Chapter 14

Anastasia was awoken by a blonde girl. She almost jumped out of her skin, forgetting for a moment all that had happened the day before.

"Sorry didn't mean to frighten you." The girl whispered as Anastasia sat up. "You slept through breakfast, didn't want you to be late for lessons on your first day. I didn't have a chance to introduce myself yesterday, I got back to the dorm kinda late, I'm Daphne." The girl smiled as Anastasia slowly got out of bed.

"Nice to meet you Daphne, I'm Anastasia." She mumbled.

"I'll leave you to get dressed. We both have defence against the dark arts this morning. I'll meet you in the common room and show you the way. Be quick though Snape can be a real twat." With that she left. Anastasia shocked herself when she caught her reflection in a mirror. The blonde really did make her look different, more striking she thought. She wondered if Tom would like it.

Walking to potions Daphne tried to make small talk but to little avail. Anastasia had never been one for conversations about the weather.

"So why did you get back to the dorm so late?" Anastasia asked.

"Oh um... studying. I was in the library and lost track of time." The girl averted her eyes, peaking Anastasia interest.

"Ah I see. Was it an enjoyable study session?" Anastasia raised an eyebrow playfully causing the girl to laugh.

"Yes thank you, very." Daphne winked back, linking her arm with Anastasia's. The pair walked into potions and took seats next to each other. Daphne let Anastasia share her book for the class, and as they worked Anastasia found herself watching the Gryffindor boy she had met the night before. Daphne followed her eye-line.

"Interested in the chosen one are we?" She smirked while jotting down notes.

"The chosen one?" Anastasia asked

"Yeah, the one your googling at." Daphne watched Anastasia's blank expression. "Harry Potter." She whispered. Anastasia obviously didn't trust the girl, but she needed someone to give her answers.

"What do you mean he's the chosen one?" Anastasia whispered. Daphne looked both amused and shocked.

"You've never heard of the boy who lived?" Anastasia shook her head.

"God where have you been hiding?" She laughed. "Harry survived the killing curse as a baby. Defeated you-know-who, well thought he did anyway." Anastasia looked back towards the boy. No one survived the killing curse. It sounded like a fairytale to her, some silly rumour.

"What do you mean you-know-who?" Anastasia asked, this time Daphne didn't look so amused.

"You're joking right?" When Daphne realised Anastasia wasn't joking she became fidgety.

"Sorry but where did you transfer from?" Daphne's full attention was on her. Anastasia tried not to panic.

"I didn't grow up around here. My family don't particularly like wizarding schools so I was homeschooled." It wasn't really an answer, but she hoped it would be enough to stop questions for now. Daphne nodded slowly, wary of the girl's vague answer. They continued the rest of the class in silence.

As they made their way to potions they walked past the Seamus boy Anastasia had met and she noticed a quick glance exchanged between him and Daphne. She thought this would be the perfect opportunity to defuse the tension she had created between them.

"I would think a Ravenclaw would make a better study partner." Anastasia grinned. Daphne's cheeks grew red.

"Please don't tell anyone. Slytherin's can be so judgy when it comes to other houses." Daphne pleaded quietly. Anastasia was taken aback. She was used to other houses judging Slytherins, not the other way around.

"You're secret is safe with me." She smiled reassuringly, causing them both to giggle slightly.

"I mean he's not your stereotypical Gryffindor anyway. He likes blowing things up." Daphne laughed.

"Wow, an arsonist? You impress me Daphne." They both snorted with laughter as they entered the potions classroom. Once they took their seats Anastasia looked up to find an older-looking Professor Slughorn. She gasped in shock, unable to remove her gaze from him. The professor's eyes scanned over her but dramatically returned. They stared at each other for a moment before Anastasia quickly forced herself look down at the table.

"My god." The professor breathed, walking over to her. Anastasia looked up to see him standing in front of her desk. He had grown slightly pale.

"My, you look just like..." His sentence dropped off as he examined her face, but his stare kept landing on her eyes. She remembered him commenting on the colour of her dress at the christmas party last year. She suddenly remembered the feeling of Tom's large hand on her back and her stomach began to turn.

"Anastasia?" Slughorn whispered. Anastasia tried to keep her composure. She had to stay calm. She forced her legs to stand up and she held out her hand.

"Hello Professor, my name's Anastasia Marlowe. I'm a new student." She tried to sound confident, but her words came out clunky. Professor Slughorn slowly shook her hand, still staring at her in bewilderment.

"Anastasia Marlowe, yes. My god you look just like an old student of mine." He was examining her more and more.

"My aunt attended Hogwarts maybe she was a student of yours, Anastasia Delaney? I'm told I hold a striking resemblance to her." Anastasia heard Daphne quietly gasp next to her. The whole room fell silent and Anastasia could feel all the students eyes on her. She slowly sat back down as Slughorn's expression turned sad.

"Yes, yes Miss Delaney was a student of mine. Such a shame..." His eyes dropped from her as his words fell away. He then seemed to awaken himself from a memory and smiled at her. "Well, if you take after her looks maybe you will have inherited some of her talents as well. Anastasia was a very bright witch... yes..." With that he turned back towards to front of the class, his hands shaking slightly. Anastasia felt both relief and pain. They really all thought she was dead. She felt Daphne place a hand on her shoulder.

"I didn't realise you were related to Anastasia Delaney? No wonder your family doesn't like Hogwarts." Anastasia nodded. Maybe this would help explain to people why she didn't know about all the things she apparently should. She kept her head down, waiting for everyone to stop staring at her, but when she eventually looked up there were still one pair of eyes on her. Harry Potter.