Professor Snape stormed through the halls of Hogwarts sending frightened
first and second years scurrying away in opposite directions. He banged
his way through Professor Lupin's private office without knocking.
"Lupin," Snape snarled.
Professor Lupin looked up in surprise. "Can I help you, Severus?"
"As a matter of fact you can," said Snape. "You can keep Potter away from my daughter."
"And how do you propose I do that?" Lupin asked lightly.
"I don't care. I don't want him near her."
"Severus, I have already spoken to Harry, but the bottom line is that neither of us can do anything if Harry and Ann decide to pursue a friendship."
"I will not have my daughter friends with a Potter."
Anger flared up in Lupin and he stood up. "She could do a lot worse than be friends with a Potter. Who would you have her hang out with? Malfoy?"
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Who she hangs out with is none of your concern."
"Severus, I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Harry. You need to get over the past. Eventually, you are going to have to forgive James and by extension Harry. Enough people have forgiven you." Remus breathed deeply trying to calm his mounting temper. "And did it ever occur to you that they might be exactly what the other needs right now, seeing as they both know what it's like to lose a parent."
A nasty smile flitted across Snape's face. "It's a good thing Harry grew up without his father. Can you imagine how much more arrogant he would be if James had brought him up."
It happened in an instant before even Lupin realized he had done it. Lupin's fist connected with Snape's jaw and Snape fell backward onto the floor. Lupin stood over him, the offending fist still clenched tightly. Snape looked up with satisfaction on his face. "I see that mild mannered Remus Lupin does have a temper."
Remus immediately lowered his hand, internally berating himself for losing control, and reached out to help Snape up. Snape smacked his hand away and stood himself up. "I'm only going to tell you this one more time. You keep Potter away from Ann or I will make his life more miserable than you Marauders ever made mine. I promise you that." Snape turned and stormed from the office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry couldn't help glancing at the Slytherins table as he and Ann made their way over to Hermione and Ron. He caught a glimpse of Draco Malfoy's usual sneer and smirked. Ann took a seat confidently beside Harry in front of Ron and Hermione.
"Good morning," she smiled.
"Morning," said Ron and Hermione simultaneously.
Harry grinned and dug into his breakfast with enthusiasm. He knew that Ron and Hermione were going to at least make an effort.
Harry, Ann, Ron, and Hermione spent the rest of the day together. The boys convinced Hermione to bring her homework by the lake. Eventually though they all gave up the idea of working and sat lounging and talking. None of them wanted to go in as the sun started setting, casting golden streaks across the lake, especially Harry.
He hadn't felt the way he felt about Ann since Cho Chang. His stomach had done flip-flops all day. The only difference was that he now knew exactly what the cause was. He was falling hard for Ann Snape.
Ann was so sure of herself, in a way Harry never hoped he could be. Whether she was telling a story of reclining flat on her back as Ron or Harry related one of their many adventures to her, she maintained an inner poise that made her seem so at ease with everything around her.
At the end of the day Harry walked Ann back to the Slytherin common rooms. "Are you starting classes tomorrow?" He asked.
"Yep."
"What do you have?"
"Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts in the morning with the Gryffindors and then Herbology with the Ravenclaws in the afternoon."
"Your father's class first thing." Harry stated rather unnecessarily.
Ann nodded and there was an awkward pause.
"Well," said Harry staring uncomfortably at his shoes. "Good night then." He started to leave.
"Harry?" Ann said.
"Yeah."
"Do you think you're really going to be able to get past who my father is?"
"I thought I already had."
Ann smiled and leaned in closer to Harry. "I'm glad," she murmured as she pressed a firm kiss to his lips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in Gryffindor tower Ron and Hermione were sitting alone in the deserted common room. Ron was trying desperately to get Hermione's mind off Harry and Ann and onto more enjoyable things. He was kissing her neck and shoulder blade while she talked.
"Maybe Ann isn't as bad as we thought," she said.
