" Anne, I told you that I would never let you go back and I wasn't lying. While you were both sleeping Albus and I did indeed discuss your fate. Albus here is well beyond the age to care for young children . . ." He noticed the look of disappointment on my face and continued, " So if you both so wish, I would take you both in. Of course if you didn't want to that is fine, but if you do it will be a long trying process."
" Could Harry and I speak in private, sir?" Severus nodded and he and Ablus stood and walked out. Albus waved his wand around the curtain telling me it was a charm to keep any sound from leaving behind the curtain.
" Anne what's wrong? Don't you want to stay with Severus?" Harry asked me confused why we even had to talk about this.
" Harry we must tread lightly before we make decisions that are too big for our britches. We barely know these people. Don't be so gullible. How do we know they won't just hurt us worse than Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia? We don't know! I think we should wait. See how we like it here before we make any huge decisions. This is the rest of our lives. We are getting a chance to get away from being hurt, but I want to make sure we aren't going somewhere that's worse, first. I know you want to believe that Severus and Albus will help us, I do too. But we can't afford to believe that everyone genuinely cares for us that says they do. Remember how well the Dursleys lied to their guests about us, it almost sounded real." I knew he understood that I was just trying to protect us or hoped he did.
" Anne, you can't just think everyone that tries to help us is bad. I mean I know now that Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia weren't supposed to treat us that way now, but it can't be any worse than them. They've treated us so kindly and fed us."
" But that may end. When we were younger they treated us kindly, but then we became freaks, burdens, and a nuisance to them. Don't let your hopes up, Harry. Please. I don't want you to get hurt worse when this ends badly. I mean, I don't know for sure that it will, but Harry, I'm just being precaution for our sake."
" But they knew our parents!"
" They say! They say they did! Where's the proof! There is no evidence! They could for all we know be lying to us! Yes the sound genuine … now ….. But later, will they? Harry please just agree with me, it's better to be safe than sorry." He nodded his agreement. I'm glad he could finally see reason. I may be blowing this out of proportion, but I just want to make sure we are safe here.
" So I guess we call them back in here, yeah?" I shook my head and Harry looked confused. I explained, " Albus put a spell so they couldn't hear us outside." Harry nodded. I stood from the bed and poked my head outside the curtain. Albus and Severus saw and stood to follow me back inside. I sat back on the end of Harry's bed. Albus slid the curtain over and Severus followed behind him, they both sat back down in their previous seats. They nodded for us to proceed.
" Anne and I have come to the decision that we don't want to make any permanent choices right now. So far we like it here, but we just want to make sure it stays that way. If you would allow us the chance to stay here with you Severus to see how we like it, we would like to do that. You know, just to see where we fit in here." Severus smiled at us.
" I think that is a wonderful idea. You two are very responsible to not be making too hasty decision." He gave me a look which made me think he knew it was me only that wasn't being hasty. " It is 6 in the morning and will be light soon. If you want you can go back to bed or you can begin getting ready for the day. You can choose." I looked to Harry letting him know he could pick since he so willingly agreed to me earlier.
" I would like to get up, please." Severus stood to help Harry out of his bed, but Harry reached for me, so I stood and helped him stand. I could tell Severus was amazed by our closeness. Harry stood a little unsteady, but was fine. Severus eyed our clothes we were wearing and it made me feel self conscious.
" Do you have a change of clothes that you brought with you?" Albus asked us. I spoke for Harry and I, " Sir, this is Harry's only outfit and my only other outfit is at our Aunt and Uncle's house." Albus nodded, " Well, Professor Sprout has a niece and nephew that she is rather close to. They seem to be around your age. We can go borrow some outfits from her. Then we can go to Diagon Alley today and buy you your own." He smiled at us.
" Sir, Anne and I don't want to be a burden. You don't have to buy us anything." I looked down at my tattered, blood stained dress and then Harry's old T-shirt and shorts that were falling down.
" Nonsense! Children, if you are in my care I will provide for you. I want to take care of you. You are NOT a burden. I promise you. Kids need new clothes every few months." I haven't gotten a new outfit in over a year. Aunt Petunia definitely didn't follow that rule.
" Ah, good, you are both awake. Harry I will give you some medicine and you will be free to go. Anne I will brush your hair in a moment. Do you want me to braid it, too?"
" You don't have to Madam Pomfrey."
