I know it has been too long since I've last posted a chapter and for my long absence, I apologise. I had a terrible case of writer's block. 4 months of Writer's Block! It was driving me crazy!I hope this chapter is enough to keep you all going for now. Please again, forgive me for my long absence. I promise I haven't forgotten about you, my loyal readers.
Chapter 5
Halloween Tricks
October 31st, 1993
Hogsmeade - The Three Broomsticks
"James, why wouldn't I play in next weeks match?" Anna asked as she took a sip of her butterbeer, regarding her boyfriend who sat across from her in their shared booth, sipping his own butterbeer.
"The Slytherins have already tried to sabotage the last match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, they'll most likely do the same between next week's match of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff." James explained with a tone of seriousness.
Anna smiled. "You worry too much, love."
"I'm serious, Anna. I don't want you playing, I-I don't want you getting hurt." James said, his expression faltering to one of slight fear.
"James," Anna began, her eyes flashing violet as Vixen took over. "While I agree that the match might be dangerous, the Slytherins probably won't try that stupid stunt again, especially since those who tried it last served detention. I also agree with you, there is a slight chance that they could try it again, however, I can't say for sure."
The rest of the Lot were in the Great Hall, enjoying the Halloween festivities while Anna and James spent their annual Halloween date in Hogsmeade. With the rest of the Lot nowhere around, Vixen was free to intervene and speak to James without raising the suspicions of their friends. Anna was always the one to reprimand Vixen if she came out, especially if their friends were around, but Vixen mostly kept to herself inside Anna's head whenever someone from the Lot, who wasn't James, was around.
"I understand how you feel, Vix, but I still don't feel comfortable with Anna playing in the match." James said seriously.
Anna's blue eyes returned and she audibly growled at James. "I'm playing in the match, love. Nothing will keep me from the skies next week."
James growled back, his eyes flashing gold. "I'm fucking serious, Hopper. I don't want you playing, even if that means keeping you from the skies myself."
Anna's eyes flashed a blood red as anger flooded her senses. "I'd like to see you try, Moony."
Suddenly, James smirked. "You really do love to disobey me, don't you?"
Anna grinned mischievously as she took a smug sip of her butterbeer. "It gets a rise out of you, love. I find it very entertaining."
Anna's eyes flashed violet as Vixen took over with a heavy sigh. "Are you two done doing . . . whatever it is you're doing?"
"Fighting?" Anna asked with a laugh.
"Foreplay?" James suggested with a wry grin, waggling his eyebrows and winking at Anna, who blushed furiously under his gaze.
"Perhaps you two need some time to collect your thoughts before this conversation continues, a very serious conversation, might I add." Vixen said with a deadpan look at James, as though she were silently reprimanding him for getting distracted.
James sighed, his golden eyes slowly returning to green. "I suppose you're right, Vix." He stood, collecting his empty mug and giving Anna's head a chaste kiss. "I'm gonna head to Honeydukes. Want me to get you some Sugar Quills, my love?"
Anna beamed before she smirked. "Like you even have to ask, my handsome wizard." She replied cheekily.
He laughed and gave her lips a chaste kiss before he dropped off his empty mug to Madam Rosmarta and left the Three Broomsticks.
Third Floor Corridor - Near the One-Eyed Witches Statue
"Come off it, Vix," Anna and Vixen had been arguing since they had left the Three Broomsticks, continuing the conversation that James and Anna had started about the match. Anna had stopped by the Great Hall to check on the rest of the Lot, who were still enjoying the festivities and she had briefly talked with Holly and Amos in the Entrance Hall as the couple were on their way to Hogsmeade to have a Halloween date of their own.
Anna's blue orbs shifted to violet as Vixen worded her thoughts aloud. "I'm just saying, Hopper. James does have a point, we wouldn't want you to get too bloodied up in the match next week. Slytherin might pull something again."
