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SIYE Time:12:56 on 29th March 2024
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Darkness Within
By MollyandArthur

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Category: Pre-OotP, Alternate Universe
Characters:Albus Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy, Dumbledore, Harry/Ginny, Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Neville Longbottom, Other, Remus Lupin, Ron Weasley, Severus Snape, Sirius Black
Genres: Action/Adventure, Angst, Drama, General
Warnings: Dark Fiction, Death, Disturbing Imagery, Intimate Sexual Situations, Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Negative Alcohol Use, Rape, Sexual Situations, Violence
Story is Complete
Rating: R
Reviews: 144
Summary: Tom Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets while he was a student at Hogwarts. He committed another horrific act that same year. Now decades later, the students of Hogwarts continue to be impacted by his crimes. How will Ginny and her friends handle the darkness within?
Hitcount: Story Total: 148778; Chapter Total: 6974







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Chapter 9
Gringotts

Remus had brought Anna home to Longbottom Manor three days ago, and then returned to Hogwarts, so he would not miss teaching any of his Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. It had been a long and stressful three days for Augusta. She was relieved that Remus would be coming back this evening with Neville and staying for the weekend. Their presence in the house would be helpful, and she was looking forward to talking to Remus. The funeral service for Andrew Henry would be held the following afternoon.

When Anna came home, she had been so still and so quiet that Augusta had repeated the news to her of her father’s death. She wanted to be certain her great niece understood what happened. Andrew had died in a car crash several days ago. The report explained that his death had been almost instantaneous according to the police. He was declared dead at the scene of the accident. Anna had looked at her vacantly for a moment, and then requested permission to retire for the night. Augusta had agreed, sending the house-elf Litty to assist her.

Ever since then, Anna had come downstairs for meals, but had otherwise been in her room or outside walking over the frozen paths through the woods that surrounded the manor. Litty was gradually spending more time with her, selecting clothes for her to wear, brushing and braiding her hair, drawing water for her bath, and reminding her to go to the dining room to eat. Augusta was extremely grateful for her house-elf’s competent assistance.

The Floo flared and Neville stepped out of the fireplace followed closely by Remus.

“Hi, Gran,” Neville said quietly as he looked around. “Where’s Anna?”

Augusta hugged her grandson briefly. “She’s in her room. I’m sure that Litty is helping her dress for dinner and will send her down soon. I’m very glad that you’re both here.”

Remus nodded. “How is she doing?”

“As usual, Anna is perfectly calm… unnaturally calm,” Augusta sighed as she sat on the couch. “I keep waiting for her to react, but she is simply not reacting. Perhaps after the service tomorrow.”

“Yes,” Remus agreed. “Sometimes it takes the funeral service for the grieving to begin when a loved one is lost.”

“Will Anna be coming back to Hogwarts with us on Sunday?” Neville asked. The hope in his voice was clear, and his grandmother smiled sadly at him.

“No, dear,” she said gently. “Your cousin is not ready to return to school, and even if she was, we would have to delay.” Augusta looked at Remus as she continued. “Gringotts has requested our presence on Tuesday morning to discuss the matter of the vault and guardianship issues.”

Remus raised an eyebrow. “Andrew formally made you her guardian in the event of his death, I hope?”

She nodded. “He did indeed; however, I know very little of his financial situation or what arrangements he made at Gringotts. It will likely be an interesting meeting,” Augusta said.

Anna walked quietly into the room. “Neville, I’m so happy to see you,” she said as she approached him. He walked to her and pulled her into his arms. She stiffened for a moment and then held him tightly. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“You’re not alone, Anna. Don’t forget that,” he entreated as he released her.

She looked into his eyes and nodded. Then, she acknowledged her professor. “I’m glad you’re here, Remus. Thank you for coming.”

“Of course,” he said quietly. “Your father was a wonderful man, and I feel honored to have known him, even if it was briefly.”

At a loss for words, Anna swallowed and blinked rapidly.

Fortunately, Bitty announced dinner, and the family moved into the dining room. Everyone made an effort to keep the conversation light. They spoke of lessons, the food, and even the weather.

******************************** **************************************** *************

The funeral service was a bit of a blur for Anna. Litty had helped her dress in the same simple black gown she had worn almost a year earlier for her grandmother’s funeral. She had brushed her hair and tied it with a plain black ribbon into a low ponytail. Neville had walked beside Anna out to the small family cemetery on the corner of the Longbottom property. A dozen headstones stood inside the low wrought iron fence. The deep hole was already prepared in the frozen ground. Next to it was her father’s solid oak casket.

