Chapter 1
Weasleys and Summer Bets

August 13th, 1991
The Burrow - Weasleys Residence

Anna was comfortably lounging on George's bed, the Twins eagerly talking about the next year of term. "I hear Harry Potter is joining this year," Fred said.

"Blimey really?" George breathed in amazement.

Anna wasn't even going to ask whom they were talking about, instead, she got up from the bed and left the room. The Twins not even noticing her presence in the first place. Anna had sent Luna off with Mia's birthday present—a new necklace she'd bought when the Weasley's had taken a trip to Diagon Alley—and a letter she'd written earlier that day. She had started growing bored and lonely, she missed Minnie and wondered what she was doing at that moment; she wondered if the older witch missed her too. Anna pondered this as she walked down the many stairs to where the kitchen and the sitting room were. Anna found Mrs Weasley—a short, plump, redheaded witch—in the sitting room, sipping tea and gossiping to someone Anna couldn't see.

Anna tiptoed to the kitchen and found a bowl of freshly baked Pumpkin Spice cookies on the table, Anna smiled and popped one in her mouth before she heard the familiar clearing of someone's throat. She stopped mid-tiptoe and looked absolutely ridiculous in the process before she returned to her usual stance, swallowing the cookie and giving Mrs Weasley an innocent smile; that said it all. Mrs Weasley couldn't help but smile at the small witch.

"Hello there, little Hufflepuff, like the cookies?" Anna popped another one in her mouth and nodded happily. Mrs Weasley laughed and gestured for Anna to follow her; the little witch quickly grabbing two more cookies before following, which made Mrs Weasley laugh all the more.

The pair entered the room and Anna found Spirit curled up in a ball on the small sofa beside an older looking witch with squared spectacles and a pointed witch's hat. Anna blinked a few times before she realized who it was when she realized she beamed brightly and ran to hug the witch; she had missed so much. "Minnie!" She squealed and Minerva laughed at her never fading enthusiasm when it came to hellos.

"Hello Annie, go grab your things, your coming to Hogwarts with me dear. I came to fetch you, it's urgent we leave right away. Don't forget to say goodbye."

"Why do we have to leave right now, Minnie?"

"I'll explain when we get there alright, i-it's not going to be a good day for you dear," Minerva wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

As if sensing it was about her parents, Anna asked in a hopeful voice; "Where's Mama and Papa?"

Minerva bristled and shook her head. "Th-they were attacked, I'm sorry Anna, they didn't make it, we did everything we could, but we were too late to save them." Mrs Weasley gasped in shock at the sudden news and hugged Anna tightly as the little witch silently cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Y-you m-mean th-they're d-dead?" Anna stammered, tears now pouring down her cheeks, her eyes a stormy grey.

Minerva nodded sadly and Anna was suddenly being consoled by Mrs Weasley as the little witch cried into the crook of her neck. "I'm so sorry dear," Mrs Weasley consoled as she pet the girl's hair.

"Hey," A voice called from the corner of the scene.

"What's going on?" Another voice finished.

"Hello Fred, George. Anna has just learned of her parents status. They are no longer with us." At the words, Anna only cried harder.

The Twins rushed to the pair of witches and relieved their mother of the sobbing girl, encasing and consoling her in their turn.

At the noise from the sitting room, the entire Burrow was now in the sitting room, confused and asking why Anna was upset, and every time it was answered Anna only cried harder. The Twins had had enough! They pulled Anna out of the sitting room and the trio sat at the foot of the stairs.

"I was so looking forward to telling my Mum and Dad about my adventures this summer," she mumbled almost to no one before she let out an exasperated sigh. "Now I'll never get too," she added.

"You can still tell them, Annie,"

"Yea, I'm sure they're listening to us right now."

"Thanks, guys," Anna smiled and the three shared a sideways hug. "But where am I going to live now?"

"You can stay here with us," George offered.

"Or you could ask Professor McGonagall to live with her," Fred suggested.

"Better yet, you could—no wait, never mind that's the same bloody thing," George's head inflated then deflated within an instant, Anna giggled; the Twins shared a glance and a smile, leaning forward and kissing her cheeks: one twin per cheek.

Anna turned a deep crimson and slapped them both playfully in the chests, making them laugh. Her eyes had turned a deep plum colour, before returning to their ocean blue hue, the Twins smiled at one another happily; Anna was back from the distress, the news of her parents had brought her, but somehow they knew the happiness wouldn't always last.

August 31st, 1991
Diagon Alley - Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions

Anna and Minerva had been in Diagon Alley for a few hours now, Anna's new books and supplies were bought, her Hogsmeade permission slip signed—Anna knew every Hogsmeade weekend by heart, with Minnie as her new guardian—, all she had left on her small list was a new skirt and a blouse, as well as getting her school robes adjusted.

The magical pin accidentally poked her harshly in the leg and she growled audibly at it and it looked, point up, at her as if saying "Sorry.".

"It's alright, just be more careful, alright?" She told the pin and its point bounced up and down as if nodding, she smiled at the pin and it got back to work.

"W-were you talking to the pin?" A boy asked from the stool across from her, he looked like a first year. Messy black hair that stuck up in every direction like her father.

