Hello, loves. Sorry ahead of time. This chapter has a few more swears than normal. It retrospect, it was probably influenced by the music I was listening to.


I stretched with a yawn as I sat on the cold floor of the Gryffindor common room. I had a potions book in one hand and a spell book in the other, attempting to double study. I glanced out the window at the white powder covering it with a sigh. Everyone else was either wandering around the castle or at Hogsmeade, while I was stuck studying. Although the professors insisted I would catch up in due time, I was insistent on catching up to the other fifth years as soon as possible. Even if it took it's toll in the long run.

"Anna!" Fred rang from behind me with a grin, causing me to jump.

"Bloody hell, Freddy." I rolled my eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "Didn't Mum ever tell you not to sneak up on people?"

He shrugged as he plopped down on the sofa behind me. "Seen Georgie anywhere?"

I shook my head with a shrug. "Haven't seen him once today. What, you mean you lost him?" I asked, putting on my best attempt at a shocked face.

"Oh, shut up." He huffed, trying not to smile. I grinned at him before busying myself with my books once more. "You're gonna give yourself an aneurysm, studying like that. You need a break."

"Exactly what I was thinking." George said with a grin from the doorway. The corners of my mouth twitched upward into a smile as I marked my spots and closed the books.

"What'd you have in mind?" I asked, one eyebrow raised.

"How about a little trip to Hogsmeade?" He said eagerly, strolling over and helping me up off the floor.

"First years aren't allowed." I rolled my eyes and stretched before tugging my sweater back down into place.

"Ah, but you don't need permission-"

"When you have us." Fred finished for his brother, pulling out a bit of parchment. He held up his wand and tapped it. "I solemnly swear hat I am up to no good." As he finished speaking, he unfolded it.

"Is that..." I began.

"A map of Hogwarts." The twins finished with grins.

"That's got to be illegal." I said, cocking an eyebrow at them.

"Oh it is." George said, offering me his arm. "Shall we?" I took his arm with a light chuckle, allowing them to lead me out of the common room.


I grinned at the white snowflakes falling from the sky. "It's beautiful out here." I said, staring upward before turning my gaze to George, who was watching me with a smile.

"Yeah," He agreed, smile broadening. "You should see my view." I felt the heat rise in my cheeks as I picked up some soft powder and hurled it at him. His eyes widened momentarily before narrowing with a smirk. "Oh, you're going to wish you hadn't done that, Roland."

"Oh yeah?" I mused. "How's that, Weasley?" I had barely managed to smirk before being smacked in the face with snow myself.

I stood in shock for a moment before breaking out in a sly grin and reaching down to scoop snow off the ground and fling it high into the air, causing it to fall down over him. Standing and rushing toward me, he wrapped an arm around the front of my waist and spun me in circles, causing loud, breathy giggles to escape my lips. He finally stopped and I realised he was also lightly chuckling along. I looked up at him as I stood with his arm wrapped around me and blushed as my smile softened. He smiled down at me, his expression just as soft, and just before either of us could think, we heard an arrogant voice ring out.

"Well, isn't this a sight." Malfoy's eyes narrowed as his smirk twisted into an evil grin. "A first year so far from the castle? The headmaster will just love this."

I turned in George's arms to face Draco with a hard glare. "Think carefully about who sent you to the hospital once already, Draco." I spat.

"You can't best me again you mudblood bitch." He stepped forward, wand raised. Without waiting for me to retrieve my own wand, he cast a spell sending George and I flying backward.

I landed hard, turning to make sure George was alright before reaching into my pocket for my wand. Before I could bring it up, I was flying through the air once more, this time striking an old wooden fence post. I urged the heat to leave, but to no avail as I began to rise off the ground. "Malfoy, you should run!" I warned, not wanting to injure him so gravely again.

"You can't beat me with this little trick!" He snarled. "Not this time."

A bolt of energy flew from my hand, knocking Malfoy back. "Malfoy, just leave. I can't control it!" I shouted. My hand raised sending out another bolt of energy and knocking him back again.

"The world will know what you are, freak!" Malfoy yelled. The word 'freak' seemed to echo as it hit my ears. I soon found my body engulfed in white flames. Malfoy's eyes widened as he gawked up at my gloating form. He turned to run, tripping several times before finally managing to escape.

Nevertheless, I raised my hand toward where he had run, stopping only when I heard a frantic voice to my right. "Annabelle!" I turned my head to see George's terrified face. "He's gone." Was all he could manage. My expression softened as the flames disappeared and I fell to the freshly fallen snow, landing on my hands and knees.

"George..." I breathed. He looked terrified, almost hurt, as if I had betrayed him somehow. I stood, running off toward the castle, no longer wanting to see the pained expression on George's otherwise perfect face that I had put there.


I sat in the tower staring out onto the ground below, the tears long since dried and streaked on my pale face. He knew. Now that George and shortly the entire Weasley family knew what I was capable of, what I could become, I would surely be alone in the world again in no time. I stroked the top of Lyla's head as I sniffled, resting my chin on my knees.

"Annabelle?" I didn't bother turning. "Are you okay?"

Without warning, new tears began to fall. "I'm a freak..." I whispered.

George sat down next to me and snaked his arms around my shoulders. I pulled back, but he kept his grip. He pulled me closer and wrapped his other arm around the front of my shoulders, pulling me into a tight hug. "I'd use the word, 'unique.' Wouldn't jump straight for freak." He joked, resting his chin on the top of my head. I nuzzled into him with a sniffle as he kissed the top of my head.

"I can't control it, George." I managed while choking down a sob. He responded by holding me tighter and rubbing my arm with his warm, mitted hand. "I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't."

"How do you know?" I sniffled, pulling back to glance up at him through wet eyes.

He smiled down at me as he reached up to wipe the tears from my cheek. "You stopped." My eyebrows knitted together and his smile softened. "You saw me. You saw I was there and you controlled it."

My puzzled expression turned to one of thought before beginning to light up. "I stopped it." I murmured softly.

George's grin widened as he nodded. He pulled me into his lap and hugged me close once more. "You'll be okay."

"Thank you, George." I whispered, a smile tugging at my lips. I looked up to see him smiling down at me. I tilted my head up, as if on instinct and he leaned down a bit. I closed my eyes as my breath hitched in my throat. In that moment everything was perfe-

"Mister Weasley, Miss Roland." My eye's shot open as my head jerked around toward the headmaster standing on the stairwell. The heat flushed harshly in my face as I noticed Malfoy standing behind Professor Dumbledore.