As she stood quietly, her mind kept returning to the other family funerals she had attended in the past. She could still smell the fragrant roses that had been at her grandmother Katherine’s funeral. The beautiful white and yellow blooms had been her favorite flowers, and they had adorned her casket on that early spring day.

She could still hear the earnest eulogy given by a former student and fellow healer at her grandfather John’s funeral a few years earlier. The speaker had been so kind, telling her how talented her grandfather was and how much he would be missed at the hospital where he had worked for so many years.

Her memories of her other two grandparents’ funerals were less clear, but she remembered the solemnity and the feeling of loss. They had also been healers at the same hospital where her other grandfather worked. They were popular and respected in their fields, and the funerals had been well attended.

Anna wished she could bring to mind something of her mother, but she had been so young when her mother died. She had pictures, of course, but no true memories.

Forcing herself back to the present, she realized the service was coming to a close. Neville was quietly guiding her towards the coffin to put down the rose clutched in her hand. It was blood red. Her father had always liked red roses. Every time he had visited her mother’s grave in Virginia, he had taken a bouquet of red roses to leave by her headstone. Now there was no one left to visit those far away graves but her.

As much as Anna had been happy to see Neville and Remus arrive at Longbottom Manor, she was somewhat relieved when they returned to Hogwarts. Neville had spent time playing chess and card games with her. Remus had offered to read with her or work on a potion. They had been kind and attentive, but they seemed to want to be near her all the time. It felt as though they were watching her every move, and it was exhausting. She desperately needed some time alone.

That night, Anna delayed her evening walk until Augusta sat down at her desk to respond to recent correspondence. “It’s not so cold this evening. I think I’ll take a long walk around the property.”

“Of course, my dear,” her great aunt said. “I hope you have a pleasant walk.”

She nodded and left the house. She couldn’t hold herself together much longer and felt her control slipping rapidly. Anna proceeded quickly to her favorite spot in the woods behind the house. The half-moon was rising, giving a gentle glow to the path she followed. The leafless trees stood still in the darkness, while the lightest wind moved through her hair as she walked.

Anna sighed with relief when she reached the small clearing. It was a sheltered spot — a circle of towering trees where dried leaves thickly blanketed the ground. She used her wand to cut the palm of her left hand. The familiar ritual comforted her. She murmured the spells reverently as she pressed her bloody hand against the trunks of the four trees she used to anchor her magic. Waving her wand carefully, she cast the spells that would insure her privacy and protection.

The moment she felt the power of the charms take hold around her, Anna knew she was safe. She was free to express her pain, free to release her overwhelming grief. She collapsed sobbing onto the forest floor, shaking with the fearful realization of being alone in the world. Anna was separated from all she had once known, all she had once had. Everyone from her childhood in Virginia was gone. There was no one left. She laid there weeping until she felt completely drained…empty.

Sitting up, she looked down at the wand still clenched in her hand with blurry eyes. This wand could help her, could release her from this pain. Without conscious thought, Anna traced her wand down her left forearm from elbow to wrist.

It would be so easy to end it all.

To never have to suffer loss again.

To never feel paralyzed by fear again.

Suddenly horrified by her own thoughts, she dropped her wand and succumbed to the fear coursing through her. She screamed, so loudly and for so long that she was tasting blood in her throat before her voice finally gave way.

************************ **************************************** *********************

Augusta read over the letter she had been working on for well over an hour. She sighed as she stood up, leaving the letter on her desk. She could post it first thing in the morning. It had been a long day, and she was definitely ready to retire for the night.

“Litty,” she called.

The house-elf responded to her summons a moment later.

“Mistress,” she said, waiting for instructions.

“Has Anna returned yet from her walk?” Augusta asked.

“No, Mistress,” Litty replied.

“Will you bring me my cloak please? I believe I’ll go check on her,” Augusta stated. At that exact moment, the door opened, and Anna walked in. Her shoes were damp and her cheeks were red.

“Oh, Anna,” her great aunt said. “I was just coming to look for you. I’m going up to bed, dear.”

Anna nodded and smiled slightly, approaching the older woman and kissing her cheek.

“Good night,” Augusta said resting her hand on the side of the girl’s cheek for a moment.

“Night,” she murmured before coughing hoarsely.

Augusta looked at her with concern before turning to Litty. “Please, get a cup of tea with lemon and honey for Anna. We don’t want her to be getting sick, and it sounds as though she has a very sore throat.”

Litty bobbed her head and left to get the tea while they walked together up the stairs.

