"Why is that?" Hermione asked. She had already noticed that Peeves seemed to fear Anne at the start of term, but Anne hadn't given her a straight answer back then.
Anne, in a particularly good mood, looked at Hermione's curious expression and decided there was no harm in explaining it now.
"Do you know who Peeves fears most at Hogwarts?"
"Professor Dumbledore? The Bloody Baron?"
"The order should actually be the Bloody Baron, then Professor Dumbledore. The Baron has one thing you absolutely can't ask him about, you know what it is, right?"
"Yeah, you can't ask how he got the bloodstains on him."
"Exactly. And it just so happens that I know the truth about those bloodstains."
"What? I've always been curious about that ever since I got here! But I've never found anything about it in Hogwarts: A History, or in A Guide to the Ghosts of Hogwarts, or even in Origins and Abilities of Spectral Entities..." Hermione rattled off a whole list of book titles before stopping, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she stared at Anne.
"Hermione, that kind of history wouldn't be in any book. In fact, there are a lot of things you'll never read about in books..."
"Exactly!" Hermione suddenly burst out angrily. "Hogwarts: A History never mentions anything about house-elves! Anne, you've read it, you know in over a thousand pages of that book, there isn't a single word about the fact that we're all complicit in the oppression of a hundred slaves! They should've called it A Heavily Edited History of Hogwarts, or A Biased and Selective Account That Completely Ignores the School's Dark Side..."
And then she launched into a full-blown lecture on the history and mistreatment of house-elves. "There's a passage in A History of Magic in the Middle Ages that describes their living conditions..."
By the time Anne and Hermione reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Hermione still hadn't finished her impassioned speech.
"Are you two planning to talk here until morning? I need my beauty sleep, you know!" the Fat Lady grumbled after Hermione had stood there talking for nearly a full minute.
Only then did Hermione realize where she was. She flushed bright red. "Right... Anne, I'm here now..."
Anne chuckled at the sight. So this was what Hermione was like when she got chatty. Smiling, she said, "It's okay, Hermione. I have to say, you make a very convincing case."
She reached into her bag, pulled out a small pouch, and took out two silver Sickles, handing them to Hermione. "I've decided to join S.P.E.W. Of course, I should mention, I can't wear any badges besides the house crest. But if you ever want to visit the house-elves yourself, maybe I can help. Alright then, goodnight. See you tomorrow."
Anne waved goodbye and quickly descended the stairs.
Hermione clutched the two silver Sickles Anne had given her. Watching Anne disappear down the corridor, she beamed and cheerfully gave the Fat Lady the password, slipping into the Gryffindor common room.
On the morning of Friday, October 30th, Fanny dragged a still-groggy Anne upstairs for breakfast, only to find that the Great Hall had been transformed overnight. Huge silk banners now hung from the walls, each representing one of Hogwarts' four houses: Gryffindor with its red and gold lion, Ravenclaw with a bronze eagle on blue, Hufflepuff with a black badger on yellow, and Slytherin with a silver serpent on green. Behind the staff table was the largest banner of all, Hogwarts' crest: lion, eagle, badger, and snake surrounding a giant letter H.
That day, the air was thick with anticipation and excitement. No one paid much attention in class. All anyone could think about was that the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would be arriving that evening.
When the specially adjusted Friday afternoon bell rang, students rushed to their dormitories as instructed, ditching their bags and textbooks, donning their cloaks, and sprinting to the Entrance Hall. The heads of house were already there, barking orders to form lines.
Slytherin organized themselves first, partly because they had the fewest students, but mostly because Professor Snape, with a grim expression, had simply said, "Line up by year, youngest in front." His tone alone was enough to make the Slytherins fall into silent formation.
Ravenclaw followed, then the much larger Hufflepuff group. Gryffindor, on the other hand, was still laughing, chattering, and jostling one another noisily.
Professor McGonagall moved briskly along the line, fixing everyone's appearance. "Weasley, straighten your hat," she barked at Fred and George. "Miss Patil, remove that ridiculous thing from your hair." Parvati scowled but took off the large butterfly clip from the end of her braid.
Snape, who had walked around to the end of the Gryffindor line, gave McGonagall a sideways glance before saying icily, "We've waited long enough for the slowest house. Let's go. First-years in front."
Malfoy strutted past the Gryffindors, sneering at Harry and his friends. Most of the Slytherins, however, kept their eyes straight ahead and said nothing, proud to be the first house ready and out the doors.
Anne stood between Millie and Fanny, a spot she'd chosen deliberately. When she'd suggested to Millie that they switch places, Millie had been thrilled, while Fanny looked puzzled.
