The Power of Love
Chapter One
By Alicia Jennings
~

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the death of..." Annelise tuned out the old Reverend Aldenn. She still couldn't believe that her mother was who this ceremony was for.

Her mother....the one with the youthful face and bright smile, the young lady who loved all children. She didn't deserve to die of cancer, only six weeks after learning that she had the dreaded disease. Annie looked down at her 3-year-old sister, Gabrielle. The little girl looked confused at why everyone was wearing black. "Where's Mama?" she asked Annelise, and Annie had to choke back a sob.
Soon, though, all the grief she was holding back came forth. Mr. Cartier grabbed her arm.

"Annelise, go out of this church until you can get a hold of yourself," he hissed. Scooping up Gabrielle and giving Mr. Cartier a look that could kill, Annie ran out of the chapel. She tripped over her long black robes, but was up and running again before anyone could help her.

"Annie, Annie, where are we going?" asked Gabrielle. "Aren't we going to stay for the rest of the thing?"

"No," said Annelise, very firmly. "We're going to walk home. Here, hold my hand, the road is icy."

"I'm cold."

"We'll be home soon." She, too, was very cold and wished for her cloak. "Wait a minute..."

Jerking her wand out of her sash, she produced two cloaks - one small, and one her size. "Is that better?" she asked Gabrielle.

"Much," said the little girl. "Annie, where is Mama?"

Annelise kneeled in front of her sister, so she could look her in the eye. "Gabrielle, do you know where angels come from?"

"Heaven, silly."

Annelise smiled at her sister's innocence. "Well," she said, fastening Gabrielle's cloak, "Mama went to Heaven to be an angel yesterday. God thought that he needed another one, and that our mama was the perfect choice."

"But.." Gabrielle's lip trembled. "But, we don't get to see her now."

"We will, when God decides he needs some more angels, and picks us."

Gabrielle thought for a moment. "Annie?"

"Yes?"

"Will you miss Mama?"

"Very much so."

"Me too."

The rest of the walk home was silent.
~

After tucking Gabrielle in her bed for a short nap, Annelise trudged up the stairs to her room. Upon entering, she flung herself onto her own bed. But when she collapsed onto it, there was a crunch of paper - a letter. Carefully, Annie opened it.

*
My Dearest Daughter,

How I wish that I could tell you this in person, but as I have passed on, I must tell you through letter.

My husband, Andre Cartier, is not your father. When you were just two months old, your real father divorced me, leaving me with you to take care of. Andre offered a soloution - I marry him, then I could take care of you. Since I love you so, I consented.

Your real father is, like me and you, of magical heritage. His name is Severus Snape, and he is a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I want you to leave France. Take Gabrielle to my sister's home, and Cecelia will get you to Britian, where you can go to your father. I am afraid that you are in danger with Andre around.

Always remember, my dearest, to look up in times of trouble. The stars will help you.

Though I am no longer in the land of the living, I will always be
Your loving mother,
Paralee Cordelia
*

Annelise's hands shook, and she dropped the letter.

Andre was not her father?

The sixteen-year-old immediately snapped into action, and began throwing her belongings in a magically-expanded trunk. Then she went to Gabrielle's room and did the same.

"Gabrielle....Gabrielle, darling, wake up."

"Why?"

"We must leave. Quickly." She picked up the little girl, and magically floated their trunks down the stairs, and out the back door. And it was a good thing they went out the back door, for Andre pulled up to the front one.

"Annie, aren't we going to tell Father?"

"No. Gabby, you must do something for me, okay? Be very, very quiet." Annie tucked a scarf around the little girl's blonde head to protect her from the chills of November. Then she began wracking her head for ideas of escape.

Then she remembered....the Knight Bus! Of course! Her hand shaking, she extended her holly-and-phoenix-feather wand.

BANG.

"Welcome to the Knight Bus, transport for wizards and witches in need. My name is Amelia Anderson-" She looked down at Annelise and Gabrielle. "Say, is that your little girl? She's adorable."

"She's my sister," said Annelise. "I'm Annelise Cartier. How much would it be to get to Paris?"

"Thirteen Galleons. Fourteen for hot chocolate, fifteen for a toothbrush." Amelia grinned.

Not feeling like grinning back, Annelise gave the lady a handful of Galleons, and claimed a bed. Gabrielle looked around, even more confused than ever.

"Annie," she pressed, "Where ARE we going?"

"To Aunt Cecelia's."

"Why?"

"Mother requested us to do so." Annelise's final comment
hushed Gabrielle.

Suddenly, the Knight Bus slammed to a halt. "Miss Cartier, your stop!" yelled Amelia.

Annelise stepped off, with Gabrielle and luggage in tow, to begin a new life....little did she know what was lying ahead.
~
A/N- Okay, that was boring. But in the next chapter, Miss Cartier gets introudced to everyone's fav potions master-Mr. Severus Snape! Stay tuned - it'll get better!
-Alicia