Being Different Year 6
The Phoenix and The Snake

Term started up and apparition classes started, unsurprisingly to everyone in the room Anne managed to apparate first time.

A few weeks into February, and Anne was sat at her desk doing her charms essay, she had her Walkman turned on, one of the other ‘improvements’ that Michael and Terry had made, meant that it no longer needed the batteries to be replaced.

She was halfway through a Chris de Burgh song when Brenda came over to talk to her.

“Hey Anne,” she beamed, “I’ve got a note for you.”

She fished in her satchel and passed Anne a tightly furled up scroll.

Anne unfolded it.

Miss Potter,

Meet me in my office at six o’clock tomorrow evening,

Professor Dumbledore.

“Thanks Brenda,” Anne beamed before getting back on with her essay, eight NEWTs meant one hell of a lot of homework.

When she had finally finished off her Charms, Herbology and History of Magic essays, Anne headed up to bed.

Irwin was staying up late playing truth or dare with Berty Botts Every Flavour Beans, with Lisa Mandy and Padma.

Anne snuggled under the duvet and managed to get to sleep.

The huge snake and the phoenix were fighting again, the snake killed the phoenix and slithered away, but then the phoenix rose from the ashes.

She woke up and Irwin had his arm around her in his sleep.

“You alright?” he muttered drowsily, “you were shaking.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him.

Irwin settled back down and fell asleep within moments, Anne couldn’t get to sleep though, she felt that something was wrong, but she just couldn’t tell what.

She got up much earlier than usual and got dressed in her school robes, she went to go read in front of the fire for a few hours.

“You had me worried Annie,” said Irwin sitting down next to her.

Anne had her knees pulled into her chest and was watching the flames crackle in the fireplace.

“There something wrong Annie?” asked Irwin pulling her in close.

“I’m fine,” she muttered.

She closed her eyes and let the warmth of the fire wash over her for a while before the eventually had to head down for breakfast.

They were doing tarot reading in Divination that day and Anne shuffled through the cards. The cards were trying to tell her that she shouldn’t believe what she sees at first sight, and that a friend was in danger.

Nice to have a warning, she thought.

She went down to dinner and picked at her pasta, pushing it around her plate with her fork.

“Eat Annie, you’ve been working too hard again,” said Irwin chuckling slightly.

“I’m not hungry,” she muttered pushing her plate away.

“Look Annie I don’t know what’s wrong with you today,” grumbled Irwin, “you’re not eating, and you hardly slept last night.”

“I don’t know,” she sighed, “I think I’m just worried about the meeting with Dumbledore, every time we see him, he’s looking even worse.”

“I’m sorry I snapped Annie,” said Irwin kissing her on the top of the head, “why don’t you go see what Dumbledore wants and I’ll see you later alright?”

Anne gave Irwin a quick hug before heading up to Dumbledore’s office, she already knew the password for that month, sugar mice.

“Best get this over with,” she muttered turning the corner to reach the corridor of Dumbledore’s office.

She noticed that the staircase was already down without her having given the password, maybe Harry was already there?

She headed up the staircase and opened the door to Dumbledore’s office.

“Sorry I’m late sir,” she said entering the office and closing the door behind her.

But then Anne turned around, Professor Dumbledore was slumped over his desk, holding what looked like several of Fawkes’ phoenix feathers in his hand.

“Sir,” Anne muttered walking over to his desk to wake him up, “you said you wanted to see me.”

She picked up the phoenix feathers curiously and put them in her pocket.

She tried waking him up gently, but he didn’t move, she tried checking for a pulse but there didn’t seem to be one.

“No no no,” she muttered double checking his pulse.

She tried shaking him again.

“Wake up!” she screamed.

But Dumbledore still didn’t move.

She ran down from the office and started screaming frantically running through the corridors.

“Help!!” she screamed running down the corridor, “Help!!!!”

“Calm down Miss Potter,” said Professor Flitwick who had come to try and replace out what was the source of all the commotion.

