AN: Welcome to Anka Black and the Chamber of Secrets! I highly recommend you read Anka Black and the Philosopher's Stone first because this story will make a whole lot more sense if you do. Comments and Kudos are life, so please let me know what you think!
The chapters in this story will alternate between Harry and Anka's POV.
Anka had officially decided that this was the slowest summer ever. It was not even the end of July and she was bored out of her mind. She had gotten so used to the hustle and bustle of the castle that the quiet was almost… eerie. It didn't help that she was worried about her brother, Harry.
Well, he wasn't her brother. Yet. But Severus, her dad, was adopting him, so he might as well be. And he definitely would be once the paperwork was sorted out, which her dad had said was almost there.
Anka had finished her summer homework at the beginning of the summer, so today she was trying to get ahead in Charms, one of her two favorite subjects, but she couldn't focus. Instead, she was doodling on the parchment with the color-changing ink that one of her best friends, Fay, had gifted her for Christmas.
While she was doodling, Severus came out of the Potions room.
"Is it finished?" She asked him, excited.
"It is," Severus nodded, sitting down at the kitchen table. Anka got up and went over to sit by him.
"Does that mean we can go and get him?" She asked.
"Not yet," Severus told her. "The paperwork is being processed. They still need to do a home study to ensure that both here and Prince Manor are fit places for Harry to live, they need to interview you, me, and Harry, and once all of that has gone through, then we can go and get his Aunt and Uncle to sign their rights and bring Harry home."
Anka sighed. "I guess it's good it's complicated to protect children, I just want him here already."
"I know that, child. And he will be, we just need patience." He paused for a moment. "I know that I have been quite preoccupied by paperwork and trying to get the potion done, but I did want to talk with you about some of the events that occurred last year."
"What about them?" Anka asked, a bit nervous. She knew that Severus had not been happy about their involvement in protecting the Philosopher's Stone at the end of the year, but he hadn't seemed angry at the time.
"I am definitely missing quite a bit that allowed you and your friends to figure out that the stone existed in the first place. Can you share with me the story, from the beginning?"
"I'll try," Anka told him, and over tea, she recapped the last year, including the Mirror of Erised, Norbert, Harry and Draco's detention disaster, and their conversations where Hagrid let things slip.
Severus let her talk, nodding along. When she was done, he had some questions. "Hagrid actually had a dragon? And none of the adults knew about it?"
Anka shrugged. "Not that we know of. But Norbert is in Romania now, so we don't have to worry about him anymore."
"I knew about Harry and Draco's late detention, but I didn't realize that they would be going into the forbidden forest. That should have never happened. Sending eleven year olds into the forest for detention!" Severus shook his head. "I will be speaking to the headmaster about that. But if you or Harry are ever assigned a detention that seems unreasonable or dangerous, I need you to let me know. I will not get mad at you for asking if the detention is appropriate as long as your inquiry is true. I will not tolerate complaining, as you know, about a punishment that you have rightly earned."
"Of course." Anka nodded. "Did you ever figure out about the note that I saw? I promise it was there."
The note that Anka had read when she came to find Severus before descending through the trap door to protect the stone, had disappeared. Severus had never written the note, but that note had prevented Anka from getting her father for help.
"I believe you. You and Harry both read it. I have my suspicions as to how that note came to be and from who, but I am not interested in sharing those right now. I can't prove it. When Harry is home, we will come up with a code that we add to all of our letters or notes to ensure that we know that they are legitimate to avoid this problem in the future."
"Oh, okay." Anka said. "That's a good idea."
"I'm glad you approve," Severus said dryly. "I also need to check your occlumency shields. I wanted to give your mind time to rest after your concussion. I did not want to make anything worse, but Madame Pomphrey assures me that it is safe now. Have you been working on them every night?"
Anka nodded. "Yeah, I have."
He checked her shield, a tall labyrinth made of sleek, black, obsidian. Being inside the labyrinth caused sensory deprivation, making it impossible for someone to get through to her thoughts.
"Excellent," Severus told her, pulling out. "Next time, we are going to work on you throwing me out instead of just blocking me. Instead of waiting for me to give up, you will be getting rid of my presence yourself."
"Oh." Anka said. "Okay, I think I can do that."
"I think that you will be able to do that fairly easily, your occlumency has developed spectacularly, especially for someone your age."
Anka beamed under the praise. "Thank you, sir." She said.
"Now," Severus said. "I am sorry I have not been more present recently."
"It's alright, Dad," Anka said quickly. "You've been busy with getting things ready for Harry. I know that, I understand that. I'm not upset." she assured him.
"Well, something is bothering you, and it isn't just your worries about Harry." Severus stated.
Anka sighed, hating sometimes how observant her father could be. "It's nothing," She looked down at her tea cup.
