New Beginnings

Chapter 3: The Prophecy

Annabelle's jaw dropped as Professor Snape walked up to the front of the room. She had just practically insulted him five minutes before. As Professor Snape started to talk, Annabelle grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and tried to write down everything her professor was saying, she sat there scribbling down everything she could comprehend, until she heard a loud thump in front of her. Professor Snape was glaring down at her with a book in his hand. He dropped it on her desk and swiftly moved back to the front of the room, all while still talking. Annabelle looked down at the book he had dropped on her desk and read the title, "Magical Drafts and Potions" by Arsenius Jigger. This was the textbook that she had told him early that she didn't have yet. She thought to herself, 'Maybe he wasn't too offended by our conversation earlier, and this class won't be so bad.'

As the end of Annabelle's double blocked Potions class rolled around, she had learned so much and taken so many notes that not only was her hand numb, but so was her brain. She started to collect her things when she heard her name being called from the front of the room. "Ms. Mercy, stay after class." Snape said this without looking up from what he was writing at his desk. As everyone filed out of class, a few students threw Annabelle worried glances, but no one stuck around to find out why she was being asked to stay behind. Annabelle sat back down at her desk waiting for Professor Snape to tell her why he asked her to stay, but he kept writing. Annabelle stood up and walked to the desk closest to his desk and sat down again. Still Snape said nothing, and Annabelle started to get a bit impatient. She cleared her throat trying to get his attention, but instead she received silence. "Professor Snape? You asked me to stay after class?" Annabelle said in a quiet tone, but loud enough for him to hear. Snape raised his hand in a stop talking gesture and continued to ignore her. The silence continued for another five minutes until Snape finally spoke.

"Let me see your notes." Professor Snape said when he finally looked up at Annabelle. Surprised, she stumbled with her bag trying to get the parchment out, but instead knocked all of her bag's contents onto the floor. She bent over to pick everything up frantically, and saw a large figure crouched down beside her, picking up the spilled parchment. Snape had an annoyed look on his face, but helped Annabelle pick up her belongings despite his frustration. Once everything they saw was picked up, Annabelle held out her notes for Snape to look over. "Sorry about that," she said in a quiet voice, her ears were hot with embarrassment. Professor Snape took her notes without a word and sat back down at his desk. He shifted through the parchment, and marked every page. Annabelle was confused about what he was doing, until he handed her notes back to her. She looked at his scribbly handwriting on the page. He had fixed everything she had mispelled or written down incorrectly. "Now get out." Professor Snape said with enough force to scare Annabelle.

Annabelle hurried out the room, and rushed to her next class, History of Magic. She was excited for this class, because she still had no idea about anything in this new world. She only had time to get her wand with Hagrid before they arrived at Hogwarts for the first time, she didn't have the history text book, or else she would have studied it to have learned about this new magic. When Annabell arrived at History she was three minutes late and out of breath, she had gotten lost twice on her way to finding the classroom, and had to ask multiple people for directions. As soon as she sat down in a seat, the professor called her to her desk. "Ms. Mercy, Dumbledore has asked to see you in his office, please go now." Now all Annabelle had to do was find his damn office.

When Annabelle finally found Dumbledore's office, she stood outside the staircase waiting to be let in, there was a giant statue blocking the steps, and nowhere to knock. She started to leave to ask someone for help, but she heard the grumbling of the concrete statue moving. She turned around, expecting to see Dumbledore, but instead Professor Snape came billowing down the steps. He saw Annabelle and gave her a look of disgust before gliding away with his robes flowing behind him. Annabelle wasn't sure how to react to the face he gave her, but he did give her an entrance to Dumbledore's office, so she was grateful for that. Annabelle slowly walked up the steps, and knocked on the door to the office.

"Come in!" A cheery voice called from within. Annabelle opened the door and saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk popping lemon drops into his mouth. "Hello Annabelle, I've called you in here because we need to have a chat." Dumbledore stood as he said this, he motioned to Annabelle to have a seat in front of his desk, but he kept walking. "I hope I haven't upset anyone." Annabelle said thinking back to her conversation with Snape before she knew who he was. "Oh no, deary. You have been a delight. I called you up here to talk to you about your parents, and your future here at Hogwarts." Annabelle looked up with surprise to the old man. 'What would he want to talk about my parents for?' She thought.

"Your parents were very powerful in the wizarding community, they were known for being particularly strong within magic. They held a lot of influence over people, and for that they were targeted, that's why they moved and tried to blend in to the muggle world when they had you. Unfortunately when you were seven, they got a call to come to the wizarding world. When they were on their way, they were ambushed and killed. I know the muggle police said they died in 'mysterious circumstances' but it was actually an attack from dark wizards who call themselves death eaters, they follow a dark wizard called Voldemort. The dark wizards were trying to find you, but your parents wouldn't give you up, and that's why they were killed." Dumbledore finished pacing around the room and placed his hand on Annabelle's shoulder, she shook silently as she cried. She was the reason her parents were dead, and she didn't even know why Voldemort would want her.

"Why would they look for me? I was only seven what could I be of worth to them?" Annabelle asked as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Dumbledore looked down at her with sadness before continuing to speak, "Before you were born, there was a prophecy that predicted you to be one of the most powerful witches of all time. I tried to hide you in the foster care system, but after a few years I lost you, and that's why it took us so long to bring you here." Annabelle shook her head with disbelief. "How could I be powerful? I don't even know how to do basic magic!" Annabelle determined that Dumbledore must be crazy, he was just making things up, he had to have been. "That is why I've set you up with a tutor, so you can practice your magic and fulfill your potential." Dumbledore smiled as he sat back down at his desk. He folded his arms in front of him, waiting for Annabelle to ask more questions, but she only had one. "Who's going to tutor me then?" Annabelle asked with dread filling her stomach, nothing good could come of Dumbledore setting plans up without her knowledge. "You tutor will be Severus Snape, and your sessions in ten minutes."