The Power of Love
Chapter Three
By Alicia Jennings
~
The rest of the day passed in a flash for Annelise. One minute, she was talking to Minerva, the next, she was waiting to be introduced at dinner. McGonagall stood up at the staff table, and cleared her throat.
"May I have everyone's attention, please." A hush fell over the Great Hall. "I would like to introduce a transfer student from Beauxbatons, who will be in seventh year. Please welcome Paralee Cordelia Jensen."
Annie stepped into the Hall, and McGonagall motioned her to sit on a small stool. Then, a hat was put on her head. She thought it was strange that a hat should be put on her head, but then it started talking!
"It's standard procedure, dear. Welcome to Hogwarts!"
*Uhh....thanks. Why are you on my head?*
"There are four dormitories in which you can stay, Annelise, one for each founder of the school-"
Annelise interrupted, and thought back, *How do you know my real name?*
"I know lots of things. But I won't blow your cover. There is Slytherin for the ambitious, Gryffindor for the brave, Hufflepuff for the loyal, and Ravenclaw for the wise. Where will you go? Hmmm.....you're quite the troublemaker, I see. And you'll be causing quite a stir here this year."
Annelise didn't have the slightest clue what the hat meant by that.
"Hmmm....very brave...but very ambitious too...Gryffindor or Slytherin? They're rival houses....hmmm.....I think you shall be a GRYFFINDOR!"
Relieved that the hat had finally decided, Annelise turned to McGonagall. She pointed her to the Gryffindor table. "That's my house," she whispered in Annie's ear. "I'll talk to you later."
Annie collapsed into a seat next to a tousle-haired boy with a badge on his robes.
"Hi!" he said to her, smiling. "Paralee, isn't it?" He shook her hand.
Annie smiled. "And you..."
"Harry Potter. Nice to meet you." Annelise gaped at him. "Yeah, I know," he muttered. "It's me."
Annie closed her mouth. "Sorry...it's just...well....nevermind."
Harry eyed her strangely. "Um..okay. Hermione? Are you going to introduce yourself to Para?" A curly-haired girl looked at Annie.
"Oh! Hi! Wow, the first exchange student in HISTORY!" Hermione shook hands with her. "Hold on a minute, and I'll show you something..." She grabbed "Hogwarts, A History" out of her bag. "Aha!" She pointed to words that were slowly forming on a parchment page.
~
On November 30, 1996, Hogwarts accepted it's first exchange student, a girl who goes by the name of....
-"UH, Wow! Can I see that, Hermione?" Annie took the book from the table. The book finished it's entry.-
Paralee Cordelia Jensen. Miss Jensen was accepted from Beauxbatons Academy, where she was at the top of her class. She enjoys reading and writing stories.
~
Annelise exhaled. The book had kept her secret. Harry and Hermione looked at her.
"Para, are you okay?"
"Um..yeah...I'm just dandy!" Annelise begin nibbling away at her food. "So, what's the deal with you guys' badges?"
Hermione held her head high. (A/N-WOO! Alliteration! That whole sentence-uh-nevermind. Back to writing....)
"I'm the Head Girl, and Harry is Head Boy. What were your grades like back at Beauxbatons?"
"Top of the class," said Annie proudly.
"Then I'm sure you'll be made a prefect," said Harry. "So, what do you like to do for fun?"
Annelise thought a moment. "Well....I love singing. I'm related to Celestina Warbeck somehow..think we're second cousins, and she told me that she was gonna find SOME way for me to get a deal with Magikall Records."
"That's great!" Hermione exclaimed. "I wish I had a good voice."
Harry played with one of her curls. "Your voice sounds like angels to me." Hermione giggled, and Annelise made a gagging motion. A red-headed boy beside them laughed at Annie.
"Oh! Why, Ron, we haven't introduced you to Para! Paralee, this is Ron, our best friend. He's a prefect."
"Nice to meet you, Para," Ron shook her hand just as vigorously as the others. "Sorting Hat sure took a while with you, huh?"
