Secrets

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything except Ana. Not for profit, just for fun ;)

Chapter 1: Of Fish and Mermen


Anastasia set about getting packed, which really didn’t take very long. She shrunk her clothes, and threw them in her old, worn out, green traveling trunk. Next, her shoes, make up, books, music, and last, but certainly not least, Carueso, her gold fish. She put a no spill charm on the fish bowl and sat it down in the trunk. Carueso was a parting gift from one of her favorite instructors.

Ana’s mother’s health had started declining as soon as they had escaped to America. Most of Ana’s life had been spent moving from one climate to the next, trying to find one that agreed with her mother. When Ana was sixteen , she found herself in Bermuda, receiving instruction on the care of magical creatures. Her instruction came from none other than a deep sea merman named Sophidus. When it was time for her to leave, he told her to bring a fish bowl to there last meeting. When she showed up, Sophidus plopped a small golden fish into the empty water of the bowl.

“He will make you a good companion, ‘Sia. When you see him splash, you will think of me!” Sophidus had told her. Ana had blushed and thanked him profusely. It had been over a year, and Ana was very happy that Carueso was still bubbling away. She was going to see about getting him a bigger tank and maybe a little pirate ship when she got to Hogwart’s. Ana laughed, or maybe she would even buy him a girlfriend...

Ana pulled her trunk out into the hall and tried to smile at Dumbledore. It came out as more of a grimace really, but he grinned and twinkled back at her anyway. “ All ready, my dear?” She nodded. “Good, good, well be off then!” Dumbledore put a hand on her shoulder, and they both moved forwards. In a split second, everything went hazy around Ana, and she felt a bit tingly. Then, everything cleared, and they were standing near a small town.

“Is that Hogsmeade ?” Ana asked.

“Yes, Hogsmeade, in all its glory.” Dumbledore laughed, “I’m sure there will be plenty of students who will be more then delighted to show you around some weekend.” In truth, Albus knew there would be more than plenty, male, students falling all over themselves to get her in a back corner of the Three Broomsticks. Even he realized what a beauty she was. Not overly tall, nor overly curvy, she was petite and toned. But with her long, wavy black hair and glittering green eyes, one knew that unusual things followed her wherever she went.

They had been walking towards Hogwarts when Dumbledore stopped and looked at Ana. “Oh, my dear, I’m sorry! Would you like me to summon a house elf to bring your trunk for you?”

“Oh, there’s no need for that,” she smiled. “It’s not heavy at all!” And so they continued in silence.

Albus heard her gasp when the school came into view. ‘Yes’ he thought, ‘it’s a shame she didn’t get to spend all her school years here at Hogwart’s, but, her experiences abroad will help her far more in the end.’ He himself had written many letters on her behalf, asking old friends and acquaintances to accept her as a student. By seventeen, Ana had studied with a vast arey of wizards, witches, and even a few shaman while in the States. Albus wondered what Ana planned on doing after she graduated. ‘Well, she probably believes she won’t live that long.’ He frowned to himself, ‘poor girl. Just like Harry, far to young to be facing death so soon.’

They came upon the school steps at that moment, and Ana tried to fight the look of wonder she was sure was plastered all over her face. The castle was huge, and old. She had seen some wonderful places in her travels, but there was something about this particular building... A warm, strange feeling came from it, one she was unfamiliar with. It felt like, home.

The pair approached two, large doors, and Albus stopped. “If you would kindly wait here, Ana, I’m going to go in and, apprise, the professors as best I can, of the,” he paused, “situation.” And with that, one of the tall doors cracked open and he slipped through, the door closing behind him.

Dumbledore had sent ahead, asking the head of house professors to meet him in the Great Hall upon his return. He smiled. They were all there; Minerva, looking quiet tired, Sprout, looking quiet the opposite, Flitwik, looking into space, and, sitting at the table, alone, looking rather perturbed, was Snape. Now, Albus prepared himself for a quick dance with the truth, considering how much he should say, and just what would be considered lying in this situation.

“As I am sure you are all aware, I have some very important news!” Albus said, eyes twinkling. Everyone just gave him a look that screamed ‘this better be good, you old hokey wizard!’ He smiled, “we have a new student joining us for her seventh year.” They all, with the exception of Severus, of course, were taken by surprise, and quiet happy with the news. Severus just looked even more perturbed than he did before.

“Oh my, Albus, why didn’t you say something before! Where is she? Is that where you went today? Oh, I hope you didn’t leave her out side! You didn’t, did you Albus? Leave her out side that is...” Minerva rattled away while Albus just patted her shoulder.

“Its alright, Minerva, my dear! She’s just outside the door there, waiting to be introduced.” He looked over at Snape and frowned, “Why, Severus my boy! You don’t look pleased at all...”

Snape gave Dumbledore the snarkiest look he could manage, “Another brat to need coddling! I see nothing pleasing about it.” He looked down at the Daily Prophet he’d been reading, then snapped his head back up, looking at first worried, then annoyed. He started to speak in a somewhat whiney voice, “ Dear god, she’s not from Beaux’s is she? I’ll throw myself out of the Astronomy tower if there’s going to be one of them walking around again! Its all swooning boys and butterflies... Horrid nonsense!” And with that said, his eyes once again returned to his paper.

“No, Severous, Ms.Smith,” he and Ana had decided it was appropriate to change her last name to something very unnoticeable, “is from America, and has had varied training through the years.” He continued, “ Her mother recently passed, and she has an aunt in London who suggested she attend Hogwart’s.” Her mother was dead, but there was no such aunt. Well, lie number one, he thought... “ If it will be alright, I will invite her in now.” The teachers all nodded, except Snape, who was still intently reading his paper, and Albus nodded back. He turned towards the doors as they swung open, and asked Ana to join them.

Ana looked up when the doors started moving, a bit startled.

A house elf had rolled her trunk away a few minutes earlier, saying, “ Tilldy promises, the missus get her trunk back! Headmaster tells us to take the trunk to rooms for missus, and Tilldy does what Headmaster says!” And with a pop, the elf and her trunk were gone. ‘My rooms?’ she thought. “I haven’t even been placed yet, how the hell does he know what rooms I’m going to have...” She stood, wondering if the house elf had just stolen her trunk, or was just over eager to please Dumbledore. ‘Probably the latter,” she decided.

Butterflies attacked her stomach as the thought of being placed in a house returned. After reading *Hogwart’s: A History* , Ana was quiet worried she would be placed in Slytherin House. Under normal circumstances, Ana might have been happy to be in Slytherin, but as circumstances were at the polar opposite of normal, she knew it would be bad. There were just to many connections to Voldemort... There were to many students in the house who’s family’s, she was more than certain, had ties with the Dark Lord. Strong ties. Any other house would do. Though, she was not sure she would make many friends if she got sorted into Hufflepuff. No, the more she thought about it, the more certain she was that Gryffindor was the best way to go... Ana was thinking this thought when the doors swung open, giving her a good start. She saw Dumbledore, motioning for her to enter. ‘Well’ she thought, ‘here goes nothing...” And with that, she brushed the imaginary dirt from her pants, and entered.




***** Thanks to Charity, Kim, and Sarii for reviewing! Plenty of cookies and candy for you! Hopefully this part’s not too boring, though, this story is ending up a lot drier then intended... Sorry about that, just trying to get everything set up... Anywho, reviews, of course, are greatly encouraged... Until next time :) ********

*lol, gotta give \'Mione some love....