The Legend of the Phoenix Well

AmethystPhoenix

Story Summary:
Normal people have unexciting school lives. Harry's not a normal person. His seventh year may be the most chaotic of all. First, Voldemort is immortal. Second, he's got a necklace everyone wants, but he doesn't want at all. Third, he just might be becoming more Slytherin... over a girl! What's Harry to do?

Chapter 15

Chapter Summary:
Normal people have unexciting school lives. Harry's not a normal person. His seventh year may be the most chaotic of all. First, Voldemort is immortal. Second, he's got a necklace everyone wants, but he doesn't want at all. Third, he just might be becoming more Slytherin... over a girl! What's Harry to do? In this chapter: the story of Harry's grandmother... finally!
Posted:
01/31/2004
Hits:
1,729
Author's Note:
This is the long-awaited back-story to Grandmother. Yup, her past... revealed. Why she didn't raise Harry. Where was she all those years? Why was she listed as 'dead'? All in here!


Chapter Fifteen: Anne and Myrtle

Harry's mind was buzzing. "A story?" he repeated.

"A story," Grandmother said, "of why I'm reported as dead by the Ministry."

December 14, 1927

"Monsieur Delacour?" said the Seer in front of Francois Delacour. Francois looked around the dingy room in Paris, near the Muggle Marais. "I hope you are well?"

"Very well, thank you," Francois said haughtily. "What is it that you wanted to tell me, Monsieur Ceveaux? I am a busy man."

"I am aware of the fact that you are the Undersecretary to the Minister himself," Ceveaux said, his voice annoyed. "I wished to tell you that I have made a prophecy that concerns the Delacours."

"What about me?" Francois said.

"Not you, monsieur. Your little daughter, Annette."

"Anni? Little Anni? She is only three months old! How could there already be a prophecy about her?" Francois said. Ceveaux just looked at him. "Very well," Francois said, sitting back in his chair. "Tell me about this prophecy."

"It is simple. Annette Delacour will aid in the downfall of the Dark Lord," Ceveaux said.

"Grindelwald?" Francois said. "He is in Germany. He will move to France soon... oh, my little Anni could be hurt..."

"My advice is to move to England. It is mostly safe from Grindelwald, who only wants mainland Europe. As such a high-ranking officer, your family will be moved to the top of the list," Ceveaux said.

"Thank you, Ceveaux. How much do I owe you for that prophecy?"

"Twenty galleons. And right now. The Ministry is after me, and I cannot go about, visiting banks."

Normally, Francois would have argued, but that day, he paid the full amount, put on his hat, and left the room in a hurry to get home.

A few days later, Francois, his veela wife, Gabrielle, and his daughter Annette were on a Muggle ship bound for England.

"A prophecy is what made your family leave France?" Harry asked. "Something made by someone who could easily be a fraud? You didn't help defeat Grindelwald, did you?"

"Think, Harry," Hermione said. "Ceveaux could have meant V-Voldemort. After all, no one knew there would be a second Dark Lord."

"Go on, Mrs. Potter," Ginny said.

September 1, 1938

"Go on, darling, the train won't wait forever," Gabrielle urged her eleven year old daughter, Annette.

"Mama, what if I find out Grindelwald has killed you and Papa?" Annette said tearfully. "Or a Muggle bomb has dropped onto our house while I was at school?"

"Oh, Anni, go with Minerva. Don't worry about Papa and me," Gabrielle said. "We will be fine."

"Come on, Anne," Minerva, a third year at Hogwarts, said to the younger girl. "Let's go find you a seat."

"Goodbye, Mama," Anne said to her mother as she was led away by their neighbour.

"Goodbye, my Anni," Gabrielle said. Anne scowled.

"It's Anne in England," she said.

Gabrielle laughed. "That's my Anni... oh, I mean, my Anne."

Minerva led Anne through the crowds of people. "I have a feeling that the Muggle Germans are going to bomb London again today," Minerva said. "Just a feeling." She bumped into a third year boy. "Oh! Sorry, Tom."

"Quite all right, Minerva," Tom said, his nose in a book. "Who's this first year you're carting around?"

"My name is Anne," Anne said.

