The Ice Queen [s.b.]

↠don't ask, i won't tell, 1.27

January 6th.

After they're back to school, Annalee goes to Dumbledore.

"Ms. Annalee, how can I help you?" Dumbledore asks warmly.

She smiles kindly, "I'm going to give you a problem, and you're not going to ask any questions. I've been berated and questioned and all and I won't do it again. Anyways, I need to know about my brother. Jeremy."

Dumbledore blinks a couple of times until he says, "Do sit down. Do you not remember Jeremy?"

"I do not," she agrees. "And I want to know where he is. I need to find him and I need to get my memories back."

"I do not know where he is and I hope you're not going to try and get your memories back in the way I think you're suggesting," Dumbledore says evenly.

"Of course not!" Annalee lies in a happy tone. "But I do need to find my brother. I just wanted to notify you of the present situation. Fleamont Potter has given me a minor potion, and if that works out then hopefully I'll find him. That will be all."

"It was good to see you, Annalee. I'm glad you were safe after your run-in with Tom," Dumbledore says, a faint smile quirking on his old, storied features.

Annalee grins, "Good to see you as well, Professor. I've been looking forward to this semester. Also, I appreciate your giving me a room away from Bellatrix."

She walks coolly out of the office and into an empty classroom where Remus Lupin is waiting.

"You ready?" she asks chipperly.

"I am," he nods. "We won't be able to do the potion, but there are only two people ahead of me in class. Lily and Snape."

"We're not asking Lily," Anna says immediately. "She won't help us. She'll probably report us instead. Not to mention, Snape is better. Plus, I have blackmail on him."

"We'll get him tomorrow. We have to be inconspicuous about our meetings, though," Remus comments.

"I agree. If Sirius figures out we're meeting in secret, I doubt his mind will go to the fact that I have a secret brother who's been erased from my memory," Annalee says so casually, Remus laughs.

"It's always a whirl with you, isn't it, Annie?" he jokes.

She takes a mock curtsy. "Do we have all of the ingredients?"

"Yes. Well they're all in the potions storeroom," Remus says. Adding a grin, he says, "It's under lock and key. In other words, James has the key to it. He won't even know it's missing."

"But we have to be careful. These are rare ingredients. Thankfully, the portions are small enough Slughorn won't know they're missing. Meet here tomorrow, same time, to steal it. I'll bring Severus the day after," Annalee announces. "But... what if we don't get it?"

"We'll deal with it, Annie. We'll figure it all out," Remus reassures her, giving her a close hug.

She hugs him back. Then, before it gets weird, they pull apart.

They leave the classroom and part ways.

Minutes later, an exhausted-looking Annalee walks into the Marauder's.

"Any of you seen Lily?" she asks, rubbing her eyes.

Sirius and James exchange glances.

"You alright, Anna?" James asks.

She waves the question away, "I'm fine. But have you seen Lily?"

"In her dorm," Sirius responds.

"Okay. I'll be back," Anna says, then walks back out.