The Scarlet Witch °Neville Longbottom

°1.4°

1.4 |I never was|

SILENCE. That was the only thing present in the room. Not a single movement was made and all eyes were set on the woman that most believed to be dead.
Sirius was the first to recover from the shock and layed a hand on Vera's shoulder.
"I'll show you two a room where you can talk in private. You have the most catching up to do."
Vera got a hold of his sleeve and softly shook her head as if trying to subtly tell him she didn't want to be alone with this woman.
Molly spoke up seeing the struggling girl.
"But Vera was just about to help me with dinner."
Vera mouthed a thank you without her mother noticing.
"But you never need help with dinner." Vera glared at Ron and pulled on the back of his shirt with her magic.
Anna turned to Molly with a elegance in every movement she made.
"If I could please just talk to my daughter. After that I'm sure she's capable of making dinner with you after."
Vera noticed the softness in her mother's voice. She was very different from the plumb woman next her. Anna's hair was neatly in a knot with a hat placed on top of her head while Molly's hair was more like a wild bush of redness. Molly gave a disapproving sound before walking away.
Anna started to turn around.
"Don't put yourself in too much trouble, Sirius. I can find an empty room myself."
Vera turned to look at everyone in the room with some sort of panic in her eyes but most tried to ignore her not knowing what they could do.

Vera stood inside a room with branches drawn on the walls. Various faces were drawn on it while their name was written underneath it. She saw Sirius' face as well but where his face should be was a burn mark.
"You must have many questions."
Vera ignored her mother and followed various patterns of branches spread throughout the room.
"Vera, look at me."
Vera still ignored her. The girl turned her back towards the woman.
"Vera Ivanov, I'm your mother and you will listen."
The girl spun around and glared at the woman.
"Are you?"
The woman frowned.
"Am I what?"
Vera scoffed and walked towards the woman.
"My mother."
Anna nodded with a small smile while Vera shook her head.
"I don't think you are. Mothers don't abandon their children."
Anna tried to lay a hand on Vera's shoulder but a red energy swapped it away. Vera wouldn't even want to touch this woman with her own hands. Anna sighed deeply.
"Vera, I had to think of my own safety. You-know-who believes I'm dead and I had to make sure it stayed that way."
The girl rolled her eyes while balling her fist.
"So you couldn't let anyone know about you being alive? You couldn't reach out to your only living child or any of your friends? Do you even know the damage you've cost others?"
Anna closed her eyes for a second and folded her hands over each other while still remaining as calm as she was.
"I had to think of m-"
Vera interrupted her with a menacing tone.
"Yes,you had to think of yourself. I guess that's what matters to you most. I guess I, Sirius, Andrew or Remus were never that important to you."

"It's not that easy, young lady."
Vera laughed in disbelief. She shook her head and her eyes turned red.
"You could've reached out to any of us sooner. I've seen Sirius' mind and he's hurting. You're to blame for that. I've seen Andrew's mind as well and all the stress about raising a child were caused by you. I had to live in isolation because of you. I never was a child because of you. So I don't know why you're here but don't try to talk to me when I'm around. You don't know me and you'll never will. Are we clear?"
Her mother avoided her scarlet red eyes and nodded.
Vera smirked. "Good."

She left her mother and ran to her room. She slammed the door shut with her magic. Vera collapsed on her bed and sighed.
The door opened carefully and Hermione entered.
"Vera, are you alright?"
The girl grunted. "Absolutely perfect."
Hermione sat down on Vera's bed.
"Why did she have to come back, Hermione? I had this image in my head that my mother heroically died trying to save her children but instead she was a coward who hid away from you-know-who."
Hermione sighed.
"I don't know, Vera. Dumbledore thinks she's important for some reason but I'm sure everyone downstairs disagrees. You should've heard Molly when you left."
Vera sat up and leaned on her elbows.
"What did Molly say?"

"She seemed furious. Saying things like she didn't deserve to see you again and how dare she leave you all alone. Miss Weasley didn't like her at all and the rest were too afraid to disagree with her."
Vera quietly laughed.
"Miss Weasley is something, isn't she?"
Vera agreed. Molly Weasley was more like a mother to her than hers ever was. Anna Ivanov would never be a part of her family.
"Andrew once told me something important. Just because your blood doesn't make you family, you've got to earn that."
Vera smiled at Hermione and grabbed her hand.
"All of you have done that. But she could never. You are all my family, not that woman."
Hermione smiled at Vera.
"So is Neville part of your family as well?"
Vera gasped and Hermione laughed.
"What did you just say?"
Vera laughed as well and shook her head in denial.
"Oh, come on, Vera. I saw you two before we left. He even gave you a Christmas present."
Vera rolled her eyes with a smile.
"He's just a friend, Hermione."
Hermione nodded with a playful smile and nudged her friend.

"For now."