I'm back! But I'm sad…only one reviewer even tried a guess at which one of Anna's new "friends" is me. But I'm a good person, so you can ALL have another chance )
•••
February and a rainy March blew away quickly, bringing along the gloomy prospect of extra Quidditch practice for the Slytherins. Rita Skeeter, naturally, came up with a few lovely stories about Anna's newfound lover Matt, so Anna was in an all-around great mood for the past few weeks, although she was feeling rather exhausted after Quidditch practice. Flint had made them do 30 extra minutes because he felt they were 'too lazy.' Well, thought Anna bitterly, Malfoy was being a lazy arse all practice.
"Talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity, you know." Anna spun around and saw Harry, who was smirking.
"Didn't realize I was speaking out loud," she muttered. He laughed.
"It's fine. You look tired, what's up?" he asked.
"Quidditch practice," she groaned. "Remind me to murder both Malfoy and Flint in their sleep tonight," she added, causing Harry to smirk again.
"Well, I'll make no objection to that," he said. Anna then noticed something.
"No Ron and Hermione?" she asked. Harry shook his head.
"They're not speaking. Again," he added bitterly. Anna nodded understandingly.
"I know what you mean. Katie and Matt have had a row, too," she said gloomily. Harry frowned.
"I hate Rita Skeeter," he said. Anna noticed Harry looked very tired as well.
"More nightmares?" she asked quietly. Harry looked surprised for a moment, and then nodded.
"I should've known that you would notice," he said, somewhat bitterly. Anna frowned.
"What's with the bitter tone?" she asked. Harry looked at her.
"It's not you, it's my bloody scar, it's been killing me," he said.
"That can't be all that's wrong. I'm sure if you just talked to Ron or Hermione-"
"I don't want to talk to them. I want them to talk to each other. They're driving me mad," he said. Anna nodded.
"I'd say the same about Katie and Matt, if I wasn't the reason they're fighting," she said sadly. Harry nodded understandingly.
"But at least you still have Fred and George," he said. Anna smiled.
"Yeah, but so do you. Honestly Harry, Ron and Hermione aren't your only friends, you're one of the most popular kids in Hogwarts. Just go talk to some new people for a bit," she said.
"You're lucky George is understanding. Ron and Hermione aren't even dating, yet he still gets outrageously jealous of her talking to other guys," said Harry. Anna suddenly remembered something.
"What's today's date?" she asked urgently.
"March thirty-first I think…why-"
"Bloody hell, bloody hell," muttered Anna.
"Er-Anna…what's wrong?" asked Harry cautiously.
"It's George's birthday tomorrow! Bloody hell…" said Anna, now panicking. Harry, however, grinned.
"Should've known Fred and George were born on April Fool's Day…" he said. Anna rounded on him.
"What are you laughing at? I didn't get him anything I'm so bloody dead!" she cried. Harry was still grinning though.
"Weren't we just discussing how understanding George was?" he asked. Anna looked at him.
"That doesn't mean Fred won't murder me!" she said. Harry was rather alarmed as she sprinted away towards the castle.
"She's lost it," he muttered, deciding it was best not to follow her as he walked towards Hagrid's hut.
•••
Anna was sprinting down the hallways, not entirely sure where she was going, only sure of who she needed to see. Suddenly, she saw him rounding the corner, evidently having just finished dinner.
"LEE!" she shouted, evidently catching him off guard as he jumped. Lee let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh hey Anna. Bloody hell, wanna scare me anymore?" he asked. Anna grabbed his shoulder sand began to shake him.
"Do. You. Know. What. Tomorrow. Is?" asked Anna quickly. Lee looked positively alarmed now.
"Well…um…tomorrow's Sunday I think…" he started. Anna let go of him noticing his discomfort.
"It's George's birthday tomorrow. I need your help," she squeaked. Lee smacked himself.
"Blimey I forgot again! Ah well Fred and George are used to getting nothing from me," he said simply. Anna felt herself calm down slightly.
"What am I going to do? I feel awful!" she sighed. Lee, who looked relieved that she was calming down, patted her on the back gently.
