There was a loud explosion. The windows in the room nearly blew in, but Anna, who preferred her rooms intact, no matter how angry Dumbledore was, counteracted his flow of magic with a quick shield charm. He was grasping the arms of the chair so tightly; she was surprised the upholstery didn't break down.

"I don't believe you." Dumbledore murmured finally.

"Harry. Was. Abused. By. The. Dursleys." Anna said clearly. She glared at the meddling old man opposite her. His face was deathly pale, and his mouth was moving without actually forming the words. His eyes had lost their twinkle, and his hands were limp.

"Albus, are you alright?" Remus asked solicitously. The old man glanced up.

"No, Remus. Anna, you say Harry was abused?"

"I know Harry was abused." Anna retorted. Almost desperately, Dumbledore turned to Snape.

"Surely not, Severus? Please, tell me this isn't true." Snape's eyes were dark and stormy.

"It's true, Dumbledore. I healed his back myself. And you know about my expertise at...ahem...spotting children with this condition." Dumbledore nodded slightly.

"We will have to do something about the Dursleys...although perhaps not yet. Now, I assume you wish to adopt Harry?" he asked, and the tiniest amount of twinkle returned to his eyes. Anna allowed herself a small smile.

"Yes, Dumbledore. I would. Technically, as you know, I was meant to receive guardianship of him anyway."

"I know." Dumbledore passed a hand over his forehead. "But won't it be dangerous for Harry? You are a rather targeted Auror."

"Most of the time, I work from home, so that shouldn't be a problem. When I am called out, if Remus doesn't mind he could look after Harry." Across the room, Remus nodded, a shadow of a smile on his face. Dumbledore nodded slowly.

"And what of the full moon?"

Anna winced at the off-handed way he said it. She could see Remus frowning across the room.

"Well, as you know, I don't actually transform at the moon – I just receive Remus' pain instead, now that we're in close proximity. So my being there won't actually be dangerous, but I think that it may be rather disturbing..."

She could see Snape staring at her out of the corner of her eyes, and raised an eyebrow in his direction. He knew she was part werewolf, but evidently didn't know what that entailed.

"If you don't mind, I would rather stay with you, Anna." A quiet voice whispered so that only she could hear it. She glanced down to see Harry looking up at her, emerald eyes wide.

"Harry, the pain that I receive isn't ... something I can repress. It really hurts...and you'll probably hear me writhing around or moaning." She whispered down to him. He nodded, face set.

"Yes, but you said you don't actually transform. I don't really know anything about werewolves, but doesn't that mean you won't be dangerous to me?"

"Well, yes, I suppose..." Anna trailed off.

"Then I'll stay." He said obstinately. "You look after me most of the time, but at the full moon I'll look after you instead."

Anna stared down at him in amazement. He had just echoed, word for word, the exact same thing Lily had said to her all those years ago when she had discovered that Anna was half werewolf.

"Merlin, Harry. You are so like your mother! But alright, you can stay with me. If you don't like it, I'll have to send you to stay with someone else once a month." The small boy nodded determinedly.

"I assume you two have reached a conclusion by yourselves?" Dumbledore asked in amusement.

"Yes, Albus. Harry wants to stay with me, so I've said that he can, although if my...er...pain disturbs him too much I'll send him to Minerva for a night each month."

Dumbledore nodded, satisfied. "Very well...the ministry shouldn't have a problem with it, seeing as you're an Auror and only half werewolf..." Anna could see Remus glaring at Dumbledore angrily. She knew that when she had been busy, he had offered to look after Harry, only to have the ministry say that he was too dangerous. She was surprised Dumbledore was being so offhand.

"...I'll send out for the papers today...ahh, one last thing. Would you like Harry to be Harry Lupin or Harry Potter?"

"What do you think, Harry?" Anna asked him quietly. The small boy shut his eyes for a second, a frown evident, and then whispered,

"Could I stay as Harry Potter, Anna?"

"Of course, Harry." Anna smiled. Dumbledore nodded.

"Very well, that is settled. I will see you at lunch, then." He stood, and nodding around at everyone, strode out. As soon as he had gone, Anna jumped up and ran across to Remus, whose fists were clenched and eyes shut.

"My room, now!" she ordered. His eyes flew open.

"But Anna, your room..?"

"No arguing, go!" she snapped, pushing him inside and shutting the door behind him. As soon as it closed, she heard a large explosion.

