Anna sat in her armchair, teasing the knots out of the end of her hair with her fingers. Harry had gone to bed, and she could see him sleeping peacefully, curled onto his side, the mop of black hair just visible above the covers. She smiled, and then her mind reverted back to what she had been thinking of before. Severus. However much she tried, she couldn't get his face out of her head, his eyes, his touch. She closed her eyes and felt his hand brush her cheek, through her hair. Oh, god. I'm falling for him.
Severus stood in the lab, glaring at the remains of the badly-messed up potion. His sixth attempt and he had screwed up. Again. Sighing, he cleaned up and retreated back into his room, staring into the fire. However much he tried, all he could see was her face. Anna. He saw her sat in the hospital wing, cradling a child. He saw her sat in the library, ink splats covering her face. He saw her sat on a balcony, the wind whipping at her hair. He saw her singing. He felt her touch his face, her lips brush his forehead. Anna. Oh god, I'm falling for you. If only you knew. If only you knew.
All was quiet in the Great Hall. Anna was talking quietly to Minerva, discussing whether she could teach Harry some Transfiguration. It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun shining in at the windows. She fingered the red and blue kites that were shrunken in her pocket. Kite flying later. Harry had never flown a kite before.
"Yes, I'd be delighted to teach him...from what you've told me he is very bright." Minerva smiled benignly. Anna grinned, and caught Albus' eye as she turned round. Sparkling with mystery, they surveyed the room in amusement. The other teachers were chatting quietly, apart from Remus, who was as usual sat in silence, and Severus, who was glaring at the wall as per usual. Suddenly, there was a high pitched scream. Anna's hand went to her wand as she jumped up and over the table, pointing it at the door as a figure appeared. Where's Harry?
But it wasn't Harry. As the others teachers broke out in murmurs, the figure focused as Rosamund Arden, clutching her hand. Her pretty blond curls hung in awry, her eyes were wide.
"Miss Arden, what on earth is the matter?" Dumbledore stood, looking down at her. The woman gave a loud wail, and pointed at a smaller figure that had run in through another door.
"That ... piece of filth bit me on the hand, he did! The ill-mannered, disgraceful, disgusting child!"
"Harry?" Anna asked, turning to the small boy who was standing in the doorway. His eyes were wide, shocked as he winced and shied away, shaking his head. Rosamund Arden took a step towards him.
"Look what he did!" she showed them the teeth marks on her hand, blood dripping in delicate crimson beads. Silence. Everyone stared between Harry and Rosamund. Severus was the first to react, turning towards Harry.
"Is this true, Harry?" he asked softly.
"N-No, sir! I didn't!" Harry cowered away, shaking his head desperately.
"He lies!" Rosamund shrieked. "The stupid, evil child! He should be beaten and locked up!"
Harry bleached a ghostly white, slumping against the wall. His hands were shaking uncontrollably as he stared at the woman.
Anna gasped. She extended a hand to Harry, but before anyone could do anything he had bolted out of the room and down the corridor, vanishing around the corner, leaving the room in total disarray with a weeping Rosamund Arden in the middle, clutching at Severus' robes as he knelt next to her and began healing her hand. The teachers were all murmuring, Remus frowning. No-one noticed as Anna slipped out of the room towards her rooms, walking lightly and quickly.
Entering her rooms, Anna noted immediately that Harry's bedroom door was open, and that there was a small, shaking bundle on his bed, curled up.
"Harry?" she called, leaning in the doorway. The bundle shifted, and two terrified emerald eyes looked up at her. Harry uncurled, and stood in the centre of the room, head down, turned away from her. She noticed that there was a small suitcase, packed in the corner. "Harry, what's this?"
"Please, just get it over with and then I'll go back to the Dursleys and never upset you again." Harry murmured, still facing the floor. Anna frowned, moving further into the room.
"Get what over with?"
In answer, he pointed to the small wicker chair, resting on which was a belt with a large brass buckle. It seemed to have been placed there in an exact position. Anna began to feel sick. Harry expected her to beat him. And then send him away. She walked to stand directly in front of him and placed a long, thin finger on his chin.
"Look at me, Harry."
Slowly, the small boy raised his head, frightened, wary emerald eyes anticipating the buckle to come smashing down on his back. She met his eyes with her own, keeping her finger under his chin as she spoke.
