2: Doubt
"Wake up Anna!" A male voice broke through her sleepy barrier. She heard an exasperated sigh and footsteps walking away. Her brother had been trying to wake her up for the past fifteen minutes and they had to leave in thirty. As she rolled over hoping he had given up, ice cold water hit her body.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!" An eleven year old Anna shrieked jumping out of her bed. Her twin brother Draco was laughing with a bucket in his hand. A scowl crossed her face as she made the connection. Before Draco could register anything one of her shoes was floating around him hitting him anywhere it could reach.
"OW! Shit! Damn it! ANNA STOP!" Anna smirked evilly as he ran out the room trying to escape the shoe. She then went to her bathroom to get ready for the day. As she pulled on her black skirt and dark green blouse that her mother wanted her to wear for the train ride she heard her mother's voice.
"You need to apologize to your brother." Anna looked and saw her mother Narcissa standing at her door.
"Mum, he deserved it! He dumped a bucket of ice cold water on me!" She defended. "My hair is soaked and I can't dry it! Now I have to go to the bloody platform with my hair wet!"
"Annabelle," Narcissa scolded lightly as her daughter flopped on the vanity seat.
"Fine! I'll apologize." Anna huffed then muttered, "He doesn't deserve it though." Narcissa giggled softly. Anna gave her a questioning look.
"You are so much like your mother and father," Narcissa smiled as she pulled out her wand drying Anna's hair.
"How so this time?"
"You're a trouble maker, like you're father, and stubborn like your mother. But no matter what you always take the consequences like both." Anna smiled in the mirror at her mother. Even though Anna knew that the Malfoy's weren't her real family they still treated her as their own. She also knew that the reason she wasn't with her real family now even though the dark lord is gone was because he killed her real parents. She grew up knowing everything and she appreciated that. She still called Narcissa and Lucius mom and dad because to her they were her parents.
Narcissa muttered a charm that lightly curled Anna's dark hair. Anna looked like Lily but had James' dark hair and hazel eyes. It was a close call when people mentioned how much she didn't look like a Malfoy but was relieved when they passed it off as her looking more like the Black side of the family. Anna looked at Narcissa and smiled and she smiled back.
"I love you mum!" Anna said getting up and hugging her mother.
"I love you too Anna," Narcissa responded returning the hug. "Let's get going your stuff is all downstairs already.
"Ok." They walked down to the foyer to see Draco standing with Lucius. "Morning, daddy!" Anna hugged her father and under his arm stuck her tongue out at Draco. Draco responded by glaring back at her.
"Good Morning, Anna. And don't stick your tongue out at your brother," Lucius scolded. Draco smirked at her and she rolled her eyes.
"I suppose I'm sorry for making a shoe fly after you and beat you even though you completely deserved it you pompous, self-centered prick," Anna articulated to him tightly.
"Annabelle Marie Ma-" Narcissa began but was cut off by her son's as equally nasty retort.
"Then I guess I'm sorry for throwing cold water on you because you wouldn't wake up you spoiled little twat," He retorted. Anna flushed in ager and her hands balled into fists. Just as she took a step forward to pummel her arrogant ass of a brother Lucius smacked Draco in the back of the head.
"Sorry, Anna," Draco said smarmily rubbing the back of his head.
"Let's go you two!" Narcissa called over her shoulder as she and her husband walked out to the car with their children's trunks and owls levitating in front of them. The Malfoy twins looked at each other stuck their tongues out and then raced to the car.
"I won!" Draco shouted in triumph. Anna looked at him cynically.
"No you didn't! I did!" Anna answered.
"We are not having this argument! Now get in the damned car!" Lucius irritated at his children.
"Yes, father," The two answered in unison and got in the car. The ride to King's Cross consisted of the four Malfoy's in the back discussing houses. Anna and Draco spoke of which one they thought that they might be in even though Draco was pretty sure they'd be in Slytherin. Anna however wasn't sure at all. She was worried that she might be stuck in Gryffindor like her real parents were. Almost every day she did something that her parents told her was so much like them.
"Anna, are you alright?" Lucius asked as they walk quietly through King's Cross.
"What if I'm in Gryffindor? Then what am I supposed to do?" Lucius hugged his little girl tightly then looked at her.
