Hey everyone, so my new laptop crashed on me halfway through this chapter so please bear with me as I rewrite this entire chapter on my phone. It won't be perfect and there will be some mistakes. I hope you can bear with me on this one. Fair warning, this chapter is the longest so far as I mentioned in the last chapter. Anyways, here's chapter 3. Enjoy :)
~ T. T. Zoldy
Chapter 3
What It Take to Be In Charge
September 1st, 1993
King's Cross Station - Platform 9 and 3/4's
After making sure everything was packed and double and triple-checking to make sure they had everything, Star and Jesse decided upon Side-Along Apparation with Anna and James to King's Cross Station. Anna and Star steadied themselves when they landed at the Apparation point, not too far from King's Cross Station. They rushed to the station to grab trolleys for Anna and James; Jesse and James following quickly behind them.
"Hurry now!" Star exclaimed as she and James sunk through the barrier. Jesse and Anna followed after them and soon they were on Platform 9 and 3/4's. The Hogwarts Express stood before them, a large scarlet steam engine. Anna and James exchanged broad grins as they rushed to put their trunks on board. The platform was blanketed in thick white smoke that the train was billowing from the front.
They caught sight of the large brood of redheads and Anna waved cheerfully at Fred and George Weasley, who caught sight of her and grinned, waving right back as their mother, Molly, a short and plump redheaded witch was handing all of her children sandwiches.
"C'mon Hopper, we need to get our stuff on the train!" James said loudly over all the noise from the platform. Owls in their cages were hooting, cats in their carriers were hissing and spitting, children running after one another laughing and some younger children crying as their older siblings left them for another school year—still too young to join them. Anna turned and helped James get his trunk on the train, him helping her with her own a moment later.
They went back to Jesse and Star, James hugged his parents lovingly. They hugged Anna in her turn, Star even swooped down to plant a kiss on Anna's cheek affectionately like she was her own daughter and Anna smiled at them, misty-eyed. "Tell your friends that everyone is invited to stay for Christmas and New Year. We can invite their families too. We'll have the whole Lot over for the holidays." Jesse said with a smile, ruffling Anna's, then James's hair affectionately.
"Alright, off you go," Star said, she gave Anna and James's foreheads each a kiss and waved to them as they boarded. "Don't forget to write!" She called after them as the train billowed a large cloud of smoke and blew a loud shrill whistle as all the doors began slamming shut before the train began to pull out of the station as the clock struck 11. Anna and James waved to the Summer parents until the train rounded a corner and they—and the platform—vanished from sight.
James and Anna exchanged smiles and pinned their Prefect badges to their jumpers before they linked arms and went off in search of the Prefect carriage, where they'd receive their orders. They finally found it with Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater as Head Boy and Girl.
Anna beamed at the sight.
"Percy! How lovely to see you!"
"Anna!" He exclaimed and pulled her in for a hug, he pulled away after a moment and his eyes travelled to her badge, a smile broke out across his features. "You're a Prefect, oh how wonderful!" He beamed.
Anna nodded before she smiled at Penelope. "Hello, Penelope,"
"Miss Cloud," she said, all too formal. Maybe she still held a grudge over the fact that the Lot had pranked her back in their first year, or maybe it was because she was embarrassed about the fact that Anna helped brew the potion that had revived her from being Petrified the year before.
"Penelope, please be nice. Anna is like family to me." Percy said and Penelope scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away from him. "Penny, please don't do that."
She rounded on him and prodded him in the chest. "Then perhaps you'd like to know that your 'family' hexed me and Jane back when they were first years." She said hotly, using her fingers to use air quotes.
"Oh relax, Clearwater, it was a simple joke." James cut in, stepping in front of Anna as though Penelope would turn on her next, protecting her from the Ravenclaw's wrath. Anna gasped softly and if she was looking at James from the front she was certain his eyes were flashing gold, but Penelope didn't react to his eyes so Anna couldn't be sure.
Suddenly, Penelope rounded on James. "Well, Summers, Jane and I didn't think it was very funny." She glared and James actually growled at her, if his eyes hadn't been gold before they definitely were now, Penelope gasped softly at the sight and Anna quickly stepped between the pair of them.
"James, love. Relax, please." Anna soothed, ignoring Clearwater for a moment to rein in her overprotective, werewolf boyfriend by placing a hand on his shoulder, his eyes slowly returned to their pale green shade as her eyes shifted to violet. Vixen was warning him to behave and he obeyed. Anna turned to face Penelope. "Don't worry, Penelope, the Lot and I served detention for that. One of our hexes missed and hit Valeria." It was a lie, of course, the Lot serving detention. They had happily gotten away with their little prank, but the lie seemed to put Penelope's short-tempered nerves at ease.
"I knew it was you!" a voice cried from the doorway and everyone turned to spot Valeria and Justin standing there, green and silver Prefect badges pinned to their jumpers.
"Oh! You've both been made Prefects! Wicked!" Anna exclaimed, hugging the witch who took a moment to hug her back. Ever since Valeria had apologized for hexing Anna in the middle of their Care of Magical Creatures class, the pair had become a rather unlikely pair of friends. They weren't as close as Anna was to her roommates or the rest of the Lot for Sorting reasons, but she talked to Valeria whenever she could.
"I knew it was you who hexed me back in the first year," Valeria said as the pair of witches let one another go, she eyed Anna warily before she cracked a smile that seemed impossible for her to hide any longer. She seemed amused.
Anna smirked and placed her hands on her hips, her eyes flashing violet. "You still haven't gotten me back for that, Earheart, but I know you won't hold a grudge, Val, that was bloody first year."
Valeria smirked and copied Anna's movement by placing her hands on her own hips. "First-year or not, Cloud, you still hexed me." She dropped her hands and frowned. "It felt like I was being attacked," she confessed and Anna frowned at the confession while Justin burst into laughter.
The pair of witches drew their wands and each sent a little Static Jinx to Justin's legs. Suddenly, his hair stood on end, but he did stop laughing at Valeria's expense.
Anna put away her wand and smiled at Valeria. "Oh, relax your knickers, Val. It was just a joke, besides you weren't our intended target that day, one of our hexes missed."
Valerie raised a brow in amusement, she put away her wand before she placed a hand on her hip. "Who was your intended target then?" Anna thumbed over her shoulder to Penelope, who was still trying to ignore Percy, who was pleading with his girlfriend to lighten up.
Justin burst into laughter once more, this time Penelope's expense. "Oh Merlin, she must've had a fit when she found out she'd be in charge of you and James as Prefects." Anna and Valeria joined in on the laughter and Anna nodded in agreement.
"Most likely," James chimed in with a smirk and pulled Anna's waist towards him and buried his nose into her wild mane of blackberry curls, a grin on his face.
oOoOoOo
Hogwarts Express
After the Prefects received their orders to patrol the corridors of the train for a couple of hours, Anna and James went on a break to find their friends. They found Irys, Peter, Mia and Al in a compartment and Irys jumped from her seat in surprise at the sight of them when the compartment door opened. "Where the fuck have you two been?" She exclaimed.
"Yeah, we thought you missed the bloody train," Peter chimed in, pulling Irys backwards by the waist and she fell into his lap with a shrill squeal of surprise, but didn't struggle against her boyfriend so Anna and James could sit comfortably on the compartment seat next to them.
Anna and James simply smirked and pulled on their jumpers, their Prefects badges shimmering in the light of the compartment. "We went to get our orders from the Head Boy and Girl and you'll never guess who the Head Girl is," Anna said, a flash of mischief in her ocean eyes.
"Who's the Head Girl?" Mia asked, her head was currently in Al's lap, he was playing with her short raven hair.
Anna grinned before it became a smirk. "Clearwater."
"No!" Irys exclaimed in shock before she burst into laughter. "Oh Merlin, she still holds a grudge from back when we were first years."
Anna laughed and sat down on Jamie's lap, Irys's feet and her own bumping together every few minutes with the jolting of the train. "Indeed she does, Rosier said it's likely she had a fit when she found out, which she did have a fit, our orders took longer than expected because Clearwater was having a bloody tantrum."
"Who else are Prefects?" Al asked, raising his head to look at Anna and James, finally taking his loving gaze off the witch with her head in his lap, his fingers still threading through the short raven locks.
"Well for Slytherin, there's Val and Justin, James and I are it for Hufflepuffs, Erin Clarke and a girl whose name I didn't catch for Gryffindor, and Aggens is the female Prefect for Ravenclaw, I didn't catch the boys name. I think his name is Daniel or David."
James nodded. "Daniel Hardwind."
"No bloody way! Hardwind! He got a fucking Prefect badge!" Mia snarled, sitting bolt upright. "Merlin's saggy balls, what's the world coming to," her head fell into her own lap as she clutched her head with both hands. Everyone laughed, the whole Lot knew that Mia hated Daniel Hardwind for the simple fact that many times during classes he had tried to hit on her, one time actually going so far as to hold her hand during Potions before she pulled her hand away and used it to slap him hard across the face, the impact of the slap had been enough to turn his face to the side. Snape had deducted 20 points from Hufflepuff and because her threat had been of a violent nature, Mia had served detention. However, when Mia returned to the dorms from detention that evening, she had told the rest of the girls that slapping him had felt good, regardless, even after she slapped him, he still made advances on her, only this time, he seemed properly infatuated with the raven-haired witch, when before it had only been an obsession. "I swear to Merlin, if he tries to come onto me again this year, I'm gonna throttle him into the Black Lake."
"Careful, Miss Valentine," a voice said from the compartment door and who else could it have been but Daniel Hardwind himself. The Ravenclaw Prefect smirked at the short raven-haired witch, who huffed at being interrupted before she narrowed her eyes at the sight of him, standing rather smugly in the compartment doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and he leant against the door frame. He feigned a pout. "Or else someone might think you mean that."