"Harry, I would never, ever beat you. Never. I'd rather die."
"But...but..."
"But nothing. And I'm not going to send you away, either. Not in a million years. Harry, you're my son now. I love you, child."
"You...you do?" Harry dropped his head, looking at his shoes. Sighing, she wrapped an arm around his shoulders and drew him to the bed, resting his head on her shoulder as she sat on the edge with her arms wrapped around him.
"Of course I do, silly boy."
Suddenly, her arms were full of sobbing child as he curled up on her lap, sniffling into her jumper. She stroked his hair gently, running her hand through the silky strands. His jumper brushed against her arm as she felt him bury his head in her shoulder, hands clutching at the blue material.
"Sssh, Harry. Its ok, I promise. I'd never send you away. Or beat you. Never."
He nodded, and she drew back slightly. His face was pale and blotchy, with red eyes and mussed-up hair. She sighed softly, and summoned a cool cloth, wiping his face with it. Slowly, the blotchiness vanished until he resumed his usual appearance, albeit still a little pale.
"Now, then. Did you bite Miss Arden?" she had a mental image of Harry as a small, black wolf, latching onto Rosamund Arden's hand as she swatted at him, pale perfection twisted. She had to fight to stay serious as Rosamund's stick figure flailed pathetically.
"No, Anna, I promise I didn't. She came up to me in the corridor and was asking me tons of questions and wouldn't leave me alone, and I got scared so ran away from her."
Anna frowned. If Harry didn't bite her, who did? "What did she ask you?"
"Stuff about why I was so small, and when I had come to stay with you, and why. And lots of stuff about you."
"What did you say?"
"I said that you were really kind and nice and fun and that you'd adopted me. And she asked me whether I was bothered that you were a half-werewolf, and I said no, because I'm not." He replied stubbornly. She smiled and ruffled his hair, helping him to stand. Worried, he clung to her arm as she led him into the living room and towards the floo. "I said the right thing, didn't I?"
"Yes, cub. I'm sure you did."
"Have you seen Anna or Harry?"
That was the general line of questioning in the castle, and now in the Burrow, waiting for the meeting. After Rosamund had appeared, Anna had vanished and neither she nor Harry had been seen since. Only Remus didn't seem bothered, and Severus sought him out to ask why.
"Anna and Harry are fine, Severus. Trust me. You'll see them in approximately three minutes." The wolf said with a small smile, before limping off. Severus watched him go, and then blinked. He had been standing in the middle of the corridor, and now there was no-one there. Then, his thoughts were interrupted by a loud shout.
"Anna's here!"
Hurrying into the kitchen, he recognised Anna's familiar curly head as she sat next to Arthur on a stool, smiling gently. Harry was stood next to her, left hand twitching.
"Where have you been, Anna?" he asked, a little more harshly than he had first intended. Her head whipped around, and surprised ocean blue eyes met his.
"Err...flying kites."
"You've been what?" Molly asked in amazement.
"Flying kites. We went to halfway up Nevis. It gave the locals a shock, I can tell you now." She said, with a pretty smile which lit up the room. "Harry's amazing."
"Harry!" the twins tumbled into the room, Ginny close behind. At their mother's glare they straightened up and brushed themselves down sheepishly before enfolding Harry in a large hug. "C'mon! Come and play Wizarding Chess with us!"
Harry sent Anna a quick look which Severus interpreted as one of questioning, much to his interest. She nodded, smiling warmly, and the small boy's face split into a large smile as he followed the twins out of the room, Ginny bringing up the rear.
"Did he?" Remus asked, as soon as he had gone. Anna met the wolf's eyes.
"No. He swore to me that he didn't." She turned to Molly. "Can I have a firewhisky, Mol?"
"O-Of course." Molly said, surprised, hurrying out of the room and returning quickly with a rather dusty bottle. Anna poured herself a glass and downed it in one, hand shaking. Severus could see the scar more clearly, pale and nasty-looking against her tanned skin as she leant back. Remus' eyes seemed to be drawn to it as well.
"What is it, Doushka?" he asked, worried. Everyone in the room stared at him. He had never openly spoken in Russian before. "You never drink."
Anna said something in Russian, and they all watched Remus' face pale. She turned to face Molly, hand still shaking. "Did you hear about what happened earlier?"
"Yes."Arthur answered for his wife. Anna took a deep breath.
