elsa's song cos although you say good day to me i know i don't belong and although you hold my hand and say 'I love you', you are wrong.
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ANASTASIA TOSSED AND TURNED THE ENTIRE NIGHT, UNABLE TO SLEEP. Everytime she shut her eyes, she was plagued with the memory of Narcissa turning away from her, or the inevitable sight of the strong disappointment in her parents eyes when she inevitably had to see them again. She could almost hear the howler sure to be coming her way, roaring in her ears in the silence of the night.
She finally slipped off into a fitful sleep in the early hours of the morning, and when she awoke, despite her lack of adequate sleep, she felt largely clearer and refreshed. She knew what she had to do.
Anastasia headed down to breakfast with Pandora, and marched confidently up to the teachers table, and over to Professor Slughorn, head of Slytherin House. Professor Slughorn, who was in the middle of buttering toast and speaking to Professor McGonagall, smiled in greeting.
Looking at her kindly, he placed his knife down to divert his attention to her. "Ah, Miss. Black, yes? I've had all of your sisters in my class. Such lovely girls, I must say. And talented with potions too. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked.
Anastasia had been trained since birth to always make polite conversation before reaching her main point, but she simply did not have the time for that today. "I need to change my house into Slytherin. That silly hat made a mistake." She stated, bluntly.
Slughorn laughed politely, only stopping at her dead serious expression. "Oh, my dear. I'm very sorry, but that's simply not possible. The Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes, it put you into Ravenclaw for a reason, I would presume. You cannot change it."
"But, Sir," She said, mustering up all her courage to continue fighting back. "I simply must be in Slytherin." She demanded, staring him in the eye and daring him to say otherwise. "I do not have a choice, I must change houses, and preferably sooner rather than later." She said. "Please?" She added quietly.
"Well, my dear. I'm very sorry that you're not happy with your house," Professor Slughorn shook his head sympathetically. "but, you're not allowed to change. You aren't the first to be unhappy with your house, and you won't be the last, I'm sure. I would suggest you find some time to speak with Professor Flitwick, he is the head of Ravenclaw. He may be able to help you accept your house."
Their conversation is swiftly interrupted by the familiar perfect updo of Narcissa, who reached out to Anastasia and tried to pull her back. "Anastasia, what in Merlin's name is it you that you're doing?" She asked.
Anastasia spun around, facing Narcissa, who kept an hand on an arm, ready to pull her away. "I'm trying to change into Slytherin." She replied, quietly, looking down at her shiny leather shoes. Her hair tinged a light pink, her confidence worn off, replaced by the burning shame of being stupid enough to believe she could actually change her house. She should've known better.
Narcissa sighed, shaking her hand. "I'm sorry, Professor Slughorn. I'll handle this. Annie, come with me." She tugged on Anastasia's arm, dragging her away from the Professor. Anastasia allowed her to lead her out of the Great Hall and into a quiet corridor. "Anastasia... what was that all about?" She questioned.
"I'm sorry. I just... " Anastasia trailed off, biting her lip nervously. She was already afraid of what Narcissa thought of her, especially after her original reaction the previous night. She was expecting Narcissa to turn her away, pretend she didn't exist... but this mild concern and slight disappointment, she decided, was much, much worse.
Narcissa pursed her lips, closing her eyes and exhaling before she looked back at her sister again. "Anastasia, you can't change your house. You know that." She said. "You can't embarrass us like that. Proper ladies never beg."
"I know, I'm sorry." Anastasia looked down, picking anxiously at the sleeves of her grey school jumper. "But I had to try. Cissy, you must understand, I'm scared!" She admitted. "I don't want to get in trouble, and I know Mother and Father will kill me when they find out. And with what happened to Andy, I'm terrified they might kick me out too. Merlin knows they're already on edge."
Narcissa's disappointed expression fell, softening as she pulled Anastasia in for a hug, rubbing comforting circles on her back. "They're not going to kick you out. I don't think they could handle losing another child."
"But that's the thing!" Anastasia pushed back, staring up at Narcissa with wide eyes. "They've done it before, they removed Andy from our lives like she was never there in the first place. Who is to say they won't do it again? I'm the youngest, Cissy... I'm not of much use to the family, they're just going to marry me off as soon as they can anyway, Slytherin or not."
"Annie, you need to calm down." Narcissa tried to soothe her, recognising the frantic look in her eye as her hair flashed different colours, a tell-tale sign of her anxiety. "Annie, please. Annie, look at me." She placed her hands on Anastasia's cheeks, forcing her to face Narcissa. "Breathe... Breathe!" She continued until the rapid colour changing in her hair stopped and only a light red remained. "Better?"
"Much better." Anastasia confirmed, nodding her head. The storm of anxiety that had torn through her like a tornado moments before had settled, and she was calm enough to continue on. "Thank you, Cissy."
"Anytime, my love." Narcissa smiled, patting her arm gently. "Now, come on." She said, picking up the bag that had fallen down her shoulder. "Go back in, have some breakfast. It'll help."
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Sirius, true to his word, was waiting for Anastasia when she re-entered the Great Hall. He was watching her curiously, having seen her leave with Narcissa, but didn't pry as she slid into the seat beside him. Deciding she needed a distraction, he smiled widely. "Everyone, I want you to meet my cousin, Anastasia."
The three boys sitting with him turn to her, each nodding in their own greetings. The first, James Potter, was the boy she'd met yesterday. He held his head high, a stark contrast to the boy beside him, introduced as Remus.
Remus held his head lower, not quite oozing with the confidence James so easily possessed. His school robes, which he had drawn tightly around his body, as though ready to crumble within himself, were old and shabby, and his skin was littered in scars. Anastasia didn't question that bit, she knew better than to ask.
The second boy was completely different again. He had dirty blonde hair, and was rather short, and inclined to be chubby. His anxiety rolled off him in waves as he picked at his nails, only briefly making eye contact with Anastasia before immediately looking down, like he was embarrassed to even have glanced in her direction.
"It's very lovely to meet you all." Anastasia smiled earnestly, feeling a little confused. As long as she could remember, she'd always been taught that Slytherins were the only people respectable enough to be trusted, but she didn't even know if they were purebloods and still these boys were nothing like the monsters that had been portrayed in her bedtime stories.
She shook each of their hands, and listened as they gave a list of advice on how to survive Hogwarts, which included staying out of the girls bathroom on the second floor corridor, and making sure to only sneak into the kitchens when Peeves isn't around, or he'll dob.
After a while of chatting, they eventually parted ways to head to their separate classes, promising to meet up again.
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a/n:
sirius and anastasia are the best cousin duo
also please don't be a silent reader!❤️ even if you just vote i'd be so, so happy❤️❤️❤️
