Chapter 3 – First Meetings

Harry and Dumbledore Apparated to the Burrow and Anna went by floo powder. Anna went first and she came out in a kitchen where three women were talking. Anna brushed the soot of her and looked around at the three women who had stopped talking abruptly when a girl they had never seen before appeared in the kitchen.

"Hi," Anna said smiling at them but her heart beating rapidly, "I'm Anna did professor Dumbledore tell you I was coming?"

"Oh, yes he did dear. Hello Anna I'm Molly Weasley and this is my daughter Ginny and this is Hermione my daughter-in-law." Mrs. Weasley said and they both said hello. Suddenly there were two loud cracks and Harry and Dumbledore appeared in front of them, Harry had removed the baseball cap now.

"Harry," Mrs. Weasley said weakly and Anna was all but forgotten about. Anna was annoyed at her self this was going to be just like the other schools, keeping a low profile and not getting too close to anyone. Why did she think this would be any different? She thought it might be as this was where her father had spent the best years of his life. The people she had just met had no idea who she was; maybe if they knew who she was they would pay her more attention? Did she want that? She had spent her whole life in the shadows did she want to come into the light? Was it safe?

Harry was hugged by all three women and all were holding back tears. "I can't believe it's really you," Hermione said then continued to slap him hard on the cheek, Harry looked shocked and Anna started towards him to step in front of him, but Harry stopped her with a causal but significant wave of his hand. "How could you leave us just like that? You defeated Voldemort everything was fine. Why did you go?"

"I had to, but I will explain another time. Now is not the time," Harry said.

"Quite right," Dumbledore said speaking for the first time as Hermione opened her mouth to argue.

"Ginny could you bring the knives and forks outside," Mrs. Weasley asked and Ginny nodded picking them up and walked outside.

"Come on Harry I know a garden full of people waiting to meet you, question you, maybe even slap you a bit more." Hermione said pulling Harry out by his robes with Professor Dumbledore following. Anna went to follow them but Mrs. Weasley spoke.

"So how old are you Anna?"

"16," Anna replied quiet shocked that someone was speaking to her.

"So you'll be in the 6th year when you go to Hogwarts?"

"Yes,"

"Oh how lovely, you'll be in the same year as Sirius, Lupin, James and Remus. Come on lets go outside and you can meet them all," Anna followed Mrs. Weasley out quiet worried how was she supposed to keep a low profile when she was about to get introduced to the whole Weasley family and their friends. Anna couldn't help but be amazed and overwhelmed at the sight that met her eyes. The garden was full of people with red hair, there were a few people with different colored hair but it was mainly red, it gave the impression the whole garden was on fire. She was amazed that so many people would show up at a birthday, she only spent her birthday with her dad and her mum when she was alive. People looked around at Harry as he was lead by Hermione to a table at the end of the garden. Harry looked around at the faces sitting around the table. He felt tears forming in his eyes and his heart beating faster as he saw Ron's face, then Sirius, then Remus. How could he have left these people for so long. He was an idiot yet a little voice inside his head told him he had a purpose for leaving. Ron came up to him mouth slightly open.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ron said as he raised his hand, Harry flinched but surprisingly Ron pulled Harry into a hug. Slightly taken aback by this Harry grinned at the looks Hermione and Ginny were giving him. As soon as Ron had let him go Sirius threw himself on Harry.

"Don't ever do that again," he said letting go. They stood in silence taking each other in.

"There are a lot of people here," Harry commented when the silence was becoming long.

"Oh you have missed out on so much Harry," Hermione said.

"So it seems,"

"Come on we'll introduce you to everyone," Ron said.

"Ok," Mr. Weasley shouted to everyone, "Children, teenagers and adults who have never meet this man here before," he said pointing to Harry, "Line up state your name, age and who you belong to."

There was chaos as everyone moved back or formed a line. Somehow Anna found herself in the line of people who were being introduced. Mr. Weasley walked to the end of the line with Harry. "Name, age, and who you belong to," to the first person, a short black girl with dark hair.

"Diana, 5, Fred and Angelina Weasley." Mr. Weasley and Harry moved on to the next girl with long flowing slivery hair.

"Sarah, 23, Bill and Fleur."

"Charlotte, 17, Charlie and Meg." A short girl with short very red hair said.

