Domino One

And that goes for everyone: THANK YOU and ENJOY!

CHAPTER THREE:

"Dusk"

"Steadfast star, you do not cower

When the sun ignores its wanted hour.

You lead, you see, you act, you dare,

You laugh, lie, pretend and care…

Who knew that such a sparkling flower

Could harvest such a secret power?"

Ana dreamed. White clouds swirled around her, carrying her through a crystalline forest. Sapphires hung from amber tree limbs, sending blue mirrored light dancing around her. Unable to move, or to turn her head, she floated numbly through the enchanting trees, She drifted deeper and deeper into the charmed vision, feeling herself smile and delight as she came to a circular opening in the trees: the middle of the jeweled garden.

She felt herself drift slowly to the very center of the crystal courtyard, and start to spin. When she had gone all the way around once, she found that she was not alone.

A man, dressed in gleaming white robes and white-blonde hair stood before her. He smiled at her, his bright blue eyes twinkling happily. Ana felt herself smile as well. It was her father.

Silently, he walked up to her, his blue eyes twinkling down into hers. He reached up with his hand, and he took his index finger, and placed it gently on her forehead; his touch filled her with peace and warmth. Withdrawing his hand, Ana found a small light lingering on his fingertip- a small light, but intensely bright- like a diamond aimed just right in the sunlight. It hurt Ana's eyes, but she couldn't look away. She just stared.

Her father smiled at her, and then looked at the light- or the gem- or whatever it was that was on his finger- admirably. Looking between it and Ana, he finally spoke- his voice soft and distant. "Credyn," he said, smiling at her meaningfully. Slowly he placed his finger on her forehead again, and when he took it back, the light was gone. Kissing his hand, he pressed it to her cheek and smiled as he repeated, "Credyn." Then he turned, and walked back into the wood, leaving Ana to wake up in her warm bed.

* * * * *

"You owe me."

"Yes, Remus, we know," grumbled James, descending the stairway to breakfast the next morning.

"I know what I want," he replied.

Sirius looked up. "Already?"

He nodded. "What are you doing tonight? All three of you."

"Nothing," sighed Peter.

"Reeking havoc on the school," replied Sirius.

"Keeping him out of trouble," James nodded toward Sirius. "Why?"

"Because I need your guys' help with something."

"With what?"

"I need you guys to help me tutor someone. This person needs a lot of work."

"Tutoring?" grimaced James. "Who? Why? In What subject?"

Remus grinned. "You guys are going to help me because you feel guilty. But that's not how you'll repay the favor."

"What do you want us to do then?" muttered James.

"It's more like what I want you not to do. I don't want you to ask questions. I want you to tutor this person, but not ask questions. That's how we'll be even."

* * * * *

"So what did you and Remus do last night?" Lily asked innocently.

Ana’s hands faltered slightly as she did her hair, dropping strands of whispy brown hair onto her shoulders. "We talked."

"What about?"

"Just stuff." She didn’t know what hurt more, the loss of her mother, or referring to her memorial service as just stuff.

Ana saw Lily grinning at her through the reflection in the mirror. But all she said was, "Ready to go?"

"I'll be right down," she replied, reaching for another bobby pin.

"Okay, I'll be downstairs."

Ana watched as she exited the room. Very clearly, she heard her mutter, "you two were SO snogging…"

Ana dropped the bobby pin. "Excuse me?" Ana called after her, laughing.

Lily turned, looking startled. "What?"

"What did you just say?"

"I said I'll be downstairs."

"No- after that."

Lily shook her head, frowning slightly. "I didn't say anything."

"Yes you did!"

Lily blinked, totally confused. "No, really, I didn’t say anything."

Ana looked away in confusion. She was sure she had heard it.

Lily laughed. "Hearing things?"

"Maybe," Ana returned her smile weakly and turned back to the mirror as Lily stepped out of the room. Picking up her mascara, she leaned toward the mirror to put it on- but dropped her make-up at her reflection; her eyes were blazing blue. Not brown, but blue. But when the mascara container clattered onto the floor, Ana looked down at it for a second. Looking back up a moment later, her eyes were brown again. The same brown they always were.