"Or what, Hardwind?" She countered, looking defiant, narrowing her bright green eyes further.
"I can easily doc point from Hufflepuff, but I'm not here for you right now," Daniel said, ignoring the fact that Al growled at him and seized Mia's waist, protectively pulling her closer to him as he glared daggers at the Ravenclaw. "I came to let Miss Cloud and Mister Summers know that their break was over."
"Thank you for letting us know Daniel, we'll be out in a moment." Daniel nodded and left the compartment, but not before he sent Mia a smirk. The moment the compartment door had closed behind him, Anna waved her wand over the door knowing that Mia would burst into a fit the moment he left, and she had been right.
"I swear to Merlin, if he continues this shit with me, I'm going to Dumbledore for harassment!" Mia huffed, leaning back in her seat and crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'd prefer if you throttle him first then go to Dumbledore," Irys winked and Mia managed to crack a smile.
"Irys!" Peter exclaimed, gaping at his girlfriend, who was playing innocent as she perched in his lap.
"It's true! That arsehole deserves to be in Slytherin, and on the sex offenders registry." Everyone laughed, except Anna, who stood and excused herself.
"Shit," James muttered under his breath and bid his friends farewell before running after her. He caught her arm and spun her around to face him, she had tears in her eyes. "Anna, I'm so sorry."
"What are you apologizing for? It's his fault," she said with a sob that she tried so very hard to stifle. He huffed and hugged her tightly. "Merlin, I forgot the hearing is soon." She mumbled into his chest.
"November 24th? Right?" Anna nodded into his chest. "I swear if he tries anything, and I mean anything, even if he tries to fucking hex you, I'll kill him. Save everyone the trouble."
"Then you'd go to Azkaban in his place, I won't allow that, Jamie." Anna pointed out, looking up into his eyes, that were liquid gold in colour, the molten colour swirling in their depths, Anna was momentarily paralysed at the sight, the colour only swirled like that when James was really angry. "You in Azkaban. Merlin, I don't think I could live with myself if you ended up there." She hugged him tightly as though he'd vanish at any moment and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent to ground herself.
Parchment, chocolate and treacle tart.
"If it's to protect you from fucking Bloodwell then it's worth it," James said as he hugged her close to him tightly.
She inhaled his scent again, grounding herself, letting out a sigh of content. When they had been younger, she used to smell the grass on him, but now, she could smell the treacle tart. Reality hit her and she burst into a fit of giggles. "Did you steal a piece of treacle tart Lina made for your Mum before we left the Manor?" James looked like a first-year caught out after curfew.
"How did you—"
She pulled away from him with a laugh and pointed to herself, twitching and tapping her nose in explanation as she said, "Wolf." He laughed and kissed the top of her head.
oOoOoOo
Hogwarts Express
~ A Couple Hours Later ~
As the train grew ever nearer to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade Station, Anna and James took another break by visiting Holly, Weaver, Amos and Thomas in another compartment on the train. "Where's Tip and Queenie?" Anna asked as she and James took a seat across from their friends, James's head falling swiftly into her lap, her hands automatically went to thread through his shaggy honey-brown hair.
"Went off in search of the others, Cedric said he was off to find Cho," Weaver said, sarcasm and malice laced her tone. Anna growled and Vixen hissed in offence.
Wow, he's rather spend more time with that stupid, overwrought slag than his own friends. Vixen muttered and Anna silenced her complaints.
"And Queenie?" Anna asked, raising a brow.
"Said something about going to use the loo, still hasn't come back. I hope she's alright," Holly said as she snuggled further into Amos's chest, his strong Quidditch built arms wrapping around her without complaint.
"I thought you and Weaver were going to meet us at Hogwarts," Anna said, looking at Holly. She had to admit, finding them on the train had startled her.
"Mum sent us to see Dad for the rest of the holidays, so we got to take the train back." Holly explained and Anna inclined her head in understanding.
"Why didn't you tell me in your letters?" Anna asked.
Weaver and Holly let out identical nervous bouts of laughter. "We forgot." They said together, no one at all surprised that they'd synced. It was times like this that reminded everyone that Weaver and Holly were fraternal twins.
Anna snorted a laugh, sending Holly a wink, pointing between the twins. "Identical." Holly burst into laughter.
As they chatted and laughed together, all was well for a while, until the train suddenly lurched to a stop, Anna and James were nearly thrown from their seat at the impact. "It's too early," Amos said, checking his watch. "We can't be there yet."
"Relax, love. Perhaps we've just broken down." Holly said, sitting up and rubbing his cheek with her thumb; the action seemed to calm him a great deal.
Suddenly, they all took sharp intakes of breath as the temperature around them plummeted to below freezing. They could plainly see each others breath, Weaver was clinging to Thomas's waist tightly and he had a protective arm around her shoulder, Amos hugged Holly even tighter then before and James had sat straight up, Anna clinging to his arm tightly as they were all plunged into darkness as the train's interior lights went out. They heard the compartment door open.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Clover?"
"Weaver?"
"Yeah, it's me, come sit."
"Not here! We're here!" They heard Amos say, apparently Clover had attempted to sit on Holly and Amos.
"Sorry!" They heard Clover say quickly before Anna and James felt the seat next to them dip under her weight. "Who's beside me?"
"That would be me and James, C."
"Anna!" Anna felt herself being pulled away from James into her embrace and they nearly knocked heads in the darkness. "Sorry, how have you been?"
Anna laughed. "We've been good." Suddenly, the one thing Anna was dreading the most was the realization of the possibility of the train being searched. She voiced this theory aloud. "You don't think it's the Ministry? Do you? Searching the train for Black?"
"I hope it's just the Ministry and not those bloody Azkaban guards! They give me the collywobbles." They heard Weaver say darkly, with a sudden shudder in her voice.
"You mean the Dementors?" Anna asked, and the moment she had spoken their actual name, the temperature plummeted further, they could hear the compartment windows crackling with frost now and Anna's heart sank, Vixen was running around their mind in a clear panic. It's Dementors! Fuck! Anna! We've got to do something!
What are we supposed to do? Anna whispered in defeat in her mind as Vixen stared at her incredulously.
The Patronus Charm, you idiot! If they enter the compartment, use your Patronus! Vixen hissed.
Anna nearly slapped herself, the solution was so bloody fucking simple! She took out her wand and made an attempt to stand, but tripped over a pair of legs on her way towards the compartment door and landed in someone else's lap. "Sorry! I tripped!" She said quickly, making to stand and she heard Thomas laugh, he sounded close. "Who did I trip over? And who did I land on?" As she said it, she looked around, even though it was pointless because of the darkness.
"You tripped over my legs, Anna." They heard Holly say.
"Sorry Hols. And who did I land on?"
"Me." Came Thomas's voice.
She was thankful for the darkness as she blushed deeply in embarrassment. "Sorry Tommy,"
"That's alright, Hopper, where are you going anyways?" She heard Thomas whisper, so low that she was certain that only she had heard him, which was highly unlikely as the compartment had grown deadly quiet. Anna regained her footing and very carefully made her way to the compartment door.
"Corridor. Only one thing makes frost appear, and that's—" Anna stopped abruptly and cried out, covering her ears as screams for mercy filled her head. She barely heard the compartment door creak open once more.
"Please! I swear we don't know anything!"
"Liar! Crucio!"
"Leave her alone!"
" . . . No! You leave our Tassiyanna alone!"
"No! Mary! You bastards!"
"Wish granted. Avada Kedavra!"
Anna winced as a flash of green light glowed behind her eyelids, her mother's pleading screams roaring in her ears, her father screaming at the ones who dare harm his family. Suddenly, everything went black.
She heard voices calling out to her, worried voices; scared, shaking voices. She heard them long before she had the strength to open her eyes again. Anna twitched and gasped loudly as her eyes flew open suddenly. The train seemed to be moving again, the lights were on once more—flooding the compartment with light—, the pouring rain blurring the rolling countryside beyond the windows, Anna found herself splayed out on the compartment floor. She sat up, but swayed, she felt a pair of hands steady her and help her to her feet. She turned and smiled at Thomas, who examined her face in concern. "You okay, Anna?"
"I am now, thanks." She lied easily, in fact, she was frozen, her entire body numb head to toe. She turned to James, who appeared to be shaking. Thomas helped her over to him. "Are you alright, love?" When James turned to face her, Anna gasped, he had tears in his—now—golden eyes, he hugged her tightly, cupping her face and examining her closely.
"You're alright?" He sounded surprised. "We heard the compartment door open and you cry out, then the thud on the compartment floor! We thought something had gotten to you! That something had harmed you! I-I thought . . . something . . . killed you. Th-then the lights came back on and you were splayed out on the floor, y-you weren't answering us." She shushed him by hugging him tightly, allowing her nails to graze his skull, the action seemed to work as he stopped muttering incoherently and simply hugged her tight.
"'M fine, love. Do you still have those Chocolate Frogs I gave you?" She felt James nod. "How many do you have left? Do you have enough for the lot of us here? Now?" He nodded again.
Vixen's violet eyes solidified and she forced a smile she knew didn't reach her eyes. "Good, pass them to me—Don't argue with me, Moony! Pass them over, trust me." He begrudgingly passed over the bag of Chocolate Frogs and Vixen passed one each to them, keeping one for herself and passing the final one to James. "I'll buy you more on the first trip to Hogsmeade, deal?"
"Deal." He smiled.
"We just got attacked by a bloody Dementor, Anna! Chocolate won't—"
"Just shut up and eat it!" Vixen snapped and at her tone, no one questioned her. They each took a bite of their chocolate and Vixen smiled when she saw the colour return to everyone's face, including James's. "Better?" Everyone nodded.
