Domino One

And that goes for everyone: THANK YOU and ENJOY!

Chapter Five:

"Parallel Lines"

"Love, do not hold it against me -

The words I choose to speak to thee;

Speaking these words that I might give

You the chance that you may live,

Even if you cannot see

Your stars beyond your heart's one plea."

True to her word (and probably more for her sanity), Madam Pomfrey let Ana out of the H-Wing promptly at 8 AM the next morning. After a great deal of nagging, Ana was even permitted to go to classes. She just wanted to get on with life. Unfortunately, it seemed that she was the only one who held that ideal.

She stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room, fighting against her stiff back and torso. At first, no one noticed her. But then Lily greeted her. "Hey Ana!" The entire room turned to stare. Ana could hear the whispers of Guardian… Centaurs…Seer….

Ana hurried passed them, not even stopping to say hello to Lily or the guys.

She had hoped that the dormitory would be empty, but she was let down. Most of the girls were up there, and they reacted like everyone else- dead silence. Ana rolled her eyes, and went to pull some clean clothes out of her wardrobe. She went to shower quickly, happy to be by herself again, and got ready in fifteen minutes- an unfortunate new record for her. When she walked back into the dormitory, the whispers halted, and again there was silence and staring. Lily was with them.

"Hey, Ana…" she said gently. Ana made no reply, she walked to her mirror, and started pulling her hair back into a French braid. Lily went and sat down on her bed. "How are you feeling?"

Ana's jaw was set in annoyance. "A lot better, thanks." She glanced at Lily through the mirror. Lily was staring at her, her eyes suspiciously narrow. She whirled around. "What!"

"Can you read my mind?" she asked curiously.

Ana sighed and sat down on the bed next to her. "Don't move," she said, and Ana stared at her, her dark brown eyes steady and unblinking. The girls of the dorm stopped to watch with great interest. Ana closed her eyes, and smiled as she stood. "Yes, Lily, I can read your mind."

"What was she thinking?" asked Jackie in amazement.

"She was thinking how much better Sirius is than James in bed," Ana replied simply, placing a drying charm on her hair, and removing the French braid into long, airy waves.

Lily stood, her mouth hanging open. "No, I swear…" she promised the girls, who were shrieking and laughing miserably. She glared at Ana, laughing. "That's not what I was thinking!" She turned back to the dorm. "Really! It's not!"

"I can't read minds, Lily," sighed Ana. "I'm not a Guardian." Ana had to smirk as some of the girls groaned, and placed a few shining coins in front of Jackie, who grinned triumphantly. They quickly exited, apparently having learned the information they had wanted to know. As the rest chatted away, Lily came up behind Ana, and pulled some of her hair back into a crowning half-pony tail.

"You want to know what I was thinking?" she asked quietly.

"If you want to tell me," Ana replied.

"I was thinking how I'd be your friend and be there for you, no matter what."

Ana smiled, touched, and turned and gave Lily a hug. "That's exactly what I needed to hear."

"Then why don't you just tell me the truth?" Lily asked. Ana backed up and looked at her.

"What?"

Lily blinked. "What?"

A pit grew in Ana's stomach. "You didn't say anything just now- ask something, did you…"

Lily shook her head, frowning in concern. Slowly, Ana turned back to the mirror, to see her now blue eyes fading back to their normal dark brown color. She glanced quickly at Lily, who was watching her carefully.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked, frowning in concern. "You look a little pale."

Ana turned back to her. "Lily, you know I trust you. You're basically my best friend. You've been there when I've needed you, and I'm always here for you. But there are still some things about me that are better left unsaid, okay?"

Lily looked at her, wide-eyed. "Okay…"

* * * * *

"She's a Guardian. And you knew about it!" James grinned at Remus, who stared squarely at his transfiguration book.

"What makes you think she's a Guardian?" he squinted up at him, hardly being able to distinguish anything more than a dark silhouette against the blinding afternoon sun.

"Lily told me at lunch," James replied. "She was pretty creeped out. Something about her being secretive, and Lily thought Ana read her mind…"

Remus thought of the time in the library. "But Ana denies it, right?"

"Right.. but-"

"Then there's nothing to discuss," Remus smiled confidently and confidently down at his book.

"But she-"

"Whether she is or is not a Guardian isn't the issue, James. It's how she's choosing to handle it. If she's telling the truth, then there's nothing to discuss. If she's hiding the truth, there's probably a good reason, and there's nothing to discuss with me. Then you'd have to talk to her."

James smirked. "You know the truth though."

"I do."

"And you're protecting her."

"I'm letting her handle it. It's what she wants."

"It would seem you two have a lot in common… secrets and all…"

"What are you implying?"

"I'm implying that you two do spend a lot of time together, and-"

"Stop right there," sighed Remus. "This conversation ends now."

"Come on, Remus. She's going to figure it out sooner or later. It would be better for her to hear it from you." Remus just stared at him weakly against the overwhelming sunlight. "And if she's a Guardian, I think she would start to see it very soon, if she hasn't seen it already."

Remus's eyes must have gotten very wide, because James grinned and laughed. "So she is a Guardian! Bloody Hell!"

Remus gave him a warning look. "James," he hissed quietly, looking at the students sitting around them suspiciously, "She almost got killed because of what she is. This is not something you can go and spread around."

James's smile faded as he nodded, seriously. "Your secrets are always safe with me, Remus."

Remus smiled weakly as he looked at his watch. "I'd better get going…" he sighed.

James tried to smile. "But it's only 3:00!"

"It's also Halloween. Weird things happen. See you in the morning."

James watched quietly as Remus left.

* * * * *

The wolf. Remus's crying mother. Ana didn't even take interest in the vision any more. Nor did she particularly care about her father and his one-worded message. Ana would have like to think that her father would have said he loved her or have some words of encouragement. But all he could manage to say was some odd word in some unidentifiable language. "Credyn." But as Ana sat on her bed that afternoon, transfiguring feathers into candles, the vision of the wolf played in front of her. She was getting so bored with it that she began to practice curses on the wolf. Whether she accomplished the curse or not, Ana never could tell- you couldn't hurt or disturb visions.

Suddenly, a shadow blanketed the room. Ana looked to the window to see a large, brown owl pecking at the window pane, carrying a small package. Ana opened the window. The owl, unexpectedly, flew to her own bed, and dropped it, before taking a rest on her footboard. Ana went to look.

The package was neatly wrapped in brown paper, tied with a piece of beige twine. She picked it up, and felt it- it was hard, like a book. On the bottom, there was a manila envelope, which Ana opened carefully, as if expecting something to spring out at her. The only thing that did, though, was a formal looking letter.

 

Dear Miss Ana Anblick,

I sincerely hope this letter finds you well, and feeling better than you were yesterday.

I would like to send my deepest apologies for the events that pursued yesterday. First I must impress upon you that I did not in any way try to harm you. I do not want harm to come to you, Ana; I simply want you to live out a peaceful life- a life that I believe is being disturbed by the Circle of Sight.

Unfortunately, the keeper of the gift shop that was attacked was quite distraught by yesterday's events. He has decided to retire, and move to a quite corner of Scotland. So this morning, he had a large closeout sale, in which I retrieved this item. I understood you were looking at it yesterday. I hope you take this not as a reminder of yesterday's events, but as a token of my friendship and sincere apologies.

Ana, if there is anything that you need, even if it is just to talk, please feel free to contact my associates or me at any time.

Keep in touch, and use the book wisely,

Charles Crouch

 

Ana wasn't sure whether she should be touched by this gesture, offended, whether she should laugh, or toss the book out the window. As she opened the package, however, and examined the leather bound and copper locked diary- the very one she was going to buy the day before. She couldn't help but smile. She opened it, and examined the copper-lined pages. It was extraordinarily beautiful.

Smirking, she wondered whether Crouch knew what she would be using the diary for. She was sure it was not his intent. Grabbing her quill, she decided to write down everything. She ignored the less meaningful visions, and just started with the ones of her father- which varied slightly each time, and the ones of the Remus's family and the wolf- ones which were identical each time. She crawled over to her trunk and dragged out the book Professor Pyrre had given her. She would figure out these visions yet…

* * * * *

It was evening. But even if it had been the bright of midday, it would not have mattered. Voldemort's castle was dark, and shadowy, and it made everyone, even death eaters, shift nervously. Added on to the foul mood that dark lord was in, it was not the happiest place on earth.

"She is alive?" he asked quietly.

The shaking death eater shifted slightly. "Yes, my lord… centaurs saved her…"

"Oh, centaurs?" he asked with cruel and mocking sympathy, "Oh that is a shame… Centaurs being nothing but large, POWERLESS ANIMALS!"