Anna scoffed as her blue eyes returned. "I'm sure Slytherin only pulled something like that on the last match because Harry was playing." Anna mumbled bitterly, Vixen was starting to grate on her nerves. "I've never once fallen off my broom, Vixen! It hasn't happened to me yet and probably never will." The curly haired witch snapped, but she suddenly turned on her heel at a noise that her lupine senses helped her catch. "What was that? Who's there? If you Lot are trying to scare me, it's not going to work!" Anna called before her eyes widened as she was faced with a pair of steel grey eyes staring at her intently from the shadows of a dark corner.
Anna gasped when the animal emerged from the shadows—she mentally kicked herself for having not caught this animal's scent sooner—, growling with its body low to the ground. Anna's blue eyes flashed violet as Vixen took over, the colour draining from her face. "Anna . . . That's a fucking Grim . . ."
Anna's blue eyes returned as she snapped back to reality. "I bloody well know what it is, Vixen!" Anna sniffed the air before she recoiled in disgust, drawing her wand quickly as she resisted the urge to gag. "Fucking hell, it smells like this dog hasn't had a proper bath in over a century."
The giant black dog trotted towards her, no longer looking dangerous, but rather tame and quite happy, its tongue lolling out of its mouth as it hopped around her, almost excitedly.
I wonder if we can communicate with it, Vixen's thought interrupted her own and Anna agreed that it was worth a try. She sat on the cold stone floor in the middle of the corridor and kindly smiled at the animal.
She focused her thoughts on the dog to try and hear its thoughts, but it was proving difficult as though the dog was fighting her intrusion. Anna gave the dog a look of sheer annoyance when the third attempt was unsuccessful. "I just want to hear your thoughts. I can talk to animals."
Really? Anna gasped as the voice of an older male entered her mind, the dog titled its head to the side, as though speaking.
Anna smiled. Yes. The dog looked genuinely surprised when she replied.
Then you must be an Animagus. Anna nodded curtly in reply. Can she hear me too? Your friend?
Anna gasped and stared at the large black dog with wide ocean eyes. "H-How did you—"
The dog yipped as though it were laughing. I could hear you girls arguing the whole way up the corridor. The dog explained before it smugly added, And then some.
Yes, I can hear you. Vixen's voice replied, her violet eyes shining through Anna's ocean ones.
Hello, Vixen, both girls looked taken aback by the fact that this dog knew Vixen by name. However, Anna suspected that he had heard Anna say her name while the pair had been arguing the whole way up the corridor. Anna realized that she really needed to be more careful, anyone could've heard them.
You know my name? Vixen asked curiously, eyeing the dog with suspicion as though she could see if he was lying or not.
Anna sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. He probably heard me call you that while we were arguing, Vix.
The dog seemed to chuckle. That, and the fact that Vixen and I grew up together. I'm genuinely upset that you still haven't recognized me, my dear sister-in-law.
Vixen's violet eyes solidified as she gasped audibly, examining the dog carefully, searching his steel grey eyes for something. "Sirius?" She asked slowly, the dog yipped and nodded happily. She gave a squeal of happiness before she flung her arms around the dogs neck. "Holy shit! I never thought I'd see you again! Hold on!" She recoiled back almost as quickly as her barriers had broken down when she hugged the dog; all looks of joy gone from her expression as she jumped to her feet, scowling as she drew her wand on the dog once more. "You have got some fucking explaining to do, mister!" Vixen snapped and Anna gasped in their mind; she had gone rigid and had begun shaking uncontrollably in fear. Vixen only ever drew her wand on someone when they were a serious threat or could possibly harm the body that they shared. "Anna! For Merlin's sake! Stop bloody shaking!" Vixen snapped at her.
I can't help it, Vix! You know that! Anna exclaimed in their mind.
Suddenly, the dog transformed into a human right before their eyes. Matted hair that hung down to his elbows and a shallow, gaunt face that could've passed for a corpse had the eye sockets been empty. Anna wanted to scream for help and began panicking in their mind, but found herself unable to say a word or take back control of the body that they shared, Vixen was fighting her for control and winning. Anna had seen this man before, so many times she'd seen his sunken face that sent shivers up her spine, especially in the recent months on the cover of the Daily Prophet. This man before her was none other than Sirius Black, the mass murderer who had escaped from Azkaban in August.
