Authors Note: Wolfe had a German mother and British Father in Case your wondering J She is proud of her Heritage. She did attend Hogwarts in the same year as Koen Altair.
King Cross Train Station
England, United Kingdom
September of 1990
Worries Coming and Going
"Get a move on Ani!" cried a boy as He struggled to pull a heavily loaded baggage cart through the bustling crowd of King's Cross station; With his other hand he motioned impatiently toward a girl that strode between a dignified looking man dressed casually and a woman whose stare was one of ever-present vigilance.
The young girl clutched their hands as they walked, ignoring the boy, as they did. Keeping her pace equal to the two adults.
"Jacobi hold on a moment!" scolded the man as they caught up to the boy who had stopped to take a break from pulling the heavy cart.
Letting go of the girls hand he strode forward. "Hold your horses, we're not late after all and you're not really missing anything. And watch your pack, it's going to fall off your shoulder!"
Jacobi pouted a little, shifted the strap of his shoulder bag, and eagerly continued on, struggling to pull the baggage cart along.
The man shook his head at his sons annoying enthusiasm but nonetheless helped him, pushing the back of the cart with ease.
The girl, still clutching the hand of the woman, looked up at her companion with curious eyes. "Why is Jacobi so excited to go to some place we've never even heard about until last year?"
The woman looked down at the girl, Her jet black hair slipping around and framing her heart shaped face, complimenting her intense gold-green eyes. A small, loving smile danced on her full lips.
"Er glaubt auf diese Weise, weil nur ein sicheres wenige dort erlaubt werden, Ihnen sollte stolz auch fühlen."
The girl nodded, but still started to gnaw on her bottom lip. A trait, the woman knew, the girl displayed when she was nervous.
"Ani," The woman said as she pulled girl forward, upping their pace a bit in order to keep up with the man and young boy who were almost out of sight in the crowd. "There iz nothing to be afraid of . At Hogwarts you vill be following in yer muhders and fauders foot steps. A legacy! Und I know you vill do very vell in yer classes."
The girl looked at the faces of those she passed, wondering if they also had children going to this odd sounding place; This Hogwarts. Her free hand gripped the strap of her own shoulder bag firmly.
It wasn't until a year ago that she and her brother Jacobi, Her fraternal twin, were informed of their difference. The genetic traits that set them apart from the rest of all humanity.
At first the thing that had scared her most was the possibility that Jacobi would be accepted into this school and she, left behind.
Because she was not like him. She would turn out to be a plain, simple… muggle. That's the word her father had used. A word, up until that summer night one year ago She'd never heard.
It seemed everything was changing. And she was terrified. Had been, gut squirming terrified, since that night.
Jacobi, however, had been, and still was, brimming with excitement, infused with just the possibility of being chosen to go to this school meant for wizards. He was going to get in and that was it.
"What if I don't though?" Annise had asked as they swung from the swing set in their back yard later that night, "We've always done everything together."
Jacobi had only laughed, continuing to swing higher and higher. "You will," He'd sighed, slipping deep into his own thoughts, "you've always gone where I've gone haven't you?"
She'd stopped swinging then, She too began to let her mind race with thoughts. But hers were of rejection, separation, loneliness, and despair.
"Think of it Annise!" He brother had laughed as he launched his self out of the swings seat, landing gracefully as always he did. "We'll be able to fly on brooms, make potions, and even change our forms! Just like Wolfe!"
Wolfe.
Annise looked up at the woman as they continued to hurry through the crowd. Wolfe Katherine Ritter. Her father's predecessor and assistant. But to Her and Jacobi, She was a surrogate mother. Indeed, in any thing happened to Her father, Wolfe would take sole custody of them until they reached adulthood.
Wolfe.
She always thought it funny that even though her name was Wolfe, people close to the middle-aged woman referred to her as "Kitty" because of her middle name; Jacobi still did from time to time.
But Annise had stopped after that night.
The nickname seemed so far out now, It seemed like an insult to Wolfe. And she loved Her Wolfe.
More now, after what happened to her mother two years ago.
She loved Wolfe, even after what happened that night around the dinner table.
That night, when they were still hesitant to believe what Her father and Wolfe were telling them. Wolfe changed.
