Anitra's Dance
The Action Identifies the Man
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style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Disclaimers: Not mine – J.K. Rowling’s. Anitra’s
mine, though.
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style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>A/N: Got chapter 3 going. Thanx for notifying
me. After several futile attempts I had to abandon my text file and try an HTML
file instead, and that worked. :-)
style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>So... trying to repeat the success – here’s
chapter 4. Hope you can see it all. If not – tell me. :-)
style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>Other than that: Enjoy and let me know how you
like it.
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style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>ceceng
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style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>The Action Identifies the Man
Harry
couldn’t believe it! Hermione was sure it was all something she had been
dreaming, and Ron wouldn’t stop saying ‘bloody brilliant’.
The
threesome were on their way to Transfiguration which would not be attended by the
newest addition to the Gryffindor family. The subject was considered far too
magical to jug any kind of muggle memory. Instead, it had ben on Anitra’s
timetable to join the fifth graders’ Herbology class, but somehow neither
Hermione, nor Ron nor Harry thought the students would see her there.
“Do you
suppose Snape will cut her in pieces and use her as special ingredients in the
next class?” Neville asked excitedly.
“She would
deserve it,” came a very cool voice from the left. They all turned in time to
see Malfoy stride by, his nose in the sky, but his lower lip quivering. His
run-in with Anitra hadn’t proved much better than Snape’s.
Harry
didn’t deliver a tarty comment. For once he felt he could lean back and let
others skin the blonde foe’s hide. *Good
for her!* Then almost immediately his grin subsided. What if she was in
real trouble for her verbal fight with Snape?
“A penny
for your thoughts,” Ron said to his right.
“I was just
thinking,” Harry said slowly, “do you suppose they’re going to kick her out on
the basis of what just happened?”
“Besides,”
Hermione said shrewdly, “I’ll bet anything they are worried Voldemort (both of
them ignoring a twitching Ron) has a hand in her trauma.”
“What do
you mean?” Harry said quickly in a sharp voice. Foolishly he had thought and
hoped that at least this year would be Voldie-free.
All three
of them stopped in their stride. “Well, consider it, Harry. Who could have left
this girl on our doorstep? Who could have broken at least 20 surrounding
spells? Why is this so serious that Dumbledore deems it necessary for her to
stay here? They could have just returned her to the muggles, you know. They
would never have noticed any kind of lingering spell.”
“Yeah,”
Harry said slowly, “there’s that.”
“Are you
saying that she – is sorta the GIRL who Lived?” asked Ron in awe with his
girlfriend’s skills of deduction. But Hermione was shaking her heavy curls.
“No. I
think she’s *supposed* to be alive. Isn’t it obvious?”
They looked
at her and she drew a sigh.
“They fear
Voldemort put her here for a purpose.”
*
They
actually saw Anitra before they expected to. They found her in an intense
discussion with Minerva McGonagall, who was as calm as ever, though the feather
in her pointed hat did seem to tremble just a taditraitra was not calm at all,
but contrary to Harry, at least, she seemed to be able to keep her temper at
bay.
“No! I need
to see him *now*.”
“My
dearest, can’t it wait?”
“No. It has
to be now while the impression is still clear in my mind.”
“Very well.
Go to the place I mentioned and say Licorice Belch and step up the stairs.”
“Lic...?”
“Licorice
Belch.”
“You’re
kidding.”
“Certainly
not.” Professor McGonagall looked shocked at the very thought.
Anitra was
repeating the password to herself as she passed Harry and his friends. She was
so concentrated that she almost didn’t notice the cool long hand that shot out
and arrested her.
“Would you like
me to go with you?” Harry asked kindly. She slowly raised her eyes to his.
And what a
shock! The tawny golden eyes that had looked so vague right from the moment he
had met her suddenly bore their way into his. He almost staggered. It was like
being confronted with Life itself and demanded a reply. In fact, the glance
went straight through him to the extent that he almost felt speared to the
spot, and he almost failed to suppress a gasp. Then the eyes let go of him
rather abruptly.
“What? Go
with me? Oh, no. I mean – you’re ever so kind, but it’s no problem, really.”
“Um...” he
lowered his voice, “I don’t want you to get in trouble because of what happened
in the dungeon. I’m used to his behaviour towards me. Honest.”
She widened
her eyes in mild surprise, and then she grinned.
“Sorry. I’m
not that altruisti all all. I’m doing this because it upset my ethics – not for
your sake, I’m afraid.”
“Oh,” Harry
commented, feeling a bit stumped, not sure what else to say. They stood for a
second until Harry was beginning to wonder what she was still doing there. Then
she leaned close and said:
“Harry?”
“Mmm?”
“You can
let go of my hand now.”
Harry
opened his hand almost as if he had burnt himself. He saw her leave with a
smirk on her lips, and he could only imagine how goofy he must have looked,
standing there with a slack hand hanging by his side. Another hand tugged his
robe.
“C’mon,
Harry – or McGonagall will turn us into atomic clocks for not sitting down in
time.”
