The next day in the common room Ron punched the air. "YES! I made
callbacks!" he shouted. "And....uh....so did you Anna." He casually pointed
out to her.
"Looks like we're going to be rivals for a while." She said just as casually.
"Er.....Yeah." he was now desperately trying to keep cool.
"Incase you haven't noticed," Hermione interrupted, "You're not the only ones. There's a sixth year too."
Ron chose to ignore her "Harry when do we have to be at the field?" he asked.
"Four o'clock." Harry said.
Hours came and went and the classes flew by. At three o'clock they went back up to work on the Family tree project for History of Magic, which would be due in just a few days on Halloween.
"Anna, how are you getting your information?" Hermione asked.
"I've sent letters to my old orphanages asking for some records." She simply replied.
"Oh." Hermione said and left it at that.
Fortunately for Harry he had gone to Mcgonagall and given him some of the school records so he was all set.
Ten minutes before three everyone in the common room started to empty out and head onto the Qudditch field, Harry included.
When he had gotten to the field the rest of the team was already there waiting for him and a minute later Ron, Anna, and Mark also strode up to them.
"Ok," Harry addressed them, "Here's the deal. I think this time twenty-five shots will be taken on you each. We have already seen you fly so that's the only thing we will test you on. Ok lets fly." And Harry mounted his broom and flew over to one set of goal posts closely followed by the rest of the teams and the trio.
"Ron? Care to go first?" Harry asked.
"Well ok." He said, and took his position.
"You three can take turns shooting." He said to the chasers. "Go!"
One shot after another was hurled after Ron and he did a pretty spectacular job of blocking them. He dived left and right and blocked almost everyone. His final score was twenty-three out of twenty five.
The next contestant was Mark Gombus he didn't seem at all as sure about himself as Ron was. And it showed. He looked a complete wreck as he headed toward the goal posts. And it affected his performance. He got a sixteen. The team silently agreed he was out of the running.
Last Anna was up. She very calm, the exact opposite of Mark. When the chasers started to shoot at her she looked as if she had been a keeper all her life. Her talent was clearly natural. Twenty-four out of twenty-five.
"Twenty-four." Harry whispered to his teammates. "I think we have a winner."
***
The rest of the day Ron did not speak to Anna or the following day. He rather moped around the place sulking. Anna seemed almost embarrassed and would avoid his gaze. It seemed to Harry that she was upset about Ron being upset. Hermione keep trying to get Ron to say something but he continued to be cold so she eventually gave up.
Halloween came and the four turned in their family trees to Professor Binns. Harry didn't think he did so good he didn't get nearly as much information as Ron and Hermione, then again, they had actual families. Anna seemed to have gotten about as much information as he did, possibly a bit more.
The Halloween feast was its usual there was a cloud of live bats fluttering against the navy blue that was the night sky, an occasional flicker of a shooting star crossed it's path. And as usual there were many large pumpkins grown by Hagrid floating above them bearing candles. They had a good meal and Ron seemed to forget that he was upset about not making team because he was chatting happily to Anna again. All four of them were about to get up to go back to the dormitory when Sirius (in dog form of course) trotted over to him, a piece if parchment in his mouth.
Harry took the parchment and read. Hermione and Ron read over his shoulder but Anna, who looked nervous, backed away from the dog:
Harry,
Meet me after defense against the dark arts tomorrow, we need to talk.
Harry shoved the note in his pocket and nodded to Sirius that he would. Then they made their way back up to the dormitory.
Harry felt very apprehensive that night and didn't really sleep much. He was to busy worrying about what Sirius wanted to talk to him about. Sirius wasn't usually one to be a bearer of good news, not that it was his fault. But Harry still couldn't help but worrying and it was hours until he fell asleep.
***
Harry woke up the next morning with Ron poking him in the shoulder.
"Haaaarry! Time to get up! Professor Sprout is waiting!" Ron said.
Harry grumbled, pushed himself out of bed, and then made his way over to his dresser to get dressed. A minute later he and Ron met Hermione and Anna in the common room and they left for Herbology.
They had finished with Scuppernongs a while ago and were now working on a giant plant called the Anarkhila. An Anarkhila was a giant plant with a long green steam (up to seven feet high) and the flower on top closely resembled that of a sunflower except it seemed to glow very radiantly and its face would always point towards the sun. They're leaves were actually very sturdy and would not bend under the weight of a full-grown person. Which was just as well because today they were to be de-seeding them. Meaning, they were to be climbing up a plant and picking all the rotten seeds out (they turned a nasty purple-green mix when they were rotten).
While Harry and Ron were halfway up climbing a plant Ron leaned in and whispered to Harry. " Harry, you don't reckon we should tell Anna about Sirius do you?"
"I don't know. If we did we should ask Dumbledore first." Harry replied.
