"Keep your tears in your eyes where they belong." – Parks and Recreation – 6x13 – Ann and Chris

Chapter Ten - Polyjuice Potion Problems

Following Ankaa's revelation, she had settled into an almost monotonous routine at school. Events had come and gone but she didn't have much recollection of them. For the first time, she felt like she was losing control. Everything that was happening seemed so sudden, so uncanny that she was having trouble coming to terms with it.

Cepheus had noticed, of course he had. She sat for dinner with her friends yet she hardly joined the conversation. She pushed the food around and occasionally took small bites. She pretended to be alright, just as she usually did. She nodded along to what people were saying, but her eyes were usually trained on the spot right above their heads. And she was not actually listening.

Ankaa had decided to go home for Christmas, seeing as hardly anyone had elected to stay back at the castle. The lack of response from her mother had made her highly suspicious. She decided it would be best if she went home and investigated for herself. At least with face to face interaction, Ankaa could tell for certain whether her mother was lying. And at least at the Manor she could shut herself in her room without any interruptions.

Dilly, one of the house elves at Rhyther Manor, knocked on the door on Christmas Eve. When Ankaa opened the door with a frown, Dilly gave her a wide smile.

"The Malfoy family has arrived. Master Rhyther requests your presence, Miss." Dilly squeaked.

Ankaa nodded. As she walked to the living room, smoothing down her red dress, she could hear the chatter. The parents were all sat together, with glasses of wine in their hands. Ceph and Draco were having a conversation of their own, a few paces away. Though, judging from the look Ceph was giving Draco, it seemed like the white-haired boy was just bragging about something.

"Lay off, Draco." Ankaa commented as she took a seat beside her brother. "No one wants to hear what you're getting for Christmas."

Draco raised a brow. "Your brother seemed quite interested."

"You might be quite blind then," Ceph retorted dryly as he stood up. Zeus had flown in, depositing himself on the arm of the couch. Ceph took the letter from his talons, and brushed Zeus' head lightly. Ankaa noticed he frowned as he looked at the envelope.

"Excuse me," He muttered, as he made his way out of the room.

"Is something the matter?" Ankaa's mother asked, raising a brow.

"No," Ceph mumbled distractedly as he opened the letter. "I'll be back in a moment. This is some rather important Prefect matter."

Ankaa rolled her eyes as he walked past her and mumbled, "Or maybe it's Lacomb."

Ceph didn't even turn around to shoot her a glare. Instead, he walked past her quickly and up the stairs. Ankaa watched with him leave with a puzzled look. He would never give up the chance at a clever retort. Ever since their talk in Hogsmeade, Ankaa had made conscious effort to become closer to her brother. She felt that they had been bonding. He told her things about his life that she hadn't known, and although she did not have much to share with him she told him of her views on things as well.

Well, the bare minimum anyway.

Even Ceph didn't know about her dreams concerning Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Ankaa was sure that if she told him, or her mother, or father, they would make a big deal out of a completely insignificant issue.

Ceph returned a few minutes later, looking a little unsettled. Ankaa shot him a small, worried look as he settled into the seat beside her for dinner. Ceph only shook his head. Ankaa looked away from him then. If he wanted to tell her, he would. She didn't want to push him.

Besides, he was probably having girl trouble.

Poor Florence.

"Here," Ankaa said, thrusting a small gift into Draco's hands as his family got ready for their departure.

"Wow, you shouldn't have," Draco commented dryly, shaking the package next to his ear.

Ankaa raised an amused brow. "It's Liquid Luck."

"Really?" Draco gazed at her wide-eyed. She had gotten him a useful present for once.

"No. It's Baruffio's Brain Elixir." Ankaa shrugged, "I figured it would be a good treat since you really need the brain power and all."

"Wow, you really shouldn't have." Draco drawled, glaring at her.

Ankaa nodded. "Mother and Father seemed to think it was a waste, and that you wouldn't like it. They were the ones that suggested Liquid Luck, but then I remembered you saying you were born lucky… so you really have no need of it."

"You're an idiot." He told her, right before he stepped next to his father and grasped his arm. The Malfoy family Disapparated out of Rhyther manor. Ankaa's parents went up to their room to get ready for bed after giving the elves the command to clean up. As Ankaa headed into her room to do the same, she was pulled roughly by the collar of her dress and down the hallway.

Ankaa struggled as Ceph pushed her into his room and shut the door behind her.

"What in Merlin's name is wrong with you?" Ankaa raised a brow, "You could have just asked me to come to your room and I would have."