******************************** **************************************** *************

Anna took a deep breath before entering the large white marble building of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. She had been to Diagon Alley only once before, but had never visited Gringotts. Augusta had prepared her as best she could for the experience, but the reality was extraordinary. They ascended the white staircase and passed through two sets of immense solid metal doors before entering the main hall of the bank. Everything in the building was either pearly white or well-polished metal. Every surface gleamed and was utterly pristine. The quiet, calm efficiency of the place immediately struck Anna as she cast her eyes over the numerous goblins sitting behind raised counters all around her. Every one of them was working silently, and yet she believed they were all watching the few witches and wizards in the room.

Augusta confidently approached an older goblin who looked up at her with mild interest. “Mrs. Augusta Longbottom and Miss Anna Henry to see Gornuk. We have an appointment,” she stated clearly.

The goblin peered at them both for a moment before getting up. “Please follow me,” he said before he walked out of the hall and into a long corridor with several closed doors. Augusta and Anna followed quietly, and entered the large office belonging to Gornuk.

“Thank you for responding so promptly to my request for a meeting,” he said. “Please have a seat.” He indicated the two chairs facing his desk and the two ladies sat and waited for him to continue.

“Miss Henry, you have my condolences. I’m sure your father’s death was difficult for you,” Gornuk began.

“Thank you,” Anna responded, keeping her voice as clear and level as possible.

“As I hope you are aware, your father named Mrs. Longbottom as your guardian in the event of his death before your 17th birthday,” he continued.

Anna nodded.

“Your father was extremely precise in the matter of your financial affairs and very careful in how they are arranged,” Gornuk said, turning his attention to her great aunt. “In fact, he hesitated to name a guardian at all. Mr. Henry felt that it would not be necessary. I convinced him that if he failed to select a guardian, one would be chosen in the event of his death, and that it might be someone undesirable. He named you to be his daughter’s guardian, but the financial situation is somewhat complicated.”

“I can certainly understand Andrew being cautious,” Augusta admitted. “And, I’m not offended in the least. He hardly knew me, and we were not related by blood. Anna is only three years from being of age. There was no reason for him to think that he would pass in that short span of time.”

“Indeed,” Gornuk nodded, glancing down at the papers on his desk. “Mr. Henry arranged for his daughter’s inheritance in such a way that only Miss Henry can withdraw money from her vault. She will have to sign off on every expenditure from the vault, including such things as her tuition at Hogwarts. Any time she wants to remove a sum of more than one hundred Galleons from her account, you will need to sign off on the withdrawal as well, Mrs. Longbottom.”

Anna and Augusta both nodded to show understanding of the rules regarding the money in the vault.

“Miss Henry’s vault also contains numerous items of financial value, including a large number of heirlooms,” Gornuk explained. “These items may be removed by Miss Henry at any time and for any reason, according to the arrangements made by her father.” He turned slightly to look directly at her. “I would highly recommend that you refrain from taking out anything you do not need.”

The goblin eyed Anna searchingly for a moment. “Your father indicated that a couple of trunks were sealed by your grandmother in such a way that only you could open them. He admitted to not knowing anything about the contents of those trunks,” he paused. “Do you know how to open them?”

“Yes,” Anna replied.

She felt the goblin’s questioning gaze, but did not offer further information.

“Do you know what the trunks contain?” he pressed.

“Yes,” she answered shortly.

The goblin looked at her inquiringly and waited. The silence lengthened.

Gornuk grumbled as he shuffled the papers in front of him. “The current monetary funds in your account total just over five hundred thousand Galleons. The objects that we have been able to examine in the vault have an approximate value of ten thousand Galleons. Since we do not know what is in the sealed trunks, we cannot give you an exact account of your current financial situation.”

“I understand,” Anna said as calmly as she could.

He eyed her with unconcealed frustration. She took a slow breath and met his gaze. “I appreciate your help and your time in explaining the situation with my vault.”

A low rumbling sound emitted from Gornuk’s throat. It was a moment before Anna realized the goblin was chuckling.

Augusta caught her eyes briefly, but they both remained silent.

“Would you care to visit your vault today, Miss Henry?” the goblin inquired.

“Yes, please,” Anna nodded. “I will be withdrawing ninety-nine Galleons from my vault as well as an object from one of the sealed trunks.”

Augusta was torn between admiring the girl’s nerve and despairing over how little control she actually had over Anna.

Gornuk was still chuckling in that odd way as he escorted them out of his office and directed another goblin to take them to the vault.

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