"That was awful! It felt as thought I'd never be cheerful again." Holly said, hugging herself and Amos hugged her from behind even tighter.
"You gave us a right good scare Anna, we thought it had killed you, we only heard you scream and hit the floor." Thomas said, sitting back down next to Weaver, who clung to his arm in what looked to be a deadly grip; her knuckles were beginning to turn white.
"I promise, I'm fine." Vixen reassured as she took a bite of her own Chocolate Frog, warmth immediately overtook her body and she couldn't contain the sigh of relief that escaped her. Anna's blue eyes returned.
James hugged her tightly when he noticed her eyes return to their original shade of blue, forcing her head into the crook of his neck. "Never and I mean never bloody scare me like that again, I thought I lost you. You weren't answering us, we just heard you scream, then hit the floor then nothing. No sound, not even a whimper."
"James, I suppose it doesn't matter now, but you could've used your lupine hearing to check and see if my heart was beating." James blanched and he then—quite literally—slapped himself upside the head.
"Damn it! Why didn't I bloody think of that!" Anna giggled and brushed her fingers through his hair.
"Say, Anna?" Anna turned to Clover, who was still shaking slightly. Anna reached out a hand and rubbed Clover's arm soothingly until her feline friend stopped shaking. "Why did you scream? It's not like you could see the Dementor,"
Anna felt her face heat with embarrassment. "It's hard to explain."
"You heard them again? Didn't you? Your parents?" Weaver asked, sitting up, finally letting go of Tommy's arm. Anna spun around to look at her, but she hung her head low and nodded in confirmation.
"Talk about a birthday downer," Anna said with a chuckle that made everyone laugh and Anna's spirits were instantly lifted.
Suddenly, the compartment door opened, all eyes turned and Valeria stood there in the doorway, as white as a sheet, her eyes wide in shock. She calmed down a great deal when she caught sight of Anna. "We'll be arriving in 10 minutes."
Before she could turn to leave, Anna jumped up from her seat and caught her arm, handing the Slytherin the rest of her Chocolate Frog. "Eat it, it'll warm you up." She coaxed and Valeria consented to take a bite, her colour returned almost instantly; a look of silent relief crossing her sharp, aristocratic features.
"Thanks," she smiled gratefully.
"You looked like you needed it more then I did."
"Anna!" Clover hissed. "You bloody passed out! I believe you needed it more."
"It's already dealt with, C. Besides, I took a bite and feel better, the way she was looking, she needed it more."
"Have you looked in the mirror lately, Cloud?" Anna turned back to Valeria who was smirking at her, her eyes on Anna's hair. "Your hair is . . . less puffskein nest, more ball of yarn." She giggled and poked Anna's hair with an outstretched index finger, which she quickly pulled away when Anna attempted to swat her hand.
"I passed out, Earheart, what did you expect?"
"I expected a valiant Gryffindor to come save you, but it seems the rabble have settled instead." She eyed the rest of the Lot inside the compartment and Anna glared at her.
"Val," she warned and Valeria burst into laughter.
"I'm only taking the piss, relax. Better get ready, Percy tells me we'll be arriving soon, he's sent me off to let everyone know."
"Thanks for the heads up. See you in the Great Hall." Anna smiled and Valeria gave her a swift hug before she set off down the carriage corridor, opening and closing the rest of the compartment doors, checking on students and letting them know that they'd be arriving soon.
oOoOoOo
Snape's Office
"Miss Cloud? Mister Summers? Might I have a quick word?" Anna and James turned to find Severus Snape, their Potions Professor standing behind them, looming over them. The couple nodded and followed Snape to the Dungeons.
"Are we in trouble, Professor?" James asked and he was surprised when Snape turned around to face them again, once in the safety of his office, his face showed signs of worry.
"I heard what happened on the train. Vixen? Are you alright?" Anna's eyes faded to violet and Vixen nodded.
"It was searching the train for Black, Severus. We're fine, Anna's a little shaken up, but nothing a bar of Honeydukes chocolate can't fix."
"And you?" Severus asked, regarding Vixen with hard eyes, examining her as though she'd suddenly dissolve into tears.
"I'm fine, Severus. A little shaken up, but we already gave chocolate to all those who were in the compartment at the time." Severus smiled at this.
"You always knew your remedies." Vixen turned slightly pink at the praise and mumbled a thanks, toeing the floor.
"Is that all you wished to see us about, Severus? To make sure we were alright?" Severus shook his head, his mouth pressing into a hard line, he turned to James.
"You'll need to find another place to transform, I'm afraid, Mister Summers. Someone else will be using the Shrieking Shack during the full moons."
Vixen gaped at him. "There's another werewolf? Why not let him join our pack?"
"He already has a pack, Vixen. He's also a fully grown man."
"You mean he's a Professor? Who?"
"There's only one vacancy, Vix. Defence." James said and Vixen stared at him for a moment before she rounded on Severus.
"What's his name, Sev."
Snape grit his teeth, his expression becoming one pure loathing. "Lupin."
Vixen gasped, her eyes bright with a sudden joy. "You mean Remus is here!? Oh how jolly wonderful!" With her lupine hearing she could hear Severus grinding his teeth in hatred, doing all he could not to glare at his childhood friend, lest she slap him good for even daring to glare at her. "Oh relax, Severus, you'll get the job eventually, you're the best Potions Master we'll ever have. You will be in charge of brewing Remus's Wolfsbane, I expect?" Snape nodded and Vixen seemed to nod in satisfaction, a smile crossing her features. The sight of her kind, caring, and affectionate smile made Severus return it.
"But Vix, where am I gonna transform now?" James whinged and Vixen shot him a look for whinging, he cut off the tone in his voice immediately at her glare.
Anna's blue eyes returned. "Don't worry, love. We can use the Room of Requirement. It's already made to protect and before every full moon, Severus, Poppy and I can go make sure that the room will keep you in and that no one else can enter on accident. We'll make the room just for you."
"What about you? You won't be able to join me," James slapped a hand over his mouth and stared at Snape with wide green eyes. "I-I mean,"
Snape actually laughed at this. "No need to worry, Mister Summers, I know that Anna is an Animagus already, Vixen was one as well."
Vixen's violet eyes solidified as she placed a hand on her hip and smirked at Snape. "Good to know you still remember that incident, Severus. Still have the scar?" Severus nodded and pulled up the sleeve of his right forearm, showing the pair a number of tiny scars that looked like bite marks.
"Vixen! You bit him!" James exclaimed, rounding on her, pointing a finger at her accusingly.
"Never hard enough to seriously harm him, James. Don't worry, all those bite marks were made from being playful."
"You still bit a Professor!"
"I wasn't her Professor at the time, Mister Summers. We were students together." Severus explained.
Vixen smiled at the pair of men. "Regulus had them too; the scars."
"How many of you were Animagi?" James asked curiously, looking between Vixen and Snape.
"Just me and my sister," Vixen replied. It was a lie, of course; she, her sister and their brother had been Animagi.
"What shape did your sister's form take?"
Vixen smiled at Severus's question of pure curiosity. "A fox."
oOoOoOo
Great Hall
"Oh! We've missed the Sorting! We didn't even place bets this year!" Anna cried as Snape escorted them back to the Great Hall. New students were sorted into houses by trying on the Sorting Hat, which shouted the house the student best suited; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. For the past four years, Anna and James placed bets to see how many new students Hufflepuff would receive, Anna had won every year thus far.
"Don't worry, Anna, there's always next year. However, we can always ask everyone how many we got, care to wager before we ask?" He waggled his eyebrows at her and she smirked, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'd say, about 15 to 25. You owe me 7 Galleons, if I win."
"You're on." He grinned.
They took their seat at the Hufflepuff table, Anna grinned at the sight of all the new students in their traditional black robes, she counted exactly 25 new Hufflepuffs and sent James a grin, holding out her palm. He did a head count, recounting to see if he had missed any and sighed heavily, placing 7 golden Galleons into her open palm. The Lot laughed.
"Another win for the Hufflepuff Hazard!" Weaver announced happily, and rather loudly, gaining the attention of half of the Gryffindor table, including the Weasley Twins.
Suddenly, Dumbledore stood from his seat and addressed the students. Their Headmaster was very old, with long silver hair and beard that he could easily tuck into the belt of his robes, he had shimmering blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles and an extremely crooked nose, that looked as though it had been broken several times. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age, but Anna respected him for other reasons. He was just someone you could trust. Vixen was muttering bitterly in Anna's mind, calling Dumbledore an 'old geezer'. Anna watched him as he beamed around at everyone, his eyes landing on Anna for a moment before they landed on Harry.
"Welcome!" he said, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things I'd like to say to all of you, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast . . ." He cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is currently playing host to the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, Anna and James glanced at each other. The rest of the Lot had begun whispering amongst themselves. "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading and excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you, give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors." Dumbledore paused again and regarded the Hall with a great seriousness in his eyes, no one moved or made a sound.
Suddenly, he smiled and clapped his hands together. "On a more happier note, I'm pleased to introduce two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor R. J. Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only a fair few were applauding greatly—which included Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny—and Anna couldn't help but smile at Professor Lupin, Vixen's violet eyes were shining with tears as she regarded her new Professor, his shabby, second-hand robes to his greying hair, even though he still looked rather young. "As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, after the applause died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn retired at the end of last year, in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs." Anna frowned, how had she forgotten, she'd never see Professor Kettleburn again. Merlin, she'd miss the man who taught her everything she knew about magical creatures. "However," Dumbledore continued, a pleasant tone to his voice. "I'm delighted to announce that his place shall be taken by none other then our own Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on the teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Anna stared at the Head table in shock, Hagrid had tears in his eyes, yet he was beaming with joy. She had known Professor Kettleburn had trusted Professor Dumbledore to make a wise decision about his replacement and Anna couldn't help but smile in agreement at his choice. If anyone deserved to be a Professor at Hogwarts, it was Hagrid, who had been living on the grounds since he was 13 years old. Anna joined in with the applause after the initial shock died away, Vixen was bawling with joy in her mind and she caught Minnie's eye as she wiped the tears forming in her own eyes. Minerva smiled at her affectionately. The applause was tumultuous, especially from the Gryffindor table. "I should've known!" Anna breathed, staring at James with wide eyes "Who else would've set us a biting book!" James laughed loudly and gave Anna a smile.
