Anna's Last Straw
It was weeks after Tia McGinty was found turned to stone, that was end of November, and now Christmas Break was happening and they still had no real proof or hunches. Albus, Rosie, and James had left for their huge family Christmas together. Persephone was back to her family immediately and Meg was taking a vacation in Italy. Anna and Basil had no reason to go back to their homes; Anna's father always worked on that day and her mother was always in a blur during the holidays. Basil's parents were still in the midst of important matters and they had to attend to Basil's grandfather.
Over the course of months, Basil had received letters that her grandfather was acting strange and insane. He was screaming in the middle of the night and not eating at all; Basil's parents assumed that his days were numbered and they were taking him to the hospital many times a week. This had made Basil very uneasy to return home, especially because she was hoping she was close to finding out the culprit.
Basil and Anna were thrown awake by Hairball hissing at almost nothing on Christmas morning. Anna jumped up and smiled happily at Basil and then began her rein of singing Christmas carols. Basil groaned and threw her pillow across the room, clearly missing Anna, and slid on her slippers to walk around. The presents were placed in two different piles, the bigger boxes were Anna and the smaller ones were Basil's.
Anna had received several books on helping her magic curriculum and some new sweaters from her parents. Basil had received some chocolaty sweets from her parents and cat toys from her Grandpa Sweets; obviously his concerns were pushed more towards Hairball. Meg had sent them beautiful Venetian glass necklaces that were shaped in hearts; Persephone had sent some beautiful dresses from her mother's boutique back home. Albus had sent them his grandmother's pies and pictures from back home.
"We should head down to the Great Hall for breakfast." Anna informed cheerfully and skipped to get ready.
Basil threw on her winter clothes and threw her wand into her belt loop while slipping on her shoes. Anna danced around in the flowy Christmas dress she had brought and danced down the spiral staircase of the Ravenclaw tower. Basil knew Anna's happiness elevated during the holidays, mainly because of the sweets and the times she spent with the actual Sweets family.
"Morning ladies." Coleman greeted as he passed by them in the hallway.
"Morning Professor!" Both girls greeted. Coleman smiled faintly and stopped in his tracks.
"Sweets, have you talked to Professor Aguirre lately?" Coleman asked stiffly.
"Oh no, why?"
Coleman did not reply; he strolled on down the hallways and so did the girls. Anna and Basil ate peacefully in the Great Hall with the teachers appearing and eating in there as well. Aguirre never appeared but McGonagall, Carrie, Celeste, Hagrid, and Longbottom did show up a few times over the breakfast time. Anna had called Longbottom over for some 'necessary' questions on week old homework. Suddenly it hit Basil like bricks; if they found Aguirre he would surely help them learn the curse! Of course, last time Basil talked to him he ordered her out because of the name Arnold Sweets.
"Professor Longbottom, have you seen Aguirre? We need to ask him some questions." Basil asked and pushed her plate away.
"Oh no, I'm sorry. I'm sure he'll turn up." Longbottom expressed and shrugged his shoulders.
"Then can you tell us about the curse that affected Kristina Young and Tia McGinty?"
"Well, it's very serious I must say. The spell can only happen when having contact with the wizard who performs it. The sad thing is that the students are eroding, but don't worry. Madame Paige has it all under control." Professor Longbottom assured with a giant grin.
Anna and Basil thanked him for his time and he left quickly after that. Anna continued eating her breakfast while Basil played with her new necklace, moving it around in her fingers and rubbing it in between her fingers. Thinking about how nurse Paige would be dealing with kids being turned to stone.
"So, whoever is doing this is in the school." Basil said bluntly. Her eyes examining the windows for a flying object that was coming through.
"I believe so, wait that's Shadow! Who would send something so late…" Anna caught the package that Shadow dropped and Shadow perched next to Anna.
Anna gave Shadow some food and he nuzzled into her neck with a sound of affection. Anna took her unused knife and carved the tapping of the box, it opened with ease and it had something horribly familiar scratched onto the side.
Anna Winchester
Anna placed her finger on the carving but decided to ignore it all the same. The blonde fumbled with the opening and gasped; she brought out Dailey Prophet Newspapers from the inside. All had somewhat the same title: Ministry Mysterious Killer on the Loose!, Attack on the Ministry and Killings, Ministry Under Attack!. Basil grabbed a few, many from twenty-thirty years ago, but all about the same crime they were discovering.
"Someone knows about this." Anna gasped and filed through the papers.
"It will help though." Basil reminded optimistically.
"Wait! Look at this, this is from a few days ago!"
Ministry Under Attack….AGAIN!
After years of peace in the Ministry of Magic, there has been recent news of chaos and killings. The main team of Aurors has been discovered dead in their homes-details have not been released- and Ministry members Tamara Boothe, Stephanie Poppins, and Andrew Hendricks have also been discovered dead in their homes; all three worked for the department of Mysterious Artifacts.
