A/N HI GUYS, THIS IS A NEW STORY I'M WORKING ON. I LOVE HARRY POTTER. THE SEVENTH MOVIE IS THE END OF MY CHILDHOOD, SO IN HONOR OF J.K. ROWLING FABULOUS SERIES I'M WRITING MY OWN POTTER OC.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of J.K Rowling's Harry Potter series; only my OC.
Chapter One: Meeting On the Hogwarts Express
Charlotte Adams let out a sigh. She was on the Hogwarts Express, headed off to her third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her dark black hair fell around her face, reaching just to her shoulders with bangs coving her eyes. Brown eyes went from her trunk packed with her stuff to the overhead where luggage was supposed to be stored.
"Alright Charlie, let's give it a shot," she muttered to herself, reaching for the handle on the trunk. The thing barely budged as Charlotte struggled with it. Barely reaching 5'1, she was a small thing and lifting that trunk was not an easy task. She was so distracted with her battle against the heavy luggage that she didn't notice the dark haired, green eyed boy walk in.
"Here, let me help you that," he said, picking up her trunk and storing it on the shelf.
"Thanks," she said, letting out a deep breath. She looked at her aid and a small gasp escaped her lips. Standing there was Harry Potter, the boy she had carried a torch for since her first year at Hogwarts but he had never noticed her despite the fact they had both been sorted into the same house. She wasn't the type to stick out among the crowd. She was painfully shy most of the time; only opening up to those close to her.
"Do you mind if me and my friends joined you," he asked. "Everywhere else is taken."
"No, I don't mind. Go ahead," Charlotte smiled nervously.
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter," he said, sitting down and offering his hand.
"Ummm, I know," the brunette blushed. "We're in the same house. Charlotte Adams," she said, shaking his hand.
"Really," Harry asked surprised. "I've never seen you around."
"Yeah, I usually go unnoticed," said Charlotte, letting out a small laugh.
"Well, you won't go unnoticed by me anymore Charlotte," smiled Harry.
Charlotte's face went redder if that was possible. "Charlie," she muttered under her breath.
"Charlie," Harry repeated. "I like it. It suits you," he decided.
The compartment door slid open and a red headed boy and a brow haired girl walked in. "There you are mate. Found us a spot," asked the red head.
"Yeah, guys this is Charlotte. Charlie these are my friends, Ron and Hermione," Harry said, making the necessary introductions.
"Hi," Ron giving her a smile before sitting next to Harry.
"Pleasure," Hermione added before taking the seat next to Charlotte.
"Nice to meet to you both," said Charlotte. Of course she knew about the other two members of the golden trio. They had been Harry's best friends since his first year. Ronald Wesley came from a very large, very poor wizarding family but a happy family none the less, with parents that loved him and siblings that looked after him. Hermione Granger's parents were both muggles and worked as dentist and they were extremely proud of their daughter for being so special. Charlotte had never been as lucky. Her parents had died a few months after she was born fighting off a pair of death eaters in Diagon Alley. It was just before Voldemort had fallen and she was spent to live with her mother's parents in the United States. They hated what she was and thought she was a freak. They had never spoken to her mother after she got her letter and started attending Hogwarts and officially disowned her when she married her father, a wizard. They treated her like dirt and when she got her letter, they hated her even more.
"Ron and I actually need to step out a bit. We'll be back soon," Hermione announced before grabbing Ron's hand and leading them out of the compartment met.
"Those two are a thing, right," Charlotte asked, smiling at the two Gryffindors sneaking away to be alone.
"Yeah, they are and you'd think they'd be able to keep their hands off each other after an entire summer together," laughed Harry. "You don't have an accent," Harry noticed.
"No, I don't. I'm from the United States," she smiled.
Just then the doors slid open once again but it wasn't any student entering their compartment. It was something sinister. The room went dark and whatever it was, it was affecting Harry badly.
"Harry," Charlotte looked at him worried. She saw his eyes close, saw him faint. Then there was an almost blinding white light. Whatever it was it chased away the hooded figures, whatever they were. A man walked in. He was tall, wearing an old coat and carrying a briefcase.
"You two alright," he asked, spotting Charlotte kneeling on the floor next to Harry.
"I'm fine but something's wrong with Harry," she noticed a flicked of recognition in his eyes before his eyes landed on the boy.
"Here, help me get him up on the seat," the man ordered. She helped him move Harry and soon he was lying across the seat with his head resting in her lap. "He should be fine now that the dementors have moved on."
"Thank you…," she said, trailing off.
"Lupin, Remus Lupin. I'll be teaching at Hogwarts," he explained.
"Oh, so nice to meet you, Charlotte Adams," she smiled.
"Please to meet you Ms. Adams," Professor Lupin returned the smile with one his own.
"Professor, what are dementors and why didn't I faint when they got near and just Harry," asked Charlotte.
"Well I gather Mr. Potter has had to deal with a lot more than your average young wizard," Remus sighed. "Dementors are horrid creatures. They feed off our worst memories and our greatest fears. Harry's more affected by these creatures because, unfortunately, his memories are a lot worse than yours or mine."
"But why would the school allow such things near the students," she gasped.
"The ministry is forcing the school to keep them as extra security," Remus sneered.
"Against what," she asked.
