Hiraeth

"Wake up Aria"

"It's your birthday" were the first things Aria heard when she was trying to wake up from her nightmare filled sleep. She recognised the voice of her two best friends Ron and Hermione. 

When she finally opened her eyes she saw the grinning faces of Ron and Hermione who immediately hugged her when they saw that she was awake. 

Aria grinned at them, happy that she could finally perform magic without getting caught by the ministry and she is no longer defenseless. 

"Accio glasses". Her glasses which were on the side table zoomed towards her. She caught them easily. 

Ron grinned at Aria. "It's a miracle you are still alive. Everyone knows you are blind as a bat. It's a wonder that nobody tried to summon your glasses during a duel. "

Hermione looked fondly at Ron. "It's a good thing that the wizarding world is terrible at thinking outside the box and you are the only one we know who is brilliant at strategies. "

Ron went pink at Hermione's praise. 

"I wish the wizarding world had better eye treatment. I have to wait for another 4 more years to get the potion for eye sight correction. " Aria grumbled. "I thought of getting muggle eye sight correction surgery but with all the restrictions they placed on me this summer I never got the chance to get it done and now I am stuck here at the burrow. "

"Muggles can get their eyesight corrected? " Ron asked. He would never admit even under death threat that he was slightly fascinated with muggles. 

"Muggles have improved a lot in health care" Hermione was about to start a lecture on the topic but they were interrupted by Ginny Weasley who barged into the room. 

"Happy birthday Aria. Mum made a special birthday breakfast for you. Everyone is waiting for you guys. " Ginny left the room after giving Aria a quick hug. 

Ron dragged Aria and Hermione to the kitchen. "Come on walk faster I am starving"

"Happy birthday dear! " Molly smiled warmly at Aria and gave her a bone breaking hug and ushered them to the kitchen for their breakfast. 

"Aria dear! Why don't you try on your bridesmaid dress after you complete your breakfast. I don't understand why Fleur would want you as a bridesmaid when it is very dangerous and risky. " Molly frowned and looked at Fleur with a look of disapproval. 

"Don't worry Mrs Weasley, Fleur is my friend. I am happy to be her bridesmaid. It's not like anyone is going to recognize me as I am going to dye my hair blonde so they will just think I am Fleur's cousin. " 

While Molly was about to reply they heard an excited squeal coming from Gabrielle Delacour.

"Happy birthday Aria! I hope you like your bridesmaid dress mama picked it for you and I helped her. I am super excited to be a bridesmaid along with you and Ginny" Gabrielle spoke excitedly, looking starstruck. 

"Time to open your presents dear, " Molly ushered them into the sitting room where a bunch of presents were waiting for her. 

"The top one is from Arthur and I. I baked some fresh cookies and fudge for you to snack on. You are looking very thin dear. Arthur got you some books on muggles for you, that man and his obsession with muggles is getting ridiculous." Molly spoke looking fondly at her husband who was about to leave the house for his job at the ministry. 

Arthur Weasley smiled at her and wished her quickly before leaving for the ministry. 

Gabrielle took a large elegantly wrapped gift from the pile and passed it over to Aria. "This is from my family. According to mama your family owns this company I thought it would be hilarious to get you a gift from your own company. These are very famous in France. " She said excitedly. 

Aria opened the gift which revealed a lavender color box which has a willow tree logo in golden embellishing on it. 

"I never knew that my family owned a cosmetics company. " Aria said looking a bit sad that she never got to know more about her family. 

Hermione looked over Aria's shoulder at the box. "That logo looks familiar. I think I heard Lavender and Parvati gushing about those products. According to what I heard it's a very high end brand and also Lavender would sell her soul to the devil or do anything just to get her hands on these products." 

"I guess it would explain why Lavender always looked annoyed with me. My family  owns a cosmetic brand and I still look like I just rolled out of my bed or like I was chased by hundred hippogriffs all the time. " Said Aria. 

Aria touched the logo reverently only for the willow tree to come to life and the branches to gently sway. She could see a stag with lilies woven into its antlers peeking from behind the tree. 

"Do you think it's prongs? " Hermione asked. 

