I’m Here for You

Chapter 10

                Anna had made every D.A. meeting so far and was doing her best to avoid Draco. She even asked Harry if it was alright that she stowed all her muggle books, music and other items in the Room of Requirement in case Draco did turn her in to Umbridge to search her dorm. But she didn’t have to worry because so far he hadn’t done it. Which made her feel even worse about the way she’d broke things off with him. Anna was aware that Draco was always watching her so she was careful about who she talked to incase he still suspected her of being in the D.A..

                It was getting close to Christmas and Anna had not received any owl’s from her parents over the last few weeks. Normally her mother wrote to her at least once or twice a week, sometimes more, but she had not heard a thing from them and she was getting concerned. It was during her potions class that Snape gave her the message to see Professor Dumbledore after her last class.

                Later, Anna made her way up to the headmaster’s office, going up a long winding staircase and then knocked on his door.

                “Come in,” came Dumbledore’s voice.

                His office was amazing, filled with all kinds of magical stuff. Anna looked around in awe. There were portraits of all the former Hogwarts headmasters, most of them moving or sleeping. And then Anna noticed the majestic red bird sitting on a perch behind the professor’s desk.

                “I’m sorry sir, but is that a phoenix?” Anna asked amazed.

                “Yes, it is. This is my dear friend Fawkes,” Dumbledore said proudly, “We go way back.”

                “Awesome,” Anna whispered, hardly able to take her eyes off it, “Sorry sir,” she looked at Dumbledore, “You wished to see me?”

                “Yes, there is a very difficult thing I need to tell you,” he paused, as if searching for words. It was then that Anna noticed the very tall, dark skinned man in fancy blue striped robes, and odd looking cap that matched sitting snuggly on his bald head, “Please, won’t you sit down Miss Blackburn?”

                This couldn’t be good if he was asking her to sit down. Anna wondered if she was in trouble, but couldn’t think of a single thing she’d done wrong.

                “It’s about your parents,” Dumbledore spoke softly.

                “I haven’t heard from them in a few weeks now and I am getting worried,” Anna was beginning to get a bad feeling as she said this.

                “Yes. I am aware of that. I am sorry to have to tell you this,” Dumbledore said sympathetically, “but they are missing.”

                “Missing?” Anna knew she must sound like an idiot, but she was trying to comprehend what he was saying, “That’s impossible, sir. My parents never go anywhere. Trust me, I know,” Anna laughed slightly, but there was no humor in it. She was hoping this was a joke, but she could feel hysteria building.

                “Annabelle, this is Mr. Kingsley. He is an auror with the Ministry of Magic,” Dumbledore finally introduced the wizard.

                “My dear,” the wizard began kindly, very nice despite his huge size and deep voice, “what Professor Dumbledore is trying to say is that we do not know where your parents are or what has happened to them. They went missing from your home, they didn’t go anywhere else.”

                Anna was filled with dread and foreboding. Something was wrong. She could feel tears coming. She thought of her beautiful parents. They loved her. And all though they were overly protective of her and she often resented them never letting her get out in the world, she loved them, they were all she had.

                “I promise you, we are doing everything we can to find them, and we will keep searching and let you know anything we find out,” Mr. Kingsley assured her.

                “But how could this happen? And why?” Anna cried out, but she knew. She was aware of all the missing people and things that had been happening since Harry had announced the dark lord’s return last year.

                “We don’t know,” Prof. Dumbledore said. “Do you have any other family?”

                “No sir,” Anna whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. She feared the worse.

                “You can stay at Hogwarts over Christmas until we can figure something out or find your parents,” she heard him say, but she knew they would never be found.

                “I am sorry to bring this terrible news,” Kingsley spoke quietly.

                “Do you need me to get anyone for you?”

                “No, Professor,” Anna said in a whisper. She couldn’t look at him because her eyes were filled with tears and she was trying to be strong.

                “Are you going to be okay?” he asked roughly, his voice filled with emotion as though he were getting upset.

