Disclaimer: yada yada...I own nothing...no point in sueing as I haven't a penny to my name...yada yada

Annette-Rose: ah...my very faithful and only reviewer. I'm glad you like it so much. In all honesty I had forgotten about this, having been focused on finally updating 'To Find The Love I Need', which, after having 6 weeks away from it, tookbit of thinking on my part to remember exactly what I was writing about. Enjoy, my lovely.

Chapter 15

Annie sighed as she put down the book she had finished reading. She had read so many that she thought her head would burst, which didn't help when she still felt dizzy. Everyone else was down at dinner, it being New Years Eve, and Annie felt downcast. She had been in the Hospital Wing for nearly a week and was extremely bored.

"Have you finished that one already?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she walked back to her office.

"Yes. Madam Pomfrey, how much longer do I have to stay here?"

"That all depends. Do you still feel dizzy?" Poppy raised her eyebrows when the girl shook her head. Annie nodded her head dismally.

"I'm sorry Annie, I know how boring it must be for you, but I can't risk you falling down the stairs or something like that."

"I guess."

A loud tap on the window announced the arrival of one of the school owls. Poppy went to retrieve the post it was holding, before it flew back to the Owlery.

"It's for you Annie."

"Me? But I don't get post."

"Perhaps it's from one of your many friends."

"Perhaps." Annie took the envelope, and opened it, briefly pausing to read the address on the front. She didn't recognise the handwriting, but she was soon to find out who it was from. As she opened the parchment inside, it exploded, and hundreds of Doxy's flew out, attacking Annie. Both Poppy and Minerva, who had just entered the Hospital Wing, practically flew to the bed, Poppy shielding the girl from the attack, whilst Minerva did some pretty impressive wand work to get rid of the poison ridden pests. Once she had finished, Minerva cautiously turned to Poppy.

"She looks awfully pale Poppy."

"Annie, do you know if you were bitten at all?" Annie, although she was still crying, nodded her head slightly. But Poppy needn't have asked. One look at Annie's arm that was exposed showed hundreds of tiny pinpricks.

"Minerva?"

Minerva instinctively moved to the bed and gathered the girl in her arms, rubbing her back soothingly, while Poppy went to get an antidote from her emergency stores. She soon came back, with a glass full to the brim with a violently purple liquid, and handed it to Minerva.

"Annie," Minerva coaxed the girl, who looked at her with puffy red eyes, "you need to drink all of this for it to work." Annie gingerly took the glass from the witches hand and swallowed all of it in one go, not seeming to mind the taste. She looked at the pin pricks on her arms, which slowly faded, then to the letter still lying on the bed, and finally, burst into tears again.

"Oh Annie, this has not been your year, has it?" Minerva asked, encasing Annie in her arms. Eventually, Annie's crying subsided and she slipped into a quiet slumber, still in Minerva's arms. The witch gently placed the sleeping girl back into bed and then turned to look helplessly at the nurse.

"I just don't know what to do Poppy," she said, gazing down at Annie and brushing the hair out her face. "We've had pupils expelled and I suppose we could check all her post, but other than that," she sighed heavily, "what can I do?" Minerva jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned around to find herself peering into Albus' eyes.

"Just be there for her," he replied, embracing Minerva and rocking her slightly. Neither noticed that Poppy had returned to her office to give them a bit more privacy. Albus pulled back and looked into Minerva's eyes.

"You're really worried, aren't you?" Minerva looked around to glance at Annie, before resting her head once again on the wizards shoulder.

"How could anyone do such a thing to such a sweet girl?"

"Children can be extremely cruel Minerva, and we must remember that it is not always their fault. I have a feeling that Celia's parents had a hand in turning her into the bully she is." He felt her nod against him, and kissed the top of her head. "You should get some sleep Minerva."

They walked together towards the corridor.

"Goodnight Minerva."

"Goodnight Albus." Minerva cast one last look at the sleeping girl. "Goodnight Annie," she whispered, before making her way to her rooms.

Annie woke up early the next morning, only to find the place empty, and only a few lanterns were lit. Madam Pomfrey however, was bustling around as usual.

"How are you feeling?" the nurse asked, pouring a glass of water and handing it to Annie, who drank obediently.

"Ok I guess," she replied, handing the glass back.

"You guess?"

"My arms are all itchy." Annie when to scratch her arms but Madam Pomfrey stopped her.

"That's not going to make it any better Miss Clareight." She pulled out a tub from the pocket of her apron. "I thought this might happen so you'll be pleased to know I came prepared." Poppy winked at Annie, who giggled back. "The potion I gave you yesterday is used to get the toxins out of the stings, and so the pours in your arms are slowly readjusting to not being poisoned anymore." Poppy sat down on the edge of the bed, and started to rub the lotion onto the girl's arms. Annie gasped.

"That's cold!"

"The colder the better."

"Don't believe a word she says," came another voice. Both witches looked towards the door as Minerva walked over. "Madam Pomfrey enjoys torturing all of her patients." Annie knew by the way she was smiling that Professor McGonagall didn't mean it. Poppy screwed the lid back on the tub and placed it on the bedside table.

"Does that feel better?"

"Much, thank you."

"Lets just hope that stops the itching," Poppy continued, as she made her way to her supply cupboard, "otherwise it's an ice bath for you." She turned around to see Annie's reaction and couldn't believe her eyes. Both Annie and Minerva were looking at her with their eyebrows raised, and she knew exactly what Albus had been talking about. It was as if Anni McGonagall was right there. She must have looked like a goldfish out of water, for Minerva asked:

"Are you alright?"

"I…yes, of course. I just forgot to give Professor Snape my restocking list."

Minerva gave her a puzzled look, but didn't mention anything. "Do you think Annie's up to visitors?" Minerva almost laughed when she saw Annie nod her head frantically. "I'm rather afraid that Mr Dandolson will wear the floor down outside."

Poppy nodded her head. "I see no problems there, just don't overdo it!" She turned back to her cupboard, and then had one more glance at Annie, before shaking her head and sorting out her medicines. It just couldn't be Minerva's niece; she'd been missing for six years. A child does not just suddenly turn up. She walked out to her office and stood observing Annie for a moment, who was currently involved in another chess match with Tom, who was frantically trying to beat her. Whatever was going on, Poppy was determined to find out, and that required a little visit to the headmaster.

A/N: wow, I haven't updated this in ages...