"I guess so, " Aria replied, opening the box to reveal all kinds of bath, hair and makeup products. 

Aria got a book on household charms from Hermione. "I thought we would require some help in the future" Hermione whispered. 

She also got a book on warding from Bill and a miniature model of Hungarian horntail and a Norwegian ridgeback from Charlie and brand new Weasley's wizarding wheezes merchandise from Fred and George along with a promise to give her real present at a later time away from the prying ears of their mother. 

Ginny gave her a photo album full of pictures of her with the Weasley family and  with members of DA. 

"I know you guys are going on some mission for Dumbledore and I am not allowed so Luna and I with the help of Colin made this album so that you could always remember us and that we believe in you guys. " Ginny said giving her a sad smile and a hug. 

"That's very thoughtful of you guys."

Remus accompanied by tonks came next. 

"Can I talk to you privately? " Remus asked. 

Aria led him to the backyard.

Remus gave her a gift which was wrapped in a wrapping paper adorned with constellations Aria spotted Sirius constellation right at the middle. 

"This is not from me, Sirius wanted to give this to you on your 17th birthday. I am giving this to you on his behalf. "

Aria started tearing up a bit at the mention of her godfather and blood adopted father. 

"Thanks a lot for giving it to me, Remus, " Aria said, hugging him tightly. 

"It's a tradition to give a watch on a witch or wizard's birthday. Sirius got it made for you. I wish your parents and Sirius got the chance to see you grow up to be a wonderful woman. I know you miss them a lot so I got you this. " Remus said, giving her a gift wrapped in brown paper. 

Aria opened the small gift box to reveal a bracelet with stag, doe, dog and wolf charms present on it. 

"I know it's not much but I placed some protective spells on it. " Remus said. 

"I love it, " Aria said, giving him another hug. 

Aria spent the rest of the day having fun with the Weasleys playing quidditch, trying on her bridesmaid dress and trying to sneak out so that she could have some alone time with Ron and Hermione so that they can discuss about their upcoming horcrux hunt. 

Guests started arriving for her birthday party. Soon the Weasley family backyard started filling up with people and they were waiting for Mr Weasley to come home so that they could cut the cake. 

While Aria was talking to Remus, Mrs Weasley received a patronus message from Mr Weasley about minister of magic coming to the party. 

"I have to go, " Remus said looking apologetic at Aria before grabbing Tonks' hand and quickly apparating away. 

Mr Weasley and Rufus Scrimgeour appeared at the entrance just as Remus and Tonks disappeared. 

"Many happy returns miss Potter, I am sorry for gate crashing your party. Can I have a private word with you also with Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. "

The golden trio looked at each other with surprise and worry wondering the reason for the minister's arrival. 

Ron led them to the sitting room. 

"I would like to speak to Ronald Weasley first, can you both wait outside, " The minister asked. 

"Not a chance in hell! Either you can speak to us together or not at all, " Aria spoke, looking ready to pounce on the minister for even thinking of separating them. 

"Fine then. I am here because of Dumbledore's will. " 

Aria, Ron and Hermione looked at each other surprised that Dumbledore left them stuff in his will and wondering if they are going to be of use in their upcoming hunt. 

"Mr Ronald Weasley, what is your relationship with your headmaster? " The minister enquired. 

"I don't have to share my feelings about Dumbledore with you. " Ron replied, looking at his best friend's direction silently communicating with her. 

"I was just curious Mr Weasley. You and your friends are the only ones who were left with stuff. The rest of his possessions were given away to his family and donated to the school. 

Ron rolled his eyes. " Fine, you want to know my relationship with Dumbledore here it is. He is like a grandfather figure to me. I spent many nights playing chess with him.  As I was able to defeat most of my schoolmates easily in chess he used to play with me whenever he is free, which isn't that frequent mind you, mostly during weekends. I miss him so much. Now I no longer have a chess partner and have to play chess with Aria in the future. Let me tell you both of my best friends are terrible at it, even a toddler could play better than them" Ron said. 

"Oi, it's not my fault those chess pieces look so damn adorable. They even talk, Ron. How am I supposed to send them to their death? " Aria replied looking indignant at the thought of sending those adorable chess pieces to their death. 

