Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 11

They walked among the tombstones, father and daughter, side by side. When they arrived at the appropriate headstone, they stopped and bowed their heads. Voldemort's arms were crossed and he was staring vacantly at the simple, black headstone. Anne was simultaneously shivering and sniffling. They stood in this pose for several moments before Voldemort spoke in a low voice, still looking at the headstone.

"I heard about Potter," he said.

Anne stiffened. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"That you love him," growled Voldemort. "Don't deny it."

"I wasn't!" protested Anne. "I was just checking to see what exactly you had heard."

Voldemort paused and narrowed his eyes at her. "Hmmm," he said. "A fairly devious tactic. Hogwarts really is doing wonders for your education."

"Thanks," muttered Anne, "but I really don't love Harry. Not anymore, anyway."

"Good," said Voldemort, "because you're not allowed to fall in love with anyone. And if any boy ever so much as looks at you sideways, I'll hex him to hell and back."

"Yes, Daddy, I know."

"Besides, you're engaged to the Malfoy brat."

"I'm what?!"

"I would have much rather betrothed you to one of Snape's sons, but he never had any, unfortunately."

"Wuf," moaned Anne disconsolately. "I think I'm going to be sick. Please tell me Draco doesn't know."

"Of course he doesn't," said Voldemort. "The boy's a Slytherin. He'd completely use the situation to his advantage. Nobody's allowed to take advantage of my daughter."

"Thanks, Daddy, but I want to find love the normal way—like you and Mum did."

Voldemort stiffened. "Normal isn't good enough," he snapped at her. "You'll do as I say."

"But Daddy—"

"That's enough," shouted Voldemort.

They fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"Come," said Voldemort finally. "I must return you to school grounds."

The pair left and Voldemort deposited her at the gate.

"Till Christmas," he said.

"Yes, Daddy," said Anne with a pout, still thinking about her betrothal to Draco.

Anne spent the remainder of the time before dinner in the library, studying moodily in a dark corner and bemoaning her fate. At dinner that evening, there was an announcement.

"I have an announcement," announced Dumbledore. "We have a new Herbology teacher and head of Hufflepuff house! Everyone please welcome Miss Dianna Sprightly."

Professor Sprightly stood and waved to the student body cheerfully. She was tall and slender, like a willow, and had a gleaming, bright smile. Professors McGonagall and Snape looked at each other and shuddered in unison.

"Blimey, she's hot," said Goyle at the Slytherin table.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Draco.

"I dunno—heard it in the common room," said Goyle.

"Ah, you must have run into some wickety-wick-wicks," said Luna.

"You really think so?" asked Crabbe eagerly.

"Of course," said Luna. "They have a tendency to gather in castle dungeons; everyone knows that."

"Gee, Goyle," said Crabbe enviously, "you get all the breaks."

"Quiet!" said Blaise, "I'm trying to tune into normal here."

"Why bother trying?" murmured Anne. "Normal's not good enough—maybe eating's not good enough. Maybe I should quit eating. And I'll stop taking showers again. ... show him—normal's just fine... wanna see normal, that's fine. Wanna see better than normal, that's just fine."

"Huh?" said Blaise.

"I hate my life," sighed Anne under her breath.

"Are you ok, Anne?" asked Draco.

Anne looked at him and sneered. "Shut up, Draco," she said. "I'm still not talking to you."

Draco looked stricken.

"Gee," whispered Crabbe to Goyle, "I've never seen her sneer and mean it before. It's kind of scary."

"Yeah," agreed Goyle.

"I've gotta go," muttered Anne distractedly. "I've got plans—things to do."

"I'll come with you," said Luna dreamily. "I wanted to collect some tumsinoid seeds on the way to the common room tonight."

They were nearly to their common room when Luna broke the silence.

"You've been angry at Draco for a long time, haven't you?"

"Of course I'm angry at him," said Anne. "He's Draco. Isn't everyone mad at him for some reason or other?"

"You didn't use to be," said Luna.

Anne shrugged uncomfortably. Luna shrugged, too.

"Oh well," she said. "At least you don't have to marry him."

Anne scowled.

"Oh look," said Luna. "A Pruberfin!"

The next day, Anne was on her way to Herbology when Harry Potter stepped into her path.

"Hi! Long time, no see," he said with a smile. "Where's Shashwat?"

"He's sleeping in my room," replied Anne stiffly.

"Oh," said Harry. "Well, can I walk you to your class?"

"No, actually," said Anne, "I don't believe in walking."

She winced internally whilst brushing past Harry and hurrying toward the greenhouses.

"Well, ok then," Harry said in confusion. "I'll see you later."

Anne kept her head down and was nearly to the door of Greenhouse number five when suddenly a figure in a dark cloak appeared and grabbed her by her elbow. Anne gasped, simultaneously drawing her wand. She settled down when she realized who it was.

"Draco, don't scare me like that," she said. "I almost avada'd you on the spot."

Draco paled, but ignored what Anne said in favor of completing what he started out to do.

"I need to talk to you," he said.

Anne scowled. "Why?" she demanded. "What could you possibly have to say to me?"

"Come in, come in!" a voice suddenly sang out. It was Professor Sprightly. "Come on you two," she said. "Class starts right now!" The professor grinned spectacularly and disappeared behind the door.

Anne pulled herself from Draco's grasp and followed the Professor inside the greenhouse, leaving Draco outside in the cold and wet.

A/N: Wow, I did not expect to get out another chapter tonight, but I just had to keep going. Anyway, I just wanted to say to my reviewers: thank you, I appreciate your feedback. I'd have more to say on the subject, but I know how annoying it is as a reader to see big, long acknowledgements at the ends of chapters. I always feel compelled to read them, too, for some reason.