AN: I'm sorry, I've been taking so long for updates. Exams are next week, so there's a lot of pressure to get everything done for school. Thanks for all of the votes and comments, they've been wonderful!

Anna hated being hurt. She utterly despised it. She never understood why people took sick days. It's so boring! You just sit there and try to pass the time and in a place with no televisions or any electronics, it was even duller. She just sat and read books and randomly turning objects into other objects for entertainment.
When she had first woken up, her bed had practically been surrounded by people: most of the staff (including Hagrid and Dumbledore), the Weasley kids, Hermione, her nephew was in the bed next to hers, and plenty of other students who apparently cared a great deal for the professor. She even realized that a couple ghost kept sticking their head through the walls to check on her and it was.... overwhelming. As you could imagine, the expressions on their faces before she had woken up weren't exactly happy. Everyone looked morbid, as if they were expecting her to die at any moment, which was ridiculous considering Poppy had already told them that her injuries, while painful, were not fatal in the very least.
It touched her, though. When she woke, students were sitting on the empty beds playing cards among other things to pass the time, adults were having quiet conversations, Minerva and Albus were fighting over whether or not they should contact her husband, Ron and Harry were halfheartedly playing wizard'll chess, and Sophia and Hermione were looking at a notebook, probably looking over Sophia's poems and stories.

(AN: If you don't remember Sophia, see the end of the chapter titled "Qudditch")

Severus didn't seem to notice the others. He had somehow managed to claim the single chair that sat right next to Anna. His expression was one of sorrow and desperation with the tiniest twinge of anger. Why hadn't the bloody game been stopped when the Bludger started trying to kill Harry? It was rather obvious that there was absolutely no way that situation was going to end well. He wanted to be angry, at Madam Hooch or Albus or even Harry, but all he could do was sit there with his hand almost glued to his friend's palm.
No one had noticed she had woken up. Severus was the first to realized when he felt the hand he was holding tightly, squeeze back. It took a moment for him to process the movement in his brain. When he had first saw her hit the ground at the qudditch match, there had been a loud, hollow thud, followed by a series of sickening cracks. After that, his mind had reeled, it had been running a mile a minute trying to figure out how to help his friend and piece together exactly what had exactly happened. His brain just felt tired now. Now, he snaooed his head up quickly and he let out a breath when his black eyes met her shimmering green one and she gave him a small smile, "Hey Sev. What'd I miss?" Everyone's head snapped towards her. All of the sudden, she was surrounded and she smiled and laughed in amusement as everyone tried started talking to her at once. Finally, Poppy's voice cut through the chatter like a knife, "Excuse me! You are crowding the patients! They need to rest! Come one! Out you go, dears!" Everyone opened their mouthed to protest but the look the nurse gave them shut them up and they all began to file out of the room. She sighed and looked around until her eyes fell on Harry, who was right next to her. He looked guilty.
Anna winced slightly as she rolled to her side, but her look of pain quickly morphed into concern and understanding, "Harry, it's not your fault." Harry shook his head, "No, it is. Even if you don't blame me. I'm just not used to someone being so willing to throw themselves in front of me to keep me from harm, so I take risks without thinking. And now we're both in the infirmary. You have a broken rib, fractured wrists, bruise, scrapes, and a minor concussion. Meanwhile, here I am with just a boneless arm." Anna's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "WHAT?! HOW?" He smiled a little bit at her concern, "Lockhart." Anna scowled and muttered under her breath.