Tom nodded, and left, pushing his trunk. Anne was left looking at him. Tom was friendly enough, and Anne took an immediate liking to him.

"He is handsome, isn't he?" Minerva said.

"I suppose so," Anne said.

"I'm making it my goal to go out with him before I leave," Minerva said. "And you're going to help me."

Suddenly, there was a loud siren from the Muggle side of King's Cross. "Knew it," Minerva muttered. "Come on. The bombs can kill us too." She pulled Anne into a bomb shelter near the barrier. They were joined in there by two older students with Prefect badges, and Tom.

"Bloody Muggles," one of the Prefects said.

Tom's eyes gleamed. Anne knew it had been one of the explosions outside, but the gleam unnerved her.

There was complete, utter silence. The all-clear signal sounded, and Anne climbed out of the shelter. "False alarm," Minerva said with relief.

"Commence boarding!" someone shouted.

"Come on," Minerva said, pulling Anne onto the Hogwarts Express.

"Um... Minerva... you don't mind if I find a compartment on my own?" Anne asked.

"Of course not!" Minerva said. "I'll see you at the feast, then."

Anne walked through the train, looking through the sliding doors for someone to sit with. She finally found a compartment that had one lone, ugly girl in it.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" Anne asked.

"No, not at all," the girl said. She suddenly looked suspiciously at Anne. "You're not here to make fun of me, are you?"

"No, of course not," Anne said. "My name is Annette Delacour, but my friend Minerva calls me Anne."

"I'm Myrtle," the girl said. "Myrtle Havesham. My family owns a coal factory near Bristol, and we're filthy rich."

"That's nice," Anne said.

Myrtle suddenly sounded dejected. "But Olive Hornby, I think she's a second year, keeps on making fun of me, just like the others at home, even though I'm rich," Myrtle said. "I don't understand. I want a friend."

"I'll be your friend," Anne said.

"Really?" Myrtle asked, as if not daring to believe it.

"Of course," Anne said.

"Myrtle Havesham?" Ginny said. "Not... not Myrtle in the girl's bathroom?" She looked at Hermione.

"Yes, the same Myrtle," Harry said.

"How do you know?" Ron asked.

"Oh. I went to talk to her earlier this year, and then Icicle came in sobbing. I overheard their conversation. Icicle offered to be Myrtle's friend, or something, and Myrtle told Icicle her full name," Harry explained.

"Went to talk to her?" Ron said, laughter in his eyes.

Harry glared at him. "Go on, Grandmother."

June 7, 1942

"Victoria, have you seen Myrtle?" Anne asked one of Myrtle's fellow Hufflepuffs.

"I heard she's crying again," Victoria said. "In her usual loo. Hornby teased her after Charms again."

Anne sighed. "Thanks, Victoria."

"Anytime."

Anne started out of the Great Hall. "Where are you going?" Minerva asked, her Prefect's badge on her robes. She had grown very pretty. Standing next to her was Tom, who had also been made a Prefect. Tom looked at Anne.

"Let her go, Minnie," he said softly.

Dumbledore, the Transfiguration professor, came through. "Excuse me, Mr. Riddle, Miss McGonagall, Miss Delacour," he said politely, his eyes ever twinkling. He looked over at Tom and Minerva. "Dear, dear, Minerva, you and Tom need to be more careful when out and about at night." When he saw the look on the Prefects' faces, he chuckled and said, "I'm joking. I knew the two of you were out studying."

Tom scowled. His scowl widened when a fourth year boy bumped into him. "Sorry, Riddle," the boy said. "God, Daniel...no need to push me into the Great Hall."

"I see," Tom said. "Caine pushed you into me, Potter?"

Edward Potter was brown haired, with brilliant blue eyes. He was very friendly, and good at Quidditch. However, he had a certain weakness for Anne.

"H-hello, A-Anne," Edward said.

"Hello, Edward. Can I get through?" Anne said.

"Oh! Of course," Edward said, entering the Great Hall and sitting at the Gryffindor table with his best friend, Daniel Cane.

"He likes you," Minerva said.

"Myrtle," Anne said, describing her inability to go out with Edward. "She'd sulk for weeks... maybe months. I mean, Edward's nice, but..."

"Myrtle's so insecure, she won't even let her only friend have a boyfriend?" Minerva said.

