Okay, now it's back to the perspective you know and love. Well, the one I know and love, anyway. Oh, and thanks to those who reviewed the first chapter. It actually made me get all giggly and super-excited like a child on crack. How do I know what a child on crack is like? I don't.
Chapter Two: Ana who?
Severus was going to be so surprised. I was meant to stay with my parents until the thirty-first, but I'd eventually worn them down and they'd given me leave to go back to Hogwarts early. I mean, I could've gone anyway if I'd really wanted; it wasn't as though I were under house arrest or anything. But since I was bringing Ana back with me, I figured I shouldn't add 'kidnapping' to my long, long list of criminal misdeeds. Well, that part was a bit of a lie. I didn't have any criminal misdeeds, actually. Well, there was that one time, from when I was nineteen and I got so drunk that I climbed to the top of the statue of St. Ignatius in the park near London, sat on his shoulders, and sang filthy sailors' songs. It was okay though, since I'd fallen down and dislocated my shoulder, the policeman who was going to arrest me let me off with a warning out of pity. That shouldn't really count, though.
Anyway, back to the present, I was going to surprise Severus with my early arrival. Not sure how he'd handle Ana being around, though. It wasn't like I particularly enjoyed the kid's company, but she was due to begin school that year anyway, and since her mother had gone off on her honeymoon, it was just more convenient for everyone if she came back to Hogwarts with me. At least she was lugging her own trunk, because with a huge suitcase and an oversized handbag, I was having my own baggage issues.
"Why are we going to the basement?" she asked timidly as she followed me down flights of stairs.
"Dungeons, Ana, in Hogwarts it's called the dungeons," I corrected, as the final stair was conquered and the floor was fairly flat – good for suitcases with rolly-wheels.
"Oh," she said, hurrying to keep up. "Why are we going to the dungeons?"
"Because that's where I stay."
"Where do I stay?"
"No idea. I'll have to talk to McGonagall. But I want to see Severus first."
"Uncle Martin said Severus was a surly old bat who has no business with you," Ana said matter-of-factly. I turned to stare at her, but forgot that there was another couple of stairs before the doorway to Severus' quarters. My foot stepped on air rather than solid ground and I stumbled, falling to the ground. My face hit the flagstones and my suitcase tipped onto my shin, causing me to cry out and swear like a drunken sailor. I glared at Ana.
"My father doesn't know shit about Severus. Don't listen to him," I said eventually, rubbing my aching shin.
"Mum said that she'd hex you if you swore in front of me."
"Don't tell her then."
"She told me to tell her."
"So don't tell her you're not telling her."
"That's lying."
"Bloody hell, Ana. Just go… look, over there, that door with the plaque on it. Go into that room and get Severus, get him to come help me with my stuff. And don't turn into a flobberworm if he puts the glare on you, he does that to everyone." My shin was still aching viciously and it was making my eyes water, but thankfully Ana followed my instructions and walked swiftly over to the door. I saw her open it apprehensively and step inside, and heard a sharp voice coming out from the room. Severus! I'd dreamt about him every night and thought about him every day since I'd left, but nothing could compare to the real thing. I stood up, though my shin was still painful enough to make me whimper, and hopped over to the doorway, almost crushing Ana as I staggered into the room. I muttered a quick reprimand to Ana for her weakness, then my ribs were nearly crushed by a large black mass. After ascertaining that it was just Severus and not a giant bear, I wrestled my arms out of his vice-like grip and hugged him around the neck so tightly I might've lodged a few vertebrae in his windpipe. Eventually I felt his grip loosen, so I let go of his neck and amused myself by watching him try to breathe again.
"I thought you weren't due back for another week?" he asked, overdoing the nonchalant act. Honestly, I could see right through him sometimes. I could barely think of that, though. I just loved to look at him, after being separated for so long. I was so incredibly ecstatic that I was back.
"Well, maybe I missed you," I said cheerfully. "Did you miss me?"
He grimaced and turned slightly. "Hardly." What an awful liar. "Who's this?"
"Oh… actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about her, ever since… ever since we became involved, actually." I wondered if he'd buy it. He looked bewildered and suspicious. "Maybe you'd better sit down." Ana looked just as bewildered, but Severus complied and swept over to one of the green armchairs that sat before the fire. I sat in another, and motioned for Ana to take a third. "The truth is… she's my daughter. She's been with her father for the past eleven years, but now that it's time for her to start Hogwarts she's under my care. I'm sorry I kept this from you all this time." Severus still looked bewildered, and a little expression of shock was creeping into his face.
"Raphie!" Ana cried indignantly, and I cracked up.
"You should see your face!" I cried, pointing at Severus. "Ha, Merlin, no, she's just my cousin's kid. I'm just doing her mum a favour by bringing her back with me."
"That's not funny, Raphaela," Severus said, now just glaring.
"You totally believed me," I said, still giggling. "I think it's funny."
"Well, I don't," he said, standing up and sweeping over to one of the faux windows. "I think it's a ridiculous, feeble joke."
"I don't think it's funny either," Ana said, crossing her arms. "You're not my mother."
"Duh, that was the joke, genius," I said, rolling my eyes. Fine, so nobody was going to side with me over my totally great joke. I didn't care. I still thought it was funny.
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A/N
1. As far as I know, St. Ignatius is not a real saint. I made him up. But if anyone is a saint-spert (saint and expert put together, oh snap) then let me know one way or another.
2. Yes, Raphaela has a terrible case of 'not knowing how to act around children'. Stemming, most likely, from her chronic 'not knowing how to act around anyone'.
