As soon as they got on the train it started to lurch slowly from the station. They found themselves a nice little cabin to sit in.
"So tell us more about this Anna girl Harry," Hermione said as they got settled.
"Well, she's pretty, she likes no wait she loves Snuffles, oh and she's Malfoy's girlfriend," he said nonchalantly.
"She's Malfoy's girlfriend?" Ron shouted.
"Yeah, that's what the little talk with him was about," Harry said as he bought some food from the cart going by. "He warned me to stay away from his girl and..."
"Warn you about my secrets?" said a voice. It was Anna. She walked slowly into the cabin while shutting the doors behind her.
"Yes, exactly," Harry responded, "But how did you know?" he asked as he made room for her to sit by him.
"Because I have a lot of secrets, and many of them I wouldn't mind keeping them secrets."
"Everyone has something they want to keep a secret. There's nothing wrong with that," Ron said.
"Yeah, but Harry you were right about one thing," Hermione said as she looked over Anna. "There is something that makes me think of someone but I can't figure it out right now."
"Well of course I do!" she giggled, "I mean you were with Sirius Black!" All three of them just stared at her in horror.
"Did Malfoy tell you that?" Ron shouted.
"No, I guess its time to come clean," Anna said with a bright smile. "Or should I say introduce myself. Hi, I'm Anna Black." All three of them just continued to stare at her. "I'm Sirius' daughter." She just looked at the shocked trio. "Well?"
"You're really his daughter?" Hermione said still shocked.
"Yes," she said nodding her head. "And now that you all know who I am, your names would be nice."
"Well I am Hermione Granger," she said pointing to herself, "This is Ron Weasley, and this is Harry Potter," she said pointing to each of them.
"So you're Harry Potter?" Anna said to herself in an almost startled voice.
"So you have heard of me?" Harry said looking at her.
"Yeah I have, but I just didn't picture you like this. No offense," she said patting his leg lightly.
"None taken," he smiled. "But you, that's why you look so familiar! It makes sense now. But I have so many questions for you. I mean, I didn't even know Sirius had a girlfriend or anything, let alone a daughter."
"He didn't have a girlfriend," she said now looking at the floor, "It was a one night thing. I'm just..."she cut herself off.
"Oh, don't say anything like that. I'm sure your parents love you," Ron said sensing what she was going to say that.
"I guess you could say that," she started to tear up but wiped her eyes before she started to cry. "But enough about me I have so many questions for you," she said looking at Harry.
"What?" He said not quite understanding her.
"Maybe I should explain myself. I grew up around a lot of dark wizards. My mom was one of them. All I ever heard was the bad side of you. It wasn't until I went to school in the States that I realized that there was a good side to magic. I fought constantly from that moment on with my mother about me being good. She's dead now and..." she stopped as she started to tear up. "I'm sorry. I don't like to talk about things like that."
"It's ok," Harry said, "I understand what its like to loose your parents." He gave her a hug. Just then the doors to the cabin bust open.
"Potter!" Malfoy said looking right at him, "What did I just tell you at the station?" he shouted at him.
"You told me to stay away from her," he smiled, "You didn't say anything about her staying away from me." Malfoy's face was red with anger.
"Is this true? Did you come here?" Malfoy was now shouting at Anna.
"Sort of. I was on my way back to you when the ride got rough so I thought I would sit here for a moment. I was just saying goodbye," she gave Harry a wink.
"Well I suggest you make your way back there now. And just to make sure you don't stop anywhere else Crabbe and Goyle will go with you." He stopped and gave her a kiss on the cheek before she left with her escort. "Now Potter, do we need to have another chat?"
"No Malfoy I think I'm pretty clear on the subject," Harry said as he stood up next to him.
"Good. Just remember what I said about those secrets. Don't want precious Potter to hear such things," he said with a smile as he left. Harry sat back down.
"I can't believe she is with him!" Harry said as he put his head in his hands.
"I know!" Ron said as he looked down the hall, "She could do so much better."
"I can't believe that we're almost to the school!" Hermione said as she went to grab her robes. "We better get changed." With that they all changed into their robes. Harry's head was still swirling with the new information. 'Sirius had a daughter! Why didn't he tell me?' is all Harry thought for the rest of the short ride there.
As soon as they got to the Hogsmeade station they boarded a carriage to make their way to the castle. Harry was silent the entire way. When they got to the Great Hall Harry started to look around for Anna.
"Has anyone seen Anna?" he asked Ron and Hermione.
"Harry, she still has to be sorted," Hermione told him. He just remembered that! Even though she will be a 5th year she still needed to be sorted. Just then McGonagall walked in with Anna in front of the line of much smaller 1st years. It was a sight that made him want to laugh. He could tell it was one that made her laugh too. Right before the sorting Dumbledore got up to make his speech.
"Today is a momentous day for Hogwarts," he said in his great hall voice. "Today we welcome our first student from the States!" with that the entire Hall burst in applause.
"She will be a 5th year and will finish her education here at Hogwarts." With that said he sat back down and the sorting continued.
"BLACK, ANNA!" McGonagall shouted. Everyone went quiet as she walked up to the stool where the Sorting Hat sat. She sat down slowly and the hat was placed on her head. It felt like forever, Anna just sitting there with the hat upon her head. Both Harry and Malfoy stared at each other as they both hoped that she would be in their house. Then finally the hat shouted the long awaited answer.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted. The entire Gryffindor table stood up and cheered for their new member. The rest of the sorting seemed to go by in a blur. After the sorting was over Malfoy walked over to Anna who was seated at the Gryffindor table.
"Anna dear, I'm sorry you got stuck with this lot," he said as he gave Ron, Fred, George, Hermione, and Harry and evil look, "but I hope this doesn't change things with us."
"You know it doesn't," she said with a smile. Harry sulked some as he watched Anna and Malfoy talking until he finally left, but only after placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"So, you like him?" George asked as he cut his roast beef.
"No not really," Anna replied as she scooped some mashed potatoes on her plate.
"Then why are you with him?" Ron asked with his mouth full of food.
"Cause I have to."
"What?" Hermione asked her in a weird tone.
"I'm engaged to him," she said in a depressed tone.
"YOU'RE ENGAGED TO HIM!" Ron shouted.
"I don't want to be..." Anna said but Ron still looked at her as if she was pond scum. She just got up and ran from the table.
"Way to go jerk!" George said.
"Yeah you may our brother but you can be a bit of an asshole sometimes," Fred said with a slight nod of his head.
"I didn't mean it. I just..." Ron tried to explain it but Harry just got up and went after her.
He finally found her crying in front of the Portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Need the password?" he said softly as he looked at her. She looked startled and then nodded her head. "You know Ron doesn't mean what he said. He just got carried away. He's not exactly Malfoy's biggest fan. Cornish Pixies," he said and the portrait flung open. They walked in to the empty common room.
"I know it's just that. I really don't like him either. But I have to pretend and..."
"Why do you have to pretend?" Harry asked her as he sat down in the armchair.
"I don't know," Anna said as she crawled in to the chair next to him. He liked the way she crawled over the arm of the chair and sat down. He seemed to like everything about her.
"I guess pretending just makes it easier."
"But if you don't like him why are you marrying him?"
"I have to." Harry gave her a weird look. "It's an arraigned marriage."
"Oh!" Harry smiled at her. He was so excited. She wasn't attached to Malfoy at all. "I wish I could help you."
"It's ok. You can help me make his life miserable though," she said as she smiled at him.
"How do I do that? Just then Ron and Hermione came in showing the 1st years around.
"Just be my friend," she said as she smiled at him.