Firewall
Inspired by Les Friction "Firewall."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything; except for Charlotte- she's mine.
Chapter 1: Muggleborn
Charlotte was just your average girl. She was of average height, she had average brown hair, and average brown eyes- there wasn't a thing out of the norm about her. Oh, except for being magical. Yes- Charlotte was a witch.
You can imagine her shock when an owl delivered the letter from a place called Hogwarts. Her parents thought it was a joke; there wasn't anything special about Charlotte. She couldn't be magical. The young girl would be lying if she said her heart didn't sink just the slightest bit.
Just the thought of her being magical, being special and different- someone that people could look up to and admire- but never mind all that. Magic wasn't real. This was just someone playing a cruel joke on her. She was used to cruel jokes, she was used to being bullied. Charlotte made that easy by being so infuriatingly timid.
The temporary joy she felt when she received the letter had vanished by her parent's skeptical looks and the completely ordinary gentle chiding of how magic didn't exist and she needed to stop deluding herself about such. She was doomed to this life of complete normality.
Her parents tossed the letter into the garbage without even a second look. So, it was with a heavy heart Charlotte continued on with her mundane life during that summer. Secretly though, she daydreamed about this magical place called "Hogwarts."
What it must be like to be able to use magic and be anything but ordinary, just for once. She was irrevocably enthralled with the idea. Many days of that summer was spent with her staring at objects- willing them to move. Charlotte stole the letter back from the trash can, unable to get it out of her mind.
It said they would wait no later than the 31st of July for a response- by owl. How in God's name would she send an owl? She contemplated the letter for days and much to her great dismay, the 31st was approaching quicker than she would have liked. Maybe, just maybe, they would send another magical being to save her from this bland existence of hers?
Since receiving that letter, it became all she could think of anymore as she invented scenarios in her mind that would save her from this life she so greatly detested. Food had little taste to her, the outside held no interest to her- all she wanted to do was attempt to use her supposed powers. The letter said she was a witch! Her parents were becoming increasingly concerned with her current obsession. They were talking about taking her to therapy! Therapy? The nerve of them!
Couldn't they see how boring this life was? How did they manage going from day to day with nothing like magic? Magic was new, and exciting! Charlotte had enough of being regular and average. She wanted more, and this letter was her escape. It had to be real. Maybe she would be good at it! She wanted to be so dearly.
Like everything else in her life, her grades in school were unfortunately mediocre. There was nothing that held her attention- nothing that she wanted to know so badly to strive to be excellent. She couldn't if she tried anyway. The only thing she had ever excelled at was reading.
For the longest time books had been the escape she dearly sought. Charlotte could temporarily remove herself from this banal existence and become more. She's traveled to Neverland, helped the Beast regain his true form, escaped her mundane existence with glass slippers; she's experienced the Greek God's wrath and fury and has been all over the world by just opening the cover of a book.
But now, with this extraordinary letter she had the chance for more. The chance to be something she's always wanted to be- to do something incredible for real. Charlotte sighed heavily. Today was the 31st of July- and no one would come to rescue her that day, Or the day after, or the day after that.
Charlotte bit back frustrated tears. She sat on her bed midday, the 3rd of August. Her small, pale hands clutched the letter furiously. Why had no one come? She wanted to be free and now she knew she was forever doomed. The letter wasn't real. It had just been a cruel joke and all her parents were trying to do was protect her from the heartbreak she felt now.
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks and she swiped them away angrily. Stupid letter, stupid magic, stupid her; who was she kidding? She was simple- she would never be more, never could be more. Charlotte felt rage. Rage at being tricked and hurt one too many times. Her body grew hot with the fire that rolled in her veins and her heart.
Her vision was blurred with steaming tears and she saw a billow of smoke wafting from the magical letter. And just like that it burst into flames. Charlotte leapt back with a shriek of surprise. Her back collided with her wall as the paper crumpled and burned on her bedroom floor.
She rushed forward and began stamping it out, but the damage had been done. The letter was mere ash and her floor was scarred. Her mind whirled in wonderment and her eyes widened.
