My apologies for the extended break, and my heartfelt gratitude to those of you who have continued to show your support. It means the world to me. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"I want to be the kind of person who can do that. Move on and forgive people and be healthy and happy. It seems like an easy thing to do in my head. But it's not so easy when you try it in real life." - Susan Colasanti, Waiting for You

Chapter Forty-Six – The Angry Girl

Ankaa had spent the entire journey to Hogwarts silently reasoning with herself, but Draco's ever so subtle glances in her direction had only served to get her more and more agitated. Draco's knowing stares served as a constant reminder that he knew exactly of how Ankaa had been abandoned by those she had put their trust in. While a blatant counter-attack was too much to ask for, the fact that she had not even received a single letter served only to bolster her belief.

Ankaa did not know how she would face Fred and George, nor what she would do when they saw her in the halls. She was lucky in the fact that the Gryffindor lot in question was suspiciously missing on the night of the returning feast. While Ankaa's lip pursed in concern, and her eyes glanced up and down the table several times, her never-subsiding anger and pride did not allow her to voice her concerns; not that anyone would listen.

That night, Ankaa was sat in the common room. Around her, her friends were immersed in their own work trying to catch up on work they should have done over the break. The common room was bustling with students of all years, some who were chatting excitedly amongst themselves or trying to help their friends with their homework.

"Ankaa," Cassius Warrington leaned over the side of the couch that Ankaa was sitting on, "I was just wondering if you'd be free to have another lesson tomorrow? Everyone's excited to be back and I've already talked to the others—they think it'd be a good idea."

"Draco and I have Prefect duties tomorrow."

Cassius seemed dejected at the news, but he nodded nonetheless. "Right, of course."

"You can ask someone to cover for you, can't you?" asked Pansy, batting her eyes in Cassius' direction before giving Ankaa a pointed look.

Ankaa shared a look with Draco. They both knew that Ankaa would be skipping her Prefect duties tomorrow for her lessons with Snape.

"It's the first day back, Pansy," said Draco, flipping through his finished essay listlessly, "no one will want to cover for us. Cassius, you can handle everyone for one day, can't you? Ankaa and I will try to be back as soon as possible but you know with Umbridge—"

"Of course," Cassius nodded encouragingly, "It's not a problem at all. Zubeida and I can handle a day by ourselves. See you around."

Pansy pouted at Cassius' retreating form. Beside her, Greengrass snickered at her friend before turning back to her work. Draco and Ankaa shared a look before the girl turned back to her brother's spell book and continued diligently studying the spells. Every now and then, she would have to consciously shake the thought of what her Gryffindor 'friends' might be up to at this very moment.

One by one, the common room continued to clear of students. Ankaa watched as the hours on the clock ticked by, but her body did not exhibit any signs of fatigue. Ankaa reclined on the couch, slowly flipping through the pages and running her fingers over her brother's writing. There was a strange warmth that flooded her, beginning from her fingertips and flowing uninterrupted to her chest until she drew a long and deep breath. If he were alive, Ankaa mused, Ceph would know exactly what to do, what to say to the Gryffindorks, to make this all better.

Ankaa's fingers reached the red ink at the very bottom of the page. The words Cantio Volvo remained as much of a mystery to her today as they were when she had first spotted them a few months ago. Ankaa sat up slowly, thumbing the ink once more before reaching to place the book on the table.

Ankaa flipped back and forth between a few pages, noting how there was no other red ink in the book. Ankaa knew how Ceph was fond of making his notes look uniform, and therefore the red ink was out of character for him. Not to mention that this was not Ceph's writing. While her brother had a neat and elegant scrawl, there as something markedly differently about the curvature of Cantio Volvo that told Ankaa someone else had written it in his book.

But who?

The next day, Ankaa had spent the entire Potions class with the Gryffindors determinedly ignoring the Golden Trio. Hermione had dared to quietly ask if she as ok, and Ankaa's severe glare in her direction had seemed to convey the message just fine. Ronald was as uninterested as Ankaa had suspected he would be, but Harry Potter was not appeased. What made matters worse was that at the end of the Potions lesson, Snape had asked her to stay behind.

