It is often difficult to begin a story, especially such an unlikely one as this. For this reason, the reader must take a leap of faith in accepting the events presented. Magic is something most people seem to outgrow, a reality as extinct as the last baby teeth and fairy tale books of childhood.
And so I will begin a tale of danger, love, and betrayal that happened to seep through into the life of a rather ordinary young woman, who led an ordinary life with mostly ordinary people around her. However, let me affirm that this is not a tale of ordinary circumstances.
Charlotte Darby left work one evening with her characteristic eagerness. The young girl of a mere eighteen had returned to her hometown a proud student of art. Previously she had been a shy, misunderstood, imaginative child, cooped up in a dusty home with bickering parents. When the Darbys moved from Surrey, the last thing Charlotte expected was to return to a sad reawakening of her childhood. However, winning an art scholarship to the local school convinced her completely; it may also be mentioned that the displeasure of her parents only furthered the girl's motives to leave.
With a light bounce in her walk, she never cared to look back at the seedy pub she left behind. The mere existence of it plagued her very being, but she knew that it would be necessary for her planned savings. If she would save anything, with her spending habits. At ease, Charlotte crossed the street to get on the bus. Tonight, after several years, she would finally get to see her former best friend. Lily Evans. She wasn't really her former best friend, but things could have changed for all she knew. It had been much too long a wait, since Charlotte couldn't even visit in the summers when she had the chance. Her domineering father would not have any extra spending on meaningless trips, and her mother certainly wouldn't allow a young girl travel so far. But now she had her chance.
However, this wasn't just a welcome party. This was an engagement party, and a casual one at that. Charlotte could hardly believe one of her childhood friends would be married already. The thought made her jittery, excited. The nervousness and anticipation was spreading to the upper corners of her face and down to the back of her knees, making it a physical as well as emotional feeling.
Arriving at old Mrs. Evans' door, Charlotte saw that nearly nothing had changed., from the lamp post to the chipping paint on the front door to the one patch of dirt that simply wouldn't allow the grass to cover it, even with Mr. Evans' multiple tries. Another guest promptly greeted her; a burly looking man with a jolly expression, a cousin perhaps. The small, informal gathering would be held in Lily's mother's home. It remained a small, tasteful home with little accents of lace and china here and there. It had not changed very much, despite the loss of Mr. Evans, and for such a long time, Lily. Mrs. Evans, old and plump, crouched over by a polished cabinet, taking out some table settings. Charlotte surprised her from behind, giving her a warm hug.
"Charlotte, darling, you gave me a good fright! Let me take a good look at you," the white-haired woman said in a voice as sweet as apple cider. She reached for Charlotte's shoulders, as if to size her up. "You have the same timid sweetness, but you have so much more grace and poise. The last time I saw you, you were about eleven or twelve…what a long time it's been…"
Charlotte smiled lovingly at the woman who treated her with so much respect when she was younger. "You are too kind, as usual. How is everything?"
"Oh, well all is as good as it can be. And now, with Lily, it seems like everything is slowly getting better. But sometimes I feel like time's going by too swiftly, without allowing you to have a breath," she sighed. "I can't believe it. You're all getting bigger and I seem to be getting smaller. I'm so happy you came, though."
Charlotte laughed before quietly asking, "Mrs. Evans, will Petunia be here?"
Mrs. Evans frowned. "You know, I'm not quite sure. She wasn't very direct in telling me whether or not she would. I don't really understand why, though. Lily's her sister, for goodness sake…but, ahh! What do I know?"
"That's a shame. Perhaps she'll change her mind. In fact, I'm sure of it!" she said with young optimism.
"I don't know. Petunia can be stubborn. It's mainly Vernon, I think. Perhaps he's not so used to unknown company…he did seem a little intimidated by James last time they met, which is what I was told, at least. You may be right, though…" continued Mrs. Evans, half-convinced.
A few people were already situated in the little parlor, presumably close friends and distant family members. Charlotte decided to help add the finishing touches, in dealing with the table settings and the cooking. She was always restless; maybe her recent job as a waitress was responsible. Mostly, though, it was a way to avoid talking to the people she didn't really know. In time, a little girl came up to her, her flaxen pigtails tied in mismatching plaid bows.
"Is there a telly? Or radio? I'm so booored," she complained, as any other seven or eight year old naturally would.
Charlotte looked around. A record player came into sight, located at a corner of the room. "No, but we can play some music. Come ahead now." The little girl trailed behind as Charlotte bent down to find records. Most of them were Christmas themed, to her dismay.
Finally, she spotted a decent one. "This'll do!" she exclaimed. The record was about ten years old, shown by the slightly dusty and browned sleeve. In contrast, the sound came out crisp and new. It had an upbeat, jovial rhythm, and a man's strong, throaty vocals. The party soon turned for the better.
Charlotte found herself interacting with the little girl, whom she later found out was called Susie. She playfully turned and twirled with her.
After a while, there was a knock on the door, around the time "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" started playing. Everyone was quiet with a shared anticipation.
A young man slowly opened the door, leading the cluster of people behind him. As they came out of the darkness and into the room, their faces were illuminated enough for recognition. At that moment, Charlotte turned to see Lily and her to-be-husband, James Potter, accompanied by three other unfamiliar faces. They shook the snow off their coats, shivering slightly, but nonetheless beaming for the joyous occasion.