"All blood does is make you related. But loyalty? It's loyalty that makes you Family." - Chris Diaz
Chapter Thirteen - The Greatest Gift (Part Two)
She wished he hadn't done that. Ankaa wished Ceph hadn't outright addressed the mass murderer, or alleged mass murderer, as their father. Of course Lupin and Black already knew the siblings were Sirius Black's children, but Potter and his posse did not need to know this otherwise valuable information. And so, as she stood behind Ceph, close to the door, she was aware of Potter gawking at the siblings.
"He-He's your father?" He stuttered, glancing between the homeless looking madman and the Slytherin siblings.
Ankaa rolled her eyes, "A long story, Potter. One that I'm not entirely comfortable sharing with you seeing as we've never been, nor shall ever be, friends."
"But you," Ceph sneered at Lupin, "We trusted you. Kept your secret, covered for you, and now we find out you've been helping him all along. You knew Black was innocent, but you didn't do anything."
Lupin shook his head almost immediately, "I believed he wasn't. At the time of the war, there was talk of a spy in the Order... None of expected it to be Peter, of course, but Sirius and I were wary of each other. I didn't know Peter had become the Potter's Secret Keeper, and when I heard Sirius had killed him, I had believed it. That is, until I saw Pettigrew on the Map."
"Why is he an Animagus anyway?" Potter asked, glancing from the squealing rat to Lupin and Black.
"Because of me," Lupin said, pushing his hair out of his eyes, "When I was a little boy, I had been bitten by a werewolf. And that was before the Wolfsbane Potion had been discovered, so I turned into a werewolf once a month."
"And you came here," Ankaa supplied, "To the Shrieking Shack. It was never haunted, was it? That was you in your werewolf form."
Lupin nodded, "Dumbledore had decided to give me a chance. The Whomping Willow was planted because of me, so that I could get from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade as quickly as possible."
"And Black and Pettigrew?" Ceph questioned, "They turned into Animagi to help you?"
Lupin smiled and nodded, "I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother was ill, that I had gone home to see her... well, of course, they were smart. They figured it out soon enough, and since a werewolf bite is only harmful to humans, they decided to become Animagi to help me. Sirius and James were two of the smartest students Hogwarts had ever seen."
Great, Ankaa mentally scoffed, My father's a self-sacrificing moron.
"That's how Pettigrew got away," Ceph breathed, "He was an unregistered Animagi. And a rat at that. How inconspicuous."
"So Dumbledore doesn't know?" Harry asked, "He doesn't know that Sirius is an Animagi?"
Ankaa snorted. The old bastard knew everything.
Lupin gave her a look before answering, "I'm not sure. I had debated telling him that Sirius was one, and that's how he had been getting into the castle. But I was a coward... I convinced myself that Sirius was getting into the school by using Dark Arts he learned from Voldemort, that being an Animagus had nothing to do with it... so, in a way, Snape's been right about me all along."
"Snape?" Black finally tore his gaze from Scabbers and looked to Lupin. "What's Snape got to do with this."
"He's here," Ankaa raised a brow, "He's out Potions teacher."
Lupin looked to the Golden Trio, who looked as confused as ever. With a sigh, Ankaa leaned against the wall. The amount of explaining that needed to be done because those Gryffindors were too dense to connect the dots would put her to sleep. Lupin explained how they were at school with Snape, and how Black had told him of how to get past the Whomping Willow.
"Served him right," Black sneered, "Sneaking around every month, trying to see what we were up to... hoping to get us expelled..."
Ankaa shot him a disgusted look. She suddenly remembered that this was the man she had seen in her mother's vision, or memories rather. He was that one that had jinxed her when her back was turned, all because he didn't like what she had said to him. And now he was happy about the fact that he had almost let an innocent student meet a werewolf, all because he was a petty little bastard.
Suddenly, the door flew open after a loud boom. Ankaa jumped out of the way just in time, but instead of empty space as she had expected, she bumped into a hard object. Clutching the fabric, she turned quickly and pointed her wand as she pulled the fabric away. As the Invisibility Cloak slipped away, she came face to face with a sneering Snape, who had his wand pointed directly at Lupin.
A few hours later
Fred and George looked up from their planning parchment as a thundering of footsteps was heard around the courtyard. It was past hours, and no student was awake. Or well, no student should have been awake. Fred and George usually came to the courtyard when the Prefects were being bothersome in the hallways. It was an especially quiet place to work on their future prank plans.