Harry
followed Ron heirheir usual seats without being able to rid himself of a
feeling that seemed oddly familiar: the fluttering in his chest.
*
“Licorice Nothing “Licorice Again – a “OPEN!!!!!!!!!” Quicker “Come in, “What do He looked “No... yes. Not being “No,” he She “Please sit Anitra sat “Would you Anitra told The old Headmaster “Thank you “Meanwhile?” “Meanwhile, Anitra’s Dumbledore “Who knows, With both “Headmaster...” “Yes?” “Why the “After “Yes.” Dumbledore “It is, I This time “Really? “Yes, Yes, she Slowly, but * Anitra style='mso-ansi-language:EN-GB'>*I can’t believe how different the teachers are Fortunately Not having “Intriguing, “Huh?” “Hello. How “Spitting,” Anitra Hermione The muggle “How did “No, I’m “Except “Can’t you Anitra “Well... I “Like “Like when “I see. Anitra’s “I have just “That’s “Is he?” “Ooooh – Anitra “No. We Hermioned “I’m not Anitra’s “Dumbledore It was “Yeah? “On the “Yes? – And Hermioned “Wow,” “If a Hermione “Ron just He said it “Are you “Why “Um – swell Nobody paid *
Belch,” she said out loud to the stone, feeling awfully stupid.
happened. No movement. No sound. Zilch.
Belch,” she tried again.
loud nothing. Finally she loer ter temper full blown and roared at the portal.
than a snitch passing by, the door sprang open and a staircase came into view.
Anitra jumped onto it and didn’t wait for it to transport her to the
Headmaster’s office. She ran all the way up, and a few seconds later she was
standing in front of the old-fashioned wooden door, knocking on it in a firm
rhythm. The door sprang open, a little desperately and quickly, almost as if in
fright.
come in,” she heard a voice say, “I must say – you certainly have my secret
doorways impressed.”
you mean, Headmaster?” she asked as she diligently looked round and took in the
various magican details like a hungry young puppy.
at her over the rim of his half moon spectacles. “I mean, has it not occurred
to you that it is odd how the portals cannot open to you by passwords, but will
anyway when you ask them to?”
Well, I just thought the password hadn’t been activated.”
familiar with the age of computers, Dumbledore lifted his eyebrows at her
choice of words and stood to approach her. Fawkes rustled its feathers as he
passed it, releasing a shower of red and golden sparks as it did so.
said softly, “I knew they wouldn’t respond to you so I asked them to open upon
your request. I must say, however, I have never seen them open this swiftly for
anyone.”
suddenly and unexpectedly grinned. “Oh, I see, well, yes, I am rather angry.”
down. – Oh, no – not on that chair if you value your clothes. I really must
talk to Hagrid about that chair. Try the comfy chair and I will ask it not to
sing to you or rock you.”
gingerly on the pleasant-looking chair, straining her ears for any sound of musical
nature or rocking movement her action would provoke. However, it didn’t say a
peep. Whatever Dumbledore had told it, he had told it in silence.
like something to drink? No? What has angered you so?”
him the whole story ending with her belief that such conduct by a teacher most
certainly would be against the law or at least result in dismissal at normal
schools. The girl was surprisingly relaxed despite her obvious outrage, yet he
was nonetheless able to provoke a highly surprised expression from her when he
assured her that such a conduct was not acceptable at Hogwarts either. Anitra
felt deflated; she had been ready for a fight and the ready-made arguments in
her head got stuck there in the most uncomfrotable way.
sighed as he started to pace the room. It wasn’t until now that the portraits
of the former headmasters had begun making their verbal contributions that
Anitra noticed the live pictures. *Bloody hell*, she thought, *imagine having
my mum hanging over me nagging all the time*. Then she stopped the thought with
a jolt to the heart. Her mum? Did she really remember her? Had she been a
nagging person? Was the thought empirically based, or was it just a result of
common prejudice?
for your report, Miss Anitra,” Dumbledore said in the end, “I shall talk to
Professor Snape – meanwhile...”
I would ask you to remember that as long as you are our guest, your behaviour
*will* control the contents of the house point bowls – just like anybody else.”
mouth was a thin line. “And the detention?”
looked at her with a small smile on his lips.
Miss Anitra. Perhaps dentention will remind you of something? I suggest you
honour it.”
her eyebrows in the air, she rose from the incredibly comfy chair and made her
way out of the extraordinary office. Hand on doorhandle she hesitated.
hell is Professor Snape so much after that boy?”
Harry?”
proceeded to sit down behind his desk.
believe, a private matter between them.”
Anitra’s eyebrows simply left her face.