"Mm hm," said Ron.
"She seemed perfectly agreeable this afternoon."
"Yeah," said Ron moving to the other shoulder.
"Of course, it could all be just a giant act to set Harry up."
"Hermione," said Ron in frustration. He placed his hands on either side of her face. "Could you forget about Ann and Harry for two seconds and give me a bit of attention."
Hermione stuck out her lower lip in mock pity. "Are you feeling ignored, Ron?"
Ron answered by kissing her on the mouth and nibbling the protruding lower lip. All thoughts of Harry and Ann flew out of her head and she wrapped her arms around Ron pulling him closer. Ron, finally having her full attention, responded with eagerness.
The entrance to the common room opened suddenly and Harry strolled in grinning. He saw Ron and Hermione and groaned. "Can't you two do that anywhere else?"
Ron glanced at him, his face full of annoyance. "Be a good little boy and shove off, will you Harry? Or do I have to give you a detention?"
Harry raised his hands in surrender and quickly made his way up to the dorm. His thoughts were on Ann and the kiss she had just given him. She really was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She must have taken after her mother.
The thought got Harry wondering. Ann had said that her mother told her that Gryffindor's were nothing but strutting bullying gits. If she had married Snape then she must have been at Hogwarts with him and if she went to Hogwarts with Snape than that meant she went to Hogwarts with his father.
Harry wondered if she knew this. One thing was for certain; Ann didn't know a lot about her father. She had said her parents were never Death Eaters. Harry wondered how Snape had managed to keep that from her all these years.
Harry could hear Ron coming up the stairs. He thought he could her him humming. When he walked in Harry asked, "Hermione get off to bed ok?"
"Shut it, Harry," said Ron through a grin. "Or should I ask if Ann got off to bed ok?"
"Goodnight, Ron," said Harry conceding defeat.
"Night, Harry."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ann woke early on her first day of classes at Hogwarts. She had told Harry that she would meet him for breakfast, but she wasn't really in the mood to be around anyone, so she decided to go for a walk.
She walked down one of the long corridors not quite sure where she was going. Not that she cared. She only wanted to clear her head. She was a bit agitated with herself. She had wanted to meet Harry, but she certainly had never had any intention of developing any kind of regard for him. Now, if she wasn't careful, she was in danger of getting very attached. She couldn't believe she had actually kissed him. She was letting her emotional side take too strong a hold on her actions.
Ann was so immersed in her own thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and ran headlong into a person who was also very distracted. Ann stumbled and started to fall, but a strong hand reached out and steadied her. "Are you ok?" Asked Professor Lupin.
Ann stared up at him and wrenched her arm from his grasp. Her eyes glowed with animosity.
Lupin stepped back startled by the intense emotion coming from Ann's face. "Are you ok, Ann?" Lupin repeated.
"I'm fine," she said coolly. She stared at Lupin unblinking.
Lupin cleared his throat. "I was sorry to hear about your mother."
"I'll bet," said Ann.
"I'm sorry?" Lupin asked thoroughly confused by her hostility.
"Did you honestly think I didn't know. That my mother would never have told me?"
Lupin turned red.
"I guess you did," said Ann satisfied to see he was embarrassed.
"Ann, whatever your mother may have told you, it was only half true. She never knew the whole story."
"You're a liar."
Lupin began to protest, but thought better of it. "I think maybe you better be heading to class."
"Whatever," Ann said and continued down the hall.
Lupin watched her walk away and sighed. He knew it was going to be a long day.
Author's Note:
This is my first author's note because I'm usually not a big fan of these. I prefer just writing the story, but I had to take a second to thank everyone who's reviewed so far. The positive comments have kept me going at a pretty good pace. (Get ready for the big Academy moment.)
*Between tearful sobs* I'd like to thank, Melissa Jooty, Arafel2, Tweetyiscool, lyssanne/White owl, Rachie-baby18, Titanic-HarryPotter-lvr-2, and Darth Roden.