"Rhyther?" Fred mumbled in shock as she ran past him and his brother. In a flurry of movement, he adjusted his books in his other hand and grabbed onto her arm to stop her. "What's the rush?"
"I-I have to go!" Ankaa tried desperately to loosen his grip, even going as far as pinching his fingers. Weasley did not relent. George stood up as well, worry etched on his face.
"Ow! OW!" Fred cried, "Calm down woman!"
George tilted his head curiously, examining her form. The bottom of her robe was tattered, the edges frayed. Ankaa followed his gaze and muttered a quick repairing spell. The three watched in silence as the garment repaired itself.
"Is everything alright?" It was George. He spoke softly as if speaking louder would startle the girl.
Ankaa did not answer him. Fred and George watched as she turned and rushed to the window to glance at the clock in the courtyard. It was almost midnight. With a groan, she took both their hands and pulled them down the hallway. She pushed them into one of the empty classrooms. Closing the door behind her, she reached into her shirt.
"Uh," Fred raised a brow and glanced at his brother. George, wide-eyed, could only offer him a shrug. Turning back to the girl, Fred muttered, "I like to have dinner before I get to work if you know what I mean."
Ankaa gave him a glare before she slapped him on the arm. Reaching into her shirt, she pulled her Time-Turner out. "This Weasleys," She held the golden object up to them, "Is a Time Turner. Dumbledore gave it to me at the starting of the year because I signed up for a few extra classes. That's how I replicated the Map, that's how I can tell you two apart because I've been around a lot, alright?"
The twins were silent. Their wide-eyed, enamoured gaze was focused solely on the Time Turner. The two then turned their wide-eyed look to one another, and Ankaa watched in frustration as it slowly narrowed and turned back to her. They were angry.
Outraged, Fred exclaimed, "You had a Time-Turner this entire year and you didn't tell us?"
"Do you understand the ABSOLUTE POWER we could have had?"
"That's exactly why I didn't tell you," Ankaa gave them an unamused look before she strung the golden chain around their necks. Moving closer, she held the Time Turner up so she could wind the dial.
"Well this is cozy," Fred mumbled, looking down at her.
George smirked, "It took you no time to warm up to us, did it, Rhyther?"
Fred turned to George, "We're getting better, Georgie. Our charms are irresistible."
Rolling her eyes, Ankaa turned the dial three times. Ankaa just kept her eyes on her watch, observing as the hands turned back on their own accord. The twins, on the other hand, watched the rays of sunlight shift in fascination. It was seven thirty.
"Come on," She urged the twins as she clutched her bag tighter around her. She left the classroom quietly and made her way down the hall so she could reach the grounds.
"Where are we going?" The twins asked in unison.
"Shh!" She hissed. She pushed them behind a pillar as Potter, Hermione and Weasley scrambled past them towards Hagrid's hut. Turning back to the two redheads, the older (and usually more reckless) of whom was giving her a glare, she warned, "We have to be careful. If we're seen, we'll be violating not only the Ministry's rules but Hogwarts' rules as well. And while you two might be ok with all this, but I really don't want to be expelled and arrested."
"Ok?" Fred mumbled, "But why exactly are we doing this?"
Ankaa glanced away from the Golden Trio then, they were standing at the top of the hill, watching as Buckbeak got slaughtered. Or well, they thought he had been slaughtered. Ankaa was sure Granger had for once used her brain and decided to use her Time-Turner.
"Black's in the castle," Ankaa muttered, motioning them to stay low and follow her as she moved slowly away from the pillars. "Well, in the Shrieking Shack, really."
"What!" Fred and George whisper yelled. Once again, rolling her eyes as Ankaa shushed them.
"And you didn't tell anyone this?" George asked, looking around him maniacally as if Black would suddenly spring out of the grass and curse him.
Fred nodded, "For once I'd rather not get involved. We might be good at Magic, love, but we're not that good."
"Oh relax you redheaded menace," Ankaa snapped, "I'm plenty good at Magic, but this is bigger than any of us. Look," She pointed towards the Whomping Willow, where her form met with Ceph. "That's me after I went to talk to Dumbledore, but he didn't do anything. It's up to us now to try and save your brother and his friends, and well, my brother."
Ankaa watched as the Time-Reversed Ankaa was pushed down the hole. With a glare, she noticed Ceph was laughing at her before he made his way through the hole as well. She glanced at her watch. It would take them quite some time to get to the Shack, and to have Lupin explain everything. And so, she sat down on the grass with a sigh.