"Relax," he said soothingly. "This is George we're talking about, I'm sure all he wants is to spend some time with you." Anna looked at him.
"That's absurd, we spend every weekend together, and every free moment from classes together! If spending time with me is all he wants then I wouldn't have to panic," she said.
"That's not what I meant," said Lee in an annoying singsong voice. Anna glared at him.
"Then what did you mean?" she asked.
"What I meant was, George probably wants to spend time with you, not you, Fred, and I all together. Think about it. You. Him. Alone," he said with a nasty flicker of a smirk.
"You're a git," said Anna. "But thanks," she said, giving him a quick hug and running off.
"You best be careful to never hug me again, or Rita Skeeter will publish our little secret. And I don't think George wants you to have any more boyfriends!" called Lee. Anna turned around, made a very rude hand gesture at him, and ran away.
"How rude," muttered Lee.
•••
"Honestly Harry I will not speak to Ron until he apologizes!"
"I just wish you two would give it a rest. The silence isn't worse than the bickering, but it's still driving me insane."
Harry and Hermione were working of the heap of homework they had in the common room. Harry, yet again, was trying to convince Hermione and Ron to make up. Nothing was working, much to his dismay.
"Maybe Ron will be in better spirits tomorrow," muttered Harry, more to himself than to Hermione. However, Hermione still responded.
"Why will he be in any better spirits tomorrow?" asked Hermione.
"Well, it's Fred and George's birthday tomorrow, so maybe he'll lighten up," replied Harry. Hermione smirked slightly.
"Fred and George are actually born on April Fool's Day?" she asked, somewhat bewildered. Harry grinned slightly.
"Believe me, there's been no miscalculation. Not with the way Anna's acting, for sure," he said. Hermione suddenly looked slightly offended.
"Have you been talking to Anna much?" she asked somewhat bitterly. Harry was rather taken aback by her attitude.
"Lately. With you and Ron refusing to speak to each other, I have to talk to someone with the maturity level their age entitles," he said, slightly snappishly. Hermione scoffed.
"Don't be absurd. Just because your scar is bothering you, doesn't mean you have to take it out on me," she said. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I'm going to the Library if you're going to act like this," he said simply. It was Hermione's turn to roll her eyes.
"Why don't you go talk to Anna more? Let me know when you and Malfoy become best friends, too," she said with a nasty smirk. Harry glared at her.
"I just can't understand why you don't like Rita Skeeter. You two practically share a brain when it comes to making up stupid rubbish to satisfy your need for something to do with your lives," he said coolly, turning on his heel, and leaving Hermione looking angry and taken aback. At least she was right about one thing he thought bitterly, rubbing his scar. The excruciating pain in his forehead certainly wasn't increasing his patience level. He wasn't so sure why he was defending Anna like that anyway. He hardy knew her. They wouldn't even really be friends if she weren't dating George. But he still knew she wasn't like the other Slytherins, no matter what Hermione thought. Suddenly, deciding he didn't want to go to the Library, Harry changed directions and headed towards the Owlrey to pay Hedwig a visit. As he opened the door, he noticed that the Owlrey was not in fact, empty, as he had secretly hoped.
"Hey Harry!" said Anna brightly; Ebony was perched on her shoulder.
"Hey. I take it you have the birthday situation under control then?" Harry asked. Anna smiled.
"You could say that. I calmed down though," she said with a light laugh. Harry grinned.
"Yeah you were kind of out of it," he laughed. "Is that your owl?"
Anna smiled again. "Yeah. She was a Christmas present from George," she said. Harry grinned.
"I remember George's panic as to what to get you for Christmas. It wasn't as bad as your panic this morning though," he said. Anna's smile faltered slightly.
"What's wrong?" she asked, genuine concern evident in her tone. Harry grimaced and shifted his eyes towards his forehead. Anna nodded understandingly.
"Scar?" she asked. Harry nodded grimly.
"The nightmares can't be helping," said Anna. It was in those words alone that Harry understood why he defended her; why she was unlike every other member of her house. Anna not only understood Harry, but she had also shared his nightmares for a few months now.