"It isn't nothing." Severus told her, "You don't have to share with me, but I am your father. Maybe I could help? Are you having second thoughts about Harry's adoption? Or some concerns?"
"No," Anka shook her head. "I'm thrilled about the adoption, honest." She bit her lip. "Has Remus been writing you?"
Severus frowned. "Yes. We write each other frequently, and I make him his potion every month." Anka was startled. She had almost hoped that Severus hadn't heard from Remus. "Is that a problem?" Severus asked her.
"He hasn't written me." Anka mumbled. Looking up through her eyelashes, she could tell that Severus hadn't heard her. "He hasn't written me. I haven't heard from him since I saw him at Christmas. And I've written him, loads of times! Or maybe not loads, but at least every other week."
Severus looked startled. "Remus hasn't been responding to your letters? For months? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I thought he was just busy." she whispered. "You know how he is, it wouldn't be the first time I went a while without hearing from him. And while school was in session I wasn't as consistent with writing as I used to be, but it wasn't until I really had time to sit and think this summer that I realized I haven't gotten a single response from him in months."
Severus looked troubled. "I won't lie to you, Anka. I have no idea why your father isn't responding to your letters, especially since he has been corresponding with me like normal." He hesitated. "Do you want me to ask him about it?"
"I don't know," Anka said miserably. "I mean, I probably won't feel any better if he starts writing to me again just because you talk to him, but he's never flat out ignored me like it seems he is this time. He didn't even send me a letter on my birthday!" tears sprung to Anka's eyes, and she angrily rubbed them away. She hadn't even realized how angry she was at Remus until now. "Sorry, sir. You're my dad too, I know that, and I love that. But-"
"Remus is also your father. You don't have to apologize to me, Anka. You are allowed to have more than one parent. In fact, I took you in knowing that I would be co-parenting you. You should be upset about not hearing from Remus. I did not realize he hadn't even reached out to you for your birthday. That isn't like him." Severus looked angry now, and Anka knew it wasn't directed at her. "I will speak to Remus and see what his reasoning is."
"Okay," Anka said quietly. "Thank you."
Severus nodded, and conversation lulled for a while. They had a quiet dinner, and were just finishing up when the journal on the table buzzed.
Severus reached over and flipped it open. He read aloud:
"Dear Anka and Severus,
Things are pretty much the same here at the Dursley's. Overall, they have left me alone. I finished my last essay today, so now I'm really bored. I wish we had our books for next year because I'd look at them.
Anka, have you heard from our other friends? I still haven't received any letters from them, and I've written to them. I know they are probably busy, I just didn't know if you knew anything.
Any news on the adoption? I can't wait to get out of here.
Love, Harry."
Severus slid it over. "Do you want to respond first?"
She nodded happily and picked up her pen.
Hey Harry, it's Anka, she wrote first. I have written, our friends have been asking if you've written because they haven't gotten responses to their letters. That's strange, I'll let them know that you aren't receiving their letters for some reason. They have tried though, I promise.
Hey Anka
Okay, at least I know they aren't ignoring me. That's strange though
Very. Any problems with Dudley?
No. He's too afraid of me now. They really are still ignoring me. I keep thinking they are going to stop, but they haven't yet
Severus took the journal then.
Have they been feeding you? Are you okay?
Yeah, they are. And I'm fine, I promise. Just ready to get out of here.
Well, I completed the potion today. The home study is scheduled for a week from tomorrow, and then the review process takes 2 to 4 weeks. You should be here before school starts, at least
What about my supplies?
I will make sure that one way or another you have all of your supplies when school starts. Don't worry. Please try to relax and enjoy yourself.
I'm trying
Anka frowned. She knew Harry was ready to get out of that house, and she couldn't blame him. She was ready for him to be living with them permanently, to be her brother.
"He seems a bit down." Anka commented.
"Yes," Severus agreed. "He seemed happier yesterday."
Anka?
I'm still here, Harry.
If I send Hedwig to you, will you look after her? Uncle Vernon is getting really annoyed with her coming and going, and I really want to keep the peace right now. It's not like it makes a difference since it seems like I can't get mail anyway.
Harry, I would prefer you have Hedwig with you in case of an emergency. This journal can only be used to contact Anka and myself. If your uncle says anything about Hedwig, write to me immediately
Oh, okay. That makes sense. He hasn't made any threats or anything, but he really doesn't like her, he thinks she draws attention since owls aren't normal pets in the Muggle world
Maybe try to keep her coming and going to nighttime?
I already do. It's the principle of it, I think. She's a reminder of my magic.
No doubt
I'm knackered. I'm going to go to bed. I will write you both tomorrow
Good night Harry!
Good night, son.