Missing Lies
Chapter 4
By: Swissalo
xXx
Harry glared at Anisa as the pair made their way from the Room of Requirement, the blonde had been in a particular fowl mood as they battled their way through their Magic on the Offense lesson. Watching as she moved through the hallway with the complete lack of her natural grace Harry decided to stick close to her for the rest of the day, something had completely thrown her off her game. Pulling his bag higher on his shoulder, Harry trotted after Anisa as she all but ran back to the Gryffindor dorms. It was times like this that he wished one of the others had been able to come with them though it would have been a bit harder to pull everything off.
"What's gotten into you?" Harry asked as they approached the portrait that stood as the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, Anisa looked at him with tired eyes before staring blankly at the Fat Lady and whispering the password. Harry watched silently as Anisa fled up the stairs to the girls dorms, cursing the fact that he couldn't go up there and help her. He'd never seen Anisa act this way, glancing around the common room, Harry cursed silently before heading over to one of the corner chairs. Settling he pulled one of his dueling books out to study, having to participate in two separate curriculums was a daunting task. That and dealing with the knowledge that Wormtail was only feet from him and he could do nothing about it, not until Christmas Holiday. Letting the sounds of the Gryffindors wash over him, Harry lost himself within his book.
Harry wasn't sure how long he sat in the common room, but he awoke to someone tugging his book out from under his arm and familiar lilac eyes staring down at him through the haze of sleep. Tugging at the hand trying to remove his book, Harry was rewarded with a lap full of one Anisa Veredus the grumbling coming from the blonde a welcome reprieve as she made herself comfortable. Pulling his robe around them, Harry glanced down at his friend wondering about what had put her in such a state, but he wasn't sure he wanted to knock on that particular door.
"We're on communication black out." Anisa whispered as she started playing with her hair, trying to ignore how Harry tensed at her words. "I tried to have Tazz bring and take a letter to Alex, she took it to him just find, but her hands are burnt so badly. Someone put wards up to keep Stalie mail from coming to the island even regular correspondence not just the official acceptance letters. I tried it though regular mail too, but the post master said the letter exploded before he could even give it to one of his owls."
"That's disturbing." Harry muttered as he ran his hand over her shoulder, trying to come up with any explanation for why simple mail wards were in place around Britain. They were doable by one wizard for a household but an entire island would take a horde of them. "Could be because of the separation, their ministers certainly haven't ever gotten along with ours."
"It would make sense, they did have a falling out of some sort in the late sixties." Anisa mused as she pulled his robe closer, Harry hummed slightly at the idea, it would have made sense, Australia had started taking in more of the wolves around then while Britain was starting to place restriction on them.
"We'll work something out even if it means getting some of the parents involved there's always a way to get around wards you just have to be smarter than them." Harry whispered as he stared at the stairs to the boys dorms, he could just make out a person watching them from the shadows. Standing up with Anisa in his arms, Harry slowly lowered the blonde to the ground before collecting his things and turning back to his companion, leaning in close he whispered, "We'll be back before Christmas and you can go back to teasing your little brother."
"If only things were so easy." Anisa shot back before throwing herself at him for a quick hug before she darted up the stairs to her dorm. Harry shook his head before heading towards his own room, he could only hope that this weekend would be relaxing.
xXx
The following evening found Harry sitting with Anisa next to the Weasley twins, apparently the other day Anisa had regaled them with stories of Harry's own foray into pranking. Some stories had apparently intrigued the twin pranksters as Harry answered and told stories of tamer pranks he had pulled on Sirius as they had been some of his more intricate works of art. He could see the wheels whirling away and smirked hoping to see some interesting pranks about in the coming weeks. Hearing Anisa's tired sigh, Harry turned to his friend and glared at the keeper for the Gryffindor team, who was making his way over to where they sat. His eyes trained solely on his blonde haired friend, the boy's obsessive attitude towards her was borderline on stalker. What was is about these blokes that they couldn't take a no to mean a no? Just as Harry was about to speak, one of the Weasley Twins took it up for themselves to put their classmate in his place. Pulling Anisa to him, the red head glared at his teammate more annoyed about having to stop his conversation with his friends. Anisa only squirmed slightly in his grasp before going back to her dinner, ignoring the hand that rested on her hip.
