As soon as Anne stepped outside, she slumped against the cold stone wall, gasping for breath. She was trying desperately to suppress the rising panic and the two whispering voices echoing in her mind.
She didn't want to hear them, not again, so she screamed back at them in her head, using her own voice to drown them out: It's over. It's over. It's all over… don't think about it, don't think about it… Anne, it's in the past…
Fanny and Hermione had followed Anne out almost the moment she bolted from the room.
When they caught up to her, they exchanged a glance. Worry clouded both their faces. This was the first time they had ever seen Anne like this. Her head was down, her chest heaving with every breath, one hand still tightly clutching her wand.
"Anne…" Fanny called gently.
Anne didn't respond. Fanny cautiously took a step toward her, but Anne instantly flinched and darted away like a startled kitten, putting more distance between them.
Fanny looked helplessly at Hermione, who shook her head in quiet warning.
For a moment, none of them spoke. Then the door to the staffroom opened and students began pouring out. Fanny and Hermione quickly formed a small barrier around Anne to keep others from getting too close.
But no one said a word. The students walked past on quiet footsteps, leaving swiftly. The last ones out were Harry, Ron, and Professor Lupin.
Lupin's expression was full of guilt. He glanced at Fanny and Hermione, silently asking them to step aside. They did.
He cautiously took a step toward Anne. But she immediately backed away into the corner of the corridor, pressing herself into it.
Lupin didn't dare approach further. No one spoke.
Gradually, Anne's breathing began to calm. After several more seconds pressed into the wall, a hoarse voice emerged from deep in her throat. "I'm fine…"
Fanny and Hermione both frowned. Anne clearly looked nothing like she was fine. Lupin seemed to share their opinion.
"Anne, if you don't mind… would you come to my office with me? I think a cup of hot cocoa might help," Lupin said gently, his voice calm and slow.
"…Alright." Anne's voice was rasped and low. She straightened, no longer leaning on the wall, and tucked her wand away into her robe. But she kept her eyes down, not meeting anyone's gaze.
She followed Lupin, with Hermione and Fanny close behind. Harry and Ron exchanged a glance, then silently followed too.
Lupin's office wasn't far from the staffroom. It was a small space, but a fire had already been lit inside, filling the room with a cozy warmth.
Anne entered first. Hermione and Fanny didn't hesitate to follow. Harry and Ron lingered at the doorway, then chose to wait outside.
"Sit down, my office may be small, but there's still room for guests," Lupin said warmly.
Anne took the nearest armchair and sat. Hermione and Fanny quickly took the two seats behind her.
As Lupin walked toward the cabinet of teacups, Anne suddenly spoke. Her voice was no longer hoarse, but cold and distant. "I'm sorry, Professor Lupin. I didn't mean to ruin your first class."
"Oh no, no, I should be the one apologizing," Lupin said quickly, guilt in his voice. He raised his wand, and four teacups floated into the air, beginning to serve themselves.
A steaming cup of hot cocoa landed on the side table next to Anne. She glanced at it but didn't reach for it.
"Hot cocoa might, " Lupin began.
But before he could finish, Anne picked up the cup. She lifted it slowly to eye level, stared at her reflection on the surface for a moment, then set it back down.
"Professor Lupin, you don't need to feel guilty. Teaching us how to defend against a Boggart was a useful and relatively safe lesson. I'm sorry for how I acted in your class, but it's a personal matter. I'm fine now. If you're planning to ask questions, I believe I have the right to remain silent. And beyond that, I don't think there's any reason for me to stay here. Thank you for the cocoa, it looks lovely."
She said it all in one smooth, even breath. Then she looked up at Lupin with cool, emotionless eyes.
"May I go now?"
Lupin, still holding his cup, was stunned for a moment. After a pause, he asked gently, "Anne, are you sure you're alright?"
Anne stood. She nodded stiffly. "Absolutely certain, Professor. But thank you for your concern."
And with that, she turned and walked straight out the door.
Fanny and Hermione stood quickly. They glanced at Lupin, who gave them a wry smile. "It seems Anne doesn't trust me," he said softly. "Maybe you two can offer her more comfort."
They hurried after her.
Outside, Harry and Ron were whispering to each other. They jumped when they saw Anne come out so soon.
"Hey, Anne, are you okay?" Ron asked. Hermione and Fanny came out with her just in time to hear the question.
"I'm fine," Anne replied flatly.
Both Ron and Harry looked visibly relieved.