“What’s the problem,” he asked gently.

“Professor Dumbledore,” she stuttered.

Flitwick took hold of Anne’s hand and they both walked back to Dumbledore’s office together.

Anne stood in the doorway nervously whilst Flitwick checked on Dumbledore hoping that she was wrong.

“I’m afraid Professor Dumbledore is dead Anne,” said Flitwick solemnly.

“No no no,” she stuttered, “he can’t be.”

“I’m going to take you to the Hospital Wing,” said Flitwick gently taking hold of Anne’s hand.

Anne was still stuttering frantically when they got to the Hospital Wing.

“Filius what is going on here?” said Madam Pomfrey.

“Anne has had a shock,” said Flitwick as he sat her down on one of the beds, “she has just found the Headmaster dead in his office.”

“Albus is dead?” asked Pomfrey choking back a sob.

“I’m afraid so Poppy,” nodded Flitwick, “it’s not surprising he’s not been looking well for a while.”

“But still, he can’t be dead,” she sobbed, “not Albus!”

“I have to go tell the rest of the staff,” said Flitwick shaking his head.

Anne was still stuttering nervously; she just couldn’t believe that Dumbledore was dead. She was shaking were she was sitting.

Pomfrey went to go and replace a calming draught for Anne.

“I need you to take this for me,” said Pomfrey, “it will make you feel better, I promise.”

Anne was still shaking nervously and stuttering.

“No no no,” she was muttering under her breath.

“I’ll just be a moment,” Pomfrey sighed.

She sent one of the Ravenclaw students who was hanging around in the entrance hall off to go and replace Irwin.

“Annie!” Irwin called breathlessly sprinting into the Hospital Wing a few minutes later.

“Annie,” he sobbed pulling her in close.

“What happened?” asked Irwin looking over to Madam Pomfrey.

“Anne found the Headmaster dead in his office, Professor Flitwick is telling the rest of the staff, the whole school will know before long.”

“Oh Annie,” said Irwin kissing her lightly on the top of the head, “you’re going to be ok now.”

Anne’s shaking and stuttering slowed down slightly as Irwin comforted her.

“It’s ok Annie, I’m here,” he assured her.

Madam Pomfrey passed him the vial of calming draught and Irwin pulled some chocolate out of his pocket.

“Annie, can you hear me?” asked Irwin gently.

Anne nodded slightly, still shaking.

“I need you to take this for me,” he said passing her the vial of potion, and a piece of chocolate.

Anne gulped and took a deep breath before downing the potion in one.

“The chocolate should help with the taste,” he pointed out indicating the piece of chocolate.

“Thanks,” she muttered having eaten the chocolate.

“I should have believed you,” said Irwin, “you told me you knew there was something wrong.”

Irwin helped Anne into bed, and he sat down on the bed next to her.

“I just can’t believe he’s gone,” said Irwin shaking his head once he had got Anne settled into bed properly.

“Neither can I,” said Pomfrey as she passed them both a cup of tea.

Irwin took a sip from his tea and choked slightly.

“What’s in this?” he choked.

“A drop of firewhisky,” explained Pomfrey, “for the shock.”

“I’ll stick to the chocolate thanks,” muttered Irwin indicating the bar of chocolate in his robes pocket as he broke off a large piece.

After a while there was a knock on the Hospital Wing door.

Harry poked his head around the door.

“Professor McGonagall told me Anne was in here,” he said quietly.

“What’s going on Harry?” asked Irwin as Harry came over to Anne’s bed.

“The heads of houses have been going around telling us all that Dumbledore’s dead, McGonagall’s calling the Ministry,” Harry sighed collapsing into a chair.

“I need go get Anne’s mirror,” Irwin sighed, “the Order need to know what’s happened.”

Harry nodded slightly from where he was sitting.

Irwin got up from the bed and headed up to the Common Room quickly.

Harry took hold of Anne’s hand as Irwin left.

“We knew this was coming Sis,” Harry muttered.