*So that's what it's called.* "Yeah....told me some wierd stuff, too. Said I'll be causing a stir, somethin' like that..."
Ron's eyebrows dissappeared under his bangs. "Hmmm....said I'd be part of a trouble-making trio. Which is true." He, Ron, and Hermione exchanged high-fives. "But I think our trio has become larger...."
"One person larger," said Hermione, with a wink. "Paralee, how would you like to recieve many detentions and wierd looks from everyone?"
"I'd love it!" said Annelise. "On one condition...."
"What?" chimed three voices.
"That you'll show me around this humongous castle!" It was then that she caught Severus' eye.
He looked furious. Swallowing, Annie returned to her dinner.
~
Annelise stood at the end of a long corridor with Hermione the next day, who was going to Arithmancy while she was going to Muggle Studies.
"Okay. Go down this hall...take a right.....then take a left....then ask the mahogany door to "Please Open." Then go down the staircase, and there should be another door. That's the classroom."
Anenlise nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Herm."
"Anytime, Para. See you at lunch." Hermione ran down another corridor.
Paralee exhaled. "Okay....let's see. Go down this hall....." She walked down the hall. "Then take a right........" She found herself facing an extremely long hall. "Oh, I'll never make it in time." She took a right at the end of the hall, her eyes not on the "road".
FLUMP.
"Ouch!" said two voices. Annelise staggered, then fell back onto the carpet.
"Oh, I'm sorry...should have been watching where I was going." came a voice. Annelise looked up. A man was standing over her, with black hair, but it wasn't her father. This man had laughing blue eyes. "May I help you up....Ms. Jensen, isn't it?"
"Oh, don't call me that...just Paralee. I'm too young to be called Ms. Jensen!" Annie allowed the man to help her up, and when he took her arm, she felt...*Nonsense,* she thought, and brushed the feeling aside.
"I'm Professor Sirius Black...recently proved innocent. I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Are you looking for a classroom?"
"Yes, Muggle Studies. Hermione gave me directions, but...." She laughed. "I don't think I'm going the right way."
"As a matter of fact," said Professor Black, "You aren't. You should have taken a left back there...I'll escort you there, I don't have a class this hour."
"Thank you." They began walking down the other hall, silent for a while. Then Professor Black spoke up.
"Paralee, I knew your mother. And I happen to know your real name."
Annelise froze. "Sir, I-"
Black interrupted. "Annelise, I understand your position. You've had a hectic past month, with your mother passing away, learning your identity..." He shuddered. "Now, then. The classroom is right over there. Annie-" He paused. "Come to my office during your free hour. I'd like to talk to you."
Annie thought about it. "Okay. I'll be there." Then she entered the "exciting" world of Muggle Studies.
~
"Oh nooo....." moaned Annelise. Her next class was Potions. She had joined up with Hermione, Harry, and Ron after Muggle Studies.
"What's the matter?" asked Ron.
"It's Potions next....ooohhhh....." She buried her face in her hands. "How long is the class?"
"Today, just an hour." said Hermione. "Be careful. Snape HATES Gryffindors."
*Yeah, he also hates daughters who don't claim his last name. Or his ex-wife's first name.* "Oh. Uh. Well..."
"Just stay quiet," Harry advised. "He REALLY hates me." They entered the dark dungeon, where Ron and Annelise sat at a table, and Hermione and Harry sat behind them.
"Well...." said Snape. "If it isn't little Miss Jensen." Annelise cringed. "Our little Beauxbatons exchange student, Miss Paralee Cordelia JENSEN."
Annelise stuck her chin out. "Yes, Professor. We've established the fact that Para-LEE, Cordeli-A, Jen-SEN is my name." She pronounced the syllables loudly.
Snape sneered at his daughter. "Paralee, you had better watch your tounge in my classroom. Otherwise, you'll be faced with the consequences."
"I'm shaking in my shoes."
"You better be."
~
Needless to say, Potions was a disaster for Annelise. Snape kept on prowling around she and Ron, putting them both on edge. Their potion ended up being hot pink instead of the periwinkle it was supposed to be.
