The sun beamed in through the magical windows in the Slytherin first year dorm, the light hitting Anya right in her eyes and waking her up unusually early on a Saturday morning. Then again, she had always been a light sleeper, always tense and on her toes even in sleep and she had foolishly left the tea green curtains drawn. Well, there was nothing to it, she would have to get up and start her day early. Given the date it was, she was sure she wouldn't get much sleep anyway.
Slipping into her pink bathrobe, the Prince family crest catching the sun rays and making the gold thread shine, and matching slippers she picked out her new favourite outfit. It was a powder blue dress and matching cardigan (and the warmest socks she could find) that her parents got her as a gift after the tedious meeting with the Black matriarch. She knew it was a bit too nice for just a weekend around campus with nothing to do but she felt the day merited it. Picking a matching ribbon for her hair, she went to the bathroom to get changed, careful not to make too much noise and wake her roommate Emma.
She took another turn, her Mary-Janes echoing in the empty hallway as she walked, intent on exploring and keeping to herself. She couldn't share the significance of today with anyone, and even if the event was celebrated already, she couldn't help but feel like it was all a cruel joke. Maybe if she had stopped by the kitchens and had actually eaten something she would feel a little better. No matter, she would get something later.
Just as she was about to take another step she stumbled upon a fuzzy figure on the floor. Startled, she took a step back. The white furry creature stared back at her. It reminded her of the Siberian cat one of the many foster homes had. But given the presence of this cat in Hogwarts she knew it had to at least be a half-kneazle. Kneeling, she softly spoke to it.
"Are you a he or a she? One meow for a boy, two for a girl," She asked softly, knowing the highly intelligent creature would understand.
"Meow," the cat replied.
"Well, you are a beautiful boy. Are you someone's familiar? One for no, two for yes," Anya said as she caressed his soft fur. The cat purred before answering.
"Meow," he said softly.
"Do you want to be mine?" She asked, not really thinking about it. She had always wanted a pet and the idea of getting one today felt especially important.
"Meow, meow," he replied, as he purred at her soft caresses.
"Hum, I have to give you a name then… How about Snow?" She asked, he meowed once in disagreement, "OK, how about a flower name, like Clover? Or after my favourite foods… like Peanut or Cocoa?" he meowed again just once, now looking annoyed.
"Okay, okay, let me think," Anya sighed, sensing his annoyance. And she really did try to think of a name but all she could think was her papa and his spying and the lies she told him and the lies she told for him and how those lies were making today especially miserable. But even in that misery inspiration struck. Because there was another spy she knew that she particularly liked because she had seen bits and pieces when the older kids at the orphanage watched the telly.
"What about Bond?" she asked, thinking of the brilliant 007, the best spy ever. Well, almost the best, her papa was cooler and better. He had magic, after all.
The cat studied her, his head slightly tilted right.
"Meow, meow," he answered.
Excitedly, Anya grabbed him, all sorrows momentarily forgotten as she hugged Bond to herself.
"Come on, I must show you to mama and papa."
"You got a cat? When? How?" Loid asked, genuinely baffled at the huge, round white fluff that stood next to Anya and was over half her height. The thing was huge in comparison to her.
"Just now, in the hallway," She answered, bouncing on her feet. "I think he's a half-kneazle, he's so smart! Isn't he great, papa? His name is Bond!"
Beside Loid, Yor chuckled, "I don't see the problem. All students are allowed one familiar and we never did get Anya one. So long as he really doesn't have an owner, I think we should let her keep him."
Loid looked at Yor then at Anya and Bond again before sighing in defeat. He didn't like the idea of having to take care of a pet, wasn't even sure how Anya would handle the responsibility really, but if it made the girls' happy then it would be good for his mission, "Fine then, you can keep him but he isn't a small responsibility. You have to feed him, take care of him…"
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you," She squealed, interrupting Loid and hugging them both tightly before turning to Bond.
"Come on, let's go see if the kitchen elves will get you some milk or even better some fish," Anya said excitedly as she ran out with her new familiar.
"Get some breakfast while you're at it," Loid yelled behind her, they had noticed she had missed breakfast and if she hadn't shown up by lunch, they definitely would have looked for her, but he doubted she heard him.
