Song: Rose of May-Erutan
"I never get tired of Diagon Alley" Shoulder length brown hair bounced as she shook her head, looking from side to side at the familiar shops, she'd changed again over the summer, she'd cut her hair and her body had developed a bit more. Her curves were more defined, and her chest had grown, not that he'd ever tell her he had noticed. Newt's face graced with a dopey sort of smile as he just watched her bounce through the alley, His mother had sent Theseus with them today because she had to stay back and take care of some sick baby hippogriffs.
"Anna, focus, we need to get to flourish and Blott's for textbooks"
"What ever you say, papa bear." Theseus looked at her confused but continued walking.
Once in the shop the Hufflepuff's made quick work of gathering their books and checking out.
"Is it all right if we stop by Madame Malkin's? My uniform is getting a bit snug." Theseus had graduated Hogwarts end of last year and now had an entry level job with the ministry.
"Not a problem, Newt, what about you, is your uniform in need of work." He looked down at his feet, noticing his pants were a bit on the short side.
"I could probably do with new trousers…"
"Madame Malkin's it is then." Heading for the north side of the alley way it wasn't long before they stepped into the homey little shop.
"Ah, two of my favorite Hufflepuff's! in for alterations?"
"Yes Ma'am." Anna smiled, looking around the shop, her eye catching one of the Hufflepuff scarves.
"Which of you will go first?"
"Newt can go first, I think I'm going to look around a bit." Madame Malkin ushered the boy to her small work area as Anna set about looking for something.
"What are you doing?"
"I want to get him a gift, but he's really hard to shop for, such a minimalist." Theseus felt a smile tug at his lips, over the summer he'd gotten to know her and he had to admit she was pretty selfless, and extremely loyal, no wonder the sorting hat had placed her in Hufflepuff, but she was also a force to be reckoned with, words of how she and Newt both had gone up against a potentially dangerous witch had quickly spread, much to his little brothers chagrin. The older Scamander was so proud of his little brother though. Anna's parents were less than thrilled when word finally got back to them, especially when they'd found out she'd been comatose, and no one had alerted them. It all turned out fine in the end.
"Get him something practical." He watched as her dual colored eyes trailed back to the scarf, a simple smile on her face. She was a Hufflepuff, through and through.
"I think he'll like this scarf, I've seen them on other kids at school, and considering he likes to be out doors, it will get some use."
"Anna, your turn." The brunette let the scarf drop from her hands and turned, the same gentle smile on her face. "Coming." The dark haired witch ushered her back into the workshop, and before long, both students had their new uniforms.
"I don't know about you two, but I'm starved." Over the summer months, Anna had learned Theseus could eat enough to feed an army, for once someone actually put her to shame, she'd actually made a joke that if he continued on eating the way he did, the ministry could use him as a human advertisement balloon.
"You two go, I'll catch up." Neither brother asked question and headed for this place called 'The amber badger' on the other end of the alley.
"Madame Malkin, do you think you could engrave initials onto this scarf?" the woman stepped behind the counter with a smile, "Of course, is it a gift for Newton?" a blush dusted her cheeks and she nodded. "Then I think it will mean more if you embroider it, I can tell he's smitten with you just by how he watches you." The woman's statement did nothing to lessen Anna's blush as she paid for the Hufflepuff scarf and hurried out the door.
Stepping into the Amber badger she spotted the two brothers, hurrying over she filled the empty seat.
"What kept you?" smiling, Anna just shook her head, "Nothing, just chatting." Seafoam eyes watched her but let the soon to be 5th year let it slide, figuring it was simply that.
"Welcome to the Amber badger, what can I do you for?" Anna briefly scanned the menu before placing an order for shepherd's pie before handing the flimsy parchment menu back to the waiter.
"You guys have your O.W.L's this year, make sure you study, it determines whether you'll be able to get the job you want in the future."
"Newt says he wants to be a Magizoologist, I think he'll be wonderful."
"I've heard, just like my little brother to not stay in one place for too long, I hear you two have had some interesting adventures." Both Hufflepuff's eyes found the table and the older sibling laughed, "No worries, Hogwarts is great for adventures, lots of great places for snogging." Newt choked on his own saliva.
"That's not…Why would…" Anna giggled, "I know that's what a lot of people use their study time in the library for, I' m pretty sure I caught you in there once with Adeline Saynsberry." Now the older boy felt his face warm.
