Hurt

Chapter 5

Anastasia read the letter Severus had unknowingly sent to her, about her and smiled. He was so respectful of her wishes, to remain distant for the time being so she could process and she knew even if she didn't "help" him with her alias, he'd have a back up plan in place. She knew Dumbledore wanted her to write back so she sent a letter to his office to be handed to Severus as if it had been delivered by the Ministry.

Dear Severus,

I thank you for being respectful of my wish to remain somewhat distant so I can heal and adjust to being in the Wizarding World again after so long in the brothel. I know you must have thought long and hard before writing to me and considered it essential. I fully and truly understand your concern regarding your student Anastasia. And you are right, even if I had heard of her at my school I cannot disclose this information. It is not because I don't trust you, it's just policy. Know that I have always and will always trust you implicitly.

However, I can still help you. This story about the girl who slept with a dagger and nearly killed her friend, is indeed familiar to me. Anastasia Morgenstern is an alias for a much older woman who was taken when she was fifteen if I remember correctly. She would be a little younger than my age had I not passed away at school in your seventh year. I was at the brothel a year or so when she arrived. I showed her the ropes and we became equals. She knows who I am outside of the Waynes, and my connection to you. This alias is to help her finish her education and it is paramount it remains intact.

Her reputation was much the same as you described before her kidnapping during her fifth year, so it doesn't surprise me the Headmaster made her Prefect. She is, after all, mature enough. She's only a few years younger than me thanks to her timeturner usage. She is quite intelligent and would probably be able to sit her OWLS now with ease despite not looking at a textbook in a decade.

I know she is taking care of those who have transferred to Hogwarts and joined as first years this year from the brothel, so hopefully you will have less to worry about than you originally anticipated. I know this year will be a tough one for you with the Stone and Potter's kid. (It helps Ana and I share visions with each other in our correspondences so I am aware of your current predicament.

Once she qualifies from Hogwarts I'm sure the alias will be dropped, just like with the rest of us. I'm afraid she's not the only brothel survivor in her year at Hogwarts, and all but one of the total survivors currently attending the school are in Slytherin. The transfers are survivors and there is one in first year. But I beg you, do NOT intervene unless it is dire. And if it is such a case, Anastasia will immediately ask for your help. She is taking care of all of them, and from what I've heard from the others, has it under control. Had it not been your place of work I would also be attending Hogwarts and taking care of them right along with her, however I am not.

I'm trusting you to look after these girls, Sev. I basically had to raise them with Ana once they set foot in that hellhole and I'm relying on you to ensure we don't lose anyone else. A lot of the younger ones didn't make it to Hogwarts and a lot of survivors couldn't cope with the change, and have been lost to us. There's only about twenty out of the fifty original survivors  you helped save left. I know things must be hard this year with the Stone, but Ana is a fantastic Seer, it was thanks to her we were able to get Elizabeth to rob you and the Malfoys on that day. Zia had no idea it was preplanned for her to get caught. We knew exactly when to stage the theft to save as many lives as possible. Keep an alliance with her and she will gladly continue to help as long as you dont cross the proverbial line.

Here's a few tips, just in case because I don't want to be visiting your grave this summer instead of you. Do NOT bring up the brothel to ANY of the girls. Don't ask Anastasia for her real name. She may not be in the brothel anymore, but she is a fighter. And she will take it personally that you went behind her back. You don't want this woman as an enemy. Especially with her network. Between all the survivors we have people everywhere and I won't be able to help you if she rallies people against you. It doesn't help she has knowledge of our shared past either, a liar is a liar and, as the old saying goes, snitches get stitches Sev.