Chapter 19

Walking to classes Anastasia was dreading seeing the Draco boy after her little outburst the night before. After he had stormed out Daphne and Blaise had comforted her, explaining that he had been acting different this year, more tense than normal. Still, however, Anastasia decided to try and avoid him as long as she was there. She didn't need to get involved with another scheming Slytherin. When they entered Potions she saw Daphne heading towards the Slytherins, Anastasia grabbed her hand.

"I'll catch you after class." She smiled, before turning towards Hermione. As Anastasia sat down next to her Hermione looked up in confusion.

"Hey, sorry is this seat taken?" Anastasia asked politely.

"Um, no it's all yours..." Hermione smiled cautiously. Anastasia looked back to see Draco and his minions staring at her, only making her smile widen even more.

"I wanted to apologise. You've been really kind to me since I arrived and I haven't been the warmest to you. I wasn't really expecting houses to mix, at my old school girls in other houses didn't like me very much." Hermione looked at her, appearing to be at a slight loss for words.

"Oh, well there's no need to apologise. You seem to have a lot on your mind." Anastasia nodded.

"You too." Anastasia flickered her eyes towards Harry and Ron at the next door table. Hermione laughed.

"Yeah, life's never boring with those two." As they settled down to work Anastasia caught Harry looking over at them a few times. She watched Slughorn fawn over Harry and his work, and couldn't help but see Tom. The way Slughorn would announce his brilliance in front of the class, and how Harry would lower his head. His dark hair contrasted so significantly to the paleness of his skin. It was as if she was meeting Tom all over again. Suddenly Slughorn approached her and Hermione. He gave Hermione a few tips, but smiled down at Anastasia.

"How right I was! You have inherited your Aunt's talents after all! You'll be giving our young Harry a run for his money soon." He tapped her shoulder, making her her smile slightly. He had once told her she would give Tom a run for his money, so for that moment she felt her old self again. Harry looked at her and the pair smiled at one another for a moment. Suddenly Harry didn't remind her of Tom at all.

"From what I gather you, Ron and Harry have got into quite a few precarious situations over the years." Anastasia whispered.

"You could say that." Hermione laughed. "Harry isn't exactly a normal student. He has a lot more to deal with than anyone else." Anastasia nodded.

"With you-know-who?" Hermione's faced dropped slightly as she looked at Anastasia.

"Yes." She responded curtly before turning back to her work.

After class Anastasia decided she needed answers. Every time she tried to figure out who this person that everyone feared was she got iced out. She ran to Dumbledore's office and knocked on the door. The door opened slowly by itself, and she walked in to find the professor feeding his phoenix.

"What can I do for you Miss Delaney?" He asked with his back turned to her.

"Professor I-"

"Anastasia, I'm afraid I do not have any answers for you yet, as I explained this may take some time." He turned to face her.

"No I know Professor, I too am struggling to figure out a way home, but that is why I am here." Dumbledore nodded, indicating for her to sit down opposite him at his desk. "If I am to stay here for some time I need more information on the current circumstances. There are things I am clearly supposed to know-" "Anastasia, if you wish to return home you cannot allow yourself to learn too much about the happenings in this time otherwise you risk changing the course of history."

"I understand that Professor, but I don't plan on returning and telling everyone what their futures hold. How much difference could I make?" Dumbledore looked concerned.

"More than you think." Anastasia fiddled with her robes as she thought. Deep down she knew the professor was right, but she couldn't continue getting into awkward situations by not knowing things she ought to. She needed people to trust her, especially people as bright as Hermione who may be of great use.

"Professor who is you-know-who?" Dumbledore's eyes stayed focused intensely on her. He appeared not to breathe. "I only ask because it's a topic that appears to come up a lot and people get suspicious when I have no idea who they are referring to."

"You-know-who is an incredibly powerful dark wizard Anastasia. He poses a deeper threat than anyone who came before him." The way he looked at her made her heart sink. A voice at the back of her brain was screaming that is was Tom.

"He tried to kill Harry when he was a baby? What kind of wizard would do that?" Anastasia asked quietly. Dumbledore took a moment. He realised if he did not tell her, then she would figure it out another way. He wondered if he could ever allow her to go back after she discovered the truth.

"His aim is death and destruction to all that we know. He believes only pure-blood wizards should be in power and wants to dissolve the barrier between the wizarding and muggle worlds so the pure wizard race can rule over everyone. But, a prophecy was read that a boy would rise as his equal in abilities. One must destroy the other, as both can not survive in harmony."

"Harry." She whispered. Dumbledore nodded. Anastasia's mind went into overload. Tom wasn't a pure-blood, so it can't be him. However, Tom hated muggles and despised the fact that he was a half blood. He took her in, though, knowing she too was a half-blood. Her mind was racing too fast, and she knew she had to ask the question.

"What's his name Professor?" She looked down at the table, her heart in her mouth. The air between them stood still and silent.

"Lord Voldemort." Anastasia released a deep breath. Voldemort. She racked her brain trying to think if the name meant anything to her. Tom did make his followers refer to him as Lord but that wasn't exactly unique. The more she thought the more she realised she had never heard the name Voldemort before. She slumped in the chair, a smile growing on her face. Dumbledore analysed her expression and decided the name Voldemort obviously came after her time. Maybe there was still hope for her to return home. 

After their meeting Anastasia felt more confident knowing more information about the return of this dark wizard, and Dumbledore had promised he would continue to look for a way to return her home. As she mosied down the corridor she saw Harry walking towards her.

"Harry!" Sh exclaimed, startling the boy.

"Anastasia hi?" He stopped in front of her. She wasn't completely sure why she had stopped him.

"Hermione told me she gave you the book about time turners but it wasn't what you were looking for?" Anastasia nodded, realising that if everything she had heard about this boy was true then he must really be powerful, if he was Voldemort's equal. He may be her best shot at finding out how to get out of there.

"No unfortunately not, thank you so much for trying to help though." She smiled, unsure how to proceed.

"Well if you gave me more information about what you were looking for I may be able to help you more?" As Harry looked down at her she noticed the same tension rising between them again. She didn't know if it was his slight resemblance to Tom, or if they were linked in some way but it was impossible for either of them to ignore.

"Actually..." She looked up at him. "Would you meet me in the library tonight?" The words came out with little thought for how they would sound. Harry raised his eyebrows in shock. "Not like that, I mean not in an inappropriate way..." Harry smiled as the girl blushed and stammered in front of him. "I just mean could we meet in the library and maybe I could give you a few more details about what I'm looking for. If you're willing to help that is." Harry seemed closer to her than ever, and she cursed herself for blushing so much.

"Sure Anastasia, we can meet in the same section? It's normally empty so it'll be private." Anastasia's eyes shot up to his. "I just mean we can talk a bit more freely, if you're worried about people hearing." The pair smiled at each other and Anastasia took a step back, trying to distance herself from his enrapturing presence.

"9 o'clock?" She stated, trying not to smile.

"9 o'clock." Harry responded, fully letting himself smile as the pair walked off in their separate directions.