Lillian 'Anna' Potter || Goblet of Fire

Chapter Nine: Forest and Fires

Anna shot awake - fear filling her mind as she shouted for Hermione and Ginny to wake up, the entire time wondering if this was some sort of horrible nightmare. Once they had gotten their shoes on, the three of them raced out of the tent - Mr. Weasley already at the opening, making sure they grabbed their jackets before ushering them out.

There were fires still burning, illuminating the crowds of people racing away into the woods, fleeing something that was coming towards them, emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire. Loud jeering, roars of laughter and drunken yells were drifting towards them, causing an odd chill that Anna could feel in her bones.

Bill, Charlie, and Percy emerged from the boy’s tent, fully dressed, with their sleeves rolled up and their wands out. “We’re going to help the ministry!” Mr. Weasley shouted over all the noise, rolling up his own sleeves. “You lot - get into the woods and stick together. I’ll come and fetch you when we’ve sorted this out.”

They had already run off before Anna could protest, towards the group of hooded villains who were still playing with the muggle family like puppets. Anna felt sick.

“Come on!” Fred said, grabbing Ginny’s hand and starting to pull her towards the wood and they all began to run - only looking back once they had reached the trees. There were so many sounds in the air that night - screams, shouts, panicked voices reverberating around her in the cold night air. But then Anna heard a new voice - a voice that stopped her in her tracks.

“Mama! Mama!”

And then she was running away from the group, ignoring their shouts as she raced to the terrified cries of a child. It was only when she arrived that it wasn’t just a child calling for their mother, but her Animagus hearing had kicked in, and she was hearing the voices of a small black kitten.

It was a teeny thing, with tightly shut eyes and tightly folded ears. She had a stubby tail and the tiniest paws Anna had ever seen, with five miniscule claws on each one of them. Her little pink mouth was still mewling, and her entire body was trembling with cold.

Anna worked fast, hoping her sweater would be warm enough for the small kitten as she wrapped it in the warm wool, Anna holding the ball of fabric and crading it to her chest like a newborn infant.

She immediately began to look around when she heard shouts from behind her, and turned around to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione - Harry’s face full of relief. “Anna! There you are! Do you know where Fred and…” Ron’s voice faltered when he realized that Anna’s crumbled up sweater was moving. “What is that?”

Anna showed them the small kitten - still wriggling around in attempts to find a more comfortable position. “I found her by that tree over there, but I can’t find her mother anywhere.” Anna said with a furrowed eyebrow. “The mother shouldn't have left her for this long. They’re rather overprotective of their children.”

“Can’t she just tell you?” Hermione asked curiously. “You know..” Hermione was referring to Anna’s Animagus abilities. “She won’t be able to understand. She’s not old enough. She might be only a few days old.” Anna said, observing the kitten’s closed eyelids and folded ears. She gave Harry a look.

“No. No, no, no! You’re just going to take it with you?” Harry asked, recognizing that look in her eyes - that look of determination. “She’s a survivor.” Anna only said, gesturing to the frozen air around them. “If we leave her here, she’ll die.” She pointed out.

“Pets are a lot of responsibility.” He warned, thinking of Hedwig. But by the way his shoulders sagged in defeat, Anna knew that she had won, and she wore a large smile on her face as they continued the trek in search of the rest of the group - a new kitten now part of their number.