"Please, my lord," begged the Death Eater, bowing low to the ground, "Give me another chance. I will find a way to destroy her…"

"You have disappointed me…"

"I have never disappointed you before this… you know my work…"

A vicious recollecting smile played on his lips. "Yes… yes, indeed I do know your work…" he paused as he paced in front of his servant. "You will have one more chance…" he said. He silenced the servant as the servant praised his mercy. "BUT, know this: there are worse things I can do to you than simply kill you… as you will find you, if you fail me again. CRUCIO."

The Dark Lord paced slowly before his servants, lost in deep contemplation as the victim death eater shrieked in piercing agony, sending echoes through the room and surrounding corridors. As the screams died down, he spoke up again. "Dumbledore will be sure to keep a close watch on her, especially now… the fool…" he said quietly, but with such darkness that a cold shiver ran through the room. "Give it some time. Her powers are still weak if she didn't see the attack coming. Let Dumbledore stumble off his guard. She is his weakness, after all… We have some leeway." He stepped back to the still crippled Death Eater who was trying to get up. He grabbed the servant's robe collar, and yanked it towards him. He spoke fiercely. "You will warn me if she grows stronger."

At that, he dropped the Death Eater, turned gracefully and left, leaving only the sounds of his shoes stepping across the stone fortress floor.

* * * * *

Ana sat on a sofa in the library, watching what was left of the sunset over her DADA book, when she felt a heavy object fall into the seat next to her. It was Peter.

"Hey, Peter," she smiled, slightly surprised. He looked up at her, but quickly looked away, not answering. Ana frowned. "What's wrong?"

At first he didn't say anything. He everywhere but at her, and he fidgeted anxiously. Ana turned and put a hand on his shoulder. "Peter, talk to me! What's going on?"

It took him a moment, before he nearly shouted, "I’m sorry!" The librarian looked up at them angrily. Ana gave her a reassuring smile before turning back to Peter.

"Sorry?" she hissed. "Sorry for what?"

"Sorry for yesterday!" he said miserably. "Sorry for how I couldn't protect you!"

Ana looked at him nervously but thoughtfully. "It's not your job to protect me, Peter, It's all right… I'm fine!"

Peter looked up at her with big, lost eyes. "You don't want me to protect you?"

"I don't want anyone to have to protect me, Peter. I don't want to put my friends in danger." She tried to emphasize the word friends just enough so that she wasn't screaming it. He appeared to get the point. He didn't say much, he just got up, and walked away.

Ana sighed. She turned back to her DADA book. She was well into the third-year lessons. She had a chapter of curses to memorize, and the professor had given her a bunch of dueling tactic to study in effort to improve her most unfortunate dueling skills. She looked around for Remus. Besides the fact that she loved spending time with him, throwing curses at him seemed like the perfect opportunity to work out some of her disgust with him.

Getting up, she studied pictures of a young witch demonstrating proper dueling posture in her book. She was slightly turned, as if in a fencing position, but with her other hand behind her back. Ana held out the book in front of her, as if a wand, and stood tall, resting her left hand on her back as she walked. She didn't even notice she was being followed.

"I would have expected something better out of the school Guardian," a voice as slippery as grease echoed from a few feet back in the corridor. "I've seen first years with better dueling postures than that." Ana didn't even have to turn to recognize the voice of Severus Snape.

She kept walking, but replied. "Yes, well, I've seen some ugly first years, but none quite as nasty as you." She turned sharply. "So, I guess with my ugly dueling posture and your… well… general ugliness," she smirked slightly, "we're even." She smiled sweetly and turned to leave. But he sprung around and in front of her, blocking her path.

"I will excuse that comment, Anblick," he growled darkly, his black eyes gleaming in the moonlight shining in through the window of the corridor. The brightness of the moon illuminated his already pale face, giving him the eerie essence of a walking corpse. "But only because I have other thoughts on my mind… Where is that boyfriend of yours?"

"Which one?" she asked with amused curiosity.

"Lupin," he replied dully, a hint of a sneer playing on his lips.

Ana frowned. Snape loathed Remus. He loathed all Gryffindors. "In Astronomy, I would presume," she answered carefully. Mondays and Fridays the fifth year Astronomy classes observed the night sky. "Why do you want to know?"

"I was just there," Snape said impatiently. "He wasn't in class."

"Well then maybe he's in Gryffindor tower," Ana retorted with equal impatience, folding her hands across her chest firmly. "I'm not Remus's keeper. Why don't you try Berenice." She almost shuddered in disgust.

Snape smirked with dark amusement. "I already did. She doesn't know either. But," he added, "she does have a message for him that she can't wait until the Yule Ball." Something burned in Ana's chest as she glared Snape dead in the eye. His face softened in mock pity. "Oh, Guardian… if only you could see the look on your face."

Ana strongly considered slugging him. But instead she smiled. "At least I have a reflection worth looking at." Blowing a kiss, she turned and walked back to the common room.

Once her eyes adjusted to the light of the room, she spotted Sirius, James and Peter sitting somberly around a table in the corner. Ana approached them cheerfully.

"C'mon you guys, it's Halloween! Isn't that supposed to be a big holiday here?" They shrugged silently. Ana sunk into a chair next to James. "What's going on?"

Sirius forced a smile. "Nothing much, Miss Anblick. So why don't you have any plans tonight?"

"I do actually," she smiled. "I'm looking for Remus- the whole school seems to be," she laughed to herself, not noticing Peter's eyes sinking to the table. "You guys seen him?"

All three spoke at once.

"He's sick."

"His second cousin died."

"He's sleeping."

Ana smirked slightly. James shifted nervously, shooting glances at Sirius and Peter. "His second cousin died, and now he doesn't feel well and he's sleeping it off. And what do you mean, the whole school's looking for him?"

"Riiiight. What's the truth?" Ana nodded, humoringly. "And I just passed Snape in the hallway. Said he was looking for him," she added matter-of-factly.

Sirius's dark eyes lit up angrily. "Snape?" He shot a meaningful glance to James, who gave a very discreet nod, and changed the subject.

"Remus isn't around. Is there something we can help you with?"

Ana blinked, trying to interpret the glance Sirius had just given James. "I wanted to practice dueling with him, that's all."

Sirius's fierce eyes suddenly became the playful ones she had grown to love. He laughed. "Oh no no no, Miss Anblick. You don't want to learn to duel with Remus! You need to be taught by the masters!"

Ana sat back in her chair, amused. "And do tell, Mr. Black. Where do I find master duelers?"

He stood, and spoke in a well-executed, mock French Accent. "Mademoiselle, I give you Monsieur Potter, and myzelf, Monsieur Black- Mazter duelerz at your zervice."

"You guys have to be nice- I'm not that good," she said nervously.

"Oh, Mademoiselle, ve are alvays nice!" grinned James.

"That's what I'm afraid of," she muttered, being dragged away, leaving Peter at the table with a bunch of books. Ana caught the title before she was pulled out of the room. Animagus: Explained. Peter shut the book firmly as he gathered them up and walked in the other direction, an odd look in his eyes. But Ana was more concerned about Remus, than anything else.

* * * * *

It took an incalculable about of energy for Remus Lupin to sit up, even with the wall waiting to be leaned upon. His head and body throbbed and pounded at a dizzying rate, blurring his vision in the inky black master bedroom of the Shrieking Shack. He inhaled and exhaled quickly, trying to ignore the pain and prepare himself for the next transfiguration. By the rapid, smooth movement of the clouds above, he had only a few precious moments.

Blood was streaming down his face from a gash he had given himself by his own paw. Taking the sleeve of his tattered robe, he pressed it to his forehead over the wound with bloody fingertips, and closed his eyes. Leaning his head against the wall he prayed for the night to be over. But it wasn't even midnight. Six times he had transfigured thus far, and there were still many more to go. He personally damned partly cloudy skies. He felt his heart quicken as a flush of anger came through him. So tired he had tears running down his face, he picked up his shoes from the floor next to him, and threw them against the opposite wall. Clenching his arm in pain, he forced himself to stand up, cursing loudly, openly and angrily. Rage coursed through his veins as he punched the wall, kicked the shredded bed stand and even tripped over his own feet, sending him crashing to the groups. Hot tears ran out of his eyes as he cursed everything that he was, and everything that was. He cursed time and the clouds for moving so fast and not fast enough. He cursed his parents for treating him like a child. He cursed his friends for trying so hard to support him, but never having the right thing to say. He cursed James arrogance, Sirius's immaturity, Peter's stupidity, and Lily's motherly nature. And Ana?