"Is Remus ok, Anna?" Harry was still sat on the sofa, a worried expression gracing his features. That a child who had only known Remus for half an hour could be so worried warmed Anna. She could see Snape frowning in the background, eyes ever so slightly intruiged.

"He's ok, Harry. When your parents died, I opted to look after you, but the ministry said that because of my job at the time it was too dangerous. Remus, who was unemployed, offered to look after you, but they said that because he was a werewolf he posed a threat to you. I don't think that the degradement he received then has ever truly gone away, and Dumbledore did throw it in today as a rather..."

"...insensitive and unhelpful comment." Snape said quietly. Anna looked up in surprise. He nodded to her.

"I was unaware of how painful it is to be a half-werewolf, so please excuse my curiosity."

"That's fine, Professor. Now then, are we going to sort out Harry so that we can actually go shopping, or what?"

Harry let a small grin grace his face, and Anna sat next to him as Snape pulled out a couple of vials. He knelt down to Harry's level.

"Right, Harry, I need you to drink these. What they will do is to get rid of the pain, so that you can't feel me healing you." He turned to address Anna as Harry carefully drunk the vials.

"I can re-break his ribs and shoulder with little problem, and put a charm on them to hold them steady. However, I also need to re-break his wrist, and I think it would be better if he kept that in a cast."

Anna nodded her compliance, and carefully helped Harry remove his shirt. He blushed a little, so Anna carefully hugged him, even more aware of his condition when a lattice-work of scars and bruises appeared. Nearly all of his ribs had bruises running along them, and there was a large bruise in the middle of his chest that looked recent, as it was a nasty swollen purple.

"When did that happen?" Snape asked softly as he pulled out a jar of balm. Harry winced slightly.

"Yesterday, sir, just before Anna came. Uncle Vernon was angry because I asked for a glass of water."

Snape scowled, but gently began to rub the bruise cream into Harry's chest. The boy had closed his eyes, his face a rather ghostly white, and Anna ruffled his hair in sympathy. She felt a small tap on her shoulder, and looked up. Remus stood there, a little dishevelled with his hair awry, but at least he didn't look angry. His gaze was fixed on Harry's chest.

"I'm afraid I managed to break the window, Anna."

"It's ok, Remus. Here, I'll help you fix it." She knew he wanted to talk about Harry, so pulled him quickly into her room. Most of the room was as she had left it, aside from the window, which had shattered, and her desk, the papers on which were now littered all over the floor.

"Anna, is that what Harry's back looked like as well?" he asked. His eyes were amber.

"Yes, Remi. Exactly like that, although there were more scars. Snape needs to re-break his ribs and shoulder as well, and his wrist, which he will have to wear in a cast."

Remus glared at the newly-fixed window, and it began to crack. Hurrying over, Anna laid a hand on his shoulder, fixing the glass.

"Breathe, Remi."

Slowly, he calmed down. Wryly smiling, he offered her an arm which she accepted gratefully, and the two slipped back into the living room to find Snape charming a cast onto Harry's wrist. The small boy grinned up at them as they entered, and Anna hurried across to inspect Snape's work. Harry's chest was almost clear of bruises and scars, save for the one Vernon had dealt yesterday. His ribs were looking rather more normal, as was his shoulder.

"That should do it. He will need to have the cast taken off in about two day's time. The spells on his ribs and shoulder should deactivate by themselves."

"Thankyou, Professor." Anna nodded to him gratefully. With a curt half-smile, Snape swept from the room in his usual bat-like way. She carefully helped Harry put his shirt back on, and then stood him up.

"Right, who's for a spot of shopping after that?" she asked. Harry grinned.

"Me!"

"Can I come?" Remus asked. "I need to get some books."

"You always need books, Remus! Oh, alright then." She grinned, and grabbed some floo powder.

"Harry, we're going to go by floo. You'll be with me, so you'll be fine."

"Won't the fire burn us, Anna?" Harry asked nervously.

"No – the powder stops it from hurting. See?" Anna tossed a little in, and then placed her hand in the centre of the flames. Hesitantly, Harry did the same.

"Wow!"

"Wow indeed. Remus, you go first."

She grinned as Harry stared in amazement. Remus grabbed a handful of floo powder, tossed it in, and with a quick wink at Harry strode into the flames. There was a loud whoosh, and he was gone.

