It had been a few days since Anastasia had returned to her home, Varney Manor in the north of Scotland. The Ravenclaw had always found the island beautiful but after all, she had never really travelled. Since her birth, she had only seen the Eigg Island, a small part of London, Hogwarts and her cousin's house, not far from Oxford. Anastasia had never left the UK. But she wasn't going to complain about it. So far, she had never been bothered by the fact that she hadn't seen much of the world.
She also had a good relationship with her family. The family she knew was limited to her parents, her maternal grandparents, her cousin and his parents. Frankly, she had no trouble confiding in them. Going to Hogwarts obviously took her away from her parents. There is also something to add. Anastasia is a rather special girl. She's not even fully human. Her father is a Vampire. That's probably why she doesn't need much sleep...
Ever since she had set foot in Hogwarts, a world full of people, Anastasia had been wondering about her Vampire side. Why had she never seen her father's family? Would she live longer than normal humans? Was she really weird and different from the others? Was it so strange to have non-human family? Anastasia had decided to ask her father questions. Questions about her Vampire side, which she had always found fascinating. Faster entry, stronger than average; not needing a nail strengthener. One of the only drawbacks was the sun. But as Ana is a nocturnal girl, that wasn't really a problem.
The Dhampir walked quietly towards the library. Standing up straight, she raised her hand to knock. Her father was inside, waiting for her for their usual after-dinner chess game. That evening, Anastasia decided to take advantage of this moment alone with her father to ask him the questions that had been on her mind for some time. The girl's fist was about to hit the oak door when Andrew Varney's voice rang out.
━ You know that you don't need to knock. Come on in.

Anastasia smiled and entered the room. The library must have been the largest room in the manor and it was also the girl's favourite room. The library was large and had a high ceiling. All the walls were covered with books and old objects except for one, which was a bay window overlooking the night sky. At the back of the room were two leather armchairs and between the armchairs was a table with a chessboard. Andrew Varney was sitting as usual, on the armchair with his back to the door, a book in his hand.
The Ravenclaw played with her rings as she walked towards her father. They would play a few games of chess and Anastasia would ask him questions every time she won a piece. Yes, that's what she was going to do. As she arrived at the table, she smiled at her father and sat down opposite him. He put down his book and Ana saw that she had the white pieces: she would start.
━ You usually start the first game. Why do I have the white pieces?
━ We can change for once. Actually, what is going to change if you start the first game?
━ Nothing is gonna change. It's just... Unusual.
Yes, this game was unusual. Anastasia did her best to look normal, even though she was stressed. They had been playing every night for about eight years and she had never played with the whites for the first game. Why had he chosen today? The first game determines the other games, which determine Anastasia's mood, behaviour and thoughts. And her father was perceptive. Besides, she had questions to ask him.

The game started. Anastasia moved her first piece, her father moved his first. They never played with a chess clock, they were playing for fun, for learning. He was looking at the board and she was looking at him. She didn't really know how old he was, but she knew he was older than her mother. Yet he looked so young... He looked as if he was in his late twenties, with his black hair, smooth skin, and piercing dark grey eyes - the same as Anastasia's. The girl had so many questions. Things that seemed normal to her, but ever since she saw Hogwarts, ever since she saw other people, she knew that some things about her were not so "normal". She took a black pawn.
— Could I ask a question every time I get one of your pieces?
— A-About you? Me? Your family. If that's all right with you.
A shadow flashed in Andrew's eyes. Fear, concern? Anastasia wasn't sure. The man sighed and closed his eyes. They stayed like this for a few minutes, him eyes closed and fidgeting a rook, her looking at him, poker face and playing with her rings. Maybe this was the wrong decision. She shouldn't have asked. He obviously didn't want to talk about it. But then, he opened his eyes and looked directly into his daughter's. Piercing grey eyes looking at each other.
— Sure. But I will not answer to everything. What is your first question?

That night, the girl didn't sleep. Lying in her bed, in black silk pajamas, she kept thinking about the answers her father gave her. She kept thinking about his life, about her life. About how much she was different from the major part of her school - not that that mattered much. Some of her questions and thoughts had been answered, but she also had a few more questions that she planned on asking tonight.
She looked at her watch, six am. With a sigh, she got up from her bed and went to her bathroom. After an almost boiling hot shower, she got dressed - black pants, off-white shirt, black jumper - and went back to her bedroom. She sat in front of her mirror, thinking about why she always looked sick. About the two gaps between her teeth. She thought about everything that made her different from others. For a usual twelve year old, those differences could lead to insecurities. Anastasia, who had grown up with a literal vampire, who had very few social contacts in her life, didn't care. She didn't care if people found her odd, scary. She went to Hogwarts to learn, not to make friends.
Anastasia went to grab her book on her night stand and found a piece of paper, folded in her book. That was not her bookmark. So took the piece of paper, opened it, and started to read her father's handwriting. "My dear Anastasia, I am sorry. I thought we would have more time. But I answered your questions yesterday, and I shouldn't have. Now they are after me, and I have to leave. Excuse me for everything Ana Bella. I love you, your father" The girl read the note once, twice, thrice. Her father had left, because of her. No. That couldn't be true.
When she arrived in the dinning room, almost running, her mother was already there. Her beautiful brown curls were wild and hiding her face. She was wearing a dark green silk robe with silver embroideries. She was crying, a hand wiping her face while the other held a piece of paper. Another goodbye note? Guilt tightened Anastasia's throat. If she had ruined her parents relationship for some stupid questions, she would never forgive herself.
Mathilda looked up when she heard her daughter coming in. With a sob, she put the paper she was clutching on the table and smoothed out a little, before sliding it toward Anastasia. The girl took it and read it. That wasn't her father's handwriting. And it was written with something that looked like a mix of black ink and blood. Realisation hit and tears came up. She had killed her father. She had gotten her father killed because of her curiosity. A blood tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it off with a brisk gesture.