"PINK, Weasley. PINK, Jensen. May I ask why?" Snape stood up straight after looking in the cauldron. "Why is this potion PINK, Jensen?"
Annelise answered honestly. "I haven't the slightest clue, Professor. Why IS it pink?"
"Because you added the flobberworm tounge BEFORE the armadillo bile. It specifically states on page 51, bottom paragraph-"
Right here, both Annelise and Ron yawned at the same time.
"That's it! DETENTION! Sunday night!"
"Yippee!" said Annelise. "Where at?"
"Hagrid's backyard....also known as the Forbidden Forest. I'll arrange your detentions today."
By the end of class, Annelise was a hero to the Gryffindors - suprisingly, she didn't lose the house a single point. She didn't see WHY she didn't but.....anyways. She was glad when the dreary hour was finally over. "So," she said, when they got out of the classroom, "Where's the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom? I promised Professor Black that I'd talk to him during my free hour, which is now."
Harry smiled. "You've already gotten to know my godfather?"
"He's your godfather?"
"Yup. I was the one who reopened the case of my parent's murder this summer, to prove him innocent. I actually had to testify, too. But it was all worth it, because now I don't have to live with my aunt and uncle anymore....not that it matters, since I'll be eighteen in July. But it's still good, 'cause Sirius isn't on the run anymore."
"Yes," said Annelise, smiling. "Anyways, can you point me to his office?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "It's right here." He pointed to a door on their right.
"Oh! Thank you. I'll see you at dinner." Annelise knocked on the door. "Professor Black? It's Paralee Jensen."
The door opened. "Oh! Hi, Paralee. Come in. Hi, Harry. Would you like to stay for a few minutes?"
"Nah. I gotta get down to the Quidditch pitch...this is my free hour, too, and I have to practice. We're playing against the snakes on Saturday."
Sirius laughed. "Now, now, Harry. No name-calling."
Harry rolled his eyes, and answered him in a high-pitched, taunting voice. "Yes sir, Professor Black!" Then he saluted, and ran down the hall.
"No running either!" Sirius yelled down the hall. "Oy. When will he learn?"
Annie laughed. "Professor, you wanted to talk to me?"
"Ah, yes. Have a seat." He motioned to two red, plush chairs by a fireplace. "May I call you Annelise?"
"Of course. As long as you don't blow my cover."
Sirius smiled. "Nah. I can understand. Annelise....do you know much about your mother's school days?"
"No, sir." Annelise fingered her wand. "Mama.....she didn't talk about then a whole lot. She was sick a lot, too, and unable to talk."
"Sick?"
"She's never been healthy since a few years before Gabrielle's birth. Gabby's my little sister. She'll be four on Christmas Day." Annelise explained. "I miss her so much."
"I never knew she had another daughter."
"Yes...Gabrielle...she's practically MY daughter. Mother was so sick most of the time, it was I who taught her to walk.....to talk...." Annelise sniffed, and Sirius took her hand.
"I know it's hard. I had a sister too."
"You did?"
"Yes." Sirius nodded. "Only she and my parents were killed by Voldemort after I graduated."
Annelise looked at him, stunned. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. I'm actually glad...that way, they didn't have to see me go to Azkaban, and not know I was innocent.."
Annie spoke. "It had to have been hard."
"You'll never know," Sirius said quietly. "Sitting there in that cell, every day, with the dementors outside....knowing you were innocent...I wouldn't wish it on a guilty person."
"Not even Voldemort?"
"Well, him. But he's worse than guilty..he's.....he's.....there's no words."
"Agreed..."
"Anyways...Annie. I needed to talk to you about your mother. Since you don't know much about her, or your family, since Severus..." A wierd, harsh look came over his face at the mention of her father. "Anyways. First of all, you have a godfather. His name is Remus Lupin, and he was a really good friend to your mother. You also have a godmother; her name is Sarah Anne. Also, your mother happened to be someone's godmother...."
"Who?"
"Harry's. I'm his godfather. You're about two months older than him, by the way. Anyhow, neither of us were married at the time, because your mother was divorced, so Lily made us the godparents. I think she was trying to set us up, but I didn't really follow back then."
