, all right? And owl me about staying over, Ron."

She then hugged Ron and patiently waited as Remus reassured Mrs. Weasley that he intended on visiting her soon. She wondered if he was speaking the truth. Arabella then held Remus's hand as they walked out of the train station.

"Did you have a good time at Hogwarts?" Remus asked her. "Anything else exciting happened?"

"Oh, you know," said Arabella nonchalantly. "Class, exams, nothing exciting really…"

Thank you all for reading this rewrite of the first book! Tell me guys what you think of the re-vamped version of the Philosopher's Stone. Any favourite moments? Anything you did not like? I will be posting the next chapter for Chamber of Secrets within a day or so. Keep an eye out!