* * * * *

Remus watched Ana carefully as the group walked into the Great Hall. She seemed nervous- jumpy. "You okay?" he whispered so no one else could hear.

She smiled at him weakly, but didn't answer.

He surveyed her as she seemed to relax at the table. She ate hungrily. He hadn't seen her at lunch or dinner the day before; he assumed she had not eaten anything. And as the group joked and laughed in their usual manner, she blended in perfectly. But Remus could tell something wasn’t right. He couldn't explain it.

"Hey," she said, distracted by his dark blue bruises. "How do you feel?"

"You broke my nose, you bitch!"

Peter sprang out of his chair. "Don't talk to her like that!" He was suddenly washed over with fear, realizing what he had just done. He shrunk back down to his seat. Snape glared at him, with cruel amusement.

"And what will you do, Pettigrew, if I called her a bitch again?" he laughed darkly.

Ana looked up at him thoughtfully. "Look, whoever you are… judging by the look of your face, I'm not sure it's Peter you should be worried about."

James snickered, but quickly turned it into a cough.

Snape glowered at her. "Snape. Severus Snape. And if I were you, girl, I would be very careful who I threaten. It may come back to haunt you."

"I would suggest you follow your own advice, Severus," she replied simply, sipping her water calmly.

Before he could answer, Professor McGonagall approached the table. She looked around sternly. "Is there a problem here?"

Snape shot them all a glance before walking away, wordless. Peter sighed with relief. McGonagall turned back to them. "Miss Anblick, you will be with me for your first lesson today. Do you have your wand and some parchment?"

Remus watched as she nodded sheepishly, aware of everyone's curious gazes. She stood, said a quiet goodbye, and left with the Professor. Remus was almost nervous for her.

* * * * *

McGonagall's mouth was thin and tight as she began the lesson. "Miss Anblick," she sighed, "I have been told to teach you over 4 years worth of material in 4 months. This will require your full concentration and full attention and if you cannot do that, please feel free to leave now."

Ana raised an eyebrow at her. "Professor McGonagall, I promise: if I wasn't broken by yesterday, this class won't do it."

And so, with that, McGonagall launched into a very summarized, but very agonizing 2-hour lecture. Ana scribbled down notes furiously, and with careful guidance and assistance, Ana could transfigure a piece of hay into a needle. At the end of the lesson, Professor McGonagall gave her a pile of hay, told her to practice, and read the first half of the first year transfiguration book. All this by the day after the next; it was 128 pages.

Potions was short, and simple. Professor Stikupas took one look at her, smiled a yellow-toothed smiles, and slapped down a chart. One Hundred of the Most Common Potion Ingredients and their Purposes. "Memorize," he grunted. "And be ready for a test on Thursday."

Astronomy was quite interesting. The Professor, although sympathetic, circled a large area on her star chart.. "Memorize the constellations in this area, their coordinates and significance," she said. "By the next time we meet," she added.

It didn't take Ana long to realize that she loved Charms. By the end of a one-hour period, she could levitate a feather, change it's color, make it heavy, and even, much to the impressed joy of Professor Flitwick, make it temporarily invisible. Finally, she felt she was doing something right.

Dumbledore let her opt out of History of Magic, telling her there was plenty of time to catch up with that later. But Defense Against the Dark Arts was a different story. "Read the Dark Creature handbook, and we'll talk next time."

Ana, having missed lunch, reported straight to the library. It was about 3:00 in the afternoon, and very few people inhabited the place. She walked to the comfortable chairs by the back window, and collapsed into them. Surveying the pile of books she had accumulated, she felt sick. Looking at the clock only made her feel worse. She had about nine hours until she really needed to get some rest. Ready, set, go.

She stood, grabbing her chart of Potion Ingredients. Spreading it out on the coffee table in front of her, she stared. She began to memorize.