"You always had to explain stuff to Mama. She was blonde, you know."
Sirius laughed. "Yes, I do know. Anyways, sit back and hear the story of your mother's childhood....."
~
Flashback
~
"Potter, Andrews, Jensen, Black, Lupin, Parker, and Pettigrew! This makes your one hundreth detention in your school history! Andrews, Potter, you're Head Girl and Boy!"
"Can't tarnish our reputation, Professor McGonagall!" said James Potter, grinning.
"Jamie's right. Just 'cause we're the Heads doesn't mean we can drop all of our tricks," said Lily Andrews, grinning broadly.
"I totally agree with Lily," said Paralee Jensen. All of the other rule-breakers chimed in their agreements. They had just charmed the Slytherin common room to look like the Gryffindor one.
McGonagall held her head in her hands. She'd just started teaching, WHY did she have to deal with the likes of these seven? "You'll serve your detention on Sunday with....."
All the seniors crossed their fingers, thinking, *Please don't let it be Filch!*
"Hagrid."
Sirius let out a whoop, and then quieted at the others glaring at him.
"Dismissed," said McGonagall wearily. The kids trooped out to the hall.
"Phew! I thought we'd had it!" said Remus, wiping his brow.
"She did look kind of, er, mad." Pettigrew always added a bit here and there.
"Oh well," said Sarah Anne. "At least we made it out. For a minute, I thought we were toast!"
~
End Flashback
~
Sirius continued on. "That's how it was....the seven of us, always together....classes, Hogsmeade trips....midnight runs to the kitchen. You never saw us apart. But things began to change after school......
"Peter became distant, and never talked to us. Sarah Anne went to America to get a job. Your mother married Severus, because her parents made her. Annelise, she fought the thing all the way."
"Why did my grandparents make her? I've never met them, I don't know what they're like."
"Your grandparents, Annie, were into the Dark Arts. They were friends of Voldemort. Severus was a Death Eater back then, and Death Eaters recieve patronage from Voldemort. Your parents thought giving Severus a wife was a good idea.
"Cecelia was too young - she was only a sixth year at the time. So your parents offered Paralee to Severus...and he took the deal. And all of us were powerless to stop it. I remember that day..."
~
Flashback
~
"Paralee....Paralee.....what's wrong?" It was breakfast time on Monday morning, and Para had just recieved a letter by owl post. She looked as if she was in shock.
"No.....no. This cannot be happening. This CANNOT be happening!" Paralee screamed, burying her head in her arms. Lily put an arm around her.
"Para, what's happening?" As a reply, Para thrust out the letter.
-
Dear Paralee,
Our Lord decided yesterday it was time for his newest follower, Severus Snape, to recieve a "gift". Severus requested that he be offered a wife, to wed after graduation. We thought it would be a good idea if you had a solid future, and so we told the Lord about you. He longs to meet you, but since you are in school, it is foolish to try and get you here to the manor. Enclosed is a ring. You will need it; after all, you are engaged.
Your Parents,
Frederick and Canalee Jensen
-
Lily went white. "No. No way...." She shook Paralee's shoulders. "Para, you can't let them sell you into marriage like that! It's wrong!" Lily threw the envelope on the table, and heard a clatter. It was a ring, silver with a blood-red stone.
Paralee saw it. "I won't wear it," she whispered. "I won't. Lily...please. Get rid of it....make it go away...."
Obedient to her friend, Lily pointed her wand at the ring. "Crematus." The silver dissolved to ash. Lily tried in vain to comfort her friend, but nothing would calm Para from what lay ahead....
~
End Flashback
~
"My mother was sold into the marriage?" Annelise whispered.
"Yes, she was," said Sirius bitterly. "Paralee had no choice...." He looked at his watch. "Annelise, it's time for dinner. My, how time flies...Please meet me here tomorrow, and I'll tell you more of Paralee."
"Thank you," said Annelise. He touched her hand again, and that feeling occured again. Would it ever go away???