The witch picked up her locket and began to fiddle with it, drawing her nephew's attention to the small, gold trinket, "What's that? I haven't seen you wear it before." She smiled wistfully, "My husband, Remus, gave it to me not too long ago." Harry nodded with a small smile, "He must mean a lot to you." The tips of his aunt's lips turned upward into a sort of gentle grin as her thumb traced the lines of the fox, "You have no idea, Harry. He's so handsome and smart and he has the most wonderful laugh." Harry grinned, "I'm looking forward to meeting him, then." Anna's head snapped up and she returned his grin, "Really?" He laughed at he response and nodded, "Yeah, I'd love to. Do you think he'll like me?" She nodded enthusiastically, "Are you kidding? He'll LOVE you! You're brilliant Harry. Your parents would be proud. I remember James used to go on and on about you non-stop when you were born. Lily and I must've taken a thousand baby pictures. Now, you are such a kind, brave, intelligent, young Gryffindor. Trust me Harry, Remus will be as proud to be your uncle as I am to be your aunt. I should arrange for you two to meet."
Harry smiled, "I'd like that. Anna, I think we mentioned this before, can I stay with you this summer?" Anna smiled, "I'd love for you to come, Harry," her smiled faltered slightly, "But there may be a problem or two." Harry sputtered, "W-w-what?" She closed her eyes tightly, "Harry...there's a chance that the ministry won't allow that to happen. I can't just whisk you away from the Dursleys without permission and I'm still waiting on a response. I don't know what will happen." It was true, the ministry and Anna weren't on the best terms. They didn't really approve of her rebellious tendencies and she knew that they probably thought that Remus was dangerous. She really wasn't sure what they would say and it broke her heart to think that Harry would have to go back to live in that dreadful house with her awful sister. Anna shuddered just thinking about the Dursleys, but it wouldn't be up to her.
Harry frowned, "They wouldn't say no, right? I mean, why would they?" Anna shook her head, "I really don't know what might go through their heads. Don't worry about it right now." Harry opened his mouth to protest but Madam Pomfrey chose that exact moment to come in with her little cart. She stopped at Harry's bed first, "You're in for a rough night," she said as she reached for a bottle labeled 'Skele Gro', "Regrowing bones is a nasty business." She poured the steaming liquid into a beaker and passed it to him carefully. Anna scrunched up her nose, "Be careful, Harry. That stuff burns your throat a bit." He nodded uneasily and gathered enough all the Gryffindor bravery he could muster before downing it quickly. He put down the beaker and eagerly gulped down the glass of water that had been placed my her bed.
Poppy brought her cart to Anna and tutted almost motherly, shaking her head, "I knew I'd see you in here sooner or later. I should've known you'd get in yet another quidditch accident." Anna chuckled but winced slightly as the pain front her ribs shot through her. Poppy frowned and patted her hand, "Don't you worry, dear. I'll have you fit as a fiddle in no time. Healing bones are much easier than regrowing them!" Poppy gave her a potion and a quick spell. Anna smiled, "Thanks, I'm feeling better already." Madam Pomfrey smiled slightly, "Yes, well, even if you do, you aren't getting out of here until morning. I need you here for observation and I think Mr. potter would enjoy the company." Anna nodded, "Of course."

-Time Skip (Midnight)-
Anna woke up that night to the sound of a loud crash and voices. One was Harry's, definitely, the other was unfamiliar. It was high pitched. She forced her eyes open and squinted at the figure in the moonlight, "Harry? What are you doing talking to a House Elf in the middle of the night?" The two figures froze and the small creature flung himself onto the side of the Professor's bed, sobbing and pleading for forgiveness. Anna smiled sadly and spoke to the poor elf in a calm, soft voice, "It's alright. Please, just, what is your name?" She gently picked up the small elf and sat him carefully into the edge of her bed, giving the elf a kind, encouraging smile.
Anna was very familiar with the House Elves. There were several in the Hogwarts kitchens and plenty of the richer wizard families owned them. She had grown quite fond of the Potter family's house elves, Wanda and Chip: they were lovely and polite. Chip was a bit more energetic and eccentric for a House Elf and worried a bit too much, but he was very nice, just a bit shy. Wanda had been very kind and sweet and happy to help. This was why she felt sorry for Dobby. Almost all House Elves loved to serve. The problem was, many greedy wizards took it for granted and treated the defenseless creatures like dirt. Anna had seen it first hand many times. She was none to pleased by how the masters treated the Elves. Anna made a mental note to make that her next goal, get the house elves rights to leave their master if they please.