Suddenly he stopped. His eyes opened as he looked around at the tattered room. 'Stop this,' he whispered to himself. 'That is not you, that's the wolf. You don't feel these things… that is the wolf… that's the pain talking…´

A new set of tears ran down his face as he thought of what anyone would do if they knew the things he thought while he was in the Shack. If these walls could speak…. James would probably say nothing, just turn and walk away. Sirius would get angry and let him know it. Peter would probably cry. Lily might do all three, but Ana… it was Ana… the one who had known for less than six months, who would probably make him feel the most guilty. But then, as he sat and stared into the darkness of the room, inhaling the dust and wood chips on the floor, he realized that she would probably understand better than anyone else. And he hated her and loved her for it. Love, of course, for the way he made her feel, for the way she looked at him, and for everything that she was. But hate? Of course there was hate.

As the moon began to soar out from behind the clouds, Remus felt his spine yanking in twisting in different directions as James's words loomed in his head.

"…Before you went into the room, you said something about us not understanding you….what did you mean?…"

Remus let out a cry of agony as his shoulders and hip sockets dislocated with a 'crunch'.

"Does it have something to do with Berenice?" asked James. Remus remembered his expression well as he added with realization, "Does it have something to do with Ana?"

"It's about the wolf," Remus recalled his reply as his screams of pain died out with his breath when the plates of his skull elongated, larger teeth pushed their way through his gums. He could even see the hair growing rapidly out of his snout. Part of his spine had pushed its way through his skin, stretching his tailbone to form a long, muscular tail.

"Not everything is about the wolf, Remus."

Remus screams were replaced by shrill howls as fur sprang from his skin and fresh claws broke through his padded paws.

Remus was still there, somewhere, beneath the intoxicating feeling of power, adrenaline and animal instinct. He could see everything that he was doing, but like Alice looking through the looking glass, he couldn't do a thing. He felt his body lunge through the air onto the bed as he clawed at the mattress, savagely shredding pieces of cotton and wood flying. He clawed at the door for a whiles, leaving deep crevices on a surface that once was pure, smooth hardwood oak. He howled from time to time in discouragement, smelling the smells of flesh from beyond the walls of Shack but never quite being able to get past the bombardments that stood in his way. And eventually, he would start to gnaw on his own limbs, scratch his own face, and side… Like a child on a sugar high, he sprang around the room restlessly, destroying anything and everything without a second glance. And in the back of his mind, perhaps with more enjoyment than when he had originally said it, he remembered his reply.

"Yes, James, everything is."

* * * * *

Ana tossed and turned until 2 AM until deciding that she couldn’t sleep. She was the perfect temperature. She was outstandingly comfortable. It was peacefully quiet. Not to mention that she was extraordinarily tired. James and Sirius threw curses at her for over two hours. (She successfully blocked maybe 10%, which according to Sirius, showed promising improvement.) But for whatever reason, now, when she by all logic should have been thoroughly unconscious, she had a sudden urge to go play racquetball- or do something active. After contemplating for another ten minutes what she could do, she decided to continue working on interpreting her vision on the werewolf and the Lupins. She had done the first part of the vision. And had come to the following conclusion:

 

October 31

Werewolf/Lupin Family Dream:

Remus’s Mom Crying—Young Remus Comforts her—White light—Wolf Appears; Remus Gone—Wolf Comforts Remus’s Mom

Mothers represent love, protection, unity and stability, although they have often proved to represent oppression. Tears, and I quote, represent "emotional trauma and sadness." (The author of this book is a genius I tell you! A regular Nobel winner…) Children represent youth, happiness, and freedom. When mothers and children are paired, with no one in particular being the dominant figure, it represents unity and love. So therefore, we have a loving unity between and mother and a son, and a emotional trauma between them. The light represents a change, although normally between life and death.

 

Ana picked up the book. Werewolves suggested dark magic, pain, death, or nightmares. So Ana picked up her pen.

 

November 1

[Continuation of October 31]

There is unity but emotional trauma in the the Lupin family and a perhaps dark change occurred that brought on pain or death, with the thought of lingering nightmares.

 

Ana looked at her entry with satisfaction. But the more she read it, the more she felt confused. "Well I already knew that…" she frowned. So she looked up other things… ‘comfort,’ ‘disappearing,’ ‘appearing,’ and anything she thought could help. She even tried ‘hazel,’ thinking Remus’s dominant eye color might be of help. But the book had apparently helped her all that it could.

She picked up her pen.

 

I feel like I’m missing the obvious… Remus’s mom was crying, and Remus comforted her. Seems logical. They obviously love each other very much. Then something happens, and Remus is gone, and a wolf comforts her. Remus and the wolf do the exact same thing… well I guess Remus doesn’t grown and stuff, and scare the shit out of me… but it’s odd that a dark creature would comfort her. So Remus leaves and the wolf takes his place… a change occurs, and Remus isn’t there.. just a wolf. A white light flashes, and Remus is replaced by a wolf…

 

Ana sighed as she looked outside. The stars were shining brightly that night from behind and around the dark patches of clouds, and the ground far below was illuminated by the shining moon. ‘Come on, think, Ana… Remus gone, wolf appears… Remus gone… WOLF… Remus, Wolf, Remus, Wolf, Remus, Wolf…’ she muttered to herself aimlessly, almost laughing as she tried to make the connection. She looked up at the moon, reflecting it’s white light on the world. "Remus, Werewolf," she said out loud.

She looked at the moon. "Remus, Werewolf," she whispered, looking at her papers. Her heart stopped with realization. "Oh My God…" she giggled to herself. "The most obvious answer!" she said, now laughing openly. Remus is a werewolf! Duh!

She fell back to her pillows, giggling so hard that tears were rolling down her face. All of a sudden, everything suddenly made sense in the dazed confusion that came with the pre-dawn hours of the morning.

But gradually, the excitement wore off. She stared at the top of her canopy still smiling as she whispered it again. "Remus is a werewolf." She glanced aimlessly out the window at the gleaming full moon.

James shifted nervously, shooting glances at Sirius and Peter. "His second cousin died, and now he doesn't feel well and he's sleeping it off."

Ana sat up quickly, the memories of Snape's and James's comments flooding her head. She glared at the full moon in wide-eyed horror. "Oh my God…" The scars… his shabby robes… his disappearance… visions flooded her mind as she cursed herself for not figuring it out earlier.

Needless to say, it didn’t help her get to sleep.

* * * * *

Remus lay silently, comfortably half-asleep on the impossibly uncomfortable H-Wing beds as Madam Pomfrey bandaged a particularly nasty cut on his arm with firm tugs. "You’re going to have a scar for this one," she said quietly. The curtain around them was closed, but hardly noise-concealing to the sleeping patients in the beds next to him. "It’s too deep for the potion to work." Remus didn’t reply. "Have you already taken the pain and energy potions?" Remus held up the empty vials silently. She nodded, finishing wrapping his arm and topping it off with an invisibility charm. "That should do it. Come back later today to let me see how it’s healing, okay?"

"All right, then," sighed Remus, standing, and walking out of the H-Wing with a yawn. He could feel the potions beginning to take effect by the time he reached the table, his arms and his legs suddenly feeling better than normal, and the energy potion lifting his moods greatly. He sat down between Peter and Ana.

"Hey Remus," muttered Sirius, picking at his scrambled eggs, careful not to make too much eye contact.

"Morning," he replied semi-cordially. He reached over across Ana to get some toast. But something happened. She flinched. It was subtle and barely noticeable, but it happen. He glanced at her with concern, meeting eyes filled with so many emotions that were almost questioning. But as soon as their eyes met, she looked at her empty plate. He nudged her with his elbow gently. "What’s wrong?"

He watched as she opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again. She straightened up and looked at him with concern. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice somewhat hoarse.

"Better," he smiled weakly and shot a glance to Sirius, who had apparently spread the word that he was sick. "I felt pretty bad yesterday."

Ana looked back at her plate. "So I hear." She paused for a moment as she fumbled over her words. "I'm sorry about your 2^nd cousin."

Remus glanced up again at Sirius who met his glance without a blink. He shifted uneasily as he glanced between him and Ana, wondering how he should reply. Before anything else could be said, Dumbledore stood and silenced the hall.

"Good morning! I have some very special news for all of you as I’m sure some of you have been expecting it for some time. I have the details concerning the Yule Ball for this year." Excited whispers waved through the hall. "Yes," he continued, examining a piece of parchment over his spectacles. "By popular demand, it will be held six weeks from today, on December the 17^th, instead of on Christmas Day, so that you may enjoy both a Christmas with your family on holiday and the Yule Ball." More excited whispers ensued. "Signs will be posted throughout the castle with more details. Thank you," he sighed, and he sat down. Immediately, everyone burst out excitedly.

Lily leaned over to Ana. "Ana, do you have dress robes?" Ana shook her head.