"When Miss Arden was being healed, I went to find Harry. He was in our rooms, in his bedroom. He was crying, curled up on the duvet, so I asked him what was wrong." Her face paled considerably. "He got up and asked me to belt him."
"Belt him?" Tonks asked from her corner, confused.
"Beat him with a belt. I have no idea where he got it from – I don't wear belts and neither does he. It was a nasty looking thing – black with tons of bits sticking out. He stood in the centre of the room and told me to belt him and then send him away." Her voice broke at the end. There was silence in the room, broken by Molly sitting down hurriedly. Severus leant against the wall. Harry had asked Anna to beat him, even though he hadn't done anything. Rather like your father used to do.
Remus reached across, and took another glass. Everyone else copied, and they all sipped the firewhisky quietly, apart from Anna and Severus, who both downed theirs in one. Tonks stared at him across the room.
"How do you two do that?"
"What?" Anna asked, looking up.
"Swallow it in one."
"Only the most sorrowful and angry of us drink firewhisky in one." Severus quoted.
"Я согласен полностью с этим. Мама взяла бы его в ее оружии, сказал ему, что было в порядке. Я не знаю, что сделать." Anna replied.
"Сделайте то, что Вы думаете, правильно, моя душа. Вы всегда. Тот мальчик любит, Вы любите мать." Remus reached out a hand and touched hers gently.
"In English?" Albus asked from where he was sat at the head of the table. Anna was about to reply, when Rosamund Arden walked in, tossing her hair over one shoulder and smirking at Anna. The young woman stood, drawing her wand to be restrained by Remus.
"What're you doing, Anna?" Arthur asked, standing. So did everyone else in the room. Severus frowned as he saw Rosamund adopt a pathetically helpless look. Anna was struggling out of Remus' grip, and everyone else looked very confused. Apart from Albus, who never looked confused.
"Успокойтесь, Анна!" "Calm down, Anna!" Remus cried. Severus strode forwards, but before anyone could do anything she had wriggled out of Remus' arms, summoned the floo powder, thrown some in, changed and vanished.
Three hours later, Severus walked along the corridors of Hogwarts. Anna hadn't returned, so the Order meeting had been a waste of time, apart from Rosamund being accepted in. She hadn't seemed to have cared that Anna was missing. Remus had carried Harry back to his chambers, for the small boy had fallen asleep, exhausted, and no one knew where Anna was. Come on, Anna. What's wrong? Where are you? Normally, he would be trying to sleep, but he couldn't with Anna missing. No-one could. He turned a corner, and heard someone singing. Frowning, he moved closer, nearly tripping over Mrs Norris, who was curled up at a door. She ran away, yowling, but the singing continued and he pressed his ear to the door.
'Nobody said it was easy
It's such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No-one said it would be this hard...'
Suddenly, the tune changed as whoever was playing changed the notes on the piano.
'The lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
Have brought me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead singing
Come out of things unsaid
Shoot an apple off my head
And a trouble that can't be named
A tiger's waiting to be tamed singing..'
Then again. Severus slid down until he sat with his back pressed against the wall, listening with his head resting against the door.
'But I can't afford
To fake anymore
To live this facade
As the warm champagne pours
Out on the lawn
We pretend we're having
Tons of fun in this world where we don't belong...'
Then, there was the sound of someone playing the piano lightly, playing a beautiful, lilting tune with airy phrases that reminded Severus of his mother, of Lily, of school before they fell out, of the sun, of the sea. Silently, he pushed the door open and crept inside. And then froze.
Anna was standing in the centre of the room, her back to him. The piano was playing softly on its own as she pulled a clip out of her hair. She wore her normal jeans and t-shirt, but she seemed transformed as she pulled on a pair of satin black ballet shoes and twisted her hair up into a bun high up on her head. One strand fell loose as she began to dance in time to the piano, spinning and twirling like a snowflake does when caught by the wind, how a leaf does when falling, how sunlight does on a tree canopy. She didn't see him as she twirled and spun and pirouetted. He was transfixed, as he leant in the shadows and watched.
As soon as she had started, she stopped with a small sigh and leant against the piano. He was held by the curve of her neck, her tanned skin, the lone curl that as always coiled at her throat, the arch of her back as she stretched. She let down her hair, and the chestnut curls danced in the candle light. Merlin, you're beautiful, Anna.
