Chapter Two- New teachers, old grudges
It was the first morning back at Hogwarts, and things were quite normal. Except for the fact that they had a new Transfiguration teacher, Ginny Weasley.
Anne had seen her a couple of times at Ron Weasley's house, but Ginny always left when they arrived. Her father and mother had tried to avoid the subject until her father finally confessed that he and Ginny had dated once.
Anne walked out of the Great Hall, hoping to have a glimpse of the new Herbology classroom, and Chris walked beside her.
"I noticed that Marcela grew a couple of inches," Chris said distractedly as Anne looked around.
"She'll be glad you noticed," Anne grinned.
"I tend to notice insignificant details, like… what's going on in your troubled love life?" Chris pressed on.
"Nothing special," Anne said. "Still the same crush and the same expectations to date him… Zero opportunities."
"I heard he's dating Wanda McMahon," Chris said. "Gosh, am I a gossip encyclopedia or what?"
"You're nervous," Anne explained as she failed to see the Herbology classroom. "It'll be the first class with Snape since the nasty tortoise incident."
"I swear that I heard him say 'squash the tortoise'," Chris said miserably. "I didn't want to kill it."
"I'm sure you didn't," Anne said and they were joined by Marcela and Andrew.
"What are you two doing alone?" Marcela asked briskly. Anne stared at her and Chris feigned deafness.
"I mean…" Marcela changed her tone of voice. "Why did you leave us at the breakfast table?"
"I wanted to see the new Herbology classroom," Anne said as they walked to the dungeons. "I heard from some first years that it was pretty cool."
"Hey, did you hear Headmaster Hagrid saying about the Halloween Dance?" Andrew asked Anne.
"Another opportunity to make me feel dateless and alone," Chris sighed.
"Well, if we don't have dates, we can go together," Anne said.
"What? Me and you? I mean, you and me?" Chris frowned.
"Yeah, Potter, what do you mean with that?" Marcela blurted. "Chris and you?"
"No, I meant that the four of us could go together," Anne said. "Damn it, I'm really misunderstood these days."
Marcela seemed calmer, and Anne preferred to remain silent and let Andrew and Chris do the talking. They arrived to the dungeons and Anne saw that the rest of the Gryffindors and the Ravenclaws were there, including Kurt Hurty.
They waited outside Snape's dungeon, and Anne looked at her clock. "I mean, we know the old man think he's important, but if he doesn't come in the next five minutes I'm leaving," Anne said crossly.
"Then I will return down the hallway and wait five minutes, so you can leave and I don't have to deal with your ignorance for the next two hours." Snape was standing behind Anne, who flinched at sight of him.
"Nothing to retort, Potter?" Snape asked maliciously.
"No," Anne said, anger rising in her chest.
"Well then, twenty points from Gryffindor for insulting me," Snape said, opening the door of the dungeon. "Twenty for not coming up with a good retort, and five for being a Potter."
"That's unfair," Andrew said. "You can't take points from her for being a Potter!"
"Another five points from you, Mr. Barry," Snape said as they all entered the dungeon.
Andrew glared at Snape and he and Anne walked to the back of the classroom, where they sat together at a desk. Chris and Marcela sat in the desk next to them.
"Gee, our first day back and he has taken forty five points from you, Potter," Chris grinned. "Was Snape like this with your father?"
"I guess so. He was a Potter, too," Anne said through gritted teeth. "I thought I had gotten used to this, but I feel so angry."
"Settle down," Snape said. His gray hair was as greasy as ever, and the wrinkles in his face made his nose seem even larger. "Welcome to another term of Potions. I can hardly wait for O.W.L.S and see that I will finally get rid of some vermin."
He glanced at Anne as he spoke. "As you all remember, last term had a memorable last class. Mr. Keedsler here, instead of scraping a tortoise's shell, he killed it. I hope this year you have a little more intelligence and avoid making foolish mistakes like that."
Snape continued talking, and Anne got bored. She looked around and her eyes stopped in Wayne Garr. He was taking notes while Snape spoke and Anne found that amusing. She realized that she could talk to him with the excuse of wanting his notes. She got excited just thinking about it, until Andrew brought her back to reality.
"Anne… Snape just asked you something," Andrew muttered.
"When you stop daydreaming," Snape said in a bored tone. "Maybe you could answer my question."
Anne gulped. "Er…" She was in a tricky spot, and she felt her face going red. She looked around and saw Wayne mouthing something at her.
Anne glanced again and she understood. "Bat liver, sir," Anne said quietly.
Snape glared at her and continued giving the class. Anne looked over at Wayne, who smiled at her. Anne smiled back and she returned her attention to Snape's class.
Two hours later, exiting Snape's dungeon"Come on, Potter, we'll be late for Ancient Runes!" Marcela called.
"Wait a second," Anne said. She wanted to thank Wayne for getting her out from such a problem with Snape. "You go ahead. I'll catch you later."
Andrew, Marcela and Chris left and Anne spotted Wayne. "Wayne!" She called and Wayne turned around.
He walked over to her and Anne could feel her heart beating very fast. "Hi, Anne."
"I wanted to, um… I kind of wanted to ask you something," Anne said nervously.
"Okay, but why don't you ask me in your way to Ancient Runes?" Wayne asked. "I have a free period, and I can walk you to your classroom."
"O-okay," Anne nodded. They walked side by side and Anne grinned.
"Well, I wanted to ask you… What on Earth did Snape ask me?" Anne asked.
"Oh, he asked you if you knew what animal liver is used for making deadly potions," Wayne said.
"I hope I didn't give him an idea," Anne said and Wayne laughed.
"He's very mean to you," Wayne said. "I mean, your father is a legend, he should be nicer."
"Yeah, well, he has a thing against the Potters," Anne said. "Hey, thank you for saving me like that."
"Anytime, Anne," Wayne grinned. "And… Did you hear about the Halloween dance? I've heard the wildest rumors."
"Yeah, me too," Anne said. "I sure hope they don't bring the Weird Sisters. Everyone know they are so, well, old."
"And any idea of who you're going with?" Wayne asked. Anne stared at him and Wayne blushed slightly. "I mean, it will be great and…"
"Wayne, there you are!" Wanda McMahon exclaimed. She was a very pretty Slytherin with short red hair and brown eyes.
"Hi, honey," Wayne said quite disappointed.
"Oh, hi," Wanda said to Anne. "Nice to see you, Anne Potter. What were you talking about?"
"Anne wants to try out for seeker," Wayne lied. "So she was asking when I would choose new team members."
"If you inherited your father's talent, you're in," Wanda said. "I hope to see you at tryouts."
"Yeah, I'll be there," Anne said.
"Wayne, I know that you have a free period… Let's go and hang around somewhere," Wanda said.
Wayne looked over at Anne. "As a matter of fact I was going to-"
"I have to go," Anne said quickly. "I'll be late for Ancient Runes. Um… See you!"
Anne walked away, not looking back, and she felt her heart breaking into tiny pieces. Wayne would never be hers… he would always belong to someone else.
A/N: Okay, I want to know who do you ship right now. I need suggestions! I mean, I have a general idea of who will end up together, but in your reviews I'll see if I'm going down the right road. Thank you!