A/N:Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I really appreciate it. Thanks of course to MissBubbles for beta-ing. I hope you enjoy the chapter. I won't be able to update again until the 9th, as I'm going away until then.
Summary: Lost and sick in the middle of nowhere, Sirius falls into the hands of a woman whose secrets will tie inextricably into the fate of his godson. What will happen when he finds himself attracted to this strange witch?
The Complexities of the Heart
By katemary77
Chapter Four
Let
me show you
Sweet smell of a delicate whisper
Behind the vision
of gardens
Go and read of your life
Tiny ripping at the
heart
Drunk from a rose
- Erica Caitlin Lee
"Anna!"
The brunette sat straight up in bed, her hair bedraggled and her eyes thick with sleep.
"Anna!" the voice called more urgently.
Confused and somewhat annoyed at being awoken so early in the morning, Anna retrieved her grey dressing gown from behind the door and trudged down the stairs, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she went.
"Anna!"
"What? What? I'm here already!" she moaned tiredly, entering the basement. "Shh, before you wake the portrait up."
"Oh, Anna!"
Before she could investigate who had been calling her down to breakfast so urgently, the young woman found herself swallowed up in a fierce embrace by an imposing figure in black.
"Severus," she commented dryly, as the Potions Master carefully scrutinised every inch of her frame.
"Did he hurt you," the man demanded furiously. "Did he touch you at all? I'll kill the bastard when I get my hands on him."
Anna raised an eyebrow wryly and led the Potions Master over to the long table where Remus and Sirius were seated, watching the scene with rather bemused expressions.
Anna pushed Snape into a seat and stood before him.
"You will do no such thing, Mister, and if you do I will have your head myself."
There was a small, almost inaudible chuckle from Sirius.
Snape glowered.
"Oh stop glaring, you stupid old man, or you'll never find yourself a girlfriend."
Remus, who had been watching idly, spat his tea across the tabletop. Blushing, the werewolf quickly made to wipe it up with his wand.
"Terribly sorry, do go on."
Snape wisely chose to ignore this.
"Are you sure you're okay Anna?" he queried, now returning to his usual, clipped voice, painfully aware of his audience.
She nodded, exasperated: "Merlin, I'm fine. Just a bump on the head, that's all."
The dark man frowned: "That's all! Anna, I don't think you realise what could have happened had he – "
"Sirius, Remus," Anna cut in, "would you mind too much if I asked you give us a moment?"
"Sure," Remus replied before leaving the basement with his tea. He paused at the door. "Sirius, are you coming?"
The Animagus, who had been darkly watching Snape, snapped to attention: "Yeah," he muttered, before following Remus out.
Anna turned her gaze fiercely to Snape. "I am very well aware of what could have happened, Severus. I don't think I need to be reminded."
The man pulled her over to the table, where she perched on the edge. Taking her hands in his, she knew that he was reassuring himself that she was safe and out of harm.
"I know that, Anna," he told her. "I just worry."
She nodded and took a deep, shuddering breath. "Can you imagine what would have happened if he had taken me? It would've been so easy, had I been alone. I just… froze, Severus, I couldn't move! I couldn't do anything! And I would have been back with Him again. I felt so weak." A tremble rocked through Anna's shoulders. "Had Sirius not been there, I don't know what would've happened."
Snape's expression turned dark at the mention of Sirius.
"I don't want you near that man, Anna. He's not good for you."
Anna looked up at him with a face that suggested she cared very little for what he was saying.
He grunted. "Anna, I am not joking. I've seen the way he treats women; uses them and then throws them aside. He is a careless, dangerous, destructive man and I will not let him hurt you."
Slowly, she removed her hands from his grasp.
"Severus, you have no right telling me whom I should and should not associate with."
"But he's – "
"Just a friend," she interrupted. "Merlin, Severus, it's been twenty years! Don't you think you could forgive and forget?"
"Not for him."
Anna sighed: "Sev, you're being stupid. No matter what you think and whether you like it or not, you and Sirius are going to have to work together. Please, be civil. If not for my sake, then for Albus'. He doesn't need to deal with fighting within the Order now."
Snape sighed and stood, pulling Anna against him: "I'll try," he murmured into her hair, as his body relaxed against her. "I'm so glad you're okay."