"For your sake, Miss Rhyther," he began, "I hope you have been keeping up with your Occlumency training. Though, I suspect that you would not be here had you not."

Ankaa only watched him silently. In all the years that Ankaa had been a student of Snape, she had never truly been able to discern what lay behind his façade. There were moments where it seemed to her that the man truly cared for her, in the way that he was able to. He looked out for her and did his part, but offhanded comments like the one he just made left her wondering what he truly thought of her.

"I'm afraid I must be the bearer of some bad news," said Professor Snape as he stood. There was a barely discernable tone of remorse, but he continued on in the same monotone and uncaring tone. "As you are aware, Mr. Potter has been learning Occlumency with me and his first lesson was before the break. I had originally thought to teach you separately, but my time is precious."

"I'll be learning with Potter?"

"Unfortunately, yes." At her frown, Snape added, "If you would like to skip the next few lessons until Mr. Potter has had a chance to catch up, you may. But I expect you to keep up with learning by yourself."

Ankaa pondered the idea. Realistically, she knew she would not be practicing much if Snape did not force her and berate her into it. It was her fatal flaw, she was inherently lazy until circumstance forced her to try. On the other hand, some time off could most likely work in her benefit. She could spend time at the library trying to track down the origin of Cantio Volvo in her brother's book.

"Think on it," said Snape, waving his hand in dismissal. "If you are here tonight, we shall continue. Otherwise, I shall get in touch with you as to when your next lesson shall be."

Ankaa nodded. She had only just turned to leave when Snape called her name once more, this time in a way that was distinctly different than what he had addressed her as these past five years.

"We—the Order—did not leave you at Malfoy Manor to suffer, Ankaa," said her Potions master, gazing at her intently. "I am not trying to convince you of our innocence. I do not believe we are. However, I am certain you understand the position we were in."

Ankaa did not. She. Could not understand why her mother and Sirius had abandoned her to Voldemort, and worse to her very own grandparents.

"You need to trust that we know what we are doing."

"I would, sir," said Ankaa, "but even you don't sound convinced of it." With that, she turned and marched out of his classroom. The second years were patiently waiting outside of the classroom for their class to start, and Ankaa threw the door open roughly and pushed her way through the students.

Ankaa hated the fact that everyone was trying to tell her how they had wanted to help. Snape, Hermione, and even Draco of all people had tried to defend the Order. Draco had not used as many words, but a simple, "I'm sure they must be trying" was his way of saying that he was sure her friends and family would help her. Whether they had planned and failed or not planned at all did not concern Ankaa in the slightest. What mattered was that they were conveniently absent in a time when she needed them most.

Later that same evening, following his first lesson with Snape, Harry sat in the library with Hermione and Ron. All around them various fifth-years were scribbling through the latest in a series of homework Umbridge had allotted them. However, Harry was busy conveying his latest theory to his friends. The door he had seen when Mr. Weasley had been attacked had been the same one he had seen when he had walked past the Department of Mysteries at the time of his hearing.

"So… so, are you saying…" whispered Ron, as Madam Pince swept past the trio, "that the weapon—the thing You-Know-Who's after—is in the Ministry of Magic?"

"In the Department of Mysteries, it's got to be," Harry whispered. "I saw that door when your dad took me to the courtrooms. It's definitely the same one he was guarding when the snake bit him."

"Of course!" sighed Hermione. "Sturgis Podmore was trying to get through a door at the Ministry of Magic, remember? It must have been that one, it's too much of a coincidence!"

"So what's in the Department of Mysteries?" Harry asked Ron. "Has your dad ever mentioned anything about it?"

"I just know that they call the people who work in there 'Unspeakables,'" said Ron, frowning. "Because no one really seems to know what they do in there… Weird place to have a weapon…"

"Is there anyone else you know that might know what happens in the Department of Mysteries?"