“Remus,” Anne whispered.

“It’s ok Annie,” Harry said gripping her hand, “Irwin’s getting the mirror, you’re going to be ok.”

Anne just stared at the ceiling; she had gone into shock.

Harry tried to persuade her to drink some hot blackcurrant and apple squash which sometimes made her feel a bit better.

Irwin came rushing back in a few minutes later.

“They’re coming,” he gasped breathlessly having run both ways.

“I managed to get Sirius on the mirror,” he gasped as he sat back down on the bed next to Anne, “he Remus and Dora are on their way.”

“Teddy,” muttered Anne still looking at the ceiling.

“Teddy’s fine Annie,” said Irwin pulling her in close, “he’s with Julian.”

“Where is she?” said Remus bursting in, tears streaming down his face.

“Anne,” he sobbed sitting down by the bed next to her.

“She’s fine Remus,” said Tonks, “she’s not hurt.”

“Are you ok kiddo?” asked Sirius looking from Harry to Anne.

Harry nodded, and Sirius sat down next to him and put his arm around him.

“I should go,” muttered Irwin getting off the bed, and heading back to the Common Room. He didn’t want to intrude on this family moment.

Remus sat down next to her on the bed once Irwin had got up.

“Come here poppet,” he said gently, holding his arms out for her.

Anne finally stopped staring at the ceiling and fell into Remus’ arms sobbing.

“shh shh shh,” he muttered stroking her hair, “it’s alright I’m here now.”

“He’s really dead?” asked Tonks.

“Flitwick checked,” sobbed Anne, “there was no pulse.”

“What I would like to know,” said Snape who had come to join them and was leaning casually against the window frame, “is what you were doing there in the first place Miss Potter?”

“What’s it got to with you Severus?” growled Sirius.

“Leave him Sirius,” muttered Tonks.

“This is Order business, our leader has just died,” explained Snape.

“I got a letter,” she explained still sobbing, “it told me to go see him tonight.”

“Have you still got the letter sweetheart?” asked Remus.

Anne fished in her pocket and pulled out the piece of parchment and handed it to Remus.

“It’s very abrupt,” muttered Remus, “doesn’t even call you Anne.”

“There’s something else,” she stuttered, “I don’t think Dumbledore just died, I think he was murdered.”

“What?” Sirius whispered.

Snape didn’t seem particularly surprised.

“Could I have a look at that letter Lupin?”

Remus passed the piece of parchment to Snape.

“Hmmm,” muttered Snape scanning the parchment.

“You’re right Lupin, it is very abrupt.”

Snape paused for a moment.

“This letter isn’t from Dumbledore, it’s a copy, the handwriting is very similar but Albus didn’t write this.”

“So, are you trying to say that whoever killed Dumbledore wanted us to replace the body?” asked Tonks.

“More specifically they wanted Anne to replace the body,” said Snape.

“Is there anything else sweetheart?” asked Snape.

“Well,” Anne stammered thinking for a moment, “the staircase was already down when I arrived, at first I thought it was because Harry was already there.”

“Anything else kiddo?” asked Sirius.

“He was holding these,” said Anne passing Sirius the feathers from her robe pocket.

“Phoenix feathers,” muttered Sirius.

“Why phoenix feathers?” asked Tonks.

“Maybe it was someone from within the Order?” said Sirius.

“Or maybe,” said Snape, “it was someone working for the Dark Lord, who wanted to get rid of Dumbledore and attempt to create discord from within the Order at the same time?”

“What I don’t understand is why somebody would bother killing him anyway?” asked Harry who was confused, “he only had a few months left anyway.”

“Most people didn’t know that Potter,” said Snape.

“But you did, you’re the one who was making him the potions, you said he had till June,” said Harry still confused.

“Maybe you’d had enough of serving two masters Snivellus, maybe you wanted to do him in,” said Sirius pulling his wand out on Snape.

Snape got up from where he had been leaning against the windowsill and got out his wand to defend himself.