Charlotte had set the paper alight. She did that! The young girl nearly screamed with joy as she hopped around. She was magic! She wasn't ordinary, she was special- she was someone. Charlotte felt a faint buzzing in her body- one that she didn't recognize. It was magic.
Her joy was cut short when her mother shouted. "Is that smoke I smell? Charlotte, what is going on up there?"
Charlotte's face soured. "Nothing, mother."
A tapping interrupted the young girl. To her astonishment, an owl sat on her windowsill with a letter attached. She rushed forward and wrenched the panes open. The owl flew in and she quickly detached the scroll from its leg. It nipped her hand and she gasped in pain.
A droplet of blood sprung forth on her finger. At least I know this is real. The owl flew from the house before she could call it back. How was she supposed to respond if she didn't have a bloody owl? Her face crumpled into a scowl as she looked at the letter. She remembered the Hogwarts seal and nearly jumped for joy at seeing it again.
Charlotte tore the letter open hastily. She had received the same letter as before. The little girl ran from her bedroom, she faintly heard her mother shouting to stop stomping as she sprinted down the staircase. "Mom, Dad! Look! An owl brought me this!"
They looked up from their seats on the couch with brows pinched. She waved the letter with excitement, "See it's real! I told you!" Her dad took the letter in his hands gently. He shook his head sadly. "Char, I'm sorry. But this has got to be a joke. There is no such thing as magic."
Charlotte felt that familiar drop in the pit of her stomach. She clenched her fists. "No! It is real! I can prove it!"
She snatched the letter from her father's hand. Her mother started warningly, "Charlotte, don't use that tone of voice with us." The young girl ignored her mother's scolding.
"I can make fire! Watch, I just did it upstairs. By accident of course, but it happened!"
She began staring at the letter with clenched hands. Moments of silence passed and nothing happened. Her brow creased in confusion. "I don't understand…I just did it upstairs, I was angry and it just burst into flames!"
Her mom stood abruptly, "That is it, young lady! We have had enough with these delusional thoughts of magic. You are going to see a therapist right now."
Charlotte felt tears begin burning under her closed eyelids. When she opened them, all she could see were her father's concerned stare and her mother dialing God-knows-who on the telephone. That familiar panic began to set in again. She heard her mother greet another over the phone and she sobbed. Was she crazy? Delusional, as her mother said?
Charlotte felt her father's hand rub her back comfortingly. He whispered, "I know. It's okay; magic would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? There's nothing wrong with talking to a therapist about it. He'll be able to help you sort your feelings out."
Another sob wracked the eleven year olds body. "I don't want to sort it out. I want to be special."
Her dad pursed his lips. "You'll always be special-"
His words were cut short when there was a heavy knock at the door. Charlotte's head shot up as she stared down the entryway where her father strode. He opened the door with a confused expression, "Hello, can I help you?"
A strange, older man with the longest beard she had ever seen stood in the doorway. She could see the kindness etched in his skin from his years of life and the gentle twinkle in his eyes behind half-moon gold spectacles. He started, "Hello. Lovely home you have here."
Charlotte was stunned as the older gentleman strode into the house. Her father's face scowled. "Hey! I didn't say you could come in!"
The bearded man chuckled kindly. "Sorry, where are my manners. My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I believe you've received a couple of my letters?"
Charlotte stood suddenly, her father's mouth was agape and she could hear the phone drop from her mother's hands. They stared at the man, disbelieving what they had just heard. Dumbledore smiled with a sense of understanding. "I can't even imagine the difficulty of understanding what I've just told you. Your daughter is witch. She needs to attend school so that her powers can develop properly. Without education, I'm afraid there would be consequences."
Before her parents could speak, Charlotte began meekly. "It's true then. I'm a witch."
Dumbledore turned to her with a knowing smile. "You are, my dear. You are anything but ordinary."
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. All her dreams- they were finally coming true! Her father's fists were clenched suddenly. "I don't appreciate you filling my daughter's head with these-these- fantasies."