"Oh! Look how happy he is!" Weaver exclaimed, pointing back to the Head's table, where Hagrid was ruby red in the face and staring at his large hands, his wide grin hidden in his tangle of black beard.
When the applause finally died down, Anna noticed that Harry, Ron and Hermione were the last to stop clapping. "Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the feast begin!" said Dumbledore as he waved his wand and the goblets and golden platters filled themselves with food and drink. Anna helped herself to some tomato basil soup, which she knew was one of Tilly's specialities—Tilly always had it prepared; knowing it was one of Anna's favourites—, some lamb chops, mashed potatoes and a cob of corn.
The feast, as always, was delicious; before long, the food faded away to be replaced with pudding and Anna gaped at the beautiful birthday cake that had appeared in front of her. In yellow curly letters, was a message on top of the cake.
Happy Birthday Miss Anna
Love Tilly and the House-elves
Anna clutched her heart in awe and cut slices, handing one to each of her friends, ending with herself. "Anna, the birthday girl should have the first piece, it's tradition."
"It's my birthday, C." Anna said, casting their feline friend a quick glance, passing her a piece of cake, which after a moment, Clover accepted. "Besides, we're gonna be full of pudding later anyways, you know Tilly will bring us more snacks and desserts once we start celebrating in the Common Room."
"Tilly never misses an opportunity to spoil Anna on her birthday," James chimed in, sending Anna a wink as her eyes flashed violet and Vixen smirked. Of course, James knew the real reason why Tilly felt it was necessary to spoil Anna on her birthday. She was spoiling both Anna and Vixen, since the pair shared a birthday. Vixen had told the pair during one of Anna's control lessons about how Vixen couldn't bear to take Anna's true birthday away from her, even though her older sister Mia had had no choice but to change her true birthday, since it would've cast doubt on the illusion that she and their older brother were twins.
They enjoyed the birthday cake before the rest of the pudding faded from all the golden plates, leaving them gleaming once more as Dumbledore stood and sent them all to bed. As Prefects, Anna and James stood and led the rest of Hufflepuff House to the Common Room. "First-years, follow us please." Anna said with a heartwarming smile that seemed to put a few nervous first-years at ease, they visibly relaxed. She and James stood at the forefront of the queue. The first-years lined up and followed them to the kitchens, the rest of Hufflepuff House following swiftly behind them.
In the Kitchens, they were greeted by the House-elves, who all wished Anna a very happy birthday, Tilly was at the forefront jumping up and down in excitement. "Tilly is so excited! Happy birthday, Miss Anna!" She squealed.
Anna smiled at the blue-eyed House-elf affectionately and took her hand. "Thank you Tils, the cake was lovely and delicious by the way."
"Miss Anna can thank Winky."
Anna was startled by the revelation. "Winky was here?" Tilly nodded and Anna looked around for the brown-eyed House-elf. "Is she still?"
"No, Miss. Winky had to return home to her Master, but Winky helped Tilly with the cake." Tilly explained and Anna smiled, squeezing Tilly's hand softly in appreciation.
The Hufflepuffs approached the portrait of Helga Hufflepuff, who simply beamed at the sight of a Prefect badge pinned to Anna's robes. "Oh! Congratulations on your appointment as Prefect, Miss Cloud!"
"Thank you Helga," Anna beamed, standing aside to show James behind her, who was ushering some frightened first-years, his own badge glimmering in the light of the fireplace that stood along the far wall.
"Mister Summers has gotten one too! How lovely! You two deserve those badges, Miss Cloud." The portrait smiled affectionately.
Anna turned slightly pink at the praise and turned to face the first-years, speaking to them as a whole. "The new password is Puffapod. Please try to remember it, if you forget it; you'll be stuck out here unless someone from inside the Common Room lets you in or you'll end up spending the night out here in the Kitchens." Some first-years looked taken aback at her statement, but when Anna recited the password, Helga's portrait swung inwards and Anna moved aside to let everyone in. James passed her and kissed her cheek quickly before following the first-years into the Common Room.
"Oh, by the way, dear," Helga said, halting Anna from entering behind them, she turned and smiled at the portrait. "Happy birthday," Anna beamed.
"Thank you, Helga." She said before following after the rest of the House, the portrait hole closing behind her. Anna cleared her throat and everyone gave her their undivided attention, which made her smile thoughtfully. "For the Dormitories, boys, the staircase on your left; girls, the same on your right. Off to bed, all of you. First-years, your Dorms are the first doors you see, a sign is either on or beside the door, each Dorm has one bathroom each, get used to sharing, you'll have no choice. Goodnight, Badgers. Welcome to being a Hufflepuff." Anna said, rather proud of the fact that she had remembered Tonks's speech from the first time Anna had walked through the portrait hole herself as a first year. James ushered the first years up to bed before he returned to the Common Room.
"As for the rest of you, you're all welcome to join in on the celebrations." He grinned at them, his arms crossing over his chest, a flash of mischief in his soft green eyes. Anna was glad they didn't flash gold, it would've been rather difficult to explain to a group of Hufflepuffs, who didn't know his secret.
"Celebrations?" a third year Hufflepuff asked; his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
James smiled and went to stand next to Anna, taking her hand within his own. "Of course, we celebrate every year, you know this, Percival. Now can anyone venture a guess as to why?" Everyone from the Lot raised their hand rather smugly. "Someone who doesn't already know the answer." James added with a smirk. The Lot all put their hands down in disappointment, some grumbling out complaints.
Slowly, a hand raised itself and James smiled, gesturing for her to speak, she looked at Anna with soft eyes. "It's your birthday, isn't it?"
Anna nodded curtly, smiling at the girl she remembered clear as day. "That's right, Pharah, it's lovely to see you again, by the way."
"It's lovely to see you as a Prefect," Pharah replied with a smile, eyeing Anna's badge. "Both of you," She added, regarding both Prefects who stood in front of the fireplace, the light of the fire behind them silhouetted their figures, but glimmered and made Anna's hair stand out.
Suddenly, the rest of the Common Room all chorused into wishing Anna a happy birthday and Anna blushed in embarrassment at the sudden attention, toeing the floor. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You're all welcome to stay and celebrate with us, if you wish, if not; we will not hold it against you." James said and a handful of second, third and fourth years went up to bed. Among those who stayed were, the Lot, Pharah, Autumn Thunderstorm, Emma Stone—who was now in her final year at Hogwarts—, and a group of Fifth to Seventh Years that Anna barely spoke to, but was glad that they had decided to stay and celebrate with them.
The rest of the evening went smoothly, Anna opened her gifts by the fireplace, thanking everyone who remembered to buy her a present, saying that they hadn't needed to spend money on her and waving off those who apologized, for not getting her anything, with a kind smile. When it was passed midnight, Anna and James decided that it was time and began ushering everyone else up to bed, thanking them graciously for celebrating with them. The Lot bid Anna and James goodnight as they all made their way up to bed. Anna and James stayed behind in the Common Room for another hour to clean up and gather all of Anna's gifts, which they then waved their wands and all the gifts vanished to Anna's dorm to be sorted and organized later on. Tilly and Anna had briefly argued that Anna had not needed to clean up after the party, but Anna had told her that the best gift Tilly could give her was letting her clean up, which Tilly had begrudgingly agreed, muttering that she was becoming more like Vixen every day before she vanished, taking all the dirty dishes away with her.
Tilly and the rest of the House-elves had spent most of the evening catering the party, happily carrying around trays of snacks and drink for people to snack on as the party went on. The party, needless to say, was a success.
After Anna and James finished cleaning up, they collapsed onto the sofa they usually shared with Al—and since they had become a couple—, Mia. Anna snuggled further into Jamie's side. They heard someone barreling down the stairs from the Boy's Dormitory and James turned his attention to the noise, preparing to scold the student out of bed, but stopped short when they saw it was Cedric.
"Tip!" Anna exclaimed. "What are you doing up?"
He was grinning from ear to ear. "I got it!" He exclaimed, holding up a golden badge that had the letter 'C' on it.
"You've been made Quidditch Captain!" Anna exclaimed and Cedric nodded with excitement.
"We'll start training next week."
"Calm down, Tip." Anna cautioned. "You don't want to be accused of playing favourites." She added teasingly, sending their furry friend a wink. He briefly narrowed his eyes, but he was smiling.
"What about the try-outs?" James chimed in. Anna thought about it for a moment before she nodded in agreement.
"Moony's right, Ced. We need to hold try-outs, it gives everyone a chance to show what they can do. Even if they don't make the team."
Of course, Cedric hadn't seemed to hear her, he was busy ranting about last years team. "I hope Jesse and Zach are up to being Chasers alongside you again, Anna. Tommy and Weave have already agreed to resume their place as Beaters. Of course, I'll be Seeker. Emma isn't sure she wants to resume her place as Keeper." Anna gasped at the news. Emma Stone had been Keeper for the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team for the whole time that Anna and her friends had played on the team. Emma had saved more goals than anyone.
"Still," Anna cautioned after the initial shock passed. "Hold the try-outs, Ced. Give everyone a chance, like I said, you don't want to be accused of playing favourites. Even if you just let a couple be Reserve Players, just in case I think the others will appreciate it."