"There's Percy," Ron suggested, but he scowled immediately afterwards. "You'll have better luck just asking You-Know-Who."

Harry frowned. Hermione looked between the two of them with pursed lips. "Well," she began hesitantly, "There is one other person who we might be able to ask."

"Who?"

"Ankaa," suggested Hermione. "Her father works at the Ministry, and Ceph was about to start an internship there, remember? Maybe she'll know something."

"Hermione, she's not even looking at us. She won't talk to us!"

Hermione shushed him quickly as Madam Pince swooped by, giving the trio a scathing look as they quieted down. Harry glanced to the entrance of the library, where he saw a familiar Slytherin robe make its way into the room. With a start, he sat up.

"Ron," Harry turned to the boy, "move your stuff. Ankaa's coming."

"So?" Ron scowled. "She can sit somewhere else."

"This is the only other empty seat, Ron," Hermione admonished. "Let her sit here, and we can ask her about the Department of Mysteries!"

The three of them turned apprehensively to spot the Slytherin making her way over to the tables. Ankaa paused by one of the shelves, frowning at the scene before her. Everyone had come down to the library to try and finish their work, and the only empty seat happened to be next to Harry Potter. Ankaa spotted Annabelle sitting with her friends a few spaces away, diligently working. Unfortunately for her, Annabelle's table was all full.

I could just go work in the Common Room, Ankaa reasoned with herself as she glared at the trio. They were acting as if they had not seen her, but Ankaa knew from the tension in Harry and Hermione's shoulders that they were waiting for her to walk over. Ronald, as usual, seemed bothered by her presence. He was scowling at his paper, pretending to write but Ankaa could tell that the tip of his quill barely even brushed his parchment as he 'scribbled'.

It'll be too loud, a part of her answered her own inquiry. Everyone was looking forward to the lessons later tonight, and the common room had been buzzing with laughter and chatter when Ankaa had left it just ten minutes prior.

Sighing, Ankaa made her way through the desks and placed her bag on the table beside Harry. The trio looked up at her in genuine surprise. Perhaps they had thought she would have rather left the library than spend any moment of time with them.

Hermione opened her mouth to say something when Ankaa held up her hand.

"Not one word out of either of you," said Ankaa as she settled into her seat. She did not look at them as she pulled out her work and set it up around her. Ankaa could feel their eyes boring into her, itching to say something, anything. "I'm here to work, and if you disturb my peace I'll call Madam Pince over before you can say anything."

Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione. Ron glared at the Slytherin girl before turning back to his work and actually continuing to work this time. Hermione, too, gave one look at the Slytherin girl before turning back to her work. Harry, it seemed, was the only brave one at that table.

Brave or foolish, he had not yet completely decided.

"Ankaa," he began quietly, "we really need to talk."

"I'm trying to study, shut up."

Harry sighed. "Look, we all wanted to come and help. Really, we tried. But your mom—"

"I said stop."

Harry opened his mouth to speak again when a swift kick from Hermione under the table made him reconsider. Scowling, Harry reached down and rubbed his shin. Hermione glared at him before looking pointedly at his work, and begrudgingly Harry turned his attention to his school work.

For the next hour or so, the quartet sat there and worked silently. The occasional rustling of papers was the only sound between them. Even Ronald had stopped scowling at her and had instead adopted a helpless look when it came to his homework from Umbridge. Ankaa, on the other hand, had breezed through her Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts homework and was winding down when Harry turned to her once more.

With a sigh, Ankaa finally relented. "What is it?"

The three Gryffindors looked up at her then, shocked that she had allowed them to speak.

"Go on then," Ankaa said with a raise of her brow, "You had something you wanted to say? If not, then I've got places to be."

"Er—" began Hermione, "We were just wondering if you knew anything about the Department of Mysteries?"

Ankaa frowned. "Department of mysteries? What for?"

"You know something, don't you?" asked Harry immediately, recognizing the frown on her face as one that was extremely guarded. "Tell us what you know."