Before their very eyes. With no smoke or fancy pre-performance like you'd see on the television, the Wolfe Annise had known since infanthood took on another shape; and in her place was a wolf of the most magnificent white. Sitting at the table in a chair, one large paw resting next to the plate of hardly touched steak and salad. Wolfe's eyes searching Annise' shocked face.
Wolfe, in wolf form, just sat proudly before them; Her head cocked to one side as if to say: "What about now?"
There was no denying it then. Wolfe never lied. Daddy either. It was all, to Annise any ways, unbearably true.
They were told they'd get letters. And Deep down, Annise prayed they wouldn't.
She was happy being a normal girl who went to school and then came home to do chores and home work. She loved her big stone house with its big front and back yards that were cared for by hired gardeners three times a week.
She was happy being the daughter of a man who worked for the government.
Or so she thought.
That night she also found out that her father didn't just work the government of Canada, but for something called the "Ministry of magic."
Koen Altair over saw a commune, full of people like Himself, Wolfe, She, and Jacobi.
With his commune Koen was charged with being the eyes of this government in Canada. Enforcing the Wizarding world's (as her father called it) laws and so much more. He'd held that position for 11 years! And Annise never questioned it. Never wondered why She never went to his office or went to any office parties.
Now she really knew why those things had never happened. And she didn't like it at all.
She was happy being Ani Altair. The normal…muggle.
She cried that night, after the dinner of discoveries, and she prayed that those stupid letters would not come.
But they did. Carried by owls like her father said they would. Jacobi had opened his on the spot, and then opened hers when she refused.
Whooping and jumping around Jacobi dashed off to show Wolfe, who was in the kitchen making supper that evening. Leaving Annise on the front porch, her eyes staring at the owl flying away. Tear flowing down her cheeks.
"You DO want to go, right?" Jacobi had asked that night before bed, His brown eyes staring into her eyes. "I mean, I won't go if you don't…I-I guess I won't anyways."
The worry, the sadness that appeared in Jacobi's eyes when he offered up that sacrifice, broke Annise' heart and made up her frightened mind.
So now they were off, going to a new school where they'd live for 10 months. 10 months of school was nothing to her, but being away for so long from Daddy and Wolfe made her throat close up and her eyes water.
Wolfe came to a stop, startling Annise out of her thoughts. She looked at her father who was looking around cautiously as He and Jacobi stood under an archway.
"What do you think, Kitty?" He asked without looking over his shoulder at the tall, athletic woman, "Is it safe eh?"
Wolfe released Annise' hand and began to look all around them, to the sides (even over the edge of the platform and peering down at the tracks), then forward, and then backward before giving a brisk nod. "Ve should 'urry Koen, It is almost 11."
"All right!" Jacobi cried and looked around excitedly. "Where is it, Dad?" He asked tugging his fathers jacket sleeve, "That platform…uh…9 and 3 quarters right?"
Annise snorted in disbelief. "Jake!" She sniggered, "There's no such thing as that!"
Her father burst into an amused chuckled and looked at Wolfe who struggled to control her own laughter.
Annise gazed at them with a creased brow. "What?" She asked puzzled by their father's and guardian's behavior."What's so funny?"
Wolfe strode forward, walking straight toward the red brick wall.
Annise stifled a scream and Jacobi's mouth dropped to his chest as they both witnessed Wolfe's head disintegrate into the wall. She leapt back, head quite all right and firmly in place, with a wide smile on her lips, a second later.
"Whoa!" Jacobi exclaimed rushing forward, hands outstretched, "To awesome!"
"Hold it!" Annise' father barked, grabbing the collar of Jacobi's shirt and holding him in place, "Not so fast now! We're going with you after all and we've got to do this right!"
Wolfe moved out of the way and returned to Annise' side to let Koen begin to explain the necessary process of walking on to the plat form hidden beyond the wall to Jacobi who was trembling with excitement
"Pretty cool, eh?" Wolfe asked Annise, wrapping an arm around the stunned girls shoulder, "You go through, Und you'll board the train, und off you and Jake go."
Annise gazed up at the still smiling woman. " The train is through there? B-but I can't walk through a wall!" She protested, "You know how klutzy I am!"
Wolfe laughed, a throaty bark like laugh. "You vill be fine I svare! I was nervous too at first. You'll be okay."
"I'll have to do this every time? Each year?"