Cedric thought about it hard for a moment before he nodded in agreement. "You're right, Hopper. Having Reserve Players on the team will up our chances at the Cup."
"Ever since Harry arrived at Hogwarts, the Cup has belonged to Gryffindor," James said solemnly.
"And for good reason," Anna said hotly before she composed Vixen's temper and cleared her throat, the flash of violet fading to ocean blue. James and Cedric gaped at her change in personality, as she was always so calm and serene, knowing she had her moments. Moments just like this when her eyes would burn violet and her hair would spark. She gasped and gave them an apologetic look before she cleared her throat, James gave a slight nod in understanding, but Cedric was still gawking at her as though she'd sprouted another head.
"I'm not saying Hufflepuff isn't good," she continued. "That's not what I'm saying at all, but every match against Gryffindor, they've won thus far. Everyone thinks that our team is rubbish and that we're easy to beat because we're pushovers. However, this year we're going to show the whole of Hogwarts what we're really made of, but we have to be smart about it." James and Cedric nodded in agreement. "I know Tommy, Weaver and the rest of the Lot will agree with me too. Now, Cedric," she turned to her friend. "You're out of bed after hours. Off to bed. We'll discuss more in the morning," she stood from her seat and pulled James up with her. "You too love," she added, kissing him sweetly before she playfully shoved him towards Cedric, who laughed at the sight.
Anna made her way over to them and perched on the tips of her toes to plant a kiss on Cedric's cheek, it was at that moment that Anna realized that he'd grown even more over the summer. "Merlin, Ced! Stop bloody growing! I'm gonna need a ladder to kiss your bloody cheek soon!" James and Cedric laughed, the pair of boys swooping down to plant a kiss on either of Anna's cheeks before they retired to their dorm. Anna smiled as she watched them retreat and made her way up the stairs to her own dormitory before she quietly shut the door behind her and tip-toed passed sleeping roommates to her own bed. She was fairly happy at how the day had turned out; save—perhaps—for the fact that she'd been attacked by a Dementor, but even then, she wasn't all that bothered by it.
She collapsed on her four-poster but winced when she landed on something hard, she shifted and stared at it. It was Mia's birthday gift to her. Anna knew Mia always bought her steamy romance novels, that Anna preferred to open the gift alone rather then in front of the boy half of the Lot, and Merlin forbid, the rest of Hufflepuff, who stayed for the party.
Anna turned her gaze upwards when she heard someone shift in the four-poster next to her, it was Mia. Emerald green met ocean blue in the semi-darkness. "Happy birthday, Hopper," she smiled and Anna returned it as she let Mia watch her open her gift. It was an unmoving cover of a romance novel, which meant that it was a Muggle novel. The red-satin sheet-clad heroine, with the toned shirtless man holding onto her tightly made Anna repress the frisson of excitement that shot up her spine.
Her cheek were flaming as she looked at Mia again, who was smirking at the curly haired witches reaction. "Thanks Red,"
Mia waved her off with a smile. "Don't mention it, I have the same novel, it's a Muggle take on a werewolf romance novel, it's very steamy, figured you'd appreciate it." Anna nodded. "It's pretty good, just don't read it around the guys, and Merlin forbid, James, they'd take the mickey out of you for weeks." Anna flushed and a nervous laugh bubbled up her throat, escaping her lips without permission. Mia smirked and winked at her best friend before she shifted and went back to sleep, her back now facing Anna.
Anna put the novel on her bedside table before she stood and changed into her nightgown, climbing back into bed and tucking herself in. Spirit jumped on her four-poster and turned in a circle once, tucking herself safely into Anna's side. "Happy birthday Mum," she mewled and Anna smiled, scratching the side of her fluffy feline's head.
"Thanks, Spi."
As she lay there—Spirit purring loudly as Anna continued to scratch the side of Spirit's face—, she stared out the window, the sight of the Whomping Willow and the silhouette of the Shrieking Shack in the far distance.
It had been one of the best birthday celebrations she'd ever had, and that was saying something.
September 18th, 1993
Hufflepuff Common Room - Fifth Year Girl's Dormitory
Anna awoke to sunlight flooding into the dormitory, she felt someone shift beside her and turned, drawn to the movement to see long ebony hair in a tangle over the witches face. The witch was the only one sleeping next to Anna, Holly and everyone else was in their own beds. Anna noticed the empty four-poster at the end of the room, closest to the door. The sheets were a mess and tangled in a spiral, telling Anna exactly who was sleeping next to her. It was Weaver, using their intertwined hands as a pillow.
Anna couldn't remember when Weaver had climbed in with her the night before, but she had a feeling that Weaver had heard Anna whimpering in her sleep and had rushed to deal with the nightmare. Anna remembered the brief nightmare she had had the night before. The nightmare was foggy; it hadn't lasted very long.
Anna tried to free her hand from Weaver's grip without waking her up, but her attempts were futile. Weaver stirred, opening bleary green eyes, full of sleep. "Mornin', Hopper," she said sleepily, letting out a yawn.
"Mornin', Pads," Anna smiled before she returned to freeing her hand, Weaver opened her eyes again, confusion crossing her features. "Let go of my hand, Pads. I gotta piss." Weaver's eyes flew open, their green depths widening and she immediately let go of Anna's hand. Anna jumped from her four-poster, rushing to the shared bathroom. After she finished her business, she returned to the dorm to grab a pair of towels before she closed the bathroom door behind her and hopped in the shower.
When she finished her shower, she wrapped her naked body in one of the towels, securing it with magic before she twisted her hair up in the second, she returned to the dorm to find Weaver trying to untangle the sheets of her own messy four-poster by hand. Anna giggled. "What?" Weaver asked, pinning Anna with a playful glare, giggling at the sight of Anna's messy hair wrapped up in a towel.
"You're a witch, aren't you?" Weaver actually slapped herself before she waved her hand and her bed magically made itself.
Anna giggled, shaking her head as she crossed the room to her own four-poster and did the same, her bed magically made itself before she flicked her wand towards to pillows and they fluffed themselves out the way she liked them. Spirit jumped back on Anna's four-poster when the bed was made and turned in a circle before she laid down and fell swiftly asleep once more. Anna set down her wand momentarily before she dug into her trunk for something to wear. She heard the bathroom door close and looked up at the noise, Weaver was hovered over her own trunk, Anna turned and found Holly's bed empty.
"Looks like Hols is up," she said aloud, smiling when Weaver looked her way, rubbing the back of her head as though it pained her.
"Nearly well shoved my head in my fucking trunk as she passed," Anna laughed loudly waking Irys and Mia from their slumber.
"Sorry," Anna pouted at the sight of Irys and Mia momentarily glaring at her for waking them. She turned back to glance at Weaver. "I'm surprised you didn't fucking hex her, Pads."
Weaver grinned broadly and all three witches in the room groaned loudly at the sight, making Weaver roll over laughing.
"What did you do, Pads?" Irys groaned, crawling out of bed.
"You'll see," Weaver smirked as she pulled an orange jumped from her trunk and threw it over her head.
Anna grabbed a simple black bra, turning around so her back faced the girls and fastened it, pulling on a pair of matching knickers. She reached into her trunk and pulled out a custard yellow jumper with a large black letter 'A' knitted on the front—a gift from Molly Weasley the Christmas before—and pulled the jumper over her head. She pulled on a pair of black stockings and fastened her skirt around her waist, quickly waving her wand over her yellow ballet flats with the little black bows that were starting to get too tight. She took the towel out of her hair and grabbed her wand again, casting a Drying Charm, she sat on her four-poster beside Spirit and wand-dried her hair, watching as her friends dug into their trunks for something to wear on that lazy Saturday.
It only took five minutes for Anna to figure out what Weaver had done to her twin.
"WEAVER! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY HAIR?!" They heard Holly screech from the bathroom, the way she had screeched Anna was certain that she'd awoken the entire bloody castle. The bathroom door blew open in a rage to reveal Holly standing there, looking absolutely furious; her bright green eyes glaring daggers at her twin. Anna, Irys and Mia burst into laughter when they finally realized what Holly was so pissed about. Instead of her natural fiery dark red hair, Holly now sported dark green hair that was sparking madly at the ends.
Anna giggled and pointed to Holly's hair before she said, "I can fix that." Anna waved her wand and Holly's fiery red hair returned.
Holly gripped a piece of her own hair as it returned to red. She rushed back into the bathroom to check in the mirror before she returned, looking grateful. "Thanks, Hopper," Her nose twitched irritably before she rounded on her sister once more. "What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Do." She said, grinding her teeth as her emerald eyes blazed furiously.
"Just a little charm is all," Weaver said, winking at her sister, clearly not afraid of her twin's wrath. The Sprout Twins, while they were both exceedingly kind, had a clear temper that had the ability to shake the castle on its foundation should someone cross them the wrong way. While Holly would scream obscenities to, Merlin help, whoever crossed her; Weaver had no problem hexing someone who thoroughly pissed her off. They weren't scared of each other. Hell, Weaver pissed Holly off at least three times a day just to get a rise out of her. "Nothing to worry about," she added with a shrug.
Needless to say, Holly was in a pissy mood for the rest of the morning, when Amos asked her what she was so mad about. Holly narrowed her eyes at Weaver as she explained to her boyfriend what had transpired earlier in the dormitory; Weaver simply grinned at her sister.
After she recounted it, she rounded on the rest of the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall, who were all trying their damn best to hide their laughter, while some were doing rather well at hiding it; others weren't as lucky in stifling their laughter. She rounded on Anna. "You're a bloody Prefect, surely you'd doc points for hexing another student!"