"Rose, old enough not to tell, Charlie's wife," a short red head said who looked very much like her daughter.

"Harry, 11, Ron and Hermione," said a boy with bushy brown hair.

"Peter, 3 and a 1/4, mummy and daddy," a little boy with red hair and big brown eyes said.

"He's our's," said Ron laughing.

"Karen, I don't want to discuss it, Remus's wife," a very pretty woman with graying blond hair and bright blue eyes said.

"Remus, 16, Sirius and Liz, she's not my wife," a very handsome young man said who also had bright blue eyes and long black hair that came passed his ears. He pointed a finger at Karen.

"But I love you Remus, when are you going to accept it," Karen said grinning.

"She's the older Remus' wife," explained Mr. Weasley.

"Hey watch who you're calling older gramps," said Remus Lupin glaring at Mr. Weasley.
Mr. Weasley smiled and motioned for the next person to continue.

"Dave, 14, Fred and Angelina." A tall strapping boy with light brown skin and red hair said.

"Simon, 20, Charlie and Meg," a short but stocky red head said who was the spiting image of his father.

"Mike, 18, Bill and Fleur," a tall boy with long strawberry blond hair said.

"Kate, 30, George's wife," a woman with dark brown hair and big brown eyes said.

"Lupin, 16, Remus and Karen," a boy with bright blue eyes and blond curly hair that came down to his shoulders said.

"Real name Lupin," said Mr. Weasley.

"No!"

"Lupin!"

"Fine, Romulus," he said in a defeated voice. Anna couldn't help but grin.

"James, 16 Sirius and Liz," a tall handsome boy with blue eyes and short black hair said.

"Alison Ryan, 16, Lupin's girlfriend, I don't belong to him but I am assuming you want to know why I am here and since my parents aren't here I figured you didn't want to know who they are," a girl who gave the impression of knowing everything, she had light brown hair and brown eyes, Anna immediately found she didn't like Alison.

"Katlyn, 15, Ron and Hermione," said a tall girl with red bushy hair and hazel eyes.

"Mary Knightly, 15, James girlfriend, just what Ally said," a girl with short blond hair said and once again Anna had a feeling she wasn't going to like her.

"Liz, not telling, Sirius wife," a woman with long brown hair and hazel eyes said.

"Sirius, 16, Remus and Karen," a boy who looked exactly like his mother said.

"Jason, 17 today, Ron and Hermione," said a boy with red hair and lots of freckles and big brown eyes said.

"Lily, also 17 today, Ron and Hermione," a girl with long brown bushy hair and brown eyes said.

"Tom, 12, George and Kate," a short boy with red hair said.

"Beth, 13, Sirius's girlfriend," a girl with black hair and dark eyes said.

"Chris, 8, Fred and Angelina," a boy who looked very much like Dave said.

"Michelle, 20, I don't belong to anyone but my parents are Percy and Penelope."

"Brian, 13, my sister is weird, Percy and Penelope," a boy with red hair said pointing at his sister who had horn rimmed glasses and long brown curly hair.

"Sean, 32, Ginny's boyfriend," a tall man with dark brown eyes and blond hair said.

"Who are you? You don't look familiar," Mr. Weasley said looking at Anna who was last in line.

"Anna, 16, you don't know my parents," Anna said hoping he wouldn't ask anymore.

"Oh, right. Well this is, Harry Potter," Mr. Weasley said introducing Anna to her father and then to the rest of the Wesley's. "Molly, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fleur, Fred, Angelina, George, Percy, Charlie, Penelope, Bill, Remus, Sirius and I'm Arthur. Dismissed!" He added to the rest who were lined up, and everyone went back to the party. Anna who knew everyone already from her father's photos nodded and smiled politely at Mr. Weasley and Harry gave her a grin and a wink which no one else saw.

The next few hours was spent with almost everyone crowding around Harry trying to find out what he had been doing for the last 17 years. 'Why did you leave?' 'Where have you been?' 'What have you been doing?' 'Why have you come back now?' Were some of the most popular questions. Harry wouldn't say anything too relieving not in front of the children; he would only speak openly to the few people who made up his whole life. Anna on the other hand sat under a huge tree at the back of the garden. She figured if anyone one wanted to talk to her really badly they would find her, but with the famous Harry Potter back no one was going to pay the slightest bit of attention to her she was fine with this. But someone it seemed did want to talk to her.

