Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter still...sad, sad day :(
Full Summary: Charlotte's back for another year at Hogwarts, ready to prank and study her way through the term. However, with the escape of (seemingly) notorius mass murderer Sirius Black, the school year doesn't start off well. Plus, it seems Harry's in danger once again, only this time, it's not what it seems. Can Charlotte deal with vile bullies, a new Quidditch captain, Malfoy's flirtations, her godfather as a professor, AND figure out why Seamus is acting weird and being so darn protective of her all of the sudden?
A/N: This is, of course, my OC, Charlotte's, story during Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. And, I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how to make this, or the other two in the series better. Which, if you haven't read The Chronicles of Charlotte Potter: Year One or Year Two yet, please do! :)
Chapter One: The Innocent Escapee
Charlotte Elaine Potter, a young witch just shy of her thirteenth birthday, stretched out on the living room floor of Potter Manor, working on her Shrinking Potions essay for Professor Snape. Her black cat, Merlin, was watching her with bright green eyes, his tail twitching every so often. "WHAT?" Her dad exclaimed from the dining room, having read the Daily Prophet.
She jumped, causing an inkblot on her otherwise perfect essay. "Dad! Not cool!" She yanked another piece of parchment out and began writing it again.
"Sorry, Charli! It's just, my old friend, Sirius, escaped from Azkaban yesterday."
She looked around behind her. "The one you always told me didn't betray the Potters and kill those Muggles like everyone else thinks?"
"Yes. He's completely innocent, although I wonder how he managed to break out…" His voice trailed off. "He really needs a shower and a good meal."
Charlotte looked at her cat. "He's crazy, Mer. Don't worry."
"What do you want for your birthday, Charli?"
"To finish my homework in peace, Dad." She said sarcastically.
He laughed, sitting down in his armchair. "I'm being serious."
"I thought Sirius was in Azkaban." She said, laughing as Samuel threw a pillow at her. "Okay, okay. I really don't know though." He thought for a minute as she went back to her essay, making sure it was neat and correct. "You can upgrade my broom to the new Firebolt."
"You already got an upgrade for Christmas."
"Yeah, I know." She frowned. "Fine. A book of pranks."
"I'm not going to help you break school rules."
"I'm only breaking rules if I'm out at night to set the pranks up." She pointed out. "And, Dumbledore thought they were funny."
"Charli." His voice held a warning in it.
She sighed. "One of Uncle Remus's Muggle books, like the detective one or the ones about wizards…ugh, what is the name of that one?"
Samuel shrugged. "I'll ask Remus what books he has he thinks you'll like."
Just then, the fireplace erupted in emerald flames. Merlin hissed and ran under the couch as Snape stepped out, a box in his hands. "Samuel, Charli."
"Hey, Uncle Sev." She said, trying to coax her cat back into the open.
"This is for tomorrow." He handed her the box. "Happy birthday."
She hugged him. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome." He turned back to the fireplace. "I would stay, but I have things I need to be doing. Take care, Samuel."
"You too, Severus. And thanks for dropping by." He smiled as the Potions Master disappeared into the emerald flames of Floo Powder.
Charlotte rolled up her essay. "Dad, I'll be in the library room." She said, scampering off with the enchanted parchment in her Potions book. She placed it on the desk and started with a Spell Dictionary, looking for the spells the Griffin-claw Marauders would need to create their version of the Marauders' Map that her uncle James, along with his friends, had made when they were in school.
Talon, I'm looking for map creating spells right now.
Really? Oh good! I was wondering, though, how did the original Marauders make the map in the first place. Hogwarts in supposed to be unplottable.
Maybe it's talking about for a regular map, like the one of the UK, showing cities and countries, not the inside of a castle.
You're right! I never thought of that.
Are you still coming over tomorrow? Dean and Seamus will be here on the last week in August and they're staying until it's time to get on the train.
Of course! Mum's wanting to see your dad again anyway. I think she fancies him.
But I thought your mum said she wouldn't ever marry again after your father's death.
Well, she's been talking an awful lot about him, anyways. See you tomorrow!
Charlotte looked out the window. It was already dark. She glanced back toward the book, when her eyes landed on the Homonculous Charm. "The Homonculous Charm enables any map to track the movements of each and every person in the mapped area. Each person will show up as labeled dots on the enchanted map."
She quickly scribbled the charm down and closed the book, placing it back on their shelf. Merlin joined her as she started up the stairs. "Night, Dad!" She called down.
"Good night, Charli!"
She woke up around four that morning. Wondering what had pulled her from her blissful dream of flying above the Quidditch pitch with none other than Gryffindor's finest, Oliver Wood, she padded downstairs for a glass of water before going back to sleep. However, she heard voices from the den and, ever curious, she tiptoed closer. "-proof, Sirius?"
"Of course I have proof, Samuel! You think I'd escape without it?"
"Very well. But, right now, you need to rest and eat. You're too thin."
"You're not my mother, you know."
"I would certainly hope not." Her dad replied wryly. "You're more than welcome to stay here, but, seeing as Remus thinks you're responsible…"
"I know." There was silence. "I appreciate it, Sammy, more than you know."