And just think if you review, you too could be named in a tearful speech for all to read.
"Lupin," Snape snarled.
Professor Lupin looked up in surprise. "Can I help you, Severus?"
"As a matter of fact you can," said Snape. "You can keep Potter away from my daughter."
"And how do you propose I do that?" Lupin asked lightly.
"I don't care. I don't want him near her."
"Severus, I have already spoken to Harry, but the bottom line is that neither of us can do anything if Harry and Ann decide to pursue a friendship."
"I will not have my daughter friends with a Potter."
Anger flared up in Lupin and he stood up. "She could do a lot worse than be friends with a Potter. Who would you have her hang out with? Malfoy?"
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Who she hangs out with is none of your concern."
"Severus, I'm going to tell you the same thing I told Harry. You need to get over the past. Eventually, you are going to have to forgive James and by extension Harry. Enough people have forgiven you." Remus breathed deeply trying to calm his mounting temper. "And did it ever occur to you that they might be exactly what the other needs right now, seeing as they both know what it's like to lose a parent."
A nasty smile flitted across Snape's face. "It's a good thing Harry grew up without his father. Can you imagine how much more arrogant he would be if James had brought him up."
It happened in an instant before even Lupin realized he had done it. Lupin's fist connected with Snape's jaw and Snape fell backward onto the floor. Lupin stood over him, the offending fist still clenched tightly. Snape looked up with satisfaction on his face. "I see that mild mannered Remus Lupin does have a temper."
Remus immediately lowered his hand, internally berating himself for losing control, and reached out to help Snape up. Snape smacked his hand away and stood himself up. "I'm only going to tell you this one more time. You keep Potter away from Ann or I will make his life more miserable than you Marauders ever made mine. I promise you that." Snape turned and stormed from the office.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry couldn't help glancing at the Slytherins table as he and Ann made their way over to Hermione and Ron. He caught a glimpse of Draco Malfoy's usual sneer and smirked. Ann took a seat confidently beside Harry in front of Ron and Hermione.
"Good morning," she smiled.
"Morning," said Ron and Hermione simultaneously.
Harry grinned and dug into his breakfast with enthusiasm. He knew that Ron and Hermione were going to at least make an effort.
Harry, Ann, Ron, and Hermione spent the rest of the day together. The boys convinced Hermione to bring her homework by the lake. Eventually though they all gave up the idea of working and sat lounging and talking. None of them wanted to go in as the sun started setting, casting golden streaks across the lake, especially Harry.
He hadn't felt the way he felt about Ann since Cho Chang. His stomach had done flip-flops all day. The only difference was that he now knew exactly what the cause was. He was falling hard for Ann Snape.
Ann was so sure of herself, in a way Harry never hoped he could be. Whether she was telling a story of reclining flat on her back as Ron or Harry related one of their many adventures to her, she maintained an inner poise that made her seem so at ease with everything around her.
At the end of the day Harry walked Ann back to the Slytherin common rooms. "Are you starting classes tomorrow?" He asked.
"Yep."
"What do you have?"
"Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts in the morning with the Gryffindors and then Herbology with the Ravenclaws in the afternoon."
"Your father's class first thing." Harry stated rather unnecessarily.
Ann nodded and there was an awkward pause.
"Well," said Harry staring uncomfortably at his shoes. "Good night then." He started to leave.
"Harry?" Ann said.
"Yeah."
"Do you think you're really going to be able to get past who my father is?"
"I thought I already had."
Ann smiled and leaned in closer to Harry. "I'm glad," she murmured as she pressed a firm kiss to his lips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in Gryffindor tower Ron and Hermione were sitting alone in the deserted common room. Ron was trying desperately to get Hermione's mind off Harry and Ann and onto more enjoyable things. He was kissing her neck and shoulder blade while she talked.
"Maybe Ann isn't as bad as we thought," she said.
"Mm hm," said Ron.
"She seemed perfectly agreeable this afternoon."
