~ Sorry, this chapter is a bit longer than intended! Happy reading <3 ~

Kate Mavis' heart flooded with fear, blood running cold in her veins. It was only the next day, but she had already vowed to better herself and her class. History was so important in these dark times, and she needed to stress that.

In short, she needed to stop being a bitch.

So she decided her lesson plan for the day was going to be different. Instead of lecturing pointless stories of goblin raidings and book burnings, she was going to let her students decide.

As the teens walked in, dressed in robes of either blue or red, she eyed them carefully. It was now a matter of who she was going to pick on. Definitely Harry and Anna, Caspar, Luna...and definitely NOT Hermione.

She always hated know-it-alls. It reminded her of her own school years, where she was so eager to show her intelligence and to impress others. Her need for admiration from higher sources is what led to her engagement with George, the man who betrayed her and her friends.

The bell chimed and everyone was seated on time- no one dared to cross the woman whose sass almost gave Snape's a run for its money.

"Good afternoon class," she started, rising from her seat. "I'm going to be blunt. I know that many of you think these lessons are a waste of time. And, if I must admit, they are...well, at least the way I've been teaching within them. In times of war like these, with Voldemort back, we really need to ask ourselves what history do we need to know? How will it help us?"

The class sat silent, except for Hermione who had her hand up. Mavis ignored her, her eyes flitting to everyone else. "Anyone?"

"Well," started Hermione, much to the woman's disdain, "we need to know true, raw history. We need to know what causes the evil, manifests it, and how to make it stop."

"To make it never happen again," finished Harry coldly, sitting beside her. Everyone looked at him expectantly, knowing that if anyone knew evil, it would be him and Anna; who was yet to show any emotion at the turn of tables.

But, before he could continue, Luna did.

"People have problems believing the truth because it's so painful, but we need to make them not only believe it, but feel it."

"A-and we need to show that evil hurts everyone in some way," added Neville shyly, but with a indication of underlying determination in his tone. "We need to know how to help each other too, even with the small things, like making sure they're okay."

"We need to be brave," said Ron, his face bright red as everyone's gaze shifted to him. "I-it's bloody difficult sometimes, but it's how we win."

Almost every one of the other Gryffindors and Ravenclaws chimed in, causing a rumble determination to spread through the room, to Mavis' surprise.The women suddenly had to hold back a smile that was threatening to break the surface.

But Anna stayed silent, her eyes glued to the desk. She felt anger; these people didn't know true evil. They didn't know the heavy weight it constantly held, they didn't know what it was like to literally have it run through your veins. To cause severe, awful feelings, to make you feel desolate. To cause a constant battle.

Caspar sat beside her, studying her expression. He didn't quite understand her pain, but he knew what it was like to have evil in your life, even if it was only a touch of it. He intertwined his fingers with hers, giving her hand a squeeze.

"Well, now that you are all engaged, I believe it's time to give you each a separate, elongated opportunity," said Professor Mavis, the room staring at her in an antsy silence.

"You will each write an essay. I will not put a specific minimum on it, but I will grade harshly. You must write about your interpretation of history and how it is important. Feel free to include any personal experiences, anything that connects you to the prompt. It should be easy, considering the fact that we just spoke about it."

A familiar hand shot up in the air, followed by a question. "Professor, must we cite our sources?"

"Granger, I don't want a research paper. Stop being so rigid and try to feel for once," said the woman, her usual steely sass coming back full force.

"It will be due at the end of next week. You may have the rest of the hour."

And so the class started talking in hushed whispers, eager to exchange ideas for the prompt or to even talk about the new teacher. They wondered what made her change- it was like a switch had flipped on, making her out to be no longer heartless. They spoke quietly so she wouldn't hear, but she did anyway, and she felt good for once.

The bell chimed and Professor Mavis watched the students leave. Her eyes caught on her blonde godchild, chatting happily with Caspar. She was scared yet felt compelled to tell the girl the truth. Anna was now 17 and yet another year went by without knowing her godparents, this her last chance.

Morality overrode fear and the words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them.

"Black, I need to see you."

Anna whipped her head around, a smirk growing on her face, "You're already looking."

A pang of nostalgia sounded in the woman's veins. It was as if she could hear Sirius. "I meant that I need to speak with you...alone."

Anna rolled her eyes and turned to face Caspar, who gave her a quick hug and wished her luck.

As everyone filed out - even Harry, who nonchalantly lingered long enough to notice Anna get called behind - Mavis stared at the ground, trying to find the words to say.

But they were stuck as a garbled mess in her throat, so close to escaping but unsure of how to. Then she felt those cold, hating grey eyes on her.