Sirius chimed in. "We need dress robes?"

"I think so…" nodded Peter.

"I have an extra set, if one of you can fit into it," offered James.

"You guys really should find dates first," Lily reminded him. As thousands of girls were shooting looks at Sirius, Ana could help but look up at Remus, who looked back at her. But out of nowhere, Berenice jumped him from behind, hugging him (or attacking him, as Ana would say) tightly, her blond hair flying over his shoulder.

"Aren’t you excited Remie-Boo?" she giggled ecstatically. Normally, Ana would have been disgusted, but the look on Remus’s face actually made her giggle. He looked in pain. Then, Ana remembered… he probably was…

"Thrilled…" grumbled Remus.

Everyone stared, stunned. Ana hardly gave it a second glance. As Berenice rambled on with the details between petting and flirting with Remus, she excused herself, and went back to the dormitory to get her stuff for her classes.

"Wait," grinned James, not taking notice of Ana's leave. "You two are going??? Together?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter," she smiled sweetly, "It’s been arranged for some time."

* * * * *

Unfortunately for Ana, there wasn't much she could do to avoid Remus over the next few weeks except to bury herself in her studies. Occasionally she would hide in the Divinations Tower, but the wrath of Professor Pyrre proved to be equally painful to facing Remus and the Slytherin Leech that had attached herself to him since the announcement of the Yule Ball.

Sometimes she would sit in the Common Room and watch him playing chess with James and wonder if something so horrible as a werewolf really existed in him. Sure, she was upset for his lies and secrets, but as she watched him laughing… plotting… smiling… it was almost like it was a bad dream. There was no werewolf. Not even a Gryffindor student. Just Remus. Hazel-eyed, amusing, charming but quiet Remus.

It was one particular Thursday in late November that she was convinced of it, even if just for a few moments.

She sat on her bed quietly, the evening sunset blocked by the thick Fall clouds as she buried herself in her potions book, surrounded by a flood of equation-covered parchments. Professor Stikupas was beyond impressed with her abilities, and she was already beyond the level of Remus and her dear Marauders. While they still struggled to help her with Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts, she had flipped the table to help them with Potions. They were, by far, her specialty. And she was always greatly intrigued by them. It normally took an act of congress to pull her away from a potions book. But in this case, it was more an act of Parliament.

Quite suddenly, Remus Lupin stepped through the door into the girls' dormitory. A few of the girls looked up, startled. Some automatically looked at Ana with grins and raised eyebrows. She just blinked simply, good actress that she was, and looked at him curiously as he walked up to her bed, and started gathering up her papers.

"Wh- What are you doing?!" she gasped, taking papers away from him as he took more, laughing in shock as held some papers beyond her grasp. Eventually she gave up as he got them all.

"Can I have them back now?" she asked, fighting a smile.

He looked up at her as he stuck them in her trunk. He summoned her book out of her hands and caught it with a mischievous smile. "Nope. You're done studying tonight."

Ana laughed shortly, as he stood, grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the room, stopping only to step back in, nod to the girls, and apologize for his intrusion. He closed the door behind him and commenced dragging Ana down the stairs.

"Remus!… - … What ?- … -I swear if you don't….-" stammered Ana as she was dragged down the staircase and out of the Common Room, blushing at the stares of people as she passed. He dragged her through the dizzying corridors without a word. The next thing she knew, she was outside the kitchen portrait, face to face with Remus's bright eyes.

"REMUS!" she gasped for air as tried to catch her breath. "What the hell is going on?"

Suddenly the portrait flew open, and she was met with four bright faces.

"Good God, it's Thanksgiving," she laughed, shaking her head in a daze. She had completely forgotten.

"Come in, come in!" called Lily excitedly as she took her hand and pulled her into the room. James, Sirius and Peter stepped to the side to expose a red checkered blanket spread across the floor, covered with a huge platter of turkey, and bowls of stuffing, mashed potatoes and all the things that made up Thanksgiving dinner.

Ana was speechless, but felt like crying. It was absolutely perfect. "Who did this?" she asked, touched.

"We all did," grinned Sirius.

"But it was Remus's idea," added Lily with a smile. "He researched it and everything."

Ana smiled as she looked around. The noisemakers and banners were a bit much, and she thought she saw some of the house elves with turkey patches on the fronts of their uniforms. But despite her anger, she turned to him, and smiled. He began to smile back, but he caught James's glance from behind her.

"Let's eat," he said, turning away, and sitting down shortly.

Ana couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire meal, but whether or not she enjoyed it the most was arguable.

"Bloody Hell," muttered Sirius, leaning back and unbuttoning his pants as he balanced a plate of pumpkin pie on his knee, "Americans might be… well…" he glanced at Ana, "Americans…" but they sure know how to eat!"

Ana laughed. "We also know how to fight, Mr. Black!"

"Perhaps young Miss Anblick," he retorted through a grin and wink. "But you can't seem to stay out of one."

"Well, what's the fun in that?" she asked, beaming as she took a spoonful of mashed potatoes and spooned it at him, splattering it in his thick black hair.

The group roared with laughter. Sirius tried to wipe the potatoes out of his hair, only to have them spread in more. He grimaced, disgusted. But eventually he joined in the laughter. Discretely, he grabbed the can of whipping cream from next to him, and sprayed it at Ana. Screaming, she stood up quickly, kicking over the bowl of rutabaga, sending it flying at Lily.

"Good God, it's Thanksgiving," she laughed, shaking her head in a daze. She had completely forgotten.

"Come in, come in!" called Lily excitedly as she took her hand and pulled her into the room. James, Sirius and Peter stepped to the side to expose a red checkered blanket spread across the floor, covered with a huge platter of turkey, and bowls of stuffing, mashed potatoes and all the things that made up Thanksgiving dinner.

Ana was speechless, but felt like crying. It was absolutely perfect. "Who did this?" she asked, touched.

"We all did," grinned Sirius.

"But it was Remus's idea," added Lily with a smile. "He researched it and everything."

Ana smiled as she looked around. The noisemakers and banners were a bit much, and she thought she saw some of the house elves with turkey patches on the fronts of their uniforms. But despite her anger, she turned to him, and smiled. He began to smile back, but he caught James's glance from behind her.

"Let's eat," he said, turning away, and sitting down shortly.

Ana couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire meal, but whether or not she enjoyed it the most was arguable.

"Bloody Hell," muttered Sirius, leaning back and unbuttoning his pants as he balanced a plate of pumpkin pie on his knee, "Americans might be… well…" he glanced at Ana, "Americans…" but they sure know how to eat!"

Ana laughed. "We also know how to fight, Mr. Black!"

"Perhaps young Miss Anblick," he retorted through a grin and wink. "But you can't seem to stay out of one."

"Oh, Lily, I'm so -" Ana started, but soon found herself with an apple pie in her face.

Silence hushed over the room as the pie slid off Ana's face, and to the floor, leaving a gooey golden gleam across her visage. There was a pause as she wiped the slime from her eyes and glared down at Lily. But in a rush, suddenly, everyone found themselves dashing for whatever food they could get their hands on, and ducking behind counters. House elves shielded their eyes from the massive food fight that ensued. Even Remus grabbed a basket of dinner rolls and went behind the bread counter- to come face to face with Ana.

She glanced at him. "Dinner rolls?"

He looked at her choice: the bowl of pudding and the can of whipped cream.

"They're dangerous," he grinned as he took the bowl of pudding from her, and dunked a roll in it, making an oozing clump of bread. "Watch this," he grinned.

Ana peaked over the counter as Remus stood, just enough to throw the gooey pudding bomb at James, who was trying to duck to a different counter. He hit him squarely in the head, sending pudding everywhere.

She cracked up immediately as she sat back down, laughing until she had tears running down her eyes. Remus studied her as she laughed. Her face was so bright and full of life, even in the dull light. He couldn't help but laugh, even if it was just at her.

"You're not going to loose it now, are you?" he asked, cracking up. "We have a battle to win."

She shook her head as she laughed, forcing herself to calm down. She looked up at him, her eyes glittering with tears and laughter. "Thank you," she said, her voice serious, through the remnants of laughter.

He looked at her, startled. "What?"

"For this. Thanksgiving. That was really nice of you. I don't know when I've had this much fun, and …"

Before she could finish, a turkey leg came flying over the counter. Although it didn't hit anything, Ana jumped, bumping the spoon in the pudding bowl, and sending pudding flying at Remus. Pudding spilled across his face in a streak, sending Ana giggling again.

Remus smirked as he wiped it away. "Think that's funny, do ya?" he asked, dipping his hand in the pudding until it was dripping threateningly.

"You wouldn't!" she gasped.