Dumbledore turned slightly, his eyebrows raised as Charlotte's mother reached her husband's side.
"Oh, these are anything but fantasies."
"Prove it." Her mother said tautly. Charlotte's father jerked suddenly in surprise, he mumbled. "Angie." She looked at him with eyes that were alight with something else- perhaps hopes for something more for her daughter.
Dumbledore smiled gently. "Very well." He pulled a wand from his strange robe-like clothing and with a gentle flick- suddenly the fireplace was roaring with fire and heat.
Her parent's chests heaved in astonishment as the bearded man flicked his wand again and suddenly the dishes were dancing and cleaning themselves in the kitchen. Charlotte gasped with joy; she clapped her hands with excitement. The man gave her a tender smile at the child-like enthusiasm.
Her father started slowly. "You mean to tell me- that our daughter will be able to do things like that?"
Dumbledore smiled again. "Oh, I believe she's already started. Isn't that right, Charlotte?"
Her parents looked to her. Their eyes were wide. Angie- her mother gripped her in a tight hug. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you." Charlotte buried her face in her mothers shoulder. "It's okay, mum. I didn't believe myself either."
Her mother laughed between her tears. Her father was smiling at her gently, his taut and defensive demeanor now gone, as if it were never there. Dumbledore clapped his hands together jovially. "I will be escorting you all to Diagon Alley to purchase the necessary items for her first year at Hogwarts."
And with that they were off on a magical adventure. Charlotte could have squealed with excitement, she wanted to jump for joy, and on more than a couple occasions she would pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
The man- who was Professor Dumbledore instructed them to grab on tight to this torn up shoe. Charlotte didn't hesitate and swiftly grabbed the item, while her parents sent each other unsure looks. Charlotte cried out enthusiastically, "Mom! Dad! You're going to miss the ride!"
With pursed lips they reluctantly latched onto the shoe and they were suddenly whirling up and up into the air. Her parents yelled with fright and Charlotte laughed in sheer bliss. What an adventure. The next thing the eleven-year old knew- she was standing in a bustling street. Shops lined up and down, her eyes wide as she took in all the sights, the wands, the robes, and broomsticks! She frantically tugged on Dumbledore's robes, "Do those fly?" The older man chuckled. "Yes, they do. But, you won't be able to until your next school year."
Henry- her father and Angie sidled up beside Charlotte. They brushed themselves off, "Exactly how long is this school?"
Dumbledore began explaining the school years and curriculum to her parents as she excitedly ducked and weaved in between people. She would point excitedly at one shop and the next as her parents nodded and smiled alongside her eagerness. Dumbledore stopped them outside of a shop called 'Ollivander's.'
"First you'll need a wand. Let's hurry inside so the wait won't be long."
Charlotte didn't need anymore encouraging as she rushed inside the building. The young girl inhaled deeply. She could smell all sorts of different types of wood and other things she couldn't quite describe. They were after all, not a part of her world she remembered fondly. She was in an all-new world.
An older man stepped down from a rolling ladder, similar to those in libraries. He had a kind smile on his face as he recognized the child-like excitement of someone who's never experienced anything quite like this. "Hello!" He greeted jovially. "Here for your first wand, eh Lassie?"
Charlotte nodded eagerly. "Yes, Sir!"
Mr. Ollivander walked quickly up and down the aisles of the wand shop. Her parents peered around Dumbledore with interest as Charlotte could barely hold still. She was just too excited. Her first wand! The nice man she knew as Mr. Ollivander returned. His arms were full with several boxes.
He set them down gently and picked one up, he opened it gently and pulled a wand from it. He smiled as he set it in her quivering hands gently. "This here is a Vine wand, unicorn hair, and 9 ¼ inches. Give it a go."
Charlotte was dumb founded as she stared at it. Her large eyes looked up at the man as he smiled down at her warmly. "I-I uh, I don't know what to do with it."
"Give it a flick! It doesn't take much, sweetie."