"No matter what we will still love you, but I don't think you will be in Gryffindor, you are much to Slytherin like to be," Lucius smiled at her and she giggled at his response. They continued walking and they soon were on Platform 9 and ¾.
"Draco and Anna both stood beaming at the scarlet train. Their parents had told them about it but seeing it themselves made it so much better. The two looked at each other and simultaneously began pushing their trollies through the crowd. Narcissa and Lucius took on a regal look as the followed their children. Anna and Draco stopped when they were about half way down the train.
"Daddy, I don't see them!" Anna complained standing on her tip toes.
"Don't whine so much, you sound like a spoiled daddy's girl," Draco smirked maliciously at her. "Oh, wit, you are." Anna glared icily at Draco.
"Better a daddy's girl than a mummy's boy." Draco scowled back at Anna and opened his mouth to respond.
"BEHAVE you two!" Lucius hissed at his children already tired of their antics just like every day.
"Look there they are!" Narcissa pointed over their heads towards a mother and son. They made their way over to the Zabini family. Ms. Zabini was tall and curvy with long black wavy hair. Her angular face hosted to dark brown eyes that matched her skin. Her son Blaise was preparing to go to Hogwarts as well with the Malfoy twins. His face matched his mothers with defined bone structure that held his deep rich blue eyes.
"Blaise," Anna called as she ran up hugging him. Draco also gave Blaise a brief hug before asking him how his summer was.
"It was alright. We went to visit our family in Italy. The biggest down side was that I still had to go to those damn Gala's. I figured I would get out of it because we weren't home but they had some there, and they were worse because I couldn't be around the two of you."
"Well no matter what aren't they always bad?" Anna rolled her eyes at Blaise. The boys chuckled at the reality of what she said. Every summer at least three pureblood families would have Gala's and every year the three would be dragged in stuffy outfits to them.
"So besides Gala's what did u all do?"
"Children, you best be getting on the train otherwise you won't be going to Hogwarts this year," Ms. Zabini said breaking from the conversation the adults were having.
"Oh, she right! Now hurry up so you don't miss it!" Narcissa gave her children quick hugs and watched as all three climbed on to the train with their trunks and owls. They waited and waved as the train sped off.
"So what did you two do since I was gone, and couldn't rid you of your boredom?" Blaise asked again as they walked into an empty compartment.
"Oh it was horrible, Blaise! We barely survived our summer! I cried for you every night!" Anna dramatized her statement even more by clinging onto Blaise's arm.
"I told you that I'd come back for you, love," Blaise said holding her tightly by the shoulders.
"Would you two quit it? I'm going to lose my breakfast if you don't," Draco huffed as he dropped in the seat. Blaise and Anna collapsed across from him laughing. "You are the most dramatic people I have ever met!"
"Anna, my dear, we must introduce him to your brother, Draco! Don't you agree?" Blaise commented being completely serious.
"Yes, I do indeed my dear, Blaise!" Anna held up a mirror she had pulled out of her purse so Draco could see himself in it. "Draco, meet, Draco!" They laughed as Draco rolled his eyes at them but couldn't help but smile at their larks.
"The same as yours, we did absolutely nothing," Draco replied to Blaise.
"Not true! Uncle Sev came over and taught us potions this summer that way we would be prepared for this year!" Anna stated smugly.
"I missed out on that! Just know I'll be turning to you both for help," Blaise groaned.
"Who else would you turn to? You don't have any other friends," Draco teased.
"Draco, that isn't very nice!" Anna scolded.
"You two nice? Oh, whatever!" Blaise laughed. The twins glared at him and then Draco started laughing.
"What are you laughing about? We just were insulted!" Anna exclaimed skeptically.
"He's gone off his rocker!" Blaise chuckled.
"No! Anna- tell him what- what you did to uncle- Severus that day!" Draco spoke between breaths. Anna then chuckled realizing what he meant.
"Well it was sort of mean since he cared about her so much but…I made a hair potion that changed my hair red when I wash my hair with it. And I used it in the morning before he came over and I was sitting calmly in the potions room when he came in and I really looked like my mum, Lily. So I looked at him smiled and said, 'hello Severus,' and he freaked out!" Anna said quietly blushing.
