All's Well That Ends Well? by Shock
Chapter Notes: I know that this chapter is a bit out of chronological order, so let me explain when this takes place. This chapter takes place right after Anne steps out of the forest after her talk with Peter. The whole scene with Lily and Prongs from the previous chapter takes place around the same time as the very last sentence of this chapter. Sorry if that's confusing. You'll get it though after you read, so read on!
“Damn, just looking at her turns me on!”
“I know! She’s practically the only one left out of the 'Hot Three'.”
“Wait, I thought that smart-arse Lupin had her.”
“I did too, but something has apparently crushed their little love. They’re not as cozy nowadays!”
The three boys who had been muttering excitedly amongst each other suddenly shut their mouths and turned around blushing madly as Anne swept by, giving them a piercing glare of pure disgust.
She furiously readjusted the stack of heavy tomes in her arms as she stomped down the hall leading out of the library and up some narrow stone steps.
After leaving Peter in the Thestrals’ clearing, Anne had gone to the library in hopes of finding clues to the mystery in the forest. However, her tired and stressed-out mind just didn‘t seem to want to function properly, so she had ended up checking out a bunch of informational books to help her with her current Potions assignment. She had picked out quite a few and now regretted getting so much, for her arms were starting to get sore.
Anne picked up her pace, wondering when her arms would fall off from the weight of the books. As her irritation at the heavy texts grew, her annoyance with the whispering boys also enlarged.
Ever since she, Alice, and Lily had formally declared their friendship and had hit maturity, they had been silently declared as the “Hot Three” by all the boys at Hogwarts. Alice was adored for her adorable round face and cuteness, but had been off limits as soon as she had started dating Frank. Lily’s brave, witty nature and flaming red hair was enough to turn any guy on, although none had dared to approach her in fear of being hexed into oblivion by the infamous James Potter.
As for Anne, she herself couldn’t see why all the guys seemed to hang to her. She had always thought herself as a little intimidating, what with her sharp intellect and hair style, and “back off, or else” personality. But little did she know that this tough flair was what attracted the guys the most. And if personality didn’t matter to the men, her looks certainly made up for it.
But all this was unfortunately missed by Anne, and she continued to stomp up the stairs, scowling at the ground, and pondering confused and enflamed thoughts of annoying whispering boys. She consoled herself slightly by imagining all the horrible things she could curse them into if they dared touch her.
A bit cheered up after picturing a particularly satisfying scene which included one of the whispering boys, a rather large Acromantula, and herself brandishing a whip, Anne lifted her eyes and gazed around at the corridor that she had walked herself into. She paused in her steps and gazed out the windows.
The ruby sun was bowing the last visible parts of its glowing head under the horizon line, while the gray-blue sky swiftly clawed after it. The sky’s metallic color drenched the hall.
For the first time in what seemed like a century, Anne felt herself relax. The sky was just so beautiful. Her eyes continued to wander until they landed on the tips of forest’s trees.
I wonder if Peter is still in there…
At the thought of Peter, her weariness and tired thoughts gripped her once more. She heaved a sigh and resumed walking. Her thoughts continued to linger on Peter.
This is our last year at Hogwarts. I’ve done my best to keep Bella’s damn hands off Peter and the others for the last two years, and it’s worked so far, but still…I can’t help but feel nervous. This year is her last year. She almost got all of us in the forest, and I’m willing to bet anything that she’s not through yet. This is her last chance. She’s getting desperate.
Anne heaved yet another tired sigh. She paused in her steps and looked to the silver sky once more.
I just hope Peter remembers where his loyalty lies. He’s not comfortable being teased all the time by Sirius and the others. That’s why I’ve been making such an effort to be nicer to him, but still…He could end up forgetting the kindness he’s received and focusing only on all the damage done these past few years.
As Anne stepped out of the hall and into a new, larger corridor packed with students, she was pushed out of her reverie by Peeves, who flew into the corridor cackling his head off and looking rather like a Muggle inmate in a lurid, bright orange tuxedo.
“Is it time for Peeves’s annual Halloween countdown already?“ Anne thought dully.
Sure enough, Peeves began throwing black water balloons, filled with what looked like orange ketchup mixed with giant troll boogers, onto the heads of the screaming students, while he, himself, cackled, “Only a few more weeks until Halloween! Peevsie will be giving you all an even more special treat on that day!”
Anne smoothly dodged a wheezing Filch, who had bustled his way into the corridor brandishing a broom, Mrs. Norris just at his heels. He began pouring a stream of infuriated curse words at the cackling poltergeist, as Anne managed to squeeze herself and her mountain of books into a secret tunnel behind a large frayed tapestry.