Ron looked ready to argue with her but Scrimgeour cleared his throat and looked surprised with Ron's answer about Dumbledore. 

Aria silently patted Ron's back for making a believable story. 

"Anyway, let me read Dumbledore's will to you. "

Scrimgeour read the will to them and gave Ron a deluminator and Hermione "tales of beedle the bard" Storybook and Aria her first golden snitch and explained her the situation with Godric Gryffindor's sword. 

After going head to head with Scrimgeour about their involvement with Dumbledore and insulting the ministry's competence against fighting the dark Lord. Scrimgeour finally left the burrow. 

"We need to talk, " Aria said, looking at Ron and Hermione. 

"Maybe around midnight? Let's go now mum must be worried about us. " Ron said eager to get back to the party. 

After everyone left the party. Everyone started going back to their rooms.

At midnight Aria and Hermione tiptoed to Ron's room. 

"Any troubles? " Ron asked. 

"No, I made Fred and George slip a bit of sleeping potion into the drinks. " Aria replied, looking proud of her idea. 

Hermione looked worried. "Is it a good idea to slip sleeping potion into the drinks when tomorrow is the wedding? "

"Don't worry mione, fred and George also used the roosters as a part of their plans. The roosters will start waking everyone at 4 in the morning. Let's discuss Dumbledore's will. "

Ron scoffed at the statement. "I am pretty sure Dumbledore gets his jollies in the afterlife by watching us run around like headless chickens. Couldn't he just give us information directly when he was fucking alive. How much time is it going to take him to give clear instructions to us. More people are going to die while we run around trying to solve his damn riddles. "

Aria understood Ron's frustration. Sirius died because Dumbledore ignored her for an entire year while she was getting tormented by umbridge and most of the student body when he could have just said that she and Voldemort might be connected. If he had said she wouldn't have fallen to Voldemort's trick that easily and lose her adopted father and take her friends into a trap that got them injured. 

"We can't do anything now can we? We just need to solve these riddles or go blindly hoping that we come out of this unscathed. " Said Hermione. 

"Fine, let's see the clues we currently have. Tom riddle might have 6 horcruxes barring the one that's in his body. I destroyed his diary, Dumbledore destroyed the gaunt ring. So that's two down. 4 more to go" Aria said, trying to cheer them up. 

"And we got a fake one and need to find this R. A. B fellow. " Said Ron. 

"From the intel gathered by Dumbledore Riddle is supposedly obsessed with the founders. The fake was supposed to be Slytherin's locket, " Said Hermione trying to piece all the information. 

"So we need to find other founders' stuff. Do you think gryffindor's sword might be a horcrux? " Ron asked. 

"I don't think so Ron, Riddle doesn't sound like he is going to use the sword for his horcrux. He must have known that the sword is legendary for disappearing at will and coming to the need of gryffindors. There must have been another reason for willing me the sword. " Aria said looking thoughtfully wondering what was going through her late Headmaster's head when he made the will. 

"We need to also concentrate on their destruction too. We don't want one of us to get possessed by it like Ginny do we? " Said Hermione trying to make a checklist in her mind of all the things they need to do seeing that they can't just write down everything on a paper like she always does. "According to the books I took from the Headmaster's office, horcruxes are nearly indestructible. "

"But I did destroy the diary in my second year and I don't know how Dumbledore destroyed the ring. He never mentioned it. " Aria pointed out. 

"You used a basilisk fang right? Do you think Dumbledore has one? " Ron asked. 

"I don't think Dumbledore has one. The one I used I left it in the chamber and he needs a parselmouth to open the chamber. " Aria replied. 

Ron looked thoughtful at that. "Why don't you try to picture those memories with Dumbledore when he showed you the ring there must be some clues in his office. "

Aria closed her eyes trying to remember every detail in Dumbledore's office the day he showed her the ring. 

After a few minutes she opened her eyes. "The only thing I can concentrate on is the gryffindor's sword. It was laying on his desk that day. Do you think we can use the sword in destroying the horcrux. "

"Dunno.you did kill the basilisk with it right I guess it might have some basilisk venom present on it. But wouldn't the venom already get dried up or lose its potency? If snape wasn't such a git to us we would have known more about venoms. " Ron said looking utterly despaired that they are back to square one. 

