With Hermione.
"Something wrong?" Anne asked briefly.
Most students only dared glance at Harry out of the corners of their eyes before quickly looking away, avoiding him. It was as if the crowd had formed a bubble around him, a vacuum where no one dared step too close.
"Let's talk over there," Anne said, frowning as she noticed the awkward atmosphere.
They moved to a quieter spot near the entrance hall.
Anne met Harry's gaze directly, not avoiding it in the slightest.
"Anne, I meant to say this last night, but there wasn't a chance in the hospital wing. I only found the opportunity now," Harry began seriously. "Cedric and I both want to thank you. If it hadn't been for your flash, "
"That's enough," Anne interrupted. "I understand."
Harry looked momentarily stunned.
"Harry," Anne continued sincerely, "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore's already told you a lot, but I just want to remind you: this isn't the end, it's the beginning. Do you understand? And during all this, you must trust your closest friends." She glanced at Ron and Hermione as she said this. "You're very lucky."
The others looked even more confused.
Oops. Anne winced internally. That was a little too heartfelt, too revealing.
"Ahem…" Anne cleared her throat, trying to brush off the awkwardness. "See you next term." She motioned for Fanny and turned to leave.
She hadn't walked far before Hermione caught up with her. "Anne, you're not taking the train home tomorrow?"
"No," Anne explained. "My uncle and aunt were really worried after everything that happened. He rushed back from the Ministry this afternoon and arranged for me to return home via Floo Powder tomorrow morning through a temporarily connected fireplace."
Hermione looked disappointed. "Oh… really?"
"Come on, don't look so down. You can always call me over the summer, that's much faster than owls, anyway. I already gave you both my uncle's and aunt's phone numbers."
Hermione brightened a bit. "Okay! I'll call you then. I have something I really want to tell you."
Anne nodded and waved goodbye, heading back to the dorm.
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The next morning, at precisely 10 o'clock, the fireplace in Professor Snape's office flared green. Langer, the son of the Charles family's steward, stepped out of the flames. He greeted the aloof Snape with polite indifference, then smiled at Anne and offered a slight bow to Fanny before grabbing her trunk.
"Miss Fanny, it's time to go home," Langer said warmly.
"Goodbye, Professor," Fanny said to Snape, who gave her a small nod.
She waved to Anne, who smiled and nodded back. But just as Fanny reached the fireplace and picked up the Floo Powder, she suddenly turned and walked back to Anne.
"Anne, your birthday's in a few days, right?"
Anne nodded. She had indeed told Fanny her birthday, though she wasn't sure why she was bringing it up now.
"In that case," Fanny grinned, "I think it's time I told you something. No point letting a blockhead like you stay clueless forever."
"Hey! Who're you calling a blockhead?" Anne protested.
Fanny ignored her. "Just think of this as an early coming-of-age present, so you don't turn seventeen this dense."
Anne pouted in mock indignation, shooting her a glare.
Fanny leaned in and whispered with a mischievous smile, "After all this time, you still haven't realized Hermione likes you? Honestly, Anne, you're hopeless."
Hermione… likes me?
What was Fanny even talking about? Liking me? That's impossible… Right? No way. Absolutely not. No way!
Anne's mind froze completely. She stood there speechless, stunned.
Fanny laughed at the look on Anne's face, turned to the fireplace, tossed in the Floo Powder, and clearly pronounced, "Balmoral Castle." She vanished in a swirl of green flame.
The office fell silent for almost two minutes. Then whoosh, Aaron stepped out of the fireplace. He looked exhausted. Things at the Ministry had clearly been overwhelming.
"Oh, Professor Snape," he said. "Thank you for letting us use your fireplace and for staying with Anne."
Snape gave a cold nod, as usual.
"Anne?" Aaron stepped over and picked up her suitcase. "Let's go home."
"Huh?" Anne blinked, finally snapping out of her daze. She gave a small, self-deprecating laugh. Fanny was definitely just teasing me. She lives for chaos, why am I taking it seriously? Just a silly joke, nothing more.
"Okay, Uncle Aaron. Let's go home. Goodbye, Professor."
A/N: That's the end of Book 4! Book 5 should be a fun ride.
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