"So how did you get your hair back?" Blaise asked ignoring the actual prank itself.
"He had to help me because I messed up on the potion and after like four hours it turned hot pink," Anna giggled.
"Nice one," Blaise laughed. "You should've gotten a picture!" They continued to laugh and joke for the next several hours. As dusk hit the door to the compartment door opened and they heard an all too familiar voice.
"DRAKIE," A dark haired girl threw herself on the seat next to Draco hugging him and then kissed him on the cheek.
"Hello, Parkinson," Draco drawled as he tried to push her off. Pansy Parkinson began giggling and flirting heavily with Draco. Anna and Blaise watched in amusement for a little while until they got annoyed. They got up and walked out leaving a very hopeless/helpless looking Draco behind.
"Damn I can't stand her!" Anna enraged as they walked down the hall looking for other friends.
"Is she still making her parents try to get your parents to agree to betroth her to Draco?" Blaise asked delighted by Draco's suffering.
"Yes! Thank Merlin my parents won't! I think we would all rather curse ourselves than deal with her in our family!" Anna grumbled in annoyance.
"Hey, Anna," A rumbling voice called out to her. The two turned to see Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
"Oh, hey Crabbe, hey Goyle! How have you two been?" Anna greeted with a friendly wave. Blaise nodded to them and the four made their way back to the compartment.
"Alright," They muttered in response to Anna. When they got back to the compartment Pansy was still adoring Draco.
"Look boys, it's the little eleven year old slut! Looks like she is zeroed in on an impossible target," Anna insulted. Pansy glared at Anna harshly and stood up.
"I would watch your back if I were you, Malfoy."
"Why would that be Parkinson?" Anna stepped closer to Pansy until they were nose to nose.
"Because, you should be afraid of me and my family."
"Oh, really? I'm pretty damn sure that you should be afraid of me and mine because as I remember it your family disappointed the Dark Lord greatly and mine was in his inner circle. Whether he is here or not we know more dark arts and more connections to a whole lot more scarier people," Anna threatened. Pansy turned white then quickly walked out.
"Nice!" Goyle commented.
"Thank you so much!" Draco jumped up hugging his sister.
"You're welcome, Draco, but do me a favor." Anna answered struggling for breath.
"What? Anything!"
"Let me go! I can't breathe!"
"Oh sorry!" He let go and they sat back down.
"So guess what is going around the train!" Crabbe said breaking the silence that had settled over the compartment.
"What did you hear?" Draco asked rolling his eyes.
"Harry Potter is on the train," Goyle stated. Blaise, Draco, and Anna all shared a look of shock.
"You two must be mishearing things," Blaise covered as he glanced at the now pale Anna.
"No we aren't! Everyone is talking about it!"
"So he disappears for eleven years and just shows up on the train, yeah right!" Draco said doubtfully keeping an eye on Anna. There was silence once more until Anna stood.
"We should put our uniforms on," She then grabbed her bag and walked out of the compartment. The boys agreed then changed as well. As Anna returned the train lurched to a stop. They all gathered their things and walked out onto the platform. They looked around in awe as they were directed to put their things in a specific spot to be taken up to the castle.
"Firs' years! Firs years this way!" A gigantic man bellowed to the horde of students that were pouring out of the train. They all began walking towards him and followed him down to a bunch of boats on the lake. The ride took about ten minutes and that's when they saw the castle. Draco and Anna smiled at each other both extremely excited to be there. When they got out of the boats they were met by a tall witch with glasses in green robes.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall. In a few moment you will be sorted into one of the four houses they are; Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin." Suddenly a boy leaped forward towards a toad on the floor.
"TREVOR," he yelled and picked up his toad. The witch looked down at him and reprimanded him with a single raise of the eye brow.
"When we go in I will call your name you will sit on the stool and I will place a hat on your head and it will place you. Now wait here and I will see if they are ready for you," she walked away and walked through a door. Once it closed Draco looked up at the front of the line and saw a boy with a scar on his head.
"So, it's true then," he said stepping forward more. "The rumor on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts"
"Draco, don't," Anna whispered quietly so only he could hear.
