Anya found herself in a strange place candles floated every were filling the area with a warm and soft golden glow it seemed like a very large room with shelves upon shelves of books, walking around and gazing at everything she found she could smell aged parchment and feel the soft leather binding the books
"It's so lovely here..." she breathed closing her eyes she listened, the soft and occasional pop of candle wax was the only sound she herd... no she also herd scratching, a quill on parchment. Following the noise Anya turned a corner S was sitting at a desk his back to her, but deep in her heart she knew it was him, scratching away at the parchment
"Hello." She said softly almost shyly he started and looked up confused at first but when his gaze fell upon her his eyes lit up
"Anya! You're here... I ... I was afraid you wouldn't come, because I changed it..." he said turning away quickly, she smiled and walked over to him, there weren't any other chairs so she carefully perched on the table making sure not to upset what ever he was writing
"It's beautiful this is a lovely dream world." she said with a smile he looked up at her and then back down at the parchment holding the quill up it brushed his lips lightly
"I wanted to try changing it like you said I like it here now... it's warm... not cold like it used to be." she smiled
"I agree it is very warm, I'm glad you still want me I your dreams." she said he looked up at her a little surprised and she flushed looking away
"I-I mean I haven't been in another persons dream in a long time... you must need some sort of help in the waking world for me to jump into your dreams... but I like talking with you... you seem to think I'm real... not just a dream replica." she said her voice shaking a little, it was true, all the other times she had jumped dreams they had listened to her advice but then never talked to her again as soon as the problem was fixed, after all it's only a dream and she wasn't real... but she was, they just didn't know this.
"A dream replica? Is that what you are?" he asked she shook her head
"No I'm a witch I told you that before, but... you believed me... that's nice, it makes me feel warm." She said a light smile on her face she looked up hearing a soft chuckle
"What's so funny?" she demanded he smiled
"You, you're so cute the way you talk like that, of course you can't be a dream replica, you look nothing like anyone I know in the real world, much too innocent, and much sweeter then everyone I know." He said softly a form of maturity shining through and she looked down
"That's not fair... don't say things like that... I'm not sweet or innocent, I'm just a-" he placed a finger on her lips, she blinked with surprise, no one had ever done such a thing before, this oddly intimate touch she wouldn't admit it to anyone, but coming from S, she liked it.
"You are sweet and innocent, you've been nothing but kind to me, you showed me the light and helped me break from that dark world, for that I thank you." He moved his finger but before she could protest his words his lips were on hers, her eyes went wide, he was actually kissing her!
His lips were soft as silk and he held her face carefully her eyes closed as shock gave way to something else something nice yet unfamiliar. She didn't move only let his lips touch hers, and after a moment he pulled away a light flush on his face
"Forgive me that was rash and stupid..." he said she looked down
"I-I didn't mind... it was just surprising is all..." she said softly something loud filled her ears he didn't hear it
"I must go... it must be late... um... good bye for now." she said pushing from the desk and doing a running leap her mind was spinning unaware that he was watching her leave with fascination
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"Anya get up!" Her eyes fluttered open and she yawned glancing around
"Where am I?" she asked stupidly
"Gryffindor common room." she glanced at the speaker it was Remus he looked mildly amused, she was sprawled out on and arm chair next to the fire
"You snore did you know that?" he asked she stood with a groan
"Only in certain positions..." she muttered stretching back and cracking her spine with a gasp of relief she fell back into the chair
"Want to tell me why you woke me from my dreams?" she asked Remus seemed taken a back by her perceived anger at being woken, in reality though she was glad to have had an excuse to get away, her face flamed as she remembered the kiss how lightly S had guided her.
"Anya? Hey what's wrong you're... blushing?" Remus said she shook her head quickly, no way in hell was she going to tell him she just experienced her first kiss with a boy during her dream seeing.
"It's nothing just a dream, that's all..." she said softly and stood again and smiled at him
"Why did you wake me up anyway?" she asked raising an eye brow Remus smirked
"Masked ball, you wanted to go, two hours till it starts, remember?" he said evenly she nodded laughing lightly
"Oh yah, I remember now." she said and turned away heading for the girls dorm and turning to look at Remus who was a little flushed him self
"Hey now you're the one who's blushing, what's wrong with you?" he looked down and pointed at her back, glancing down she let out a shrike and was glad only the two of them were in the common room, when she had flopped on to the couch the second time her school robed had gotten all bunched up and her underwear had been slightly exposed
"OH MY GOD! I'M SORRY!" She yelled fixing her robes quickly and dashing up the stairs she ran in to the dorm room and slammed the door. Her face in her hands she frowned
"I can't believe that just happened..." she breathed and stood walking over to her bed, her costume was still in the white packing box her mom had sent it in taking to top of and moving the white tissue paper she smiled seeing the dress.
It was an amazing number that her mother had made to celebrate her first party; her mother loved making cloths and was always looking for an excuse to make her an outfit.
"You have out done yourself this time mother..." she said softly, the bodice and slightly flared skirt were made of a red silk, the bodice was covered in swirling patterns made by thousand of small red crystal beads. On the seam that separated the bodice and skirt also had a red netting attached that trailed at the back it glittered lightly and she knew that her mother had probably charmed it to glitter beautifully in better light. On the back right were the small of her back would be, was a set of small red feathered wings, a few of the feathers had been charmed to look like phoenix feathers. The mask was covered in red feathers that curled a little around her face looking like sweeping wings. The shoes were simple red satin slippers with the same red crystal beads making swirl like designs on the top half of her dress.