Her brows pinched together in concentration as she gave it a flick in the air. Nothing happened. Her face deepened with a confused frown. She tried once more and nothing happened again. Charlotte, slightly disheartened handed it back to Mr. Ollivander.
He smiled and gently placed it back within the box. "Don't worry, my dear. We'll find you a suitable wand. The wand chooses its master, so don't be too let down if they don't work for you."
Her face brightened with the encouragement as he handed her another wand. "English oak with a core of dragon heart string- 10 inches." Charlotte wasn't sure exactly what he was talking about. Was there actually a dragon heartstring within this wand?
She gave the wand a gentle flick and suddenly there was a loud bang. She was flung back into her father who gave a grunt of pain from the contact. Charlotte stood with bewilderment etched in her features. Ollivander cringed as he took the wand carefully from her. "That wand definitely doesn't like you."
Charlotte looked at her father as he was bent over at the waist. He looked as if he was about to wretch and her mother was consoling him gently, an amused glint in her eyes as she winked at her little girl.
Mr. Ollivander spoke again. "Okay, this one is made of yew, with a strand of thestral tail hair, it is a 12 ¾ inches. Here give it a go."
Charlotte was slightly worried this time around. She preferred not being thrown back by accidental explosions, bolstering her courage she gave it a quick flick in the air. At first- nothing she could see happened but then the parchments littering the shop began to lift and swirl around.
Her breath was forced from her body as she felt heat rushing through her, the wand seemed to glow in her hands and she felt an indescribable sort of bond with it. She gasped as the light began to dim. Her golden-flecked eyes shot up. Mr. Ollivander beamed down at her. "Told you we would find you a wand, lassie."
"It chose me." She murmured quietly and fingered the light-colored wood gently. She was amazed and enthralled. The smile on her face broadened and she whipped around to Professor Dumbledore and her parents. She gave a jump for joy and spoke louder, "It chose me!"
Charlotte hugged Dumbledore as tightly as she could and she could feel the rumble of a chuckle in his chest. He patted her shoulder with a beaming expression. Her parents smiled at the happiness etched in their daughter's face.
They were soon leaving the shop and Charlotte had insisted on carrying her wonderful wand. It was hers and she would never let it go. She all but skipped through the market place as Dumbledore led them around. They picked up her books and a cauldron for potions, a cauldron! She now had a school uniform that were robes similar to Professor Dumbledore's. She noticed a blank patch on the front of it and ran her hand over it curiously.
"Professor, what will go here?" She asked inquisitively. Her eyes looked up to the tall man at her side. "Your house patch will go there."
"My house?"
"Yes, when you arrive at Hogwarts, you and all the other first years will be sorted into four different houses. Where you belong depends entirely on your personality and who you are."
Charlotte gave him an astounded look. "I don't even know who I am, though! How could I possibly be sorted to where I belong?"
A deep laugh rumbled from the bearded man as her father wrapped his arm around her shoulder fondly.
Dumbledore smiled. His eyes were twinkling now more than ever with a certain mystery to them. "That is where magic comes in."
Her eyes widened at the wonder that was magic. Was there anything it couldn't do?
Charlotte gave a happy grin. She was silent once more as they walked. Her mother spoke suddenly, "Is there anyway we could return to…uh..Grangotts? That's what it was called, right? The bank with the short men?"
Dumbledore smiled appreciatively. "Gringotts. Those short men are called Goblins. That'll be our final stop before I return you to your home."
Charlotte's hand swung with her mothers happily as she skipped along. "Isn't this wonderful, mother? It's just like my books, isn't it?"
Her mother laughed with a joyful smile. "Yes it is. You have a whole new world to discover now! You must write your father and I about everything that happens!"
Charlotte stopped short. "But-I would need an owl to do that." Her father gave her a mysterious grin. "That's why we're going back to the bank. You'll be buying your own owl so that you can write us whenever you can- but! Remember school work comes first."
The young girl nearly squealed in happiness. "Oh, thank you mom and dad! My own owl! And of course! I promise, I'll be the best witch ever!"