He lowered his arm. "You're right… I… WOULD!" he laughed, diving at her, pinning her to the ground. Grabbing his wrist, she tried to stop his hand from making its way to her face. But some not-so-mysterious, unnatural strength forced her hand down until it was smearing chocolate pudding all over her face. Laughing so hard she was snorting, she grabbed the can of whipped cream, picked up the back of his robes and squirted it down the back of his robes. Squirming, he sat up and got off her, but that just gave her the opportunity to lunge at him, sending him flat on his back as she sat on him, spraying him with the relentless can of whipped cream.

Eventually, the can ran out, and he deemed it safe to remove his hands from his face, only to find the remainder of the bowl of pudding being poured down on him. "ACK!" he grunted as Ana took the spoon and spooned the remained of the pudding out on him.

He wiped the pudding out of his eyes, and glared up at her - or tried to - as the triumphant look on her face was all too brilliant. And behind her, stood Lily, James, Sirius and Peter, all grinning stupidly down at him. Ana, seeing his distracted glance, turned and looked behind her. Seeing their grins, she immediately turned back, blushing ever so slightly.

Sirius admired Remus. "She does good work, huh?"

He smiled up at her as he slicked his hair back with the pudding and whipped cream, and rested his hands underneath his head comfortably. His chest hurt from laughing, and as he looked at Ana, covered in pie and food, and even chocolate on the tips of her long chocolate brown hair, he realized that she was truly, incredibly beautiful.

But suddenly, reality came back to him. 'What are you doing? You can't be doing this…' he reminded himself. Frowning, sat up, and pushed Ana off him, perhaps just a little firmer than he intended. She gave him a confused glance, but he didn't meet it. He stood. "We really should clean up." He said shortly.

Ana looked at him from the ground. First she was confused. Startled, even. For those few minutes, it was just her and him. There was no one else, not even Berenice. Berenice. The name coursed through her veins like acid. She stood angrily. Bending down, she grabbed the empty bowl of pudding and the spoon. Not even wanting to look at Remus, she grabbed the basket of bread rolls and started making a pile on the counter, never noticing the house elves that were peeking their despairing heads out from their shelters of pots and pans.

"Oh, Ana, it's your Thanksgiving, let us do the cleaning," said Lily, breaking the silence that had formed in the room.

"No, Lily," she forced a convincing smile, "You guys did all this for me, I couldn't possibly cut out now..."

"Lily's right," offered James, giving Remus a glance. "In fact, why don't you both go. Let the guys take care of it."

Lily and Ana exchanged a dubious glance. Lily however, seemed more inclined to listen to him. "Oh… um.. come on Ana, let's go… let's leave the cleaning to the boys," she stuttered nervously, pushing her towards the door.

Ana frowned but listened, and left the room with Lily swiftly. As soon as they were gone, James and Sirius turned to Remus. Peter just started cleaning up.

"Getting cozy with Ana, huh Remus," smirked Sirius, nudging him with his elbow.

Remus just wanted to hide, angry with himself and nothing in particular. "No, Sirius, it's not what you think."

"Bollocks, Remus!" frowned James angrily. "What the hell was that?" Startled, Sirius and Peter looked at him.

"C'mon James, what's the problem?" asked Sirius, frowning as well.

James lightened up a bit. "Are you sure about what you're doing?" he asked Remus. "After what you told me?"

"Of course I don't know what I'm doing!" he said sharply, picking the turkey leg off the ground and adding it to the pile. "I haven't a bloody clue what the hell I'm doing." Anger flushed through him as he turned at kicked a bread roll, sending it into a crowd of house elves who scattered quickly.

"What are you guys talking about?" asked Sirius, observing Remus carefully.

"Long story. But Remus doesn't want to get into any relationship ever because he's a werewolf."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "What? Remus, I -"

Remus silenced him with a glance. "This is not an issue to be discussed."

"Until you go hurting people!" snapped James. "Geez, Remus, you're so blind! I saw the way you looked at her, and the way she looked at you! If you're so sure about your decision, then for all that's good, Remus, don't do this to her! Don't do it to yourself!"

"It's not what you think," he argued vehemently.

"You talk about her all the time. More than you're date to the Yule Ball," pointed out Sirius.

Peter spoke up from across the room quietly. "You're all she ever talks about. When she wants help with homework, it's you she looks for, not ... anyone else."

Remus shook his head. "I just won't talk to her anymore."

"That's perhaps the cruelest thing I've ever heard you say," muttered James.

"It'll crush her, Remus," Peter added, quieter than before.

There was a pause as Remus played with a bread roll with his foot. James finally spoke up. "Are you in love with her?"

"I might be, James," he said quietly. "I don't know." Peter dropped a pot on the other side of the room. Remus leaned back against the wall and put his head on his knees. "I just don't know what to do… I really don't…"

The rest of the room was silent for a very long time.

* * * * *

It took Ana a long time to work up the nerve to be in the same room as Remus, let alone talk to him. Any conversation they did have was short and to the point and there was hardly a moment when she didn't blame herself for dreaming. He was dating Berenice- she would know. Ana saw Berenice strangling his arm in the hallway every single day. The last thing Ana wanted to be was a homewrecker. But she just couldn't get him out of her mind.

As December rolled around, she talked to many different people, trying to find someone that was like Remus. Someone who she could relate and regardless of love, be someone who she could be best friends with. The way they were. But as she learned very quickly, no one was quite like him. All the girls talked about was the Yule Ball. All the boys ever talked about was themselves. Ana was one in a million, just like him. And if she was suffering, Remus was suffering just as much, though she wouldn't believe that for a second. But she had more important issues to workout. The month was winding down, and she had yet to reach a fifth year standing. She was buried in schoolwork.

Sitting in the common room, Ana scanned a potions parchment briefly before beginning to balance the equation, sending mathematics through her brain. It would have been easy, even with the chattering of the room, if someone weren't pacing in front of her. Looking up, her eyes met the figure of Alfanzo Destro.

Every school has its bright kids. Alfanzo was not only destined to be Head Boy when he was a seventh year, he was voted most likely to win the Magic Nobel Prize in almost every subject. But like all demigods of knowledge, Alfanzo had an Achilles heel.

Beads of sweat were pouring down his head as he paced in front of Ana. She watched him hypnotically for a while… back and forth…. back and forth…back and forth… until finally, she just gave up.

"Destro!" she barked, agitated. He turned, startled. "Is there something I can help you with?"

He laughed nervously. "Well… yeah," he said, his voice cracking miserably as he blushed. "See… Stikupas… test next Tuesday… " he sputtered, trying to keep his voice down, looking around to see if anyone was listening. "It's just that… well.. polar bonds… they…I don't know, I just-"

Suddenly Ana understood. "OH," she said with loud realization, laughing slightly. "You want help with Potions!" Heads turned to look at the boy genius. He sat down quickly.

"Shhh!" he hissed. "No, not help. I don't need help. I just need for you to remind me of a few things, that's all…"

Ana smiled sweetly.

* * * * *

"I'm not asking her to the Yuleball, so you can just forget it!" huffed Peter as he dodged around James and Lily, who had cornered him in his own dormitory.

"Why not?" asked Lily with exhaustion. "She doesn't have a date and neither do you!"

"Remus is in love with her!" he hissed quietly, looking to see if Remus had heard from his seated position on his bed.

"It's okay Peter," he sighed, turning the page of his book with apathy. "I can hear you, you don't have to whisper. And I think you should go with her."

"I don't believe that for a second," he muttered as he turned back to Lily and James who were smiling suggestively. "And Ana doesn't even like me like that."

"Then go as friends," shrugged Sirius, who was leaning against the door.

Peter fought for words. "No way. Not going to do it. She'll say no."

"She won't," insisted Lily. She turned to Sirius. "Do you know where she is?"

"I think she's in the Common Room," he shrugged.

"Go get her," smiled Lily.

Sirius shook his head and left the dorm. Peter made a squeaking sound as he tried to run after him, but James took his place guarding the only exit.

* * * * *

Sirius snuck down the stairs quietly until he reached the Common Room. Stepping out into the open, he spotted her, deep in conversation with…

…'Desto?' Sirius frowned to himself. Taking a seat at one of the tables with his back to Ana's back, he listened in on their conversation.

"Oooooh, I get it!" he heard Destro whisper excitedly. So covalent bonds share molecules and polar bonds share unevenly, creating a stronger bond!"

"And is one of the most common polar bonds?" she asked, quizzingly.

"Water."

"Making Water the most important ingredient in…?"

"Irreversible and long lasting potions."

"See, was that really so hard?" laughed Ana.