"While I agree that it is against the rules to hex another student, I can also see where Pads was coming from, she told me you tried to shove her head in her trunk as you passed on your way to the bathroom." Most of the Hufflepuff table roared in laughter at this, Weaver sent them all a glare of her own, which immediately made the table go deadly quiet. "She simply retaliated the favour. So as a result of simple retaliation, I will not doc points for defending herself. However, she succeeded and I can tell that's why you're so pissed off, Hols. You should've known better than to get a rise out of her in the morning. Hols, you know perfectly well that Pads will hex anyone who pisses her off in the morning." Anna smirked and Holly huffed, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration. Anna put a hand on her shoulder, leaning over to whisper in Holly's ear. "Don't worry love, besides the more points I doc from Hufflepuff; the less of a chance we have at winning the House Cup."
Holly sighed as it dawned on her why Weaver was getting away with it. She dropped her arms and took a bite of bacon. "I suppose you're right, Hopper."
Someone leaned across the table and Mia scowled at the sight of him. Daniel Hardwind was leaning over the Hufflepuff table, right in front of her. "I'll say, Miss Valentine, the first Hogsmeade trip is soon, how would you like it if I showed off that pretty face of yours?" Mia's eyes burned with hatred as she grabbed the bowl of porridge she'd been eating and upturned the contents on his head, emitting the crowd to burst into laughter and there was a scatter of applause.
"I wouldn't go to Hogsmeade with you even if you were the last wizard on the planet, Hardwind. Now, for the last bloody time, leave me the fuck alone!" Mia glared before she grabbed her things and stormed away, her short hair sparking in her wake.
Daniel looked a right mess, the whole bowl of porridge on his head, the warm milk leaking down his face. He grabbed the bowl from his head and cast a quick Scourgify Charm on his hair, making it stand up straight in the back.
Suddenly, Al was in his face, a look of pure loathing in his eyes. "You're lucky my girlfriend didn't hex your bollocks off."
"Your girlfriend?" Daniel chuckled as he shook his head as though the thought was ridiculous. "Don't make me laugh, Storms. There's no bloody way, a sweet girl like her would go for someone like . . . like . . . like you."
"Daniel," Anna said calmly as she stood, he turned to her as James and Thomas man-handled Al away from the Ravenclaw. "Al's right, and Mia, yes she may seem sweet, but I promise you this." Her eyes shifted to menacing violet and it seemed that Daniel had momentarily stopped breathing. "If she doesn't hex your bollocks off first, I will. You've heard what she said. How many times does she have to say it for you to get it into that thick brain of yours? You're a Ravenclaw, I thought Ravenclaws were smarter then that. When a woman says no, she mean no."
Daniel chuckled and advanced on Anna, who stood her ground with narrowed violet eyes. Her hand secretly flicking to her friends and they all felt the slight pull backwards that prevented them from interfering with the situation. "For your information, Cloud, she never said no."
Anna scoffed and narrowed her violet eyes further. She wasn't Anna in that moment; Vixen was protecting Anna's friends. James was gawking at Vixen, hoping to Merlin that no one asked why her personality had suddenly changed. "I'm pretty sure that bowl on your head earlier was her way of saying 'over my dead body', I'm warning you now, Hardwind. Leave Mia alone or I'm going to make you wish you'd listened to me." Her eyes flashed a blood red for only a moment and it seemed to have startled everyone who was watching. Her hair stopped sparking suddenly, and she seemed to compose herself. Her eyes shifted back to violet and she said as sweetly as she could, "I'd say, 10 points from Ravenclaw for harassing another student. You are free to leave." She stepped out of the way and bowed dramatically, ushering him to leave with cold violet eyes that sent a shiver of fear up his spine. After glaring at her for a moment, he left.
oOoOoOo
Hufflepuff Common Room
They found Mia seated firmly in a fat yellow armchair, at the sound of the portrait hole opening, she turned to look at Anna, Weaver, Thomas, Holly, Irys, Amos and Al; who had just stepped through the protrait hole. "Well?" She said hotly, her eyes still blazing in fury. "Is he going to leave me alone now?"
Anna sighed. "For a while, perhaps, but I don't know about indefinitely." Mia narrowed her eyes at the round coffee table as though she could burn through the birch wood with her glare if she stared long enough. Al plopped down beside his girlfriend and began rubbing gentle circles in her shoulders to ease the tension.
Amos, however, was staring between Anna and the girls, none of whom seemed surprised at the arrangement between them regarding Hardwind. "You girls knew about this?" He turned to his own girlfriend, who nodded solemnly.
"We made an arrangement the second day of class to defend Mia if Hardwind harrassed her this year. Anna was simply telling Hardwind off for—"
"I didn't tell him off, Hols." Anna said as she plopped into an empty armchair, scrubbing a hand over her face in irritation. "I promised." Her eyes flashed a blood red which startled Irys, having thought when she saw the same thing only minutes earlier that she had been imagining it.
Amos laughed. "I've never seen you so pissed off Anna, except that time, when our dear old Weaver here decided to hex you in Potions." Anna laughed as she recalled the distant memory.
"I will protect my friends and myself from those who think they can cross us, especially if it's a friend who decides it's okay to cross me." At that final bit, she eyed Weaver who simply grinned at her innocently.
"Hey guys, look," said a voice from the other end of the Common Room and Anna turned her attention towards the voice to spot Thomad checking the bulletin board. Anna stood and made her way over to her shaggy haired friend. "First Hogsmeade weekend is up," and indeed it was, along with the Prefect schedule.
"So that's why Hardwind harassed me this morning," Mia huffed and Al began whispering soothing words in her ear.
"The date for Quidditch try-outs are too," Weaver added with a tone of excitement.
"I'm glad Ced decided to listen to me and hold the try-outs." Anna smiled before she continued to examine the bulletin board and frowned.
There was a small newspaper clipping about Sirius Black, who was sighted a week earlier, getting closer and closer to Hogwarts. Vixen cracked her knuckles with anticipation. It seemed he was constantly on the move and that worried Anna most.
September 23rd, 1993
Hogwarts - Corridor to the Ancient Runes Classroom
Anna was making her way to Ancient Runes when she saw the bushy honey-brown mane of Hermione Granger rush passed her, she turned to stop and greet the witch briefly before their next class but was surprised to find the corridor behind her; completely empty.
She shook her head and rubbed her eyes, checking again before she shrugged it off, Vixen reprimanding her; saying that the lack of sleep and too much coffee during breakfast was starting to make her see things. She turned and was surprised to find Hermione rushing towards her, the young witch quickly shoving something gold down the front of her robes. She stopped the little bushy haired witch, who looked out of breath as though she'd just run a mile. "How did you do that, 'Mione?"
"D-Do what?" Hermione heaved in a deep breath and composed herself before she stood up straight and faced Anna with a kind smile that Anna returned affectionately.
"I could've sworn that you just passed me, I turned around to say hi, but no one was in sight. People don't just vanish from thin air, and you're too young to Apparate yet, however, I turn back around and you're coming towards me again. Care to explain why this is, Miss Granger?"
Hermione was avoiding Anna's eye, her chocolate eyes turned to the floor, Anna noticed the glimmer of a gold chain around the younger witches neck and she silently gasped, but said nothing, for now. Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again; she had no explanation.
Anna sighed heavily and gestured to the chain around Hermione's neck. "I know what that chain is, Hermione, and I will not ask where you got it, nor why you have it. I just hope you use it well." Hermione looked up at her, startled. "I know perfectly well what that is, I'm not bloody stupid." She rolled her eyes and scowled as though Hermione had already called her the offensive word.
Hermione was to startled to scowl at her for her foul language as she was prone to do. Instead, she squeaked out a "Y-You do?!" Her brown eyes widening in slight fear of the inevitable.
Anna nodded curtly and let a small reassuring smile escape. "You're secret is safe with me, 'Mione; after all, you've kept mine." Anna's eyes flashed violet and Hermione smiled, visibly relaxing. Vixen's violet eyes solidified for a moment and she pinned Hermione with a stern look that made the little witch swallow in slight fear. "You've probably already been warned of this, but I want you to promise me that you will not over exert yourself. You need to eat and sleep as much as anyone, Hermione. If you need help with anything, and I mean absolutely anything, homework for instance, even if you have questions, I will be pleased to help—" Anna's lupine hearing alerted her that someone was coming their way; a Professor, by the sound of the heavy, mismatched footfalls. As they drew ever nearer, Hermione began to hear them too and her eyes grew wide in clear panic. "Are you excited to visit Hogsmeade?"
Hermione looked grateful for the change in subject and grinned broadly at her as Professor Lupin came into view from around the corner, quirking an eyebrow in surprise to find the two witches conversing, in fact, he looked a bit startled to see them together at all. "Oh, yes!" Hermione beamed. "It's an entirely wizarding community! The only one in the whole of Britain! I've read about it, it's supposed to be absolutely fascinating!" Anna laughed and checked her watch before she sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the time. Her blue eyes returning quickly.
"Merlin's beard! My apologies, Hermione, I've made you late for class." Hermione sucked in a sharp breath at the news. "I'll see you around, please remember what I told you." Hermione nodded and dashed off. Anna turned to make her way to Ancient Runes once more, but was stopped by Professor Lupin, his eyes wide in disbelief as though he didn't understand what he was seeing. Anna smiled at him. "Hello Professor, is there something I can help you with? I'm already terribly late for Ancient Runes."
"Yes, my apologies, but I need to speak with you, Miss? . . ."
"Cloud, Professor. Tassiyanna Cloud, my friends call me Anna." She smiled, extending her hand to him, he stared at her hand. She watched his nose twitch slightly, had Vixen not known him well enough she would've assumed him as odd, or even strange; but Vixen knew better, he was smelling for danger. Vixen could see the gears turning in his head, he was weighing his options. Shake the bloody hand, Remus! Vixen snapped in their mind, lunging forward and Anna held her back as Vixen tried to kick her way out of Anna's grip. "I don't have germs, you know," she added with a grin and Professor Lupin gazed up at her, appearing startled by what she had just said.