"Our turn now, Harry. Here, take my hand and hold on tight." Harry nodded nervously, and gently Anna pulled him into the flames.

"Diagon Alley!"

They spun around, and then both were spewed from the fire into a familiar cosy atmosphere. The barman of the leaky cauldron hurried over.

"Anna Lupin! And...Harry Potter? So the papers were true!" Everyone in the pub stopped what they were doing, and turned to stare. Anna raised a hand.

"Yes, Harry now lives with me. Please don't stare at him too much, everyone." At once, a loud babble broke out, although Anna was pleased to see that most were content to stare at Harry from where they stood. She gently led him out of the pub, to where Remus was waiting outside in the July sunshine.

"Not too much trouble, then?" he asked.

"No." Anna replied quietly. Remus nudged her gently, and motioned to Harry. The small boy was standing in amazement, staring around him.

"Alright, Harry?" she asked quietly. Harry looked up.

"It's amazing, Anna!"

She smiled, and gently led him away from the entrance to the pub. The Alley was always busy in July, and today was no exception. The street was heaving with Witches and Wizards in all manner of bright clothes. Sellers stood on the corners, their cries mingling with the loud voices of the passer-bys. Anna kept to the fringes, showing Harry all of the shops. She waved in cheerily to Ollivander, and the old man smiled at her from where he stood in the entrance to the doorway, looking out into the street.

They passed Flourish and Blotts, and Anna laughed as she spotted Remus inside, his nose already buried in a book. She smiled as they passed the Apothecary, full to the brim with strange ingredients, and then had to dodge a large crowd of boys outside Quality Quidditch supplies. All turned to stare as she passed, and she could see Harry blushing slightly as they pointed.

Finally, they reached the clothes shop. Anna had thought long and hard about which to go to, for there were two in Diagon Alley. One was Twilfitt and Tattings, usually favoured by the Pureblood elite. Anna could see Narcissa Malfoy standing in the entrance, holding tightly to a small, haughty looking boy with ice blond hair. The other, which Anna led Harry into quietly, was Madam Malkins.

"Anna Lupin! And who is this? It can't be...Harry Potter! Pleased to meet you, pleased to meet you." Madam Malkin herself came hurrying over, shaking Harry's hand vigorously and then turning to Anna.

"I haven't seen you in a long time, young lady. Now, who are we fitting for?"

"Harry, please. We need the everyday clothes – shirts, jeans, jumpers, underwear, pyjamas, etc.."

"Leave it to me, my dear. Now then, young Mr Potter, what colours do you like?" Madam Malkin bustled away, Harry following slightly nervously. Anna sent him an encouraging smile as the jolly lady began rifling through the rails, muttering to herself. She leant back against the window, glad of the chance to rest. The place where Dolohov had cursed her yesterday was becoming increasingly more painful, almost like a burn.

"Nine years old, and barely tall enough to be seven...dreadfully thin...right, do you like blue, my dear? Good, try these...red as well...maybe emerald – yes, one to go with your eyes..."

Twenty minutes later, Harry and Anna left Madam Malkin's store carrying two laden bags full of clothes. He was wearing the emerald green jumper that the witch had picked out for him, much to Anna's amusement, who couldn't think what James would say if he found his son wearing a Green jumper in preference to a red one. Harry himself was rather quiet – the attentions of Madam Malkin had unnerved him slightly, so in hope of cheering him up Anna stopped outside the owl emporium.

"Wow! I've never seen so many owls in one place!" Harry was stood right up against the window, looking inside. Anna laughed, and dragged him inside. At once, most of the owls in the shop hooted at her, and she hooted back, grinning. The shop keeper, a dusty, middle aged man with a balding head, nodded at them warmly from behind the counter from where he was selling a tawny owl to an excited young boy and his mother.

"Anna, come and look at this owl!" Harry's reverent voice sounded from across the shop. Smiling, Anna walked over to see him stood in front of a large cage containing a snowy white owl with beady black eyes. Her feathers were almost pure white, apart from odd dabs of grey.

"It says her name's Hedwig! She's beautiful!" Harry grinned at the owl, who snapped her beak at him slightly, wearing an almost amused expression.

"Aah, Hedwig. One of my personal favourites, but she's never really taken a shine to anyone. She seems to like you, though, Mr Potter." The owner was stood behind them, smiling kindly down at Harry. The small boy blushed slightly, looking down at his toes.