Their happiness was suddenly cut short by an abrasive snort. "You? You're just a filthy mudblood. You'll never amount to much." Charlotte whirled around to see a large woman. She was tall, wide, and had a permanent scowl etched in her judgmental beady eyes. Charlotte didn't fail to notice Dumbledore stiffen beside her.
He smiled nonetheless and inclined his head politely. "Walburga." The women shot him a haughty glare. "Albus." The woman snapped her fingers at a young boy at her side. His hair fell around his steel colored eyes and his face held an air of superiority to her. She recoiled from the glare in his face and suddenly it seemed to soften- as if he was unsure of himself.
Quickly as the emotion flashed it was gone. "Sirius, come along now. We don't need you being exposed to that disgusting piece of flesh."
Her father snarled in anger. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to?"
Walburga whipped around. The rage on her face was prominently apparent, she growled. "Who do you think you're talking to, muggle?"
Her father's face deepened with a scowl. "Muggle? Is that what you call us non-magical folk? Who are you to talk down to us?"
The woman's voice became shrill. "I am of House Black, mind you. We are of the oldest and noble purebloods left, no thanks to your mudbloods." She gestured with obvious disdain for Charlotte.
"Listen here you pompous bitch-" "Henry!" Her mother cut in. Suddenly a wand was pressed against her father's throat and Albus stepped between the two. His eyes were darkened with a certain fury that was unrecognizable. Charlotte's eyes were wide; she had no idea what was going on. Mudblood? Muggles? Purebloods? Her shocked expression connected with snobbish boy she now knew as Sirius.
She was even more surprised by the grimace of humiliation that was etched on his features. He struggled and visibly swallowed the emotion to replace it with that haughty glare Charlotte came to understand was the face of the 'House of Black.'
Dumbledore and Walburga argued before she stomped away from the scene she had caused. Charlotte sidled up beside her father and took his hand in hers with a grimacing smile. The anger seemed to fade away quickly. How she wished she could be as brave as her father was- it didn't seem like he feared anything at all.
And just then she realized how lucky she had been with the life she had before all of this. She had two incredible, caring parents that only wanted the best for her. Charlotte felt an immense gratitude seep into her bones as she hugged them tightly. "I love you mom, dad." She mumbled into his coat.
She felt them grip her in a tight hug in return. Her father stooped to his level with a tender smile. "Ignore that woman, Char. She doesn't mean anything; her heart is just filled with hate for things she doesn't understand. You are beautiful, and wonderful, and you are going to be great. Don't let them get you down and don't let them bully you. Okay?"
Charlotte felt tears bubbling behind her eyelids and she nodded her head furiously and gripped him in another hug. Her mother murmured into her hair. "Always stand up for what is right, Char. You understand. Don't let anyone sway what you know is right."
Charlotte pulled back with a frown on her face. "What are you guys talking about? What's going to happen?"
They looked expectantly at Dumbledore. His face was taut with an expression she didn't quite understand. "There is a war in the wizarding world, Charlotte. One that I couldn't possibly explain to you if I tried- the war is against people such as yourself; people who are born from non-magical people with magical powers. You are not alone, and I will protect you, always. I must warn you; there will be students at Hogwarts who believe you don't belong there. It may be difficult for you, but you must never let them take control of you. Do you understand me?
Charlotte felt her heart being compressed as she took in the information. She nodded her head numbly. What was happening to her now was basically: she jumping out of the frying pan and straight into the fire. At least in the world she lived now, she was just bullied for being quiet and average. Now her life was in danger because she wasn't just average. Funny how she got what she always wanted and it wasn't quite that.
So here's the first chapter. FanFiction is being a complete asshole with me uploading anything over 4k words. The original chapter was around 7k words so I'll post that immediately afterwards. I'm incredibly annoyed right now as it has been a couple months that I haven't been able to post anything. I'll try and limit my chapters to 3k-4k words from now on. :| So! Hope y'all enjoyed this, the sorting and train ride and introduction of other characters will be next. See ya then;)
-wBlitz
