Annalise

Chapter 7

**Annalise's POV**

I get home from Hogwarts and walk in the door, feeling tired. Aunt Claire has left dinner on the dining room table. I drop my bags at the door and walk slowly up to mum's room.

"Mum?" I call, knocking as I push the door open. To my surprise, the bed is empty.

"Annie?"

I hear her voice from downstairs and hurry towards it.

"Mum, you're up," I say, surprised when I see her coming in from outside, her arms full of carrots, potatoes and flowers.

"Yep," she laughs, "how was school?"

"Uhh," I hesitate, wondering how I describe this year, "interesting."

"Good, I want to hear all about it," she says, "come on, let's eat. You must be starving."

We sit down to eat and I tell her about school. She's engaging and bright, quick witted and funny. I can't remember the last time she seemed so alive.

"Let's go for a walk into the village for some ice cream," Mum says. I check my watch. It's late.

"I don't think anything will be open, mum," I say hesitantly, not wanting her good mood to disappear.

"Ah well, let's just go for a walk, then," she says.

We walk outside into the night air and mum links her arm with mine. We walk through the fields in silence, a comfortable, peaceful silence. Mum has a smile on her face, looking up at the stars. It makes me happy, scared and sad all at the same time. I know in the morning she'll probably be curled up in her bed, unresponsive. I want to enjoy tonight, but the fear of what tomorrow will bring is ever present.

The next morning I'm woken by a soft tapping on my door.

"Annie? Are you awake?"

"Mum?" I ask, surprised. I sit up as she comes into the room, bringing me breakfast in bed.

"You're up," I say, shocked.

"I brought you breakfast," she says, "pancakes with strawberries."

"Thank you," I say, bewildered.

Mum's good mood lasts for two weeks. I write to Aunt Claire to tell her.

I'm cautiously hoping that maybe this is her now. Maybe she'll be okay.

One morning I wake and go into mum.

"I'm going to go and find some wild apples," I tell her, "we can make pie today."

"You'll need to get some eggs and milk from the village," Mum says.

"Okay, I will," I say, leaning over to kiss her on the cheek.

"I love you, Annie."

"Love you, mum!"

I dress in my green dress and grab a basket, walking out into the warm summer air. I inhale deeply and feel a surge of joy. I skip out into the fields and twirl, letting my hair fly out around me. I feel so completely happy.

I find a tree in the fields over flowing with sweet, pink apples. I climb the branches and perch as high as I can. I pick an apple and bite into it, tearing the soft flesh away. The sweet juice fills my mouth as I crunch it. The flesh inside the apple is pale green with pink veins spreading through it. It's the best apple I've ever tasted.

I pick enough apples for two pies, planning for one to take to the Weasleys, then walk down into the village. The farmers' markets are on and I walk past the stalls full of fresh produce. The air is alive with voices, smells and sounds. I get a dozen eggs and some fresh milk with a thick layer of cream on the top. I skip home looking forward to filling the house with the smell of fresh apple pie. I walk into the kitchen and carefully put my basket down, then shake out my arms. I walk upstairs, calling out to my mother.

"Mum! I found the best apple tree! The fruit is SO sweet! And the milk, it's so creamy!" I walk to her door and push it open, ready to tell her more. As soon as I open the door I stop speaking. My mother is hanging from the ceiling, swaying slightly. She's facing me and I can tell immediately that she's dead. I feel a scream rip through me and I run to her.

"MUM! MUM! OH MY GOD!"

I panic, not sure what to do.

Mrs Weasley

I sprint down the stairs and stumble over the fields, terror gripping me. I reach the Burrow and pound on the door.

"MRS WEASLEY! FRED! GEORGE! ANYONE!" I beat the door until my fists hurt, then sink to the ground, sobbing. They're not here. No one is.

I can't go home, not with Mum like that. But I don't have my wand or any money. The thought of returning to the house makes me vomit into a hedge. The walk home seems to take years, but is still too short. I don't go near her room. I just grab my wand and disapparate to my Aunt Claire's. As soon as she sees me, she knows something is terribly wrong.

A week after the funeral I sit outside at Aunt Claire's feeling so alone. Zach comes out and sits beside me.

"Mum's worries about you," he says, "you're barely eating."

"I don't want to eat."

He puts an arm around me and I lean against him.

"What can I do, Anna?"

"I want to see the Weasleys."

"I've sent them owls."

"I know," I whisper, tears flowing down my cheeks.

**Harry's POV**

We arrive at King's Cross Station and get onto the train. Fred and George are talking quietly a little way apart from us.

"Anna!" Fred suddenly shoves passed me, running to Annalise. He hugs her tightly and I can see from her face that something bad has happened. I watch them and then something clicks. He's holding her around the waist, one hand cupping her face. He leans down and kisses her. She kisses him.

I back away, taking refuge in a bathroom. This doesn't make sense. This doesn't make any sense at all. She was dating Zach. I storm back out into the corridor.

"What the hell?" I yell at them. They break apart and I can see tears in Annalise's eyes, but I'm too angry to care.

"Harry, don't," Fred says, stepping in front of Annalise.

"All this time?" I demand, "what about Zach?"

"They're cousins," Fred says.

"And all this time, you've been dating her?" I snap angrily. Fred doesn't answer, just stays where he is, in between Annalise and I.

"Back off," he says, his voice low and serious, "not now."

"Yes, now," I shout, "why didn't you tell me?"

"It's none of your business," he says. He turns away and puts his arm around Annalise, moving her away from me, down the train. I whip my wand out, but feel a hand on my arm.

"That's a bad idea," George says firmly.

"And you knew, did you?" I huff.

"Of course."

"So why didn't anyone tell me?" I demand.

"It's complicated,"George says.

"I'm listening."

George looks like he's going to walk away for a moment, then sighs.

"Look, Harry, you saw how mum treated Hermione last year when she thought you and her were dating," he says, "Annalise needs mum, especially now. If mum knew... Look, the point is, Mum can't know."

He shrugs passed me and follows his brother down the carriage. Anger is pounding through my veins. I reach into my trunk and scrawl out a note. As soon as I've sent it, I wish I hadn't.