Hearing the door slam close, Yor chuckled fondly once more while Loid just sighed exasperatedly. He knew Yor teaching her where the kitchens were would only be trouble because even if both Slytherins and Hufflepuffs shared the dungeon floor, only the Puffs were really in the know but now their mischievous, very Slytherin daughter would wreak havoc there too.
"You know she'll torture those poor elves?" he asked.
"Oh hush, Anya is just very energetic. They'll love her, you'll see," Yor answered before turning to get back to her grading, Loid joined her at the table a few seconds after.
"Hi, I'm Anya. My mama told me I could find the kitchens here and I wanted to get some food for Bond," She said, pointing at the half-kneazle beside her. Just as she finished the sentence her stomach growled, reminding her she had missed breakfast too and it was almost lunch time.
"And some for me too, please," she added a bit embarrassed.
"Of course, young Mistress Anastasia," one of the elves squeaked as they all went into a frenzy to get them some food.
"Oh, you don't have to call me that, Miss Anya is fine," she said softly. She knew house elves would never just call her Anya but hopefully they would accept the simpler title.
"Miss Anastasia, sit, please," an older elf said politely but firmly, nearing her and motioning to a stool by one of the huge wooden tables.
Anya sat and tried to get comfortable before motioning to Bond to come near her. The cat studied her for a moment before deciding to join her and jumped on the large wooden table in front of her. She reached to pet Bond and turned to the elf that told her to sit.
"What's your name? Please," she asked the elf politely.
"Basil, Miss," the old elf answered, raising a brow as if to say 'well are you going to point out the obvious and laugh.'
Anya simply nodded, understanding that it was probably not uncommon for the elf to get jokes made at the cost of his name and profession matching and decided to talk about Bond instead.
"Well, as you know I'm Anya and this is Bond and I just got him today and he's the best present ever," she almost squealed, hugging him before freezing up and squeezing her eyes shut in fear that she had somehow given herself away. "Oh no, I… oh please don't tell anyone."
The elf looked at her curiously. He was old, positively ancient by even wizard status and he had seen many things in his lifetime. From the moment the students first arrived at Hogwarts their connection to the school let them know many things about the students, dietary restrictions and needs, allergies, etc. and so they knew more than the average wixen. From the moment Anastasia Forger had stepped into their kitchen, he could tell that the child wasn't exactly who they said. Her aura was different, a mix of her own aura and that of her "parents" added on top. Other things not matching up made only more sense. He would need to pay a visit to the old Hat and verify some things.
"Your secret is safe with us, Miss Anastasia, so long as you promise to let us know how you like your food," he said as the food appeared in front of her, causing Bond to jump in shock. Bond hissed at the site of the sudden food until a plate was placed in front of him by a younger elf.
"Thank you. I bet everything is delicious as always, " Anya said before digging in.
"Anya!" a voice yelled and she heard the sound of trainers hitting the floor as Emma ran to catch up to her.
"Oh, hey Em," she said to her roommate as she approached.
"Where have you been? Becky and I were looking for you everywhere," the brunette said between huffs as she caught her breath.
"Oh, where is she?" Anya asked, looking around for her best friend.
"She's down in the Quidditch field already with Damian, Ewen, Emile, and Pandora," the taller girl said excitedly, "Come on, we better hurry. Slytherin is having their tryouts today."
"And they're letting two Ravenclaws watch?" Anya asked as she was dragged towards the pitch, "And why are you so excited, we can't even try out until next year."
"But it's Quidditch Anya, and they're probably letting Becky and Dora be there because they're only firsties too," Emma said excitedly, her long ponytail swung behind her as she dragged Anya.
"Emma Vanity, you are utterly obsessed with that sport," Anya said teasingly before finally giving in and letting Emma drag her. She noticed Bond followed closely much to her delight. Maybe spending her birthday with her friends and her familiar was really the best way to do so.
"Anya, thank Merlin!" Becky exclaimed when they reached the pitch, "I'm so glad you're finally here. I can't with all of these Quidditch obsessed morons," she finished fondly as she looked at the boys and Emma staring at the pitch with hungry eyes.
"Hi Becky, hi Dora," Anya said in response, giving a slight wave to Becky's blue-eyed, blonde-haired, colorful roommate.