-
Chapter Three
By Alicia Jennings
~
The rest of the day passed in a flash for Annelise. One minute, she was talking to Minerva, the next, she was waiting to be introduced at dinner. McGonagall stood up at the staff table, and cleared her throat.
"May I have everyone's attention, please." A hush fell over the Great Hall. "I would like to introduce a transfer student from Beauxbatons, who will be in seventh year. Please welcome Paralee Cordelia Jensen."
Annie stepped into the Hall, and McGonagall motioned her to sit on a small stool. Then, a hat was put on her head. She thought it was strange that a hat should be put on her head, but then it started talking!
"It's standard procedure, dear. Welcome to Hogwarts!"
*Uhh....thanks. Why are you on my head?*
"There are four dormitories in which you can stay, Annelise, one for each founder of the school-"
Annelise interrupted, and thought back, *How do you know my real name?*
"I know lots of things. But I won't blow your cover. There is Slytherin for the ambitious, Gryffindor for the brave, Hufflepuff for the loyal, and Ravenclaw for the wise. Where will you go? Hmmm.....you're quite the troublemaker, I see. And you'll be causing quite a stir here this year."
Annelise didn't have the slightest clue what the hat meant by that.
"Hmmm....very brave...but very ambitious too...Gryffindor or Slytherin? They're rival houses....hmmm.....I think you shall be a GRYFFINDOR!"
Relieved that the hat had finally decided, Annelise turned to McGonagall. She pointed her to the Gryffindor table. "That's my house," she whispered in Annie's ear. "I'll talk to you later."
Annie collapsed into a seat next to a tousle-haired boy with a badge on his robes.
"Hi!" he said to her, smiling. "Paralee, isn't it?" He shook her hand.
Annie smiled. "And you..."
"Harry Potter. Nice to meet you." Annelise gaped at him. "Yeah, I know," he muttered. "It's me."
Annie closed her mouth. "Sorry...it's just...well....nevermind."
Harry eyed her strangely. "Um..okay. Hermione? Are you going to introduce yourself to Para?" A curly-haired girl looked at Annie.
"Oh! Hi! Wow, the first exchange student in HISTORY!" Hermione shook hands with her. "Hold on a minute, and I'll show you something..." She grabbed "Hogwarts, A History" out of her bag. "Aha!" She pointed to words that were slowly forming on a parchment page.
~
On November 30, 1996, Hogwarts accepted it's first exchange student, a girl who goes by the name of....
-"UH, Wow! Can I see that, Hermione?" Annie took the book from the table. The book finished it's entry.-
Paralee Cordelia Jensen. Miss Jensen was accepted from Beauxbatons Academy, where she was at the top of her class. She enjoys reading and writing stories.
~
Annelise exhaled. The book had kept her secret. Harry and Hermione looked at her.
"Para, are you okay?"
"Um..yeah...I'm just dandy!" Annelise begin nibbling away at her food. "So, what's the deal with you guys' badges?"
Hermione held her head high. (A/N-WOO! Alliteration! That whole sentence-uh-nevermind. Back to writing....)
"I'm the Head Girl, and Harry is Head Boy. What were your grades like back at Beauxbatons?"
"Top of the class," said Annie proudly.
"Then I'm sure you'll be made a prefect," said Harry. "So, what do you like to do for fun?"
Annelise thought a moment. "Well....I love singing. I'm related to Celestina Warbeck somehow..think we're second cousins, and she told me that she was gonna find SOME way for me to get a deal with Magikall Records."
"That's great!" Hermione exclaimed. "I wish I had a good voice."
Harry played with one of her curls. "Your voice sounds like angels to me." Hermione giggled, and Annelise made a gagging motion. A red-headed boy beside them laughed at Annie.
"Oh! Why, Ron, we haven't introduced you to Para! Paralee, this is Ron, our best friend. He's a prefect."
"Nice to meet you, Para," Ron shook her hand just as vigorously as the others. "Sorting Hat sure took a while with you, huh?"
*So that's what it's called.* "Yeah....told me some wierd stuff, too. Said I'll be causing a stir, somethin' like that..."
