Freak!
It didn’t take long for the rumors to start. By the time that Anne and Irwin made it up to dinner after potions, the other first-years were already muttering about her. Dinner was beef casserole, but Anne only picked at it.
The moment Irwin finished his dinner they went back to the common room. It was only the first day but they already had three essays one from each subject. Anne brought the first volume of her History of Magic textbooks down to the common room with her to help with their essay.
By eight o’clock Anne and Irwin had finished all three essays. Their History of Magic essays were at least double the length required, but there was just so much they wanted to fit in! Once they finished Anne headed up to bed and got into her pajamas. She felt like reading something familiar and so picked her Jane Austen off her shelf. She flicked through to Pride and Prejudice and started to read. She hadn’t got past the part where Mr. Collins arrived when she heard talking.
“She really weird isn’t she!” said Padma.
“She’s a freak if you ask me!” laughed Mandy.
“She’s not that bad, I mean yeah she is a bit quiet…” reasoned Persephone.
Anne froze where she was reading, and her body started to tense up.
“No Mandy’s right!” said Lisa. “She is a freak; I mean did you see her in potions class! She went and hid under the table just because he asked her a few questions!”
“Don’t be so horrible Lisa! She might hear you!”
“I don’t bloody care she is freak, and she knows it!”
“If you ask me,” continued Mandy, “she belongs in a mental asylum instead of a school, she’s crazy. I mean come on! She jumps at the slightest noise, won’t talk to any of us, and hides under the desk when a teacher asks her a question!”
Anne sat on her bed, she pulled her legs in towards her chest and started to cry quietly. The worst thing about what they were saying was that it was all true.
“It’s no wonder she’s in Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor like the rest of the family. She isn’t brave enough! Lucky Gryffindor’s they get the Boy Who Lived, we meanwhile get his freak twin sister!” Lisa laughed.
“Both of you stop now!” shouted Persephone.
“You don’t know the full story; you can’t judge her like this! You’re both being horrible!” yelled Padma.
Mandy and Lisa decided to not upset their roommates by carrying the subject further and the girls started to discuss who their favorite wizard was in Witch Weekly that week. Eventually, the girls went off to their separate beds and all went to sleep.
Anne didn’t sleep that night though. She didn’t sleep particularly well at the best of times but tonight she was just far too upset. Mandy and Lisa had some pretty horrible things, but the worst part was of course that all that they had said was true! She did belong in an asylum and she was too cowardly for Gryffindor!
The next morning Anne had shadows under her eyes when she went down to breakfast. She didn’t touch her fruit, however. Irwin looked at her nervously as he munched on his bowl of cereal. They had been talking about Anne in the boy’s dorm last night as well, but Irwin had got them to shut up.
“We’ve got double defense today, and double transfiguration,” Irwin pointed out trying to cheer her up, “that should be exciting!”
Anne merely nodded and they grabbed their bags and went to the classroom with Helena. Defense Against the Dark Arts was not particularly eventful apart from Quirrell stuttering over Harry and Anne’s names. This wasn’t that unusual though as Quirrell stuttered most of the time anyway!
Lunch went about the same as breakfast, Irwin eating his lunch talking about their lessons and homework whilst Anne’s mind wondered thinking about what she would have been doing at home; playing with Luna, studying with Remus, maybe going for a drive through the countryside with Sirius. Her lunch left ignored on her plate.
Transfiguration was with the Hufflepuffs and they were asked to turn matchsticks into needles. Irwin had managed to turn his matchstick pointy and slightly silver. Anne’s was fully transformed including the eye of the needle. They both received a house point and a smile from McGonagall.
At the start of dinner, Harry came over quickly to talk to Anne. “Hi, sorry I haven’t seen you earlier, Ron and I have been busy exploring the castle!” Harry said excitedly “Are you alright?”
“Hmm yes I’m fine” Anne muttered. If Harry could tell that she was lying to him he didn’t say anything about it. He smiled at her and reminded her to eat her dinner before running off to go explore a secret passage with Ron.
Irwin was starting to get worried now though. He kept on glancing nervously at his friend as yet again she didn’t eat a bite. He didn’t think she’d had anything to eat since yesterday lunchtime, and from the looks of her, she hadn’t slept well either! He didn’t want to say anything about it to Anne though in case it made her more upset.
Irwin finished his dinner and Irwin and Anne were about to leave when Rolf stood in their way when they left the Great Hall. “What’s up?” asked Rolf.
“What are you talking about?” asked Irwin evasively.
“I’ve been watching you two, you’ve been looking upset about something all dinner. Don’t even try and deny it Irwin I’m your brother” said Rolf firmly when Irwin tried to protest. “And Anne hasn’t even touched her dinner! Now what’s up?” he asked kindly.
