"Hello there baby girl, I've been waiting 9 long months for you to arrive and now here you are, so precious and tiny. I promise you your life will be filled with joy and love from your daddy and myself. If only the world could know who your daddy was, but there is danger in the world right now."
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Take her out of the country."
"What is the child's name?"
"Ariana, but it will be changed."
"To what?"
"Annabel."
"A matching set for mother and daughter."
Annie woke up in the middle of the night sweating like a pig and tears down her cheeks. She had her nightmare again. She looked over at the clock and saw it was three in the morning. She grabbed her green rob and shoes and exited the carriage quietly. She thought she went unnoticed, but Olivia heard her wake up. She quietly followed Annie outside. She followed Annie who ended up near the Black Lake. Annie sat down on a stone and watched the water. She knew Olivia had been following her. Olivia sat down next to her.
"You have your nightmare?" Olivia finally asked. She looked over at Annie who just nodded. "Confront McGonagall."
Annie turned and looked at Olivia. Olivia could see Annie had been crying.
"What?" Annie cried.
"You want answers and don't deny it. I know you are angry at me about the article but inside I know you want answers. Confront her today."
Annie turned away. There was a five-minute silence. Annie broke the silence.
"There were people talking this time," she said. Olivia looked at her. "A mother couldn't tell the world who a child's father was."
The Article. Minerva wouldn't give the name of the father.
"I see." Is all Olivia could say?
"The child's name was Ariana." Annie added.
Olivia nodded.
"Confront her. You're strong enough to." Olivia said and stood up. She headed back to the carriage and left Annie alone.
Private Quarters 4:15am
Minerva lay awake. She couldn't fall asleep. She was thinking back on what Albus had said.
"There is quicker way in finding out…." He said softly. Minerva looked at him and waited for him to finish. "Your necklace."
Minerva looked at it. She felt her eyes water a bit. Albus looked at her.
"It turns red and warms your heart." She said softly. Albus frowned and moved closer to her.
"How did you know that?"
Minerva looked at him. His eyes went wide.
"What happened?" he asked. Minerva explained what had happened during the first task. When she finished, Albus stood up.
"I know I shouldn't have done it Albus, but my heart was telling me to."
He nodded.
"You're absolutely sure it went warm?" he asked. Minerva nodded. Albus's face suddenly grew a huge grin and he went over to Minerva and pulled her up to him for a hug. He then kissed her. Minerva was shocked, but didn't push away. When he pulled away he was still smiling.
"She's ours, Minerva, she's ours."
Minerva took a deep breath and rolled to face Albus and was surprised to see he was awake. She looked at him.
"How do we approach this?" Minerva asked. He turned and looked at her. He brushed a piece of hair behind her ear.
"That I am still pondering about."
She nodded. He pulled her in and she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Do you think she'll discover it was I that helped her?" she asked. Albus shrugged.
"Quite possible, the question is will she confront you?"
Minerva smiled. Albus looked at her.
"If she is ours, she will have my ability to confront people, trust me on that."
Albus laughed.
Corridors 12:00pm
Annie was going to do what Olivia had suggested and confront McGonagall. If she was right then she was right, but if she was wrong then she would look like a fool and expose somebody had helped her. It was a risk worth taking in her eyes though. She rounded a corner quickly again and nearly knocked over someone. She looked and saw it was Professor Dumbledore who had grabbed her before she hit the floor.
"I'm so sorry Professor!" Annie said. Albus nodded.
"It is quite alright. I tend to turn corners rather quickly myself." He chuckled. Annie smiled.
"It's just a habit I seemed to develop when I was a child." Said Annie.
"And where are you off to in such a hurry?" Albus asked as they began to walk down the corridor. Annie had to think of a lie.
"I had a question about Transfiguration and Madam Maxime said Professor McGonagall could answer it for me. I understand this is her free period."
Albus nodded.
"I happen to be gifted in the subject myself, perhaps I can answer it for you?" he asked as they reached Professor McGonagall's door. Annie looked him.
"Oh I well I was just wondering if witches or wizard can transfigure into magical creatures?"
Albus looked at her and didn't buy that the question was the question she wanted to ask.
"I don't know anybody to have mastered that, some have indeed tried, but failed." He answered. Annie nodded.
"Oh, okay Professor thank you. I guess… I'll just head back to the Carriage." Annie said. Albus nodded and once Annie was out of sight he went into Minerva's classroom.