"Come on," Tom said hurriedly, rushing his girlfriend into the Great Hall.

"I'll see you in the Common Room!" Minerva called.

Anne nodded, and began to walk to the girls' bathroom. Some of the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins had stayed for extra help in Charms that day, and Myrtle had signed up. Unfortunately, so had Olive Hornby.

She had nearly reached the bathroom when there was a piercing scream that Anne recognised as Olive Hornby's.

Anne rushed into the bathroom, where Olive was crumpled on the floor sobbing. She pointed with a shaking hand at something in a stall. Anne slowly turned to face in the direction Olive was pointing.

Her eyes widened, and she screamed as loudly as Olive had. Myrtle was lying on the floor of the stall, her eyes open and glassy, unmistakably dead. Her mouth was hanging open, as if she had been scared to death.

There were footsteps, and Dippet burst in, followed by Dumbledore and a few other professors. The Head Boy and Girl and a few Prefects followed, and then a group of curious students.

"Anne!" Minerva said, reaching for her.

"Get away!" Anne screamed hysterically. "Go away! I hate you all!"

The Head Girl ran to her. She and Minerva pinned Anne down as the Head Boy came with a potion, which he poured down Anne's throat. Anne spat it out in his face.

"Let me help!" someone shouted over the din.

"Potter, go!" Tom said. He moved near. Anne broke free of the Head Girl and Minerva, but was caught by someone else, who held her to him so she couldn't escape.

"I'm sorry, Anne," Tom said, pinching Anne's nose. The Head Boy poured the potion into her mouth again, and she was forced to swallow. Everything went black, and she felt herself go limp in a pair of arms.

It wasn't later until she found out it had been Edward who had held her.

"Harry's grandfather looked nothing like Harry?" Ginny asked in surprise.

"No. Both his and his father's looks are mostly mine. They both received the talent in Quidditch and the build, though, from Edward," Grandmother said.

"You still haven't told us why your name appeared on the list of dead Head Girls," Ron said.

"You know what Riddle did, right?" Harry said. "He killed Myrtle."

"What?" Grandmother said in surprise.

"There's more," Hermione said grimly. "You were right when you felt uneasy around him. He's V-Voldemort."

Grandmother nodded. "I know. I just didn't know it had been Tom who had freed the basilisk. Everyone thought it was Rubeus Hagrid, the third year."

"McGonagall went out with Tom Riddle," Ron said.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Go on, Grandmother."

February 14, 1945

Anne had never been more than friends with a boy during her time at Hogwarts. She talked to Myrtle everyday in the bathroom, even though she grew older, and became Prefect, then Head Girl. Minerva came back in her seventh year, looking harrowed and worn. She had taken on a job as Dumbledore's assistant, and seemed to have a secret. She told Anne she had broken up with Tom. Anne never saw the carefree, mischievous girl she had known as Minerva. Minerva had been replaced by a strict witch with her hair swept back in a tight bun named Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall greeted Anne every day and asked her about schoolwork, but she didn't gossip or do things like Minerva, even though she was only twenty years old.

It was Valentine's Day, and every other student seemed to be with another student at Hogsmeade... except for Anne. She was sitting in the girl's bathroom with the ghost of her best friend.

"They're all out there, frolicking about, happy," Myrtle spat.

"I wish I was one of them," Anne murmured sadly.

"What?" Myrtle said, her hostility now directed at Anne.

Anne suddenly was annoyed. "I said I wish I was one of them!" she screamed. "Why did I ever become your friend, Myrtle? I should have been more like Minerva."

Myrtle scoffed. "Minerva? We used to call her Mrs. Riddle, and look where she is now. Riddle dumped her. She's eternally sad. Anne, all boys do is break your heart. I don't want to be one of the other girls. You should be happy you're free of the male race, like I am."

"Why can't you share me with others?" Anne demanded. "You know I wouldn't abandon you or anything like that if I had other friends."

Myrtle didn't answer. The door to the lavatory opened.

"Anne! I thought I would find you in here!" Edward said, walking in. "Are you with Myrtle again?"

Myrtle gasped. "Potter... you're with Potter!" she suddenly became furious. "You lied!" she hissed at Anne, who flinched. "You lied to me, Anne!"