* * * * *

Remus entered the library, grumbling. Lousy Arithmancy! He really didn't mind it, but equations dull after a while. He dropped his books on the table, and spread out his large piece of parchment. He had just found his place in the equation when he heard mumbling. He listened.

"Newt Eyes… .Newt Eyes… Newt Eyes, Owl blood…. Newt Eyes, Owl blood… Newt eyes, Owl blood… Newt Eyes, Owl Blood, Raven Feathers…. Newt Eyes, Owl Blood, Raven Feathers…. Newt Eyes, Owl Blood, Raven Feathers…. Newt Eyes, Owl Blood, Raven Feathers…. Newt Eyes, Owl Blood, Raven Feathers, Nightshade, Newet Eyes, Old Blood, Raven Feathers, Nightshade…."

Remus leaned back on his chair to see who it was. Around the bookcases, he could see Ana, pacing in front of the window, a large chart sprawled out on the table in front of her. He studied her for a moment, pacing, her eyes set staring at nothing in concentration- deep and brown, like her hair. Her hair was tied back into a beautifully sloppy bun, and the tendrils around the side of her head whispered around as she floated back and forth before the window. It took him a moment, but he finally decided that she was rather pretty.

Ana didn't notice him. But when she did, Remus was so startled that his chair tipped backwards, dumping him onto the floor. He stood up quickly. Ana just shook her head and laughed.

"Potions?" he asked, examining the chart, trying desperately not to blush.

"I have to know all 100 and their major uses by next time."

"When's that?"

"The day after tomorrow."

"What about your other work?"

"Don't remind me." She fell into the easy chair again. "This is ridiculous."

"Four and a half years in four months does seem a bit extreme," nodded Remus. "I think Dumbledore was just setting goals. I don't think he intended for you to meet them. No one can do all that in four months."

Ana grimaced and smiled at him at the same time. She picked up her DADA book blandly and flipped through the pages, looking at the pictures of various deep creatures. Vampires, Goblins, Trolls… everything she had heard of in fairy tales was true. She turned the page to find a terrifying picture of a werewolf. She studied it, remembering her vision of Remus- that wasn't a wolf in my room…that was a werewolf... She looked up at him suddenly. She must have done it quite suddenly, actually, because he seemed startled and nervous. She looked at him carefully. "What do you know about werewolves?"

Remus seemed to be searching for words. "Not too much…" he managed to say. "Err…why?"

Ana shrugged. "Just curious." She turned back to her potions chart and stood. She began reciting the list again. Remus could see her eyes moving down with every potion, as if she was visualizing the list. 'Photographic memory?' he thought to himself.

"It comes in handy," muttered Ana.

"What does?" asked Remus, caught of guard.

Ana frowned. "Photographic memory- you just asked?"

Remus stared at her. Something looked different as he studied her…Was it her eyes…? They were a deep blue color. Swearing over and over that they were brown, he accidentally dropped his quill. He bent to pick it up, but when he looked, her eyes were brown. "Strange…" he muttered.

"What?"

"Ana, I didn't say anything about a photographic memory."

She looked taken back. "Yes! Yes, you did! Just now!"

Remus stared at her. "No… Ana.. I thought it, in my mind, but I never said anything."

Ana smiled challengingly. "What- I read your mind?"

"All I know is that I didn't say anything."

Ana's smile faded. "Seers can't read minds."

"I wouldn't be surprised if True Seers could," he grinned, baffled.

"I don't want to talk about this," said Ana sharply, continuing to pace, and going back to renaming the list of potions.

Remus watched her for a while longer. "Has this happened before?"

Ana continued to pace, making a good dent in her memorization. Just when Remus thought she was ignoring his question she replied, heavily.

"This morning, I think."

"Did you tell Dumbledore or Professor Pyrre?"

She shook her head, reciting more Potion ingredients.

"Why not!?"

She shrugged vaguely. Remus just shook his head. Ana continued pacing and reciting potions for a while, and Remus went to go get his parchment, so he could work on his equations while she was doing that. Every once and while, he would correct her, or ask her a question regarding the chemical abbreviation of the potion ingredients. Amazingly, she hardly ever answered him incorrectly.