Sirius sighed heavily and raised his hands in surrender. "I understand that I have a lot of explaining to do, Vixen. Merlin, you look so young. The last time I saw you was when you were with Reg, finally graduated from Hogwarts, you and Reg came to James and Lily's wedding. That was the last time I saw you. How are you so young?"
Vixen growled. "You aren't in the position to ask questions right now, Sirius!" She snapped, raising her wand to point it between his eyes, not even flinching when Sirius raised his gaze to try and look at the wand. "You better start fucking explaining yourself, Sirius!" Suddenly, the last of Vixen's resolve snapped and Anna's eyes widened as she had never seen Vixen so pissed off, and she pissed Vixen off several times a day, sometimes, however, she did it on purpose just to get a rise out of her; the witch in her mind was practically like a sister to her after all. "You were their Secret Keeper! James and Lily! You sold them out! How could you, Sirius! How could you!" Vixen looked on the verge of tears and Sirius felt bad for upsetting his dearest sister-in-law. "M-my brother and Lily, how could you?"
Sirius stepped forward, but stopped in his tracks when Vixen jabbed the tip of her wand to his heart rather painfully. He hoped that she wouldn't curse him like she had done to everyone who thoroughly pissed her off in all the years that he had known her. "Mia was against the idea, she always said that we never should've trusted Peter, to be our Secret Keeper or not, as always she was right. I would've died rather than betray them, Vix. They were family to me, just like you, Mia and Moony. I never would've betrayed Prongs or Lily. When you and Mia disappeared, I didn't want the burden. Death Eaters were after me, it was so obvious that I was their Secret Keeper, Vix. I had them change it to Peter, I thought Moony was the spy. I-I didn't know, at the time, that it was Peter, he sold them out. I never would've done anything to hurt them, you know me better then that, Vix. Fuck, we've known each other since you were 10."
Vixen snorted as she wiped her dampened cheeks, pining Sirius with a playful glare. "I'm only 15, Sirius."
Sirius shot her a playful glare and brought his hand up to lower her wand. "You're going to need to explain that to me, if I'm being honest."
Vixen sighed. "Soon, I will, Sirius. I swear on my magic, but not right now."
Vixen's violet eyes faded to ocean blue, that looked clouded by hysteria. "Peter is dead! It was all over the Prophet when I researched about you! You killed him!" Anna cried, gripping her wand tightly as she pressed it between his eyes once more.
His eyes went wide at the sight of bright blue eyes and the fact that Vixen wasn't in control, this little witch could prove a problem if Sirius didn't find a way to calm her down. "That was my intention when I went looking for him the day James and Lily died, but when I found him." Sirius growled and Anna growled back, her eyes flashing a menacing blood red that caught him by surprise. It had been years since he had seen that colour in her eyes. He knew that colour well, he needed to tread carefully now, or he could end up on the bad side of a curse. "The bloody coward started screaming to anyone who would hear that I'd been the one to betray James and Lily, and then he blasted apart half the fucking street with his wand behind his back when I cornered him and then amidst the rubble; the dirty coward cut off his finger and transformed, joining the sewer rats so everyone would think he was dead, but that bastard is alive! And he's at Hogwarts! I only broke out because Harry's in danger!"
Vixen's violet eyes solidified as she glared at Sirius. "That's impossible! He can't be alive! Sirius, how can I trust you?" Vixen's grip tightened on their wand when Sirius began rummaging in his shabby robes before he pulled out a clipping from the Daily Prophet of the entire Weasley clan on holiday in Egypt. There, on Ronald Weasley's shoulder, sat Scabbers; Ronald's pet rat. Anna had seen the rat with Ron many times, so it wasn't surprising to her, but Vixen gasped as she gripped the newspaper clipping, taking a closer look at the moving photograph, noticing that Scabbers was missing a toe. "That's impossible!" Vixen mentally slapped herself for not recognizing the treacherous rat sooner. "Scabbers was fucking Pettigrew this whole fucking time!" She snapped angrily, Sirius was taken by surprise when only her eyes shifted to a menacing blood red.