"What's the homework, from Professor Lupin?" Anne asked.
"Oh, he told us to read the chapter on Boggarts and write a summary by Monday," Ron said.
"Thanks, Ron," Anne replied.
Ron's mouth dropped open. He turned to Harry in surprise. "Did you hear that? Anne just thanked me. Has she ever thanked me before?"
Harry shook his head.
Anne, having gotten her answer, walked past the two of them toward the Great Hall.
Fanny leaned in and whispered to Hermione, "Hermione, she says she's fine, but I don't think she is."
Hermione nodded, frowning. "I think so too…"
"Should we ask her?"
Hermione nodded again.
They quickened their pace and caught up with Anne, stepping in front of her.
Anne looked up, her gaze calm and unreadable.
Hermione met her eyes, her voice filled with concern. "Anne, will you please tell us what happened? Why… why were you so afraid of a door?"
Fanny added nervously, "And what was that thing that appeared after? Anne, have you ever seen something that terrifying before?"
Hermione turned to Fanny to explain, "That last thing was Thanatos, the Greek god of death. He's said to wear a black cloak and carry a huge scythe."
At the word door, Anne's hand, hidden in her robe pocket, gave a small, involuntary tremble. She gripped a Galleon tightly in her fist. She stepped back slightly, turned her face toward a corridor window, and stared out at the sky.
Her voice was quiet, tinged with a faint sadness. "It's personal. It has nothing to do with either of you."
"But, " Fanny started to protest.
"Please," Anne said, her voice now carrying a trace of pleading. "Don't ask anymore."
Hermione suddenly remembered the story Anne had once told her in Paris, a secret she hadn't fully understood at the time.
She looked at Anne's tense profile and said softly, "Okay, Anne. We won't ask."
Anne straightened, eyes lowered, and walked on in silence.
Hermione and Fanny walked beside her, while Harry and Ron followed a bit behind. When Anne reached the entrance to the Great Hall, every eye at the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables turned toward her.
Though Professor Lupin had instructed the students to remain silent, many of them couldn't resist whispering about the terrifying shadow they'd seen emerge from Anne's Boggart.
The four students walking behind her looked irritated, clearly ready to shut them up, but Anne stopped at the entrance and said quietly, "It's fine. They have the right to talk. Go have your meals."
The four of them exchanged glances, and Anne headed straight for the Slytherin table.
"I think we should listen to her," Harry said.
Anne ignored the stares from her housemates and sat in her usual seat. She picked up a plate of pan-seared lamb chops and began quietly cutting the meat into small bites, eating with silent precision.
Fanny sat down beside her, saying nothing. Instead, she busied herself bringing over all of Anne's favorite dishes and placing them around her.
No one at the Slytherin table stopped her. Not even Malfoy. He'd already heard Pansy describe Anne's Boggart scene in dramatic detail. He might be arrogant, but he wasn't stupid, this wasn't the time to provoke Anne. Especially not after being bested by her twice. And since it was Fanny handling the food, he had even less reason to interfere.
And so, for the first time in the history of Slytherin House, a strange scene unfolded: an array of delicious food formed a neat semicircle in front of Anne's seat, with her at the center.
Soon after, Hermione, Harry, and Ron arrived from the Gryffindor table, each carrying food that wasn't available at the Slytherin side.
Hermione smiled gently. "Anne, this is Yorkshire pudding, it's really good."
Anne hadn't noticed when Fanny began piling food around her. She only realized something was off when she looked up after a few bites of lamb and saw the growing selection of dishes. Then came the Gryffindor trio, contributing even more.
She let out a quiet laugh, half amused, half exasperated. Well, this is certainly a unique way to comfort someone.
Once the three finished placing their offerings, Anne stood up, put down her knife and fork, and gave them a small smile.
"Thank you. I do love food, but there's no way I could finish all this even in two days."
She paused, then added, "By the way… you three should start preparing for Potions tomorrow. I'm pretty sure Professor Snape already knows about Neville's Boggart."
Fanny gasped. "Oh no! You're right, he's definitely going to give you a hard time!"
Harry and Ron shivered. They glanced nervously toward the staff table, Snape wasn't there.
"Right, Hermione," Ron said quickly. "You'll help us tonight, won't you?"
"Fine," Hermione replied. But her eyes were still on Anne.
Anne gave her a small nod, and only then did Hermione follow Harry and Ron back to the Gryffindor table.
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