"Lemon drops?" Dumbleore asked, his icy blue eyes twinkling and smiling his grandfatherly smile.
"Get to the point Albus, you dragged us out of our house on Christmas day, so spill." Lily all but growled out. She was different from the person she was at Diagon Alley on her daughters birthday.
The aged man sighed, before one word/name left his mouth. "Anastasia."
James stiffened, he eyed the Headmaster wearily. Ever since his little girl had left for Hogwarts it was like as if he snapped out of a trance. Day by day, little memories came back, specifically one's involving the man in front of him and his wife. He knew that the old man was keeping something big from them which involved his sweet little Ana.
"What about Anastasia?" Lily said stiffly, her face becoming serious.
"She has made friends with Slytherins and got herself into Ravenclaw, who do not have one of the best reputations and more so she seems to be unaccepting of Mr Ronald Weasley's friendship he seems to be offering."
Lily knew where this conversation was heading and she certainly didn't want it to carry on. She had noticed that the obedience and compulsion spells had start to wear off of James since Anastasia left and she wasn't exactly pleased with the Headmaster for not noticing but she had to applaud her husbands acting skill.
"And that is so important because why Albus. My daughter is entitled to make her own friends with out us chosing for her. And if you haven't realised my mother was a Slytherin and my father a Gryffindor, I do not see the problem." James's voice was dripping with iciness. His occulmency shields up as he felt prodding at his mental barrier.
"Her affinity has change, it is no longer white but board line grey. I am simply concerned." A harsh laugh tore its self from Lord Potter's throat.
"Albus, my mother's affinity was dark as they came, my father's affinity was also gray. I do not understand why you are bothered by her affinity. I will not apologies for coming of rude, but it is none of your business what magic my daughter decides to learn and I honestly do not care what magic she practices."
Lily turned her eyes on her husband. Her voice coming out harsh. "What do you mean you do not care James, if she is practicing dark magic then then she is going against everything we've drilled into her since she could talk. This is bad James."
Shaking his head at his wife, he wondered why he had married her in the first place. Sure he had a boy hood crush on her since he 1st met her but he knew his feelings for her had dwindled down in his sixth year. She was rather narrowed minded. Didn't exactly think for herself and if she did, it was only when it benefited greatly. Maybe he should go back and listen to Remus. Things were getting out of control for sure.
"The Potter's have always been a neutral family. My parents and Ana's godfathers also have a dark affinity, Remus only has a dark affinity because of his werewolf. My own is grey so I honestly do not care what Ana does and she will tell us in her own time" He turned towards Albus. "As much as I respect you, I'm starting to lose those respects towards you. You are obsessed with my daughter, probably because she vanquished the Dark lord but to have such a boardline obsession on a 11 yr old is disgusting. One would think you were trying to groom her. I'm still an Auror Dumbleore and I can bring down your reputation easliy. I guess I will say thank you for trusting me to tell me about Arianna and if anybody found out then I guess..." Lord Potter trailed of innocently. He now understood where Moony was coming from when he said Dumbleore wasn't to be trusted. The man was manipulative. One would of guessed he was a Slytherin through and through with the way he controlled people. They were like his chess pieces. Ironic really. He really did owe his friend and brother of a sort an apology. It was long overdue.
"I will only ask this kindly and only once. Stay away from Anastasia Potter Dumbleore. Your obsession is sickening, and Lily I expect your attendance at Gringotts next week Tuesday to sign the divorce papers. After all I can't have a cheating manipulative women as wife or the mother of my daughter, now can I?" With that Lord Potter left the Headmaster's office leaving a shocked Lily and a furious headmaster in his wake.
A satisfied smirk gracing his lips.
He was glad to be rid of whatever kind of trance he was under and it felt too damn good.
~New Beginning~
James Charles Potter prided himself to know himself better than anyone else. He knew what he liked and disliked. He knew his family was a direct descendent from the Peverell family also known as the Gryffindor family, an important information he kept from Dumbleore and his wife. He was glad that he didn't tell both of them or things would have gone worser than expected.
So when he started remembering random odd bits and bots ever since his precious little girl left for school he had turned to his dear friend Remus John Lupin. The Auror could always turn to him, he was level headed, made you see sense no matter the situation. He had informed the man of these odd memories appearing ever since sweet little Ana left.
Remus looked completely livid once he told him but what made him, James Potter angry was that Remus blamed it on Albus Dumbleore, who was awarded the Order of Merlin, 1st class, called Grand Sorcerer, Supreme, Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Albus Dumbleore would never do that.
But that had him thinking. He had befriended Gellert in his teenage years, had unhealthy crush on said wizard, believed Gellerts goals, duelled him, turned on him because of said duel which lost the life of his baby sister. So after that meeting with the Headmaster he knew that his friend was right and he couldn't understand in the name of Merlin why he didn't trust his friend, he had never lied to him, so why would he start now?