"Anne, why stand behind Millie? You might not get a good look at the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students," Fanny said diplomatically, hinting at Millie's height.
"I'm more afraid of the cold than missing the view. It's the end of October, and the wind coming off the lake is freezing. Standing behind Millie blocks most of it. Besides, with three years of students in front of us and it being so dark, we probably won't see much anyway. The real chance to get a good look will be at the welcome feast."
"...Fair point," Fanny conceded, finding Anne's logic sound.
It was a cold, crisp evening, with night already falling. A pale, translucent moon hung over the Forbidden Forest. The students stood by the lake, shivering whenever the wind blew across the water.
"It's nearly six o'clock, Anne. How do you think they'll arrive? By train?" Fanny asked quietly. All around them, students murmured excitedly.
"Broomsticks?" Millie suggested, turning her head.
"It's too far. Underage wizards aren't allowed to fly across borders on brooms," Fanny replied.
"Portkey?" Millie offered next.
"That's possible..." Fanny said, then turned to Anne. "What do you think?"
Anne had pulled her hood up to shield herself from the wind and was hugging her arms tight.
"So cold... Look, these three schools, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang, have been in open and secret rivalry for ages. I'm betting both of them planned something dramatic to show off. It won't be anything simple."
The excited chatter soon gave way to the sound of teeth chattering as the cold deepened. Some first-years in the front were hugging their cloaks, visibly shivering.
Just then, from the back of the crowd, Dumbledore's voice rang out,
"Ah! If I'm not mistaken, our guests from Beauxbatons have arrived!"
"Where?" many students asked, scanning the skies.
"There!" shouted a sixth-year Ravenclaw, pointing over the Forbidden Forest.
A huge object, far larger than any broomstick, more like a hundred of them together, was speeding through the dark blue sky, growing larger by the second.
"It's a dragon!" shrieked a Gryffindor first-year, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Don't be daft... it's a flying house!" a third-year Slytherin shouted.
The Slytherin was closer to the truth. As the enormous shadow emerged from the forest treetops, bathed in the light from the castle windows, they saw a gigantic powder-blue carriage flying toward them. It was as big as a house, pulled through the sky by a dozen winged horses, each with a silver mane and the size of a small elephant.
The carriage descended rapidly, and the students in the front scrambled backward. With a thunderous crash, the massive hooves of the horses hit the ground, each one the size of a dinner plate. The carriage landed with a shudder, and the golden horses tossed their huge heads, their glowing red eyes rolling wildly.
A crest adorned the carriage door, two golden wands crossed, each with three stars shooting from it. The door opened.
A boy in pale blue robes jumped down and bent to unfold a golden staircase. Stepping back respectfully, the front-row students caught a glimpse of a shiny black high heel, nearly the size of a small sled for children. It was followed by a woman nearly as large as Hagrid.
As she stepped into the light, they saw she had a strikingly handsome, olive-toned face, large, dark, glistening eyes, and a sharply pointed nose. Her hair was pulled into a gleaming bun at the nape of her neck. She wore a black satin dress and glittered with luxurious opals on her fingers and around her neck.
Dumbledore began clapping, and the students followed. Many stood on tiptoe to see her more clearly.
She smiled gracefully and extended her hand to Dumbledore, who, despite his height, barely had to bend to kiss it.
"Madame Maxime, my dear," he said, "welcome to Hogwarts."
"Dumbledore," she replied in a deep voice. "I hope you are well."
"Very well, thank you."
"My students," Madame Maxime said, gesturing behind her with one massive hand. About a dozen students, boys and girls, had disembarked and were standing behind her. They all looked to be around eighteen or nineteen and were shivering, unsurprising since their elegant silk robes were worn without cloaks. A few had scarves or headwraps.
After a brief exchange with Dumbledore, Madame Maxime turned to her students. "Come," she said commandingly. The Hogwarts crowd parted to let them pass.
A short while later, a strange noise floated toward them from the darkness, like a deep rumbling and a loud sucking sound, as if a giant vacuum cleaner were moving across the lakebed...
"In the lake!" Lee Jordan shouted, pointing. "Look!"
The students were on a sloping lawn and had a clear view of the lake's dark surface, usually calm, but now churning violently. Waves crashed against the shore. Then, in the very center, a massive whirlpool formed, as if someone had yanked out a giant drain plug...
Something long and black began to rise from the center...
"A mast!" someone shouted.
Slowly, grandly, a massive ship emerged, gleaming in the moonlight. It looked like a ghostly skeleton, as if freshly dredged from the depths. Its portholes glowed dimly, like ghostly eyes. With a loud splash, it surfaced entirely and rocked on the waves, making its way toward shore. A moment later, there was a clunk as an anchor dropped, and then a plank thudded into place.