Anne was very annoyed now. She hadn't done anything. "Yes, I lied," she said spitefully. "Shall we go, Edward?"

"Do you mean it?" Edward said hopefully.

"Of course I do," Anne said, walking out of the bathroom hand-in-hand with Edward Potter.

Myrtle began to moan and weep like never before.

"Moaning Myrtle," Ron said, an expression of recognition on his face.

"That's why McGonagall's like that," Ginny said, sniffing. "I never thought it would be because of something like that."

"Go on," Hermione urged.

July 18, 1950

"I hate you," Edward said teasingly to his new wife.

"Why?" Anne said, smiling back.

"You're half veela, of course. Too beautiful for your own good. Dark hair suits veelas too...I wonder why full veelas are only blonde..."

"Stop it," Anne said playfully. Edward laughed, and left the room. Anne was left at her dressing table, humming a song from the dance at their wedding reception that evening.

Suddenly, a familiar transparent figure floated into the room . "Myrtle," Anne said coldly. "I didn't invite you."

"So?" Myrtle snapped. "It's too late now for me to stop you from marrying that Potter, but I can stop you from going further, and doing the thing that will truly kill you when he leaves you. Don't have a child, Anne, I'm warning you. The child will hurt you more than Potter when he leaves you alone, by yourself."

"And what will you do if I do have a child?" Anne asked tauntingly.

"Nothing," Myrtle said. "Nothing except laugh when he hurts you." She disappeared.

For nine years, Anne was afraid to have a child.

"I hate Myrtle," Hermione said. "Do you know what she told me? She told me to break Ron's heart and leave him."

"She seems to be obsessed," Ron said.

Grandmother sighed, and went on.

March 12, 1959

"It's a boy!" Anne told Edward. "I suppose you got your wish, darling. You have a child now, and his name is James Edward Potter."

Edward smiled and smoothed the black hair from Anne's forehead. "S'pose I did," he said, gazing down at James. "I say, that's hardly fair! He looks like you!"

Anne smiled. "You forgot I'm half-veela. You want him to look like me, don't you?"

Edward grinned. "Not at all. We want him to look like me," he teased, then grew more serious. "You haven't had any visits from Myrtle, have you?"

"No. I haven't seen her since the day we got married. And I don't plan on seeing her anytime soon," Anne said. "After all, all she does is make empty threats." She scowled.

Edward nodded. "All right."

"James was such a charming baby," Grandmother reminisced. "He grew up too quickly."

"Go on, Grandmother," Harry said.

September 1, 1970

"Mum, I have my copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, don't I?" James asked, his eyes going wide.

"Yes, dear," Anne said.

"Dad, you saw me put my..." James said.

"Yes," Edward said immediately. He turned to Anne. "Darling, you spoke to Minerva about keeping James away from..."

"Just yesterday," Anne said. "Don't worry, dear."

"Keep me away from what?" James demanded as they walked through the barrier, onto the platform.

"Nothing, Jamie."

James scowled. "Don't call me Jamie!" he hissed.

Edward grinned. "Let him be. You didn't like it when your mum called you Anni, did you?"

Anne looked at her son. "Well, what do you want me to call you, dear? Harry?"

James looked at her, thoughtful. "Harry's a cool name, Mum," he said. "Maybe you should. Bye."

Anne kissed him goodbye before turning to Edward and saying, "Cool?"

Edward shrugged. "Must be a new word." The two watched as James met up with his friend Remus Lupin, who was Edward's colleague's son, and along with a third boy with black hair and grey eyes, they boarded the train.

A small girl winced as she accidentally hit Anne with her trolley. "Sorry, Miss," the girl said, her emerald green eyes remorseful.

"It's all right," Anne assured her.

"Move!" an older, blonde girl said, pushing her younger sister. "You're blocking the way, Lily!"

Anne shook her head as Lily and what was probably her family walked on. "Poor girl," she said. "Her sister is absolutely horrid. And she seems so nice."

***

James, Remus, and Sirius, their new-found friend, had snuck away from the rest of the Gryffindor first-years. Sirius grinned, pointing at the girl's bathroom. "Fancy catching a girl in there?" he said.