Ceph ran a hand through his hair and turned to her. Biting his lip, he held out the letter he had gotten from Zeus earlier.

"Read it." He commanded. Ankaa hesitated. She watched as her brother strode over from the door to his desk and settled himself on the chair with a weary sigh. It was then that Ankaa noticed how tired and utterly exhausted Ceph looked.

She opened the letter and began reading:

Mr. Cepheus Rhyther,

I am rather glad to inform you that your investments with Gringotts are thriving. As I am sure you have noticed your initial amount has tripled in the last—

"You want me to read about your investments?" Ankaa raised an incredulous brow, "I'm not your banker, Ceph."

"The last paragraph," Ceph turned his head, his grey eyes focusing on her with an unidentifiable intensity, "Just the last one."

Ankaa shot him a glare. She had a feeling that he had spent far too much on Lacomb (you know, to woo her and all) and was now on the verge of going bankrupt. Obviously, that could never happen because their family was rich. Everything would pass down to the children once their parents died anyway, Ankaa mused.

Regardless, Ankaa continued to the last paragraph.

I apologize for sending you a letter. I tried to talk to your parents at the bank this morning concerning this issue, but they seemed to be in a hurry. I suppose there was some last minute Christmas shopping to do (I saw them with a Firebolt, perhaps for your sister or yourself?). Please send Mr. and Mrs. Ryhther my regards and we hope to see you again soon.

Thank you for choosing Gringotts,

R.M. Valentine

"Okay?" Ankaa sat on Ceph bed with a puzzled expression. "Valentine saw Dad at the bank but didn't have time to talk to them, so he wrote you a letter. What's the big deal with that?"

"Because Dad was never at the bank in the first place."

"Maybe Valentine thought he saw him?" Ankaa shrugged, "He's old. He could have made a mistake."

Ceph shook his head in irritation as if his patience was wearing thin. He got up and walked over to his closet, pulling out a medium sized glass vial. It was dirty, Ankaa noticed. The insides were caked in a green layer, indicating that it had once held a potion.

"Smell it." He commanded as he tossed the vial at his sister.

Ankaa caught it effortlessly. Examining the vial quickly once more, she popped open the lid and hesitantly took a sniff. The familiar scent of the potion wafted up her nose. She glanced at her brother, who was regarding her carefully.

"It's Polyjuice Potion," Ankaa stated softly, looking down at the vial in amazement. "Where did you get this?"

"From Mom's purse." Ceph took a seat beside Ankaa. "She had told Tipsy to refill it. You know what these means don't you?"

Ankaa nodded her head slightly. Her hand tightened around the glass vial. Ceph took it from between her fingers gingerly, trying to get it away from her before she broke it and injured herself. Ankaa was glaring at the floor.

"Ankaa," Ceph began softly, "Mom and Dad never went to Gringotts together. Dad never went with her. I think—"

"Mother used the Polyjuice Potion to change someone to look like Dad." Ankaa interrupted with a blank expression. "Which means—"

"She's having an affair."

Everything was falling apart. Ankaa sat by her window, looking out at the night sky with a blank stare. This feeling of not knowing, of not knowing how to act, was driving her insane. Her fingers ghosted over the golden chain of the Time Turner. She suspected the answers to everything were hidden in the past, but she was not willing to risk her existence on a hunch. Furrowing her brows, Ankaa moved away from the window and out of her bedroom.

It was late at night. No one was awake at the Manor. As Ankaa crossed Ceph's room, she wondered if he was asleep. The news of their mother having an affair had hit him quite hard, Ankaa knew. Out of the two, he was definitely closer to their mother than she was. Ankaa stood outside his door, her hand raised to know. Pausing, Ankaa shook her head slightly with a tired sigh.

"Not asleep yet?"

Ankaa turned to see her father leaning against the wall of his office. Henry smiled at her, raising a brow and beckoning her away from Ceph's door. Ankaa walked towards him slowly, all the while taking in his form. He looked tired, more so than usual. His cheekbones were hollowed out as if he had not been eating enough. There were dark circles under his eyes grey eyes, and his hair was matted as if he hadn't washed it in a while. Ankaa stood before him, rocking back and forth slightly.

"I was just working on some essays."

Her father snorted as he walked back into his office. Ankaa followed silently.

"They're still giving you work over the Christmas break, are they?" He asked as he settled himself on the couch by his bookcase. Ankaa took a seat on the chair beside him, crossing her legs and watching him as he lay on the couch.

"They're never not giving us homework." Ankaa muttered, "I'm sure it's a part of their contract to torture students in the name of academic excellence."