Ron's eyebrows dissappeared under his bangs. "Hmmm....said I'd be part of a trouble-making trio. Which is true." He, Ron, and Hermione exchanged high-fives. "But I think our trio has become larger...."
"One person larger," said Hermione, with a wink. "Paralee, how would you like to recieve many detentions and wierd looks from everyone?"
"I'd love it!" said Annelise. "On one condition...."
"What?" chimed three voices.
"That you'll show me around this humongous castle!" It was then that she caught Severus' eye.
He looked furious. Swallowing, Annie returned to her dinner.
~
Annelise stood at the end of a long corridor with Hermione the next day, who was going to Arithmancy while she was going to Muggle Studies.
"Okay. Go down this hall...take a right.....then take a left....then ask the mahogany door to "Please Open." Then go down the staircase, and there should be another door. That's the classroom."
Anenlise nodded. "Okay. Thanks, Herm."
"Anytime, Para. See you at lunch." Hermione ran down another corridor.
Paralee exhaled. "Okay....let's see. Go down this hall....." She walked down the hall. "Then take a right........" She found herself facing an extremely long hall. "Oh, I'll never make it in time." She took a right at the end of the hall, her eyes not on the "road".
FLUMP.
"Ouch!" said two voices. Annelise staggered, then fell back onto the carpet.
"Oh, I'm sorry...should have been watching where I was going." came a voice. Annelise looked up. A man was standing over her, with black hair, but it wasn't her father. This man had laughing blue eyes. "May I help you up....Ms. Jensen, isn't it?"
"Oh, don't call me that...just Paralee. I'm too young to be called Ms. Jensen!" Annie allowed the man to help her up, and when he took her arm, she felt...*Nonsense,* she thought, and brushed the feeling aside.
"I'm Professor Sirius Black...recently proved innocent. I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Are you looking for a classroom?"
"Yes, Muggle Studies. Hermione gave me directions, but...." She laughed. "I don't think I'm going the right way."
"As a matter of fact," said Professor Black, "You aren't. You should have taken a left back there...I'll escort you there, I don't have a class this hour."
"Thank you." They began walking down the other hall, silent for a while. Then Professor Black spoke up.
"Paralee, I knew your mother. And I happen to know your real name."
Annelise froze. "Sir, I-"
Black interrupted. "Annelise, I understand your position. You've had a hectic past month, with your mother passing away, learning your identity..." He shuddered. "Now, then. The classroom is right over there. Annie-" He paused. "Come to my office during your free hour. I'd like to talk to you."
Annie thought about it. "Okay. I'll be there." Then she entered the "exciting" world of Muggle Studies.
~
"Oh nooo....." moaned Annelise. Her next class was Potions. She had joined up with Hermione, Harry, and Ron after Muggle Studies.
"What's the matter?" asked Ron.
"It's Potions next....ooohhhh....." She buried her face in her hands. "How long is the class?"
"Today, just an hour." said Hermione. "Be careful. Snape HATES Gryffindors."
*Yeah, he also hates daughters who don't claim his last name. Or his ex-wife's first name.* "Oh. Uh. Well..."
"Just stay quiet," Harry advised. "He REALLY hates me." They entered the dark dungeon, where Ron and Annelise sat at a table, and Hermione and Harry sat behind them.
"Well...." said Snape. "If it isn't little Miss Jensen." Annelise cringed. "Our little Beauxbatons exchange student, Miss Paralee Cordelia JENSEN."
Annelise stuck her chin out. "Yes, Professor. We've established the fact that Para-LEE, Cordeli-A, Jen-SEN is my name." She pronounced the syllables loudly.
Snape sneered at his daughter. "Paralee, you had better watch your tounge in my classroom. Otherwise, you'll be faced with the consequences."
"I'm shaking in my shoes."
"You better be."
~
Needless to say, Potions was a disaster for Annelise. Snape kept on prowling around she and Ron, putting them both on edge. Their potion ended up being hot pink instead of the periwinkle it was supposed to be.