"So let me get this straight," Fred started, sitting next to her and crossing his legs, "We're in the past now? And Black's in the Shrieking Shack with Ron, Harry, and Hermione?"
Ankaa nodded, "And my brother, Lupin, and Snape are there as well."
"Why?" George asked.
Ankaa paused. Pursing her lips, she wondered if she should tell them. You've already brought them back in time, you fool, her conscience told her, they at least deserve to know why. Besides, she was sure loudmouth Ronald Weasley and his two equally obnoxious friends would spill the beans to the Weasley family anyway. They would know soon enough.
"Sirius Black's my father." She muttered, glancing away from the boys sitting in front of her. For some reason, she didn't want to see the look of disgust the would undoubtedly have on their faces. She was used to seeing it from other people, but she didn't want to see it from Fred and George. And so, she told them the story of the past year, without looking at the two of course. She picked at the grass, tearing it from the soil and sprinkling it over her feet.
"And he's in there then?" Fred asked after a long pause.
"And we can save him, yeah?"
Ankaa nodded, "I think so."
Fred and George nodded slowly. They looked to each other once again, no doubt assessing the situation. Then, suddenly, they took a deep breath and got up. Smiling down at her, George offered her a hand, "You're lucky you found us, Rhyther."
Giving her a reassuring nod, Fred muttered, "Let's do this."
Ankaa clutched her wand tightly as she slowly and carefully made her way up the stairs to the Shrieking Shack. She paused and stood on her tip toes, trying to see into the room where everyone was talking. She had to warn them. She had to tell them that Snape was hiding under Potter's damn Invisibility Cloak.
"What're you doing?" Fred hissed as she pointed her wand at the door. He grabbed her elbow and tried to pull her arm back down. "They'll know we're here!"
"No, they won't." She whispered, roughly pulling her arm out of his grasp. Ankaa turned to him with a glare, "Weasley, if you're just going to get in my way, I'll stupefy you and leave you for Snape to find, do you understand that?"
Fred glared at her before withdrawing his hand. Crossing his arms like a child, he pouted and muttered, "This isn't how a partnership works."
"She's new to this mate," George muttered, "It'll take some time."
Ankaa turned away before they could see the smile on her face. Sobering herself, she pointed her wand at the door and uttered a soft 'Bombarda' and ducked quickly. The door blew open, and Granger screamed. She knew by now, Ankaa had grabbed onto Snape's Cloak and revealed him to the room. Now, the twins and Ankaa had to get out of there. The rest of the idiocy was up to Potter.
She remembered how he, Granger, and Weasley had all knocked Snape out with the Expelliarmus curse. She remembered Lupin and Black completing the story, she remembered waiting and waiting until finally Pettigrew had been turned human again. And then she knew how important it was to stop him from escaping. Unfortunately, she also remembered them coming outside and everything going haywire thanks to the full moon.
The three students raced through the tunnel quickly, the had to get back and into the woods before everyone from inside made their way out. Unfortunately, Ankaa had not planned on running into Granger and Potter.
"Ankaa!" Granger sounded happy that she was here. Potter, on the other hand, looked utterly confused, and then utterly dismayed at her presence. Of course, then he pieced together the fact that she had a Time Turner as well, and then he looked downright upset.
"Granger, Potter." Ankaa leaned against the tree and nodded at two.
"Fred, George" Potter sounded surprised, "What're you doing here?"
"Ankaa," George shrugged, "She needed help."
"No, I didn't." Ankaa gave him a glare, "They wouldn't let me be, so I just brought them along."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, love." Fred winked at her.
Granger and Potter looked between the three slowly. Potter looked visibly disgusted, Granger looked surprised. Shaking his head, Potter turned around and sat back on the ground, facing the Whomping Willow. Granger followed his lead and settled himself next to him. Fred then sat slightly behind them, leaning against the same tree Ankaa was on, and George beside him. Ankaa remained standing though, casting a worried look towards the rapidly descending sun.
"Why didn't you tell anyone he was your father?" Potter turned his head to address the Slytherin girl.
Ankaa narrowed her eyes at him. That idiotic question didn't even warrant an answer, but then she noticed Granger and the twins had fixed their inquisitive gazes on her. With a dramatic sigh, she answered him.
"This school already hates Slytherins. How do you think they'd treat the Slytherin kids of a mass murderer, Potter?"