"My apologies, could you repeat that," he stuck his finger in his ear and cleaned it out as though he hadn't heard her properly.
Her eyes solidified to violet once Vixen calmed down enough and Lupin gasped at the sight. "I said, I don't have germs, Professor."
"Vixen?" His soft green eyes were wide once more in disbelief and Vixen smiled thoughtfully.
"Hello Remus, long time no see." She squeaked in surprise when Remus pulled her in for a hug before he realized what he was doing or how odd and mildly inappropriate it would've looked to anyone else watching. He pulled away quickly, shocked by his own actions and Vixen laughed, the older werewolf looked to be silently reprimanding his actions. "Stop that!" She snapped, scowling at him and he jumped slightly, startled by her tone. "I can see the gears turning up there," she gestured to his head before she smiled affectionately. "Don't worry, Remus, I've missed you too." Remus gave a sigh of what sounded like relief and smiled at her. "Now, my apologies, but Anna and I are extremely late for a lesson."
"No need to fret, Miss Cloud. I'll let Professor Vector know why you were not in class today, I'd like to see you in my office, we need to have a chat and perhaps some tea. A few things need to be explained in regards to . . . well . . . this," he gestured to Anna and the witch smiled and nodded curtly.
"I understand, Professor, lead the way." He smiled.
oOoOoOo
Lupin's Office
When they entered his office, Anna was surprised to find a large black chest, banging against the wall, she steered clear of the chest, knowing perfectly well what it contained. Professor Lupin hadn't needed to confirm it.
"Boggart," he said proudly, puffing out his chest. A sight that made Vixen roll over laughing in her mind. "It's for the rest of my third-year students, only a handful of them had a go with the last one."
Anna turned around fully to face him, clearly startled by his statement. "They've already faced one?"
Professor Lupin nodded, frowning at her expression. "Have you ever faced one, Miss Cloud?" Anna nodded, the gruesome image of all her friends laid side-by-side dead came to her mind and she shook her head violently to rid her mind of the images, her blackberry hair flying around her as she shook her head violently. "I can see it still bothers you, Boggarts naturally take the shape of our deepest, darkest fears. I taught my third-year students to conquer their fears, but I can tell the image of your Boggart still bothers you. Why?"
Anna was staring at the chest, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I was only a first-year, Professor, my Boggart has the ability to split itself eleven ways, into the bodies of every single one of my closest friends. All of them; dead." Professor Lupin seemed taken aback by her statement and gently gripped her arm and cautiously pulled her away from the chest. "The Professor who taught us that year, said it was the most extraordinary thing he'd ever witnessed, since my Boggart went from shifting constantly, unable to take a form to the fear of losing my friends. The fear of Death himself or if we're being more specific, the fear of being alone." Professor Lupin nodded in understanding, he looked impressed.
He poured her a cup of tea as she took a seat in a dark red armchair. Anna smiled gratefully and nodded her thanks. "Miss Cloud, I can see that you've got a Prefect badge pinned to your uniform," Professor Lupin said, and when Anna looked up from her cup of tea, he was smiling at her. "I have to say, I'm rather surprised to see you in Hufflepuff."
Vixen's violet eyes solidified as she smirked and she pinned him with a playful glare. "You know how much I loved the Hufflepuff colours back in the 70's, Remus, don't act so surprised. Mia probably told you I was a Hufflepuff."
"Your sister always prided on you the most, of course she told me you were a Hufflepuff. In all truth, I thought she was pulling my leg, but Vixen, I must admit with your temper, I never thought you of all people could be a Hufflepuff." Vixen smirked.
"You mean your tail?" Remus shot her a glare and she burst into laughter at the sight. Not at all intimidated by the sight of it. "Merlin, Remus, relax. I'm taking the mickey out of you." She winked and Remus laughed, it made Vixen beam to hear the werewolf laugh, it had been far too long since she'd last heard it. "I'm surprised that you're this years Defense teacher, you must have been so excited Remus, when I was told I was so happy for you, if anyone deserves this position; it's you."
He beamed at her. "As always, Miss Vixen, you flatter me." He grinned broadly and Vixen beamed at the sight. "However, I must admit I thought Dumbledore was taking the mickey out of me when he asked, but he was not joking in the slightest, so I took the job." The door to his office suddenly opened to reveal Severus, holding a smoking goblet. "Ah! Severus! Thank you, just leave it on the desk, just there," he pointed to a nearby desk and Severus gently placed the smoking goblet down upon the surface, his eyes landing upon Vixen and he smiled.
"I see, you've met the lovely Miss Cloud," Severus smiled and Remus beamed, nodding before he took a sip of his own tea.
"She and I were just having a lovely chat about Boggarts, Severus. Would you care to join us?" Snape shook his head. "That's quite alright then," Suddenly, the bell rang which caused Vixen to squeal, jumping slightly her tea sloshing over the sides of her cup. "Hurry and finish up your tea, Miss Cloud. I don't want to be the reason for you missing two classes in one day." Remus said with a smile and it occured to her that Remus suspected that Severus didn't know who she really was, which was why he had called her by her original last name, even though her eyes were clearly violet. She set down her—now empty—teacup and smiled at Remus.
"Don't play stupid, Lupin! You, as well as I, know exactly who she is!" Severus snapped and Vixen jumped to her feet, glaring at Severus.
"Watch your tone, Severus!" She snapped and Snape's eyes widened dramatically, he realized he'd fucked up before he bowed his head in apology.
"My apologies for losing my temper, Miss Potter." He turned to leave before he stopped in the doorway. "I'd drink it now, Remus. Best to get it over with."
Remus sighed heavily and stood, making his way towards the smoking goblet. "I suppose you're right, Severus." He grabbed the goblet as Snape closed the door behind him, he gave the potion a sniff before he scrunched up his nose in disgust.
"Severus is right, Remus. Best to get it over with. Drink up." Vixen said, although he could've sworn she looked a bit smug.
"At least, you don't have to bloody drink it, Vix."
Vixen laughed. "No, but Anna's best friend does."
Remus raised a brow. "I'd heard there was another werewolf here at Hogwarts. Mister . . . Summers. Was it not?" Vixen gave a curt nod of confirmation.
"He and Anna are currently in a relationship." Remus seemed surprised by this statement and raised a brow, looking a bit worried. "James is aware that Anna is not his mate, as is Anna, but the pair of them are happy, Anna knows that I am destined to be married to Regulus. I'm letting her have her fun, relax. It's so she doesn't have to spend years alone, I gave her a choice and she took it."
"It's your body," he mumbled as he downed the goblet before pulling a face that made Vixen nearly roll over laughing. He set down the empty goblet, that was still smoking and turned to face her, curiosity now in his gaze. "Who else knows about you, Vixen? Besides myself and Severus?"
"Minerva, Dumbledore, I suppose, never misses a trick, does he? James and Hermione and, of course, you and Severus, Professor Kettleburn knew as well. Oh and James's parents too, I know James's dad for sure, I'm still not too sure about his mum."
Remus raised a brow of surprise. "Hermione knows?"
Anna's blue eyes returned and she smiled sweetly. "She knows that Vixen and I are the same person, but she doesn't know that we share a body. She's the one who helped me figure out that Vixen and I are the same person."
"How did you figure it out exactly?" Remus asked suspiciously, raising a brow.
Anna simply smiled and raised her hand before she waved her fingers. "Same handwriting."
oOoOoOo
Room of Requirement - Duplicate of the Hufflepuff Common Room
Anna was reprimanding James, who was refusing to take his Wolfsbane Potion. "For the last bloody time, Moony! Take the fucking potion! You need to take it, otherwise the rest of the Lot can't join you when you transform, for Merlin's sake!"
"Fine!" He shouted and downed the potion in one go, nearly gagging before he threw the empty goblet across the room, sinking into a yellow armchair. His arms crossing firmly over his chest.
"I know you've both been anxious, Jamie." Anna soothed as she sat down next to him, running her fingers through his honey-brown hair affectionately. "But you can't refuse to take your potion, Merlin, you scared me. I thought you were going to pitch the fucking thing across the room."
He scrubbed a hand down his face and sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Anna. I know the full moon is still a week away but I've been so anxious with everything, like Sirius Black, the Daily Prophet said he was sighted in Dufftown last week. That's not far from here; and with the Dementors at every fucking entrance, every time I pass them, I see you laying on the floor on the train; not moving, not responding. It's bloody terrifying."
She bristled at his confession and stood, shifted her position so she perched on top of the armchair behind him and rubbed rough circles on his shoulders. It seemed to calm him as he let out a low groan in approval. "I know how you feel, Vixen and I hate those bloody things, I can hear my parents screaming every time I pass them."
"Vixen?" He asked and Vixen's violet eyes solidified as she continued rubbing his shoulders.
"Yeah?"
"What do you hear when you pass the Dementors?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his tone.
Vixen sighed. "The same as Anna, her parents were my parents too at one point, but I hear a bit more than that."
He went to turn his head to face her, but she positioned his head forward once more, only allowing him a short glance at her. "Like what?"
Screaming, crying . . . pleading. . . "It's not important." She answered with a tone of finality, meaning she didn't want to talk about it. "So how was your day? Give any sneaky Snakes detention?" He laughed and she gave a silent sigh of relief at the sound.
"Three Snakes, two Lions and a Ravenclaw."
Vixen laughed. "Would the two Lions just so happen to be the Weasley Twins?" He nodded with a chuckle. "Oh Merlin, I'm glad they didn't hex you for ruining their fun."
"I had to give them detention, Filch had just come around the corner. Merlin, I was originally helping them."