Wolfe looked down at Annise, She pulled the girl closer and hugged her about the shoulders. "Vat must I say to assure you Meine Süsse?"
Annise gulped, "Th-that there's another way!"
Wolfe laughed again and bent down, kissing the top Annise' head. "The only vay is dis vay, und it's time to go."
Koen waved Annise over to him and explained to her what needed to be done.
"Wolfe and I are right behind you Doodle-bop, just charge at that wall and don't be scared. Ready?" He asked, unaware that he was fiddling with Annise' tussled, auburn hair. A habit he always had when explaining something important to her.
Annise sighed and nodded. "As I'll ever be I suspect," She replied, looking at the brick wall nervously.
"Me first!" Jacobi announced confidently, bumping Annise out of the way, "Can I? Can I go now Dad?"
Koen stepped aside and strode over to Wolfe, standing beside her just behind Annise' shoulder.
His cerulean eyes were filled with mixed emotion; After a moment, He nodded.
Annise' noted the way Wolfe's eyes gleamed when Her father placed a hand firmly on her shoulder as he gave Jacobi the go ahead.
"Just like me, okay Ani?"
She faced her brother, who was jumping in place. She nodded and chewed her lip, "okay."
With that, Jacobi gave a happy yelp and dashed forward, disappearing into the wall.
Her stomach in knots, she cast another glance over her shoulder. "Go on baby," Her father said giving her a thumbs-up, "Just like Jake." Wolfe winked and grinned, Her long, delicate fingers caressing the hand on her shoulder.
Annise turned and faced the wall, gnawing her bottom lip tentatively. 'Don't crush your skull, don't crush your skull!' She thought to herself. She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and with a groan dashed forward.
There was great whooshing sound, a feeling of walking out into a chilling breeze, and complete darkness before light struck her eyes and the noise of a large bustling throng flooded her ears a split second later.
"You did it!"
Annise opened her eyes slowly, looking at her smiling brother who was squatting on his haunches in front of her, his arms crossed over his bent knees.
"It's a rush eh?" He chuckled rising, "I almost ran into some people but they just laughed. Must happen a lot. Look at the train."
Annise glanced at the great iron serpent for a moment that was hissing with life and emitting great puffs of smoke from it's chimney before nodding.
She watched the people around her. Other kids her age were dressed in robes; dashing to and fro laughing and chattering excitedly.
Some adults were also rushing around with their children while some were clustered together in large groups laughing and pointing at children hurrying about.
"That's our daughter, she's so excited to be going!" One mother said pointing at one of the buzzing children.
"My son's determined to be in Hufflepuff like I was, thinks it's the greatest house there." A balding, pudgy man commented to someone standing next to him.
"I hear we get to learn how to fly this year! Isn't that cool!" A child was asking his companion as they strode by Annise.
"We're not in Canada anymore Jake," Annise muttered, clutching the strap of her shoulder bag ferociously, "Where is this Hogwarts anyways?"
Jacobi shrugged and began to pace back and fourth. Growing impatient with Wolfe's and their father's delay. "Somewhere in England I guess…it's hidden though, from the normal people."
Normal? Annise rolled the word around in her mind. Weren't they still normal? Or something else? Something worse?
"Finally!" Jacobi declared hurrying past Annise, "started to worry!"
Their father and Wolfe were strolling over to them, pulling the baggage cart behind them.
"Vell Ve are hear now aren't ve?" Wolfe said thumping Jacobi on the shoulder, "Be sure und check your bag, make sure you 'ave everyting, Ja?"
Annise' eyes widened. "We gotta get on right now?" She asked, "But I thought we had time?"
Koen smiled softly and patted Annise' shoulder. "We do, just not loads of it, be sure and check your bag. Make sure that your wand is there."
With a sinking heart Annise lifted the flap of her shoulder bag and withdrew the item her father spoke of.
"What kind do you have again, Ani?" Jacobi asked examining his own.
"Er…uh…Willow with…uh…crushed wolf's fang. That's what that dude said anyways."
"Meester Olivander, Ani," Wolfe corrected, "He gave you the same kind as yer fauder's. Only a different wood, Ja Koen?"
Her father nodded, "Mine is oak," He glanced at his son who was examining his long wand, "You have the same one as your Mother's right, Jake?"