" If you would like me to, I would love to. I loved braiding my daughters hair when she was little, but now she's grown and doesn't let me anymore." I looked at Severus and he smiled and nodded. I nodded to show her my consent. I watch as she had Harry drink a foul looking liquid. He didn't seem to like it very much and almost spat it out. " You two both need baths. Your hair needs washing. I will take Anne for a bath, if you Severus want to help Harry." Severus nodded, but Harry started hyperventilating. I spoke up, " Could we later ma'am?" She looked confused and assured me that it was no problem. " I know … it's just … maybe later." I gestured my eyes to Harry. I knew they all noticed how frightened he was because they looked confused. I was better at hiding my emotions than Harry.
" Well, if you really don't want to have a bath, I can use the cleaning charm instead." Madam Pomfrey suggested this and Harry's breathing slowly went back to normal. Madam Pomfrey eyed us, surveying the situation. She performed the charm and I felt cleaner than I had in months. I looked down and my dress still had dirt, grime, and blood all over it. I ran my hand through my long red hair and it felt so soft. Madam Pomfrey sat behind me, she apologized before she started saying it might hurt. She pulled the brush through my long locks and when she finished, braided it. She then turned to hair to try and tame his hair, which was an impossible mission. " Alright then, you are free to go Harry and Anne." She held my chin up so my eyes would meet hers, " You look just like your mother Anne. And you like your father Harry. I treated your father many times in the Hospital Wing after he got injured in sports games. Your mother would come visit him to make sure he was ok. I knew them both. You are very much like them." Me and Harry both smiled at hearing this. Severus was also smiling.
" Come along kids. We are going to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. It is already 7, that means it's time for breakfast." Severus and Albus stood. I was confused, " Severus, we aren't allowed breakfast, only dinner for us." Severus sighed, " Anne, the Dursleys were idiots. Kids need to eat 3 meals a day to be healthy. Madam Pomfrey said you were malnourished, that means that your body hasn't been well taken care of. You need to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ok?" I furrowed my brow. Everything here is different than at home. It's hard to take in. I looked at Harry. He looked shocked as well that we were allowed to have breakfast, but nodded his head. I sighed and followed Severus, Albus, and Madam Pomfrey out of the Hospital Wing letting Harry lean on me as we walked. I didn't mind one bit. I heard them whispering and I knew it was about us. About why we didn't want to have a bath. They didn't need to know if they could keep doing that charm. We walked to a small wooden door which Albus knock on. A middle aged woman opened it. She had a kind, motherly smile. She had white, fluffy hair and was very plump.
" Good morning, Pomona! Sorry for disturbing you as I'm sure you were about to leave for breakfast, but your niece and nephew that come to visit sometimes, do you have any of their clothes that these children could borrow until we can get them so more of their own?" The lady, Pomona took in our appearance shocked. She also looked surprised Severus was with us. I wonder why?
" Why of course, Albus. Children, why don't you and Madam Pomfrey come in and pick out a nice, comfortable outfit for yourselves?" I cautiously followed the two ladies through the door and it closed behind us. She lead us to a small dresser and for me pulled out a white shirt with a purple horse on it, a pink skirt, purple leggings, and a small pair of pink and white tennis shoes. For Harry she pulled out a shirt that had Hogwarts written on it and it was green, a pair of khaki shorts, and a pair of green and blue tennis shoes.
" Thank you, ma'am." I said to her extremely grateful. I loved the colors and it seemed it would actually fit me properly. " Where could we change?" She pointed towards a door and said it was the bathroom and I walked in. Madam Pomfrey told me to ask her if I need help, but I didn't. I pulled off my grimey, old dress. I pulled on my shirt and then my leggings. I tucked the shirt into the leggings. Then I pulled up the sequinned skirt that hung about mid thigh. I tied up the shoes and I knew how because of how many times I tied Dudley's for him. I walked out of the bathroom and Harry took my place in there.
" So what's your name, dearie? And you brother's name?" Pomona asked me. She smiled at me and I knew I liked her. She seemed a sweet woman.
" I'm Anne. That's my brother Harry." She was deep in thought for a moment, but then gasped, " Are you Anne Potter?" I nodded and looked at Madam Pomfrey. " How is it everyone knows my brother and I?" They didn't know how to answer.
" Anne, dear, I don't think we are the best people to answer that. Let Severus explain it to you later." Pomona snorted, " Severus, you want that insensitive man to tell them?" Madam Pomfrey looked sternly at Pomona, " Now you listen here Pomona, Severus has done a fine job taking care of these children in the last few hours. You have no right to judge Severus. He will in fact become their legal guardian later on if they so wish it!" Pomona looked startled.
" Severus was very kind to me. He saved my brother and I. He told me stories of how his childhood was like mine is. He waited with me yesterday till I fell asleep. He understands why I'm nervous here." Pomona looked shocked at how kind he was to us and how he had let Harry and I creep our way into his heart in such a short amount of time.