In the silence of the tunnel, her thoughts drifted from how Filch was always fighting a losing battle against Peeves, then to Peter again, before focusing back on to the whispering boys. As soon as she did, her anger spiraled up again.
Insolent little arses, they are! Like I’d ever think twice about them unless I were hexing them! I have enough strife in my life without their stupid whispers, what with the forest, Peter, Bellatrix…and Remus,” she thought furiously, as she managed to lift up another large tapestry while precariously balancing her books on one of her uplifted knees.
As she stepped out onto a silent and empty hall, her mind wandered back to the memories of the events in the forest as it had done a thousand times that week. A vision of Bellatrix’s pale face suddenly swarmed in front of her eyes. Anne twitched her head in manner mixed with irritability and nervousness, and Bellatrix’s hollow eyes turned into Lily’s green ones. They were shocked and frightened.
Anne sighed as she remembered the looks on her friends’ faces the night she had lost control of herself. She had shocked everyone more than she ever would have thought possible. But then again, they had never seen her like that. Not even Alice or Lily had seen that side of her. They didn’t know that a part like that had existed in her.
Well, how could they? I’ve never really told them the full story of my past. Only one other person has seen me in that sort of condition…
She readjusted her books once more with a labored grunt. As she did, her thoughts flew back to the annoying, muttering boys. She scowled at the thought that they had the nerve to think that she was: “the only one out of the Hot Three left.”
Besides, they’re all wrong about me. They think that I’ve given up on Remus, have they? Well…
Anne halted in her steps. She could feel her heart thumping wildly, as if it were throwing itself in all sorts of directions within her chest.
Had she given up on Remus? No! Of course she hadn’t, she loved him! But...
He had pushed her away. He had cold-heartedly rejected her when he so clearly knew that all she needed was him. Nothing about him would change her feelings for him.
She still loved him, but did he love her? If he did, then how could he possibly have the heart to cast her away when he knew that she loved him beyond all measure, all limits? How could he push her aside like that after the horrible events of the forest?
She shook her head violently as the thought that had been haunting her for a week returned to her once more.
What if he doesn’t love me?
Anne suddenly felt something warm drip down her lips. One hand sprang to her lips to find them smeared with blood. With a frustrated sigh, she tilted her head back to stop her nose bleed.
With the same hand, she fumbled in her pockets for her wand, thinking grimly of how stressed she must be to push herself until the point of creating a nose bleed.
Anne vehemently whispered “shit” as her searching fingers knocked her wand out of her pocket. Sometimes she felt clumsier than Alice. She thought of how lazy she was in that she didn’t want to put her heavy books on the ground just for the sake of not having to pick the damn things up again.
She was about to fling them down to the floor when someone lifted them out of her arms. With blood still ensuing from her nose and her head thrown back, Anne had no view of the stranger and could do nothing but stand helplessly.
Before she could start yelling at the stranger to give them back, which was about the only thing she could do at the moment, the mysterious stranger took out his wand and pointed it directly at Anne’s face. Instantly, the sweet blood that had been running down into her throat vanished. Her nostrils were also cleared from blood.
Before she had lifted her head up into its proper position, her stranger gave another gentle wave and her blood-stained lips, chin, and hand immediately became clean again.
Quite taken aback with all the helpfulness, Anne readjusted her head to thank her helper.
Anne lifted her head and for a second, thought that she was looking into the eyes of an angel.
They were the most beautiful eyes she had ever beheld. They had the power to take one’s breath away. As soon as she had connected her eyes to his, she felt as if she had been thrown into a pool of pure moonlight. His eyes were a gorgeous light blue, so light that they were on the point of nearly turning a shade of purple. They were the exact color of the moon’s beams at full moon. She could feel herself sinking into those pale, captivating eyes. She wanted to stay immersed in them forever.
“Are you all right?” the boy asked, a concerned look on his handsome face.
Anne blinked and shook her head. She suddenly realized that she was blushing.
“Er, yes. Yes, I’m fine,” she said, shaking herself slightly and quickly regaining her usual composure. She stooped down to retrieve her wand.
The stranger, perceiving on what she was about to do, immediately bent down also. He beat her to her wand and grabbed it before Anne had even bent her knees. He picked it up and handed it to her.
“Thank you,” Anne whispered, as she took it from him, not daring to look up into those captivating eyes. But despite her effort not to, she felt her eyes wandering up to his face once more, as if pulled by an invisible magnet.