Henry chuckled, glancing at her. "Hardly seems torturous to you. Ceph tells me you've been doing great."

Ankaa glanced at her father with a smirk, "Why do you seem surprised?"

"Do I?"

"You almost always do." Ankaa smiled slightly, "Have you not realized that I'm the smarter child yet?"

Henry pursed his lips, pretending to consider the idea. "I suppose Ceph has been slipping recently."

"Too busy with Florence Lacomb actually."

"Is he?" Henry laughed, "Never thought the boy had it in him to settle for one girl. He's just like his father." Henry glanced away from Ankaa then and stared out of his window. Ankaa followed his gaze to the starry sky. Both were silent for a few moments, just content to sit in each other's company without making idle chit-chat.

Ankaa looked away from the window and at her frowning father. She wondered if he knew what his wife was up to. What would he do when he found out? There was no doubt in Ankaa's mind that her father would eventually find out. She wondered what his form of revenge would be. Would he throw her mother out of the house? Would they get a divorce? Would he really even bother?

"Ceph hasn't really dated anyone before," Ankaa commented quietly. "So really, he's not like his father."

Henry's eyes turned away from the stars. He gave her a sort of half smile before turning to the window again. "I suppose not."

Ankaa's brows furrowed. A sense of dread settled in her stomach, and she didn't know why. Her father's smile, a seemingly normal smile, caused her heart to clench. She didn't know why. How could she tell this man, the man who had so much faith in his family, that his wife was cheating on him? That whatever marriage they had worked towards for the past 17 years had been a lie? How could she tell him that the woman he had loved unconditionally, at least from what Ankaa had seen, was warming another man's bed every night?

She couldn't.

And so she did what she did best.

She left.

There was an almost foreboding sense of fear that had settled in the pit of her stomach when Ankaa returned to Hogwarts after the Holidays. She wasn't sure what the source of it was, exactly. Perhaps it was her revelation of not having any real friends or the fact that she hardly got any sleep because the dreams about Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew were becoming a daily occurrence. And of course, there was also the fact that her Mother was a lying and cheating witch.

The problem wasn't the fact that Ankaa had a limited number of people with whom she could talk. She just didn't know how to talk to them. Even if, hypothetically speaking, she had somehow got friends, she wouldn't know what to say to them. How would she initiate a conversation?

"Oh yes, hi. I've just been having some dreams about a mass murderer and I think my mom might be having an affair… Lovely weather, isn't it? Want some more tea?"

"You seem a bit troubled," Lupin spoke to her softly after DADA class one day. He had noticed how she was slower than her friends in packing up her belongings. He had also noticed that her usual blank expression was replaced by a constant frown. She seemed almost worried about something.

Ankaa looked up at the teacher. She took a few moments to analyze him. He seemed genuinely concerned about her. Ankaa assumed it was because he felt obligated to show concern. First of all, she was a student. Ankaa supposed there would be a lot of paperwork accompanying a student should they do something drastic in class. Second, it was probably because he knew Ankaa's mother during his school years and felt obligated to look out for her as well.

"I'm okay, Professor. Thank you for your concern."

Lupin gave her a small smile. "You don't expect me to believe that, do you? You might be a good liar, but your physical weakness gives you away."

Ankaa narrowed her eyes at him, hitching her bag higher on her shoulder. He should have been the last person to bring physical appearances into the question, especially when the full moon had only just passed.

"I'm just under a lot of stress, that's all."

Lupin nodded, but he still had her pinned with his scrutinizing gaze. He was worried for her, Ankaa noticed. The concern she had seen in his eyes had not vanished, as if he knew she was still lying to him. He was worried for her. Genuinely worried.

"Haven't you got a class now?" Ankaa asked.

Lupin shook his head. "Even teachers need a break. I've got some planning to do, as well as some essays to mark."

"To be honest, that's your fault." Ankaa snorted, "If you hadn't given us all this work—"

Lupin laughed. "Of course. It's all my fault, even your Potions essays. I apologize."

"Apology accepted." Ankaa gave him a cheeky smile. As Lupin settled behind his desk and sorted through his papers, Ankaa regarded him carefully.

It was easy to talk to him. She had a feeling he wouldn't judge her or tell anyone else of her problems. It was probably because the man was a werewolf himself. He most likely had his fair share of people judging him.

With a small sigh, Ankaa sat on the desk and placed her bag next to her. The problem remained that she didn't know how to start the conversation. How did people do this? How could they consciously choose to talk about their personal things to others?

"Sir?"

Lupin looked at Ankaa and raised a brow. He gave her a smile and nodded, telling her to continue on.