“How dare you!” shouted Snape.

“Stop!” yelled Remus standing between them, “both of you stop right now!”

“This is exactly what they wanted, us to start fighting amongst ourselves, Albus hasn’t even been dead a few hours, both of you sit down and put your wands away now!!”

Snape and Sirius both sat back down, they were both glaring at each other but didn’t dare pull their wands back out.

“Anne,” asked Tonks as Remus sat back down, “is there anything else?”

Anne started pulling at the end of one of her plaits.

“Any strange dreams?” asked Snape almost smirking.

“A snake fighting with a phoenix,” she nodded, “the snake won and then ran off, and then the phoenix rose from the ashes.”

“Is that all?” asked Remus.

“Yeah,” Anne nodded.

“So the phoenix is Dumbledore,” muttered Sirius.

“But who’s the snake?” asked Harry.

“Last time the snake was Lucius Malfoy,” Anne said thinking back.

“Draco!” exclaimed Harry.

“For Merlin’s sake Harry,” sighed Remus, “he’s sixteen.”

“Actually,” drawled Snape, “Potter’s right, it probably was Draco.”

“What?” muttered Tonks.

Harry’s eyes were full of triumph, and Remus and Sirius’ mouths were open with shock.

“The Dark Lord wanted Albus dead. He wanted Draco to do it, I was supposed to be helping him.”

“I knew it!” screamed Sirius getting back up again.

“Use your brain Black,” whispered Snape in a barley audible tone, “if I had actually helped Draco do you think I would be here now telling you his whole plan, or running to the Dark Lord and telling you that Albus is dead?”

“This doesn’t mean I like you,” growled Sirius sitting back down yet again.

“I never expected you too,” smirked Snape playing with his wand.

“Look,” said Remus, “we’ve all had a hard night, we need to get some sleep.”

“I need to go check on my students,” said Snape getting up from leaning against the window.

“Do you want us to stay here tonight?” asked Sirius once Snape had gone.

“I think we all need to stick together right now,” said Tonks reaching for Remus’ hand.

Remus pulled Anne in slightly closer and stroked her hair which was starting to come undone from her plaits.

“You ok Annie?”

“What’s going to happen to us?”

“What are you talking about sweetheart?”

“Well Dumbledore’s gone, Voldemort could just come bursting through the door if he felt like it,” Harry pointed out whilst Anne sobbed into Remus’ chest.

“Not on my bloody watch,” growled Sirius fingering his wand in his pocket.

“We don’t need to worry about any of that now,” said Remus holding her close, “all we need to worry about is you getting some sleep.”

“Speaking of which,” said Remus picking up a vial of Dreamless Sleep Pomfrey had left behind before she had given them some privacy to talk.

“Drink,” he said firmly.

Anne grimaced slightly and downed the potion before snuggling back in under the bedsheets.

“Poor kid,” muttered Sirius once Anne and Harry had drifted off to sleep, Harry was resting his head on Sirius’ shoulder.

“It would have been difficult enough for anyone to walk in and replace him dead like that,” agreed Tonks, “but someone as sensitive as Annie.”

Remus was sat on the bed leaning against the headboard, and Anne had fallen asleep her head in Remus lap.

Remus tucked her in more tightly under the bedsheets and pushed a lock of hair off of her face.

“Poppy,” whispered Sirius when Pomfrey came back in, “what’s going on?”

“Minerva has been made Headmistress on a temporary basis, the ministry has been round, they’re keeping the school open as he died a natural death.”

“What about the funeral?” asked Remus.

“It’s in a few days, they’re holding it at the school.”

“Do any of you need anything?”

“No,” said Tonks, “we’re fine.”

Sirius and Tonks eventually managed to get some sleep under some spare blankets that Pomfrey had brought over.

Remus wasn’t even slightly tired, he couldn’t even imagine sleeping right now, he was too busy worrying about the twins, they had been through so much, far more than most people in the Order, and they weren’t even of age yet.