He was the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. He was quite tall, about a foot taller than Anne, even though she was quite tall herself. Though his black robes were covering his arms and legs, Anne could easily perceive his thin but muscular features. His hair, which fell casually and gracefully about his forehead and face, was sleek, shiny, and as black as the night sky. Even more flawless than his hair was his skin. It was perfect, faultless, and as pale and pure as the full moon itself.
His sweet voice made Anne snap out of her trance.
“No problem,” the stranger said. “I’m new here. My name is Endymion Lucent.”
He tried to extend his hand towards her, but the load of books he was carrying ended up impeding him. Instead, Anne’s many books toppled out of his arms and scattered themselves all around the two.
“Oh, shit- I mean…sorry! Sorry for cussing- and, and for dropping your books!”
“Oh no!” Anne said quickly. “No, it’s fine! You’ve helped me so much already. And I cuss too, so it‘s really no problem!” Anne smiled.
Was it just her imagination, or did he flush at her smile?
“Here, er, let me help you pick them up again,” he said, stooping down. Anne quickly crouched down too. Soon, both of them were busy retrieving the books.
“Oh! By the way, my name is Anne. Anne Wu.”
Endymion, who had been picking up a particularly large book suddenly lost his grip, causing it to crash down on to his toes.
“MFFF!” he stifled a scream of pain.
“Dear Merlin, are you all right?” Anne gasped, dropping all the books she had picked up and crouching down next to Endymion who was now crunched into a ball, caressing his toes.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m all right, but my toes aren’t.“ He grinned painfully, looking into Anne’s eyes.
Anne suddenly felt herself gazing into his beautiful eyes again. She tried to pull away, but for some reason, she sensed that he was trapped in her eyes too.
They both blinked.
“Er, sorry. I’m not usually this clumsy!“ Endymion said, breaking eye contact and groping for books once more.
“Oh! No, no, er, it’s fine!” Anne answered, lunging forward to retrieve books also.
An awkward silence passed during which the two speedily picked up the rest of the tomes. After a few minutes, the books were back in Anne’s arms again.
“There we are!” Endymion grunted, as he laid the last few textbooks in her arms.
“Thank you,” Anne smiled. “Sorry. All I keep saying is thank you!”
“It’s no problem.” Endymion smiled back. As the two gazed at each other once more, another uncomfortable stillness passed between them.
“Er…do you need help carrying these back to your common room?” Endymion asked, obviously trying to break the awkwardness. “Well, more than that, do you need help reading these? I mean, they’re all so advanced! I take it you’re in N.E.W.T. year for Potions?”
“Yeah. I actually really like Potions, but I have to admit, it’s a real pain in the ass this year!” Anne grinned.
“I bet,” he grinned back. “I like Potions too. I don’t mean to brag, but it’s always been my best subject.”
“Really? Then if I come to you for help, you’ll be able to give it to me no matter how hard the question is?” Anne said cheekily.
Endymion smiled.
“We’ll see.”
Endymion’s smile suddenly vanished. He hastily fumbled in his robes and whipped out a pocket watch. He jumped as he saw the time.
“Dear Merlin! Is that the time? Shit, I’ll be late for the meeting!” he whispered.
“Is everything all right?” Anne frowned.
“Yes- I hope,” Endymion smiled shakily, shoving his watch back into his pocket. “Sorry Anne, but I have to go!”
“Oh, no problem!” Anne said, taken aback by his hastiness.
“I’ll see you later!” he said as he sped off in the opposite direction. He turned the corner and was gone.
“Bye,” Anne whispered, staring at the spot where he had vanished.
He just disappeared…like some heavenly dream. I’ve never seen such eyes…and he was so kind to me. I didn’t even get to ask where he came from or what house he’s in or anything.
But for some reason…I get a feeling I’ll see him again soon.
Anne turned to walk down the hall and up to the Gryffindor common room. As she reflected on her conversation with the mysterious Endymion, she finally realized it.
“OH MY GOD! I WAS FLIRTING WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN MOONY! I WAS FLIRTING WITH ANOTHER MAN! DOES THAT MEAN I WAS CHEATING? OH DEAR MERLIN!” she screamed aloud in horror.
All her books came crashing down to the floor once more.
A/N #2: I can tell you right now, Endymion isn't one of those unoriginal, goody-two-shoes boring guys. We haven't seen the last of him yet!
A/N #3: Just a curiosity poll, but who do you think is hotter Endymion or Sirius?
A/N#4: (Wow- many A/N's!) Okay, so I think I've just discovered that everyone thinks Sirius is the hottest piece of human in Potterverse! lol So the poll is now OFF. But if you still want to show your Sirius pride, go ahead! BUT REMEMBER TO COMMENT ON THE CHAPTER TOO PLEASE! THANKS EVERYONE!