Harry cried out and looked around frantically for a glass of water or a fire extinguisher, anything to save the burning bird. His efforts proved useless as the fire faded and revealed a small pile of ash. Harry was looking at his aunt in pure shock and even a little betrayal, about to ask why she didn't help when the door opened and a grim looking Dumbledore walked into the room. Harry began to ramble about how he tried to save it and that he was sorry. But his words died in his throat when the headmaster smiled, "About time too. He's been looking dreadful for days. I've been telling him to get a move on..."

Harry looked absolutely horrified and Anna took pity on him and smiled at him reassuringly, "Harry, that was a Phoenix. When they die, they burst into flames and then they are reborn from the ashes. Go ahead, take a look..." He looked down in time to see a tiny head peep out of the ash. The headmaster chuckled at Harry's expression, "His name is Fawkes. It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day. He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. They can carry heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."

The perch was gold and it had a bowl just under it where ash-covered chick now rested. Anna reached over and gently brushed a couple bits of ash off it's scalp and calmly pet the fragile creature, being careful to keep her nails away from his skin. It chirped happily and nudge her finger tips with it's beak. Anna grinned at Harry, "He's such a sweet boy. Wear'd you get him?" The headmaster's eyes twinkled, "A friend gave him to me as a gift." Dumbledore sat at his desk, motioning for the other two to follow his example. His face turned serious, "Mr. Potter, I assume you know why you're here?" Harry nodded glumly.

Anna's eyes hardened but there was desperation in her voice, "Albus, he's a child! He's done nothing wrong. Someone is setting him up!" Dumbledore held up his hand calmly, "It's alright Anna, just listen." All of the sudden, Hagrid burst into the room and it was quite the sight.

The half-giant was clutching a dead rooster and his eyes were wide and frantic. He had been running and his words were breathy and hard to understand and Anna was sure he was going to have a heart attack. She got up from her chair and pulled him into it. The witch summoned a goblet of water and ordered him to calm down and drink it. The grounds keeper was reluctant but he knew better than to try and defy Anna and sipped at the water.

He finally calmed and passed back the goblet, droplets of water still hanging from his beard, "Albus, it can't have bin him! I was talking to him just seconds before it happened! He's innocent!"

"Hagrid," The headmaster said in a calm voice, "I do not think Harry attacked those people!"

Hagrid nodded somewhat awkwardly and pointed to the door, "I'll just be waiting outside then."

Albus looked at Anna, "Could you please join Hagrid outside, Mrs. Lupin? I just want to talk to Harry alone for a few seconds." The witch looked ready to protest but nodded, knowing the headmaster truly believe Harry was innocent. She squeezed the twelve year old's hand and ruffled his hair, "See ya outside, sport."

She followed Hagrid out the door, casting one last nervous look at him before sitting the door.

Harry looked at the elder wizard curiously, "You don't think it was me, Professor?" Albus shook his head, "No Harry, I don't. But I still want to talk to you."

Harry relaxed but his sweaty, clammy palms caused his hands stick to the leather arm of his chair. He wiped them on his robes as the professor continued to speak, "I just want to ask you if there was anything you'd like to tell me," he said gently, "Anything at all."

Harry thought about the voice he had heard before the first attack and the polyjuice potion that was simmering in Myrtles bathroom as they spoke. But then he thought of something Ron had said about how hearing voices wasn't a good thing, even amount wizards. He remembered all the dreadful things people were saying about him and the terrifying possibility that he could be related to Salazar Slytherin.

He tried to believe his aunt's words that she had given him before the last attack but it was a bit hard after being told he was a monster for years by the Dursleys, to discard that thought when it was beginning to seem true. He couldn't bring himself to tell Albus Dumbledore, one of his biggest heroes, this and disappoint the wizard. He hung his head, "No, there isn't anything, professor." Albus looked as if he was going to push the boy more but shook his head, figuring he had suffered enough and sent him away after pressing three lemon drops into his palm: one for him, one for Anna, and one for Hagrid.