“It’s nothing!” said Irwin but Rolf's face clearly showed he didn’t believe him. “It’s Anne,” Irwin finally admitted looking at his friend, “she’s been acting strange since Snape upset her in potions yesterday,” he garbled.
Rolf took another look at Anne who he suddenly realized was now white a sheet. “Anne?” he asked gently “when did you last eat?”
Anne just stared at the floor and pulled at the end of one of her plaits.
“Irwin?” he asked his brother.
“Um well,” Irwin admitted guiltily “she had a sandwich yesterday lunchtime…”
“Yesterday lunch!” exclaimed Rolf in shock. At that second Anne fainted only just being caught by Rolf.
Anne came to a few seconds later “you alright?” asked Rolf. Anne nodded slowly. “Right you two are coming with me!” Rolf announced as he helped Anne off the floor.
“But!” Irwin started as Rolf picked up Anne and started towards the stairs leading to the dungeons.
“Don’t argue! Don’t worry mate you’re not in trouble!” Rolf assured him.
“Alright,” said Irwin following his brother down the stairs.
After a while Irwin asked Rolf were they were going.
“Dinners just finished, I’m finding Anne some food,” Rolf told him. They had just gone past a set of barrels and were now in front of a painting of fruit. “Tickle the pear,” Rolf told his brother. Rolf was still carrying Anne as he was worried that she wasn’t strong enough to support herself.
“Do what?” asked Irwin confused.
“Tickle the pear!” Rolf said again more urgently.
Irwin stared at his brother as if he had gone mad, but he tickled the pear all the same. It turned into a doorknob, and once they turned that Irwin found himself looking at a large room full of tiny house-elves.
“Excuse me?” called Rolf politely. “Excuse me, could we please have some food, this young girl isn’t feeling very well,” he said indicating Anne who was still looking very weak.
“Oh, but of course Master Scamander!” said one of the elves. A few minutes later half a dozen elves arrived carrying a basket of food which they handed to Irwin. “Thank you so very much!” said Rolf to the elves as they left the kitchen still carrying Anne.
When they reached an empty classroom Rolf gently placed Anne down on two chairs with her feet up. Rolf unpacked the basket and found some cold roast chicken, crisps, some fruit, a large number of sweets, and several bottles of Butterbeer.
Once Anne had had something to eat then Rolf started again. “So, will one of you please tell me what’s going on?” he asked still calm but more firm.
Anne and Irwin looked at each other unsure what to say. Rolf looked at them his eyebrows raised; it was clear he wasn’t going to give up till he found out the truth.
“Well, it all started yesterday, Professor Snape was picking on Anne in class, asking her difficult questions.” Rolf nodded, “well Anne got upset and she wrote him a note with the answers on before hiding under the desk where she had a panic attack.”
“I see,” said Rolf.
“After a few minutes, she came back out and continued with the lesson. Snape kept us back after class and apologized.” Irwin continued.
Rolf looked shocked “Snape apologized! Well, there’s a miracle!”
“Anne seemed a bit off at dinner last night, but I just left her to it just assumed she’d had a long day, I’m used to dad sometimes being like that,” Irwin explained “but this morning she seemed worse rather than better. That’s all I know I’m afraid” Irwin finished.
Rolf nodded, “Anne?” he asked gently “is all that true?” she nodded “is there anything else you need to tell me?” Anne shrugged. “Anne!” Rolf sighed “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong!”
Anne sighed and started to talk nervously. “I was upset in potions yesterday. I get nervous about things and Professor Snape surprised me when he picked on me in class. I got upset so I went under to desk to hyperventilate,” Rolf nodded. “Last night,” Anne continued hesitantly “I was reading in my dorm with the curtains drawn. The other girls in my year came in and they were talking about how strange I was” Anne struggled, and Irwin put his arm around her. “Lisa and Mandy called me a Freak! They said I wasn’t in Gryffindor like Harry or mum and dad because I wasn’t brave enough! They even said I should be in an asylum instead of a school!”
Anne at this point burst into tears and tried to comfort her, “It’s Anne alright you’re not a freak!”
“You’re very brave actually,” said Rolf crouching down to talk to her. “You told me what the problem was and talked about it even though it did make you upset. That was very brave Anne,” Rolf finished patting her on the back. “There's just one more thing Anne?” Rolf asked carefully, “How are you about remembering to eat regularly?”
Anne blushed, “sometimes when I’m at home my family have to remind me to eat properly,” she admitted guiltily, “my mind is sometimes a bit preoccupied with other things like a book I was reading or something about my lessons.”
Rolf had thought as much, his father was sometimes the same way and had to be reminded by his mother to eat. “Irwin,” Rolf said firmly “I want you to keep an eye on Anne and make sure she remembers to eat, ok mate?” Irwin nodded.
