Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters.
Chapter 1: Diagon Alley
When Remus and Anna arrived at The Leaky Cauldron much later, they went straight through to where the entrance to Diagon Alley was. Remus tapped one of the bricks with his wand and the two stepped through the entry way.
"So how are you getting to Hogwarts?" asked Anna as they headed for Flourish and Blotts.
Remus turned to look at her.
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
Anna rolled her eyes.
"Don't play dumb, Dad," Remus' insides squirmed uncomfortably when he heard that last word. If Sirius weren't imprisoned, he would've hexed Remus into the next century, he was sure of it. "I know Professor Dumbledore asked you to come teach at Hogwarts."
Remus sighed.
"I'll be taking the Hogwarts Express with you and the other students, of course. Don't worry," he added when he saw the mortified look on Anna's face, "We don't have to sit in the same compartment."
"Great," she replied, relieved, "D'you mind waiting for me while I get my books?"
"Sure, I'll meet you at Madam Malkin's."
Anna nodded and walked into the shop. Two people caught her attention. One was a tall boy with red hair, the other, a girl with extremely bushy brown hair. They were Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They were in the same year as she was, but in different houses; Anna was in Ravenclaw, Hermione and Ron were in Gryffindor.
"Hi," she said as she walked up to them.
Both turned to look at her.
"Hi Anna," they said simultaneously.
"Hi Ron," she replied. "Hi Hermione. You two have a good holiday?"
They nodded.
"Just finished getting our school supplies." said Ron, "We're staying at the Leaky Cauldron til tomorrow."
"Have you got everything?" asked Hermione, panting as she struggled to lift the many shopping bags she had with her.
"No, Dad and I just got here a bit ago." said Anna. " Er--Exactly how many subjects are you taking, Hermione?"
She shrugged.
" A lot, but I'll manage." she glanced at Ron. "Come on, we'd better get back, your mum will go nuts if we don't."
Ron nodded.
"See you on the train then," he said to Anna, and he and Hermione left.
Ten minutes later, Anna left the shop, clutching a bag with her new school books in her hand. She was extremely glad not to be taking Care of Magical Creatures - those books looked monstrous. The only new subject she had signed up for was Divination.
She was on her way to Madam Malkin's when a voice called,
"Oi, Lupin!"
She turned and saw Draco Malfoy walking out of the Apothecary. He was a Slytherin third year student.
"What d'you want, Draco?" she asked wearily.
His eyes narrowed.
"Heard about Sirus Black?"
Anna sighed.
"Who hasn't heard about him? Now what do you want?"
His pale, pointed face seemed to glow under that mop of blonde hair that was slicked back.
"Are you serious?" he breathed, "I'd thought you'd know by now."
"Know what? Either explain or leave me alone."
"No, I'm sure you'll find out soon enough," he said smoothly. "See you at school."
He set off down the street, leaving her to hurry along to meet Remus. Once she had her robes and had restocked her Potions kit, she and Remus left Diagon Alley.
"Mind you get all these packed before bed," he advised, "We're going to have to leave quickly in the morning."
She nodded wearily and trooped upstairs to add to the jumble of objects inside her school trunk. Once her school things were secured in her trunk, she flung herself onto her bed and stared at the ceiling.
What exactly had Malfoy been so keen to tell her earlier? She'd worked out that it had something to do with that escaped convict, Sirius Black, or else Malfoy wouldn't have mentioned him. She'd asked Remus on their way home what he knew about the escaped convict. He'd gone rigid, and said in a strained voice, "Nothing that would interest you." The statement had stirred up a bit of curiosity in the young witch: what was he keeping from her?
She sighed, rolled over on the mattress, and stared at the picture of her mother on her bedside table. It was a photograph of Claire trying to read in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. The expression on her face registered somewhere between annoyance and ammusement as she determinedly turned a page in her book, doing a very poor job of ignoring the photographer.
Anna knew very little about her mother. She knew how Claire had died, but why she had died was the question that was on her mind...a question Remus never seemed to want to answer.
"Dad?"
She noticed Remus flinch noticeably. He did that a lot, now that she thought about it.
"Yes, Anna?"
"You told me how Mum died," she said slowly, "but what you've neglected to mention is, why."
Remus sighed.
"Anna, let's leave that story for later, alright?"
"Why?" she said a little angry, "I think I have a right to know why my own mother died."
Remus took a deep breath.
"No," he said finally.
"Dad -"
"No, Annamaria." he said, his tone suggesting she was not to bring up this touchy subject again.
Remus sighed and rolled over in his bed. He hadn't slept well since news had broken of Sirius' escape from Azkaban. How was he supposed to protect Anna from her own father? He knew the fact that he was not Anna's biological father would soon be divulged to his goddaughter unless he chose to reveal it to her himself. He wrestled with his guilt mentally into the long hours of the night.
I can't do it, I can't loose her.
You're going to anyway if Caroline or Dumbledore himself chooses to tell her. What'll she think of you then?
She's all I've got.
Get a grip on yourself mate, you'll have no one if you keep this up.
Keep what up, exactly?
The lies. Avoiding the questions Anna asks you. You won't be able to avoid it at Hogwarts, and you know it.
Remus groaned and banished all thought from his mind. He knew the time was drawing near that he would have to tell Anna who she really was. He dreaded that more than anything, even his monthly transformation. He grabbed his pillow and put it over his head, willing sleep to come quickly.
Yay, chapter 1 is complete! Hope you all liked it. Please leave a review on your way out!
