Hey! Oh jeez, sorry it took me a while to update - just done three nights in a row of a school show, so haven't had much time, but now it's OVER I can get back to writing!

Anyway, thank you to my reviewers: M. Cullen Hightopp - I like, no, I LOVE your long reviews cos they always make me smile :) - xBadxRomancesx and Severen18.

Chapter Ten

I walked along the corridor, my hand tucked into the crook of Judge Turpin's arm and my head held high.

I felt wonderfully grown up as we walked downstairs together, unable to suppress the silly grin I wore. Occasionally I would stumble slightly (I hadn't worn heels for a long time, even small ones), but Judge Turpin kept a firm grip on me.

"Oh," I let out an annoyed noise (I couldn't swear) as I tripped for the fifth time. Judge Turpin chuckled as he helped me straighten up.

"Have you not worn heels before?" He asked.

"Well…" I carefully stuck out my foot from underneath my dress to look at my shoes and scowled. The heels were tiny. "I can't remember. But it is so frustrating tripping and stumbling constantly!"

"You'll get used to them."

"I hope so."

My guardian chuckled once more as we continued walking. I kept my head down, watching my shoes carefully so I wouldn't stumble.

"Johanna,"

I looked up, my eyes widening slightly as I saw the magnificent room we entered.

"Oh…" I murmured.

The walls were decorated with some sort of floral wallpaper, mostly hidden by the great grandfather clock and many expensive looking pictures. In the middle of the room was a large wooden table, surrounded by several mahogany chairs.

Smiling, Judge Turpin took me forwards and carefully pulled out a chair, gesturing towards it with a wave of his hand. Smiling, I sat down; placing my hands on my lap and blushing as he pushed me back in.

My guardian sat opposite and, as if they expecting us, some maids came in and began preparing the table.

"What time is it, sir?" I asked. The clock was behind me, and I didn't want to seem rude by turning my back on him or looking over my shoulder.

"It is time for lunch, Johanna." He replied simply, and I couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Do I amuse you?"

"Oh no, sir, I am simply happy." I lied with a large smile.

"May I inquire as to why?"

"Sir, if I am to be quite truthful I don't think there is a reason."

Judge Turpin smiled at me and I grinned back as the door opened.

"You asked to see me, sir?"

"Ah, Beadle!"

I looked up curiously, my brow furrowing slightly as I gazed at the visitor. He was a great deal shorter than my guardian and I, yet held himself with an air of a strong man. His lank greasy hair hung down to his shoulders, resting on his long coat. In one of his hands he held a long cane, which automatically made me shudder.

The man's eyes flickered to me and instantly widened, but he quickly composed himself as he stared at Judge Turpin.

"Sir?"

"Beadle, I trust you remember my ward, Johanna?"

"Oh happy days, sir! Johanna has returned!" The man exclaimed. I smiled in embarrassment and then turned to my guardian for help.

"Johanna, do you not remember Beadle Bamford?" He asked gently. I smiled apologetically at the Beadle.

"I'm awfully sorry, but it appears I don't." I told him sadly.

"Johanna has suffered a terrible bump to the head," Judge Turpin explained for me. "The doctors believe it may have caused some form of memory loss."

"Memory loss?" The Beadle repeated. "How…unfortunate."

"I personally see it as frustrating." I told them, making both men laugh.

"Oh, Johanna, you have not changed a bit."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

They laughed again.

After lunch, Judge Turpin took me to one of the sitting rooms to give me my lessons.

"What kind of lessons, sir?" I asked.

"Oh, reading and such."

I nodded thoughtfully, considering this.

"Can I read?"

"Yes, Johanna, you used to read all the time."

"I did?"

"Yes. We could never get your head out of your books."

"Oh,"

I couldn't imagine me, a young girl, sitting down with my head in a book. It seemed too odd, too distant.

"JOHANNA!"

I frowned as I pressed my head against my sore head, my brow furrowing.

"Johanna?"

"I'm sorry, my head is a bit sore." I explained, grinning sheepishly. Judge Turpin frowned as he stared at me.

"How so?"

"I just have a slight pain."

"Maybe you should rest."

"I'll be fine."

"Johanna, you should rest. Anna!"

"I'm fine," I insisted.

"Yes, sir?" Anna asked as she briskly walked towards us.

"Please assist Johanna in changing. She is going to have a rest."

"But I am fine."

Judge Turpin ignored me as he continued barking out orders to Anna, who nodded after every sentence.

"Yes, sir," She said with one last nod, and then took my hand. "Come on, m'am."

Sighing in defeat, I allowed Anna to take me upstairs and into my room, where she hurridely began to help me undress.

"Why do you allow him to talk to you like that?" I asked curiously as she removed the fancy clips from my hair.

"It's my job to take orders, m'am."

"Yes, but doesn't it annoy you?"

"No, m'am."

"You can call me Johanna."

"I couldn't do that, m'am."

"Please do," I begged, turning around to face her. "It would make us friends."

"We can't be friends, m'am." Anna murmured sadly.

"Why not?"

"You're not allowed to be my friend, m'am. Judge Turpin will not allow it."

"But what if I allow it?" I questioned. "Surely then it is allowed, as it is my choice."

Anna sighed as she shook her head.

"I don't think so, m'am."

"Johanna,"

Anna blinked "N-no m'am, my name is Anna."

I laughed as I stepped out of my shoes. "Oh, no, call me Johanna!"

Anna opened her mouth to protest, but I quickly cut her off.

"Listen, if I call you Anna and you call me Johanna when no one is around, it'll be our secret!" I told her eagerly.

"No one has ever shared their secrets with me, m'am," Anna mumbled, and then blushed. "Sorry, Johanna."

"So we're friends?"

Anna grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Friends."

Also grinning, I reached out and hooked my little finger around hers.

"Look, this means we're friends."

"How did you learn that, Johanna?" Anna asked, and then giggled. I also giggled.

"Well...I'm not quite sure, actually." I answered truthfully, shrugging.

That evening, I was sat in my bed, reading a book. Well, I say I was reading, but I was mainly looking at the pictures.

Humming as I flicked through the book, a song came to my mind. I didn't know where I knew it from, but I knew it from somewhere, like the voice from eariler and me hooking my finger around Anna's.

They were all...memories, I believed, but too fuzzy, too vague.

Sighing, I put my book down and gazed out the window.

"Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird, how is it you sing?"