Ron nodded in agreement as they reached the top. They each picked a handful of seeds before sliding back down the stem and allowing Hermione and Anna to climb it.
After Herbology was over Transfiguration flashed past. It was quite boring sitting there saying the incantation to turn a quill into an owl over and over. After that they were in for a treat with potions. There, Snape had decided to take a break with transforming potions (after the upset with Hermione's) and decided to start the Silent Solution early though he assured them that they would come back to it sometime after Christmas. Potions, unlike Transfiguration and Herbology, passed slower than ever. Yet eventually it did pass and they made their way towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom.
Professor Lupin greeted them cheerfully and Harry tried to greet him as cheerfully as he could back but his head was to busy scanning the room for any sign of Sirius. Finally he spotted him sleeping under the desk. Lupin's class didn't pass all to quickly either. Harry didn't listen to a word Lupin said about stunning spells. He was definitely too distracted. After an hour of tapping his foot and staring out the window Harry noticed that the class was packing up. Apparently he no longer had to wait.
Anna seemed in a particular hurry "I'll meet you guys back in the dormitory shall I?" she rushed.
"Um...yeah." Harry said and waved.
Harry waited until the whole class was gone then he approached Professor Lupin's desk as Sirius emerged from it.
"I'll leave you all alone." Professor Lupin said and smiled. "But first..." He waved his wand s and window curtains appeared and covered the windows. "There you are." He said and left.
Sirius slowly morphed back into dog form. "Hello Harry." He said and smiled. "Ron, Hermione." He agnowledged them.
"What did you need to tell us about Sirius?" Harry asked extremely curiously.
"Well," He started. It seemed to Harry that he didn't know quite how to but it into words. "Well, I have some suspicions about someone." He looked nervous.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Anna." Said Sirius.
"Anna?" All three of them echoed.
"Yeah. Guys, I don't know about her. There is something extremely odd about that kid." He explained.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"I'm really don't know. But every time she looks at me I get the feeling that she can see right through me. I think she knows who I am." He said now looking very concerned.
"I don't get that feeling." Harry said.
"How much do you know about her?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Well, I know your friends with her. That's really all." Sirius said.
"Well....." Hermione started. She continued to explain everything that she knew about Anna's past to Sirius.
"Hmmmm." Sirius said thoughtfully. "Interesting. Well all I really needed to tell you was to watch out. Just be a little suspicious of her okay? She seems like a nice kid but just...keep your eyes open. Okay?"
"Okay." they all agreed, then said good bye to Sirius and left the classroom.
"Looks like we're going to be rivals for a while." She said just as casually.
"Er.....Yeah." he was now desperately trying to keep cool.
"Incase you haven't noticed," Hermione interrupted, "You're not the only ones. There's a sixth year too."
Ron chose to ignore her "Harry when do we have to be at the field?" he asked.
"Four o'clock." Harry said.
Hours came and went and the classes flew by. At three o'clock they went back up to work on the Family tree project for History of Magic, which would be due in just a few days on Halloween.
"Anna, how are you getting your information?" Hermione asked.
"I've sent letters to my old orphanages asking for some records." She simply replied.
"Oh." Hermione said and left it at that.
Fortunately for Harry he had gone to Mcgonagall and given him some of the school records so he was all set.
Ten minutes before three everyone in the common room started to empty out and head onto the Qudditch field, Harry included.
When he had gotten to the field the rest of the team was already there waiting for him and a minute later Ron, Anna, and Mark also strode up to them.
"Ok," Harry addressed them, "Here's the deal. I think this time twenty-five shots will be taken on you each. We have already seen you fly so that's the only thing we will test you on. Ok lets fly." And Harry mounted his broom and flew over to one set of goal posts closely followed by the rest of the teams and the trio.
"Ron? Care to go first?" Harry asked.
"Well ok." He said, and took his position.
"You three can take turns shooting." He said to the chasers. "Go!"
One shot after another was hurled after Ron and he did a pretty spectacular job of blocking them. He dived left and right and blocked almost everyone. His final score was twenty-three out of twenty five.
The next contestant was Mark Gombus he didn't seem at all as sure about himself as Ron was. And it showed. He looked a complete wreck as he headed toward the goal posts. And it affected his performance. He got a sixteen. The team silently agreed he was out of the running.
Last Anna was up. She very calm, the exact opposite of Mark. When the chasers started to shoot at her she looked as if she had been a keeper all her life. Her talent was clearly natural. Twenty-four out of twenty-five.
"Twenty-four." Harry whispered to his teammates. "I think we have a winner."
***
The rest of the day Ron did not speak to Anna or the following day. He rather moped around the place sulking. Anna seemed almost embarrassed and would avoid his gaze. It seemed to Harry that she was upset about Ron being upset. Hermione keep trying to get Ron to say something but he continued to be cold so she eventually gave up.