“Right! Come on then you two, we need to go talk to Flitwick” announced Rolf. Rolf could tell that Anne was a sensitive girl that would need to be looked after properly, as he wasn’t actually in Ravenclaw he wouldn’t be able to help much but he would do what he could.
“You said we wouldn’t get in trouble!” Irwin protested.
Rolf sighed, “Irwin you are not in trouble! But this still has to be reported to Flitwick. The other girls have been bullying Anne, and we don’t want what happened in Snape’s yesterday to happen again” Rolf explained as they started their way up to Flitwick’s office.
Rolf knocked on the door when they arrived. “Come in!” called Flitwick.
Rolf poked his head around the door, Professor Flitwick was sitting at his desk marking a pile of essays. “Excuse me, sir, can I talk to you please?” Rolf asked.
“If this is about your holiday homework Mr. Scamander you have nothing to worry about, I just finished marking it you got an Outstanding!”
Rolf smiled. “No sir it’s not about the essay, it’s about two of your first year’s sir,” Rolf said hesitantly.
“You are a Hufflepuff prefect Rolf,” Flitwick pointed out, “surely this should be either Miss Clearwater or Mr. Lloyds responsibility?”
“Yes, well usually it should, but I noticed my brother and his friend were acting a bit strange at dinner,” Rolf explained.
“Ah yes of course! Irwin! Well why don’t the three of you come in then?” said Professor Flitwick.
“Hello again Anne, Irwin,” he greeted warmly, “and what can I help you two with?”
Professor Flitwick asked them to sit down, and Rolf and Irwin began to explain the last two days to Professor Flitwick whilst Anne played nervously with her plaits. “Hmm… yes I do remember Severus mentioning something in the staff room last night,” said Professor Flitwick once Rolf and Irwin finished.
“It seems as if I need to be having a word with your roommates Anne. One of the traits I am most proud of in my Ravenclaws is their acceptance of the diversity and the different,” he said smiling at Anne.
“I have noticed sir that Anne has a very nervous disposition,” Rolf said.
“He’s right, she’s always worried about things, getting to class on time, doing homework right,” Irwin added. “We don’t need to worry about being late for class now because one of the ghosts the Grey Lady keeps helping us.”
“Ah, you two have befriended Helena. Good! Good! I will have a word with the other teachers warning them about this. And Anne as for worrying about things,” he pointed out “I think you’ll find that you’ll be fine with such good friends as Irwin and his brother Rolf watching out for you!”
“Thank you sir!” she said.
“Well of you go then, I’m sure you three have homework to be getting on with. Oh, by the way, Anne!” Professor Flitwick called. “Do you have a way of contacting your family or would you like me to? They will need to know about this I’m afraid”
Anne shook her head frantically “no!” she stuttered “I’ll do it!”
“That’s alright dear, just make sure that you do!” called Flitwick as they left his office.
Rolf led the younger students back to their common room and knocked on the door “Where do vanished objects go?” asked the eagle.
“The Room of Requirement?” Rolf supplied.
“Well there’s a new one!” exclaimed the eagle as the door opened.
“I’m going to have to leave you two here, I’ve got homework,” Rolf told them.
Anne and Irwin sat down and ate some more of the food the elves had given them. “Anne, you need to write to your uncles!” Irwin prompted after a while.
“I have a mirror, it lets me talk to them,” Anne told him.
“Do you want me to join you?” Irwin asked. Anne nodded nervously.
“Tell you what we’ll do it in my room then, the girls are allowed in the boy's dorms for some reason!” Irwin laughed.
Anne ran up to her trunk to fetch her mirror and then followed Irwin to his dormitory. As it was only seven o’clock the room was empty. It was the same as the girls but it had four beds not five.
Anne and Irwin flopped down onto Irwin’s bed. “Sirius?” Anne called clearly “Sirius?”
“Anne?” asked Sirius “Anne! It’s good to see you, see you made Ravenclaw! What in the name of Merlin are you doing in a boy’s bedroom!” Sirius shouted noticing Irwin.
“The boys aren’t allowed in the girls and we wanted some privacy to talk to you” Anne explained.
“Oh!” sighed Sirius in relief, “Moony! Moooonny! Anne’s on the mirror!”
Remus came into view “Anne dear! Its good to see you! And who is your young friend?” he asked.
“This is Irwin Scamander, he’s my friend, um Sirius, Remus,” Anne said nervously, “I need to talk to you…”
Between Anne and Irwin, they slowly explained about Snape and the bullying and Rolf helping them. Sirius and Remus had struggled to be quiet until they finished their tale.
“That bloody git! I’m going to kill Severus! And as for those Ravenclaw girls!” shouted Sirius.