Ankaa shrugged as she stood with her bag. "I don't know anything. Sorry." With that, she turned and walked away. Ankaa waved to Anabelle, giving her a sweet smile as she made her way through the tables and towards the exit. Behind her, she could hear the trio scrambling to collect their things and race after her.

Ankaa had planned to take one of the secret passageways around the main hallway to avoid them. And just as soon as she rounded the corner and made her way into the passageway, she ran headfirst into the two people she had been trying to avoid the most. Fred and George Weasley looked down at her in concern, before their faces contorted into identical relieved looks at the sight of her.

With an irritated groan, Ankaa stepped out of the passage and back into the main hallway where the Golden Trio was already waiting for her. At the sight of Fred and George behind her, Harry smiled.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked.

"Came to get you lot," answered George. "We're going to be demonstrating some new merchandise from our joke shop."

"And we couldn't begin without our most avid supporters, now could we?" asked Fred.

"We'll be right up," answered Hermione, "We just need to ask Ankaa a few questions."

"Don't we all," muttered Fred, turning to the girl in question with a slight frown. "Where have you been? George and I tried to find you during dinner but you weren't there."

"I've been busy," was her curt reply. Ankaa crossed her arms over her chest and gave them the most uninterested look she could muster. She could feel her anger bubbling, and she wanted nothing more to scream at all of them (minus perhaps Ronald) for abandoning her. After all, Ankaa had been the first person to race after Harry when he had been attacked by the Dementors.

"Ankaa," began George, but Ankaa cut him off with a quick shake of her head. She knew from his tone that he was going to apologize, and Ankaa would believe him. Fred and George looked so unbelievably sorry—in fact, they all did—and Ankaa knew that if she heard them apologize and give their reasons for being unable to help, she would believe and forgive them.

"Forget it." Turning to Harry, she asked, "What do you need to know?"

"What's in the Department of Mysteries?" he asked immediately. "Where Mr. Weasley was attacked—what's so special about it?"

"Not sure," lied Ankaa, "I've only ever been in the main hall for the Department of Mysteries, but there's a whole lot of other rooms that branch from it. Some of them are real, and some are lies spread to conceal what actually lies in the Department."

"But is there anything there that He could want?" pressed Hermione. "Anything at all?"

"Not that I can think of," Ankaa shrugged. "There are some theories as to what's inside that I'm sure even you lot can dig up. Try going through those and see if you can find something? You won't have much luck asking people about what's in the Department of Mysteries. Unspeakables don't really speak about that stuff—it's in the name, I'm sure you understand."

"What's going on?" asked George, "What's going on at the Department of Mysteries?"

"They'll fill you in," Ankaa nodded towards the trio. "I've got to get going, I've got Prefect rounds."

"Ankaa, wait!" Fred took a hold of her arm as she tried to walk past the Gryffindors and into the passageway. "Tell us about what happened with You-Know-Who, at least!"

Ankaa shrugged herself free of his grip. "Nothing happened. He kept me around so that he could try to figure out whether or not I was the next greatest Seer or not. He did nothing except try and pick at my brain every single day for the entire break." Ankaa turned to Harry then, "I hear you're getting lessons from Snape?" When Harry nodded, Ankaa continued, "You better work hard and keep up with it, otherwise, we're both dead."

With that, she turned and walked through the passage. Fred watched her figure retreat until the dark of the passageway swallowed her up and he could not see her anymore. Fred exchanged a look with his brother, who nodded in understanding and rounded on the younger Gryffindors.

"Come on then, let's head back to the dormitories." When Ron moved towards the entrance of the passageway, George took him by the back of his shirt and hauled him back. "Not that way, ickle Ronniekins. You lot will be going the long way around."

Fred smiled thankfully to his brother and turned and ran through the passage as fast as he could (it was rather hard to do considering how narrow it was).

"Lumos!"

Fred debated turning around to hex Ron at his whining ('Why does he get to go through the passage!') but thought not to waste time. He needed to speak with Ankaa, and once she cleared the pathway and made her way to the Slytherin dormitories, who knows when her anger would wear off enough for them to speak.