It took the whole two hours to bathe, do her hair and make up, and put on the dress with out wreaking it. By the time she was done she felt like a princess. Her father had given in to her mothers begging and had let her send Anya a few precious family heirlooms to go with her dress. A wide gold necklace the covered her neck to the collar of the dress with golden chains this had tear drop like rubies on it and a set of gold arm band with rubies set in them. her hair was up in a feathery pony tail, a healthy amount of red and gold glitter gave it the most amazing sparkle.
The make up wasn't too much, a glittery red and gold lip gloss, "For kissable lips!" her mother had written in the rather long letter she had gotten with her costume. A ruby red eye shadow and gold eye liner for her eyes, and a soft pink blush, barley noticeable at all, but it gave her face a healthy glow.
By the time she was done everyone was either gone or heading out, walking down the stairs from the girls dorm she was suddenly very interested in her feet (AKA Being shy.) All four Marauders were waiting for her, Remus had insisted on them walking her to the party but hadn't elaborated as to why.
"Jeeze Anya... how old are you again?" Sirius joked James and Peter were nodding when she looked up
"It's not bad? My mom made it and I think it's nice... it's not to much?" She asked Remus who had been struck dumb for the moment shook his head
"No, i-it's fine." He managed after a moment Sirius gave James and nudge and tipped his head in the werewolf's direction and winked, they both laughed. Shockingly (Oh the sarcasm in that word) the boys were all dressed up to look like there animal forms, all of them looked handsome, she would definitely admit to that. Remus walked up to her a light blush on his face he held out his hand
"S-shall we get going?" he asked she laughed and nodded
"Yes of course let's go." She said brightly and all five of them walked out
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Just on the stairs to the great hall they were stopped by several girls
"Hey we need to talk to Anya for a second." one of them said, they all looked to be in her grade but there were four second years as well. Remus frowned but had little time to object as the second years walked over, one for each boy, grabbed their arms and started dragging them of to the great hall Anya seemed a bit surprised but smiled
"Don't worry you guys, Maybe they just missed an assignment or need a girl to talk to or something." She said waving a hand
"I'll join you ASAP ok?" She said and turned to the girl one of them frowned
"Sorry Anya but she's seventh year." The girl said next thing Anya knew she had her wand pointed at her
"What are you doing?" Anya demanded, she muttered a curse and Anya moved quickly to dodge, to maneuvering was difficult in the dress
"Stop it, why are you attacking me?" She demanded one hand slipping down the front of her dress the girl faltered seeing her do this, good for her, puling out her wand Anya through up a shield spell just as the girl recovered from her shock.
"Jeeze if you want something done do it your self, you useless first years." She whipped around just in time to see Almati raise her wand, then everything went black.
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Why was I so annoyed? Because the whole reason I had bothered coming in the first place wasn't here... no... that wasn't true, she wasn't the reason I was here in this ridiculous costume, it was just coincidence that she had mentioned it before I had decided to attend... right? Of course!
Again I found my self looking around, just a glimpse that's all I wanted, those strange crimson eyes of hers. She was such a strange girl, she had spoken up in my defense on numerous occasions, she was always smiling or laughing, yet she had an air of maturity most seventh years didn't even have.
My eyes fell on the Marauders; the annoying group of Gryffindor's who stuck to her like flies on a centaur's ass. She wasn't with them it was a good half hour into this stupid ball and she hadn't shown up yet, though when my glance fell on the smart one, Lupin I think his name is, he looked worried The girls who had dragged the into the great hall when the party had first started had left a while ago vanishing from the great hall in seconds.
I don't know what possessed me to go over to them but with a few well placed strides I was close to their group My costume wasn't unlike several others, I guess I was never very original, I just wanted something simple. My presence went unnoticed and I listened as Lupin began to speak
"You guy's I'm honestly beginning to worry she told us she would be right down after she talked to those girls." The boy said the dark haired boy, Black chuckled
"Remus your panicking for nothing Girls can talk for hours on end about nothing."
"I agree Remus, you acting like a love sick cub" Potter added
"I am not! But Guy's Any couldn't do that, she's never hold a conversation for more then a couple minuets, and people haven't exactly been the nicest to her, havent you noticed we're the only ones she talks to." Lupin was wrong; I thought with slight pride, she talks to me as well. His words however did start me thinking why hadn't she come in with them she definitely wasn't the type who would stop and talk with some random girls.
"Lupin! You guy's!" a female voice, but it wasn't her voice and she would never call that boy Lupin, she would have used his first name, I knew that well.
"Aiogi? What is it I thought you and your friends had something you needed to do?" Pettigrew said sounding surprised
"I'm so sorry! I didn't think she was going to get hurt!" the girl said quickly This got my attention
"What are your talking about? Lupin asked The girl was sobbing quietly but I could hear it.
"Anya! Almati has her... I mean we thought Almati just wanted to scare her, but she's gone nuts, their in the astronomy tower it was unlocked. You guys have to help." She sobbed by then I had turned. The other boys were to busy listening to notice me as I ran past them.
Why do I care, Why do I want to make sure she doesn't get hurt, why do I have this sudden wish to impale this Almati girl and throw her out of the astronomy tower window?