Jake cleared his throat, gave the wand one last quick glance, and thrust it back into his bag. "Yeah, beech wood with unicorn hair," He answered quickly, "Are we going to get on the train now?"
Koen looked down at his feet for a moment, a tense pause lingered between them before Wolfe said, "Ja, let's go."
Annise took her father's outstretched hand. Looking at him, she noticed that his eyes suddenly had grown very far away.
When the time came to board the train, Koen didn't waste a second. He scooped Annise into a bone crushing hug, kissing her head several times.
"Write to me okay? And I'll write to you. Promise?" He asked letting her go and stepping back so that he could look into his daughters eyes.
Annise nodded, " swear?" She said holding up her small finger. Koen smiled softly before twining his finger around his daughters. She kissed her father's cheek and hugged him one more time.
Wolfe was smothering Jacobi mercilessly, making loud smacking noises as she kissed his forehead over and over again. "stopitstopitstopit!" Jacobi protested trying to break free, "People'll see!"
Wolfe released him with one last kiss, a mischievous grin on her face. "Behave, you really don't vant der kind of detention!" She warned.
Jacobi stepped between Annise and Koen, extending his hand toward his father. Koen shook it firmly. "Whatever house your in don't be mean to your sister if she's placed differently," Koen ordered, "All the students are the same and there for the same reasons as you. So don't get caught up in the whole rivalry thing. Annise will need your help to adjust."
Jacobi curled his lip in annoyance. "Why do I always have to play babysitter?" He asked pulling his hand from his father's. He didn't wait for answer, he bounded onto the train and hurried down the long corridor. Annise watched him run down the train's corridors through the windows until he disappeared from sight.
"Go on, Ani, time to go," Wolfe said, rushing forward. Annise flung her arms around Wolfe's neck and the woman wrapped her arms around her waist and hoisted her up into the air for a moment.
"Haben Sie keine Furcht, seien Sie ein Wolf und finden Sie Ihren Platz" Wolfe whispered in Annise' ear as she set her down.
Annise nodded, "Ich liebe Dich" She replied, and waved at her father, who stood patiently behind Wolfe.
"Love you," She mouthed at him, starting to back up.
"You more" Koen mouthed back.
She turned, looked over her shoulder once more, and climbed aboard.
Wolfe and Koen stood watching Annise before she too strolled completely from view.
"You did tell Dumbeldore yer worries, Ja?" Wolfe asked as she and her leader turned away from the Hogwarts express and began walking back to where they'd entered, "Vat did 'e say?"
Koen made a face and threw his hands up in the air. "That he would try," He replied, "He'd watch her, and keep an eye on her…that's about it."
Wolfe snorted and shook her head. "You know I 'ave never really trusted that old man, something 'bout 'im," She said stopping just short of the wall.
"You're not suggesting…" Koen trailed off and he spun around, looking at the train that was now creaking to life. Pulling His children away.
"Nein, Koen," Wolfe said patting his shoulder, "I only meant dat 'e alvays seems to be hiding something…alvays."
Koen sighed once more and looked worriedly into Wolfe's eyes. "Yes, I know what you mean but…Annise is…I don't know…special doesn't seem right…not with what she might be."
Wolfe pushed her hands into her coat pockets and glanced at the departing train. Her mind now filling with worry as well.
"Ve vill come to dat bridge vhen ve must cross it, eh? Come, there is an assembly tonight."
With one last look at the train, Koen followed Wolfe back through the wall.
Pronunciations:
Annise: Ah-Niece
Jacobi: Jah-co-bee
Koen: Ko-in
Ani: Ahn-ee
Altair: All-tear (as in to rip)
Translations:
Ich liebe Dich: I love you
Er glaubt auf diese Weise, weil nur ein sicheres wenige dort erlaubt werden, Ihnen sollte stolz auch fühlen:
"it believes to proudly also feel in this way, because only safe few are permitted there, you should."
(Basically Wolfe told Annise that Jacobi is proud to be going there and she should too because only people with magical abilities go there.)
Haben Sie keine Furcht, seien Sie ein Wolf und finden Sie Ihren Platz: credit you fear, are not you a wolf and find you your place
(Basically Wolfe tells Annise to not be afraid, be a wolf and find your path according to some Native Americans wolves are considered path finders,)