Finally, after a moment, he caught up to her figure just as she was about to step out. Guided entirely by instinct, Fred reached for the back of her robes and pulled her into the passageway once more. There was an indignant shout from her as she stumbled back and into his waiting arms, and when she realized it was him, Ankaa stood up straight and roughly maneuvered herself out of his grip as best as she could in such cramped quarters.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" She screamed, pushing him back roughly, "I don't know anything else about the Department of Mysteries!"

"We both know that's not why I'm here," Fred answered, rubbing his elbow that had scraped against the rough walls in their little scrap. "I just wanted to talk to you about what happened over Christmas—"

"It's alright—"

"Stop lying!" he exclaimed. "You're upset about it, and I understand—believe me, I do. George and I tried so hard to convince the Order that we need to go and help you. We would've come ourselves, but we had no idea where you were."

"Of course not," Ankaa mumbled, crossing her arms and giving him a hard look. "Look, I don't care about whether or not you wanted to come and help. The fact of the matter is that you didn't. I'm sure Dumbledore had some grand scheme at play here, so I'm not blaming you."

Fred blinked at her in confusion. "You're not?"

"You would've probably gotten yourself killed if you had been there," Ankaa answered truthfully. "So good on you for not showing up. Now, if that's all, I'd like to leave."

"Wait!" When she turned around, Fred looked at her inquisitively. Hesitantly, he stepped forward and asked, "Are we okay then?"

"No," came her reply. Ankaa neglected to say anything else, and Fred could feel his frustration climbing by the second. He had wanted nothing more than to reach forward and wrap her up in his arms the moment he had set eyes on her at Hogwarts, knowing that she was okay at the very least.

"I don't understand," he finally admitted.

"Of course not," Ankaa scoffed. "It doesn't surprise me that you don't know what you did wrong." When Fred tried to step towards her, she held her hand against his chest, keeping him at arm's length. Looking at him now, Ankaa could tell he was sorry, but his words were still ringing in her ears, and she simply was not ready to forgive him.

"I'm not sleeping until I know my dad is alright. You may have two, but I've only got one."

"Everything that I tell you, Fred, it means a lot to me. And I don't need you throwing it back in my face to make me feel bad."

"I didn't mean it, Ankaa!" Fred rubbed his eyes in frustration. "I was just worried about my dad and I was tired and scared—"

"I don't care!" Ankaa shouted. "You think you're the only one that was scared? Don't you think I was terrified for your father as well?" Ankaa took a deep breath. She had wanted to say more, wanted to tell him all about how terrified and absolutely petrified she was during the winter break. Instead, she simply took a step back.

"Just because you're scared, doesn't mean you get to take it out on me," She said finally, in a voice so soft and resigned that Fred had to strain to hear it. "I don't deserve that, not after everything I've had to deal with. If that's how it's going to be, if you're going to lash out at me every time you're scared, then I don't need you. I have enough to worry about without the added stress about whether or not you're going to blow up on me."

"Ankaa—"

"Just… leave me alone, Fred. You've said what you wanted to, and now I'm telling you to leave me alone."

Ankaa thought he would say something, and she was glad that he did not. Instead, Fred looked like he understood. His teary eyes looked at her, staring at her in a way he had never looked at her before. Finally, he nodded.

"If that's what you want," he said softly. With one last glance at her, Fred turned and walked down the passageway.

Ankaa could see him walking down the long pathway. The light from his wand never dimmed, and Ankaa mentally scoffed at the irony. Finally, when the speck of light was too far away for her to see, or perhaps it was her water eyes that impeded her vision, Ankaa turned and walked out of the passage, heading towards the Slytherin common room. A part of her told her to apologize to Fred, but Ankaa knew it was the fear speaking. She was not ready to forgive him, not truly forgive him at least. She did not doubt that forgiveness would come eventually, but the mere thought of forgiveness was chased away by his voice speaking those hateful words.

Forgiveness would come, but Ankaa had no idea when. And until then, it only made sense to keep Fred at bay.