Hermione was about to chide Ron about his language then remembered that snape was the reason Dumbledore is dead which caused their current predicament. 

"I think I read somewhere about gryffindor's sword. Let me check it up. " Said Hermione placing her hands into her satchel and trying to find the correct book. "

Finally after finding the book. Look here, according to this book the sword was goblin made and also according to the other book goblin made materials have a retaining capacity. " Said Hermione looking a bit excited. 

"So the venom is still useful, that doesn't change the fact that the sword is still missing. " Ron pointed out. 

Aria groaned, "so we are going on a glorified treasure hunt without a fucking map. " Resting her head in Ron's lap and legs in Hermione's lap. 

Ron started massaging her hair. 

"Let's make a mental to do list shall we? " Said Hermione. 

"Alright."

"Find who the hell R. A. B is? Also whether he destroyed the locket horcrux?"

"Find Hufflepuff cup"

"Find Ravenclaw heirloom"

"Don't forget gryffindor's sword"

"If not, find a way to enter chamber of secrets without anyone's notice

"Go to bank"

"Find a way to contain those horcruxes without getting possessed. "

"We also need to kill nagini"

"Make sure to keep the list of people that are going to die to a minimum"

"Find a way to get to the muggleborns before riddle gets to them. "

"Get food supplies and disguises and also we need surveillance if we have to prevent death of innocents. " Aria added at the end. 

Ron groaned at the ever expanding list of things to do. "Fuck prophecy, are we supposed to believe everything Trelawney spews in her drunken haze? "

"According to Dumbledore, riddle believes in the prophecy. Even if he doesn't believe in it I am sure he is pretty embarrassed that he got defeated by a baby and I am sure he is itching to kill me so that he can prove to his followers that he is invincible or something, " Aria pointed out. 

"Do you think the order will help us? " Hermione asked. 

Aria snorted at the thought of order helping them. 

"Most of the order is pretty pissed that we are given a top secret mission by Dumbledore and that they are left in the dark about our mission. They also think I am incompetent in leading the war and also most of them think I am just a little kid who is trying to play an adults game. " Aria pointed out, already hearing all this stuff from the older generation members of the order of the Phoenix. "

"My family will help you, not my mum though she is ready to bubble wrap us and make herself believe that we are not part of the war. " Said Ron. 

"I know that's why I got some help, " Said Aria, grinning at them. 

"I thought Dumbledore didn't want you to involve others with the horcrux hunt, " Pointed out Hermione, looking skeptical about Aria's plan. 

"I am not involving them in the hunt. They know we are going on a mission that's it. They are going to help us procure stuff for us and are going to act as our eyes and ears. "

Hermione beamed at Aria happy that she is trusting adults and asking them for help. 

"Don't even think about it, you know that I have trust issues and am never going to ask adults for help after all the times they ignored my pleas for help. "

"Who did you ask for help? " Ron asked, wondering whom Aria trusted enough to ask for help. 

"It's a surprise! I asked them to come here, " Said Aria looking excited still with her head in Ron's lap. 

While Ron and Hermione are thinking about who their mysterious helpers are going to be. They heard the door open and Fred and George enter the room. 

"Well well if it isn't the troublesome threesome having a meeting without inviting us, I am terribly hurt Forge" Said Fred looking at his twin.. 

"Me too gred,  here we have come bearing gifts for them and they start the meeting without us, " Said George. 

Ron spluttered at the mention of threesome. "We are not in a threesome. " Said Ron standing up to make his point clear which led to Aria falling down the bed. 

"Ouch! "

"Aria is like a less annoying sister to me, well more like a twin sister to me. We have this ride or die thing going on. "

"Aw! Love you too Ron" Said Aria hugging him and pulling Hermione into the hug. 

They stood for a while in the group hug for a while. 

"Is it any wonder whole Hogwarts thinks they are having a threesome" Fred chimed in. 