"Let's see you do it, then," James said. Sirius smirked, and opened the door, leaving it open for James and Remus.

To their annoyance, no girls were in the bathroom. There was a ghost, though, crying on top of one of the stalls. She looked up. "Who are you?" she snapped.

"I'm Sirius Black," Sirius said.

"Remus Lupin," Remus said.

"James Potter," James added. Myrtle was surprised.

"Potter? As in Edward Potter?"

"He's my dad," James said.

Myrtle was furious. "I told her not to have a child," she muttered angrily to herself, grabbing at her robes. "Very well," she said sweetly. "Nice to meet you, I'm sure."

"Er... right," James said.

"Henry, dear, I'm sorry to say that I'm the one who gave your father the idea of naming you Harry," Grandmother said.

"Oh. Er... all right," Harry said, confused. Then why exactly did she call him 'Henry'?.

Grandmother sighed. "Lily was such a nice person," she said. "James and I... we had an argument about her."

March 23, 1979

"Mum?" James said. "I-I know it's only been a year since Dad was killed, and three since I left Hogwarts, but I wanted to tell you I'm marrying Lily."

Anne looked up from her flowers. "Sorry, dear?"

"I'm marrying Lily."

"You can't!" Anne said.

James looked puzzled. "Why not?"

"She's not pureblooded!"

James stood up so quickly, his chair toppled to the ground. He didn't notice. "I never thought you would be like Sirius' family."

"No, darling, it's just that pureblooded people have more of a chance of surviving, and I don't want to see you hurt just because you decided to bait Voldemort."

James looked at his mother. "I have been fighting Voldemort since my seventh year at Hogwarts," he said levelly. "I'm already a big target. Lily and I both have escaped him three times. And besides," he added, "Dad was a pureblood, and Voldemort killed him anyway."

"Darling..." Anne said. She frowned. "I'll disown you. If you marry, your recklessness will cause you to die as well, leaving any of your children orphans."

James' mouth opened and closed like a goldfish's. The he moved out of her reach. "I'm leaving, Mum. Don't look for me. Don't contact me, or try to speak to me. I can't let you dictate my life." He Disapparated.

Anne sat, frozen in her chair. There was a giggle, and Myrtle came through the window again. "Told you, Annie..." she said. "He's left you alone."

"He has, Myrtle, but I am not suffering," Anne lied, looking coldly at Myrtle. "Where did you come from, anyway?"

Myrtle scowled, and said, "I followed the pipes," she said, and left. Anne looked at the chair James had knocked over, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"I still knew that James was alive, and that was what kept me sane. As long as he was alive and happy, I didn't care how much I suffered," Grandmother said.

"Did you know about Harry?" Hermione said softly.

"Not until Lily owled me when James was in America for two days," Grandmother said. "Lily was always forgiving and kind."

June 14, 1981

The owl tapped on the window. Anne let it in listlessly, opening the letter without any excitement. It was from Lily. Anne's eyes widened when she saw what her daughter-in-law had written. James was away, so Anne could go see her first grandchild.

Quickly, Anne Disapparated to the address Lily had provided. Lily was waiting for her, her child in her arms. "He looks like James, doesn't he?" Lily said, smiling. "He's almost a year old now."

"Why did you invite me?" Anne said.

Lily smiled. "I know you only wanted James to be safe," she said. "You're his mother. After all, I'd do anything for Harry."

"Even die?" Anne said.

Lily agreed. "Even die to save him."

Harry got up and looked out one of the windows, completely silent. "And she did die for me," he said softly. "She kept her word."

"Harry?" Ginny said.

Harry sat back down. "What happened next?" he said in a normal voice.

Around Midnight, October 31/ November 1, 1981

Anne slept peacefully that night. However, Myrtle was roaming the corridors of the school, listening to conversations while floating through pipes, when she heard an unusually strange one between Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic.

"...attack on the Potters," Bagshot said.

Myrtle smiled. Oh, Anne wasn't going to like this... she left the school.

Anne was woken by happy giggling. Myrtle sat at the edge of her bed, swinging her legs and laughing. Quickly dressing herself, Anne turned to face Myrtle. "What?"

Myrtle continued to giggle. "I told you he'd leave you alone, all by yourself," she said happily.