"Would you like to get her, Harry?" Anna asked kindly.

"Can I?" Harry's whole face lit up in excitement, and he practically bounced up and down with excitement.

"Yes. How much is she, sir?" Anna politely asked the shop keeper, who was watching with an amused smile.

"To you, my dear? Well, seeing as she's taken a shine to Mr Potter, how's about we cut it to ten galleons?"

"You are very kind, sir." Anna paid him the money, and then carefully picked up the cage for Harry, who was smiling in excitement.

"She can stay on the perch with my owl, Midnight, so we don't need to buy her anything." Harry skipped along ahead of her happily, and Anna laughed as he almost ran head first into Remus, who was coming the other way, carrying a large bag of books.

"Hallo, Harry! You look rather happy!"

"Anna brought me an owl called Hedwig!" Harry grinned, dragging Remus over to her. He smiled down at the owl, who was looking this way and that in interest.

"She's beautiful, Harry. Now, it's rather hot, so what do you say I treat you both to an ice cream at Fortescue's? I've a little money left over from buying books."

"Yes, please!" Harry grinned, jumping up and down. Remus laughed, and led him across the street, followed a little more slowly by Anna. Harry stared, wide-eyed at the choice as ice creams as Remus hurried off to grab a table.

"I don't know what to have, Anna. I've never had an ice cream before." He confided quietly to her. Anna smiled. The top of his head barely reached the shelf, so she gently lifted him up so that he could see.

"What do you want, Harry? Chocolate, Vanilla, Toffee ,Mint, Orange, Strawberry, Raspberry...?"

"Could I have a plain one, please? Harry asked Florean, who was watching in amusement.

"Certainly, Mr Potter. And you, Miss Lupin? And what of your brother?"

"Remus will have a mint one, Florean. And me..? Harry, what do you think I should have?"

"A chocolate one!" Harry grinned decisively.

"Very well. One vanilla, one mint, and one chocolate please Florean. And I'm paying now, so don't tell Remus."

"My pleasure, Miss Lupin. Here we are." Florean carefully handed three ice creams over the counter, as Anna noted in amusement that he had slipped a flake into Harry's.


Two hours later, Anna, Remus and Harry stood outside the Great Hall. Remus' ear was pressed to the wood of the large doors, and Anna was smiling down at Harry, who was staring at the House Glasses again.

"I think they're in there." Remus said softly. Anna nodded, and gently tapped Harry on the shoulder. The small boy started, and looked up.

"Harry, I know you've probably had enough of being stared at today, but we have, unfortunately, got to have dinner with the teachers. Most of them are really nice – Dumbledore and Professor Snape you already know, and I will introduce you to everyone else. Are you ok with that?" she asked warmly. Harry nodded nervously, and Remus pushed open the doors.

Every single teacher sat at the teacher's table looked up in surprise. There was silence. Poppy, who was sat talking to Snape, was the first to break the silence.

"Anna and Remus Lupin! Well, trust you two to be late. And... Harry Potter?" The last name was an incredulous whisper. Anna could see Hagrid at the far end, smiling down at Harry. The boy's face was slightly scared, so she squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

"Yes, Harry Potter. I'm surprised Professor Dumbledore hasn't told you this morning's events, actually." She grinned as her ploy worked. She, Harry and Remus slipped up the side of the room and sat near the middle as every single teacher with the exception of Snape stared accusingly at Dumbledore. Minerva was first to break the silence.

"Albus! Explain!"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Well Minerva, basically Anna has adopted Harry."

There were a couple of cheers from around the table, and Minerva smiled.

"Good. Now then Anna, how long have you been hiding Mr Potter in your rooms?"

"Since yesterday, Minerva. I picked him up on the way back from Diagon Alley."

The steady hum of conversation resumed, Anna making sure that Harry wasn't being questioned ceaselessly. She also listened out for the awkward questions, but surprisingly, none came. Hagrid was unusually quiet, preferring to look at Harry, so Anna leant across.

"Are you alright, Hagrid?"

"I'm fine, Anna. It's just...I haven't seen Harry since he was a baby, and I was wondering how he got so thin."

"I think the rest of us would like to know as well." Poppy said quietly. Anna looked down at Harry, who was carefully eating his sandwich. His face was pale, and his fringe covered his expression.

"Harry, do you mind me telling them? I won't if you don't want me to."