"Notice how our ickle ronniekins didn't mention his relationship with Hermione, Fred"

"What do you mean whole Hogwarts thinks we are together? " Ron asked, looking appalled. 

"There are even bets going on about your relationship we are pretty sure some of the staff are also part of the betting. "

Aria snorted, "I am sure you guys encouraged everyone to bet and placed those bets with you both. "

"Dumbledore was also part of the betting. Even he thinks you guys are having a threesome. Even mum thinks you guys are in a relationship. " George said grinning at the trios expressions. 

"Do you guys think the same? " Hermione asked. 

"Nah, from what we saw for the past few years.You and Ron act like mommy and daddy and Aria is like your troublesome daughter and you are trying your hardest to make sure nothing happens to her. " said Fred. 

"Aria is the baby of the group alright, " Said Ron. 

"I am not a baby" Said Aria folding her hands under her chest trying to look indignant but looked like an adorable angry kid. 

"It's true you are the youngest, you are tiny and short, " Said Hermione. 

"Not my fault" Aria said, pouting at them. 

"Back to the point, how are Fred and George going to help us? " Asked Hermione. 

"Here you go boss, we brought everything you asked of us, " Fred and George said, taking out a few shrunken boxes from their coat pockets. 

"I hope all that stuff is legal" Hermione said looking at the boxes. 

Aria gave Hermione a look that screamed 'are you fucking serious' 

"Bitch please, are you talking about legality of the stuff when you kidnapped rita skeeter and held her captive in a fucking jar and blackmailed her and not to mention how you permanently disfigured Marietta's face"

"Don't forget how she set that git snape on fire during our first year, " Ron said looking like Hermione hung the stars and moon. 

Fred and George looked at Hermione with awe. "Hermione, darling why don't you marry us both we will show you pleasure you couldn't even dream of" "We will be the dream team" They looked ready to go on their knees ready to ask her to marry them. 

"You guys are way too chaotic for my taste, " Hermione replied. 

Ron cleared his throat looking a bit jealous. "Let's see what's in those boxes shall we. "

Fred took one of the boxes and handed it to Aria. "Here you go little lion, these are one of our finest creations that's not a joke product."

Aria opened the box with Ron and Hermione peering over her shoulders. 

The box was full of golden snitches. 

"How are a bunch of snitches going to help us? " Hermione asked, looking curious knowing that there must be something special about them seeing that Fred and George called them one of their finest products. 

"They are not ordinary snitches, Hermione darling, " Said Fred, pressing a button on what looked like a remote control. One of the golden snitches opened revealing a tiny camera in it. 

"We made the outer layer see through so they can record and capture everything they can see" George explained looking proudly. 

"Snitches are hard to see most of the time but with an invisibility charm or even with a disillusionment charm they are going to be undetectable." Fred continued. 

"I gave them the idea, Dudley went through a spy Kids phase" Aria said grinning. 

"That's brilliant mate, we should even add listening charms to them, " Ron said looking excited. 

"Already done, dear brother"

"So we could use them to spy on the dark lord seeing that the order no longer has a spy and we could even spy on the ministry and have places like diagon alley and hogsmeade, st mungos under surveillance so if the dark Lord plans an attack we can retaliate easily. "

Fred gave Aria the remote and a black screen. "Here is the remote and screen we played around with the settings a bit now you can even have the snitch follow a person and track their activities. 

Hermione looked impressed. 

"What else do you have? " Ron asked. 

"Disguises, brother dearest, " George grinned, opening a box to reveal mannequin face dolls with wigs of all kinds of hair colors while Fred opened another box full of hair dyes and muggle makeup products. " We brought everything as per your instructions. 

"Why do we need all this stuff? " Ron said looking a bit weirded out at all the wigs. 

"Everyone knows how we look, people are not going to expect a blonde aria or even a black haired Weasley. Seeing that all these are muggle stuff, magical glamour detection won't work on them." Hermione explained inspecting the hair dyes. 

"Alright I guess. What else? " Ron said, still not looking on board to have his hair colour changed. 

"A parcel from one Neville Longbottom coming up" Said George handing out a leather box to Aria. 

The box was full of magical herbs that can be used for magical potions neatly arranged in rows. 