Sirius snickered to himself in disbelief. 'Alfanzo Destro? Asking for help??? This is too good to be true!' Suddenly, an idea occurred to him that could only enter the mind of Sirius Black. He grinned mischievously as he snuck back to the staircase, and back up to the boy's dorm.

"So what happened?" insisted Peter, nearly white with worry.

Sirius shrugged regrettably, fighting every ounce of laughter in his body. "I don't know man, it looks like someone else is already making his move."

"Who!?" gasped James and Lily simultaneously. Even Remus looked up with interest.

"Oh, Alfanzo Destro," he said simply. Of all the times he wished he had a camera…

"WHAT?" screeched Lily, shocked.

"Destro?" frowned James. "He doesn't even talk to her!"

"That pompous ass?" grimaced Lily. "I don't believe it."

"Me either," added Peter, shaking his head.

"Well go see for yourself, Romeo," shrugged Sirius, everything but a halo appearing over his head.

The three looked at each other momentarily before launching towards the door and down the stairs. They stopped before the Common Room and peaked out just in time to see Alfanzo stand up from the table.

"Oh, THANK YOU!" he said loudly. "Thank you, Thank you Ana. You have no idea how much this means to me… Wow… Thanks…"

"It's really my pleasure, Destro," she smiled as she watched him bubbling around. "I'll see you later then?"

"Yes- later!" he grinned, walking away.

Lily leaned back into the stairwell, wearing a mortified grimace. Peter sank to the stairs. James looked at the both of them and frowned. He grabbed both of their arms and yanked them over to Ana's table, scaring her half to death as they charged at her.

"Ana, forget Destro. Go to the Yuleball with Peter," snapped James simply and to the point.

"Destro, Ana?" frowned Lily, still greatly disgusted. "Really?"

"Seriously, Peter will be so much better," promised James, giving Peter a pat on the back. He couldn't have been more embarrassed.

Ana raised an eyebrow at them. "I'm not going to the Yuleball with Destro," she said, wondering if she should laugh."

"We just saw…" started James, but he stopped. He looked at Lily. "Serious…" he grumbled angrily. He jumped out of his chair and started towards the stairwell.

Lily watched, startled. "Oh.. um…" she laughed nervously, blushing miserably, "I'd better go… and…." She never did finish the sentence. She rocketed after him.

Peter sat there, still completely humiliated. "That may have been my most embarrassing moment ever…" he whispered, wide-eyed.

"Wouldn't be surprised. But at least I didn't laugh in your face and say no," smirked Ana.

"Yeah," sighed Peter, shaking his round head. But he stopped. "Wait… so …"

"I'd be happy to, Peter," she smiled at him.

Peter was never afraid to tell the story of his most embarrassing moment, not even years later.

* * * * *

The Marauders sat in the Common Room dully. They had been waiting for twenty minutes for their dates to come trudging down the stairs. They could hear their yells echoing down the girl’s staircase.

"Ana have you seen my hair clip?"

"Which one?"

"The green butterfly!"

"No…"

"I have it Lily!"

"Where?"

"Right here-"

"-WATCH OUT!"

"AHHHH!"

-CRASH-

"You okay Lily?"

"Sweet merciful crap, Jackie, watch it!"

"Lily… you’re dress is ripped…."

"SON OF A BITCH!"

"Wait, I think it’s supposed to look like that…"

"Let me see.."

"Oh, yeah, It’s fine. My mistake."

 

All four guys sat there, smirking to themselves at the discourse, making plans to listen on

conversations like these on a regular basis.

"Think they’re always like that?" asked Peter, tugging nervously and uncomfortably at his black, rented dress robes.

"I would bet on it," laughed James as he put his feet up on the coffee table and rested his hands behind his well-combed head.

"What is taking them so long!" muttered Remus. He paced nervously in front of the fire, his hands clasped behind him.

"What, can’t wait to go meet Berenice?"

"She’ll make my life a living hell if I make her wait," he muttered.

"Not when she sees your outfit. If I must say, Mr. Lupin, you look smashing this evening," said Sirius appraisingly.

"Why, thank you Mr. Black," answered Remus with amusing formality.

Truth be told, Remus did look good that evening. His black dress robes were very stylish. When his mom had heard that he was going to the Yule Ball, she pretty much freaked. She ordered his robes from a private London manufacturer. The Lupins were by no means rich, but they were comfortable. They just found buying new robes for their son every full moon was an unnecessary expense. But on special occasions, the Lupins couldn’t help but shine.

He would look perfect with Berenice. Not that he was anxious to go meet her. Rather, he just wanted to avoid Ana. She was the threat. Not Berenice.

All four marauders' mouths dropped as Lily stepped out from the girl’s staircase. A long, tight emerald green dress fitted to her body, leaving one leg exposed through one rather high slit. Her hair was up in a beautiful braided twist- obviously Ana’s handy work. Two thin spaghetti straps rested on her shoulders, and led to a provocatively low cut neckline.

Sirius gawked. "Wow… Lily’s got…"

"-The luckiest date at Hogwarts," grinned James, as he walked up to meet her.

"I’ll challenge you to that," grinned Sirius as his date, Alexia Barneby, a sixth year, came down the stairs, a short red cocktail robe playing excellently off her light skin and blonde hair.

But Peter felt that he had it made. He grinned as Ana came down the stairs, her navy blue dress robes flowing down the curves of her body gently. It scooped low across her neck, to form a firm, bodice. Material draped loosely down her legs. Although it was the plainest dress of the three girls, it was easily the most elegant, and Ana wore it, needless to say, very well.

And any attempt Remus made to ignore her, failed miserably.

* * * * *

Ana mingled among the crowd of glamorously dressed students as the band played a mixture of common Christmas songs and wizard-music. Even distracted by the glitter and glitz of her favorite season, she could still see Berenice dancing with Remus, shooting seductive looks at every guy she passed. Peter had busied himself with the refreshments table and Sirius with his date, and James and Lily- well, Ana just had to smile. They had been dancing the whole evening with James leading her closer and closer to the mistletoe hung over one of the doors. Ana pretended to be having a great time as she chattered politely with a few of her friends. She loved parties, especially formal ones. She had always wanted to go clubbing, but somehow, under the watchful eye of Professor McGonagall (and company), this was slightly different. She watched Peter examine the hors d'oeuvres for a moment until Remus and Berenice spun in front of him on the dance floor, blocking him from her view. He danced well, she noticed, staying in time, and with enough confidence that he could lead and lead well if Berenice let him.

Her eyes floated upward. The enchanted ceiling wasn’t starry that night- it was rather clouded over. More than that, there were large snowflakes falling lightly, accumulating quickly on the rooftop. Ana grinned- it was the first real snowfall of the season. Making sure Peter was still distracted with the dessert table, she snuck out of the hall, and into the corridors. Down one central flight of stairs, she found herself by the main door of the castle, right next to giant floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for viewing the snow.

Of course it had snowed quite generously in the past in her corner of Maine. But these snowflakes were rather large, and captivated her interest. She watched them almost hypnotically for a while- she didn’t even know how long. She leaned against the cool stone wall, and watched quietly, remembering memories of Christmas’s and winters passed. Then things started to change.

The snow was pure white to begin with, but as she watched, it began to blaze a brilliant iridescent crystalline color, and the snow already on the ground melted into a blinding, shimmering, white sea. The stone steps of the castle became a glistening white marble with a soft white carpet. And at the bottom of the stairs stood two faint shadows that grew more and more visible as they climbed the stairs. It was a man and woman. The man had blazing blue eyes; it was undoubtedly her father. The other shadow, whose hand he was holding, could only be one person.

"Mom," Ana whispered, pressing her hand to the glass window, staring and smiling at the figures that approached. As the shadows formed into more definite figures, her mother smiled at her happily. There was so much happiness and peace in her angel-white face. The last time she had seen her, and since the years after her father's death, there were shadows over and behind her eyes. Even in her smile, Ana had always seen the worry and hurt. But now, looking more beautiful than Heaven itself, her mother smiled, and it was like the world had stopped turning. And her father, who stood right behind her, holding her close, was no different.

"Credyn," said her father, distantly, but not muffled by the glass and the wall that separated them. Her mother nodded. She kissed her hand, and pressed it to the window where Ana’s hand was still pressed. For a split second of the vision, Ana thought that the window had grown warm. But she didn’t have time to think about that- her parents had turned to walk back down the castle steps.

"No! Please, wait… I don’t know what it means!" she cried at them through the window. Her mother looked at her over her shoulder and smiled reassuringly. She gave her a nod a wave before turning off again. "NO!" yelled Ana, banging on the window desperately. Frustrated, she turned, and pushed herself through the front door. But all that was there was darkness, laced with dancing snowflakes.