"Why isn't your hair changing too, Vix?" Sirius asked curiously.
Vixen sighed as she tried compose her temper. "All in good time, Sirius. I knew I should've killed that fucking rat when I had the chance."
Anna's blue eyes returned, widening dramatically, gasping loudly as realization flooded her. "Harry needs to be warned!" She said urgently, she didn't understand why she felt such a strong need to protect Harry, she had always treated him like her younger brother, just like she treated Hermione like her little sister—even if Hermione was always trying to boss her around.
Sirius smiled thoughtfully at Anna, relieved that she was no longer holding him at wand point, he'd never admit it out loud, but Merlin this witch scared him. "I never caught your name," he said with a smile.
Anna smiled cheerfully. "My name is Tassiyanna Cloud, but my friends call me Anna." She extended her hand to him and he shook it. "People need to know that you're innocent, Mr Black."
Anna frowned when Sirius cringed, whether it was because she had called him by his familial name or because she sounded too formal. "Please, Miss Cloud. Call me Sirius."
Anna smirked. "I'll call you Sirius, if you call me Anna." He grinned at her, giving her a curt nod.
Vixen's violet eyes returned. "Sirius, you need a fucking bath, we can smell you from here."
Sirius playfully glared at her. "You try being stuck in Azkaban for twelve years, Vix."
Vixen frowned, gazing up into his steel grey eyes. "I'm so sorry I couldn't warn you, Sirius."
Sirius frowned, reaching forward to hug her, but thought against it as he didn't want someone to catch his scent on her. Just in case there was another unregistered Animagus at Hogwarts who could smell his scent on her. "It's not your fault, Vixen."
"No! It is my fault! I didn't warn you, I didn't try hard enough to warn you all about what was coming, I didn't—" she stopped abruptly and her eyes widened when she caught a familiar scent in the air. "Shit!" She grabbed Sirius by the wrist and practically threw him into a dark alcove. "Quick! Someone's coming! Cast a Disillusionment Charm!" She whispered frantically.
Sirius's steel eyes went wide as he went to grab his wand before he slapped himself upside the head. "I don't have my wand!" He whispered urgently.
Vixen sighed heavily and took out her wand, tapping him hard over the head before she did the same with herself. The feeling of the Disillusionment Charm felt like someone had cracked an egg over her head, the remnants sliding down her face and body. They—Anna and Vixen—had to suppress the urge to cancel the charm; it made her shiver in disgust, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Anna's eyes widened when she saw James turn the corner up the corridor, it was obvious that he was looking for her.
Oh shit, she thought as she turned to look at Sirius, momentarily forgetting that they were both under the Disillusionment Charm. If James sees you, the whole of Hogwarts will know that you've broken into the school! People will panic! You'll get captured! She said frantically in his mind, hoping to Merlin that James was too busy to notice. Suddenly, she turned when she heard James sniff the air and her heart beat quickened. Shit! Shitshitshit! He can smell me! Sirius, run! I'll distract him!
Are you sure? His voice said in her mind.
Yes! Now run! Stay out of sight, but stay close by.
"Come on out, Anna. I can smell you." Anna broke the charm with a mischievous smile. He grinned at her. "Now, why were you hiding, my beautiful witch?"
Anna faked a pout. "I was trying to scare you, but I guess that didn't work, now did it, my handsome wizard?" James laughed as he pulled her close, hugging her tightly.
"You know I can smell your scent for miles, Hopper." He said, grinning from ear to ear. "Being a werewolf is only a blessing when I need to find you." Anna laughed and seized his arm, pulling him back down the corridor, stealing a glance to the hidden alcove, hoping to Merlin that Sirius made it out alright.