"Anna?" Harry rolled over, looking up at her with a small smile. She sat on the edge of the bed, tucking the blanket tightly around him and then curling her legs up under her.
"Hey, cub."
"Where did you go? I heard everyone shouting."
"For a walk, cub. And to meet a friend."
"Ok. Could...could you tell me next time?" he asked nervously. "I was scared."
"Of course. I'm sorry, Harry. I should have told you." Instead of being angry, Anna leant near and pulled him into a tight hug. He inhaled the smell of mint and cinnamon, and relaxed, content.
"Anna, did you ever prank anyone, like Fred and George? Remus said you did, but he wouldn't tell me when."
Anna winked down at him. "He's right, I did once or twice. I suspect the one he's thinking of is the one that we call The Great Quidditch Scandal."
"What happened?" Harry asked in interest.
"Settle down and I'll tell you." Harry snuggled back down under the covers and Anna pulled them up to his chin, smiling. "Well, it happened when I was in my third year..."
"Lily." Anna was sat in their dormitory, combing her hair out. The silky chestnut waves fell way below her waist, and she caught Lily staring before nodding.
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever wanted to play Quidditch?"
"I'm no good at it, Anna, you know that. But you should. I don't see why they don't let girls on the team."
"My point exactly." Anna smiled mysteriously. "Did you know there's a boy in Gryffindor who's Russian?"
"No! Who? Apart from Remus, obviously." Lily asked, looking up.
"Tam O'Flahearty. He's a Quidditch fanatic."
"Why have I never heard about him?" Lily asked suspiciously. "It sounds like an Irish name, as well."
"His name is Irish 'cause his dad is half-Irish."
"How do you know that? We don't have classes with him."
"No-one does." Anna smirked. Finally getting the gist, Lily began to chuckle.
"Don't tell me you're going to...?"
"Dress up as a boy and try out? Yep."
"Are you mad, Anna? They'll see straight through it."
"You didn't." Anna pointed out. Lily acknowledged her point, grinning.
"So, why're you telling me?"
"I need to get a boy's set of school robes. I can steal Remi's, but I need you to distract everyone."
"That won't be hard, but we've only got twenty minutes." Lily checked her watch. "Lets go."
Ten minutes later;
Anna eased herself into the boys' chambers. She could hear Lily yelling at Potter downstairs, and smirked as she reached Remus' trunk. Carefully, she unlocked it with a wave of her wand, and grabbed a pair of Remus' robes, before re-arranging everything and sneaking out. She could hear Lily flouncing up the stairs, and met her at the door to their dorm. "Got them."
"Good. How're you going to do your hair, though?" Lily asked, as Anna struggled into Remus' robes. They were pretty much the same as the girl's ones, only that they didn't have the added layer underneath. Anna let her hair tumble down her back, and then pulled it into a ponytail and smiled at Lily.
"There's this charm I heard Flitwick talking about which can change your appearance – but not permanently. I did a little digging, and found out the incantation."
"You really want to do this, don't you?" Lily asked wonderingly as she delved around in her trunk for something. Anna nodded, biting her lip, and lifted her wand.
"Dissimulo meus saeta quod change is ut a brevis tractus pro halba hora." She watched as her hair seemed to be cut at her ears into a bob, and the rest fall and then vanish into nothingness. Lily was watching her, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"If I didn't know, I really wouldn't recognise you. Here, dab a little of this on your cheeks. Tuney bought it for me – I can't wear it, my complexion is too light. It tans your skin, but it'll make you look like you've got stubble." Anna did as she asked, and when she stood back she saw not Anna Lupin but Tam O'Flahearty, a young thirteen year old boy.
"Genius, Lils. Now, I just have to get out of Gryffindor tower without anyone seeing me."
"Well, that's easy. Everyone's already left to watch the tryouts. There'll be no-one down there."
Ten minutes later;
"And you are?" The blond Gryffindor Quidditch captain asked. Many a girl fancied Oliver Down for his muscles, his icy hair and his tan brown eyes. He was a kind boy, but as did all the boys frowned against girl being on the team. Anna cleared her throat, injecting a healthy dose of Russian.
"Tam O'Flahearty. Third year. I want to try out for Seeker."
The sixth year looked at her over hooded eyes. "O'Flahearty, eh? You've got a Russian accent, though."