"I'm Draco, Draco Malfoy." The red-head next to Harry scoffed. "Think my name is funny? Let me guess you're a Weasley, with your red hair and hand-me-down robes who else could you be." He turned back to Harry, and Anna watched in horror as he held his hand out to him. "Now, Potter, you don't want to be making friends with the wrong sort, I will help you there." Harry just looked at Draco's hand then at his face.
"I'm pretty sure I can tell who the wrong sorts are myself, thanks." Draco glared then walked back over to Anna, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle. Just then McGonagall walked back over to them.
"They are ready for you now," She said then turned to lead them to the Great Hall. They walked down the center of the Hall to gather in the front. One by one the names were called. Draco was put into Slytherin before the hat even touched his head. Harry was sorted in to Gryffindor after almost two minutes with the hat on, and soon Anna's name was called. She walked up and sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head.
"My, my, so many secrets for such a young girl. You are very clever, clever enough to be in Ravenclaw. Your very brave and strong too, so brave for such a young age, perhaps Gryffindor," Anna tensed when then she heard the hats thoughts of Gryffindor. "Yet there is so much kindness in your heart Hufflepuff would be quit fitting too. So much like your mother Lily, but so sly and clever. It seems you would fit the best there yes. Well then it must be," then the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" Anna let out a heavy breath as the green, sliver, and black table cheered. She hopped off the stool and sat next to Draco.
"See I told you!" Draco smiled comforting her as the sorting continued. Soon Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle joined the table. They watched as the last few were called. McGonagall called out the last name on the list.
"Becky Weasley!" Anna watched as a red headed girl walked up and sat on the stool. It was quiet for a moment then the hat yelled out the last thing anyone expected to hear.
"SLYTHERIN!" the Gryffindor table started to cheer then stopped realizing that the outcome was different from what had been expected. There was silence as the girl walked over and sat next to Anna. People just stared at her out of shock, even some of the professors. Suddenly the silence was broken by several other red heads at the Gryffindor table standing up and protesting.
"Quite please!" The silver haired and bearded wizard spoke up for the first time since they had walked in. "Mr. Weasley's I understand that this is a shock but there is obviously a reason for her to be there. Now if you would please sit." The four red headed males sat down and the man grinned. "Thank you. Before I give you a speech I will let you enjoy your food. Pip Pip!" Anna suddenly saw mounds of delicious looking food in front of them. As everyone dug in Anna looked sympathetically at the girl next to her. Everyone had slid down a bit when she had sat there as if she was a disease.
"Hi, I'm Anna Malfoy!" Anna smiled at the girl holding out her hand.
"Hello, I'm Becky," She said shaking Anna's hand. "You aren't afraid to talk to me?"
"Why should I? Like he said there must be a reason. You're clearly different than you're family."
"Thanks," She smiled kindly at Anna. "So you don't exactly look like a Malfoy."
"I take after the Black side of my family."
"I see." She looked over at the boys who were looking at Anna as if she had gone completely mental.
"Oh, how rude of me! Becky this is Crabbe, Goyle, Blaise Zabini, and my twin brother Draco." Anna made sure to point out each person as she introduced them. "Guys this is Becky, my new best friend!" Anna smiled at the girl and Becky smiled right back.
"Nice to meet you Becky," Draco grinned.
"Hi," Becky blushed lightly and turned back to talk to Anna. All too soon the meal was over and the old wizard stood again.
"Good evening, I am Professor Dumbledore! To our older students, welcome back, to our first years, welcome! Now the standard rule are as follows, the dark forest is forbidden, and so are and prank items from Zonko's please see Mr. Flich's office door for more details and this year please stay away from the third floor corridor unless you wish to die a most painful death. Now I hope to have a wonderful year this year, everyone have a good night. Now off to bed!"
"Do you think he was serious about the death thing?" Becky asked as they followed on of the prefects down to the dungeon.
"Merlin, I hope not!" Anna giggled. The two girls laughed and talked as they got ready for bed in their dorm that they shared.
"Hey, Anna?" Becky asked as they laid in the dark in bed.
"Yes?"
"Did you really mean that I'm your best friend?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it."
"Ok, and thanks for even talking to me."
"You're welcome. Good night Becky!"
"Night Anna!"