Ana took a few deep breaths of the frozen night air to clear her mind. The cold didn’t seem to penetrate her skin, but she still held her arms in front of her anyway. She kept glancing around, as if hoping to see them again, but they were simply gone. The vision was over.

A small shuffle from behind her told her she was not alone. She whirled around to find Remus looking at her strangely. He stepped outside, instinctively grabbing his cloak a little tighter around himself, and looked around. "Ana? What are you doing out here? Who were you talking to?"

Ana shrugged vaguely, trying miserably to come up with a good excuse. "Why? What are you doing out here? Where’s Berenice?"

"Dancing with Lucius Malfoy," he muttered, still looking around. "But you’re answering questions with questions." He turned to give her a quick glance, but ended up staring.

"What?" she asked, looking away.

"You’re crying," replied Remus, frowning with concern. There were two single tears running down her cheeks. Taking her hand out of her dress glove, she raised it to her face and wiped them away quickly.

"Must be the cold."

"You’ve just had a vision," he said quietly.

"What?" she gasped, "Don’t be ridiculous." She turned to walk inside. He followed quickly after her.

"You’re eyes, Ana- they’re blue. They’re bright blue- almost kind of creepy…"

"Well thank you, Remus, you look pretty damn good yourself," she shot back angrily as she whisked towards the stairs.

"Why do you insist on lying to me? To yourself? You’re a Seer, Ana. You’re a True Seer! Why are you trying to ignore it? Why aren’t you telling anyone? Do you think it will just go away?"

Remus was almost taken back with the look of fury on her face as she spun around. "Me? Well what about you, Remus? Why do you insist on lying to me? You’re a werewolf, Remus! Why are you trying to ignore it? Why aren’t you telling anyone? Have you told Berenice?"

"That’s different!" he snapped angrily. "Do you have any idea what people would do if they found out I was a werewolf?" He paused. His jaw dropped as his face paled, and he stared at her with horror and shock and about twenty other emotions. "You know? How did you find out?"

"It’s kind of hard not to when I keep having visions of you and werewolves," she muttered offhandedly. The misplaced anger was swift to return. "But that’s not the point. And it would be so tragic if the world found out you were a werewolf, huh Remus?. Well, let me tell you something about being a True Seer, Remus, if that's really what I am. The world will never, ever, leave me alone. Some will love me, some will try to kill me. I’ve got it both ways, Remus. My father was killed for what he was. Which would you rather have? The world to forget you or for your every move and thought to be examine by the world over?" She snorted. "And you ask why I don’t tell anyone. You’d understand better than anyone."

"You can’t keep it a secret," he muttered. He had about twenty arguments, but left them to another time.

"You’re doing just fine with your secret. I’d even be willing to bet that your girlfriend doesn’t know. Am I right?"

Remus stammered. "My what? Girlfriend? Who!"

Ana stared. "Berenice?" she reminded him with eyes that screamed, ‘typical male…’

"She’s not my girlfriend!" half smiling, half grimacing.

Ana laughed. "Oh whatever, Remus," she spun around on her heels and started walking away, continuing to ramble on angrily. "The times she was all over you in the lunch room, the library, OH, and that time in the Astronomy tower? Whatever."

Remus stared before he walked after her. "Tell me you didn’t have visions about that, too."

"Fortunately no," she grumbled. "I got to witness that one live right here in ‘live mode.’"

"You were spying?"

Ana fought for an answer, but gave up. "Does it matter? I’m right!"

"If you saw everything, you would have seen that I didn’t want to have anything to do with her. You have no idea what you’re talking about!" he laughed dryly.

"Then why don’t you inform me?" she snapped, stopping and turning to face him suddenly.

"Cause it’s a little more fun seeing you sick with jealousy," he smirked. And by the look of horror in Ana’s face, he knew that he had gone too far. She turned again with a snap, and started walking up the stairs, her midnight blue dress robes flowing behind her. He had to run to catch up. He snatched her arm. "Wait, Ana, I’m sorry, that was out of context and-"

He was cut off by the look on her face as she yanked her arm away. Her eyes, now fading quickly to their normal brown color glowed angrily. "You're terrible. You're a terrible, horrible person, Remus Lupin!"

She glared for a moment as he looked at her calmly. But something in Remus could see past it. Slowly, a small, shy smile played on his lips. "No, I'm not," he said quietly, his eyes glimmering.

Ana, startled by his smile, couldn't help but smile slightly as well. "Yes you are!" she smirked.

Suddenly, Remus clenched his heart and collapsed to the floor dramatically.

"O, I die, Ana;
Thy potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:
I cannot live to hear these words from thy lips;
But I do prophesy the election lights
On James and Sirius: they have my dying voice;
So tell them, with the occurrents, more and less,
Which have solicited… The rest is silence."

With that, his body went dead limp on the stairs.

Ana rolled her eyes, trying not to smirk. "I hope you know Shakespeare has long surpassed "rolling in his grave." No, I'm quite sure after that little perversion of classic literature that he's resurrected himself just to smack his head on his coffin cover until he died again."

"It wasn't that bad," laughed Remus, still stretched out on the stairs.

Ana bit her tongue, convincing herself that she was still upset with him as she spun on her heals and started to walk away. She heard him scramble after her, his patent leather shoes scraping the stone floor.

"Ana, wait!" he called after her.

She prepared herself not to smile this time. She spun around, though, expecting another rendition of Hamlet. But what met her, again, caught her completely off guard: his eyes.

"Seriously, Ana, I'm sorry. Really… I am…"

Ana stared. His hazel eyes glowed in the torch light. She could almost feel their concern. Their apology. Their pleading. And there was something more... Frowning more, she gazed up into his eyes.

"What is it," he asked, slightly startled.

She smiled. It was a quiet, shy smile, so terribly uncharacteristic for her. He hadn't seen that smile since he first met her. "There's fear in your eyes."

Her smile was toxic, though not intentionally so. He couldn't help but smile. But when her words sunk in, he and his smile paled. Fear. He knew exactly what she was talking about. But he instinctively fought it. His face became firm as he remembered their conversation. "Well, yeah there was fear!" he said angrily. "I'm a werewolf!" he said sharply, but lowering his voice. "I don’t want you to be on my bad side with that information."

Ana’s smile faded quickly. Her eyes, now completely brown, were so deep, Remus couldn’t help but sink into them. "You think I would tell someone?" she whispered, looking up at him. She was shorter than he, but taller than many girls in her year.

Stunned at her expression, he lost his words. Frowning, she turned and tried to walk away. Remus felt like kicking himself. The look in her eye was all the answer he needed. ‘How could I have been so stupid…’ He followed her quickly, grabbing her arm as she stepped up one of the single steps in the inclined corridor. "No… I know you wouldn’t do that… It’s just that most people…"

Ana’s eyes gleamed sadly down into his in the dim light as she was thrown back into this conversation she tried to walk away from. "- I’m not like most people. I won’t judge you for something that you can’t control, can’t help, couldn’t help, and was no one’s fault to begin with. I understand you, Remus, and part of you knows it too. I know what it’s like to live in fear of yourself, I know what it’s like to fear others. I know what it’s like to think of what I will never have because of a curse, and I know what it’s like to live every my life trying to be normal. I know your life is hard, Remus. I don’t want to do anything to make your life harder."

As if her words were a power in themselves Remus’s grip loosened on her arm as he gazed at her. Slowly, his hand slid down her soft, gloved arm to her hand. From her elevated position, she glanced down before looking into his eyes calculatingly. Remus glanced at her nervously as warning signals went off in his head. She was so close, and so beautiful. Logic told him to get out of that situation; to not let down his guard. But he found that logic had no place when looking into her eyes. She was no Berenice- she was beautiful, yes, but she was not the perfect heart and traffic-stopping beauty that Berenice was. Any guy would have picked Berenice over Ana, but Remus just couldn’t let go of her hand. In fact, he found himself reaching for the other.

"But you’re not cursed," he whispered, surprised he could still speak, vaguely aware of anything besides her. "You’re blessed with a tremendous and rare gift…"

"The mind is its own place and in itself can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven," she replied quietly.

"How do you make a Heaven of Hell?" he whispered, not at all conscious of how close they were as he ran his warm fingers over her gloves gently.

She just smiled as she let her lips fall to his. It was short, and simple, but it lingered as they stood on the stairway, his hands covering hers and her soft lips still hanging shadows against his. Opening her eyes, she gazed at him.

Remus could feel her smile on his lips, as his hands let go of hers, and he wrapped his arms gently around her waist, unable to fight the urge to kiss her again. "And you thought I was dating Berenice," he muttered, his hazel eyes focused on her brown ones. He stepped up onto the same stair as her, so that he was looking down at her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and played distantly with his short hair. "Why aren’t you? – Dating Berenice, that is."