So with a clear head, he asked Remus to show him the memories he had seen of Albus's plan. How he planned to peg his daughter on strings and use her as his puppet. It was such a foul move.
He got into even more shock when he found that Sirius was under heavy compulsion charms since he began Hogwarts. This made him feel like as if he didn't know his best friend since 11 because the compulsion webs affected his personality.
~New Beginning~
December passed along with Tom's birthday which Ana didn't know. January through March passed in an orderly boring manner except for those times which Ana spent with Marvolo, which Ana had started to call him, claiming that it suited him better than Tom. He let out a real laugh at that which had bought a blush to Anastasia's face.
It was half way through March and Ana was currently in her dorm, it was already past curfew when she had the sudden urge to just take her invisibility cloak and explore Hogwarts ground. She squashed down the urge only for it to increase. Letting out a huff, she got her cloak from her trunk, throwing it over self, making her way out of the Ravenclaw tower.
Where should she go? She stopped, her heart racing, and thought. And then it came to her. The Restricted Section in the library. She'd be able to read as long as she liked, as long as it took to find any greyish dark book. She set off, drawing the invisibility cloak tight around her as she walked.
The library was pitch-black and very eerie. Ana lit a lamp to see her way along the rows of books. The lamp looked as if it was floating along in midair, and even though Ana could feel her arm supporting it, the sight gave her the creeps.
The Restricted Section was right at the back of the library. Stepping carefully over the rope that separated these books from the rest of the library, she held up her lamp to read the titles.
They didn't tell her much. Their peeling, faded gold letters spelled words in languages Ana couldn't understand. Some had no title at all. One book had a dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood. The hairs on the back of Ana's neck prickled. Maybe she was imagining it, maybe not, but she thought a faint whispering was coming from the books, as though they knew someone was there who shouldn't be.
She had to start somewhere. Setting the lamp down carefully on the floor, she looked along the bottom shelf for an interesting looking book. A large black and silver volume caught hee eye. She pulled it out with difficulty, because it was very heavy, and, balancing it on her knee, let it fall open.
A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek split the silence -- the book was screaming! Ana snapped it shut, but the shriek went on and on, one high, unbroken, earsplitting note. She stumbled backward and knocked over her lamp, which went out at once. Panicking, she heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside -- stuffing the shrieking book back on the shelf, she ran for it. She passed Filch in the doorway; Filch's pale, wild eyes looked straight through her, and Ana slipped under Filch's outstretched arm and streaked off up the corridor, the book's shrieks still ringing in her ears.
She came to a sudden halt in front of a tall suit of armor. She had been so busy getting away from the library that she hadn't paid attention to where she was going. Perhaps because it was dark, he didn't recognize where she was at all. There was a suit of armor near the kitchens, she knew, but she must be five floors above there.
"You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library Restricted Section."
Ana felt the blood drain out of her face. Wherever she was, Filch must know a shortcut, because his soft, greasy voice was getting nearer, and to his horror, it was Snape who replied, "The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them."
Ana stood rooted to the spot as Filch and Snape came around the corner ahead. They couldn't see her, of course, but it was a narrow corridor and if they came much nearer they'd knock right into her -- the cloak didn't stop her from being solid.
She backed away as quietly as she could. A door stood ajar to her left. It was her only hope. Ana squeezed through it, holding her breath, trying not to move it, and to her utmost relief she managed to get inside the room without their noticing anything. They walked straight past, and Ana leaned against the wall, breathing deeply, listening to their footsteps dying away. That had been close, very close. It was a few seconds before ahe noticed anything about the room he had hidden in.
It looked like an unused classroom. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket -- but propped against the wall facing her was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way.
It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Her panic fading now that there was no sound of Filch and Snape, Ana moved nearer to the mirror, wanting to look at herself but see no reflection again. She stepped in front of it.
She had to clap her hands to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. She whirled around but the room was empty. Breathing very fast, she turned slowly back to the mirror.
There she was, reflected in it, white and scared-looking, and there, reflected behind her, were at least two others. Ana looked over her shoulder -- but still, no one was there. Or were they all invisible, too? Was she in fact in a room full of invisible people and this mirror's trick was that it reflected them, invisible or not?
She looked in the mirror again. A man was standing to her left, an amused smile on his face, his body was facing the opposite direction so she couldn't make out his features except the ebony shouldee length hair. There was also another man with a distorted face, his eyes a shallow blue. Sge reached out a hand and felt the air behind her. If she was really there, she'd touch the man next to her, their reflections were so close together, but ahe felt only air - she and the others existed only in the mirror.
Looking more closely she saw herself handing over a golden sphere like stone to the man with the pale blue eyes whilst the other lay a somewhat comforting hand on her shoulder. The end of his lips quirking up in content smile.
