Chapter 63 – Final Touches
It wasn't until three days later that Anna was let out of the hospital and go back to Hogwarts. Anna hadn't minded she spent it with Harry, Ginny and Josh. Healer Kevin said he found no potion in her that would make her dreams cause her cuts. He was going to work on it at the hospital. He told her that she had to stop pushing herself so much. Like that was going to happen. She got back late on Tuesday evening. When she went in the common room she found it empty except for two people who were standing in the middle screaming at each other.
"You kissed him in front of me while I was standing there! You only asked me to go with you to make me jealous," Remus yelled. Anna had never seen him like this except at Quidditch practice but that was only very rarely.
"Yeah -- but—it's not like we are married," Nicky replied equally loud.
"Yeah that's right we aren't married we aren't even going out. You never liked me. You know how I felt and you kissed that guy right in my face." Remus's face was screwed up in anger his dark hair was wild and unruly his eyes flaring. Nicky looked like she was on the verge of tears. They stared each other out for a few moments before Nicky stormed off up the stairs into her room.
"Hi," Anna said quietly. Remus rounded on her his eyes still flaring. His face softened as he saw her.
"Hi, how are you?"
"Ok I guess. What was that all about?"
Remus hesitated then sighed she was going to tell her eventually why not now.
"Nicky asked me to go the little celebration some people were having on the Quidditch pitch."
"Wait who won the cup? Hufflepuff," Anna interrupted him. He nodded and continued.
"However before that I had asked her if she wanted to go out with me some time. So I thought it meant what I thought it did. Obviously I was wrong. We go to this thing and Nicky starts talking to Matt Walker from Hufflepuff, I was about to go over to her when I suddenly saw them kiss."
"Oh no," Anna said walking over to Remus who had slumped down as thought defeated on to the couch. "Did she say why she did it?"
"No but from the way she was looking at him after I could tell she did. She couldn't say anything I think she was so smitten with him," Remus said disgustedly.
"Ok I will go and talk to Nicky. Have you seen Lupin?" Anna asked and Remus suddenly wouldn't meet her eyes.
"He um… is asleep."
"Oh ok, well I will see you tomorrow." Anna sighed as she went up the stairs to the dormitory, she was forever fixing people up it seemed. How could her own love life have been such a mess?
"Nicky, what in Merlin's name happened?"
"I didn't do anything. I was standing there talking to Matt because came over to me. Then I don't know what happened he just came down on me and kissed me I didn't know what to do I was so shocked I just stood there. Then Remus came over and got all upset. It was only a kiss on the cheek for Merlin sake."
"Do you like Remus?"
"I never really thought about it before but I know I don't want him to stay mad at me anymore. I want everything to go back to the way things were."
"Why do you want to make things right again? Why does it seem so important?"
"Because… it just does, I don't like it that he thinks I like Matt. I--I just realize I am an idiot. Of course I am why else would my heart beat faster when he is around? Merlin when did that happen? Thanks Anna," she said and ran out the common room.
Anna woke up the next morning and went down to breakfast it seemed Nicky and Remus had finally realized they liked each other. When Remus kissed Nicky goodbye and left with Sirius a few girls came over to where Anna and Nicky were.
"Um… Nicky Wood?" Nicky looked a little shocked but answered them.
"Yes what can I do for you?"
"We were wondering if we could have your autograph." Stunned silence filled the table.
"Wh--Why?"
"Because you are the only known person to go out with Remus Black. We would like to put it in out newsletter at the end of the month, you know for the fan club." Nicky turned bright red but signed the piece of parchment. Anna couldn't stop laughing after this. She stopped suddenly when she spotted Lupin walk into the great Hall see her then leave.
She didn't get a chance to speak to him until Potions for their first lesson. He stood next to her not speaking. She kept whispering to him but he was ignoring her. It was only after Professor Valor asked her if there was something she would like to share with the entire class did she stop. So, she tried to pass him notes instead this however caused her potion to be completely ruined as she didn't realize she was adding the wrong ingredient. It started burning a hole in her cauldron, spilt on to the floor and the stools and desks started to disintegrate. Professor Valor spent the rest of the class cleaning it up and gave Anna detention for the next night.
When class let out for lunch Lupin went straight out and didn't look back. She knew what was wrong but couldn't believe he was not talking to her because of it.
"Look what's wrong? There is nothing I can do about it. It's my destiny." She said when she caught up with him.
