`Ello readers, it is the one and only Ally Carstairs! I have been reading like tons and tons of Tom Riddle fic, and I have come to the conclusion that I am in love...with Tom ;) Anyways, this is obviously a Tom/OC story. This will be taking place when Harry is looking for the horcruxes. Minor tweaking, Dumbledore is alive, he shouldn't have died in the first place! Remember, criticism is welcome. Enjoy and review!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is unfortunately not mine. It was J. K. Rowling who had the brief burst of creative genius!
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Charlotte Burke was your average teenage girl. Well, actually that was a terrible, unconvincing, blatant lie. Charlotte despised her name, insisting on being called by the more modern version, Charlie. She grew up in a time of war and constant fear, and she was a witch. Yes, a witch, and a pretty darn good witch if she did say so herself.
Charlie was in her sixth year at Hogwarts when she was recruited into Dumbledore's Army. She was so proud when she first started. It was an honor, she had told her skeptical, Muggle parents. And it was an honor, but it was also a very hard life for a girl her age, one that required many sacrifices. Everything was for the greater good; Dumbledore's motto was engraved in the minds of the fighters. Most of the time she believed that, but not today. She could allow herself to be selfish just this one day, and then tomorrow she would go back to the greater good mojo. Today she would allow herself to wallow in her self pity because today was the day that she had happened to find her parents' lifeless bodies. Their dead, cold bodies were littered over the living room carpet. In a moment of insanity, caused by the shock of the scene before her, Charlie realized that the ugly, floral carpet had become quite uglier with her parents' blood matted into it.
Charlie could not understand how the Death Eaters had found her parents. They were just so kind and normal. They had no part in this ongoing war, and Charlie had made the point quite clear that her parents were nonexistent and would not be dragged into this damned war. Everything Charlie had done to keep her parents secret and safe had been for naught. The fake fight, their faked death, everything seemed pointless now! Numbly, Charlie made her way out of the house and away from the traumatizing scene. The thought of splinching herself while apparating crossed Charlie's mind, but she was to weak and scared to purposely inflict harm on herself. Disgusted with her weakness, Charlie apparated to Headquarters.
There was nothing like apparating. The tug on your naval, the feeling of brief suffocation, and the sense of being trapped in the middle of a tornado made the experience a very unique one. Stepping elegantly out of a stumble, Charlie squinted her eyes. Although Charlie had visited Grimmuald Place numerous times, it never became easier to find. Finally catching the light just right, she bounded up the steps and patiently banged on the door.
The door opened, though there was no one there. Sadly smirking to herself, Charlie crossed the threshold and made her way to the strategy room. Once she entered the kitchen, all eyes turned towards her. They all seemed to scream the same thing: pity. Plastering a fake smile on her face, Charlie greeted the fighters and the Order members. Mumbled hellos and how are yous were passed around.
Trying to blend into the wall, Charlie quickly claimed her seat in between Remus and Tonks. Tonks was Charlie's best friend. Although Tonks was a few years older, she and Charlie still got along great. And Remus, well, he came along with the package. Remus adored Charlie as a little sister, and Charlie adored Remus as an older brother, even though she would never admit that to him. Remus would always joke about them having to step in and be the new "Marauders", because apparently every generation just had to have one.
Tonks reached over and grasped Charlie's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be okay, Charles."
Grimacing at the awful nickname, Charlie answered her friend with a genuine smile. Nicknames aside, Tonks always new the right thing to say. Everyone had been asking Charlie if she was okay, but Tonks was the only one who told her that she would be okay. Remus caught Charlie's eye and nodded to her in sympathy. Charlie merely stuck her tongue out at him childishly, she would rather forget about her parents at the moment. Shocked, Remus gaped at Charlie before returning her childish action with his own.
In a swirl of bright lavender cloth, Dumbledore strode into the room. All eyes turned towards him and a peaceful quiet cascaded over the room. Everyone treated Dumbledore with respect. How could you not? The man was a legend, he was their leader and savior. Even though Harry Potter was the chosen one, everyone knew that it was Dumbledore behind everything. Smiling both with his mouth and his twinkling blue eyes, Dumbledore took his seat at the head of the table.
"The first order of business is...", Dumbledore trailed off as the doors flew open, revealing a very greasy haired and frightened Snape.
Gasping for breath, Snape barely managed to stumble to Dumbledore. "Albus, the Death Eaters are coming! They know where we are, we have to leave immediately!"
A flurry of movement and panic stole over the room. Everyone was shouting suggestions and worries. "Enough!" The chaos subsided as everyone looked expectantly at their leader. Dumbledore's steely gaze passed over everyone before he continued. "There is no need to panic. We will all clear out of headquarters immediately, take anything you may need." Dumbledore turned his gaze towards the Weasleys. "Arthur, do you mind if we use the Burrow until further arrangements can be made?"
"Of course not!" Arthur readily replied, flashing a grin to his wife across the table.
Molly merely raised an eyebrow at her husband, but then nodded her head in agreement, "It would be ab honor, Albus." Dumbledore smiled to her in thanks.
"Alright, it's settled. Would everyone now kindly make their way out. We will reschedule this meeting for tomorrow. Same time, different place!" Dumbledore smiled brightly, ushering his soldiers out the door. "Oh, Ms. Burke, a word please."
Charlie nodded her head in consent and made her way towards Dumbledore. Seeing that Tonks and Remus had paused for her, Charlie waved her friends on ahead. Reluctantly, Remus and Tonks continued to file out the door.
"Yes, sir?" Charlie questioned her old professor.
Dumbledore smiled in amusement at the term sir. "First of all, I wanted to offer my condolences." Tight lipped, Charlie mumbled a thank you. "And, I wanted to know if you were up to going on a mission."
"Sir, I think a mission is just what I need right now," Charlie answered truthfully.
"Fantastic," Dumbledore cried enthused, "I will send an owl to brief you later tonight. Then tomorrow, if you don't have any questions, I will send you off."
"Thank you sir, I won't let you down," Charlie assured both Dumbledore as well as herself. And with that, Charlie took her leave.
It was perfect timing. As soon as Charlie started to apparate away, wisps of black smoke appeared, heralding the arriving Death Eaters. The Death Eaters certainly did not expect to find Grimmuald Place cleared out. Puzzled and quite baffled, they started to suspect a traitor amongst themselves.
And that is why Dumbledore needed to plant a new spy. A young, striving girl planted in the heart of the enemy, would just be perfect. Or so, that was what Dumbledore told himself as he though up the dangerous plan.