Ankaa looked away from him as she spoke. It was better not to make eye contact. She sighed before asking, "Did you happen to know Sirius Black?"

Lupin was silent for a few moments. Ankaa turned back, wondering if she had offended him somehow.

"I'm only wondering sir." She said, "It's just that you would have been in the same year, in the same house. I just wanted to know what he was like. I've heard he was popular."

Lupin smiled bitterly at her. "Quite popular actually. So you can imagine everyone's surprise when their favourite Gryffindor turned out to be a murderer."

Ankaa nodded. "And what about Black and Pettigrew? What were the two of them like?"

Lupin leaned back in his chair. He narrowed his eyes at the table before shooting a sad smile at Ankaa. "They were friends. Black was friends with James Potter and Peter Pettigrew during his years at Hogwarts. I could never have imagined that things would happen the way they did, that Black would betray them."

Ankaa bit her lip. She could tell him. She could tell him about her dream with Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. Ankaa sighed. Lupin was getting suspicious of her anyway. She might as well tell him about the dream.

But she couldn't. He would surely think she was a lunatic if she dreamed about things like that.

"And my mother, Professor?" Ankaa raised a brow and spoke after a moment of silence. "You said she was friends with Potter's mother... so did that mean she was friends with Black as well?"

Lupin glanced at her and blinked. "Well, her and Black hardly ever got along. Whenever I saw them, they were always fighting. I think towards their last year, they had reached a mutual understanding. So yes, I suppose she was friends with him."

Ankaa nodded slowly. Perhaps this was why her mother never spoke of Black. From what Lupin said, she didn't seem overly fond of Black. Everything seemed to have culminated in the last year they had spent at Hogwarts. It would be the perfect time to go back.

"She was very unforgiving, your mother, kept everyone on their toes." Lupin smiled at Ankaa. Although his eyes were trained on her, Ankaa could tell he was busy recalling a past memory. "You're like her you know. You two are very alike. She must be very proud."

The door opened then. Ankaa did not turn around as the shuffling of feet drew near. She stood rigidly by her desk, looking at the floor with wide eyes.

Fred and George Weasley made their way to Lupin's table with identical cheeky smiles on their faces. Placing the rolled up parchment on his table, they said, "It's finished, Professor."

"It's late." Lupin let the corners of his mouth tilt up in a small smile as he regarded the two in front of him. Their assignment had been due yesterday.

"But it's here—"

"And we worked really hard on it—"

"We hardly left the library."

Lupin laughed. "Alright. But just this once. Next time it must be submitted on time or I will not consider it."

The twins saluted before turning around. It was at that time that Lupin noticed the Slytherin girl he was talking to only moments before had picked up her bag and slipped out of the room unnoticed.

Ankaa angrily stomped into the library and settled herself on one of the empty tables, ignoring Madam Pince's vicious glare. Only after she had sat down and pulled out her books did Ankaa notice the Gryffindor student sitting on the table next to her.

Hermione Granger looked like she had been through hell and back. Her hair was bushier than before as if she had not had the time to comb through it. She was frantically scribbling on a roll of parchment and looking between books. As if she could sense Ankaa's stare, Hermione paused her writing and turned her head slightly to see what was wrong.

Compared to Granger, Ankaa only had her Potions book on her desk with a roll of parchment. She also seemed to be in much better condition than Granger. For a moment, Hermione seemed almost exasperated at her presence. But then, her expression turned more guarded and she turned back to her work. Every so often, she would shoot looks at Ankaa, as if to check that the Slytherin girl hadn't pulled out her wand.

"Stop it." Hermione jumped slightly at her command. She turned to Ankaa with a quizzical expression. The Slytherin girl did not even bother to look away from her parchment as she spoke, "You're thinking too much, it's irritating."

"Well sorry." Hermione snapped irritably. "I'm just trying to finish my work. Unlike you, I don't fancy lowering my grades."

Ankaa put her quill away with a blank stare. The same blank, grey gaze settled on Hermione. "What makes you think I don't value my marks?" Ankaa raised a brow.

Hermione gestured between her table and that of the Slytherin girl. "You're not even bothering with the work the other classes have. You're only doing your Potions work."

"That's because I've already finished everything else." Ankaa shrugged.

Hermione jaw dropped to the floor. How could she have finished already? Hermione had worked all through the Holidays to catch up, and she was still a few chapters behind (not many, mind you).

"Don't look so surprised, Granger," Ankaa spoke softly, her voice as devoid of any emotion as usual. "I am smarter than I look. In case you haven't noticed, we both get the same marks. I think I'm a little better though, as expected."