“Calm down Sirius,” said Remus. “It sounds like Severus apologized, and as for the young girls, it sounds like Flitwick is dealing with it” explained Remus with a cool head.
“yes well” muttered Sirius.
“What I would like to know, is where was your brother during all this?”
“Yeah where was Harry?” shouted Sirius.
“He’s been a bit busy,” Anne admitted guiltily, “I didn’t want to bother him,” she muttered.
Remus looked disappointed. Sirius was scowling “That boy! He promised us he would look after you!” Sirius screamed. “We’ll be having words with him!” Sirius added ominously.
Anne played with her plaits nervously again. “We’re not upset with you dear,” Remus said. “We’re glad you’ve got such good friends as Irwin and Rolf, but Harry is your brother, he should be looking after you instead of running off with Ron all the time,” Remus explained.
They talked for a while longer and then Anne and Irwin said goodbye because they needed to do their homework.
A few days later Anne and Irwin were sitting at breakfast when they were interrupted by Harry and Ron. “Anne?” Harry said holding a letter which had arrived the night before “I’m sorry if I’ve been neglecting you, can we join you for breakfast?” Harry asked.
Anne nodded “It's ok,” she told him. Harry smiled.
Harry, Ron, Anne, and Irwin were comparing their lessons that they had had when the post arrived. A letter was dropped by them which had scrawled on it, Harry and Anne Potter.
Harry opened it and Anne read over his shoulder.
Dear Harry and Anne,
I was friends with your Mum and Dad,
I know you get Friday Afternoons off,
Would you two like to come to tea today?
Hagrid.
“Can we come too?” asked Irwin and Ron
“Sure,” replied Harry, Anne nodded.
And so, on Friday afternoon the four of them headed down to Hagrid’s hut.
“Hello, there!” called Hagrid “and who are these two?”
“I’m Ron Weasley!”
“Oh, Weasley is it! I knew your brother Charlie, great with animals. I spend half me life chasing your brothers out of the forest!”
Ron laughed.
“Irwin Scamander,” said Irwin holding out his hand.
“Hi Irwin, I’ve always admired your grandfather, I always consult his books, he wrote a particularly interesting article on kelpies last month,” said Hagrid.
Irwin was used to this. If someone didn’t want to talk to him about his father’s papers it was his grandfather’s Newt Scamander.
They all spent a long afternoon drinking many cups of tea whilst Ron told Hagrid about his older brother Charlie and his work with dragons.
After dinner that night Anne and Irwin went back up to the common room discussing their plans for the weekend. They wanted to properly explore the library properly as they hadn’t had time yet.
When they reached the common room, they found the first years huddled around two of the tables which they had pushed together.
“Anne, Irwin!!” called Michael
“Finally! Help us!” implored Padma and Lisa
“We know you’ve already done the astronomy and transfiguration essays,” explained Anthony “but we could use a little help,” he admitted.
Irwin laughed as he pulled over an available chair and started explaining about the transfiguration essay. Anne also pulled over a chair and went through Mandy’s astronomy essay marking the places she had gone wrong or missed things out.
“Thanks, Anne,” Mandy said nervously. “Um Anne we’re sorry about the other day”
“Yeah” continued Lisa “we shouldn’t have said anything whether we thought you were in the room or not. And I’m sorry we said you’re a freak”
Mandy nodded. “Yeah, you’re not a freak. You’re just… different.”
“And as Professor Flitwick told us if everyone were the same the world would be very boring,” finished Lisa.
“Forgive us?” they asked hopefully.
“We’ll understand if you don’t” added Mandy.
“Of course, I forgive you!” cried Anne.
Anne was quite shocked as Mandy and Lisa pulled her into a tight hug, where they promptly joined by both Padma and Persephone. All the girls were soon busy chatting away having finished their homework.
The Ravenclaw first years eventually decided to make it a group event for all nine of them to explore the library over the weekend and to make notes of what was kept in each section.
Anne went to bed in the small hours of the morning that night very tired, but very happy! She had so many friends! And they didn’t mind that she wasn’t normal because they thought it made her more interesting! Anne couldn’t wait to write home to Luna about all her new friends; Her first friend Irwin and his helpful brother Rolf, a tad opinionated and bossy but well-meaning underneath it Mandy, Lisa who had asked Anne to teach her how to knit that evening, Padma and Persephone who had tied Anne’s long thick hair into hundreds of tiny little braids whilst the girls had talked well into the night, always calm and collected Anthony who was going to tell Anne all about being Jewish, and finally, Michael and Terry who were always laughing and always seems to be talking about something whether it was their favorite quidditch teams or discussing their homework. She was almost tempted to write home to Luna now but decided she had better go to bed as it was three o’clock in the morning!