A/N: Ello! I've kind of spent my whole day reading... So I decided that maybe I should write some. So here's chapter two! Hope you like!
Oh, yeah, I'd really really appreciate reviews!
ON WITH THE STORY.
March 29, 1989
I had been living on park benches for almost a month when I saw it.
A place called The Leaky Cauldron.
It wouldn't have stood out so much if I hadn't seen a plump, red-headed woman dressed in funny looking clothes appear out of thin air down the street and walk inside.
So, of course, I ran after her.
When I entered the pub, she was standing next to a bar stool, talking to a bald man who resembled a walnut.
"Excuse me." I said quietly, looking up at her. "Excuse me, ma'am." I took a deep breath. My ribs, my lungs, and my legs had hurt a lot since the day I decided to run away.
"Hello," the woman said, leaning down so I could see her face. "Oh, dear!" She fretted. "Are you alright?" she asked me as my knees gave way.
"I'm fine." I lied.
"Where are your parents, dear?" she asked, looking around the pub.
"I don't have any." I whispered.
"Sorry?"
"I don't have parents." I said, a bit louder.
"Oh. I'm sorry, dear. What's your name?" she asked me quietly.
"Charlotte." I gave a small smile.
"That's a beautiful name, Charlotte. Who do you live with?" she asked, smiling at me in a motherly way.
"I lived in an orphanage." I said, inhaling deeply.
"Lived?" she asked, sounding shocked.
"I ran away." I mumbled.
"Oh, you poor dear!" She said, clutching at her heart. "Where do you sleep?" she asked.
"Park benches, usually." I whispered.
"I was afraid you would say that." She muttered. "I'll need to speak with Dumbledore."
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but what's your name?" I asked.
"Molly Weasley." She said, sitting down.
A man with silver hair long enough to tuck into his belt walked in the pub. I noticed he was dressed in purple robes.
"Dumbledore!" Mrs. Weasley shouted at the man.
"Ah, Molly. And..." he paused. "It can't be." He looked as though he'd seen a ghost. "Charlotte Potter." he muttered.
Potter. I mouthed the word.
"Potter?" I asked.
"Yes, Charlotte. Should you not be at the orphanage?" he asked.
"I ran away." I mumbled.
"Why would you run away, child?" the man I assumed was called "Dumbledore" muttered.
"They hurt me." I said, trying not to clutch my ribs as sharp pains ran through them.
"Oh, dear." he whispered, his face going pale. He whispered something to Mrs. Weasley that I couldn't quite hear.
"The Weasleys would be happy to take her in." she replied, loud enough for me to hear.
"Thank you, Molly." he smiled at me. "Charlotte, I need to speak with you." Dumbledore sat in a chair next to mine.
"What's wrong with me, sir?" I asked.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you mean." he replied, gazing at me over his half moon spectacles.
I had the distinct feeling that I was being x-rayed. But I ignored it.
I concentrated on my hair turning purple. "Why can I do this?" I asked when I knew it had changed.
"Ah, you're a metamorphmagus." he said, looking a bit shocked.
"A what?" I asked.
"A metamorphmagus. It's a person who can change thier features at will." he explained.
"Oh." I sighed.
"Charlotte, do you know what you are?" he asked me.
"You just said I was a meta-metamortmafuz. Sorry, I can't remember how to say it." I sighed.
"Metamorphmagus." He corrected.
"Right. Metamorphmagus." I smiled slightly.
"Albus, how long will this take? I've got to get Fred and George's birthday presents before supper." Mrs. Weasley said.
"Not long. Do your shopping, Molly. Charlotte and I must talk. No sense in wasting your time." Dumbledore said, looking down at his watch.
"I'll be back here in a moment." Mrs. Weasley said before walking swiftly out the back door.
"Has anything strange or unexplained ever happened around you, Charlotte?" Dumbledore asked.
I thought for a moment before answering. "Well, my friend, Kelly, and I were on a trip to a park with th-the orphanage once. Two men grabbed us on the swings and were really mean to us. Kelly and I were terrified. But when they were carrying us off, they completely froze, dropped us, and flew backwards trough the air and into the slides." I said quietly. I tried not to relive what the men did to us.
"I'm terribly sorry." Dumbledore said and gave me a grave look.
"It's not your fault. And sir?"
"Hmm?"
"Please call me Lottie. No need to waste your breath." I smiled.
"Do you know who your parents were, Lottie?" Dumbledore asked.
I shook my head, no.
"Do you know anything about yourself, other than being a metamorphmagus?" He asked.
"I know both of my parents died in a car crash." I sighed.
"A car crash?" Dumbledore asked. "Lily and James Potter, die in a car crash." he chuckled. "I'm afraid that is not so," he sighed, the smile left his face.
My eyes widened. I was speechless. I had been lied to my whole life. Not that I was surprised, really. But Dumbledore seemed to have known my parents. I was suddenly hopeful that he would tell me about them.
"Lottie, your parents were killed - murdered - by a dark wizard who calls himself Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore said quietly.
"W-wizard?"
"You're a witch." He smiled.
"I'm a witch?" I asked.
"Yes. Quite an extraordinary one, might I add."
"How did you work that out?" I asked.
Dumbledore didn't answer my question. He simply said, "Your parents loved you."
'I know." I sighed. That didn't stop them being dead.
"No one can know who you are. Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley already know. But you may not-"
"Tell anyone?" I cut him off. "I understand. Or, at least, I think I understand." I sighed, actually clutching at my ribs. It hurt to breathe.
Dumbledore nodded at me with a pained look.
Mrs. Weasley reentered the pub, three bags in hand. Dumbledore rose from his seat, nodding to the two of us.
"I'm afraid I must be off. Good day, Molly, Lottie." and with that, Dumbledore went out the back door.
"Charlotte, would you like to come live with me?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
I thought about it for a moment. She seemed nice. But looks can be decieving. It couldn't get any worse than the orphanage, I decided.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Weasley." I smiled. "I honestly appreciate it."
"Oh, it's no problem, Charlotte." she smiled.
"Please call me Lottie." I looked at my toes. I'd only just realized I was barefoot.
"Please hold tight to my arm, Lottie. I'm sorry to say this wont be pleasant." Mrs. Weasley said.
She turned on the spot and I felt like I was being squeezed into a tube, unable to breathe. I struggled. I was going to die.
Then it was over. I was standing on the ground, swaying. I felt like I was going to puke.
"Are you alright, Lottie?" Mrs. Weasley asked me, taking my arm and holding me upright.
"That was a bit scary." I said faintly, following Mrs. Weasley into her house.
"Welcome to The Burrow." She smiled at me.
In the kitchen sat three boys and a girl. Two of the boys were twins. They all had flaming red hair and freckles.
"Mum!" One of the twins said.
"Who is that girl?" The other twin asked, staring with a slight smile.
"Hello." I mumbled, half-terrified they might hit me.
"Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, this is Lottie. She's going to be living with us." Mrs. Weasley said with a smile.
"Hullo, Lottie. George Weasley. Nice to meet you." The twin said as he rose from his seat at the table and offered his hand.
That's when I tuned out. George was gorgeous. I stared into his eyes. Then I realized he was staring back. Crap. I flushed bright red.
"She fits in well!" Ginny giggled.
