Chapter 41 – Forgiveness

Anna stood in front of the mirror looking at her reflection. Her once smooth face was interrupted with scars. She had put on a bit more weight since she had been back but she was still very thin, too thin for her liking. Her eyes that once held a light behind them seemed dull and always darted back and forth. She still had dark circles under her eyes, even though it had been a week since she had gotten back home and 3 weeks since she had escaped. Anna had spent the most of the first two week back in the hospital. The green potion the Death Eaters had been force feeding her was to keep her alive but barely. The blue one they eventually found out was Death by Absorption, it was meant to help make her death more painful but for some reason it didn't kill her. No one knew why. It had taken her three weeks to heal enough to come home and even now she couldn't stand for long periods of time, the energy she had used just staying alive and then running away from the place they had kept her had been spent, she seemed to have no energy now at all.

None of that seemed to matter to the fact that she hadn't spoken to anyone since she saw her dad in the hospital room. She pretended to be asleep when ever anyone would come in. She had told Healer Kevin that she didn't want anyone to see her like she was and only Harry had been allowed in the room. She didn't want to be around anyone yet. She hadn't told him what Wormtail had done for her yet she had to get Remus Lupin and Sirius Black around before she did.

She looked back at her reflection as she stood in her bridesmaid dress, it was her dad's wedding today and she had to tell him why she would hardly speak to him. She didn't want to do it on his wedding day but she felt it was the right time. She had written him a letter. She went into his room and placed it on his bed, then went outside.

Harry tugged on the collar of his dress robes, he needed the ring, but he couldn't find it anywhere, he had checked his pockets, the kitchen, the living room, the fridge, obviously it wouldn't be in there but he was hungry. He suddenly remembered it was on his bedside dresser. He climbed the stairs in a matter of seconds and turned right into his room. There it was safe where he left it. He picked it up kissing it, sighing Harry sat on the bed and heard a crunching noise looking down he saw a letter. His breath caught in his throat. It was from Anna. He didn't know how to act around her since she had been back. She didn't talk to him anymore, he knew he had hurt her by giving up he was ashamed with himself. He had tried to explain this to her but he had never found the right words, and she seemed to be avoiding everyone. There was nothing for it he had to read the letter and hope for the best.

Dad,

Don't be mad, angry or upset. Just be content with the fact that I am back. It will be ok in time. I can't be around too many people it makes me nervous. I thought I was safe, I thought wrong. I am not mad at you. Don't ever think I have ever been at anytime in my life. But do me one thing now. Give me time, time to work through everything. I know we told each other everything but things change. Don't push me I will tell you all one day. But not now. I love you all but I have to find out why. Why me? Why they did what they did. And why you gave up on me. Why you did not find me and then why you let me die after only a few weeks. I know you saw Wormtail… Wormtail now that's a story in itself, but that's not the point he received the order to kill me I felt your pain although at that time I had a hard time distinguishing all the pain. But you should have know better I thought you believed I was stronger than that, stronger than I looked. Even I know I am now. Mum tried to tell me that before we left to go out, the day she died, she told me I would be powerful because of you and her and I would realize it one day and that day is today. But I am going to find a way to help other people. Getting rid of Voldemort sooner will stop him destroying people's lives like he did mine. The amount of people we could save from death and suffering if we work quickly could be limitless. I will find a way. We will win, we have to. I want my life back, he stole it from me, and he took my soul and trampled on it. I will get my life back.

Love Anna

Harry let the letter fall to the floor tears in his eyes out of the corner of his eye he saw a figure standing at the door. Without looking up he spoke:

"I'm so sorry," that was all he needed to say he didn't have any other words that would mean more. He was sorry and he didn't know how to describe his anger at himself. Arms found themselves around his neck and a blonde head buried in his shoulder. He put his hand to her head and stroked her hair. He wrapped his arms around his daughter and they cried together each apologizing silently, actions speaking what neither of them could find the words to say.