Chapter 01- A very long summer

A/N: I want to dedicate this fic to my grandmother. She always gave me ideas for my stories, and loved to hear everything I wrote, even if it was a short poem or a long story. She encouraged me to follow my dreams and she made me laugh so much, so many times. She showed me that Grandmothers can drive fast! She taught me how to bake and she taught me important lessons in life. She also taught me how to be a better person and how to be a better daughter. She taught me how to believe in God again. She always gave me hope in the middle of the darkness and held my hand through difficult moments. She listened to me without judging me and was very open minded about everything. She taught me how to play cards and I will never forget those endless afternoons when we played until our eyes were sore. I want to thank her for baking me the cake that I wanted when I turned 18, and that she listened to my crazy request of 18 candles! I want to thank her for letting me take care of her and hold her hand while she battled cancer. I want to thank her for letting me sit by her side during those long nights in the hospital and that she managed to be awake and talk and joke with me while she was in pain.

I want to thank her for letting me spend the last day of her life with her, and that I was able to kiss her goodbye. And even though she won't be able to be in my graduation, I will graduate with honors just for her. Because she had faith in me, and I don't want to disappoint her. This fanfic, my written work and my life is dedicated to that wonderful woman who was too good for Earth. I miss you, Grandma.

Anne looked out the window and sighed deeply for the millionth time. A piece of parchment was lying on Anne's desk, her fingers clutching a handsome quill. On top of the parchment you could read the words "Dear Chris" etched carefully.

Anne had tried, in vain, to write to Chris, trying to explain what had happened that night they met the ghost.. Her parents were very worried about her, and her father hinted that it might be because of the whole Bethus thing.

Anne stuck to that theory because she was scared to death of what she was feeling. She was in love with Christopher Keedsler, her best friend since forever and Marcela's (another best friend) ex-boyfriend.

Because Chris had written a letter to Marcela at the end of term, which Anne had given to her. Chris explained in the letter that he and Marcela were meant to be nothing more than friends. Even Marcela, crying freely, admitted it was a beautiful letter, but also said that Chris was a coward because he didn't say it personally.

"Anne?" James Potter, Anne's brother, was standing in the doorway. "Mom says you should come to have dinner. It's getting cold."

"I'm not hungry," Anne said.

"Mom said you would say that, so she said that if you didn't come down, she would take another week of your allowance," James smirked.

Anne turned to look at him and grunted. "Unbelievable," Anne snapped as she stomped her feet and went downstairs.

"Corruption! This family is nothing but the accurate definition of corruption!" Anne snarled as she sat at the table grudgingly.

"Watch your mouth," her father said in a firm tone. "You haven't been eating properly all summer."

"Do you know how many girls die a year from an eating disorder?" James questioned. "You should take care of yourself."

"I do not have an eating disorder!" Anne snapped. "I just don't feel like eating."

Her parents stared at her in concern and Anne frowned. "Isn't this the part where you say that teenagers don't have a problem in the world and blah, blah, blah?"

"I understand you," her father said. "But in order to help you get out of whatever situation you are involved in, you have to talk to us."

Anne rolled her eyes and put a spoonful of mashed potatoes in her mouth. She suddenly felt very hungry and started eating eagerly.

"You're so weird," James said, sounding disgusted. "People actually ask me if we're really related."

"Forgot you are Mr. Popularity at school," Anne said between bites.

"Just because I'm involved in more social activities it doesn't mean that you have to be such a prat with me," James retorted.

"You two, stop it!" their mother snapped and Anne and James glared daggers at each other.

"Anne, you're about to turn 16 and James, you're already 13," Hermione said angrily. "I expected that you started behaving like mature people!"

"Buy her a leash," James muttered. He was a very handsome teenager, with his dark hair and green eyes (just like Anne) and he was very tall, taller than Anne. She often joked about this, saying that he was probably adopted, since neither Harry or Hermione were exactly tall. James attracted the attention of many girls, including some from Anne's year and she found this very disturbing.

Anne glared at James and continued eating in silence.

That night

Anne couldn't sleep (again) and she decided to go out to her balcony and look at the stars. To her disappointment, the sky was cloudy, and no stars could be seen.

"Hey." James walked over to her, wearing his pajamas.

Anne ignored him and continued staring at the sky. "Nothing in there, eh?" James asked.

"If you're going to keep bothering me then-"

"Sorry for the whole dinner thing," James sighed. "I've been quite an idiot this summer."

"Yeah, I know," Anne retorted.

James said nothing and looked at the sky too. "Even though we don't have the best relationship in the world, I sense that something is bothering you," he said.

"What, mom and dad sent you?" Anne mocked. "How many pounds is that question worth?"

"Anne, I'm trying to be a good brother here," James said through gritted teeth. "Give me a hand. And no money in the world would convince me of doing what I am doing now."

"Okay, I'll buy that," Anne smirked. "My problem is nothing a 13-year old can understand. You're too young."

"Aw, come on, give it a try," James pleaded.

"Swear you won't tell this to anyone?" Anne asked.

"Swear," James grinned. "If I do, you can show the pictures of when I threw up in Uncle Dudley's new plasma TV."

"Done. What if you fell in love with your best friend? What would you do?" Anne sighed.

"Um, I would probably get a rainbow scarf or something since my best friend is a guy," James chuckled, but stopped at the sight of Anne frowning. "Um… I suppose that I would tell him or her how I felt."

"But what if that friend is one of your best friend's ex-boyfriend?" Anne asked.

"Are we talking about Christopher?" James mocked. "Eww, that's almost incest."

"James!" Anne snapped.

"Well… it's complicated," James admitted. "You were right. This is beyond my thinking range."

Anne sighed and returned to look at the sky. James stood with her, in complete silence as Anne thought things over and over.

"Anne… I think I would let things like they are," James said finally. "You know… what if it's only a crush and you're complicating things? Or if you and Chris break up and you ruin your friendship with him and with Marcela?"

"You think I haven't thought about that?" Anne blurted. "But maybe… maybe that's the answer. And if Chris and I are really best friends, we will let this pass and everything will be okay."

"Or, you could take the chance and… End up like mum and dad," James shrugged. "Who knows?"

Anne crossed her arms and stared at her feet. "I'll probably go with option A," she said.

James nodded and walked over to her. He smiled and shook his head. "I'm definitely not going to fall in love or something like that in the near future."

Anne smiled sadly and James walked away.