The creature looked up at Anna with curiosity at her kindness, "D-D-Dobby, Miss," Dobby coughed before stating more firmly, "My name is Dobby." Anna smiled slightly; he had a cute name, "What are you doing here so late?" Dobby looked at her as if trying to decide whether or not he should run away or tell her the truth before finally relenting, "Harry Potter must not stay at Hogwarts. Harry Potter is in grave danger!" The professor's eyes widened, "Danger?" Dobby nodded but before he could say anymore, his large ear twitched and he gasped, "Dobby must go now! Goodbye Harry Potter. Good luck, Mrs. Lupin." Good luck?
She had no time to ponder the subject when she heard what Dobby heard, footsteps approaching. Anna looked over to Harry and saw him flip over so he appeared to be sleeping. Anna decided to stay where she was; she was a teacher and she didn't need to eavesdrop like she used to when she was a student. She let out a breathe. Colin Creevey, the energetic (though slightly irritating) first year was stiff and pale and being carried in by Albus himself. Anna, who was still in the Pajamas that the hospital provided, wasted no time getting out of bed, ignoring the protest she got from her colleagues. She sat on the end of the bed and smoothed the boy small boys hair, trying not to look in his eyes.
When Anna had pictured a petrified human, she had imagined a stoic-faced, emotionless figure, similar to that of a corpse or a coma patient. She had been wrong. This was worse, in a way. Colin's normally smiling face was morphed into an expression of pure terror. It pained her to see a child like that. Anna was glad that Harry was not muggle-born, she couldn't bare to see him like that, frozen in fear. McGonnagall had gone to go get Madam Pomfrey, but was back quickly. The old woman sighed when she saw Anna's broken expression. That girl was a saint. She always felt responsible when something like this happened.
Poppy was the first to break the morbid silence between the four of them, "What happened?" "Another attack," said Dumbledore, "Minerva found him on the stairs." For the first time, Anna looked up at her favorite teacher and saw the worry and pain in the old, yet strong, woman's eyes. The Professor never let her students get away with anything, unlike Professor Snape, but she had always felt very close and protective of her students, the Gryffindors, especially. Minnie spoke up, her voice only wavering slightly, "There was a bunch of grapes next to him," she said sadly, "We think he was trying to sneak up here to visit Potter." Anna's gaze drifted to her nephew's form, which was tense, "I can't say I blame him. I would've done the same thing when I was his age." Anna stared at the boy for a minute, briefly zoning out of the conversation. Then, she noticed that there was camera clutched in his grasp. After a moment of hesitation, she tentatively brought her hand to the device and pulled and pulled until the boy's fingers finally let go.
"You don't think he managed to get a picture of his attacker?", asked Minerva. Anna passed the camera to Albus, he was the headmaster after all. Dumbledore carefully pried open the back of the camera. "Good gracious!", exclaimed Madam Pomfrey. Steam spewed out of the camera and the unmistakable scent of burnt plastic took hold of the crisp night air. The insides had been melted. "What does this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently.
The headmaster was hesitant to answer, "It means," said Dumbledore, "that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again." The four adults were silent for a moment, absorbing his words, the confirmation of their fears. Anna spoke first, "Who could do that?" Albus shook his head, "The question is not who, but how. The question is how..."
Everyone went quiet for a long time. Professor McGonnagall sighed after a while and put a comforting hand on her former student's shoulder, "I think we could both use a nice cup of tea." The corners of Anna's lips twitched and she put her own hand over the professor's, "A cup of tea would be lovely." The pair quietly left the room. Anna knew that they needed sleep for tomorrow, but she dismissed the thought. There was no way she would be able to sleep now.