"Me pa's half-Irish." Anna explained, deepening her voice. She had to control her grin as Oliver nodded, waving her towards the line. Her competitors were a fifth year boy who was stocky, called Michael, and James Potter. She avoided looking at him, instead scanning the stands. Alice and Lily were sat together, and both discretely gave her the thumbs up. Michael went first, but he fell off half way through, so that was him out. Then came James.
He flew amazingly, dipping and diving. He was a natural, poised and proud. He only missed one golf ball, which was thrown under him. At the end, he swaggered off, brushing past Anna. "Beat that, kiddo."
"Ok." Anna smirked, jumping onto her broom. She shot high into the sky, doing a perfect loop before coming to halt fifty feet about the pitch. The stands were a sea of upraised faces. She floated a little lower, confidently smiling down at the sixth year as he crossed into the pitch. There was silence as everyone turned to watch. Even the Slytherins, usually there to jeer, were quiet. Anna spotted Severus, his eyes narrowed. His eyes met hers, and she saw a flash of understanding. Shooting him a discrete smile, she began to play.
"Anna's amazing, isn't she?" Lily whispered to Alice as they watched, hands over mouths. She hadn't missed one yet – completely perfect. Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and she looked up to see Severus smirking.
"She is good, isn't she?"
"You know?" Lily asked.
"Her eyes are quite distinguishable. That's why she wasn't looking at Potter, Black or her brother, obviously. I think he's suspected, though." Severus pointed down to where Remus was watching with narrowed eyes. Anna spun on the spot, catching the ball one-handed, and then dived down to catch another.
"This is the one James missed." Alice drew a breath as the three students crossed their fingers – even Severus.
Anna took a deep breath. The charm was holding, and she had one left. One that James Potter had missed. The sky was blue, the sun shone, the grass swayed, but everyone's attention was fixed on her. Oliver drew back his arm, and threw. The small, white sphere came flying towards her. It was going to pass under her broom. Carefully, Anna bent both knees over the broom and swung downwards, hanging upside down. A couple of girls screamed. The world spun, a blur upside down, but the golf ball was still focused. She reached out a hand, and her fingers closed around the smooth ball as she swung back up to right herself on her broom. The stands exploded below her, everyone cheering as she flew down. Landing a little shakily, she stumbled and felt Oliver's hand close over her elbow.
"Well done, lad. You're amazing, honestly. You're definitely Seeker. Potter can play Chaser."
"Sorry, sir, but I think you'll have to have Potter as Seeker. I can't play. I just wanted to prove that I could do it." Anna said, pretending to be humble. Please work. Please work. Please let him say it.
"Why on earth can't you? You're amazing, kid. We'll find a way to do it. I'll even abolish the rule, if that's what it is."
He said it.
"It's not a rule, Oliver. Just a prejudice." Anna said nervously, meeting his eyes. The sixth year still didn't recognise her.
"Well, everyone will have to cope. I'm not letting you go."
"No, seriously, we're going to win this year." James grinned. The rest of Gryffindor wholeheartedly agreed. "What prejudice is it, anyway?"
"The one that says..." Anna licked her lips nervously. She felt the charm wear off, and turned away. Taking a deep breath, she spun around to meet Potter's eyes. "That girls can't play Quidditch."
There was uproar. Shouts of "Anna!" rent the stadium as Potter stared across at her. Oliver's mouth was opening and closing without sound. Suddenly, Severus strolled onto the pitch.
"Well done, Lupin. If these idiots don't accept you, perhaps we can dress you up as a Slytherin and get you on our team."
"NO WAY!" all the Gryffindors yelled.
"She's on." Oliver said, looking a little ill. "Congratulations, Anna. You're the first successful girl to get on a team. I should really have you disqualified, though."
"Don't you even think about it." Potter threatened. "She won it fair and square. She's Seeker."
"I knew it!" Remus yelled at her as soon as they were a little way away. "I knew it was you. Pretty good cover, though. And whose robes are they?"
"Err..." Anna gulped. "Yours."
Now then. I want to say thanks to the sole person who reviewed my last chapter, but whose name didn't show up. As for everyone else, if someone could be bothered to review I'd be very happy. This month, I've had over 3000 people read my story but ONE person reviewed. Come on, people, it takes about 20 seconds.