"PINK, Weasley. PINK, Jensen. May I ask why?" Snape stood up straight after looking in the cauldron. "Why is this potion PINK, Jensen?"
Annelise answered honestly. "I haven't the slightest clue, Professor. Why IS it pink?"
"Because you added the flobberworm tounge BEFORE the armadillo bile. It specifically states on page 51, bottom paragraph-"
Right here, both Annelise and Ron yawned at the same time.
"That's it! DETENTION! Sunday night!"
"Yippee!" said Annelise. "Where at?"
"Hagrid's backyard....also known as the Forbidden Forest. I'll arrange your detentions today."
By the end of class, Annelise was a hero to the Gryffindors - suprisingly, she didn't lose the house a single point. She didn't see WHY she didn't but.....anyways. She was glad when the dreary hour was finally over. "So," she said, when they got out of the classroom, "Where's the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom? I promised Professor Black that I'd talk to him during my free hour, which is now."
Harry smiled. "You've already gotten to know my godfather?"
"He's your godfather?"
"Yup. I was the one who reopened the case of my parent's murder this summer, to prove him innocent. I actually had to testify, too. But it was all worth it, because now I don't have to live with my aunt and uncle anymore....not that it matters, since I'll be eighteen in July. But it's still good, 'cause Sirius isn't on the run anymore."
"Yes," said Annelise, smiling. "Anyways, can you point me to his office?"
"Yeah," said Harry. "It's right here." He pointed to a door on their right.
"Oh! Thank you. I'll see you at dinner." Annelise knocked on the door. "Professor Black? It's Paralee Jensen."
The door opened. "Oh! Hi, Paralee. Come in. Hi, Harry. Would you like to stay for a few minutes?"
"Nah. I gotta get down to the Quidditch pitch...this is my free hour, too, and I have to practice. We're playing against the snakes on Saturday."
Sirius laughed. "Now, now, Harry. No name-calling."
Harry rolled his eyes, and answered him in a high-pitched, taunting voice. "Yes sir, Professor Black!" Then he saluted, and ran down the hall.
"No running either!" Sirius yelled down the hall. "Oy. When will he learn?"
Annie laughed. "Professor, you wanted to talk to me?"
"Ah, yes. Have a seat." He motioned to two red, plush chairs by a fireplace. "May I call you Annelise?"
"Of course. As long as you don't blow my cover."
Sirius smiled. "Nah. I can understand. Annelise....do you know much about your mother's school days?"
"No, sir." Annelise fingered her wand. "Mama.....she didn't talk about then a whole lot. She was sick a lot, too, and unable to talk."
"Sick?"
"She's never been healthy since a few years before Gabrielle's birth. Gabby's my little sister. She'll be four on Christmas Day." Annelise explained. "I miss her so much."
"I never knew she had another daughter."
"Yes...Gabrielle...she's practically MY daughter. Mother was so sick most of the time, it was I who taught her to walk.....to talk...." Annelise sniffed, and Sirius took her hand.
"I know it's hard. I had a sister too."
"You did?"
"Yes." Sirius nodded. "Only she and my parents were killed by Voldemort after I graduated."
Annelise looked at him, stunned. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay. I'm actually glad...that way, they didn't have to see me go to Azkaban, and not know I was innocent.."
Annie spoke. "It had to have been hard."
"You'll never know," Sirius said quietly. "Sitting there in that cell, every day, with the dementors outside....knowing you were innocent...I wouldn't wish it on a guilty person."
"Not even Voldemort?"
"Well, him. But he's worse than guilty..he's.....he's.....there's no words."
"Agreed..."
"Anyways...Annie. I needed to talk to you about your mother. Since you don't know much about her, or your family, since Severus..." A wierd, harsh look came over his face at the mention of her father. "Anyways. First of all, you have a godfather. His name is Remus Lupin, and he was a really good friend to your mother. You also have a godmother; her name is Sarah Anne. Also, your mother happened to be someone's godmother...."
"Who?"
"Harry's. I'm his godfather. You're about two months older than him, by the way. Anyhow, neither of us were married at the time, because your mother was divorced, so Lily made us the godparents. I think she was trying to set us up, but I didn't really follow back then."
