Prologue

December 24th, 2019

Charlotte Nott had spent the day at her cousin's and the house was dark when she flooed in. The moonlight shone through the window, providing an acceptable level of visibility to ensure that she wouldn't trip over.

Assuming that everyone was asleep she tiptoed through the silent rooms, only to see a sliver of light peeking out from her father's study. She relaxed from her sneaking position and reached for the doorknob, planning to say goodnight to him.

"Please." Her father whispered, "It's me you want, not them."

Charlotte's hand stilled.

"This is your own fault." The voice was gravelly, perhaps from disuse, and sent a shiver down her spine.

"How did you find us?" Her mother demanded.

There was a crack, like a whip being snapped. "How dare you!" Her father screamed, "Don't you ever touch her again."

The voice chuckled, "You're in no position to make demands."

"Of course, forgive me." Her father was using his grovelling voice.

There was a tense silence.

"I'll never forgive you."

There was a flash of green and then an ominous thud.

Charlotte pressed a hand over her mouth to cover her cry.

"Theo? Theo get up. Get up now!" Her mother begged.

Another silence.

"Please don't hurt me, I'm pregnant."

Another flash of green.

Tears streaming down her face, Charlotte couldn't mask her sob.

The door creaked open, outlining the figure. The room was burning, flames licking up the walls, the vivid red of enchanted fire.

The figure stepped close to her, capturing a chocolate curl in their fingers. "Such a pretty girl…" He whispered.

Charlotte stared beyond the figure, at her parents, at her future brother or sister. The flames were consuming them, leaving nothing behind.

The figure placed his hands around her, hugging her tight. "Obliviate."

Chapter One

September 1st, 2021

"Charlotte we're going to be late!"

Teal curls whipping around in the air, Charlie hurriedly stuffed her well-worn copy of 'From Egg to Inferno: A Dragon-Keeper's Guide' into her trunk. "I'm coming Auntie." Hunting around her room she spied her mother's locket peeking out between several books and hastily stuffed it in her pocket.

"Charlie!" A voice said behind her. Turning, she smiled guiltily at her cousin Scorpius.

"Hey Scorp…" She bit her lip and gave him her puppy dog eyes, "Mind helping me close my trunk?"

Scorp rolled his eyes and soon they were on their way. Trunk successfully closed and dragged down to the living room floo Charlie gave her Aunt and Uncle apologetic smiles.

"Scorpius, Charlotte, I hope you both have an enjoyable year." Draco said. "I expect you both to write at least once a month and I would be delighted if you'd both return home for Christmas this year." With that he scooped them both into a hug.

"Of course father." Scorp grinned as he stepped back. Charlie looked at Draco guiltily, "Sorry Uncle but I promised I'd do extra credit work for Magical Creatures… But I can come home for Easter holidays!"

Draco looked like he wanted to protest but Astoria placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's perfectly fine Charlotte and we'd be delighted for you to return for the Easter holidays. Now you'd best hurry if you want to make the train."

Scorpius and Charlotte went one after the other through the floo, disappearing with a flash of green.

Draco turned to Astoria, "We're losing her."

Astoria sighed, "I know."

…

Stepping out of the floo, Charlie brushed the soot off before whistling loudly. A frenzied barking came from nearby and panicked yelling ensued, "Bertie! Bertie get back here you idiot crup!" The crup in question, Bertie, ran up to her and playfully snapped at her heels, forked tail wagging madly. "Bertie…" The voice trailed off and a grin stretched across their features. "Charlie!"

Lorcan ran up to her and lifted her off the ground, twirling her around in a circle. "Put me down!" Charlie squealed, batting at Lorcan's arms.

Letting her down he chuckled, "Should've known it was you, Bertie wouldn't of run off at anyone's call." Looking behind her he nodded at Scorpius, "Albus and John found a compartment towards the back of the train."

Grinning Scorpius ran off, only just missing Ron Weasley with his trunk.

Kneeling down, Charlie scratched Bertie behind the ears. "Where's Lysander?"

"He and mum aren't back from Australia yet but I reckon they'll be back by next week."

Grabbing her suitcase she and Lysander boarded the train, Bertie weaving between their legs. "You mean we won't have a professor for Care of Magical Creatures for the whole week?"

Lorcan shook his head. "Mum quit actually so we'll probably have" Lorcan though for a moment, "Lupin, Victoire's ex."

"How do you figure that?"

Grey eyes twinkling, Lorcan whispered, "'Cause I have The Sight'."

Charlie rolled her eyes, "For a second I thought you had something important to say, my mistake."