Halloween came and the four turned in their family trees to Professor Binns. Harry didn't think he did so good he didn't get nearly as much information as Ron and Hermione, then again, they had actual families. Anna seemed to have gotten about as much information as he did, possibly a bit more.
The Halloween feast was its usual there was a cloud of live bats fluttering against the navy blue that was the night sky, an occasional flicker of a shooting star crossed it's path. And as usual there were many large pumpkins grown by Hagrid floating above them bearing candles. They had a good meal and Ron seemed to forget that he was upset about not making team because he was chatting happily to Anna again. All four of them were about to get up to go back to the dormitory when Sirius (in dog form of course) trotted over to him, a piece if parchment in his mouth.
Harry took the parchment and read. Hermione and Ron read over his shoulder but Anna, who looked nervous, backed away from the dog:
Harry,
Meet me after defense against the dark arts tomorrow, we need to talk.
Harry shoved the note in his pocket and nodded to Sirius that he would. Then they made their way back up to the dormitory.
Harry felt very apprehensive that night and didn't really sleep much. He was to busy worrying about what Sirius wanted to talk to him about. Sirius wasn't usually one to be a bearer of good news, not that it was his fault. But Harry still couldn't help but worrying and it was hours until he fell asleep.
***
Harry woke up the next morning with Ron poking him in the shoulder.
"Haaaarry! Time to get up! Professor Sprout is waiting!" Ron said.
Harry grumbled, pushed himself out of bed, and then made his way over to his dresser to get dressed. A minute later he and Ron met Hermione and Anna in the common room and they left for Herbology.
They had finished with Scuppernongs a while ago and were now working on a giant plant called the Anarkhila. An Anarkhila was a giant plant with a long green steam (up to seven feet high) and the flower on top closely resembled that of a sunflower except it seemed to glow very radiantly and its face would always point towards the sun. They're leaves were actually very sturdy and would not bend under the weight of a full-grown person. Which was just as well because today they were to be de-seeding them. Meaning, they were to be climbing up a plant and picking all the rotten seeds out (they turned a nasty purple-green mix when they were rotten).
While Harry and Ron were halfway up climbing a plant Ron leaned in and whispered to Harry. " Harry, you don't reckon we should tell Anna about Sirius do you?"
"I don't know. If we did we should ask Dumbledore first." Harry replied.
Ron nodded in agreement as they reached the top. They each picked a handful of seeds before sliding back down the stem and allowing Hermione and Anna to climb it.
After Herbology was over Transfiguration flashed past. It was quite boring sitting there saying the incantation to turn a quill into an owl over and over. After that they were in for a treat with potions. There, Snape had decided to take a break with transforming potions (after the upset with Hermione's) and decided to start the Silent Solution early though he assured them that they would come back to it sometime after Christmas. Potions, unlike Transfiguration and Herbology, passed slower than ever. Yet eventually it did pass and they made their way towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom.
Professor Lupin greeted them cheerfully and Harry tried to greet him as cheerfully as he could back but his head was to busy scanning the room for any sign of Sirius. Finally he spotted him sleeping under the desk. Lupin's class didn't pass all to quickly either. Harry didn't listen to a word Lupin said about stunning spells. He was definitely too distracted. After an hour of tapping his foot and staring out the window Harry noticed that the class was packing up. Apparently he no longer had to wait.
Anna seemed in a particular hurry "I'll meet you guys back in the dormitory shall I?" she rushed.
"Um...yeah." Harry said and waved.
Harry waited until the whole class was gone then he approached Professor Lupin's desk as Sirius emerged from it.
"I'll leave you all alone." Professor Lupin said and smiled. "But first..." He waved his wand s and window curtains appeared and covered the windows. "There you are." He said and left.
Sirius slowly morphed back into dog form. "Hello Harry." He said and smiled. "Ron, Hermione." He agnowledged them.
"What did you need to tell us about Sirius?" Harry asked extremely curiously.
"Well," He started. It seemed to Harry that he didn't know quite how to but it into words. "Well, I have some suspicions about someone." He looked nervous.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Anna." Said Sirius.
"Anna?" All three of them echoed.
"Yeah. Guys, I don't know about her. There is something extremely odd about that kid." He explained.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"I'm really don't know. But every time she looks at me I get the feeling that she can see right through me. I think she knows who I am." He said now looking very concerned.
"I don't get that feeling." Harry said.
"How much do you know about her?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Well, I know your friends with her. That's really all." Sirius said.
"Well....." Hermione started. She continued to explain everything that she knew about Anna's past to Sirius.
"Hmmmm." Sirius said thoughtfully. "Interesting. Well all I really needed to tell you was to watch out. Just be a little suspicious of her okay? She seems like a nice kid but just...keep your eyes open. Okay?"
"Okay." they all agreed, then said good bye to Sirius and left the classroom.