It took her until six o’clock before she name all of the Potions in order, with their abbreviations. She immediately burst out laughing. "I can’t believe I did it…"

Remus stared, truly impressed. He couldn’t either. But he smiled at her. "You know what you have to do now, right?"

Ana blinked. "No. What?"

"Do it again," he grinned. "-About five more times, and then three more writing it down."

She grinned, crossing her arms defiantly. "Says who?"

"Me. You wanted my help," he answered, just as stubbornly.

"Your help, not torture!"

"Trust me," he sighed. "Or you’ll forget all this tomorrow."

James and Lily came waltzing into the library around seven o’ clock. Lily was the first to notice them. "There you are- you guys missed dinner!" Ana made no response, she just continued pacing in front of the window, muttering something under her breath. Remus glanced up at her, startled. He turned to the grandfather clock on the other side of the library. "Oops," he muttered.

As Lily laughed at Remus, James tuned in carefully to Ana, who was still pacing. "Jade Root, Willow Sap, Four-leaf Clover, Three-Leaf Clover, Unicorn Saliva…"

James frowned. "Potions?" he asked her.

She looked up startled. "Um.. yeah…" she croaked hoarsely. She turned back, to keep pacing, but she stared blankly for a moment. Frowning, she turned to Remus, who was in conversation with Lily. "Where was I?"

Remus glanced over quickly. "Unicorn Saliva." He turned back to Lily.

James watched, baffled, as she turned to keep pacing, listing off names of common potion ingredients.

"What is she doing that for?" he asked Remus.

"Remember when I said I needed your help this morning?" he replied.

James stared. "It’s Ana? You want us to tutor her?"

Lily glanced at him, the first she was hearing of it. "Why?"

"She’s a little behind," replied Remus, examining the tip of his owl-feather quill.

"How far behind?" gawked James, watching her pace, muttering Rose Thorns, Fish Eyes, Human Blood…

"About four years," Remus replied simply.

Lily and James stared. James made a move to question him, but Remus grinned up at him, satisfied. "Remember our deal? No questions asked."

James’s mouth closed and he stared.

"Frog tongue… Algea… and Cat Whiskers," finished Ana with a sigh.

James felt like he should applaud, but all he could do was stare. "Did we have to do that?" he frowned.

"No," replied Lily, staring. "We didn’t have to name them all like she did, but we learned them all at one time or another…"

James shook off his shock. "I understand you could use some help with Transfiguration."

Ana looked at him thoughtfully, smiling. "You could say that. I can only turn some hay into needles."

"Prove it," he grinned.

So Ana did, and by the end of the hour, she had gone through her entire stack of hay, each time transfiguring the strands faster and easier while James paged through the book, giving her quick summaries of what she was going to read. Every so often, Remus would jump in, and ask her for a chemical abbreviation of one of her potion ingredients.

Eventually, Peter walked in. "Sirius’s is in detention again," he sighed.

"What did he do now?" asked Lily.

"Made Mrs. Norris glow in the dark," he muttered surveying the mass study session. "What’s going on?"

"I needed some help with some things," smirked Ana. "Is Mrs. Norris a professor here?"

"No," grinned James, "It’s the caretaker’s cat."

Ana just giggled. "Right…" She looked at her books, and then to Peter who was looking at her thoughtfully. "Peter, I hear that you’re quite a wizard when it comes to Herbology."

Peter blushed miserably. "I g-guess.. I’m … not so bad at it…"

"Would you mind tutoring me?" she asked. "I could really use some help memorizing these…" She held up her Herbology book, and paged through a section of pictures.

Of course it took Peter a whole millisecond to agree to help her. James and Remus would comment later that he had never sounded so smart in his life as he explained the differences of various vegetations of magical plants. Ana never learned how to identify plants so quickly. Peter turned out to be a pretty good teacher, let alone Ana’s photographic memory.