Anna lifted her gaze from the pin and she smiled at him and nodded. "She can be a little rough sometimes and she pokes the skin, try to stay still when she gets to you alright?" he nodded and she outstretched her hand to him, he took it and smiled at her, his eyes looked identical to Holly and Weave's, emerald green. Her eyes flashed violet and he noticed with a soft gasp. She smiled and introduced herself. "Name's Tassiyanna, call me Anna. What about you kid? You got a name?"

He nodded and smiled at her. "I'm Harry, Harry Potter." She smiled at him, but then frowned when he looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to say something about his fame—but of course—she didn't know.

"You a first year?" Harry looked at her shocked when she asked but said nothing of his fame, he left his fame out of their conversation and nodded, looking nervous. "You'll be alright, I'm a third year, Muggle-born," she told him with ease and he looked confused at the word. "I have non-magical parents, just me, I'm an orphan, my parents were attacked and killed this summer. I don't know when exactly but I was told it was sometime in the last month." She told him as she pondered when exactly her parents had died. "I'll ask Minerva when she gets back," she said to herself aloud.

"I-I'm an orphan too," Harry said shyly. "I-I never met them,"

The magical pin looked up at her—when she gasped at the news—and nodded meaning she was done, she put her yellow ballet flats with the little black bows on and hugged the boy before she ruffled his hair making it look a little worse than the mess it had already been. "Sorry about your parents, kid. See you at Hogwarts, hope you get into Hufflepuff. I have to go, bye." She left and turned back to him at the door and waved, Spirit jumped on her shoulders as she left the shop after paying for her robe adjustment. "Thanks again, Catherine." She said to Madam Malkin at the front of the shop at the register and the lady smiled at her kindly as Anna left the shop.

oOoOoOoOo

September 1st, 1991
Hogwarts - Great Hall
9:00 pm - Sorting Ceremony

Anna sat with all her friends at the Hufflepuff table, chattering greatly and placing bets about the new Defence Professor Quirinus Quirrell and how long he'd last, the pool was set and kept adding up profusely, they were at 100 Galleons now.

Just then, the hall doors burst open with Minnie at the forefront of the scared first years, two first-year witches behind her; a honey-brown bushy haired witch and a short black haired witch that had to have been a Slytherin in the making.

All the first years look terrified. Anna felt someone tap her shoulder and she turned and was staring into James' soft green eyes, they flashed liquid gold momentarily and she could tell he was excited, his smile was blinding and she smiled at him.

"'Wonder how many we'll get this year," he whispered and Anna beamed at him.

"Last year we got at least 10, I bet ya 5 Galleons we won't get more than five." She whispered back.

"5 Galleons for five Hufflepuffs? You sure? No take backsies," Anna snorted a laugh at his joke and she nodded firmly her eyes shifting to a light violet meaning she was serious about it. He grinned at her mischievously. "You're on," he said with a grin. She beamed mischievously, it had become their little tradition. Anna had won every year so far.

"And I bet ya another 2 Galleons that we get a redhead." His grin grew and he placed two more Galleons on the table with his other five. Anna did the same. 7 Galleons each upon the table in front of them, the Sorting Hat began to sing:

'Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden inside your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means,

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!'

The Hat's mouth closed and the song ended and everyone stood clapping and cheering. Minnie explained the rules of the Sorting and named the first name upon the scroll. "Granger, Hermione." The honey-brown bushy haired witch walked up and was the first Gryffindor of the year.

"Malfoy, Draco." was Sorted into Slytherin as well as the short black haired witch that Hermione had walked in with, whose name was Pansy Parkinson.

"Longbottom, Neville." was also Sorted into Gryffindor, as well as Harry Potter.

"Bones, Susan." a redhead was Sorted to Hufflepuff as well as four others by the end of the Sorting when "Weasley, Ronald." was the last on Sorted into Gryffindor. Minnie picked up the three-legged stool the Hat sat on and walked off. James begrudgingly pushed over his 7 Galleons to Anna's pile and the Lot laughed at another win for Anna. She smirked at him and he ruffled her hair even worse. Everyone laughed, even Anna before she messed up his and the food appeared.

Dumbledore stood from his seat at the Professor's table and his booming voice silenced the chattering of the students. "Welcome! Welcome to another year of Hogwarts. First years must know that the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden. All students must know that the fifth-floor corridor is strictly off-limits for those who do not wish to live a most painful death. I'd like to introduce Professor Quirinus Quirrell, who will be taking up the Defence Against the Dark Arts. Good luck Professor." He sat back down and everyone ate.

Anna was disappointed that Harry hadn't been Sorted to Hufflepuff but to Gryffindor instead, when he'd been Sorted he'd locked eyes with her and gave her an apologetic look, she nodded to him that it was okay and sat with Ronald and Hermione. Shaking hands with the Weasley Twins and laughing at something they'd told him, Anna smiled.

One of the Twins met her gaze and he raised his eyebrow and she smiled sadly at Fred and mouthed; "Take care of him," Fred smiled at her, she smiled back before she could return to her meal, thankful for the Twins and their blooming friendship over the course of the summer.

He mouthed back. "I will, you okay?"

She nodded sadly at his question and smiled at him. "Thanks, Freddie." He smiled at her and nodded curtly with a shrug, the silent 'eh, it was the least I could do for a friend, especially you' there, but unspoken.