After a few words with her nephew she took him back to his friends, before she let him go, she informed him that tomorrow evening she would be going home for about two days but she would be back early Christmas Day. They parted ways, him going to the bathrooms for polyjuice potion, her going to her room to pack and get ready for bed. But she was intercepted by her favorite Slytherin, "Sev!"

He jumped and turned, before smiling a little. She frowned, there were bags under his eyes, "Are you okay? You look exhausted." The Slytherin sighed and nodded, "There's no fooling you, is there? I haven't been getting much sleep as of late." Her concern increased, "Why ever not?" He tried to keep his answer as vague as he could, "I've been experiencing some unpleasant dreams." 'Unpleasant' was an understatement.

Dreams of walking into a corridor to find his friend on the ground with her eyes open, skin pale, and body unmoving like a porcelain doll. Dreams of her screams waking him up in a cold sweat. Dreams of Lily being angry at him for not protecting her sister. The more victims the heir's monster took, the worse the dreams got. Last night, he'd dreamt he'd found her dead. He wasn't sure he could bring himself to sleep again.

Anna sighed, knowing she wouldn't get anymore out of her friend, "Well, I'm leaving tomorrow to be with Remus but I'll be back early christmas morning with your present." Snape sighed, "I forgot about christmas with all that's happened." She shrugged, "Yu don't have to get me anything, Sev." He didn't say anything but she knew he would get her something anyways. She sighed, "Take a sleeping draught tonight, get some rest. Alright?" He nodded, smirking slightly at how motherly she sounded, "Okay. Goodnight, Anne." She hugged him, taking him by surprise, "Sweet dreams, Sev. Take care of yourself." He nodded, his expression soft. She was the only one who could do that. She was the only one who cared.

Anna was awoken to a loud knock at the door. BANG. BANG. BANG. She shouted at the person as she slid out of bed, "Alright! Alright! I hear ya! Give me a minute!" She was in a long, red, silk night dress, which was very cold without her blankets so she hurriedly put on her slippers and robe and grabbed her wand before answering the door. To her confusion, Harry and Ron were there looking pretty confused and very concerned, "Boys! What are you doing? You'll get caught if hang around the castle after dark!" "Hermione is in the girl's bathroom and she won't come out. She said she'd only let you see her." Anna tied her robe tighter around her body's and nodded, "Take me to her."

-Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom-
Mere minutes later, Anna was outside the deserted girls bathroom. She heard weeping from inside and warned the boys not to follow her under any circumstances. "Hermione? It's Anna. What's wrong sweetie?" She heard the young girl take a deep breath before I latching the stall to reveal..."Oh you poor thing!" She was a cat and she looked absolutely miserable. Anna helped Hermione clean up and stop crying before walking out to warn the boys. She pointed at each of them, "I'm going to bring Hermione to the nursing wing. If either of you dare to laugh at her, you'll have to deal with my wrath. Do you understand me?" Both boys nodded hastily, confused and quite scared.

Anna nodded and poked her head back through the bathroom door, "Come on out, Hermione!" The boys gaped and Ron nearly spoke but Harry elbowed him, not wanting to risk him breaking their promise and making Hermione upset, "Is she going to be okay, Anna?" She nodded, "She'll be fine, but the next couple weeks will not be pleasant. I'm taking her to Poppy. You better get to bed before you are caught outside your dorms."

They reluctantly left and Anna took Hermione's hand and led her to the hospital wing. Once the young witch was in a white bed, Anna moved to leave but Hermione called after her, "Anna! Wait!" The professor turned and the girl smile gratefully, "Thank you for helping me, you didn't have to do that." Anna frowned, "Of course I did! You mean a good deal to me. You keep those boys out of trouble! And most of all, you're a great girl and you have a great future ahead of you. Goodnight Hermione, try to get some sleep."

Hermione smiled and let out a yawn, "Goodnight, professor." Anna got up and left for her room, feeling a little bad for having to leave the next day, but she wouldn't be putting it off. She missed her Moony and she wasn't letting anything keep her from seeing him again.