"I thought Hermione can brew us some essential potions so I asked Neville to send herbs from his greenhouse. "

"Don't worry, I already started brewing the potions and I also had Ron nick polyjuice potion without anyone noticing. "

"We also bought our finest Peruvian instant darkness powder, decoy decorators for you guys" Said Fred handing over a box with their shop logo on it. 

"These bags have your clothes in them. " George said, pointing at a few bags.

Aria opened the bag to find clothes for all occasions but mostly athleisure wear in them. 

"How do you know her size? " Ron asked. 

"You definitely don't want to know how" Said Fred grinning at his brother. 

"Gross, totally gross" Ron said looking a bit green. 

"Get your mind out of the gutter, brother dearest" 

Aria laughed, "don't worry Ron nothing happened between us, Fred polyjuiced as me went out shopping as most of clothes are Petunia's and Dudley's hand me downs I would stick out like a sore thumb if I look like a homeless street urchin. "

"Isn't it a bit risky to look like Aria and go out shopping? " Hermione asked. 

"We did our shopping in Paris, took the muggle train, went shopping and came back. Nobody knew we even left the country. "

"Nobody followed us, most of the people think we are some amateur pranksters and are not very important enough to have someone tailing on us constantly. "

"So we get away with lots of stuff,"

"Sometimes you need to think outside the box Hermione darling, do you know how expensive international portkeys are? "

There was only one box left which consisted of several pair of glasses and contact lenses for Aria. (A/N: I think I remember movie Hermione or someone commenting about his terrible eyesight during the 7 potters incident. So I presumed that if Fred polyjuiced as Aria he could get her eyes checked on her behalf as she is confined at the Dursleys. Canon harry never replaced his glasses most of the people's prescription gets changed over the years.) 

Fred pointed his fingers towards a pair of glasses which were frameless and looked light and delicate. 

"While Fred was getting your eyes checked I chatted up with the receptionist. She was going on and on about improvements made in the field and about some night vision goggles. So we tried replicating it. Then we got bored and remembered Dumbledore. We were pretty sure  Dumbledore's glasses could see through disillusionment charms and invisibility cloaks and wards just like Moody's eye. We tried replicating it and were partially successful. You can only see one of the things at a time though " George said, handing her the glasses and pointing at the cute little buttons present on the side. 

"When did you get the time to get all this stuff? " Ron asked, wondering how they got all the time. 

"We got a clerk and some helpers to deal with the shop. we mostly concentrate on the creation part. As we are not living at the burrow nobody is focusing on our whereabouts. "

"How did you get the money? "

"Aria once again invested in our joke. She is now proudly owner of one third Weasley's wizarding wheezes and also she is like our boss. She provides us with ideas we create them for her. "

Ron and Hermione looked at Aria. 

"Don't look at me like that, I thought Sirius would like it if I am part owner to a joke shop and also Fred and George deserved that money, " Aria said, looking defensively. 

Fred handed Aria Sirius black's mirror. 

"Keep it with you guys, so you guys can contact us if anyone is in danger or if it is an emergency. " Fred shrugged and kept the mirror back in his pocket. 

"It was nice doing business with you, little lion" Said George, tipping his hat. 

"Good night guys, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite"

"That was eventful" Hermione said, collecting all the boxes and placing them in her beaded bag with extension charm on it. 

"Let's go to sleep shall we? otherwise Mrs Weasley will have our head tomorrow for looking like zombies."

The golden trio slept together cuddled up happy that their chances of winning against the dark Lord has improved a bit.

A/N: I know my fem harry might look like a Mary sue character. I swear she is not. Being raised by the Dursleys made her street smart as surviving in the Dursley household  is a big challenge on its own unlike Hermione who is book smart whereas aria tends to think out of the box and be more resourceful. 

I think most of the muggleborns forget their muggle roots after they enter the wizarding world and see it as a shameful thing instead they should have used their muggle heritage to improve the magical world without completely ignoring magical traditions. I think having a balanced amount of muggle and wizard technology would have improved their world a lot. That's just my opinion. 

Face claim for Aria Potter:

Adelaide Kane but with green eyes.