The image shifted. She saw herself, her godfathers and father were behind her, victorious smiles upon their lips. Her friends stood to her side with another two boys she never saw before.They looked older, joyful and content. And to her left stood a man around his early twenties, with soft honey colored hair and pale blue eyes. Next to him was a man with crimson eyes, pale face, high cheekbones and a strong jaw line. Ana couldn't help but be struck by his beauty. He was the definition of perfection, but she knew that there was nothing as perfection in a world like this. The man a familiar look to him but she couldn't pint point it. She realised that her mother wasn't among her family but she didn't dwell on it to much.
Ana was so close to the mirror now that her nose was nearly touching that of her reflection. She looked older, well everybody did. Her and her friends looked around 14, 15.
How long she stood there, dhe didn't know and she honestly didn't care. The reflections did not fade and she looked and looked until a distant noise brought her back to his senses. She couldn't stay here, ahe had to find her way back to bed. She tore her eyes away from the 10 people in the mirror, whispering , "I'll come back," and hurried from the room. She knew she would tell Hermione and Draco about this.
~New Beginning~
Morning came and Ana was feeling tired due to staying with a mirror that showed her people who seemed some what important to her.
Her classes went by without a hitch but she was rather distracted. She couldn't wait until night to arrive. She had told her friends of the mirror and they were also excited to see it.
Her complete excitement and her lack of attention gained the attention of Professor Riddle. He couldn't fathom what had gotten the girl so jumpy and excited. She was rarely excited. Always had a blank look on her face except when she was in the company of her friends and himself and during those time he could openly read her emotions.
Tom or Marvolo has he had gotten used to calling himself prided himself as a master of deciet, manipulating and being able to read anyone's expression or thoughts even if they were a master of Occulmency. But he couldn't comprehend why he couldn't figure out what caused her to be like this. But admittedly it brought a sense of contentment to see ger acting her age and not an adult in a childs body, which at times he thought was quite disturbing but he was a part of the reason why she acted like that and wouldn't be acting her age for years to come. It was quite daunting to realise this but alas fate cannot be altered in way or form.
~New Beginning~
Curfew passed and the two girls and Draco were under the invisibility cloak heading to the old abandoned classroom were the mirror resided.
Dropping the invisibility cloak Ana spoke up. "That's the mirror."
"I show not your face but your hearts desire." Draco breathed out. His normally slicked blond hair ruffled out, making him look rather adorable and less uptight.
Both Hermione and Draco toke turns looking into the mirror, both nearly saw the same things as each other, along with what Ana described to them at breakfast.
Ana gently pushed her way in front of two best friends. There, once again stood the red eyed handsome man from before. He was dressed casually, his hair seemed to be tied in a pony tale. He smirked at her, beckoning her closer with his index finger. As Ana came closer, the stunning man crouched, his height coming some what same with Ana's. He beckoned her to come closer, her palms lay flat on the griny surface of the mirror. The man mirrored her, the nose and forehead somewhat touching, separated by the glass. The man spoke. "I'm forever with you my beloved Ana. I'll come for you soon." And with that, Ana's mystery man faded, leaving a flustered girl in his wake.
"back again Anastasia , but this time with company."
"Er--we didn't see you sir." Hermione hesitantly replied.
The aged man completely ignored her, his eyes trained on the emerald eyed girl who looked flustered and pleased.
"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you,"Said Dumbleore. His grandfatherly façade in place.
"So," continued Dumbleore, slipping fully out behind the door. "you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."
"I didn't know it was called that--" Ana trailed off. She felt the urge to get away from the Headmaster, he didn't have that aura of safetyness around him but one that reeked of control and untruthful.
"I trust that you realise what it does now?" The wizened man asked. Ana looked behind her to see the people from the night before, her mysterious man right in the middle, a lazy smile on his face which caused Ana to smile, her cheeks becoming rosy and bending her head down.
Dumbleore saw this and his curiosity spikes. He wanted- no needed to see what the girl saw in this fine mirror. So he spoke.
"What did you see in the nimirror Anastasia?" Making his voice sound friendly with a hint of curiosity.
Ana opened her mouth, her gaze drifting of to the beautiful man who shook his head at her. She frowned in confusion before mouthing "lie to him". Not questioning why she followed, she nodded her head, ashy smile coming on her face as the crimson eyed man seemed to chuckle at her.
"I see myself becoming headgirl and holding the house cup."Ana said. Draco giving her a raised eyebrow. His best friend was absolutely terrible at lying.
Dumbleore frowned, sensing the lie that the girl produced, but alas he shouldn't of have got his hopes high, at least some of the plan worked.
"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you lot put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?" He said in the end, carefully choosing his words.
Ana sent a longing look at the mirror. The man sent her wink before mouthing for the last time, "I'll always be here for you."
The trio went back under the invisibility cloak, all staying quiet as they dropped Draco of.
That night Ana could only dream of ruby red eyes and when she could ever meet him. But he seemed so familiar, as if she had already came in contact with him before.
A/N Give some reviews plz. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Next update may be on Wednesday Thursday or Friday. Thanks 4 reading.
Ciao
Ria