"You always had to explain stuff to Mama. She was blonde, you know."
Sirius laughed. "Yes, I do know. Anyways, sit back and hear the story of your mother's childhood....."
~
Flashback
~
"Potter, Andrews, Jensen, Black, Lupin, Parker, and Pettigrew! This makes your one hundreth detention in your school history! Andrews, Potter, you're Head Girl and Boy!"
"Can't tarnish our reputation, Professor McGonagall!" said James Potter, grinning.
"Jamie's right. Just 'cause we're the Heads doesn't mean we can drop all of our tricks," said Lily Andrews, grinning broadly.
"I totally agree with Lily," said Paralee Jensen. All of the other rule-breakers chimed in their agreements. They had just charmed the Slytherin common room to look like the Gryffindor one.
McGonagall held her head in her hands. She'd just started teaching, WHY did she have to deal with the likes of these seven? "You'll serve your detention on Sunday with....."
All the seniors crossed their fingers, thinking, *Please don't let it be Filch!*
"Hagrid."
Sirius let out a whoop, and then quieted at the others glaring at him.
"Dismissed," said McGonagall wearily. The kids trooped out to the hall.
"Phew! I thought we'd had it!" said Remus, wiping his brow.
"She did look kind of, er, mad." Pettigrew always added a bit here and there.
"Oh well," said Sarah Anne. "At least we made it out. For a minute, I thought we were toast!"
~
End Flashback
~
Sirius continued on. "That's how it was....the seven of us, always together....classes, Hogsmeade trips....midnight runs to the kitchen. You never saw us apart. But things began to change after school......
"Peter became distant, and never talked to us. Sarah Anne went to America to get a job. Your mother married Severus, because her parents made her. Annelise, she fought the thing all the way."
"Why did my grandparents make her? I've never met them, I don't know what they're like."
"Your grandparents, Annie, were into the Dark Arts. They were friends of Voldemort. Severus was a Death Eater back then, and Death Eaters recieve patronage from Voldemort. Your parents thought giving Severus a wife was a good idea.
"Cecelia was too young - she was only a sixth year at the time. So your parents offered Paralee to Severus...and he took the deal. And all of us were powerless to stop it. I remember that day..."
~
Flashback
~
"Paralee....Paralee.....what's wrong?" It was breakfast time on Monday morning, and Para had just recieved a letter by owl post. She looked as if she was in shock.
"No.....no. This cannot be happening. This CANNOT be happening!" Paralee screamed, burying her head in her arms. Lily put an arm around her.
"Para, what's happening?" As a reply, Para thrust out the letter.
-
Dear Paralee,
Our Lord decided yesterday it was time for his newest follower, Severus Snape, to recieve a "gift". Severus requested that he be offered a wife, to wed after graduation. We thought it would be a good idea if you had a solid future, and so we told the Lord about you. He longs to meet you, but since you are in school, it is foolish to try and get you here to the manor. Enclosed is a ring. You will need it; after all, you are engaged.
Your Parents,
Frederick and Canalee Jensen
-
Lily went white. "No. No way...." She shook Paralee's shoulders. "Para, you can't let them sell you into marriage like that! It's wrong!" Lily threw the envelope on the table, and heard a clatter. It was a ring, silver with a blood-red stone.
Paralee saw it. "I won't wear it," she whispered. "I won't. Lily...please. Get rid of it....make it go away...."
Obedient to her friend, Lily pointed her wand at the ring. "Crematus." The silver dissolved to ash. Lily tried in vain to comfort her friend, but nothing would calm Para from what lay ahead....
~
End Flashback
~
"My mother was sold into the marriage?" Annelise whispered.
"Yes, she was," said Sirius bitterly. "Paralee had no choice...." He looked at his watch. "Annelise, it's time for dinner. My, how time flies...Please meet me here tomorrow, and I'll tell you more of Paralee."
"Thank you," said Annelise. He touched her hand again, and that feeling occured again. Would it ever go away???
-
