That night a dinner was held at the Neoin residence for friends of the family. Half of Diagon Alley had been invited as well as numerous other close acquaintances. Though the house was quite spacious, it wasn't exactly best suited for a large gathering of people. The walls seemed to sweat from the pressure and the floors creaked with their old age.
Anne, who had been against the idea of a party in the first place, defiantly refused the go and was persistent about staying in the kitchen. She sighed, lifting her head from the table as a delicate aroma piercing the air suddenly made her senses peak. "Is that what I believe it is?" she asked.
"Oui, your favorite," Mrs. Morot, the cook, replied. Her thick French brogue stumbled over the words.
Anne slowly buried her face into her folded arms, her brown hair falling as a long curtain over her head. She groaned something incoherent the peeked out from under her hair. Donna gave her a comforting smile.
"Come on, try one," Mrs. Morot opted, handing her a single candy.
Anne glanced up, reluctantly took the chocolate, and painfully shoved it into her mouth. Her eyes softened as the rich morsel sinfully melted in her mouth. "That's really good..." her voice trailed off. As tears began to form, Donna quickly handed her a tissue.
"Too good," Anne replied defiantly, instead using the Kleenex to spit out the remainder of the sweet.
Her friend rolled her eyes. "Anne, you can't go on like this."
The door to the kitchen suddenly swung open and Ms. Morris scurried in, balancing an empty silver tray on each hand. "I need some refills," she called. Mrs. Morot took the two platters and hastily began rearranging new hors d'oeuvres. The housekeeper took a seat table, hoping to catch her breath before returning to the party. She slumped her shoulders, looking ready to collapse, when she noticed Anne also hunched over the table. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm asleep," Anne replied with a moan, burying her head deeper.
"Now, now. We'll have none of that. Up you come." Ms. Morris drug her to her feet. "Up, up!"
Donna snickered a bit, but Anne directed her a look that put an end to her amusement. Ms. Morris noticed and took Donna by the arm as well. "You too, child," she barked, "You must help me make her presentable for the party."
Giggling quietly, Donna scurried to her aid.
"I don't want to go," Anne groaned.
"You don't have a choice. Now, Mrs. Chang, you get a started on that hair and I'll go and find a dress."
Anne sighed again. "Whatever happened to calling me 'Ma'am'?"
***
They arrived at the house a few moments past eight, much to Severus's satisfaction. Usually the Potions Master would prefer to arrive promptly for such an occasion, but he had an overwhelming pine that told him that this particular gathering would not be one of his liking.
He hadn't seen her in so many years; what would he say? What could he say? Severus glanced at Professor Dumbledore and the old man gave him a smile. The headmaster was a little shaken up, himself, upon entering the house, yet he was eager to see what events would unfold.
***
Anne stood before the mirror in her bedchamber, her long arms stretched out at her sides whilst Ms. Morris finished buttoning the long onyx sheath to her limbs. She appraised her shadowy reflection.
Much had become her since Anne had chosen this path of life; although, she had grown quite a bit older since then, she hadn't aged at all. And unlike most people, Anne regretted not having the little familiar blemishes that would be common after so many years of living. Wrinkles and scars were in absence, but still Anne felt a bigger, more exhausting weight to her being that that of everyday life kisses. She was living a lie, to her friends, her family, and -saddest of all- to herself.
"Here you go dear," Ms. Morris whispered, as she placed the dreaded tonic bottle in the young woman's hand.
Anne turned, eyeing the housekeeper in disdain. Ms. Morris forced a smile. Over the years she had watched as her close friend and employer broke more and more with each dose of the potion. It hurt her then to see Anne sink even further.
Anne nodded, tearing her face from the mirror. "Alright."
Mrs. Morris smiled again. "You look beautiful, dear."
A silent tear slithered down Anne's cheek. "Thank you."
"Remember, no later than twelve o'clock, no earlier than eleven or else it won't work."
"Yes," Anne sighed. She placed the tiny vial into her dress pocket.
"Try and have a nice time tonight. Okay?"
Anne smiled and nodded as she turned to descend the stairs.
***
Introductions were long and dinner seemed longer, but somehow Anne made it through the greatly extended evening. Once it was over and most of the guests had departed, she retired in the dining room.
The night had settled upon London and the large room reflected its presence with heavy shadows. When she first looked inside the room, Anne had been relieved to find it completely empty. She closed off all of the doors and locked them to ward off potential disturbances.
It had been a while since she had had a moment alone nor a moment of peace and quiet. The silence of the darkened hall was quite welcomed. Anne took advantage of it by simply relishing it; she sat down in one of the tall, square-backed chairs by the fireplace and began to think...
Large clouds of thick billowing smoke erupted from the roaring steam engine, the Hogwarts Express, as Mr. and Mrs. Ravenswood bid farewell to their two daughters before they left for school. Their oldest child, Megan, waved goodbye to them from an open apartment window several feet away, while Erin, their baby girl, remained at the cabin door.
It was to be Erin's first time away from their home in the town of Maidenhead, England. While her sister had been attending Hogwarts Academy for two years, she had been receiving her education from her mother up until then. Therefore, when little Erin had received her acceptance letter to the faraway Scottish school, it had been a great decision for the Ravenswoods to make whether or not she would attend.
"Goodbye, Momma! Bye, Dad," the auburn haired girl cried. The train began to move, but the mother kept hold of her daughters hand until it gained too much speed. The scarlet framed windows whizzed past with gathering momentum.
"Bye," Erin called again.
Then, from the window, Megan leaned out to also wave goodbye.
David Ravenswood went to stand by his wife and lovingly placed an arm around her. They continued to wave as their children slowly disappeared out onto the horizon. "Goodbye, sweethearts," Brenda whispered, tears slowly gathering at her eyes. David tightened his arm around her waist, and they dissaporated from platform nine and three quarters.
Anne licked the salty moisture from her quivering lips and slowly stood. She walked over to the tall foreboding window beside the fireplace and cleared her vision enough to glance out into the street below. But just as she had lifted her head -
"Don't move an inch."
Anne gulped, feeling the wand tip placed at her throat.
_____
A/N: ::smiles:: That's chapter number two. I hope you liked it. Feel free to tell me what you think by submitting a review! I'd love to hear from you.. Flames/Criticism are welcome...