"Well, when you're free and clear, come back. Please."
Their footsteps moved closer to the door and Charlotte took off toward the kitchen. Misty was asleep in her small room, and Charlotte quietly got a glass of water. Suddenly, the door to the kitchen opened. "Make yourself a-Charli! What are you doing?"
"Um, I was thirsty." She tried hard not to stare at the tall, painfully thin man behind her father.
His long, black hair was tangled and matted; the beard wild-man like, his eyes and cheeks sunken and hollow; his skin waxy; his robes tattered and hanging loosely off his shoulders. He smiled at her, showing his teeth, rotting away slowing after twelve years of hell in Azkaban. "Hello, Charli."
She gulped. Even though she'd heard from Samuel that Sirius was innocent, she'd also heard, the one time Remus mentioned him, that he was guilty. And, the person standing in front of her looked slightly psychotic. "H-Hi."
"How old are you now? Thirteen?"
She went to say no, but then she realized it was her birthday. "Yes. Today's my birthday."
"That's right! Happy Birthday, Charli."
"Thank you, Mr. Black."
"Charli, dear, please. Go back to sleep."
She nodded, carefully walking around Sirius before running back to her room.
When she awoke again, this time at eight, Sirius was long gone and her dad seemed happier than he had been in ages. "Happy Birthday!" He cheered, placing a plate of pancakes down in front of her.
Remus echoed the sentiment, coming down from his room. He looked paler than normal, but other than that, he seemed fine. "Thank you!" Charlotte said, digging into her pancakes. "Mm, Dad, these are delicious."
"They really are." Remus agreed, finishing his.
Samuel then directed his daughter to the presents in the living room. She quickly opened the top one, from Severus. Inside the box was a stationary set with a raven feather quill and three different colors of ink. Remus gifted her with a first edition of the Sherlock Holmes stories, and Samuel had found a first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. "Thanks! These are great!"
Around lunchtime, Emmeline MacDougal dropped Isobel off, lingering in the doorway. "Come on, let's go to your room." Isobel said. The two girls did and Isobel handed her a present as well. "It's from all of us: me, Seamus, and Dean."
She opened it to find a picture, surrounded by a white frame of all four of them grouped together after one of her Quidditch games as she had on her robes. Her arms are around both Seamus and Isobel, her head thrown back in laughter. "How did you-"
"Colin took it for us."
"Thank you!" She set the picture frame on her dresser. "So, I think I finally figured out how to make the map. All we need is Dean's artistic ability." She showed her the spell. "What do you think?"
"I think it'll work."
"Well, we'll find out, won't we? As soon as we're all here."
"Oh, it's going to be so much fun!" Isobel grinned. "And, we can plan our prank on the first years."
-HP-
Seamus and Dean arrived the Wednesday before the start of term. Remus and Samuel were in Diagon Alley for some reason, and Charlotte and her friends immediately went to her room. "So, map spell?"
"Yeah. I think I found one."
Dean chuckled. "Brilliant. When we get there, I'll get everything mapped out."
"So, what should we do to the poor first years this time?" Seamus asked, stretching out on her bed.
"If we could figure out how to, we could charm their plates to throw the food in their faces." Charlotte suggested, "But I'm not sure how we'd do that."
"We'll think of something." Seamus said, unconcerned.
Merlin, happily content with sitting on Seamus's back, meowed in agreement. Isobel, leaning against Charlotte's bed, shrugged, flipping through a leather-bound book. "What we should do is prank the Quidditch captains."
"What? Why?" Charlotte asked, sitting on her bed with Seamus and Dean.
The redhead craned her neck to look at Charlotte. "So Oliver will notice you, of course." She said slyly, laughing when Charlotte turned red. "Hear this, guys." She cleared her throat. "Dear Journal, I can't believe Oliver Wood offered to fly with me, to help me if I needed it! Me! Of course, Harry was there, too, but still. He was so patient and proud of me when I finally saved all his throws." Charlotte made a dive for the diary, but Isobel moved out of her way, causing Charlotte to fall on the floor. "Here's another one. Dear Journal, Oliver noticed me as I played in my first game! He'd be perfect if he was closer to my age. Dear Journal, is it weird to fancy two guys at the same time? I mean, I still fancy Oliver (who wouldn't? he's bloody brilliant at Quidditch and extremely hot) but there's also-" Isobel stopped, tossing it back to Charlotte, who locked it.
Dean looked curiously at the two. Isobel was trying to hide her knowing grin and Charlotte was beet-red. "Who else is it?"
"Nobody." Charlotte answered quickly as a knock sounded on her door. "Come in!"
Samuel opened it up, smiling at the four friends. "We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow. Did you all bring enough money?" Seamus and Dean nodded. "Isobel, your mother will be here to give you yours. Be in the living room at nine sharp."
"Yes sir."
As soon as the door was shut, Dean stared at Isobel. "So, who else does she like?"
"Probably Malfoy." Seamus said, uncharacteristically harsh.
Isobel shook her head, but thankfully, Charlotte's secret was safe with her.