"H-Hi Anna." Ron said cautiously as they entered the common room the
next day.
"Hi." Anna said glancing around and feeling the tension in the air. "Um...is anything wrong?" She asked skeptically.
"No." Hermione said quickly.
"Ok." Anna said. Harry could tell by the look on her face that she did not believe them.
"Um..." Harry cut in, "let's get some homework done." And he sat down beside Anna.
***
A few days later at dinner, Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. "Excuse me!" He said. "I have an announcement to make!" Everyone stopped talking. "Thank you. Now it is my pleasure to announce that since it was such a huge hit last year, the Yule ball will again be taking place this Christmas." Most people cheered and some giggles broke out. "Once again it will be open to fourth years and above but if you would like to invite a younger student that is fine. Also I will be inviting back some students from Beaxbaton and Durmstrang."
At this Hermione went pink.
Ron quickly noticed this. "What? Are you worried that Vicky won't invite you again?" Ron said to her.
"I told you not to call him Vicky. And for your information he has invited me already." She snapped.
Anna looked a bit confused. "Who is this 'Vicky'?" She asked.
"Hermione's boyfriend." Harry said shortly.
"Viktor Krum!" Ron exclaimed.
"No way!" said Anna. "Viktor Krum? Really"
Hermione nodded and continued to stare at her food while spooning mashed potatoes into her mouth.
"Hey Hermione," Ron looked at her slyly. "You didn't deny that he's your boyfriend." He grinned.
Hermione chose to ignore this and continued eating.
"Oh no Ron," Harry started, "This means we have to find dates again."
Ron just shrugged.
"You're not thinking of asking Fleur again are you?" Harry teased him.
Ron choked on his chicken and then turned the color of his hair. "No!" He said quickly.
Harry and Hermione started to laugh. Once again Anna looked puzzled.
"I'm SERIOUS!" Ron yelled at them. "Long story, don't ask." He added to Anna.
"Okay, okay." Hermione said, "You don't tease me, I don't tease you."
***
Christmas was only a few days away and a bit fewer people had signed up to stay over the holidays as last year. But it was still more than the years before. Harry of course had signed up to stay and Ron and Hermione with him. Anna was to be staying as well. Harry figured she, like him, had nowhere else to go and he pitied her. The teachers had given her the usual pile of work for the break, all except Professor Binns who, thankfully, was giving them an actual break after their long and tiresome family trees.
During potions that day Professor Snape announced that they would be returning to Transforming potions early. Everybody (yes even the Slytherins) booed at this. Most likely they were sick of being turned into various animals.
Today's animal would be the Eagle. They spent the whole class preparing the potion and did not get around to using it so Professor Snape put them all in a freezing spell to save for the next class.
In Herbology, the next class of the day, they worked yet again on the Ararkhilas, picking seeds from it and putting them in a jar. Harry, Ron, and Anna were having a contest to see who could jump and reach the highest leaf. Anna won every time. Hermione, being very serious about classes, chose not to participate and scowled at them.
Their last class of the day was the ever-popular History of Magic. Where Professor Binns droned on and on about, well, history of magic, boring all the class to sleep. Except for Hermione who was furiously taking notes and Anna who was doodling on her parchment, drawing various animals. Harry and Ron actually fell asleep on top of their books. It was amazing how Professor Binns seemed not to notice. He apparently didn't care.
Harry was woken by Anna at the end of class shaking his arm, "Come on, class is over." She said. Hermione was next to her having difficulty waking Ron.
By the time Ron was up and gathering his books nearly all the class was out except for the four.
Professor Binns looked up from floating behind his desk. "Harry, Anna, I've been meaning to see you."
"Uh.. Yes Professor?" Harry said.
"You'll need to follow me." He paused. "Um..maybe, Ron and Hermione, you better join us." He floated out the door of the classroom and all four of them followed behind the ghost Professor.
Each of them glanced at the other in turn and continued to follow him. None knew what this was about.
After a minute they reached the stone statue that Harry recognized was Dumbledore's Office. Professor Binns shouted "Fizzing Whizbees!" and it sprang aside to reveal a spiral stone staircase. They all got on (except for Binns who floated above into the ceiling ahead of them.) and the staircase began to move upwards.
When they reached the top Harry knocked on the door. "Come in." Said Dumbledore.
Harry opened the door and proceeded in followed by the rest. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, Professors Binns, Lupin, and Mcgonagal were standing beside him. Snuffles was standing at Professor Lupin's feet, he barked when he saw Harry. A smile was on each of their faces.