"Yeah," said Ron moving to the other shoulder.
"Of course, it could all be just a giant act to set Harry up."
"Hermione," said Ron in frustration. He placed his hands on either side of her face. "Could you forget about Ann and Harry for two seconds and give me a bit of attention."
Hermione stuck out her lower lip in mock pity. "Are you feeling ignored, Ron?"
Ron answered by kissing her on the mouth and nibbling the protruding lower lip. All thoughts of Harry and Ann flew out of her head and she wrapped her arms around Ron pulling him closer. Ron, finally having her full attention, responded with eagerness.
The entrance to the common room opened suddenly and Harry strolled in grinning. He saw Ron and Hermione and groaned. "Can't you two do that anywhere else?"
Ron glanced at him, his face full of annoyance. "Be a good little boy and shove off, will you Harry? Or do I have to give you a detention?"
Harry raised his hands in surrender and quickly made his way up to the dorm. His thoughts were on Ann and the kiss she had just given him. She really was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She must have taken after her mother.
The thought got Harry wondering. Ann had said that her mother told her that Gryffindor's were nothing but strutting bullying gits. If she had married Snape then she must have been at Hogwarts with him and if she went to Hogwarts with Snape than that meant she went to Hogwarts with his father.
Harry wondered if she knew this. One thing was for certain; Ann didn't know a lot about her father. She had said her parents were never Death Eaters. Harry wondered how Snape had managed to keep that from her all these years.
Harry could hear Ron coming up the stairs. He thought he could her him humming. When he walked in Harry asked, "Hermione get off to bed ok?"
"Shut it, Harry," said Ron through a grin. "Or should I ask if Ann got off to bed ok?"
"Goodnight, Ron," said Harry conceding defeat.
"Night, Harry."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ann woke early on her first day of classes at Hogwarts. She had told Harry that she would meet him for breakfast, but she wasn't really in the mood to be around anyone, so she decided to go for a walk.
She walked down one of the long corridors not quite sure where she was going. Not that she cared. She only wanted to clear her head. She was a bit agitated with herself. She had wanted to meet Harry, but she certainly had never had any intention of developing any kind of regard for him. Now, if she wasn't careful, she was in danger of getting very attached. She couldn't believe she had actually kissed him. She was letting her emotional side take too strong a hold on her actions.
Ann was so immersed in her own thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to where she was going and ran headlong into a person who was also very distracted. Ann stumbled and started to fall, but a strong hand reached out and steadied her. "Are you ok?" Asked Professor Lupin.
Ann stared up at him and wrenched her arm from his grasp. Her eyes glowed with animosity.
Lupin stepped back startled by the intense emotion coming from Ann's face. "Are you ok, Ann?" Lupin repeated.
"I'm fine," she said coolly. She stared at Lupin unblinking.
Lupin cleared his throat. "I was sorry to hear about your mother."
"I'll bet," said Ann.
"I'm sorry?" Lupin asked thoroughly confused by her hostility.
"Did you honestly think I didn't know. That my mother would never have told me?"
Lupin turned red.
"I guess you did," said Ann satisfied to see he was embarrassed.
"Ann, whatever your mother may have told you, it was only half true. She never knew the whole story."
"You're a liar."
Lupin began to protest, but thought better of it. "I think maybe you better be heading to class."
"Whatever," Ann said and continued down the hall.
Lupin watched her walk away and sighed. He knew it was going to be a long day.
Author's Note:
This is my first author's note because I'm usually not a big fan of these. I prefer just writing the story, but I had to take a second to thank everyone who's reviewed so far. The positive comments have kept me going at a pretty good pace. (Get ready for the big Academy moment.)
*Between tearful sobs* I'd like to thank, Melissa Jooty, Arafel2, Tweetyiscool, lyssanne/White owl, Rachie-baby18, Titanic-HarryPotter-lvr-2, and Darth Roden.
And just think if you review, you too could be named in a tearful speech for all to read.