And as quickly as it happened, suddenly, it was all over. Remus’s smile faded, and he let go of her, turning and walking away, pale with recollection as he ran a hand through his hair.

Ana frowned as she followed him. "What? Remus, what is it? Tell me!"

He glanced back, horrified as he walked, and was silent as he shook his head. He continued to walk away.

Ana ran after him, struck with a fear that was not her own. She could almost feel the sheer terror going through his mind as she stepped in front of him and blocked the corridor. "Remus Lupin, you will tell me what’s going on!" Remus had only admiration for her poise. She had all the presence of royalty, her head held high, her voice without compromise and her eyes justified in their demands. He knew she would make a great True Seer- it was obviously in her blood.

But he looked at her sadly . He vowed to himself that he would stay away from women. Ana was no exception. "I’m not with Berenice, because I don’t want to be in a relationship."

Ana looked up at him and smirked. Reaching out, she touched his face lightly, until she grabbed his chin, and shoved it to the right. On the right wall of the corridor was a mirror. Ana looked at him, still smirking (although with questions in her eyes), through the reflection.

"Remus, look at your eyes. If I have never seen such sad eyes since I took a toy away from my neighbor’s cocker spaniel last summer. What’s the real reason?"

He frowned at her through the mirror. No one could read him like she could. "You’re the True Seer. You tell me."

Ana studied him for a moment, taking his hand, and staring at his palm deeply. Remus held his breath, as he watched nervously, no longer gazing at the reflection, but turning to watch directly. After an agonizing minute, Ana looked up at him seriously. She twisted his wrist so he could see his palm.

"You know what I see?" she asked solemnly. He shook his head, wide-eyed. "I see a hand. I see lines, and creases, and scars, Remus. I don’t see a bloody thing. Remus, I may be gifted, but I don’t know how to use those gifts. I can’t control them! I can’t read your mind!"

"Yes, you can," he argued, remembering the other times she had. She never knew when she did.

She frowned. "I can’t do it on command. And even if I could, I don’t think I’d want to. I’ve heard enough without controlling it to know that people’s minds are best kept to themselves. –That is, unless they examine the consequences, and choose to speak it."

Remus just stared at her. "I think you may very well be the smartest person I know."

She would not be distracted, regardless of his intent. "What’s wrong, Remus?"

He nodded. "I don’t want to be in a relationship. If I get too close to someone, I will fall in love, and get married, and start a family. But if I have children, they will carry the werewolf gene. Not all werewolves are caused by bites. It is highly frowned upon by the ministry that werewolves marry and procreate."

Ana looked deep in thought. "It’s genetic?"

"It is guaranteed that children of werewolves will be werewolves. It drops to a 50% chance for their children, unless they marry another grandchild of a werewolf- then it’s a 75% chance. There are worse risks in the world, numerically. But if you knew the burden of being a werewolf.. you would understand my predicament. The ministry frowns upon werewolves having children, but they haven’t passed a law. They don’t need to. Werewolves just know."

"So you don’t even want to think about having a relationship with anyone, even now. Now when you're so young?" she whispered, studying the tired shadows stretching across his face in the dim corridor.

"It could knock over a domino in a long, disastrous chain. Ultimately, it would just hurt the girl," he sighed, looking into Ana’s eyes meaningfully but briefly, opting that the floor was a better option. "And I don’t want to hurt you, Ana," he whispered.

Ana bent over to stick her head in his view of the floor. She looked up at him, smiling. Straightening up, she folded an arm across her body, and held her chin, deep in thought. "Dr. Lupin," she began in a humorously poor British accent, "I have a hypothetical situation that I would like you to examine."

Remus fought back a grin as he raised his eyebrows with intrigue. "Yes, Miss Anblick, do continue."

"Say a girl enters into a relationship with a werewolf, and does not know he is a werewolf. Finally, after they fall in love, he tells her the truth, and it breaks her heart. It would be his fault for harming her so, would it not?"

"Why I would have to agree," he said, nodding low, still smirking at her philosopher's stance.

"Ah, but say a girl enters in a relationship with a werewolf, and does know that he is a werewolf, and fully understand the consequences that could pursue. If her heart is broken because of something wolf-related, would it not be her fault for getting into the relationship to begin with?"

Remus stared at her. "On the contrary, Miss Anblick," he bowed low, "It would be more the werewolf’s fault for not resisting the relationship in the first place."

"Who says, Dr. Lupin, that the girl wasn’t astonishingly stubborn about pursuing a relationship? There’s nothing to say that the werewolf didn’t resist. All he could do is try."

"But he would be putting his heart on the line- the possibility of false hope… distraction..."

"Just like in any relationship."

Remus stared at her, trying miserably to come up with some argument. Not even necessarily that- just trying to say something intelligent. But all that came out were half words and syllables.

"Remus," Ana said quietly, returning to her natural voice and stature she went up to him and put a hand over his mouth, "I’m a big girl. I can make my own decisions."

He shook his head fiercely. Removing her hand lightly from his mouth but keeping it in his hand, he sighed, "Ana, if the wolf ever does anything to hurt you, I don’t know what I would do. I would –"

"- realize that you’re not fully to blame. I know what I’m doing, Remus."

"You don’t," he insisted gently.

She smiled. "Okay, so maybe not entirely. But you don’t either." She moved up to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Surprisingly, he didn’t fight her.

"No… I don’t…" he smiled weakly as he whispered. Ana felt his hands move around her to her back. Lowering her arms, she rested her hands on his soft jawbone, as she lowered his lips to hers. He held her closer as she kissed him. Ana ran her hands over his broad shoulders as she leaned into the kiss, feeling the world spin beneath her, dreaming that this moment would last forever-

But all good things must come to an end.

Someone behind them cleared his throat loudly. It didn’t work the first time, but the third time did the trick. Ana whirled around to see James and Lily. Lily was grinning at her; James was smirking at Remus.

"Sirius spiked your punch, didn’t he," muttered James, shaking his head in astonishment.

"Wouldn’t surprise me," Ana heard Remus say, she felt his hands rest on her shoulders. She leaned back into him slightly. It suddenly dawned on her that the Yule Ball was still going on.

"Umm.. where is Sirius?" she asked, blushing slightly, trying to change the subject.

"Probably off snogging with his date behind one of the Christmas Trees," replied Lily, still grinning.

James looked at her thoughtfully. "Or the corridors. They seem to be a hot spot tonight."

Ana blushed furiously as she groaned and marched back passed James’ and Lily’s insinuative grins as she burst back into the Great Hall. It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the light, but when they did, they focused on Peter approaching her swiftly.

"Where did you go?!" he asked. "I’ve been looking for your everywhere!"

"I was out in the corridors- I needed some fresh air."

"She was snogging with Remus!" giggled Lily, as she walked in behind her.

Peter stared at Ana, and then at Remus, who followed quickly.

Ana sighed, making a mental note to kill Lily. "Peter, I’m sorry. I know I came here with you, and even though we are just here as friends, I shouldn’t-"

Peter stopped her, smiling very weakly. "No.. It’s all right. I’m happy for you two."

Ana gave Remus a glance. He looked just as guilty as she. "Peter," he began, but Peter shook his head.

"Seriously, it’s fine," he smiled wider, somehow making it seem faker.

"NO, it is NOT FINE!" exclaimed a voice with a well-hidden accent. Ana turned to see Berenice standing behind them, fuming with the silent rage of a volcano ready to erupt. "You promised to-"

"I promised to go to the Yule Ball with you," grinned Remus. "And we’re here."

Berenice shot Ana a disgusted look. "And what is zis?"

"Of course, you know Ana," he smiled. Ana raised an eyebrow at Berenice, just daring her to start throwing insults. But Berenice didn’t. Instead, she broke down into tears. -Loud, miserable, shrieking tears that made every guy, single or not, turn and frown threateningly at Remus. (He just rolled his eyes).

"YOU- (gasp) –DON’T- (gasp, sniff) –LOVE ME!"

"No," said Remus, almost amused. "I never said I did! And I even denied that many times!"

That just made her sob harder. Peter reached onto a table and grabbed a cloth napkin. "Tissue?" he squeaked.

Berenice froze, and looked up. "Who are you?"

"Err.. Peter…" he stammered. "We have Advanced Double Herbology together?"

She glanced at him briefly before grabbing his wrist and pulling him away forcefully. "Dance with me!" she sniffed loudly. Reaching the dance floor, she buried her face in his shoulder (even though it was considerably shorter and she had too bend over to do so), and sobbed loudly.

Ana turned to Remus, who still looked quite amused. He just smiled down at her, his hazel eyes beaming.