Disclaimer
See chapter 1
Annette-Rose: my my we are impatient aren't we haha. And yes I have seen 'Divine Secrets'. Love it. And cos I'm so kind I've made this chapter extra long. Good stuff to come yay.
Annie
Chapter 17
Annie was forced to stay in the Hospital Wing for 3 more days before Madam Pomfrey would allow her to return to the Gryffindor Tower. Most of the pupils had started to return to the school, and of course they asked Annie and Tom what had happened over the holidays. Annie was reluctant to explain, and so she left Tom to it, knowing it would cause her more upset than she could cope with. It was exactly one week into the new term when Annie received an owl to see Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey. She showed it to no one except Tom, who was just as clueless as she was. It was a cold, wet and depressing evening as Annie made her way to Professor Dumbledore's office. At the foot of the stairs she found Madam Pomfrey waiting, and together they made their way up to the office. The girl gave the nurse a questioning look, but Madam Pomfrey didn't look at her, and so Annie walked into the office feeling very nervous, as though she was about to get told off. Professor Dumbledore must have picked up on this, for he said:
"There's no need to be nervous Annie, you're not in trouble." He winked at her and Annie giggled slightly. Albus motioned for them both to sit down.
"Now Annie," he began, looking deep into her eyes, "what is said in this room must not go any further than these four walls. Is that clear?" Annie nodded solemnly. "Can you tell me about your life before your sixth birthday?" The young girl was rather surprised at this question, but the answer was a simply one.
"I don't remember anything Professor." Albus nodded.
"I thought as much. Annie, would it surprise you if I said we," and here he gestured to himself and Poppy, "thought we knew what happened to you before you sixth birthday, and who your family was."
Annie sat bewildered. Surely it wasn't possible that someone else could know about her life when even she didn't.
"I'd be very surprised Professor, I mean, how…"
"Annie, tell me what your earliest memories are."
Annie thought for a while.
"Being taken to the orphanage," she said after a short while. Albus motioned for her to go on. "A woman told me who I was and that I was going to live there because my parents had died and I was an orphan." Annie still looked puzzled by what was going on.
"Annie, with your permission, I'd like to take a look at your memories. It's called Leglimency and means I can look to see what this woman looks like without you having to describe her." Annie looked at Poppy before she nodded to the Headmaster.
"Thank you. Now, you must keep eye contact with me so I can get this done as quickly as possible." Once again Annie nodded, but because she looked so scared, Poppy took one of her hands in her own to give her some comfort. It barely took Albus five seconds to find the memory he was looking for, and he knew at once who the woman had been. Not only did she have blonde hair, but Albus had taught her at some point.
"Thank you Annie," he said, as Annie removed her gaze from him to her shoes. It was then the headmaster decided to tell Annie what he and Poppy thought. "Annie, Madam Pomfrey and I think that you may be the niece of Professor McGonagall." Annie blinked a few times before fully understanding what the headmaster had said.
"But Professor, I'm an orphan. How can that be?" The girl looked from the headmaster to the nurse, her face a picture of utter confusion. Poppy chose this moment to explain.
"We think that, a long time ago, someone may have cast a spell on you to wipe your memory, and then told you things so you would believe them. It also seems that they took you to a place where no one would ever know you, so no one could find you"
Annie frowned. "But why would someone want to do that?"
"Because people can be very cruel my dear."
"Why do you think I'm Professor McGonagall's niece?" At this Albus and Poppy smiled.
"Because you two are so alike, not to mention your obvious talent for Transfiguration," Poppy explained.
"Her niece was also called Anastasia, although most commonly known as Anni," Albus winked, "without the 'e'. But, what I want to know Annie is if you would allow us to try to get your memories back? Even if it turned out you were not Professor McGonagall's niece, we'd be able to find out what happened to you before your sixth birthday, and who your parents were." Annie made to answer but Albus stopped her. "I want you to know we can do this whenever you want, but the process will not be a comfortable one, and you won't remember straight away. It takes a certain event to bring them all back." Annie nodded in understanding.
"I want it done Professor. I want to remember." Albus nodded.
"We will have to do it on a weekend," he said, addressing both Annie and Poppy. "Perhaps a Saturday, at least then you will have the time to sleep and recover. Now, I believe it's nearly time for your curfew Annie, so if you will wait at the bottom of the staircase while I have a word with Madam Pomfrey, then she can escort you back to Gryffindor Tower." Annie bade him goodnight, and made her way out of the door. Poppy looked at Albus.
"So?"
"It was Narcissa Malfoy," he replied mournfully. Poppy gasped.
"But why would she do such a thing?"
"Minerva's brother and his wife were killed by Death Eaters, making Minerva and Anni the last surviving members of the family. With Minerva teaching here she was too well protected, and so while Anni was in St. Mungo's, she was taken." Albus sighed. "I presume the only way they could to cause as much grief as possible to Minerva was to kidnap Anni, erase her memory and give her a whole new life somewhere in the muggle world where no one would find her no matter how hard anyone tried. Sometimes knowing that a loved one is simply missing rather than dead is a lot harder to handle." He looked at Poppy. "You can see how it's affected Minerva. She blames herself when she shouldn't, and things are only made worse when she thinks that Anni may not be dead, but missing." Poppy wiped a tear from her eye and blew her nose.
"When do you want me to do it then? I'm going to need some time to research the spell and get everything I need."
"How long do you think you'll need?"
"I'd say a month. I don't want to cause Annie anymore grief than is necessary."
"I agree. Tell her we will prepare to do it in a month, and remember, not a word to anyone, especially Minerva," Albus reminded Poppy as she made her way to the door.
"Goodnight Albus."
"Goodnight Poppy."
A/N: thanks for taking the time to read this. I'm getting back into my usual rhythm of writing so it should be finished soon. Not long to go.