Vixen laughed loudly, her hands leaving his shoulders for only a moment to catch her balance, catching herself so she didn't topple over the back of the sofa before they resumed rubbing rough circles on his shoulders. Her eyes shifted back to blue as Anna resumed Vixen's place in rubbing her boyfriends shoulders. "And what were you helping them with exactly?" she asked, a teasing lilt to her voice that made James laugh.
He shrugged with a chuckle. "Dungbombs. Snape's Office." Vixen burst into laughter from the mirror across the room and Anna gasped before she glared at the back of his head.
"James Jesse Summers! You did not launch Dungbombs at Severus's office door!" He laughed when she gave him a light swat on the arm.
"It was so worth it."
"You're lucky it was Filch who came around the corner and not Severus, all three of you would be serving detention for perhaps a month." Vixen said, rolling her eyes as the couple turned to look at her as she stood with her arms crossed over her chest in the mirror, but she couldn't hide the smile that crossed her features.
September 30th, 1993
Hufflepuff Common Room - Fifth Year Boy's Dormitory
The full moon was that evening and Anna and James found it was exceedingly necessary to let the rest of the Lot know about the change in agreement.
They stared at the couple in shock. "What the fuck do you mean James can't transform in the Shack anymore?!" Clover shrieked. Everyone hurriedly hushed her, but Anna smiled; glad that she'd cast Silencing Charms on the door before they had started this conversation.
"Professor Snape pulled James and I aside at the Start-of-Term Feast and warned us that James would need to find another place to transform during the full moon, at least for this year. So, Professor Snape, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore have agreed to let James transform in the Room of Requirement."
"The what?" Cedric asked, a look of confusion crossing his features. Anna smiled at him thoughtfully.
"The Room of Requirement. It's known as many things, it has the ability to transform into anything you need, to give you whatever you need, except maybe food and water, but it will give you other things. We'll be spending tonight in the Room of Requirement, Snape, Poppy and I have already set up the room," she turned to James and took his hand with a smile, now speaking directly to him. "We've made it into the Forbidden Forest, since the Room cannot produce living beings, it's virtually empty, there's a place for James to transform and a place for the rest of us to wait, so he doesn't attack us before we have the chance to shift." James looked grateful that she had thought ahead.
"Didn't Professor Snape ask why you were askig that of the room? That little safe place for the rest of us?" Clover asked and Anna bit her lip, Severus knew that Anna was an Animagus because Vixen had been one, but he didn't know that the rest of the Lot were Animagi too.
"Yes, he did. I didn't tell him it was for the rest of us, I told him it was for Poppy when she delivers his potions in the morning." James nodded as though she was telling the truth. "Don't worry, Lot, the secret remains a secret." Everyone seemed to relax at this and everyone agreed on the new arrangements, nor did they ask for the reason, much to Anna and Vixen's relief.
oOoOoOo
Room of Requirement
"Go on, it's alright, love. I'm right here." Anna soothed as she and Poppy escorted him to the Room of Requirement. She turned to the Mediwitch. "I've got it from here, Poppy, thank you for bringing us this far."
Poppy let out a breath with a slight look of surprise as though she hadn't been aware of holding one and gave Anna a small smile. "Be careful, you two."
James grinned at her cheekily. "Don't worry, Poppy, it's just another moon, it can't and won't hurt me." At that statement, Anna and Vixen felt the stab of pain in their hearts at the words, the pair knowing full well that James suffered during his transformations.
The Mediwitch wasn't so suble at hiding her pain at the words and she let out a quiet sob before she quickly turned and bid them farewell. "I'll be back by sunrise with your potions, please be careful," and without a backwards glance, she rushed off. Anna's sensitive hearing heard the sharp sob that Poppy tried to stifle and Anna turned on James the moment she was gone.
"You better make it up to her, Moony! You made Poppy cry!" The sight she was met with, added yet another stab of pain. James was hunched over, clutching his side in pain, trying his best to stifle the screams of agony. "Oh fuck! It's starting! Hold on, Jamie," she quickly paced in front of the wall across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, clear thoughts of what she needed and the door appeared and Anna practically dragged James inside.
James only had time to be shoved into the room beyond the safe-room for the rest of the Lot before he began to transform. Anna waved her wand quickly and his clothes disappeared from his body, he turned to look at her, his eyes flashing in amusement before he doubled over, landing on his knees and began screaming. Anna stood frozen to the spot, watching in horror as the man she loved began to shift before her very eyes. "Anna! Shut the fucking door!" He shouted through his screams of agony.
She couldn't move, her blue eyes wide with shock. Even Vixen was frozen to the spot, but the older witch came to first and slammed the door shut, obscuring James from their view any longer. Anna collapsed on her knees, yelping when her knees collided with the cement floor, she was panting, her eyes still wide from what she had just witnessed. She had known that his transformations wracked screams from his body, with her lupine hearing she always heard him transform, but the actual sight of his bones shattering and shifting, the fur growing from his pores.
You know he'd never hurt us. Vixen soothed, patting her shoulder.
"I-I can't," Anna sobbed, the tears stinging her eyes and running hot down her cheeks, she stood suddenly and ran out of the room, bumping into someone on the way passed.
"Anna! Where are you going?!" A voice called from behind her. She heard the scuffle of footsteps, but didn't look back, she just continued running.
With her lupine hearing, Anna heard someone shout after her and the sound of someone following her. "Weaver! We need to hurry to help James!"
"Fuck off, Snow!" She heard Weaver shout, then there was the sound of struggling. "Let me go, Tommy! Anna needs my help! She was fucking crying! Please, Thomas, let me go!"
"Weave, love. We can deal with Anna after, James is probably having a fit right now. We need to help him first." She heard Thomas say, she was too far by the time Weaver replied and she didn't catch it, but she assumed Weaver gave in as the sound of running footfalls no longer followed her.
She didn't know where she was running to, but she kept going.
She ran until she found herself in a hidden alcove, sobbing. She fell to her knees once more—her knees colliding painfully on the unfinished concrete—, she let out a yelp of pain, but continued crying loudly at what she had just witnessed. Her eyes and mind couldn't comprehend what she had just witnessed, it had been to much to handle.
She tried to breathe, but her breath came out in short sobs to be heaved in once more to be let out in even louder sobs. She didn't care to cast her strong Silencing Charms, instead she knelt there on the stone, her knees stinging in pain as she shifted and laid there, splayed out on the cold stone floor. The cool stone felt nice against her burning forehead. She hoped to Merlin that no one came across her, they'd ask questions—Merlin, too many questions—especially since she was out of bed after hours, she didn't think she'd be able to handle the questions.
Who would believe her? Who would offer her comfort at what she'd just witnessed? Who would understand her pain? Who would—her eyes widened as realization dawned on her before she shook her head quickly crushing the thought immediately. No, I can't talk to Tilly about this, especially not in the Kitchens. The others would ask questions. Merlin, too many questions.
You fucking idiot! Severus! Go to Severus! Vixen barked, clearly done with Anna's anxiety attack.
Of course, why hadn't she thought of him first! Severus . . .
Anna slowly picked herself up from the cold stone floor and quickly made her way to his office, trying to stifle her sobs. She knocked on his office door and after a beat, it opened to reveal her Potions Master, looking as though he'd been ruefully disturbed. "You better have a good reason for—" his words stopped cold as he gazed at her, his eyes taking immediate note of the tears tracks on her cheeks and the puffiness of her eyes. He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her into the room, closing the door behind him. "Anna, what happened?" He waved his wand and his greasy jet black hair smoothed out from the mess it had been. He grabbed her face and began examining her, for obvious injury. "Did Mister Summers hurt you?" He growled and she scoffed, clearly offended and pulled away from him to glare at his clear accusation.
"Jamie would never hurt me, Professor." She said with a tone of finality and he nodded, looking relieved. Tears began leaking down her cheeks once more and the sight caught him off guard. "I-I saw h-him t-trans-trans—" The word caught in her throat and Severus bristled at what she was trying to say.
His black eyes widened as he gasped. "You saw him transform, didn't you?" In reply, Anna simply sobbed and ran to hug him tightly, nodding into his robes. Severus felt helpless, she was sobbing in his arms and he didn't know how to help her. Vix, what do I do? He thought as he stared at the little witch hugging him tightly, sobbing.
Suddenly, she pushed away from him and he was surprised when Anna's blue eyes were replaced with violet as Vixen glared at him, her eyes flashing almost violently. "Help her, you idiot!" Severus noted that Vixen's face didn't have tear tracks like Anna's did, which was odd since the pair shared a body. Vixen sighed. "I've done what I can to calm her down, she came to you because she knew you'd understand, Sev. Sit her down, make her some tea—you know how we take it—, get her to talk about it, tell her what happened with my brother and Remus." Severus growled in response to the images of the unwanted memory as they resurfaced in his mind, but his response made her growl back in defiance and just as viciously. "Don't you fucking dare growl at me, Severus! I'm not bloody joking! Tell her how you felt. She needs to know she's not alone in this. That boy, that precious boy upstairs right now—whether boy or werewolf—is the love of her life, she's traumatised. Help her." Vixen's violet eyes faded and Anna resumed control.
Severus took control of the situation, leading her to the emerald sofa, he helped her sit and decided to listen to Vixen's advice on how to help the little witch who was controlling his best friends body.
Jesus Christ, this chapter was longer than I thought it would be. Over 17 000 words! Even I've never written that much before, this is the longest chapter yet and if you've made it this far, you're all troopers and I love you.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, it'll take a bit longer for chapter 4 to come up, I have part of it written down but not all of it is finished yet. So it'll take a while but hopefully not too long, I'm really liking how this chapter is going, sorry I left it on a bit of a cliffhanger, I had to cut this chapter in half since it was supposed to be longer. But I think 34 pages in my file was enough lol Thank you all for sticking with this book, seeing you all read it makes my day :D
~ T. T. Zoldy