Fred had this nagging feeling that whatever he saw today would change his life forever. From the moment George and he had started becoming friends with Ankaa Rhyther, he knew things would change. She was a tough nut to crack, all desolate and isolated. All bite and no bark. And of course, when she had strung the Time Turner around his neck, she had realized just how much she had become involved in their life. Obviously not as much as their other friends, but considerably involved for a Slytherin. Their mother approved of her, despite having never met the girl. Granger was apparently on civil terms with her. George got on with her remarkably well, too.
She's... Fred speculated the end of the sentence. She was certainly something. For a thirteen-year-old girl, she sure had been through a lot. As the students sat in silence, Fred gave her a sideways look. She stood leaning against the same tree, her arms crossed over her chest, and her grey eyes were hard and fixed on the Whomping Willow. Whether she was listening to Harry, Hermione, and George's conversation, Fred did not know. But she sure looked like she was tired and worn down. Turning his head, he waved her down. Fred patted the spot next to him softly.
After a moment of internal debate, Ankaa took a seat beside him.
"I wanted to apologize," Fred mumbled, glancing away from her. "About everything I said to you when we had first met. It must be hard for you, being a Slytherin and doing all this."
Ankaa wrapped her arms around her knees and gave a bitter laugh. "I guess I can finally sleep at night knowing you've repented for your sins." She shook her head.
Fred laughed softly. "Seriously."
"That's a horrible pun, carrot-top," Ankaa muttered, hitting his shoulder. "I expected better from you."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Fred shrugged.
Ankaa shook her head, looking ahead once more as everyone exited the Whomping Willow. Fred followed her gaze and noticed the scene. Black, who he assumed was the man in tattered clothes and long, curly hair, was standing beside Harry facing the castle. Ron had been placed on the ground, clutching his leg. Hermione was crouched in front of him, talking to him softly. Lupin came out of the whole next, clutching Pettigrew's collar, followed by Ankaa and an unconscious Snape who was being levitated by Cepheus.
Fred watched as Ankaa stood next to her brother, as he gently lowered their teacher to the floor. Fred watched the two siblings glance at Black and Potter talking in the distance before glancing at each other. Ceph gave his sister a sad smile before pulling her in for a hug.
"What were, or are, you talking about?" Fred asked Ankaa softly, not taking his eyes off the scene.
Ankaa glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. Blinking disinterestedly, she answered, "Potter and Black. About how everything's always about Potter. How our own father seemed quite disgusted at the fact that we were in Slytherin, but wasted no time in telling Potter how proud of him he was. The usual."
Fred frowned. "You know George and I don't care that you're in Slytherin, right?"
Ankaa smirked, "Why, thank you, Your Highness. I shall sleep soundly tonight knowing I have your approval."
Fred looked away from her then. "What's going to happen now?"
"Lupin," Hermione uttered softly, "He's going to turn into a werewolf, and Pettigrew's going to get away."
"What's the plan then?" George asked, looking intensely from Hermione to Harry. The two younger Gryffindors looked to each other in a daze. George deflated a bit, "You don't have a plan, do you?"
From behind him, Fred heard Ankaa give a sarcastic laugh. Though at this point, it sounded as if it was a mixture of anger, bitterness and plain old fatigue. Glancing behind him, he saw Ankaa reach into her bag and pull out a vial of blue liquid. She clutched it in her hand for a moment and closed her eyes. Then, she looked at him.
"You have a plan?" Fred asked, raising a brow. The other three Gryffindors looked her way.
"Of course I have a plan," Ankaa rolled her eyes haughtily. "And it involves you two," She gestured to the twins, "going in there and giving Lupin this Wolfsbane Potion."
"What!" Hermione cried, wide-eyed. "That's too dangerous!"
"No, it isn't." Ankaa retorted hotly, "You know just as well, Granger, that neither of us three can go waltzing in there. But Fred and George, they weren't present in the original time. No one will suspect, except you and me, that they used the Time Turner. And let's be honest, Potter's not exactly smart enough to figure it out on his own."
"Why is she even here?" Potter cried indignantly, crossing his arms and levelling his gaze on her.
Rolling her eyes, Ankaa turned to the Twins. She thrust the Potion in Fred's hands, closing his fingers over it. Fixing them with her stare, she warned them, "You cannot screw this up, you understand? Get the Potion to Lupin before he turns, grab the bloody Rat, and run."
"But," Hermione started softly, "It's too late for the Potion. He needs to take it in advance. He's already about to turn."
Ankaa nodded, "It won't stop him, yes, but it'll shorten the duration. When he turns back now, it won't take as long. We need all the help we can get if we're going to catch Pettigrew. Here's the plan..."