Anna smiled and squeezed momentarily; "I know."
-------------------------
Anna coughed and covered her mouth as a small, black creature flew towards her maniacally and she sprayed a decent amount of Doxycide in the small pest's face. It faltered for a short moment, before falling pitiably into the heap of its fur-covered fellows that rested on the floor.
"Merlin, I hate these things!"
Remus and Sirius, on the other side of the room, agreed whole-heartedly.
"Tell me, Sirius, why do you have a house elf that doesn't clean?" Anna queried.
He shrugged. "We can hardly give him clothes now. He's sworn into the Black family and my closest relative left is Narcissa Malfoy. I'm sure Lucius would love to know what's going on in this house."
"You're related to the Malfoys?" Anna asked sharply.
Sirius gave a short nod. It wasn't as if he enjoyed having relatives like the Malfoys, the Lestranges. He'd expect Anna to understand, considering her family.
"Oh, don't be like that, Sirius," Anna huffed. "I wasn't trying to put you down, I was just surprised."
"Surprised?" Sirius asked. "How can you be surprised that the Malfoys are my relatives? Look at this house!"
Anna cocked her head and gave Sirius a searching look.
"You really hate this place don't you."
Sirius gave another short nod.
"When I ran away from here I never thought I'd have to come back."
Anna quickly pivoted on her heel and caught a doxy in the face with her can of Doxycide before turning back to Sirius. "You ran away?"
"Yeah," Sirius answered. "Yeah, I went to Prongs' house. His parents, they took me in. Treated me like a second son."
"Who's Prongs?" Anna queried.
"Harry's dad," Sirius said, a sense of sorrow overcoming him. Remus, too, paused in his cleaning. "James Potter."
There was a moment of silence where Anna clutched at her chest, her face contorting in pain.
"Guys, I'm not feeling too well. Do you mind if I have a lie down for a bit?"
Remus and Sirius nodded, and Anna walked toward the door.
"Hey, Ann," Sirius called, before she left the room. "Will you be alright?"
She nodded, her hand still over her heart. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. The Doxycide must've gotten to my head."
And with a weak smile, Anna left the room.
--------------------
When Anna awoke, it was to a heavy weight in her heart. It wrapped around her like a cloak, pulling at her, drawing her into shadow. Anna shook it off and focused her thoughts on the basement kitchen deep downstairs. There was someone new. Sirius was there, and Remus. And Dumbledore, she thought with a grin.
Anna jumped out of bed, tossed on some clothes and raced down the stairs into the kitchen. She entered the kitchen with a grin.
"Albus!"
The aged mage rose and gave Anna a delicate kiss on the cheek.
"How're you feeling, my dear?"
Anna passed a cursory glance over at Sirius and Remus: "I'm okay. I just feel a bit muddled."
Dumbledore nodded sagely and drew a chair to the table with his wand.
"Have a seat, dear."
Anna grinned and sat.
"So what are we talking about?"
Remus gave Anna a small smile: "We were just discussing this house, Anna." The werewolf turned to Dumbledore. "I think it would make perfect Headquarters, Headmaster. It's big enough, unplottable, and it's got Muggle Repelling Charms over every inch of it. Once we set up Anti-Apparition fields
and you perform the Fidelius Charm, Albus, it will be basically impenetrable."
"Just as soon as we clean the goddamn thing," Sirius put in, his face clouded in frustration.
Dumbledore nodded: "Indeed, Sirius. I think perhaps instilling the help of the Weasley family may be prudent. With Ron's close friendship to Harry, Arthur and Molly are very concerned about their family's safety. They've elected to come and stay here in Grimmauld Place for the remainder of the school holidays, if you'll have them."
"Of course we will."
Anna sat straighter in her seat, anticipation flooding her senses.
"The Weasleys? As in Bill and Charlie Weasley?"
Remus nodded: "Do you know them?"
She grinned widely, her mind wild with a stream of school-day memories.
"Well I don't know the rest of the family, but I know those boys."
"Anna was in the same year as Bill Weasley at Hogwarts," the Headmaster explained, eyes twinkling. "They were very close friends. Along with Nymphadora Tonks, your cousin, Sirius."