"I just wish I knew what they meant," he said with an air of frustration. Anna nodded.
"I think it's a warning of sorts," she said grimly, putting down her owl. "He's getting stronger."
Harry didn't need to ask who she meant by 'he'.
"How can you be sure?" he asked her. She shrugged.
"I can't," she said simply. "Plus, you're the one with the scar," she added in a slightly accusatory voice.
"Thanks for the reminder," said Harry sarcastically. Anna smiled, then sighed.
"I hate being in Slytherin," she said quietly. Harry looked at her sympathetically.
"Why are you even in Slytherin anyway? The Sorting Hat will change its original thought if you ask it," said Harry. Anna scoffed.
"Obviously not," she muttered, gesturing towards herself. Harry felt uncertain.
"It did for me," he said simply. Anna laughed slightly.
"Yeah, but you're "The Boy Who Lived", remember?" she said cynically.
"Yeah, but apparently I belong in Slytherin," said Harry. Anna laughed again.
"That what the hat told you?" she asked. Harry nodded. "Can't see that going over too well," she muttered.
"Don't get hung up over it, it's just a hat," he said with a small smile.
"True. Stupid scrap of worn fabric. Who does it think it is to tell me 'you'd do well in Slytherin,'" said Anna, rolling her eyes. Harry, however, dropped his books.
"Is that what is said to you?" he asked quickly. Anna, who seemed shocked by Harry's reaction, nodded.
"First it said some rubbish about my bravery and good heart, so I had thought it had decided on Gryffindor, then it randomly says, 'You'll do well in Slytherin', and something about a riddle I think. Actually, I think it called me 'Miss Riddle', whatever that means," she said, breaking off at the look on Harry's face.
"What?" she asked cautiously. Harry shook his head.
"That's the exact opposite of what it said to me. It said I'd do well in Slytherin, then I said 'not Slytherin', so it said, 'alright then, Gryffindor'," said Harry. Anna looked like she was in shock. Harry suddenly though he understood something.
"Wait…you said it called you 'Miss Riddle'?" he asked cautiously. Anna nodded uncertainly.
"I don't get it though, does what mean I'm supposed to be some sort of puzzle queen or something?"
"Unless it's referring to a name…" continued Harry, a pained realization crashing down on him.
"But my last name's not Riddle…well, actually I never knew my real last name, my parents just left me on Roth Avenue to die at the age of two before the orphanage took me in…" muttered Anna. Harry was beginning to understand everything, except now he didn't want to. Anna noticed his expression.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.
"In the nightmares we both have at night, it's in a graveyard, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Can you remember the name on the main grave?" asked Harry.
"Er…Tom something…Tom…oh my god," said Anna, clapping a hand over her mouth. Harry nodded, confirming her fears.
"Tom Riddle. But that's Voldemort's name…oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," she muttered, pacing back and forth. Harry took a step backward.
"It all fits! If there's ever a man who would leave a two year old to die…but why would he wait until I was two? Wouldn't he want to get rid of me as soon as possible?" asked Anna, although the question was directed more to herself than to Harry. Suddenly, she stopped pacing, and her eyes widened.
"He didn't know what to do with me…but if I was two…then you were one…and if he left me on Roth Avenue…that's the street that divides Godric's Hollow and Little Whinging! So he left me right before he…oh my god,"
"That was the night he killed my parents," muttered Harry, rubbing his scar slightly, as though to bring back the memory. Anna looked at him.
"But this makes no sense! If he's my father, then who's my mother? Wait a minute…he can't be my father, I'm muggle-born! This makes no sense," she said. Harry looked at her sternly.
"We need to talk to Dumbledore," he said quietly. Anna's face fell.
"We can't. He's at the Ministry for the weekend, I looked for him yesterday," she said grimly. Harry nodded in defeat.
"Fine then, but this stays between us, okay?" he asked her. Anna nodded as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Cause I was really planning on sharing all this with my dearest Rita," she said sarcastically. Harry looked at her.
"Just…try to forget about this for now. Concentrate on George's birthday, okay?"
Anna let a small smile grace her features.
"Okay," she promised.
•••