"As expected?" Hermione bristled at the insult.

Ankaa turned to her with an exasperated sigh. With a glare, the Slytherin girl hissed, "You think I'd be worse off than a girl who has a Time-Turner but doesn't have the common sense to get herself more time for sleep and study?"

Hermione regarded her silently.

"Granger, you use your Time-Turner to go to the same extra classes that I go to. But for some idiotic reason, you haven't got the common sense to use the Time Turner to make extra time to do the work from those classes. Instead, you're stretching yourself thin."

"The use of the Time Turner is strictly academic." Hermione hissed back, glaring at Ankaa.

Ankaa raised a brow, mocking the Gryffindor. "And you don't think doing the work from those classes counts as an academic reason? I'm not telling you to go back in time and abolish the idea of assignments. I'm telling you that you can make time for yourself for once. Don't be such a Gryffindor."

Hermione scoffed, insulted once again. "Why don't you stop being such a Slytherin!"

Ankaa gave her a blank stare before reaching into her back. She pulled out a Snickers bar and slid it across the table to Hermione. Hermione watched in surprise as the girl continued working. How did she have a Muggle chocolate?

"Don't just stare at it, Granger." Ankaa sighed but kept working on her assignment. "Eat it. It'll help you keep your energy and get work done. It's the Muggle kind too, you'll know of it I'm sure. Eat it before Pince comes along and confiscates it."

"How did you get this?" Hermione asked softly, reaching for the chocolate bar slowly. The thought that this could be a trick didn't even cross her mind. Ankaa seemed too mentally spent to be pranking anyone right now.

"I've got a muggleborn friend in Hufflepuff. First year, she is." Ankaa shrugged. "She sent me some Muggle chocolates for Christmas. I figured you're in more need of it than I am."

Hermione blinked at the girl before slowly unwrapping the bar and taking a small bite of it. Ankaa was right; Hermione did feel like she had more energy. Both girls continued working in silence for the next hour, finishing their various assignments. Ankaa could almost hear Hermione's brain running at full speed.

"Oi, Gryffindor." Ankaa looked at the girl beside her. Hermione raised a brow but did not look away from her Charms work. "If you want another one, just tell me. There's Gryffinmore." Ankaa snorted at her own joke and continued working.

Hermione shot her a confused look and returned to her assignment. Hermione also ignored the Slytherin girl when she said, "Weasley will like this one."

Dear Ankaa,

I'm sorry we never got to talk about this when you were over for Christmas. It's hardly festive talk, is it? I'm glad you're finally writing to me. Please keep doing it, love. It gets so lonely here. Your father is always busy working and none of the neighbours are ever around. Did you know Mrs. Summers had been in Italy for the past three weeks? She never told me she was leaving. Never wrote to me either.

How are your studies going? Ceph tells me you haven't been getting in a lot of trouble lately. That's good, sweetheart. Just keep studying hard and making us proud. I can tell you're getting agitated, love, but have some patience. I just want to know if you're alright—Ankaa stopped reading. She sincerely doubted her mother was worried for her mental health when she was the reason it was deteriorating.

Skipping to the end of the letter, Ankaa finally spotted some familiar names.

I was only friends with them in passing. Lily and I got along quite well actually, thanks to our hardworking personalities. Despite being in different houses, we talked to each other more often. Nothing more really. As for Lupin, we were only friends by association. Lily was dating James Potter, and so he was always around. Nothing more.

Ankaa laughed. Crushing the letter she pointed her wand at it. Smiling, she set the letter on fire. She watched in morbid fascination as the lies her mother wrote turned to ash.

Ankaa waited impatiently outside Ceph's classroom. Finally, she moved forward when all the students began exiting the room. Of course her brother was last to exit, as he talked to Professor Flitwick. Once he spotted his sister leaning against the wall, her stare fixed at him in a glare, he bid the Professor a fond goodbye and made his way over to her.

"Never thought you'd visit." He commented.

"I need you to come with me," Ankaa said.

"Ok?" Ceph raised a brow, "Where are we going?"

Ankaa gave him a mischievous smile. Taking his hand, she pulled him along the corridor. She refused to answer any of his questions and forced him into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Can you at least tell me what's happening?" Ceph watched as Ankaa threw a gold chain around his shoulders. "Where are we going?"

Ankaa smirked up at her brother as she held up the golden Time Turner. "Not where, dear brother, when. We're going to 1981. We're going to find out what our mother is hiding."

With one last glance around the empty washroom, Ankaa turned the dial.

Notes:

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