* * * * *

At ten o’ clock, they were promptly kicked out of the library, and began to retreat to the Gryffindor Common Room. Along the way, Peter gasped. "HISTORY OF MAGIC!"

James stared. "What about it?"

"Paper due. Tomorrow? Magic of Ancient Mesopotamia???"

James’s eyes widened. He looked at Lily for confirmation. She nodded, "He reminded us that yesterday. Tell me you’ve started! It was announced the first day of class!"

By the look on James’s face, it was evident that he had not.

He looked at Remus, who shrugged. "Mine’s done."

James looked at Peter. "Let’s run."

Peter hated running, but he and James sprinted down the hallway in a flash.

Ana, Lily and Remus grinned. "This is normal," Lily commented to Ana.

"Hey, you want to stop by the kitchen with me?" Remus asked. "I didn’t have dinner- I’m starving."

Ana nodded eagerly. "I haven’t eaten since breakfast."

But Lily shook her head. "I’m going to go make sure James and Peter even know where Mesopotamia is…" she smiled. "I’ll see you two later," she grinned.

There was something in that grin that made Ana raise an eyebrow at her before turning to the kitchens with Remus.

* * * * *

Deep in his castle, Voldemort paced before a group of Death Eaters. He stopped before one of them, and glanced down at his servant. "So she is at Hogwarts…"

"Yes, my lord."

"Where will she go for holiday?"

"I do not know, my lord," the servant replied humbly. "She might stay at the castle."

The dark wizard’s face dimmed in anger. "Well is there any time that she’ll be away from the campus?"

The Death Eaters shifted under the mounting anger of his voice. "I b- believe, my lord, that she’ll go to Hogsmeade with the rest of the school sometime before then."

"Sometime?"

"Oc-October, my lord. And just before Christmas."

Voldemort, who had been leaning menacingly over his servant, straightened. "We’ll take care of her there."

A nervous cough came from one of the Death Eaters.

"Is there something you would like to add, Lestrange?"

His voice was hoarse. "Just that it’s quite crowded there… my lord. Very public."

"Are you assuming, Lestrange, that I am incapable of being discrete? Because it would be very stupid to kill her in a crowded place. Are you calling me stupid?" he grinned challengingly, raising his wand directly at him.

"NO- No, my lord. Not at all. You are right my lord. You can be discrete. Very discrete."

"Me? Yes, yes, I can, but I will not be the one to take care of her." He turned to the first Death Eater. "You will be there, when she goes to Hogsmeade?"

"If you wish… my lord."

"Then it will be you, who takes care of her."

* * * * *

Ana smiled up at Remus from her spot on the floor as she picked at her salad. "This is really great. Thank you."

Remus smiled back. "I was hungry too, you know. I just brought you along."

"No- not just for this. I mean, for yesterday, and helping me today, and somehow getting James and Peter and Lily to help me… that’s really sweet."

Remus didn’t quite know what to say. He just smiled, shyly. "You’re welcome."

They sat there talking for at least an hour and a half, much to the dismay of the house elves who were staying awake for their benefit. They talked about everything. Remus listened with interest over her life… how she had skipped a grade, and loved poetry and reading and all sorts of art… how she loved the outdoors, especially in the fall… Not wanting to get into the details of his own life, he tried to explain quidditch to her, but failed miserably.

"You should really talk to James and Sirius about it," he sighed. "They know a lot more about it then I do…" he drifted off. There was an odd gleam in his eye.

Ana saw it. She had a talent for seeing details. "What’s wrong?"

Remus shrugged. Ana could almost see the wheels turning rapidly in his mind as he came up with a reply. "I’m not much of a flier."

Ana’s searching eyes were relentless, even as Remus tried to avoid them. "There’s more," she stated softly. "You’re jealous of them."

"James and Sirius?" he tried to be defensive, but she smiled at him, unfooled. "Possibly…" he sighed. "But they’re my best friends. I’m not sick with envy or anything."