"Hi," Ron said coming to sit next to her. Anna looked shocked at the fact someone had gone out of their way to find her.

"Hi," she replied.

"Not being rude but you don't seem to know anyone here I was wondering why you were here?"

"I... Dumbledore thought it would be a good idea for me to come and get to know my fellow classmates before I started school," Anna replied.

"So that's why you are all by yourself then it all makes sense now." Ron said grinning.

"I'm not good at talking to people," Anna said defensively but also grinning.

"Oh, so why haven't you been at Hogwarts before this year then?" He asked and Anna was getting slightly uncomfortable, she never had anyone interested in what she had done before she had not really had to think about making things up.

"I have been at other schools I travel around a lot," she replied truthfully.

"By yourself or with your parents?"

"No with my dad."

"Where's your mum?"

"She's dead." Anna replied and Ron looked suddenly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry I didn't know."

"That's ok I didn't expect you to."

"How long has it been you and your dad? Do you have any brothers or sister?"

"About 5 years now and no I am an only child."

"This must be a bit overwhelming then, all these people, my mum and dad had seven children."

"It is a bit," Anna replied. After a short pause Ron asked.

"Where have you been, traveling around I mean?" Anna thought for a moment, should she tell him the truth or lie she didn't usually lie to people she just left out certain details plus she never had friends to tell the truth to. Friends caused too much trouble, they asked too many questions and good ones cared too much. No, Anna figured it was easier not to have friends, she had her dad and that's all that mattered. "All over really, Europe really," she said vaguely.

"Oh," said Ron looking slightly put out, but didn't say anything else.

"Dad, can we cut the cake now and open presents?" Jason and Lily asked coming up to them.

"Yeah, I'll be right there, have you two met Anna?" Ron asked.

"No, sorry I have been talking to Harry. Hi I'm Lily," said the girl holding out her hand. Anna shook it and smiled but didn't say anything.

"Hi, I'm Jason, most people call me Jase—"

"And some people call you a prat." Lily interrupted rolling her eyes. Anna grinned and laughed. Anna shook Jason's hand as he stuck his tongue out at his sister. With that Ron, Lily and Jase went to the table with the cake and presents on it. Anna hung back not wanting to be in the way.

"Having fun?" Harry asked coming up to her but keeping his voice down.

"Yeah, these people are really nice," Anna said truthfully, the people who had spoken to her were anyway.

"I know, you know you can make friends with them this year," Harry said looking at his daughter knowing what she was thinking. "It will be ok to tell most of the truth I have said I have been living in America most of the time I was away." Anna nodded and didn't get to reply because they started singing. The rest of the party went uneventfully Anna sat around the adults who were all talking to Harry asking him questions about where he had been, Anna noticed that none of them asked if he had had girlfriends which meant that he technically didn't lie to them about her. In the evening Fred and George set off their new brand of fireworks to everyone but Mrs. Weasleys enjoyment. Anna was watching them 'oohing' and 'aahhing' where appropriate when Alison and Mary came up to her.

"Hello, I'm Alison and this is Mary, are you going to be in my year at Hogwarts this year?"

"Umm, yeah I think so 6th year right?"

"Oh well you will be in the same year as my boyfriend and Mary's so don't try and steal either of them from us or else."

"Yeah, we are friends with most of the school and have some very powerful friends," Mary chimed in. Anna looked at both of the girls and held back a laugh. These girls didn't know anything... if they only knew who her father was, talk about power.

"Thanks I'll keep that in mind shall I," Anna replied coolly and walked off. She couldn't believe they would even think she would try to steal there boyfriends. She hadn't even spoken to their boyfriend's; she had never even had a proper one. She had been out with four boys in the last two years but none of them lasted more than a week they all said she was too quiet and couldn't hold a conversation, she didn't let people in. If she was able to talk freely about herself it would be disastrous.

That evening Anna went to bed in her room at the Leaky Cauldron thinking the party was one of the best she had ever been to, but she thought fairly she had only ever been to her own parties and her dads, and there were only usually two people there, her and her father, so she didn't have much to compare it to. She was looking forward to going to Hogwarts now.