Ankaa stood by Granger and Potter as they watched Fred and George run around the shrubbery so they could get to the little incline where the rest of their Time-Reversed selves had gathered.
"Harry!"
Ankaa watched as Potter and her father turned around after Granger alerted them to the rising moon. Just as the students turned to look, Fred and George burst into the scene. There was a flurry of motion in which Fred approached Lupin quickly, and Ankaa saw him pass the vial of Wolfsbane to the teacher. Lupin took the Potion at once, but as expected it did not hinder the transformation. Fred backed away as Black jumped in front of Lupin and wound his arms around Lupin's frame in an effort to hold him back.
George stood in front of Pettigrew, looking down at his trembling form. Pettigrew took his chance, however, and turned into a rat. With baited breath, Ankaa saw George lunge for him, and when he stood upright again, Pettigrew was in his hands.
"He has him!" Granger exclaimed.
"Yeah," Ankaa breathed in surprise, "Now it's time for us to run." When Potter and Granger turned to her with identical confused looks, she pointed at Lupin. He had already begun his transformation. Thankfully, the twins were running up to the castle now.
Ankaa watched carefully as Ceph stepped up in front of the four students, holding his wand out in an effort to shield them against the werewolf after Professor Snape had fallen. But of course, Granger thought she could reason with the werewolf and stepped in front of Ceph.
"I have trouble grasping how you're considered the brightest witch of our age when you do incredibly stupid things like that." Ankaa addressed Granger with a raised brow. She didn't seem offended by her statement, as she was more interested in what was happening before them.
"We have to distract Professor Lupin," Granger announced, running a few steps ahead. Without hesitation, she put both her hands to her mouth and let out a howl.
"What're you doing!" Potter tried to pull him back. Ankaa just shook her head slowly and backed away from the two crazy Gryffindors.
"Saving your life."
"Are you really, though?" Ankaa spat, "Because now he's heading for us."
"Yeah, didn't think of that." Granger mumbled as she turned and took Potter's wrist, "Run!"
What a waste of breath. She didn't need to tell Ankaa to run, because by the time Granger had turned around, Ankaa was already ten steps ahead of them running. Ankaa had pulled out her wand, ready to cast a Disillusionment Charm on herself when she ran into another body in the Forest. With a startled cry, she stumbled back only for Fred Weasley's hands to wrap themselves around her upper arms and steady the girl.
"Are you alright?" Fred examined her quickly. He watched as Harry and Hermione ran past them, "What's happened?"
Ankaa turned her head and saw the werewolf was heading towards them quickly. Wasting no time, she grabbed Fred's hand and pulled him along. "Run, Fred, RUN!"
As she pulled him along, Ankaa knew there was no possible way they could outrun the werewolf. Her plan at first had been simply to outrun Granger and Potter. At least the werewolf would slow down a bit to deal with those two, in which she would have reached the castle safe and sound. But now, not only was she running with another person, they were now directly in front of the werewolf. Making a judgement call, she roughly pushed Weasley towards a large tree.
"Take your wand out," She commanded him softly. Fred nodded and did as he was told.
They could hear the loud breathing of the werewolf coming from behind them. He was probably around the tree. He was trying to sniff them out. Fred leaned away and took Ankaa's hand, pulling her along as he led her around the base of the tree. Slowly, carefully, the two backed away from the tree. But then, Ankaa collided into another figure. With a startled yelp, Ankaa turned to find Potter and Granger standing before her.
Now they were all out in the open. And the werewolf was heading straight for them.
"Reducto!" Ankaa exclaimed frantically, pointing her wand at the werewolf. The spell hit the ground right before the werewolf, who slowed down. He glanced from the disturbed dirt to the girl who had cast the spell and then advanced towards the group slowly.
Ankaa swallowed. Fred took her by the elbow and pulled her behind him, holding his wand out in front of him. Ankaa scowled. If he wasn't still holding onto her elbow, she would have run away by now. This was not how she wanted to die.
But she wouldn't die just yet.
The Hippogriff that Granger and Potter had freed raced towards them and placed himself between the werewolf and the group of children.
"GO!" Ankaa shouted, pushing Potter away from the scene roughly. He was so amazed and dazed by it all, he didn't even bother to glare at her as she ran past him. Ankaa did not turn around to see who was behind her. At this point, it was every person for themselves. The thundering of footsteps behind her told her that someone was there, however, but there was only one pair.