"You’re smarter than they are," she smiled, tilting her head just enough that some of her brown hair fell onto her shoulder.

He shook his head. "They’re some of the smartest and most talented guys I know."

"You’re nicer," she said shyly.

But he shook his head again. "You haven’t gotten to know them enough yet. I promise you, they are the nicest and most loyal friends that I could ever hope for. Peter too. Peter’s a great guy. Then there’s Lily..." he added with gradual recollection.

Ana paused, her eyes still searching his. "There’s something you’re not telling me."

He nearly choked on the pancakes he was eating. "What? I don’t know what you’re talking about."

She smirked. "You’re a terrible liar." Remus smirked considering the lies he had to tell people repeatedly since he was just a small boy. "Tell me! What is it that makes you think that James and Sirius and Peter are so much better than you? What did they do that makes you revere them so much?"

The look in her eyes could have killed him. He wanted to tell her. But years of living a life of mistrust got the better of him. It usually did. "They’ve just always been there for me," he said with finality.

Ana wanted to question him. She would have too. But there was something in his eyes that stopped her. She just shrugged and continued picking at her salad.

After a while of silence, Remus stood. "We should really be heading back." He held out a hand to help her up. It being right in front of her face, she could see some faint white scars staggering across it. Pretending not to notice, she accepted it, and he pulled her up quite easily. So easily, in fact, that she had to fight toppling over into him, resulting in her stabilizing herself with a hand on his chest, with the other one still tucked in his grip.

Ana froze, staring up into his bright hazel eyes. His free hand had moved to her waist to steady her, and hadn’t moved since. They just stood there, in the dim of the kitchen, staring into each other’s eyes, holding on to each other, their faces lingering just inches from one another. Ana felt herself blush and smile. But suddenly it all ended.

She couldn’t explain it. Staring into Remus’s eyes, she had seen something. His eyes were smiling for a split second, but as soon as she herself smiled, she saw something else. His face paled, his eyes widened, and, mouth open in shock, he stepped back quickly, wearing an expression that could only be described in one way: sheer terror.

"We really do need to go," he said, hoarsely, stepping towards the portrait and holding it open for her. She gave him a concerned look, but nodded, and stepped through.

* * * * *

"Where have you been?" grinned Lily as Ana stepped into the room, shortly before midnight. "And if you say the astronomy tower…"

"I was in the kitchen," replied Ana simply, smiling at Lily’s insinuation.

Jackie, who shared a room with them spoke up. "I hear the kitchen floor is good for-"

"-SITTING!" laughed Ana, lying with ease. Something weird had happened in the kitchen. ‘That fear in his face…’ She didn’t want to bring it up. "You guys are terrible."

"You can’t honestly tell us that nothing happened!" smiled Lily.

"I can too! Seriously, we just talked."

"You can’t stop smiling…" pointed out Jackie.

"Okay, you hush," Ana giggled.

"See?" Jackie mouthed to Lily, who nodded, grinning.

"OH, right. Like I can’t turn it around and say that there’s nothing between you and James?"

Lily’s mouth flew open. "EWW! No!"

"You should have seen them," Ana informed Jackie. "James was helping me with transfiguration, and she was all over him. "HELPING," I think she called it." Jackie snickered. "AND THEN, when James came running back here to do his paper, Lily passed up a trip to the kitchen just to HELP him some more!"

"Lily passed up food???" gasped Amanda, another fifth year.

"Isn’t it SHOCKING?" grinned Ana triumphantly. "Deny it Lily! You like James! I dare you to deny it." The entire room stared at her.

Lily stuttered for words. Finally, she breathed, "How did this turn into a conversation about me?"

The room laughed. "She does!" cried Jackie. "She likes him!"

"Welcome to the club, Lily," grinned Megan, another girl.

Lily tried to give Ana an annoyed look, but it failed miserably, resulting in a lopsided smile. Ana just grinned triumphantly. But inside, there was just one question. ‘What’s going on with you, Remus?’

* * * * *

Sirius and James glared as Remus entered the room.