"So I think you and I should go out to Hogsmead this weekend." Cormac said loudly as he sat beside Anisa at dinner, ignoring all the glares aimed his way from various people. Anisa glared darkly at her plate before plastering a polite society smile on her face. Harry just shook his head as he turned to watch the spectacle, his eyes locking with the Weasley Twins the silent look that past between them was a promise of retribution, Cormac McLaggen was going to be Target Zero.
"I'm so glad to see you thinking. It's just so sad that it's so apparent that you've just started using that brain in your head." Anisa spoke clearly as she turned to Cormac, letting her full weight rest against George's side, his arm around her now completely viewable to all around them. "Answers no, by the way."
"Yeah Mate, she's already going with me." George Weasley smiled as he pulled Anisa closwer and leaned around her to send a sharp look at the other boy. Harry chocked on his drink causing his classmates to jump slightly, banging on his chest Harry shook off their concern as he glanced at Anisa who could only shake her head minutely as she began playing with George's hand and smiled sweetly at Cormac. The Gryffindor glared at the pair before standing and moving back over to his friends. They shot the boy sad smiles white laughter dance in their eyes for this was the third time he'd been shot down from the small blonde.
"Your gumption will be your downfall, Weasley." Anisa murmured as she turned to study the red head beside her, pulling his hand away from her waist as she did so. Smiling at the older boy she sat back and pulled out her day planner. "That and you haven't properly asked me, George Weasley, and until that happens the answer is no."
George stared at her before glancing over at his twin, no one had ever said no to one of them. Fred just shrugged while eating his own dinner, watching the little blonde beside his brother with a calculating look on his face. She and Potter were certainly unknowns in this school, coming now after being gone for so long, and apparently at some prestigious school if rumors were to be trusted. Glancing over at Harry who was talking to Ron, Fred just hoped that everything would work out alright. Smiling at his twin and glancing at Anisa George nodded back. They'd come up with someway to properly ask the young witch to join George at Hogsmead.
xXx
"You're just asking for trouble." Harry muttered as he and Anisa walked out of the Room of Requirement, having just spend the better half of the evening working on some of their Stalie classes. Anisa smiled serenely as she held her books against her chest. "Merlin knows how he's going to take that challenge."
"Harry I like him, he's kind, entertaining, very considerate and challenging. Everything in my life was very strict couldn't have the minister's daughter acting up at public functions. It wasn't good for the image." Anisa whispered as they walked down the hall towards the stairs, Harry could feel how excited Anisa was about the prospect of George asking her out. Pretty much every male at Stalie was either after her because of her father, or to frightened to because of her older brother.
"I just don't want you to get hurt." Harry told her as he pulled her close to him just as Professor McGonagall walked up to the pair. He eyes taking them in as they approached her seemingly in their own world. Turning to Harry the older witch smiled slight.
"Mr. Potter, the Headmaster would like to speak to you." she watched as the pair shared a glance with one another before Harry turned to face her.
"Do you know why?" Harry asked as he watched the Transfiguration Professor closely.
"No Mr. Potter I don't." Professor McGonagall answered truthfully.
"Then I won't be speaking to him." Harry told McGonagall as he began to walk away with Anisa. As they reached the stairs Harry turned to see McGonagall staring sadly at the pair as they disappeared from view. Shaking her head she continued on down the hallway, no reason to do anything about the pair, Dumbledore could find another way to get his audience with Harry.
xXx
Harry Potter watched in amused silence as Hogwart's student population reacted to the upcoming Slytherin-Gryffindor game. The excitement in the air was tangible, this was apparently the game of the season, even though it was a surefire thing that Slytherin was going to win. The Gryffindor team just didn't have it in them to play as dirty as the Slytherin team did. Turning his attention to the grounds he spotted Anisa's blonde head weaved her way from outside the Gryffindor Locker Room to the stands, Harry shook his head wondering how the team was going to react if a certain beater was sufficiently dazed. Anisa had some sort of bet going on with Daphne Greengrass, apparently the two knew each other quite well from the yearly international holiday parties that they were forced to attend.