And when she met them, she realized they weren't that cold, they were just ones of a lonely girl. One who tried her best to be normal but her best wasn't enough sometimes. She used anger on the surface to cover her weakness underneath. Her eyes held loneliness and grief- all she wanted was to be human.

"Happy birthday, Anna," said Kate somberly, the corners of her mouth twitching at a smile.

Anna looked confused but shook it off. "Um...thanks? Why would you care?"

"You know...you've grown into such a beautiful woman. It's quite a shame your mother never got to see you like this, and that your father is no longer here to either."

The words hit her like a freight train, regardless of how soft the tone was. She wished her dad was there, staring down at her with those kind, proud eyes that she missed so dearly. But instead, she was in front of a bitter woman who was being nice to her for some unknown reason.

She hated it.

The sympathy, the claims that people knew her parents, the everything.

"Why do you act as if you knew them?"

"I know you've suspected something. In Slughorn's room, you saw the Slug Club picture with me next to her. In those files, you saw me listed and my affiliations with her...oh, and I'm glad that I could take the fall for your nosey-ness," she finished with an arched eyebrow.

Anna's eyes become tinted with red as she gnawed at her lip before staring at the stone-flagged floor, an unreadable expression on her face. "So...if you knew them so well, why are you so mean about me and my father?"

Kate's light eyes, although earthen as could be, suddenly flared with something that resembled a fire- a hot, raging mass of it.

"Your father left Leah, and for that, I will never forgive him. He didn't let Remus be the secret keeper because of his 'relationship' with his wife. Childish and selfish, Sirius was. Loveable, but made fatal mistakes-"

"You don't know a thing about him!"

"I do! I'm your godmother for Merlin's sake!" The words tumbled from Kate Mavis' mouth, causing the two to snap still, both female's eyes widening in the sudden draft of silence.

"W...what? No, that's...there's no way..."

"Your mother chose me and Remus, while Sirius chose Lily and James. All four of us ended up being equally so, as your parents were stubborn as hell," she said with a smile, slightly relieved that the truth had come out.

"Why have you been gone?"

Kate gave a sigh. "It's a long story. In short, I was betrayed by my fiance, who ended up being a death eater. He ended up holding me and some others of the Order as prisoners of war, killing them and leaving me to be forced into the Dark Army. Remus ended up saving me, but the Potters and Leah were killed that night.

Dumbledore visited us, explaining that we weren't fit to take care of you or Harry. Remus was too lost in grief, and I...well, I had just been tortured and manipulated out of my mind. He sent me and others who had fallen victim to the war away to America, wiping our memories only partially...although I believe it was on purpose."

"How did you get back?"

"I knew things were happening, and I just hated my life. I found your uncle, and he helped-"

"No, he wouldn't, he kicked me out..." Anna trailed off, an aching chill creeping down her spine. She couldn't believe the man that betrayed her would help the last of her family.

"Yes, he did, and he regrets it very much. He just doesn't understand us, he only sees the evil. It was never towards you." Another second of processing silence drifted past. "Anyway, I...I wanted to give you this..."

Professor Mavis strode to her desk before opening a drawer, pulling out a part of her past. Anna watched cautiously as her godmother put the object in her hands...a bracelet.

It was homemade, threaded with a red background and yellow hearts. Mavis rolled up her sleeve, and it was the same, yet the colours were inverted.

Tears pricked at the woman's eyes, "Leah made these. She accidentally left hers at home, but Logan found it and gave it to me. You don't have to wear it or do anything with it, I just...wanted you to have it."

And in that moment, it hit Anna: her mother had been a real, living, breathing girl at a time. She had a bestie and schoolwork and hugs and kisses and a free spirit. She was not a myth nor a story, she was real.

Kate Mavis was the only person who seemed to recognize that.

Anna stepped forward and gave her a hug. The woman tensed for a moment, but then hugged back, her arms strong and sheltering around the girl, who was silently crying.

"I'm sorry I haven't been there for you," she whispered, stroking Anna's hair, "But I'm here now, and I'm not leaving. You may not always like me, but I'm here for good-"

"My dad said the same thing," cried Anna, "He promised me and he just... lied."

Kate stayed silent, as she remembered Sirius making Leah that same promise. She just let the girl get her emotions out, surprised at her ability to take on a motherly role so quickly, so naturally.

Her being the mom friend was coming out again, and, noticing this, she couldn't help but tear up and smile at the same time.

After a bit, Anna composed herself to the best of her ability. Although this woman had been rude as could be for the past two months, she couldn't help but feel safe in her godmother's arms now that she knew the truth. "Thank you."

Kate looked down at her with kind eyes. She felt a purpose had been restored in her life and was extremely glad the girl hadn't held her grudge any longer.