"REMUS LUPIN," barked Sirius in a voice that scarily resembled Remus’s mother, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I HAVE BEEN WORRIED SICK ABOUT YOU!"

"YOU DIDN’T CALL, DIDN’T LEAVE A NOTE," wailed James dramatically, "I BASICALLY HAD THE MINISTRY ON YOUR TAIL!"

"Mum, Dad," Remus played along, whimpering, "I SWEAR, I’ll never go to the kitchens again! I promise!"

"The kitchens?" asked Sirius, grimacing. "What does that have that the astronomy tower doesn’t?"

"Ice cream and an audience of house elves," replied James. Sirius nodded givingly.

Remus just grinned and shook his head as he put his books in his trunk, ignoring their questioning stares. He had felt a nervous pit in his stomach ever since the kitchen… ‘She’s going to find out… to know what I am…’

"So what happened this time?" asked James. "Oh wait. I remember. You just talked, right?" he scoffed good-naturedly.

"Me? And a beautiful girl in the kitchens? Alone? Just talk? NEVER!" grinned Remus. Internally, he kicked himself for mentioning how he thought she was beautiful.

The jaws of James, Sirius, and even Peter (who was previously trying to ignore the conversation) all dropped simultaneously.

"Way to go, Remus!" grinned Sirius, punching him in the arm with camaraderie.

Peter just glared at him. "So what did you do?" he asked, grudgingly. As forward as this question was, James and Sirius listened with interest.

Remus just grinned. He had been an actor all his life… except now Ana thought he was a terrible liar. He hoped he was convincing now. "We ate."

"Ate???" frowned James.

"Yeah- I had pancakes and she had a salad."

Slowly, Peter started to smile. "I knew you wouldn’t betray me!" he grinned.

Sirius gawked in horror. "You had pancakes without me???"

James just shook his head, smirking. "Whatever, Remus. I give it two weeks until you guys are making nightly trips to the astronomy tower."

"I’ll put my money on that!" nodded Sirius, much to Peter’s despair.

"And I give it two months until I can say the same thing about you and Lily," he retorted.

"Lily? Are you crazy?" he said, blank faced. But the corners of his mouth were tight, as if he were fighting a smile.

"I’ll put my money on that, too!" grinned Sirius.

"Me too," added Peter.

James just rolled his eyes and went to bed.

* * * * *

Ana swore to herself as she ran. There were torches scattered evening along the wall, giving her just enough light to see that there was no place to turn out of the long, low tunnel. Her side ached with pain as she gasped for air, trying disparately to escape the footsteps that lay behind her. The cruel laugh- the same, horrible laugh from her last nightmare echoed through her head.

"Ana, Ana… why are you running from me? Do you really think that Hogwarts can protect you forever?"

There- in front of her, she saw a split in the tunnel. With all the swiftness she could muster, she scrambled into the divide. It was darker, but she could still see. And the footsteps were still behind her.

"Guardian," the cruel voice darkened, "You are trying my patience!"

"I’m not a Guardian!" she heard herself cry as she gasped for breath, sprinting as fast as she could down the corridor, not daring to look behind her. Then it happened. Of all the terrible things that she was dreading, this scared her the most.

She found herself staring at a stone wall.

Frantically, she spun around looking for a way out. She beat on and clawed at the wall as she heard the footsteps behind her stop. There was silence for a moment, and Ana knew what she had to do… the only way she would wake up, and the only way to end the dream. She could almost feel the cool stones on her forehead as she rested her head against the wall. Slowly, very slowly, she turned, letting her body brush against the wall as she turned. And as much as she tried not to look, she found eyes wrenched upward to gaze upon a tall dark man, soaked in glistening, dark blood.

"Don’t worry, Guardian, you’ll join them soon," he said, his voice overflowing in malicious glee.

Ana held her breath as she let her eyes trail down his body to stare at the disembodied heads of her parents.

And the last thing Ana remembered before waking up, was the dark lord raising his wand towards her body, grinning through his bloody smile.