The move to Glasswater Manor was certainly exhausting. Anastasia has been scolded for more than 10 times by Snape, telling her how she should behave at the manner and lecturing her from her clumsy mistakes like when she accidentally tripped over a luggage an hour ago.
It didn't help the fact that it happened at night to. They had to be really quiet when moving things inside the carriages. Best not to make any students curious.
Finally, all her belongings are neatly put inside a separate carriage.
Snape and Anastasia walked hand in hand behind Dumbledore towards the carriage that she will be taking. Once in front of it, Dumbledore paused for a moment to look at Anastasia, a faint gloom can rarely be seen from his face.
" I trust that you have everything you need now, Ana? ", He said as he smiled down at the girl. " Not like you'll be needing most of them anyway since your father will probably buy new things for you. ", He added with a chuckle.
" No, no, no! ", Anastasia said as she shaked her head. " Even if Sir-, even if Father buys me new things, I won't dispose of the ones you gave me! "
" That's good to hear. "
Just then, McGonagall walked towards them from the gate, giving her a hesitant look before speaking. " I'm afraid it is time to go. ", Her voice a bit shakier than usual.
" Yes, yes I suppose so. ", Dumbledore said as he opened the door of the carriage.
Anastasia looked at Snape for a moment to see if he had anything to say, but nothing but silence followed. She forced herself not to sigh in disappointment as she climbed inside the carriage.
" Be careful Ana, and enjoy. ", McGonagall said as she backed away from the carriage along the two.
Only then did Snape finally broke out from his silent treatment and decided to send his best wishes. " Don't you dare cause any ruckus. Enjoy your life but don't enjoy too much. "
Never mind.
Anastasia just nodded awkwardly before waving at the three once the carriages started moving away from them.
Soon, the three lone figures looked blurry and small, only then did Anastasia look away and let out a deep sigh. Her life will be different now. Meaning new adjustments. She knows most about her will need to change. Living in Hogwarts with only playing at the Black Lake and her mini garden whenever she's free from Snape's and McGonagall's tutoring made her carefree.
Something that she knows the purebloods won't like.
She needs to be modest and controlled. Just the thought of it is making her feel nervous.
But she keeps reminding herself that it will help her fit in this new world in order to get what she wanted. Not that she knows what she wants yet.
[<>]
The Glasswater Manor certainly looks like a royal palace from the novels she read in the outside. Most of the exterior is painted in white and dark blue roofs. It's huge. There's multiple windows meaning multiple rooms.
Heck, even the gate looks magnificent.
Once they entered the grounds of the Glasswaters, she got a better view of the land.
A wide space made of marble flooring, probably for carriages to park. A huge fountain in front of the huge main door of the manor. On her right, a maze garden decorated with all sorts of beautiful flowers. On her left, a huge garden surrounded by water with a white painted pavilion at the middle.
The carriage's door was opened by a man in a butler's suit. " Welcome home, Miss Glasswater. I am Lexter, one of the Glasswater family's Butler and keeper. Please allow me to give you a tour of the Glasswater's main land. ", He said as he offered his hand.
'Main?! The heck, there's more?!', Anastasia mentally screamed in excitement and horror before holding Lexter.
As if she can't get anymore shocked, she yelped in surprise as she felt herself getting lifted up. She looked at Lexter in a ridiculous manner before asking, " What are you doing? ".
But the man merely chuckled. " Lord Glasswater repeatedly told me to not let any harm get you, even by tripping. Isn't this the best solution? ", His gentle voice said as he started walking inside the manor, ignoring the glares of the little girl threatening to scar him being sent his way.
Lexter brought out his wand and gave a little swish, causing the large doors to open gently.
The inside was even better than the outside.
The chandeliers were shining brightly as if they were made of diamonds. The floor itself looked too holy to be stepped on. The wallpaper looked very elegant, with a few paintings of people she does not recognize hanging from the wall. The items and decorations looked too expensive, she would probably cry and hide if she accidentally broke one of them.
Lexter walked up the curved stairs with Anastasia in his arms before pausing at the terrace. " The first room at the left downstairs is a living room for guests. The room next to it is a small library for guests. The room at the right downstairs is another living room for guests, but with a small dining table. Next to it is a hallway leading to 10 guestrooms, 5 on each side, and a living room at the end of the hallway. The room next to it is a storage room filled with decorations of the manor. The hallway on the right leads to another batch of 10 guestrooms , the same position as the ones of the left hallway, and another living room at the end of it. The room at the right, behind the stairs leads to the guest's bathrooms. The room on the left, behind the stairs, is a small gathering place. The hallway at the middle of them leads to the rooms of the Manor's 5 nurses, 1 doctors, 5 private tutors that Lord Glasswater personally hired for your studies, 3 chefs and their assistants. ", He blabbered like the dolphin he is.
Just as Anastasia was trying to mentally note the locations, Lexter turned around and walked forward to another open huge doors. The center of the room was wide, probably where ball and celebrations are held. " This is where all sort of events are held. It's usually empty but it is decorated right now for your welcome party tomorrow night. ", Lexter explained.
