February 7th 1997
Trembling and on the verge of crying, Anna stumbled in Conny's and her apartment. 'It happened', she said with a shaky voice. 'The feeling that you warned me about. It was horrible. It felt worse than when I was kicked out by my parents and had no one. Everything went dark inside of me.' Conny quickly stood up from the couch to make Anna some tea and give her chocolate. Anna covered herself with a blanked to stop the uncontrollable shivering. 'You were right', she said. 'I never should have started working at night.' 'It's not your fault', said Conny. 'You didn't know what it was that I was talking about. You couldn't have known. It's not that I don't want you to work, I just want you to be safe.' 'I know, I know.' said Anna. She felt her head pounding. Suddenly, she was extremely tired. It felt as if heavy weights had been placed on her chest. How was she able to make money if she couldn't even go outside after dark? She just wanted to be able to go to work. She had missed teaching so much. The first year after Aletta was born, she wouldn't take the bottle, so Anna and Conny decided that it was best that Anna stayed with little Aletta until she was eating more solids. A little before Aletta's first birthday, Anna started to teach some residents in their building violin every Tuesday and Thursday night. She was allowed to use a small consultation room on the ground floor of the building. This January, she got a job at a music school nearby to teach some violin. She was able to take over ten students from a retired teacher. She would teach students at a beginner level, for the first few years of their violin study. After that, a professionally trained teacher would take over. Every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning she taught for a few hours. Her students, mostly small children, loved her. Last week, one of the other violin teachers asked if she wanted to teach all the beginners from now on; the other teachers were more keen on teaching the older and more advanced students and they appreciated her approach with the little ones. Anna's schedule was altered and all of her teenage and adult students were scheduled Friday evening. Anna had known that Conny wouldn't like that she would teach at night. Now she knew why. Crumbled up on the couch. She soon drifted asleep, dreaming about the ice cold feeling of the darkness she had felt.
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The next Friday, Anna was really nervous to go back to work after her break; in the afternoon, she came back to eat dinner with Aletta and Conny and then put Aletta to bed. When she rode back, it was already dark. Anna rode as fast as she could. Panting, she got back just in time for her next student. Today, she would finish even later, because a new student would start.
At half past nine, Anna was so nervous to go back to her house that she almost forgot she had a new student. When she said goodbye to her previous student, she saw him sitting in front of her. It was a man that was about the same age as her. He was wearing heavy eyeliner around his eyes, and wore a lot of jewelry. His clothes were also a bit eccentric; a black blouse, a small shawl and a loose embroidered waist coat. He had black nailpolish on and his brown hair looked quite messy. Kind brown eyes looked at her. 'Hello, I'm Myron, Myron Wagtail.' Anna, who realised her mouth was a bit open and that she hadn't said a word, quickly composed herself. 'Nice to meet you, I'm Anna Janszoon.' They went in her classroom. Myron carried a violin case. 'I've read on your entry form, that you want to learn how to play violin, but that you can already read music notation?' Anna asked. 'That's correct,' answered Myron. 'I'm the lead singer and guitarist in a band, however, we don't get as much gigs as we used to have, so I wanted to learn a new instrument, to kill the time a bit and maybe implement it in our music.' 'I'm sorry that you don't have as much gigs,' said Anna. 'But I think this is a very creative way to spend the time.' The next half hour, she spend teaching Myron how to hold the violin and how to use the bow. She noticed Myron was quite talented and was able to cover quite some basics. When the lesson was finished, Myron said: 'I heard you have an accent, were are you from?' Anna told him she was from the Netherlands. Myron was really curious and interested in her, so she started telling him how she ended up with Conny in London. Myron was really easy to talk to, she noticed. 'Do you like it here in London?' Myron asked. 'I do, I do,' said Anna hesitantly. 'However, lately at night, it can be quite scary.' 'I understand what you're talking about,' said Myron. Would you like me to bring you home?' 'That would be really nice.' Anna said with a sigh of relief. 'Do you live far?' Asked Tommy. 'No, it's only a ten minute bike ride, seven if you'll ride fast.' 'I came with public transport, said Myron. But I can ride your bike and you can sit in the back. What's your adres?' Anna tried to tell Myron, but nothing came out of her mouth. 