"Wait!" It was Fred. "Hermione and Harry, they're heading for-"
"Merlin's beard, Fred!" Ankaa cried, turning around to glare at him, "There is still a werewolf in these woods, do you understand that? Potter and Granger are more than welcome to risk their lives trying to follow the ruddy Dementors, but I sure as hell don't want to die today, okay?"
Fred looked from her and then to the direction in which Granger and Potter had vanished off to. With a slight nod, he took her by the elbow and pushed her along. The two then made their way out of the forest.
The two pushed the doors of the infirmary open with a lot more force than was necessary. Inside, a startled Ronald let out a squeak. Though, the redhead seemed quite pleased that Dumbledore's attention was finally away from his broken (and not chopped) leg.
"Ah, I see Miss Rhyther and Mister Weasley have returned," Dumbledore smiled widely, "How many turns did it take you, Miss Rhyther?"
"Three, sir." She mumbled, shooting Granger a look.
Dumbledore nodded with a small smile and headed for the doors. He turned around at the last moment and said, "Good luck!"
Disinterested, Ankaa settled herself beside her brother. Ceph had been scratched on his right upper arm. It was bandaged now, and Ceph was looking quite proud about it. Ankaa turned her head slightly to see Granger putting the golden chain around Potter's head. Ronald was looking as confused as ever. George was on the bed beside Ronald, and so was Fred. They were both sitting in silence watching the scene.
Turning back to her brother, Ankaa muttered softly, "It'll leave a scar, you know."
Ceph nodded with a smile, "That's alright. Florence seems to like battle scars."
"You've hardly seen battle," Ankaa retorted with a small laugh, "Besides, it's not that impressive. It's only about two lines."
"Two is more than none."
Ankaa shook her head. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "Don't let Lupin see it. He'll feel guilty."
Ceph nodded solemnly.
Just then, the door opened again. Granger and Potter walked in, breathing heavily.
"How did you get there?" Ronald asked, pointing to the door, "You were just here!"
Fred and George glanced at each other. "Honestly, Ron."
"It's the Potion, mate." Fred frowned, patting his brother's plastered leg quite roughly.
"It's one of the stronger ones, Madam Pomfrey said so herself," George added.
"She said it needed to be strong before she-" Fred glanced at his brother, tightening his grip on Ronald's broken leg.
"Chops off your leg."
Ronald's anguished moans reverberated throughout the room.
"What happened to Pettigrew?" Ankaa asked as she and the twins were leaving the infirmary later that night.
George sighed in dismay, "He bit me and got away. I' sorry Ankaa, I tried to get him, I really did but he-"
"Don't worry about it," She shook her head.
"Girls say that-" Fred mumbled to his brother.
"Right before they get mad." George nodded.
Ankaa rolled her eyes, "Oh relax. I knew we'd lose him. As long as Black got away, we're fine."
"Right." George nodded.
"You're the Seer." Fred and George spoke in unison, wiggling their eyebrows. It was remarkable how they were never drained of their humorous energy, not even after an ordeal like the one they had just been through.
Decided to play along, Ankaa tapped her temple and winked, "You know it. And besides, he was going to get away anyway, so don't beat yourself up over it. Of all the burden's you carry, don't make that one of them."
"Burdens?" The twins asked.
"Burdens of your detentions, your grades, the fact that you're not as great as you think you are-those kinds of burdens, you know."
Fred and George snorted.
"We're plenty great, thank you very much."
"I'm sure," Ankaa nodded mockingly. The three walked in silence until the reached the corridor where they would part ways.
"Why didn't you go with Harry and Hermione to free Sirius?" George wondered, right before Ankaa was about to turn to walk away.
Ankaa looked from one twin to the other. She shrugged and said, "I didn't want to risk my life for him."
Satisfied with the answer, Fred turned to walk towards Gryffindor tower. But George lingered, if only for a moment. Ankaa matched his knowing gaze and nodded. As the two turned to walk their separate ways, Ankaa was painfully aware of the fact that George Weasley had her completely figured out.
After Fred had filled him in on everything that had happened in the Forbidden Forest, Ankaa knew that George had pieced everything together. He knew why she hadn't gone after Sirius Black, and he knew why she had come back straight away. As George walked alongside Fred, glancing at the sleeping portraits, he cast his carefree, nonchalant twin a sideways look. Ankaa had come back because of him. Ankaa had returned so that Fred could be with his brother so that she could be with her own brother.
With a smile, George realized that she had returned because she wanted to be back with her family. Which, at one level or another, included the twins.
Notes:
End of PoA
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