"Hello Anya," Pandora Pantazis answered in her ever dreamy voice before turning to watch the tryouts.
"So why are you here then?" Anya asked Becky as she took a seat beside her on the bleachers. She shivered a bit and wrapped her cardigan tight around herself.
"Well, I couldn't find you anywhere and I wasn't going to spend my Saturday all alone," Becky replied, rolling her eyes.
"Sorry, I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep so I went wandering around the castle and got a bit lost," Anya grimaced, hoping her half-truth would be easily believed, and noticed Bond who leapt to take a seat beside her then exclaimed, "But look, I have a new familiar now!"
"Oh, he's cute!" Becky exclaimed, scratching his ears, "But not as cute as my Wiesel! My Weezy is the cutest little kneazle."
"Nuh-uh, Bond is the cutest ever!" Anya replied almost petulantly, hugging the poor cat tight and close.
Becky laughed at her reaction, especially at the put upon look on the fluffy cat, "You're such a baby sometimes Anya."
"Just for that, I'm going to go and sit with Dora," Anya answered as she stuck her tongue out. She struggled to carry Bond in her arms but managed to sit herself next to the quirky Greek blonde.
"Oh hello," Pandora said, turning to look at them. She studied them for a moment, that ever-piercing gaze staring into her very soul.
"You must be Bond," Pandora said as she shook his paw.
Anya looked at her with slight confusion but decided to ignore the girl's oddness. She always behaved in the weirdest of ways, which was saying something coming from her. Maybe it was an international misinterpretation or some cultural difference. Whatever it was, the girl's thoughts were harmless enough, just a bit confusing.
"Are you a fan of the sport too?" Anya asked as she turned to finally watch the tryouts. It looked utterly boring to her and she wasn't a fan of flying anyway. She preferred her feet firmly on the ground.
"I'm a fan of flying," Pandora replied and Anya simply nodded but before she could reply, Becky sat on her other side.
"I can't believe you really just up and left me like that," she huffed and crossed her arms. She looked perfect even in her indignation.
"Well, you were being rude," Anya replied with a sniff and crossing her arms indignantly too. She gave her outfit a quick once over. She hoped she looked half as good as Becky.
"Sorry, sometimes I talk before I think," Becky said, not wanting to fight with her first real friend.
"Okay," Anya answered, not wanting to fight either, before adding, "Are we seriously gonna watch all of the tryouts?"
"Well, I think they're winding down by now since dinner's soon," Becky replied as she noticed the students moving towards the ground.
"Merci à Dieu, I'm freezing," Anya replied, pulling her cardigan closer, she wasn't dressed properly to be outside in this weather and she had yet to learn a warming charm. She made a mental note to ask her parents to teach her. While she was debating if she should try to accio a warmer sweater, that one they had already taught her so that she could get her wand back if she was ever disarmed in battle, she was interrupted by an extremely excited Emma.
"Oh my stars, did you guys see that? They were amazing," Emma started before giving them a play-by-play of the whole tryout even if they had been there for it all. Pandora walked politely beside her and nodded at the appropriate times, causing her curious mushroom earrings to jingle. The boys were further ahead, talking between themselves, and Becky and Anya were at the tail end trying to escape the excited rants.
"I think she's gonna come and watch every single practice," Anya told Becky, honestly flabbergasted that anyone could enjoy Quidditch that much.
Becky snorted and laughed, "You doubt it?"
"No, not at all," Anya chuckled back as they ran to catch up with the rest.
"Hey, is that a fairy cake? I've never seen one of those at Hogwarts before," Becky asked, bewildered at the pink and purple frosted dessert that had appeared in front of Anya's plate.
"Huh," Anya said, looking surprised too and she went to grab it and place it on her plate. She noted the tiny script reading "Many Happy Returns" on the side, practically invisible to anyone but her. She knew it had to be a gift from the kitchen elves. They really were too kind. She would definitely pay them back.
Suddenly, Emma said something drawing her attention there. Later that night as she fell asleep after eating her delicious chocolate and peanut butter fairy cake and enjoying a wonderful time with her friends, she snuggled up with Bond. All she could think of was that despite it all, this had been her best birthday yet.