Lorcan feigned hurt, "You doubt me? Okay then, let's make a deal, if I'm wrong I'll give you 10 galleons."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, "Bit confident aren't you?"

"I'm always confident." Lorcan grinned, "And If I'm right, you help me woo Roxanne."

"Deal." They shook hands. "Roxy isn't interested in you."

Lorcan rolled his eyes, "She's in denial." He stopped. "Here we are!" Lorcan held open the door to a compartment, "After you Miss Nott."

"Oh you're such a gentleman Mr Scamander!" Charlie grinned ducking inside.

Roxanne Weasley looked up from her copy of Witch Weekly just in time to stop Bertie from jumping onto her lap. "Hey guys." She grinned, "Hey Bertie!"

Lorcan sat down next to her throwing an arm over her shoulders, "Hey beautiful."

Roxanne shrugged his arm off, "Don't start Lorcan."

Shoving her trunk into the space above the seats, from where it immediately disappeared to the storage compartment, she flopped down onto the bench, Bertie leaping onto her lap. Sensing the awkwardness between the two, Charlie intervened, "So… how was every ones' holidays?"

"Dad's got tickets for next year's Quidditch World Cup. Mum thinks it's going to be Japan versus France." Roxanne grinned, "They said I could invite you two and Lysander if I wanted."

"Awesome!" Lorcan exclaimed, "Lysander will be thrilled."

"Where is he anyway?"

Charlie snorted, "Probably trying to make a billywig sting him."

Roxanne sighed, "Still in Australia! Lucky."

"Well I spent the holidays reading and babysitting the Zabini's daughter." Charlie chimed in.

"Boring!" Lorcan sang. "I went to China with dad."

Roxanne smiled, "What were you guys trying to find?"

"Was it a real creature or not?" Charlie smirked.

Lorcan sniffed, "Of course it was a real creature!" Charlie and Roxanne raised their left eyebrows in unison, something they were exceedingly well practiced in doing. "We were looking for heliopaths."

Stifling her laughter Charlie grinned, "Did you find any?"

"Well… no." Lorcan sighed but brightened almost instantaneously, "But we did see a phoenix up in the mountains."

"Cool." Roxanne said, "That must be the first phoenix sighting since Albus Dumbledore's phoenix disappeared after he died."

Lorcan looked smug, "I know. Dad was really excited."

"So where is everyone?" Charlie said.

Roxanne began counting people on her fingers. "James, Victoire, Fred and Rose are at that prefect's meeting."

"So Tori and Fred did get Head Boy and Girl."

"Was there ever any doubt Charlie?" Lorcan rolled his eyes.

"I'm assuming Scorp and his friends are sharing a compartment. Merlin knows where Hugo is; hopefully Louis and Lucy let him hang out with them."

Lorcan and Charlie gave her an incredulous look and she flustered, "Well maybe Molly and Lily are hanging out with him."

"Poor Hugo." Lorcan said, "He's probably off on his own somewhere."

Charlie stood up unseating a sleeping Bertie, who whined unhappily. "We have to go find him."

….

After changing into their robes they'd set off in search of Hugo. After ten minutes of scouring the train, they were tempted to give up.

"I'm sure he's fine." Roxanne said.

"Or some Slytherin's hung him out the window by his trousers and he's seconds away from death." Lorcan added.

Roxanne glared at him, "Cause that's so likely."

"Guys, we only have like ten more carriages to check."

Slumping their shoulders, Roxanne and Lorcan followed her.

Laughter came from the second last carriage and Roxanne smiled, "That sounds like Hugo to me."

Lorcan grabbed the compartment door and slid it open. Hugo was sitting across from a man who looked to be in his early twenties, who had more earrings than Charlie thought she could count.

"Hello" The man said pleasantly.

"Teddy!" Roxanne cried, bounding over to him and squeezing him to death.

Teddy grinned, "Roxy!"

Lorcan and Charlie walked in casually, not having met Teddy before; having only heard about him via Victoire's many stories. They sat down next to Hugo, who grinned at them both.

"Hey Hugo." Charlie ruffled his red curls.

"Hi Charlie, I like the blue hair."

"As do I." Teddy chimed in and Charlie noticed that his hair was a similar shade.

"Thanks, umm… Mr Lupin."

He laughed, "Teddy's fine."

Lorcan smirked, "So, Teddy, nice to meet you, I'm Lorcan Scamander and are you here to be our new Care of Magical Creatures Teacher?"

Teddy looked momentarily bewildered, "Umm… yeah. How did you know?"

Lorcan grinned.

"I have The Sight."