"Nothing to fret about, She's a very pretty girl. Speaking of Pretty girls, did you ever tell Leta how you felt about her?" Theseus looked ready to murder the Metamorphmagus. "I know you've graduated and gotten a job, but you should write her this year." Newt had picked up on Leta's infatuation with his older brother not long after Anna's hospital release last year.
"She's three years younger than me, Anna."
"So, 3 years isn't that big a difference, we'll all be done with school in 2 years and doing our own things, Newt with his Magizoology, me with whatever I decide to do, and Leta with what she wants to do. Besides, I've seen the way you look at her."
"How did you get to be so wise?" Anna laughed, "I'm not sure really, I suspect I spend much to much time chatting with the portraits at school." Their food was placed down on the table and the conversation shifted.
"I think you should become a teacher, you'd be a great addition to the staff."
"I've thought about it, but the more I do…the more I realize that I don't like staying in one place, I want to travel.", I want to see mountains other than the ones at school, pyramids in Egypt, the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Swim in the ocean. My parents travel for work so much, but I never get to go with them anymore."
"So you think you'll become an Auror, then?"
"I don't know, Maybe someday, but I don't think an office job is for me. when I was really little I told my mother I wanted to perform in the theatre. I used to sing all these songs I'd hear on the radio and my mum and dad would smile and politely applaud, although I was terrible. I took music classes while I was still attending muggle school as well."
"You never told me that."
"Well, things change, I can't perform in muggle theatres as a witch, now can I?" Newt looked at her, his eyes a bit downcast as he ate his food, "No, I suppose not…but you could perform for us."
"What?" she saw the slight mischief playing in Newts eyes, "You said you sing."
"Newt." Her tone was warning. "I agree, I'd love to hear you, Anna." The older boy stood.
"Theseus, what are you doing?!" she shouted at him in whispered tones, he only gave her a similar crooked smile to match his brother.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?!" The brunette slammed her head down on the table, missing her plate of food as all eyes found their table.
"It seems we have a novice performer in our midst!" the Shyer of the brothers ducked his head down, he hadn't expected Theseus to make such a spectacle. "If we give her enough applause maybe she will grace us with a song!"
"That's it…I'm in hell…I'm in hell, Newt." He gave her a sympathetic look as the place erupted in light cheers and applause. She had no choice now.
"I'm going to kill him." She muttered as she cautiously approached the small stage in the corner.
"U-Um…I'm not supposed to use magic outside of school…" the flick of someone's wand started a light melody with the instruments littering the stage, Anna felt her nerves spike and her hair quickly changed from brown to black and pink, a mix of fear and nerves settling in her stomach. She ducked her eyes down to the floor. Light clapping from the back caused her to draw her eyes back up, resting on Newt she took a deep breath and started.
"her heart underneath
cries quietly
this part of me
I choose not to see"
her voice shook as the room completely quieted, the other instruments picking up as she continued,
"what lives must I take
for fealty's sake?
how much blood must stain
this warrior's blade?"
Both Scamander's were floored as her voice gradually seemed to grow with confidence, she seemed to have many others entranced as well as the song only continued.
"war leaves its trail
in moonlight so pale
its shadows they flow
in rivers, in rivers
so put on my mask
I'll go where they ask
so I might once again see the
Roses of May."
The brunette's hair changed from black back to her usual brown, but as Newt continued to watch her, he noticed something, a small streak of bright, platinum blonde hair, peaking through the darkness, he'd never seen that before and made note to ask her about it later on.
"Staining my soul and stinging my eyes
the red on my hands
won't wash away, wash away
no where to run from what I have done
I'm no longer, no longer
a Rose of May."
Anna carried on finally closing out the song, after a short while, the enchanted instruments stopped and she quickly made her way back to her seat, applause following her as she hurried across the room.
"Well, now that you've made a total fool out of me…" she muttered to the older brother as she sat down.
"You were wonderful, I think you would really draw people in if you were a performer—"
"There wouldn't be an empty seat in the house." Her brown and green eyes turned to Newt who wore a shy smile. Anna said nothing as she quickly finished her food, leaving the money for it on the table. She looked like she was in a trance of sorts.
Newt looked at his brother before following her out into the cobblestone alley way.
"Anna?" worry set in when she didn't respond. Neither of them noticed the pair of heterochromatic eyes watching with a mixture of sadness and anger from a few stalls away.