The next day when Ankaa walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, Draco was the first to notice the dark circles under her eyes. Other than a questioning brow raised in her direction as she sat down beside him, he did not say much. Ankaa did not comment on his appearance either. He had been looking more and more tired every day.

"I'm surprised you're up and about this early," Ankaa commented. "You've been skipping breakfast these past few days."

Draco only gave her a sidelong glance as he scooped up some eggs into his plate. Ankaa glanced at the rest of the table, still empty as most of the students had chosen to sleep in following their late-night practice session yesterday. Still, it wasn't a big enough amount that anyone would be suspicious.

"Did you have a tiff with your boyfriend?"

Ankaa looked back to Draco, who was determinedly staring down at his plate he sliced into his eggs. Purely by instinct, Ankaa's eyes found Fred and George at the Gryffindor table.

"You're better at hiding it than he is," said Draco. Both Slytherins looked over at the twins, and Ankaa noticed the slouched shoulders, the way he was just pushing his food around his plate, and the redness in his face. "Must've cried himself to sleep last night," Draco remarked, "What happened?"

Ankaa looked away from the Gryffindors, turning to Draco. Before she could say anything, there was a flurry of activity as the owls delivered mail. Zeus swooped down gracefully, depositing a copy of the Daily Prophet before her.

"I didn't know you were subscribed to the Daily Prophet," muttered Draco distastefully. He too was busy with his own letters to bother glancing over at her as she untied the Daily Prophet from Zeus' leg.

"I'm not," Ankaa mumbled, taking note of the little slip of paper that was with the paper. "This is from Henry," she held up the slip, "he must have sent it because there's something in here he wants me to see."

Ankaa unfolded the Prophet and the headline made her heart drop.

MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABAN

MINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT'

FOR OLD DEATH EATERS

Draco, too, leaned over to read the article. The Prophet was obviously blaming Sirius Black for the breakout but what interested Ankaa more was the fact that all these people that had been broken out from Azkaban had been avid supporters of Voldemort during his first rise to power. Bellatrix Lestrange, a relative of both Draco and Ankaa, had been 'convicted of the torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom' according to the Prophet. However, judging by the glare and the disdainful smile on her face, Ankaa was sure that she had done more and far worse.

Ankaa glanced at the little slip of paper in her hand. Her father's neat scrawl simply said 'It is beginning.' Perhaps writing more would have been risky, but even Ankaa could guess that Voldemort would waste no time in trying to amass his army. And where else to begin than by bringing back his most devoted followers.

"That's…" Draco trailed off, reading the rest of the article. "Troublesome." His eyes automatically flew to the Ravenclaw table.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

Draco looked at her as if she had grown two heads. "What do you mean? There's nothing you need to do. Don't get involved."

"I didn't mean it like that," Ankaa rolled her eyes. She suspected that Draco had started to think of her as a brash young Gryffindor, ready to jump in and be 'brave' in this fray. "I just meant what's going to happen now. Everything's about to crazy—people already don't like us, tensions are going to be high."

"It was bound to happen sometime," shrugged Draco. "The people who know you won't leave you," he said, but even he did not seem like he believed it. "This is why you should talk to your brooding boy and fix things. You've already got a shortage of friends to start with, and with all that's been happening you'll need them around."

"Where're you going?" She asked as he got up to leave.

He shot one look at the Ravenclaw table, where a brunette girl got up and left her group of friends. The girl with the blue eyes looked at Draco, a strange expression over her face before her eyes trailed to Ankaa. "I've got some apologies to make too, it seems," mumbled Draco. He hiked the strap of his bag higher up on his shoulder. "I'll see you in class."

Ankaa saw him leave the Great Hall, a few steps behind the brunette girl. Ankaa had never noticed Zara Holloway in her classes before. She was just that kind of girl; quiet, reserved, polite and smart. Ankaa was not even sure how she and Draco had become friends, and she did not want to pry.