"Well pick a different destiny," he snarled, turning around finally.
"I don't want another one. I want to rid the world of evil. If you can't accept that there is nothing I can do about it."
"I don't want to accept it I want you to be in my life."
"So do I but if that means letting the world fall into ruin. Then I can't do it sorry." She walked away leaving Lupin staring after her.
That evening after dinner Anna went down to Hermione's office. She knocked on the door and went in. Hermione was reading a letter and looked up as Anna entered. Hermione showed Anna a picture of Harry, Ginny and Josh. After a few minutes of gushing and 'Oh, how cute was that!' they got to work on the potion.
"So, where were we?" Anna got everything out of her bag and she and Hermione started working. They worked straight for three hours, neither noticing the time going by. Anna was getting nervous the potion was coming close to being finished. She figured it would take a few more weeks and it would be done.
"I think we should work on it tomorrow—"
"I can't tomorrow I have detention."
"Ok the day after then. Then it will need to stew for a week. And it is missing something, and I can't put my finger on it. Think about it, will you?" Anna nodded and cleaned up and left.
As she was walking back to the common room Lupin caught up with her. She turned to face him, she opened her mouth to say something but he cut in front of her.
"I love you I would do anything for I am going to help you the most I can. I will find a way to save you. You don't fear anything and that amazes me. I have a feeling you will save the world. I have been looking into your dreams and they seem to be connected to one of the potions that they gave you. I think it is one of the reason you will be the pure soul that saves the world…" he trailed off looking down. Anna went over to him and bent down slightly so she was looking up at his down turned head.
"I don't like it anymore than you do so I appreciate all the help I can get," she said. He bent down to kiss her. His lips were soft and gentle against her. She had never felt anything like it before and she wanted it to last forever.
Anna sat in Care of Magical Creatures, she liked Professor Charlie Weasley, and he was funny. But today she just couldn't concentrate. Her mind kept going back to what Lupin had said the previous night. You don't fear anything… This statement kept repeating it's self over and over again. Why was it so important? Then like a bolt of lighting it hit her.
"Yes," she exclaimed. Everyone stared at her. "Sorry," she said but she couldn't help smiling.
A week and a day later Anna was sitting on the desk of Professor Weasleys classroom. Waiting for Hermione to come in, she had gone to get an ingredient for the potion. Anna was nervous. When this was finished it would be time, time for her to fulfill the prophecy and time for her to die.
"Well this should work," Hermione said coming back in and giving Anna the ingredient. Salamander tail. "Did you have time to think about the thing that's missing from the potion?"
"Yeah I did, it was hell trying to get it but… Have you heard of the Pool of Fear?"
"Where the Dementors get their power from? That's a myth there isn't a pool. Is there?"
"I, with the help of Cynthia Malfoy and Delilah Nott found it. I bet they are going to hate themselves when they find out. Anyway, we need the potion to combined Evil and Good, so why not use the essence of Evil, fear, to be the main ingredient. I found the pool it's in the Forbidden Forest, here." She handed Hermione a vial of water. Hermione stood in shock.
"This is impossible," she whispered.
"Nothing is impossible," Anna stated. "Now come on lets add the Salamander Tail and the water and we should be done."
Hermione nodded and Anna added the Tails. Hermione turned to Anna who took the vial, poured it in, the potion turned emerald green and gave off a few sparks. Then there was a rumble like thunder and it stopped, suddenly the potion exploded. Anna and Hermione were thrown backward across the room hitting desks and breaking stools. When the smoke cleared they both got up coughing and groaning in pain.
"I think it worked," said Hermione and Anna started laughing.
"It better bloody well have," and at that Hermione started laughing.
"Do you know the spell that goes with it?"
"Yes Professor Snape helped me with it before he… you know." There was a silence and their laughter was gone.
"So are you going to tell me who is going to take this potion?" Hermione said changing the subject.
"Well… me."
"Oh Anna no, you can't. I just found out I have a niece I can't lose you when we only just met."
"It has to be me." Neither of them said anything for a while.
"I know it does. I knew when you told me it had to be a pure soul. I knew it was you I just didn't want to believe it."
"Believe me, I don't want to do but I have to. And you can't tell dad he can't know until he has no choice." Hermione sighed and nodded. Then she went over to Anna and engulfed her in a hug. It was a warm mothering hug and she felt her fears subside.