"Harry and Anna," He addressed them "You might want to take a seat."
Extremely puzzled, Harry and Anna sat down in the two seats in front of the desk. Hermione and Ron stood at the shoulder of each chair.
"Well," Dumbledore started, "Where to begin. Oh yes, Professor Binns has recently showed my your Family trees."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Well, I noticed something very interesting on your's Harry, and your's as well Anna."
Everyone just stared and waited for him to continue.
But Anna broke the silence first, "And that was....?"
" I have discovered," Dumbledore continued slowly, building the suspense. "That you two," He motioned to Harry and Anna. "Are very distant...." He paused again building even more suspense. "Cousins." He finished.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Anna's mouth's all dropped simultaneously.
"We...w-what?" Harry said.
"I believe you heard me correctly Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "Distant cousins. On your father's side." He smiled.
"Are you sure?" Anna said breathlessly.
"Positive." Dumbledore said.
Harry looked behind him; he could see a small tear running down Hermione's cheek. Ron was looking from Dumbledore to Harry to Anna, not blinking.
Professor Mcgonagall was crying as well. "Oh!" She burst out, "This is so wonderful for you two!" She wiped her eyes with a tissue, and then blew her nose and headed out the door.
"Any questions?" Dumbledore asked them.
Harry and Anna shook their heads.
"Alright then you are dismissed." He smiled.
All four walked out the door and headed back to common room in silence. When they had reached the common room and the portrait of the fat lady swung open to admit them.
"HERE THEY ARE!" Fred shouted.
"Congratulations guys!" George said as Anna and Harry entered.
"Um...thanks." Harry said glancing around. Food was laid out on the tables, for the Weasly twins any excuse was a good enough for a party.
"Mcgonagal just told us the news!" The Weasly twin's friend Lee Jordan said.
By ten thirty at night no one got any homework done at all, even Hermione, she was too busy enjoying herself. The party was now dying down and most people had headed up top their dormitories.
"Well, I'm going to bed." Hermione announced. Then she hugged both Harry and Anna. "I am so happy for you two!" she said and ran up the stairs in tears.
"I am too." Ron said shortly and he smiled at them both then clapped them each on the back.
Anna turned to Harry, "I'm really happy too, Harry." She said then hugged him.
Harry smiled, "Me too." He said and hugged her back.
"Hi." Anna said glancing around and feeling the tension in the air. "Um...is anything wrong?" She asked skeptically.
"No." Hermione said quickly.
"Ok." Anna said. Harry could tell by the look on her face that she did not believe them.
"Um..." Harry cut in, "let's get some homework done." And he sat down beside Anna.
***
A few days later at dinner, Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. "Excuse me!" He said. "I have an announcement to make!" Everyone stopped talking. "Thank you. Now it is my pleasure to announce that since it was such a huge hit last year, the Yule ball will again be taking place this Christmas." Most people cheered and some giggles broke out. "Once again it will be open to fourth years and above but if you would like to invite a younger student that is fine. Also I will be inviting back some students from Beaxbaton and Durmstrang."
At this Hermione went pink.
Ron quickly noticed this. "What? Are you worried that Vicky won't invite you again?" Ron said to her.
"I told you not to call him Vicky. And for your information he has invited me already." She snapped.
Anna looked a bit confused. "Who is this 'Vicky'?" She asked.
"Hermione's boyfriend." Harry said shortly.
"Viktor Krum!" Ron exclaimed.
"No way!" said Anna. "Viktor Krum? Really"
Hermione nodded and continued to stare at her food while spooning mashed potatoes into her mouth.
"Hey Hermione," Ron looked at her slyly. "You didn't deny that he's your boyfriend." He grinned.
Hermione chose to ignore this and continued eating.
"Oh no Ron," Harry started, "This means we have to find dates again."
Ron just shrugged.
"You're not thinking of asking Fleur again are you?" Harry teased him.
Ron choked on his chicken and then turned the color of his hair. "No!" He said quickly.
Harry and Hermione started to laugh. Once again Anna looked puzzled.
"I'm SERIOUS!" Ron yelled at them. "Long story, don't ask." He added to Anna.
"Okay, okay." Hermione said, "You don't tease me, I don't tease you."
***
Christmas was only a few days away and a bit fewer people had signed up to stay over the holidays as last year. But it was still more than the years before. Harry of course had signed up to stay and Ron and Hermione with him. Anna was to be staying as well. Harry figured she, like him, had nowhere else to go and he pitied her. The teachers had given her the usual pile of work for the break, all except Professor Binns who, thankfully, was giving them an actual break after their long and tiresome family trees.
