Chapter 24 – Breaking Down Barriers

You-Know-Who back, Harry Potter couldn't kill him.

Last night met the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. It was thought 18 years ago when Harry Potter killed You-Know-Who it was finally the end. The world seemed safe once more people Muggleborns didn't have to worry about being targets of persecution, muggles, even though they did not know it, were safe. However, today it seems differently. Last night at 2:37 am You-Know-Who along with his followers attacked a muggle school killing 13 children between the ages of 6 and 18. They also killed 5 teachers of the school they then sent up the dark mark. The return of You-Know-Who it seems has come again. How did Harry Potter let this happen? We must ask ourselves if Harry Potter will ever defeat Voldemort or if this will go on until the end of time? Will we ever be safe from Voldemort? Harry Potter was unavailable for comment last night.

The rest of the newspaper was along the same lines with different interviews. Harry sighed, if only they knew, well they will soon enough. Harry put down the Daily Prophet, he turned to his Godfather.

"Do you think I can do it?" he asked Sirius.

"I think you can do anything if you believe enough in your self."

"That I think is going to be my problem."

"Harry look, you have faced the worst things imaginable and survived I doubt even Dumbledore could do what you did. You had the courage to go away, for reasons that are still unclear to me, and come back when you thought the time was right. No one can tell you to defeat Voldemort but if you believe you have to, then you damn well better not die doing it."

"Do it or die trying takes on new meaning doesn't it," Harry said bitterly remembering Oliver Woods passionate Quidditch speeches. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"So are you ever going to tell me why you left? The real reason, not the one you have been telling people." Harry looked up at his Godfather's eyes that were no longer sunken and hollow. Harry smiled he was going to tell him.

The next morning Anna went down to the common room and found Remus sitting there already up. She sat opposite him yawning she hadn't slept that night either. She mumbled morning to him. He looked concerned.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I'm just tired that's all," she said trying to smile at him.

"So it has nothing to do with your argument with Lupin last night?"

"How—you heard?" she said feeling her cheeks burn. Remus nodded laughing.

"I think everyone in a 10 mile radius heard you," he replied grinning. "Why wouldn't you go out with Lupin?" He said becoming serious. Anna looked around to make sure no one was listening, in fact there were no one else in the room.

"I want to ok, it's just him, and I just wonder what he sees in me? He can have anyone in the school why me. Why can't he pick someone who doesn't have any problems? You two don't know me yet and I don't want to do that to someone if I can help it," Anna said. She didn't realize Lupin had heard everything she had said. Remus looked at Lupin who came down and sat next to him. Anna's eyes widened and looked between the two boys she made to get up but before she could Remus pushed her back down and then glanced at Lupin. They spoke in whispered voices for a moment then Lupin said,

"Don't you see how beautiful you are? How amazing you are? Your funny, smart, I have never met anyone like you before. Everyone has problems some people more than others, I don't know what yours are, you won't tell anyone. But that won't stop me liking you," he said.

"I can tell now you don't believe in yourself, we will make you believe how amazing you are if you honestly don't see it in yourself," Remus finished. Anna couldn't take anymore, how did she end up with such good friends? She had never felt this way before, was this what it was like to have people who cared because they wanted to not because they had to. Alright they asked for it… she was going to let them into her life. She broke down for the second time in two days and cried although she wasn't alone she had two people either side of her who had their arms around her soothing her and saying it was going to be alright.

"A fait comment je viens avoir de bons amis?" she said and Remus and Lupin gave her funny looks.

"Alright that's the second time you have said something in French that I don't understand why do you do that?" Lupin asked.

"Do what?" Anna said confused.

"You just suddenly change language," Remus said staring disbelievingly at her.

"Oh, I guess I do, huh cool," she said realizing what she did. Later that day Anna and Lupin found themselves alone in the common room Remus had made up some excuse after dinner and went to the library.

"Anna will you come to Hogsmeade with me on the next visit?" he asked formally.

"Yeah, ok. You mean like a… um date thing?" she asked awkwardly.

"Yes I— only of you want it to be," he said looking nervous. Anna nodded her head and Lupin grinned.

"It's a date then," he said.

"So erm…" he said moving closer to her, she had to keep from laughing it was far too obvious what he was going to try to do. Did he think she would just kiss him in the middle of the empty common room? Did he have no tact?

"Yes," she said matter-of-factly looking down at her Magical Spirits and the legend beyond book pretending to be interested in it.

"So what is that you're reading?" He asked putting an arm on the back of the couch above her head.

"Oh it's just a book I thought would be interesting to read."

"Huh cool," he said and he brought his hand onto her shoulder. Anna couldn't help but laugh now.

"I'm – sorry… tact is obviously not your best strong point," she said trying to hide her face in her book. Lupin had gone bright red and was looking at his hands which were now both in his lap. "I'm really sorry but it has to more natural than this just surprise me one day ok," she said also blushing slightly now. The door to the common room opened and Remus walked through, grinning to himself.

"Oh thank Merlin," Anna heard Lupin mutter.