' What? Welcome what? '
" Excuse me, but I wasn't informed that there will be a welcome party. ", Anastasia asked. Lexter chuckled once more, cooing at the noticable confusion of the girl. " Silly girl, what made you think there won't be a celebration that the long lost daughter of the famous Glasswater was found? "
' Now what the fuck. '
" What do you mean long lost daughter? Mr. Glasswater and I aren't related by blood! ", Anastasia exclaimed.
" Yes, yes. But a story needs to be created right? Miss Ana, you won't be treated nicely if people find out you're not his child. "
Even though her head was starting to hurt from the information, Anastasia just nodded to stop the man dolphin from blabbering any further.
" The door on the left side of our left leads to a terrace, with a wonderful view of the outside. Same goes to the door at the right side of our right. The hallway on the further right of our left leads to multiple rooms which will be turned into your classrooms. The hallway on the further left of our right leads to the kitchen, storage room, and a few empty rooms that currently serves as guestrooms for now. ", Lexter said before walking ahead.
Ahead of them was another curved staircase with another terrace in the middle. The walked up the stairs before entering another huge door, which inside, is a very wide hallway, with a single door at the end of it.
" Here are the rooms of the Glasswater family members, the Manor's personal library, the private office of the head of the Manor, the private meeting room, and rooms of special guests. Your room will be at the last door at the left side of the hallway, right in front of your Father's room. The door at the end of this hallway leads to the main garden. Outside is a small house of our 5 house elves where they rest and sleep. "
After his explanation, he walked towards what he said was Anastasia's room before entering it.
The interior exceeded her expectations.
Anastasia forced herself out of the dolphin's arms and ran towards the bed. The sheets of it were smooth and nicely embroidered. The floor of the room was mostly covered in white carpets, aside from some spots. There's three couches in front of her bed, with a coffee table at the middle of them and a fireplace in front. There was a magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling with blue crystals hanging from it.
She walked towards the door at the left and opened it, paling at the huge wardrobe. She slammed the door shut before walking to the door at the right where she found a shining, large bathroom inside. She awkwardly closed the door before walking towards the see through doors in front of her, leading to a personal terrace, with a view so magnificent and magical.
" Woahh... ", Anastasia whispered to the air as she let herself be lost in her new surroundings.
" Beautiful isn't it? This room was always reserved for the first born child of the head of the Manor, but my master didn't have one until you appeared. ", Lexter said as he stood beside her.
Anastasia just quietly nodded to his words, too busy admiring her new home.
__________
The next day was busy. Everyone was doing last minute preparations for the welcome party. Lexter gave instructions to everyone so there was someone else assisting the little girl.
" The guests will be arriving soon, young lady. Aren't you excited? ", A woman asked as she inspected the gown for any flaws.
" I don't know Ary. This will be the first time I'll meet them, I'm very nervous. I hope Draco will be here. "
Aranel Greengrass is a lady that was exiled from her family due to her almost inability to do magic. She could barely do most of the basic spells as explained by Lexter. It was why she was known from people outside as a squib, even though she isn't even one. Her family isn't the main family of the Greengrass, so it was easy for them to get rid of her. She is also someone who just moved here a year ago when the head of the Glasswaters rescued her from the wandering streets of muggle London, since then, she worked for the family.
It only made Anastasia more scared of the pureblood houses. She really needs to be careful.
" I do believe the Malfoy family will come visit. I was able to see some of the families that will visit earlier when Sir Lexter left the attendance book at the pavilion in the garden. "
" Oooooh really? Who else did you see aside from the Malfoys? "
" Hmmm... ", Aranel brought her hand to her chin as she tried to remember. " The Parkinson family, Zabini, Nott, Weasley... I think that's all the families that I saw on the list. But there should be more. "
Most of those families are known to Anastasia. She knows of a girl from Parkinsons and a few people from the Weasleys. As for the other two families, she doesn't have any memories about them yet. But maybe they'll appear in her memories soon. She hopes she'll leave a good impression on them.
Just then, a knock stopped their conversation.
" Come in! ", Anastasia answered.
Lexter came inside the room with the usual watch on his hand and notes on the other. " Greetings, my ladies. I assume there are no flaws in the gown? "
" There aren't. ", Aranel answered.
" That's good then. It's time for the young lady to dress. The guests will be arriving here soon. Everything's ready now. ", Lexter said.
After saying what needs to be said, Lexter omce again left the room. Now, it is time to change for the welcome party.
[<>]
The scene unfolding before her was definitely similar. The pained goodbyes as she watched the child before her drift away.
She was reminded of a certain boy. Except she wasn't able to see him grow. The same poor boy that lost everything. She glanced beside her to find Snape gripping his wand uneasily. She can tell that Snape definitely didn't want the girl to leave.
But he also knows that it's for the best. As the girl cannot stay here forever, hiding from most people's gaze for being known as the nameless body of water. She too, needs a name, and a family.
And it seemed like the child holds a secret that only the headmaster knows. Whatever it is, the headmaster protects her for it.
McGonagall was barely holding herself back. She has grown attached to the mischievous little girl. She'll need to get used to the lack of random questions that were usually asked by the child.
Two legendary children are now living their own lives. One far from magic, and one under the pressure of magic. The time will come where both of them will have to attend Hogwarts.