'That's weird,' she said. 'It is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't seem to say it.' Myron looked at her a bit puzzled. What is the name of the woman you lived with again?' He asked. 'Conny Abbott.' Anna looked at the time. 'I think I should call her. I should have been home by now.' 'Best if you'll do,' said Myron. Anna quickly gathered her things and they walked downstairs towards the phone in the hallway. She dialled in Conny's number. 'Hello?' Conny answered. 'It's me Anna.' She said. 'Everything is ok, I forgot the time a little bit, because I was talking to my new student. He offered to bring me home.' 'That's nice.' Said Conny. 'Don't wait too long. It's getting later and later.' 'Can I speak with her?' Asked Myron. 'S-sure.' Anna was a bit puzzled in why Myron wanted to speak to Conny. 'Hello Conny, this is Myron Wagtail, Yes, from The Weird Sisters. I recognised your last name, but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you.' He listened to Conny, who apparently started explaining something to Myron. 'Aah I understand.' He said. 'And Anna? A muggle? So I thought.' The last words he said very quietly, as if he didn't want Anna to hear them. Anna didn't know what a muggle was, she probably misunderstood. Or perhaps it was some English word she didn't learn yet. 'Yes, I agree Anna shouldn't be out after dark.' Myron continued. 'I will come pick her up after dinner, that way I can practise there a little bit before my lesson. When we're finished, I'll bring her back home. Yes, yes, I know it, don't worry, I passed my exams. You're welcome. It will be alright.' He passed the phone back to Anna. Conny sounded excited. 'What luck that you teach Myron! He agreed that he will pick you up after your break and if it's allowed, he will stay and practise until his lesson starts. After that he will bring you home.' 'That's very nice!' Anna said, as she smiled at Myron. 'Yes Conny, we will come back home now.' Anna hang up and she walked with Myron to her bike. She really clicked with Myron and they both talked about their love for music. 'We should make music together some time.' Said Myron. 'I would really like that!' Said Anna. When they arrived at Anna's building, Conny stood outside. 'I want to talk to Myron a little bit,' she said. Anna noticed that Conny didn't want her there, so she went inside. Some anger however, started to surface. She was fed up with all the secrets. Normally, she would understand that Conny couldn't tell her things because of her work, but Myron also seemed to know quite a bit! As did Conny's family. She had heard them whisper before.
After a few minutes Conny entered the living room. Beaming with joy. 'Oh, I'm so happy for you Anna! Myron agreed to pick you up after dinner and bring you back home when you're finished teaching. Now we don't have to worry anymore!' She looked puzzled when she saw Anna's face. 'I don't understand what Myron will do about the sudden cold that sucks the life out of you.' Anna said. 'I also don't understand why he seems to know a lot more then me. I know you a lot better than Myron, why does he get to know what's going on? I deserve to know what is happening!' Conny looked a bit defeated. 'I understand Anna. I wish I could tell you, I really did. However, I can't.' Anna saw how sad Conny was. She decided to leave it be for now.
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The end of June 1996
In the next few months, Anna enjoyed her new found freedom. Myron didn't only take her to and from work, he sometimes took her out as well. Anna loved to dance, and do did Myron. Myron's boyfriend however, preferred to stay in when they didn't have to perform. His boyfriend was also in The Weird Sisters. They offered to bring Conny along as well, but Conny also liked to spend the evenings indoors. So every few weeks, Anna and Myron went out until the wee hours in the morning. It reminded Anna of her student day's she spent with her Jolanda and Bianca. Going to work, going out and raising Aletta, she almost forgot the secrets Conny kept. It was a happy period of her life. However, as the spring turned into summer, a new worry began to arise. Ever since Aletta was little, Anna had noticed some unusual things; a stuffed animal that she found in Aletta's bed, while she swore she didn't put it in there, the sudden sound of the music box she had put on a shelf above the cot, a little light that seemed to be turned on out of nowhere. Anna always chucked it off as sleep deprivation or mom brain. Lately however, the strange things became so obvious, she new it wasn't her mind playing tricks. This morning, Aletta wanted a book from a high bookshelf in the living room. Anna told her no. When she was busy in the kitchen, she saw the book floating through the air, right in Aletta's hand. Dumbfounded, Anna walked up to Conny to tell her about what happened. Right before Anna could knock on her study. Conny came out with tears streaming down her face. 'Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledore, is dead.'