The Ice Queen [s.b.]

↠the 4th sept. 1st, 1.7

September 1st.

By the time it is time for Annalee Fawley to get back to school, she's fully a different person. While Tom Riddle might believe he had made an impact on her, she's only become more convinced of what's good and true and what's bad and terrible.

She listens to her friends babble on about their pureblood mania. 

"Personally, I'm just glad the Dark Lord is making some real progress. The mudbloods and muggles are simply destined to die a terrible death," Dorothy sneers.

Regulus nods his head in agreement.

"Stop! You can't really believe that?" The Ice Queen exclaims, breaking posture.

They both gape at her.

"Of course we do, Annalee," Regulus says coldly. "And I thought you did too."

"I'll see you at school," Anna says, with an enviable note of chill. It sends shivers down the girlfriend and boyfriend.

She gets up and stalks out of the compartment. She roams through the train until she stumbles upon Lily's compartment. Anna knocks on the door, steeling herself.

It opens to a blonde that she recognizes as one of the chasers for the Gryffindor quidditch team.

"Can I help you?" Marlene says rudely.

"Is Lily in there?" Annalee asks patiently.

"Why? Want to call her the m-word?" the blonde glares.

Anna grimaces, "Just tell her I need to talk to her. It's important."

"Fine," Marlene sneers.

She turns around and whispers something. Seconds later, Lily comes to the entryway looking sympathetic.

"You okay, Lee?" she asks kindly.

Anna shakes her head. "I lost my mirror, by the way."

"I know. Sirius has it."

"Oh. Okay. Do you mind if I sit? If you do, I can just find somewhere-"

"No! Please, sit," Lily smiles. 

She moves and then guides Anna inside and sits her down next to her.

"Guys, this is Annalee Fawley-" Lily begins.

"We know who she is," Marlene interrupts. "And she's a Slytherin. What are you doing with her?"

"Listen, I'm not sure what you think you're going to do to me by saying rude things but I've had a rough Summer and a rough couple minutes. I thank you to put aside your pointless prejudice. I've grown up with mine and I was able to put it aside, so you can too," Anna says bluntly.

"What's wrong, Lee?" Lily asks, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Dory and Reggie are gone. There's truly nothing left to it," she confesses, ignoring the open-mouthed Gryffindors around them.

"I'm sorry," Marlene interjects. "I shouldn't have assumed. And I shouldn't have been so rude. I'm Marlene McKinnon-"

Anna smiles warmly, "You're the best chaser in Hogwarts. How could I not know you?"

Marlene smiles back, "Thanks. That's Alice Fortescue. And that's Dorcas Meadowes. It's nice to meet you."

"You as well. Might you bear with me as I regale Lily dear with the horror story of my life?" Anna jokes.

Alice smiles, "Please. We'll try not to interrupt."

"Just starting with the most recent events, Regulus and Dorothy are officially destined to be Death Eaters. Narcissa and Lucius are officially engaged - I've seen the ring. It's actually like 5 thousand galleons, unless I'm mistaken. Ugly as hell, though. Bellatrix has reportedly been meeting with Tom Riddle for the past half year and he's been tutoring her," Anna recounts.