Minister of Magic, Kinglsey Shacklebolt, has made no comments or act what so ever to stop these killings or tell the public any more news. Head Auror, Harry Potter, has refused to say give any comments about his head team-
"Harry Potter? We need to contact Albus immediately." Basil exclaimed and rolled out parchment instantly.
Anna didn't try to stop her, she told her what to write and when they were done they gave it to Shadow to send off to Albus. They sat there for a few moments in silent, looking over the papers that were sent to them.
"What are those?" A voice snarled from behind Basil.
"Peter Adams? What are you still doing here?" Anna asked surprised.
"None of your business, what are the papers?" Peter tried to grab the papers.
"Nothing that would interest you, now beat it!" Basil gave him a warning glare and he left with a roll of the eyes. "You think he saw the papers?"
'I doubt it." Anna replied and threw everything in her bag.
Both of them left slightly annoyed and anxious for what they had uncovered and the little prick that interrupted them. They passed by a few of their classrooms, one in particular was Professor Aguirre. He was sitting there, looking disordered, and bent over on his desk writing on a parchment. Anna placed her ear on the door to listen to him and he was muttering crazily.
"I can't believe it….that little…when I get to him he'll be dead." Aguirre snarled and scratched on the parchment.
"Who do you think he's talking about?" Anna asked in her worried voice.
Basil thought of that day a few weeks ago; he was a mix of fear and anger over Arnold Sweets. Could he be talking about- The door was thrown open and standing there, furious, was Professor Aguirre. His dark green eyes were wide and fiery, his hair was sticking up everywhere and his hands were clenched in fists.
"Sorry sir, we didn't mean to…we're so sorry!" Anna shrieked and crawled backwards.
"What did you hear?" Aguirre's veins were starting to display on his forehead.
"Nothing! All we heard was uh…I think you said you couldn't believe it. That's it! We promise." Basil assured and looked down.
"Good…good. Sweets, has Malfoy been bothering you recently?" Aguirre's whole form was now calm and friendly. His whole appearance changed in seconds.
"No sir."
"Oh, do you have any siblings?"
"Um…no sir. Why?" Basil stepped back a bit and looked at her professor peculiarly
"Does your grandfather talk to any…magical creatures or people?" Basil was taken aback. Why was he asking this?
"No…no sir." Basil couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around her professor.
Professor Aguirre stared off into the distance for a short time. His eyes seemed too fixed on an object, but Anna and Basil were afraid to turn around and leave their backs turned to an obviously insane professor.
"Oh that's very good to hear." Aguirre chuckled gaily.
Aguirre nodded to both girls and strutted down the empty corridors. Anna and Basil stood straight and silent until they let out a deep sigh and stared at each other. They dashed for Ravenclaw tower and chatted about the almost delusional experience they had.
"Something is definitely wrong with Aguirre." Anna spoke as they reached the common room.
"No kidding, why was he asking about my family? He knows something. Ever since he found out my grandfather is Arnold Sweets, he's been weird." Basil paused and stared at Anna, she was staring off in the distance.
"Well think about it. The curse is happening again and people in the ministry are being attacked. He probably thinks your grandfather is on the loose!" Anna expressed and plopped on a chair.
Basil stood stiffly, her eyes watering slightly; her mind was racing with things. Are people going to learn about her grandfather? No one will ever talk to me. Basil thought and placed her shaky hands over her mouth. Anna didn't know what to say, her eyes were transfixed on her best friend.
"You're probably right. This just means we need to prove him-everyone wrong." Basil stated bluntly and moved towards the window.
The snow was blanketing the outside, everything in front of her eyes were a beautiful white. The cold air hit her face when she stuck her head out the window and scanned the outside surroundings; the sun barley brightening the evening sky.
"What are you looking for?" Anna asked and looked over Basil's head; her small stature didn't help much.
"Shadow of course."
"We just sent him Basil. He won't be back for days." Anna sighed and started for the entrance to their room.
Basil gave up on looking outside, even though enjoying the cold, and joined Anna up to their rooms to relax for a bit. Anna studied from some of the books that were given to here and Basil played with the sneakoscope she had received earlier in the year. Basil tossed over to be facing the wall closest to her bed and sighed deeply. I have to do something. Basil internally groaned and tossed back over.
"We'll get whoever is doing this. I promise." Anna assured and continued to read her book on historic magical monuments. "Even if it's the last thing we do."
Basil stared, awestricken, and examined Anna's body tone. She was dead serious and sounded intimidating, which was a first for the girl. Basil never heard that Anna say something so fiercely before and never would Basil imagine it would be about her problem. Something must have struck Anna when talking to Aguirre, causing Anna to get to her last straw. Anna was for once really serious about Basil's mission.
"Yes, yes it will."