Hufflepuff Common Room
James plopped down on their fat yellow sofa by the fire. Anna sat down comfortably in his lap, listening to her wizard tell her about what went on after she returned to the castle. "I had to give five bloody Slytherin detention! Five! For hexing first-years!"
Anna smiled sadly. "You poor thing," she said soothingly, placing her head on his shoulder, one hand placed gently against his chest, the other hugging him tightly, her feet kicked out towards the end of the sofa.
James sighed as he nuzzled his face into her hair. "I still don't want you playing in next week's match, but I can't stop you. I'm just worried about you, Hopper."
Anna sighed. "I know you're worried, Moony, but I promise, I'll be fine. I've never once fallen off my broom and the Slytherins will most likely dress up like Dementors and scare people because they're that stupid." James let out a barking laugh that made Anna smile affectionately. "I promise, love. I'll be fine." She said with a grin before she cheekily added, "If they even try to scare me, I'll hex them."
James grinned broadly at her statement before his smile faltered and he scrubbed his free hand down his face, sighing heavily. "I can't stop you, Hopper. I may not like you playing. I just don't like the thought of you getting hurt."
Anna gently moved the fringe from his eyes and gently caressed his cheek with her palm, making him look at her. "I know, love. I swear on my magic, I'll be fine."
While Anna may have been fine in that moment, she couldn't help but worry about the fact that Sirius Black was now roaming the castle.
~ Later That Evening ~
The Great Hall
Anna was confused when Professor Sprout ushered the entire Hufflepuff House to the Great Hall, after curfew. Holly and Weaver looked concerned for their mother, especially when Pomona had entered the Common Room to find the entire Lot seated in their usual circle on the sofas, talking and laughing.
"Mum!" Weaver exclaimed at the sight of Pomona stepping through the portrait. The entire Mischiefous Lot turned to Pomona, the Head of House only ever made an appearance when she was either celebrating something with them, or when she was delivering bad news, much like she had the year before when Hermione and Penelope had been attacked by the Basilisk that was hidden in the Chamber of Secrets, the very same Basilisk that Harry had defeated singlehandedly. Gilderoy Lockhart had tried to Obliviate both Ron and Harry, perfectly content to leave poor little Ginny Weasley, Ron's little sister and the youngest of the Weasley clan to die. However, Lockhart's Memory Charm had backfired onto himself, making Lockhart lose all of his memories, including those of who he was and even the memories of magic. "Mum? What's wrong?" Weaver and Holly approached their mother carefully. Professor Sprout was as white as a sheet and she looked terrified.
She turned to Anna and James, who had just finished their Prefect duties and were still wearing their badges. They were also the only Hufflepuff Prefects still awake. "Mister Summers, round up all the boys in their dormitories; Miss Cloud, the same with the girls."
"Of course, Professor." Anna said with a frown, she turned to Weaver and Holly with a look of concern.
"Don't worry, Hopper, we'll stay with her. Mia, Irys, Clover, help Anna." Weaver said. Anna nodded as did the rest of the girls and they vanished up the stairs, the boys doing the same.
Five minutes later, the entirety of Hufflepuff House was making their way to the Great Hall. Weaver and Holly filled in the rest of the Lot on what their mother had told them, Holly and Weaver both looked terrified. "Sirius Black broke into the school and attacked the portrait of the Fat Lady when she wouldn't let him into the Gryffindor Common Room. Mum's terrified." Holly said darkly, her face as white as a sheet. Amos hugged her side, kissing her temple in an attempt to calm her nerves.
Anna and Vixen were furious. Had they not been absolutely clear when they told him to stay out of sight?
"The teachers and I need to conduct a thorough search of the castle." Dumbledore said as Minnie and Professor Flitwick closed all the doors to the Great Hall. "I'm afraid, for your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. I want the Prefects to stand guard over the entrances to the Hall and I am leaving the Head Boy and Girl in charge. Any disturbances should be reported to me immediately," he added to Percy, who looked immensely proud and important. "Send word with one of the ghosts."
Professor Dumbledore paused, about to leave the Hall, and said, "Oh yes, you'll be needing . . ."