Ankaa continued to flip through the Daily Prophet, but there was nothing of interest. On page ten, however, the dead of Broderick Bode by a potted-plant struck her as incredibly odd. Especially while he was recovering at St. Mungo's? Definitely odd. Ankaa looked to the Gryffindor table, where Harry, Hermione, and Ronald were deep in conversation. Ankaa wanted to speak to them about this, as she was sure they would have met Bode when they were visiting Mr. Weasley at St. Mungo's.

Forget it, she told herself. You're the one that told them all to stay away. It's for the best.

Ankaa grabbed her things, with the Daily Prophet still in her hands she made her way outside heading towards her first class. She was far too engrossed in the article about Broderick Bode that she did not realize someone was walking right beside her. A sidelong glance at the Gryffindor robes and red hair told her it was Fred. With a shake of her head, Ankaa folded the paper and put it away.

"I know," Fred began before Ankaa could even open her mouth. "I know you told me to stay away, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Of course I am," Ankaa answered reflexively.

Fred looked down at her. "You don't look like it."

"Neither do you."

Fred stared at her for a second. "I'm not," he shrugged, "but I'm sure I'll recover soon. I'm worried about you and this whole breakout from Azkaban."

"That's really sweet, Fred, but you don't need to be."

"Ankaa," Fred sighed. He looked down the emptying hallway, taking note of the few stragglers but nothing much. He took Ankaa's hand and stepped closer, "I know you want some space, and I'll give it to you. I told you I could wait forever, and I meant it. You're hurt, and you can take all the time you need but that doesn't mean I'm not worried about you."

Ankaa relented, taking a hold of his hand and giving it a squeeze in return. "Thank you, Fred," she said. She did not want to talk about Azkaban anymore, so she changed the topic and asked him, "How was your demonstration of the new merchandise?"

"It was great!" The two continued walking side by side, and Fred continued chatting excitedly about the reception of their joke shop. "The first years are really liking it, but I think it's going to be a hit. We've already got pre-orders."

Ankaa nodded, smiling along at his excitement. "I told you both it would be great. People really need something more elevated than Zonkos."

"Hey, don't insult Zonkos. They're the reason we're shining right now—our primary source of inspiration."

"I'm not insulting them!" Ankaa laughed. "I just think it's time for the next generation to shine."

"Indeed it is," Fred nodded proudly. His smile dimmed slightly when they rounded the corner so that Ankaa could head up the staircase to Divination. "I'll see you around?"

Ankaa nodded. After muttering a goodbye, she turned to head towards the door when Fred called her name.

"Take all the time you need about this, okay? But just remember, if you ever need to talk, George and I… we're here for you."

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Fred," she said. He nodded and waved in farewell before turning and walking down the hallway, and out of sight.

As Ankaa settled into her seat in Divination, Draco came and sat down beside her.

"I saw your friend on the way here," he remarked softly, getting his book out of his bag.

"That's nice. Did you say hi?"

"Of course not."

Ankaa smiled softly. She did not expect anything else from him. Glancing at him quickly, she noticed he looked to be in much better spirits.

"Made up with your girlfriend then, I'm guessing?"

Draco glared at her, "She's not my girlfriend."

"I'm sure."

"She's not," Draco insisted. "But since you asked nicely, my friend and I have made up. What about your special friend? He looked in better spirits when I saw him."

"Oh? And you can discern feelings from one look now, can you?"

"Better than you, it seems," he retorted.

"Fine, yes. We're okay."

"Just okay?"

"It'll take some time but," Ankaa paused, "Yeah, I think we're okay."

Draco looked at her, and for the first time in a long time, she saw a genuinely pleased look on his face. The two friends shared a smile, and to Ankaa it felt like she had her old friend back. Before the last few years had started to mess up her life (or one could argue, make it better but with an increasing amount of pain), Draco and Ankaa had been close. It finally felt like they were returning to what they had been like before. And it was nice.

Hopefully, it would last.

Review! Next update will be soon, I promise you. I'd like to finish this in the next few months - I owe you all that much.