During potions that day Professor Snape announced that they would be returning to Transforming potions early. Everybody (yes even the Slytherins) booed at this. Most likely they were sick of being turned into various animals.
Today's animal would be the Eagle. They spent the whole class preparing the potion and did not get around to using it so Professor Snape put them all in a freezing spell to save for the next class.
In Herbology, the next class of the day, they worked yet again on the Ararkhilas, picking seeds from it and putting them in a jar. Harry, Ron, and Anna were having a contest to see who could jump and reach the highest leaf. Anna won every time. Hermione, being very serious about classes, chose not to participate and scowled at them.
Their last class of the day was the ever-popular History of Magic. Where Professor Binns droned on and on about, well, history of magic, boring all the class to sleep. Except for Hermione who was furiously taking notes and Anna who was doodling on her parchment, drawing various animals. Harry and Ron actually fell asleep on top of their books. It was amazing how Professor Binns seemed not to notice. He apparently didn't care.
Harry was woken by Anna at the end of class shaking his arm, "Come on, class is over." She said. Hermione was next to her having difficulty waking Ron.
By the time Ron was up and gathering his books nearly all the class was out except for the four.
Professor Binns looked up from floating behind his desk. "Harry, Anna, I've been meaning to see you."
"Uh.. Yes Professor?" Harry said.
"You'll need to follow me." He paused. "Um..maybe, Ron and Hermione, you better join us." He floated out the door of the classroom and all four of them followed behind the ghost Professor.
Each of them glanced at the other in turn and continued to follow him. None knew what this was about.
After a minute they reached the stone statue that Harry recognized was Dumbledore's Office. Professor Binns shouted "Fizzing Whizbees!" and it sprang aside to reveal a spiral stone staircase. They all got on (except for Binns who floated above into the ceiling ahead of them.) and the staircase began to move upwards.
When they reached the top Harry knocked on the door. "Come in." Said Dumbledore.
Harry opened the door and proceeded in followed by the rest. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, Professors Binns, Lupin, and Mcgonagal were standing beside him. Snuffles was standing at Professor Lupin's feet, he barked when he saw Harry. A smile was on each of their faces.
"Harry and Anna," He addressed them "You might want to take a seat."
Extremely puzzled, Harry and Anna sat down in the two seats in front of the desk. Hermione and Ron stood at the shoulder of each chair.
"Well," Dumbledore started, "Where to begin. Oh yes, Professor Binns has recently showed my your Family trees."
"Why?" Harry asked.
"Well, I noticed something very interesting on your's Harry, and your's as well Anna."
Everyone just stared and waited for him to continue.
But Anna broke the silence first, "And that was....?"
" I have discovered," Dumbledore continued slowly, building the suspense. "That you two," He motioned to Harry and Anna. "Are very distant...." He paused again building even more suspense. "Cousins." He finished.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Anna's mouth's all dropped simultaneously.
"We...w-what?" Harry said.
"I believe you heard me correctly Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "Distant cousins. On your father's side." He smiled.
"Are you sure?" Anna said breathlessly.
"Positive." Dumbledore said.
Harry looked behind him; he could see a small tear running down Hermione's cheek. Ron was looking from Dumbledore to Harry to Anna, not blinking.
Professor Mcgonagall was crying as well. "Oh!" She burst out, "This is so wonderful for you two!" She wiped her eyes with a tissue, and then blew her nose and headed out the door.
"Any questions?" Dumbledore asked them.
Harry and Anna shook their heads.
"Alright then you are dismissed." He smiled.
All four walked out the door and headed back to common room in silence. When they had reached the common room and the portrait of the fat lady swung open to admit them.
"HERE THEY ARE!" Fred shouted.
"Congratulations guys!" George said as Anna and Harry entered.
"Um...thanks." Harry said glancing around. Food was laid out on the tables, for the Weasly twins any excuse was a good enough for a party.
"Mcgonagal just told us the news!" The Weasly twin's friend Lee Jordan said.
By ten thirty at night no one got any homework done at all, even Hermione, she was too busy enjoying herself. The party was now dying down and most people had headed up top their dormitories.
"Well, I'm going to bed." Hermione announced. Then she hugged both Harry and Anna. "I am so happy for you two!" she said and ran up the stairs in tears.
"I am too." Ron said shortly and he smiled at them both then clapped them each on the back.
Anna turned to Harry, "I'm really happy too, Harry." She said then hugged him.
Harry smiled, "Me too." He said and hugged her back.