"'Dora is your cousin?" Anna asked, her brown eyes mirroring her excitement. "Oh, I haven't seen those two in years! When will the Wealseys come, Albus?"
Albus observed Anna over the rim of his teacup.
"After the first Order meeting, which will commence as soon as we restore Grimmauld Place."
"And when will that be?" Sirius enquired, his anxiety and tension over the pending event drowning Anna, who sat beside him.
"Soon, Sirius," the Headmaster returned. "We will have to reveal your presence to the rest of the Order."
Anna watched Sirius closely. His brow was furrowed and his hands clenched in his lap.
"Are you very worried about those attending, Headmaster?" Remus asked the aged wizard. "Do you anticipate infiltration by Voldemort's followers?"
Dumbledore didn't answer for a moment, his gaze sweeping the room to land on Anna: "I am unsure, Remus. I have been very careful in my selection of those invited to the meeting, but it could happen that I have misread some. Hopefully, Anna will be able to use her skills to determine the true agenda of those attending."
Remus and Sirius turned to the young woman.
"Anna?" Sirius asked.
She shrugged: "I've always been rather good at that kind of thing."
"Yes, you have," Dumbledore agreed solemnly. "And it has come in handy a great number of times."
With that, the Headmaster stood and left the room, intent on performing as many cleansing and protecting charms as he could before the day came to a close.
-------------------------
Two nights later, mentally and physically exhausted from the purgation of Grimmauld Place that had been going on for days and the enactment of the Fidelius Charm the previous evening, Anna fell onto bed and groaned, her body welcoming the softness of her mattress. The first meeting of the Order of the Phoenix would take place the next day and her mind was riddled with worries at what the meeting might produce. Taking a few deep breaths, Anna attempted to clear her mind of her own worries and the concerns of those around her, before allowing the blackness surrounding the bedroom to envelop her and swallow her whole.
-------------------------
Hours later, Anna awoke to an immense feeling of anguish cloying at her heart. She gasped, sitting up in bed and putting a slim hand to her chest to soothe the ache within. Eventually, Anna stood and made her way out of the room, draping her grey woollen dressing gown about her as she went.
Anna explored the hallways, peering into the dark, searching for the source of this torment. After a few minutes she found her way to a wooden door and hesitated, not wishing to disturb the slumberer inside. But as a groan of distress filtered from the room into the hallway, compassion won over logic and Anna entered the room.
Sirius lay with his sheets tangled around his body, his head tossing from side to side and his hair in disarray on the pillow, lost in the throws of a night time haunting.
"Sirius?" Anna whispered, cautiously approaching the bed. "Sirius, wake up!"
There was no reply, as the man continued to moan and stir, his limbs thrashing around in his sleep.
"Sirius!" By this stage, Anna had reached the bed and she lay a soothing hand on Sirius's shoulder. "Sirius, wake up!"
His black eyes snapped open, and steadily focused on the woman beside his bed.
"Are you alright?" Anna asked softly, her face conveying her worry. He sat up slowly and Anna reached out to help him lean back against the pillows. "Do you want to talk about it?" Her voice washed over him, calm and soothing and he wanted to tell her – explain everything – yet he could not let go enough to tell her about his demons, to explain what haunted him. He couldn't allow another to destroy the walls he had so carefully built around his heart during those long years at Azkaban.
"No. No, I'm okay, Ann."
She nodded, but instead of leaving the room sat beside him on the bed, her hand comfortingly running through his hair, over his back.
"I have nightmares too, sometimes," she confided. "It never really goes away, does it?"
"What?" he asked. "What never goes away?"
She gave him a wry smile and stood, pulling her dressing gown around her: "The past."
Anna dropped a warm kiss onto Sirius' forehead and moved towards the door.
"Anna?" Sirius called. She turned and gave him a quizzical look.
"Yes?"
"How did you know I was having a nightmare?"
She paused for a moment, staring at him so intensely he felt she may've been seeing right through him. She shrugged and answered, "I heard you from my room."
Anna disappeared into the darkness, leaving Sirius to wonder just how she had heard his nightmare from so far away.
A/N: Please review if you're reading! Let me know that I'm updating for a reason.