The fact that Sirius hadn't listened to her made her eyes shift to a menacing blood red as Dumbledore waved his wand twice and the long table all stacked themselves against the walls, with hundreds of squishy purple sleeping bags appearing all over the floor in the Great Hall a moment later.
He sighed, but regarded the Hall. "Sleep well," he said, closing the door behind him. Anna turned, trying to find Ron, Harry and Hermione. She found the three of them dragging three sleeping bags into a corner.
When the doors closed, the Hall immediately began buzzing excitedly. "Everyone to their sleeping bags!" Percy shouted over the noise. "Come on now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes."
Anna sighed heavily as she felt her eyes shift back to normal. She and James made their way over to Percy, throwing apologetic glances to the rest of the Lot, who all shrugged and waved them off with understanding smiles as Anna and James got to work with their Prefect duties. The couple approached Percy to receive their orders.
"Is it true, Percy?"James asked. "Did Sirius Black really break into the castle?"
Percy sighed heavily as he turned to look at them after he gave Valeria and Justin their instructions to where they would stand guard. He nodded solemnly. "Yes, James. I'm afraid it's true. Black broke into the castle, he scared the life out of the Fat Lady. Peeves said he saw her on the fifth floor, running through the portraits and crying something dreadful. Her portrait was completely destroyed."
Anna frowned at the news. "She didn't deserve that, while I've heard her singing is awful, no one deserves to be scared like that." She said sadly. "D-Do you think he's still in the castle?" Anna asked, her face pale with what looked like fright, but was actually genuine concern. She hoped that Sirius made it out of the castle on time. That fucking idiot! We specifically told him to stay out of sight! Vixen screamed in their mind, the witch in her mind on a rampage.
James hugged her tightly, thinking she was scared. "Don't worry, love. I won't let him hurt you."
Anna turned her attention to look up at her boyfriend, she smiled at him gratefully. "I know, love."
Percy cleared his throat, catching the couples attention once more. "Professor Dumbledore still thinks he's in the castle, Anna, which is why the entire castle is being thoroughly searched. Can you and James guard the doors behind the Heads Table?"
"Of course, Perce." Anna smiled, giving the Weasley a quick hug before she tugged James by his hand to the far end of the Great Hall. Anna took the door on the left and James took the one of the right.
Every couple of hours, a teacher would come and check on them, moving swiftly to speak with Percy and Penelope, the Prefects switching places so everyone could get some amount of sleep. It was a rough night, when Dumbledore returned with the news that there was no sign of Sirius, Anna was guarding the entrance to Great Hall with Valeria, Justin and James were guarding the doors behind the Heads Table after they had gotten a few hours of sleep. Anna gave a silent sigh of relief at the news that Sirius was no longer in the castle.
"How do you think he got in?" Valeria asked her after Dumbledore left the Great Hall.
Anna pretended to think about it for a moment. "He probably disguised himself, I wouldn't be surprised."
"That's ridiculous, Anna, with Dementors at every entrance, they aren't easily fooled by disguises." Valeria pointed out.
"I suppose you're right, Val. How do you think he got in?" Anna asked, looking at her Slytherin friend from the corner of her eye.
Valeria put a finger to her chin as she genuinely thought about it. "I'm not too sure, but I know for a fact that he couldn't have Apparated on the grounds or flown in, the wards around the castle wouldn't have allowed it without Dumbledore being notified."
Anna grinned at her friend. "You got that out of Hogwarts; A History." She said cheekily.
"Of course," Valeria said with a sly grin. "The students who haven't read it are absolute idiots."
Anna smirked as she turned to fully look at her friend, placing a hand on her hip. "Careful, Earheart. You might get accused of playing favourites with that attitude."
Valeria bumped Anna's hip with her own. "Like you're one to talk, Cloud." The pair of girls shared a quiet laugh, trying not to wake the sleeping students nearby.
I'm so sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. I'll try not to make you all wait so long for the next chapter. I'm at camp right now, the first time in 6 years! I was so excited, I actually cried! Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
