Chapter 45

Anastasia entered her dorm room and flung herself onto the bed. She spread her arms out over the sheets, taking a much needed moment to herself. She knew she had to speak to Draco, and she knew it had to be sooner rather than later but being back on Hogwarts grounds had made her feel light-headed once again. There were still too many unknowns, but it seemed day by day she was becoming more fearful of uncovering answers and her heart begged them to stay as questions.

As she watched the darkness settle outside her window she forced herself upright and began on the path she knew so well. The shadows hadn't changed and she felt their usual chilly embrace as she hid in the corridor corners. She stood outside the room where so much had happened. As the door revealed itself and her hand reached out to the handle she was overcome with memories of all the times she had opened that door before. Anastasia had to remind herself that the hand in front of her now was not the same hand as before. This hand was opening a door out of its own accord, not because it was told to.

"You're here." Draco hissed sharply as Anastasia closed the door behind her. "I was starting to get bored of waiting." Anastasia turned to look at him, wondering how he knew that she would come looking for him. She took a few steps forward, and noticed the boy flinch as she approached him. She froze. He knew something.

"So, did you speak to 'he who shall not be named' for me?" Anastasia kept her tone cool with a slight edge of sarcasm. If he was scared of her it was best he stayed that way.

"Who are you?" Draco's whisper trembled in the air.

"What do-"

"He didn't know Anastasia Delaney had any direct family." Draco looked at her curiously. "He doesn't believe that you are a true relation." Anastasia nodded.

"So, he knew her then?" Anastasia furrowed her brows, making Draco gain some confidence. He took a step towards her.

"I'm asking you on his behalf Anastasia, who are you? Why are you so interested in Anastasia Delaney?" Draco's voice grew louder and darker as he was filled with the false conviction of a death-eater.

"Does this mean he knew her Draco?" Anastasia matched his growing volume.

"Anastasia-"

"Draco just answer the bloody question! Did he know-"

"Yes! Merlin's beard! He bloody knew her, Anastasia. He's the one that fucking killed her!" Anastasia stumbled backwards, her eyes wandered beyond Draco to the back of the room, landing on the desk. Tom's desk. She saw herself sprawled over it, Tom's hands running over her naked chest. She could feel his grip in between her thighs. 

"Anastasia you have to tell me why you care about any of this? He knows she didn't have any wizarding family, so who are you?" Draco lowered his voice until it almost sounded like he was pleading with her. Anastasia looked back at the blonde boy and slowly walked towards him. Draco saw a tear forming in the corner of her eye. She stopped just in front of him, and he suddenly felt overcome by the proximity of her presence. She gently placed her hand on his wrist, and softly turned it over, lifting his jacket to reveal his tattooed skin. As she pulled back the fabric Anastasia saw tear drops fall onto the symbol. Her symbol. Her fingers traced over curling snake, landing on the skull.

"Anastasia?" Draco whispered, lifting his hand to wipe the streams of tears on her cheeks. She dropped his arm, shuffling back a few places so she was out of his reach. It was Tom. Voldemort was Tom. She had always known, but this proof allowed her to actually feel what this all meant. Tom had become all of the things they had talked about. She felt the pain of knowing he had done it without her conflicting with the pain of knowing she had been complicit in creating the monster he had become. She looked up to meet Draco's concerned expression. His words ringing around her head. She wiped her tears and sighed heavily, desperately trying to regain at least some dignity.

"So, he killed her then? It was Voldemort who killed Anastasia Delaney?" Draco nodded.

"He doesn't talk about her, I learned that the hard way thanks to you. I don't know how or why." Anastasia gave a weak smile in appreciation for the boys honesty. She turned back towards the door, but just before leaving she turned back to look at the boy.

"He's wrong." Anastasia whispered, making Draco raise an eyebrow. "He didn't make her completely disappear. I am her family, and you can tell him that I can prove it. All he'll have to do is look at me." 

With that she left, filled with unwanted answers and a list of new questions. She knew Tom would come once Draco spoke to him, so she had to talk to Harry before he found out from someone else. She had to fight back another flush of tears as she remembered the past few weeks. She was still not used to how quickly things change. Despite the bliss of the Burrow, and the new dreams she had made for herself she finally realised she couldn't run from this any longer. She couldn't run from him. As she made it back to her room she suddenly released a burst of laughter. Rosier really had been right. She had traveled over five decades into the future and she still couldn't escape Tom. The memories of him had haunted her every day.