Anna Black, The Girl Who Lived (Book 6)

1: Sirius' Funeral

Clack clack clack went black stiletto heels along the pavement.

The small, normal street of Privet Drive was all silent with the exception of this monotonous sound. The sound stopped in front of the house marked No. 10, being replaced with the shuffling of skirts and the gentle thump of a rock against a window.

Within seconds, the window opened and a girl stuck her head out, looking for the source of the sound. She was around the age of eighteen and had shoulder-length purple hair that adorned her pale skin and blue eyes flecked with lavender. "Hey! Who...oh. My. God."

The girl slammed the window shut and thumps could be heard within the house before the door flung open. She ran out and engulfed the visitor with a hug, crying tears of joy while hiccoughing, "Oh, Anna! I've missed you!"

"Violet," Anna said curtly.

She noticed the tension and let go of her cousin, looking her up and down. "Wow...you've changed..." Silence. "You dyed your hair too?"

"No," she said flatly as she watched the girl look at her hair. It was jet black, put in a messy updo by Kreacher, and practically radiated gloom.

"Oh...well I did. It's been like this ever since...well, remember? When you and Harry put purple hair dye in my shampoo? When you were-"

"I'm not stupid, I remember," growled Anna, her tone harsher than necessary. When Violet flinched, she gave a sigh. "Look, I want you to tell your father something-"

"Wait...did somebody die?"

"Yes. That's what I was going to bring up. Tell your father that Sirius Black is dead," stated the orphan. The wind blew and made her black funeral dress billow in the wind. Strands flew from her updo and Violet watched in sadness and awe.

How could someone be so graceful and okay after their father died?

"Oh...Anna, I'm so sorry..." Violet trailed off, unable to meet the girl's eyes. Guilt flooded through her more than usual; she still felt bad about Anna being disowned. "And about-"

"I must be going. Do as I said." And with that, Anna turned on her heel and left, her jaw clenched. She ignored Violet's calls after her as she strutted away.

Every step felt heavy as if her feet were cinder blocks. Every breath felt more suffocating than the last. Her glassy eyes burned despite the lack of tears. She felt gross and dead and dreadful.

Anxiety filled her gut as she neared No. 4 Privet Drive. The house looked the same as she always remembered it. Its identical face with its dull brick and perfectly trimmed lawn made her roll her eyes. The Dursleys tried so hard to keep up the facade of perfection, yet were some of the furthest from it.

Speaking of the awful family, she wished more than anything for Harry to open the door, not any of them. She did not wish to be belittled, as she had no strength to argue or fight.

But, just her luck... When she rapped on the door, there was the -abnormally loud- thudding down the stairs and soon enough, she was met with the unpleasant sight of Dudley Dursley.

Yes, he still resembled a whale. No, he did not appear to be any nicer.

"Who...wait a second," he trailed off, his voice slow and dumb. "Holy shit! Y-you're Anna Black!"

"And you're as elegant as ever."

"B-but...y-you...w-what the..." sputtered Dudley, looking at her dumbfounded. He couldn't believe how much she'd changed.

Obviously hearing the commotion, Vernon and Petunia came up behind him, eyeing the girl suspiciously. Vernon roared, "I will not have witches in my house!"