"Yes, I know James left," Anne said impatiently.

"No," Myrtle said, her grin growing wider. "You don't know what happened tonight, Anne. He's left you alone... permanently."

"No." Anne backed away. "No."

Myrtle smirked. "I told you so, Anne. James is dead."

Anne let out the same unearthly scream she had let out after she saw Myrtle dead in the bathroom. She lost her mind, and chased after Myrtle, who was giggling hysterically by now. She floated out onto a balcony. Anne didn't know what happened next exactly, except for the fact that she was plummeting downwards towards the neatly tended gardens.

***

She was woken by sunlight. Opening her eyes, she saw Dumbledore and Minerva watching over her worriedly. "Dumbledore reported you dead," Minerva said, glancing at the Headmaster.

"And I think it's better that way. The followers of Voldemort will be looking for vengeance before they are caught, and you are one of the first on their list," Dumbledore said. "Best you stay in the manor, and then go abroad, maybe to France, to live with your family there. Remember the prophecy Ceveaux made as well." Dumbledore gave no explanation on how he came to know about the prophecy.

"So it's true? They're..." Anne said.

Minerva sniffed. "It's true."

"I spent sixteen years in France, under an assumed name, so that no one would be able to find me. I lived like a Muggle instead of going to our relatives," Grandmother said. "They were never able to tell me you were alive, Harry, because I never wanted to see anyone I knew ever again," she said. Harry barely noticed she hadn't said 'Henry'. "I thought my last chance of achieving my childhood dream... of helping my child raise their child, was gone. My family was dead. I became like Minerva."

"How did you find out about Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I overheard it. I was in Paris, and Harry's distant cousin Fleur was around, talking to a friend," Grandmother explained. She turned to Harry. "She was talking about how she had met you. After, I went to Minerva, who welcomed me back, and advised me to stay under the name of Nora Weasley, Ronald and Virginia's grandmother. You see, they had thought I was dead after they had sent someone to look for me a few years before, after they had seen how the Dursleys treated you. I'm sorry I wasn't here before for you, Harry..."

"Oh," Harry said.

The moment was ruined by Dudley, who barged in. "Where's the calculators in this place, Potter?" he demanded.

"Do your maths in your head," Harry snapped. "There aren't any calculators in here. This is a wizarding house!" Dudley flinched at the word 'wizarding'.

"It's algebra!" he complained. "If you don't find me a calculator, Potter, you're doing it for me."

Harry sighed. "Let me see the homework, Dudley."

"What are you giving in for?" Ron whispered. Dudley passed over a worksheet, which Harry took. He raised an eyebrow.

"You need a calculator to do '8x=32'?" Harry said, snorting. "Four, Dudley, x equals four." Dudley grabbed the sheet, scribbled the answer down, and left.

***

The Easter holidays were soon over, and Harry found him, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny back at King's Cross. Ron and Ginny were still subdued from the visit they had paid to Mrs. Weasley at St. Mungo's before going to the platform.

"She thought Hermione was my Uncle Walter's girlfriend from back in the seventies!" Ron said. "And she thought I was Uncle Walter!" he added sadly.

"They estimate around twenty-five years," Ginny said sadly.

"Twenty-five?" Harry said in disbelief. "Twenty-five?"

Ginny nodded. "Come on," Hermione said, boarding the train. "We don't have a meeting this time. We've been told just to go to our compartments."

They had just sat down when Harry suddenly thought of something. "I was just thinking," he said. "Grandmother said a giant's legend. Who do we know that might know the story?"

"Of course!" Hermione said. "Hagrid!"


Author notes: Sorry about the italics. Oh, and if you want updates/previews/notices for my fics (including this one) join my Yahoo!Group: here.

Hope I got the URL right. :D

Anyway, thank you so much to ephemera, who helped me rewrite a bit so that the chapter and plot made more sense.

Also, thank you to Nonya, DarkWitch13, Kandie, blackeaerials, atlantis, Emily Granger, AgiVega, Mad Eye Becky, argos, neha_dkulkarni, Peachy, DarkWinterPrincess, LSS (Sorry, too lazy to type your forum name :D), xXx, richia06, and kathy lou for reviewing.

Please review!!!