A quiet moan brought Charlotte's attention back to the boy in her arms. "Harry," she exclaimed. Charlotte helped him sit up and noticed Professor Lupin pull out a bar of chocolate from his pocket. He broke off a piece and handed it to Harry.
"Eat this. Trust me, it helps," he handed the rest of it to Charlotte before heading back to his own compartment.
"He's right, this does help," said Harry, taking a large bite of chocolate. "Who was he?"
"He's Professor Lupin. He's going to be teaching this year," answered Charlotte. "Are you sure you don't want some more?"
"No, I'm fine really," Harry said, passing on the chocolate. "You wouldn't happen to know what those things were, would you."
"Professor said they're called dementors. I've heard of them but I've never seen one until now. They're supposed to be the guards of the wizard prison, Azkaban. They feed off our worst memories and our deadliest fears," Charlotte explained. "Professor Lupin said they affected you worse because you're memories are worse than ours."
"Yeah, figures I'd be different then everyone else," Harry scoffed, staring out the window.
"Do you want to talk about it," asked Charlotte.
"No, no t really," Harry replied, not even looking at her anymore. Quietly, she took his hand in hers. After first Charlotte thought he was going to shake her off but instead he gave her hand a gently squeeze. "Thanks," he whispered.
An hour later the train pulled into Hogwarts. Students stared gathering their luggage and filing out. A sense of joy filled Harry as his thoughts turned to returning to the huge castle that had become his home away from home.
"So I guess I'll see you later," Charlotte smiled. "You probably want to go find Ron and Hermione."
"Actually, how about you and I share a carriage? I'm pretty sure Ron and Hermione are off somewhere on their own now. It's not like they came back," laughed Harry.
"I'd like that," she smiled as they walked off to find their ride up to the castle.
"Charlie, Can I ask you a question," Harry asked as he sat across from her in carriage.
"Ask away," she smiled in encouragement.
"You knew who I was-who I am, so why are you treating me so…normal," Harry asked curiously. "You're not acting like most girls would."
"Well," Charlotte let out a nervous laugh, "I figured you had enough girls fawning over you but not a lot of friends."
"I think it's safe to say I can add one more name to my list of friends," Harry smiled and kissed her cheek. Charlotte prayed he didn't notice the bright red blush spreading to her cheeks. Harry Potter had kissed her; even if it was on cheek.
The carriages came to a stop and a few feet away they could hear Hagrid guiding the nervous little first years. "Remember when that was us," Harry laughed.
"Yes, it was horrid," Charlotte exclaimed. "I was so nervous. At one point, I thought they would tell me they made a mistake and send me home."
"Really, I thought the same thing," Harry said, understanding her fears. "I was afraid I was behind all the other students," he admitted. "You probably know the story. I was raised by my mother's muggle sister and her husband. They're dreadful people but they're the only family I have."
"My parents died a few months before you stopped Voldemort. My father's parents had already passed away so I was sent to live with my mother's muggle parents. They hated me," Charlotte admitted sadly. "You could image what they thought of me…a freak and a burden."
"I know the feeling," he took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.
Harry held Charlotte's hand the whole way into the Castle and when they entered the Great Hall, he steered her towards two empty seats across from Ron and Hermione so that they could sit next to each other. Only Hermione, being as observant as she was, noticed the two hold hands.
"Harry," she smiled knowing at her best friend.
"What Hermione," Harry asked, knowing she was going to bring this up later.
"Nothing, sorry you had to be on your know on the train. I told Ron we should had back but he got caught up in Fred and George's newest prank," she sighed. "Planning on using it on Malfoy I suppose."
"That's alright," laughed Harry.
As usual, before the feast was served Professor Dumbledore made his annual speech. Welcoming the new students and giving them a strict warning about wandering in the Forbidden Forest; noticeably eyeing Harry, Ron, and Hermione as he spoke. He also explained that the ministry was forcing the school to house the dementors as guards to "protect" the students. Everyone knew this was in light of Sirius Black's recent escape from Azkaban; the first successful escape in history. Professor Lupin was introduced as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and the entire Gryffindor table erupted in applause when Hagrid was announced to be their new Care of Magical Creatures professor.
"Ron, would you slow down. The food isn't going anywhere," Hermione exclaimed; rolling her eyes at the mouthful of food Ron had in his mouth.
Harry and Charlotte just laughed at the two. Dinner passed along quietly and soon they were being escorted to their common rooms by the prefects. As the students began leaving the Great Hall, Harry took hold of Charlotte's hand once again.
A fire had already been started to keep the warm just like every year. It was welcoming for Harry to be back in Gryffindor tower with the rest of his housemates.
"So tomorrow we get our classes," Charlotte laughed at the groan Harry let out when she mentioned classes. "Potions?"
"Exactly, Snape hates me," Harry sighed.
"I think that's every Gryffindor and believe it or not I'm actually pretty good at potions. Let me know if you need any help but then again you have Hermione," Charlotte shrugged.
"Thanks Charlie. I might take you up on your offer. Hermione hates helping me and Ron-says we should try to do our work on our own," Harry told her.
"Well, goodnight Harry," she told him before climbing up the stairs to the girls beds.
"Night Charlie," whispered Harry as he watched her leave.
So that was my first shot at a Harry Potter fic. Let me know what you guys think. R and R.