"No, it's ok Anna." Harry said bravely. She pulled him into a one armed hug, and then Remus, ever the atmosphere sensor, quickly engaged him in a conversation about Quidditch. Anna cast a silencing charm around the rest of the teachers so that Harry couldn't hear them.

"His Uncle and Aunt abused him almost from the minute he was placed with them. He's been beaten, starved and generally mistreated. Yesterday, just before I came, his Uncle punched him for asking for a glass of water."

The staff table sat in silence, but Harry and Remus were too absorbed in their conversation to notice. Anna was sure that she saw tears in most of their eyes.

"And what of your health? I know you duelled ten Death Eaters yesterday, and I find it amazing that you escaped without a scratch, Anna..." Madam Pomfrey said sharply. Anna scowled into her food.

"It was only one curse..."

"May I ask who cast it?" Poppy pressed.

"Dolohov." She muttered. There were a couple of exclamations, and Flitwick actually jumped up.

"What was the colour of the curse?" he asked hurriedly. Anna sent a quick glare at the ceiling.

"It's fine, honest, it doesn't hurt...that much..." she withered under Poppy's experienced glare. "Purple."

"I've never heard of that curse before." Flitwick said worriedly. Madam Pomfrey shook her head. "Neither have I."

"I have." Snape, who had previously contented himself with listening, broke in. Everyone stopped to listen. "It is Dolohov's speciality, and not many know the counter-curse. I suspect that Miss Lupin is in rather more pain than she is letting on."

Anna scowled down the table at him as Poppy began fussing. "Where did it hit you, Anna?"

"On my side." She relented slightly, gesturing to the place.

"And what does it feel like?" Surprisingly, it was Snape who asked the question, not Poppy. Confused, Anna thought for a second.

"Almost like someone is burning a hole into my side, and jabbing needles for good measure." She admitted quietly. Snape scowled even more as some of the teachers, including Dumbledore, murmured worriedly.

"The curse is in its latter stages. If someone doesn't perform the counter curse, you are going to be in excruciating pain very quickly, Miss Lupin."

"Yes but, as you helpfully pointed out, there are very few people who know the counter curse." Anna said softly.

"I am, thankfully, one such person. After lunch, it would probably be best if you, Harry and Lupin came with me and Poppy to the hospital wing." Anna nearly denied, but after receiving glares from Remus, Poppy and Snape, decided against it. Grudgingly, she followed them up to the Hospital Wing, Harry clutching her hand tightly.

"Are you ok?" he asked worriedly. Anna could see Snape listening, and scowled in his direction.

"Yes, Harry. At least, I will be in a minute."

She glared even more as Poppy instructed her to roll up her shirt.

"Poppy, is that really necessary?"

"Yes, Anna. Now, get on with it. You are just like me, you hate to be healed." Remus said in exasperation, pushing her down onto the bed. She sent him a special dark look, and refused to move.

"Anna, please!" Poppy said in annoyance. Anna shook her head.

"No."

She felt cool hands take the corner of her shirt, and yelped as Remus' hand touched her skin.

"Your hands are freezing!"

A small hand squeezed hers, and she looked across to see Harry sat next to her, emerald eyes worried. She sent him a reassuring smile, and then gasped in pain as Remus' hands brushed the lower bit of the mark.

"Oh my God." Remus whispered. She looked down as Poppy gave a small strangled cry and Snape hurried over. He scowled down at her.

"I wish that people wouldn't deny how far the curse has gone. Although you do recieve the prize for the most obsinate person. I've never seen it go this far." He muttered angrily, a tiny amount of worry in his eyes as he sat next to her. Anna scowled up at him in return, and then glanced down at her side. Ok, it didn't look brilliant. Her skin was black and purple, with an angry white patch interlaced with red standing out. But even so...

She gasped again as Snape carefully placed his wand tip against the mark. Light began to glow from the tip, and then Anna cried out in pain as fire scourged all of her nerves. Shutting her eyes, she let blackness overcome her, ignoring Snape's ministrations to get her to open her eyes. The last thing she felt was a small hand squeeze hers tightly, but she was too far gone now to go back to Harry. And then Anna lost consciousness.

Well, I hope you like it! Just want to say thanks to my three reveiwers Moonbade, Martionmanswife and the other unnamed reviewer, and to get you other kind people to review! Please, even 'good' makes me happy, and I'm welcome to suggestions!