                “Yes sir,” Anna spoke up bravely. She just had to get out of that office, then she could break down, “Thank you, Professor,” Anna spoke automatically, she walked out of his office and down the stairs like a zombie, not really aware of anything going on around her. Anna kept walking through the corridors of the school, passing students but not really seeing them. Some called out to her or spoke, but she was oblivious to it all.

                “If it isn’t Annabelle,” a familiar sneering voice came into her mind from somewhere. Anna turned to the voice she had come to know so well. Draco’s sneer quickly changed to concern, “Merlin’s beard Anna, what is wrong?” Draco asked concerned, his beautiful voice broke through to her dull senses.

Draco

                It had been weeks since Draco had been dropped by Miss Annabelle Blackburn. At first Draco had despised her, but that only lasted that one night. All it took was for him to see her the next day and realize that he still cared for and wanted her. At first he had wanted to turn her over to Umbridge, to hurt her like she’d done him, but he knew he could never really do that. He couldn’t say he’d do that for anyone else but her.

                And he knew she had to be a part of Potters group. That was the reason she wouldn’t see him anymore, he was sure of it. Again, he could turn her over to Umbridge, a little truth serum and she would be singing like a canary. But he knew if he did that she would hate him and would never forgive him, and he could possibly lose any shot with her ever again. He knew loyalty was one of the things she most valued.

                Draco had been about to get smart with her, just to get a rise out of her, until he really looked at her. She was walking like someone in a daze, but tears were pouring from her eyes, but her expression was blank and her skin pale. He thought she might be sick again

                “They are gone,” Anna said in a rough whisper, so low he almost couldn’t hear her, “He’s killed them.” And then the dam burst and Anna begin sobbing. Suddenly she took off running for the doors leading out of Hogwarts

                Draco took off after her. It wasn’t long until he found her down by the lake at the end of a peer overlooking the lake, a huge hanging willow tree almost concealed her from view, but he heard her crying.

                Draco walked to the end of it and sat beside her. Anna had her head down on her knees her tears and crying shaking her whole body. Draco put his arm around her softly, “Anna, what is wrong? What do you mean they are gone?” Draco whispered.

                “My parents,” she cried, looking at him with tear soaked hazel-green eyes, “they are missing, but I know they are gone. The dark lord has done something to them,” she went into Draco’s arms. He could feel her sobs and he ached to comfort her. Her pain made a very protective feeling come over him, it was a feeling he had never felt before and all he wanted to do was hold and protect this girl. Draco pulled her gently into his lap, her arms going around him, her head on his chest, soaking his white button up shirt. He brought his arms around her tightly.

                “Shush,” he whispered trying to soothe her, “it’s going to be alright,” he softly smoothed her hair, not knowing what else he could say, “No matter what, I’m here for you, Anna.” Anna stayed in his arms, Draco letting her cry it out.

                It was a bit later when Anna finally calmed down and Draco continued to hold her in his arms.

                “Anna, surely someone will find your parents. There has to be something else going on. They can’t have just disappeared.”

                Anna looked at him, her eyes red and swollen from her tears, “Draco, my parents were always very careful. Why, I don’t know? But they wouldn’t just go away without telling someone and I haven’t heard from them in weeks,” Anna was starting to get upset again.

                Draco took her face in his hands lightly, “Don’t get upset again,” he ordered, caressing her cheek, “you are going to make yourself sick.”

                Anna swallowed back her tears, nodding. He was right, she already felt her stomach tumbling as though she could throw-up, “thank you,” she whispered, laying her head back on his chest, feeling his strong arms around her. It was incredible that just being held by him could bring her such peace and make her feel so much better. But she knew it could not last. She must once again put distance between them. Not because of her, but for the D.A. group. “I need to get back to the school,” she said suddenly, getting up from his lap where Draco had been holding her, “I think I will go lie down. I don’t feel well.”

                Draco was irritated; he knew she was brushing him off again, trying to avoid him. But he let it go this time out of concern for her. “Do you need me to take you to Madame Pomfrey? I am sure she can give you a tonic to help you rest,” he stood with her.

                “No,” she said, leaving the cover of the trees, “thank you, Draco,” she was looking at him, her hazel eyes glowing with more than unshed tears. She quickly ran up to the school, leaving Draco standing there in frustration.