"What did you do?" Harry asked as Anisa took her seat next to him, bundled up in a heavy cloak which appeared to be over her standard tan twill pea coat. Anisa just gave him a mysterious smile before settling on the bench, taking in the anticipation that this year was going to be different and Slytherin would lose for the first time in twelve years. Watching as the teams took to the air Harry studied the two groups, it was obvious that the Slytherin team went for brute strength in their players while the Gryffindor team went for speed and agility. At least he hoped so, it would be a short game if they didn't.
Of course the odds were against the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Harry could only watched in amusement as the other twin aimed one of the bludgers in his twin's direction frowning at him before flying off to protect one of the Chasers from a Slytherin aimed bludger. Apparently the only way to wake the other brother from his Anisa induced funk, the action had however caused the Gryffindor's around them to cry in outrage. Glancing over at his best friend, Harry shook his head before turning back to the game, leaving Anisa to read her pilfered Potion's book. It was a wonder she wasn't in Ravenclaw Harry thought as he glanced over at the Ravenclaw stands where some of the older Ravenclaws were also reading instead of watching the game.
"Are you going to watch at all?" Hermione asked as she settled on Anisa's other side, apparently even Gryffindor's resident brain watched the game instead of using it as an excuse to study without interruption. Harry smiled over at the brunette before turning his attention back to the game, looking for the snitch just as Ginny Weasley and Malfoy circled the pitch hunting for the elusive golden ball.
"No." Anisa answered as she turned lilac eyes onto the Gryffindor girl that had been trying to befriend her since she had stepped foot on the school proper. Apparently nothing was getting through the other teen's head that Anisa was not looking for lifelong friends. Though, watching as George flew by chasing after a bludger she knew that not all friends would be forgotten or unwanted. Hermione stared at the girl beside her, studied the blonde carefully for a minute before turning her attention back to the game.
As the game continued, Hermione had tried to draw Anisa back into another conversation and for a while had succeeded, the two had gotten started on the rights of House Elves. Though it seemed to throw the girls into an even further chasm of difference, Hermione wanting them all to be free and Anisa stating she had a personal House Elf. It had led to a slight argument about slavery that had left the two fuming silently as the game continued. It didn't matter that Anisa had practically deserted her Pureblood Family ways just like Sirius had, she had still grown up with the ideals even if her brother had instilled others in her head. Shifting in his seat Harry sent Anisa a glance, watching as she would let her attention focus on one of the twins every so often, before returning to the rest of the game. As he sat surrounded by Hogwarts student he couldn't help but wonder what life would have been like had he never had gone to Australia. Who would he have befriended, what house he would have been in without the teachings of Sirius and Remus. Though it wasn't good to dwell on the what ifs, as he was perfectly happy at Stalie with his best friends. He wouldn't have been as magically powerful, nor as ready to take on the world if he had come to Hogwarts. Watching as one of the Gryffindor Chasers nearly had her skull crushed Harry turned his attention back onto the game, which was far more entertaining than any of the league games played between Stalie and Basta.
xXx
"It was better than expected." Daphne airily told Anisa as she appeared on the girl's other side, letting her mossy green eyes take in the celebration on the pitch. Anisa turned to study the platinum blonde beside her as she tucked her book into her coat pocket.
"I told you I could entice him enough." Anisa replied daintily as she stood to stand next to the Slytherin girl, Daphne hummed in agreement before handing over a velvet bag. Anisa smiled as she pocketed the bag knowing that the agreed upon item would be inside the pouch.
"Almost to well." Daphne giggled as she and Anisa walked out of the stands, Anisa sighed flippantly it wasn't her fault that he had come out to the pitch in such a state. She'd only given him the incentive that if they'd won she'd go out on that date he'd been pestering her for, how was she to know that saying yes would cause him to go loopy.
"Well I couldn't let him beg, it's completely unbecoming." Anisa spoke quietly as they weaved through the growing crowd, Daphne the only Slytherin in the mass of students congratulating the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Daphne bid her farewell as Anisa made her way around the pitch trying to locate Harry in the large crowd, they'd gotten separated as she had waited for Daphne to show up and he left to celebrate with the rest of the students.