You mean the dispute is a personal matter; – how unprofessional of a teacher.”
well...” Albus Dumbledore almost chuckled, “... humans are unprofessional as a
rule – or haven’t you noticed?”
had noticed. And she had noticed before. Obviously the headmaster knew that and
was, in his own subtle way, drawing her attention to the fact that this was another
aspect of her that would add up to the essence of the girl who had taken the
name, Anitra.
steadily, she would eventually get all the es tes to the puzzle. But it would
take time. She would have to be patient. And instinctively she knew – she was
not a patient person.
arrived at Herbology when the class was half finished. Fifth grade faces turned
towards her in impressive timing as she stepped in. The teacher, a rather
flamboyant Professor Sprout with hair that looked like it had been sprayed with
growth enhancer, never gave her a reproachful eye, but simply motioned her to
sit down with a smile.
at this place,*
one didn’t have to be equipped with magical powers to take care of these
plants, it appeared. Merely with good reflexes. The class was introduced to the
*Aggressivus saliva* species that would spit at you like a lama every time you
passed. Anitra laughed and dodged frequently in this class. Eventually she
found a trick that saved her from being covered in spit as she quickly turned
the spitting head of the flower away from herself with one fluent move.
Unfortunately, she thus gained another enemy at the school, as the the girl
opposite her then stood directly in the line of fire.
any more classes before lunch, Anitra spent the next hours in the vast and
fascinating library. She found that she liked books. In fact, once buried in
one, she seemed to completely forget time and place, and so she never noticed
Hermione sitting down in front of her.
isn’t it?” Hermioned said, finally, when she understood that she had to draw
attention to herself to get noticed.
Anitra’s head popped up, her eyes wide, “oh! Hello, Hermione.”
was Herbology?”
she grinned. Hermione grinned back. “Oh, I remember *Aggressivus saliva*. I
particularly remember getting it all over me. How did you do?”
winced at the memory. “I got it all over Rosie McIntyre.”
made a sympathetic clicking sound. “Oops. Still, you can call it self defense.”
girl smiled back at her. This girl really did her best to make her feel at
home.
you know you were a witch? Or is your entire family witches and wizards?”
muggle born. I just made things happen, you know. Things that I thought hard
about. And then my parents got the letter from Hogwarts and I started here when
I was 11. We all did.”
me,” Anitra smiled, “I wonder what the hell really happened to me.”
remember *anything*?”
sighed and leaned back, abandoning her interesting book about witchcraft
through the times.
get flashes of... impressions. Not images, you see. More like... I sense that
this or that is familiar, or I recognise a certain feeling.”
what?”
I cut my hair. Seeing and feeling it long somehow felt wrong. Having it this
length feels... familiar.”
What else?”
brow furrowed in concentration.
recalled – or discovered – that I like books and I find reading them easy and
delightful. And I think... I at least have a mum.”
something,” Hermioned said kindly, “not like Harry, poor sod, who is an
orphan.”
that’s right. You wouldn’t know anything about Harry, would you?”
popped an eyebrow. This was the second time somebody indicated that Harry would
be known to her in advance.
just met this morning, as did you and I. But Snape mentioned an ‘admiration
club’. What’s that about? And have you any idea why he comes down on the boy so
hard?”
opened her mouth to reply, but started herself.
sure I should tell you. After all, it’s a strictly magical world story. I
should probably ask Porfessor Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall for
permission.”
second eyebrow joined the first. What was this? Magic people’s MI5?
said the animosity between Harry and Snape was between them – in other words, a
personal thing.”
Hermione’s turn to widen her eyes. “*You* talked to Professor Dumbledore?”
Shouldn’t I?”
subject of Harry and Snape?”
shouldn’t I?”
felt stunned. For the past seven years Professor Snape had been after Harry
Potter like a a dragon after an egg-thief, blaming him for every little mishap
at the school and accusing him of deeds worse that that of a criminal. And in
all that time no one had approached the Headmaster to point out the injustice
in it and demanded something be done about But But this girl had gone straight
to the top.
Hermione commented, “you can add a lack of respect for authorities to your
personality CV,” she said drily.
teacher is acting as abonimably as Professor Snape, someone should certainly
act. We’re talking about the care of children here, The children are our
future.”
felt more than bemused by this girl’s choice a words and couldn’t quite come up
with a reply. Fortunately, she didn’t have to as they were joined by a very
enthusiastic Harry and Ron. Without even saying ‘hello’, they rushed straight
to the girls, the librarian hus the them all the way.
came up with the most brilliant idea,” Harry huffed, holding a hand to his left
side to ease a sting. “We use - *The Marauder’s Map*.”
with a flourish like he had just introduced the magnificent jewels of Marie
Antoinette. Anitra looked at him in polite confusion. Hermione seemed to
consider the proposal.
sur wil will show a muggle, Harry?” she asked. Anitra looked at her, now
completely confused. “Somebody explain this to me, please?” she pleaded.
*not*?” Harry insisted, “both Lupin and Fred and George said it showed the
whereabouts of *everyone*. *And it does so by adding a tag with their
NAME!!!*”.
– now if you could just...”
any attention to Anitra’s feeble attempts to learn what they were on about.
Instead Hermione hauled her with her to the Gryffindor common room, tailing the
boys, who were both way ahead of them, storming up the moving staircases.