"Thank you for surviving, for doing your parents proud...anyway, I'm sure you have friends to see and much better presents to receive, so I'll let you go."

"But-"

The woman held a slender hand up, "I appreciate you wanting to chat, but there's much more time for that. I'll see you tomorrow, Black."

Anna merely nodded and wished her farewell, heading to the door. She felt her godmother's gaze on her, but instead of it sending chills down her spine, she felt love in her heart. She felt connected. Because Kate Mavis was understood just like her, both with tempers, both with the most evil of the war entering their lives.

As she entered the hall, she flinched upon seeing Harry, sitting around the corner. "What are you still doing here?"

"I, erm, was just waiting," said Harry awkwardly, standing up so quick he almost lost his balance. "Are you okay?" he continued, his face suddenly concerned when his panic had died down enough for him to look at her properly.

"Yeah," she said, quickly rubbing her face in a mere attempt to get rid of all the emotions, "just drained."

"I'm guessing she told you, then?"

"Wait...how-"

"Remus came yesterday and I walked in on them," explained Harry. "He told me about her past and how she's your godmother."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Anna questioned, fruitlessly trying to mask the hurt in her tone.

Harry sighed and looked down, "Well, we haven't really been talking lately...and that's one of the reasons I needed to speak to you. We need to stop this, Anna."

"What?"

"Just...this!" he exclaimed, his hands animated with frustration. "We're best friends, whether we're kissing or talking and I'm sick of that tension keeping us from being good to each other...I miss you, Anna. It's hard without you, and you know it's hard without me."

Anna stood there, dumbfounded at the fact that Harry made the first move for once. And as she stared at him, she realized just how different he looked.

Harry had definitely grown, both in soul and physicality. The light hit his face just right, showing all the sharp ridges of his cheekbones and the round glasses that assisted his emerald green eyes, which held so much maturity and that of an old soul, one that she had truly fallen in love with at first sight.

"I know...it's just...it's hard to not be angry, and I know you understand-"

"But it doesn't have to be!" he interrupted frantically. "Let's just put it aside, okay? The relationships, the opinions, the temper, let's just forget it."

She stared at him, her grey eyes glassy and fatigued. "Alright."

Harry pulled out a box from his bag, handing it to her. "Happy birthday."

"You didn't-"

"I wanted to," he said with a smile, watching her slowly open it. "I wasn't sure what to get you, but I saw it and...yeah."

Anna's hands worked at the simple string bow, then the box itself. She pulled out a heavy object wrapped in paper, gasping when she saw what it was.

A snowglobe, containing a man riding a hippogriff. The base was black with intricate gold patterns, and the vibe of the thing just screamed her father's aesthetic. "Harry..."

"Turn it over."

She did so and saw a knob. She turned it and a little whimsical tune rang out, something she'd heard both Sirius and Molly hum before, and Hagrid play on his wooden flute. It reminded her of the theme of the magical world overall, and she couldn't help but smile.

Instead of speaking, she brought her arms around Harry's neck and hugged him tight, warmth engulfing her as he fell into the embrace like second nature.

They stood like that for a bit, happy to be in each other's presence, for once not hostile. These tender moments is what gave them life.

"There's something else," he said softly as he reluctantly let her go. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to her. "Don't read this until you're ready."

"Ready for what?"

"Just...ready. You'll know, you always do." The two smiled, and it almost felt like old times.

But that lovestruck smile reminded Anna of Caspar, who made her heart flutter just with a mere thought. And she felt confliction and happiness and frustration and she just wondered why, out of all things she struggled with, it was always relationships and people in general.

"Thank you, Harry. You really are the best friend I could ask for."

And the night went on, but instead of meeting Caspar, Anna found herself alone sitting on the edge of a whimsically-lit balcony on the seventh floor. Watching the shy-midnight blue sky become streaked with shades of pink and tangerine, she looked down at the two presents in her arms. The past and the present weighed in the palms of her hands- she realised- a thought that made her eyes a little bit teary.

Pulling the two objects close to her chest, Anna stayed in that same spot until the sun finally rose, rearing its golden head amongst the darkness.

And now, there was only the future left.

~=~

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. It was a bit fluffy, but fun to write. I promise the next one will be spicy ;)

As for updating, I was a day late, yet again, so I think I'll start posting on Saturdays instead? Or sometime around the end of the weeks. 

Shoutout to my awesome editor WhichWitchWrites for the cute ending and for cleaning up my mistakes!

Question of the day...
~ Who is your favourite character in this series -mine or canon- and why?~
(Mine is Mavis. She's fun to write and extremely dynamic)

Thanks for reading! Please be sure to vote and comment, as it really means a lot to me :)

Love to all,
Lumos