The passengers began disembarking. As they approached, it became clear they were bundled in thick fur cloaks and looked very large. Leading them was a tall man in silver-white fur, so smooth and soft it matched his silvery hair.
"Dumbledore!" he called cheerfully as he ascended the slope. "My dear old friend, how are you?"
"Excellent, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," said Dumbledore.
Karkaroff's voice was rich and syrupy. As he stepped into the light, the students saw he was tall and thin like Dumbledore, but his white hair was cropped short, and his goatee (twisted at the tip) didn't quite hide his gaunt chin. He shook Dumbledore's hands with both of his own.
"Dear old Hogwarts," he said, smiling as he looked up at the castle, but his eyes held no warmth. "It's so good to be here... Viktor, come, warm yourself up a bit... you don't mind, do you, Dumbledore? Viktor's caught a slight chill..."
He beckoned one of his students forward. As the boy stepped into the light, a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.
Anne recognized him instantly. With his hooked nose and thick, dark eyebrows, it was Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker from the Quidditch World Cup.
A/N: La la la, time for a mini scene!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b4/df/ba/b4dfba48d9cd300efb9fc7051e2ff429.gif
Morocco Travel Mini Drama (Part 2)
At a holiday villa on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, Hermione sat in a chair, glancing at her watch every so often.
That girl had told her to sit here at exactly 5 o'clock, yet she was late.
Pop! Anne Apparated behind her and quickly covered Hermione's eyes with her hands.
"Don't move, close your eyes! I've got a surprise for you," Anne whispered into her ear playfully, blowing gently. Hermione's ears turned red at once. "No peeking~"
"Alright," Hermione said, obediently closing her eyes.
Anne let go, took off a pair of over-ear headphones from around her neck, and gently placed them on Hermione's head.
"Don't open your eyes until it's over~" Anne's voice echoed faintly through the headphones.
There was a brief silence, then Anne's soft humming began, followed by the gentle notes of a piano. Soon, her voice joined in, singing a heartfelt song.
It was soft, melodic... and utterly beautiful.
As the last note faded, Anne removed the headphones at just the right moment.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now," she whispered.
Hermione opened her eyes, and saw the previously empty table now perfectly set with delicious food and gleaming utensils.
Anne took the seat across from her, smiling at Hermione's confused expression.
"The song you just heard," she said, "I wrote it for you. I haven't named it yet, but the inspiration came from our date in France."
Hermione's eyes lit up, then she laughed behind her hand.
"Anne!?"
Hermione tried to stop laughing but couldn't hide her grin. "Anne, that song was beautiful, really, the lyrics too... But when you mentioned our date in France, I couldn't help but think of the Eiffel Tower..."
Anne's smile stiffened. She paused mid-napkin adjustment and muttered, "That time... well, I didn't think it through... and a lot of unexpected things happened..."
Hermione looked at her teasingly. "But you were so adorable that day."
Anne blushed. "What do you mean adorable? I was just, just..."
Hermione decided to go easy on her. She stood, walked over, and adjusted Anne's crooked napkin, then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Anne, I loved your gift."
"Hmph," Anne pouted. "Too late now. I'm mad... not happy..."
"Then... what should I do?" Hermione asked helplessly, seeing Anne's pouty eyes.
"Punish you..."
"What?"
Anne pulled Hermione down into her lap and wrapped her arms around her.
Thanks to the height difference, Hermione fit perfectly.
Anne grinned mischievously.
Hermione saw that look and instantly knew, not good, and tried to get up.
"You said you'd take your punishment~" Anne held her tight and kissed her long and deep.
"Anne, if we don't eat now, the food you made will go cold..." Hermione tried to distract her.
"Oh? Is that so?" Anne replied. "Fine. Then you feed me... I want the dish on the left."
"..." Hermione resigned herself and picked up the chopsticks.
"I don't want that one… you eat it..."
"..."
"This piece is too small. I want a bigger one..."
"..."
"Mmm, dip it in sauce..."
"..."
"Ah… I want some orange juice..."
"..."
"So tasty, mmm… I want another bite..."
"..."
"I think, "
"Anne Laurence Reeve!" Hermione finally snapped, glaring at her.
Anne's amber eyes swirled with mischief before switching to a pitiful look. "Hermione, you yelled at me... You haven't yelled at me in so long..."
"What do you want?" Hermione sighed, giving in.
"Hmm... fine. I forgive you just this once. Now I'll eat whatever you feed me. Ahh, " Anne opened her mouth expectantly.
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