A/N: I'm sorry this took so long...the stupid Document Manager thing broke and I couldn't upload anything...hopefully I'll be able to get Chapter Four up sooner. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed: Kate, Beth Pryor, and karniverous pineapple! Here's another chapter for you all.

Kate: I'm glad you liked it so far! Thanks for being my first reviewer!

Beth Pryor: Yay! Another Charlie fan! He is definitely neglected both in the fan fiction world and in the actual books…we must speak to Jo about this serious oversight!

Karniverous pineapple: Thanks for motivating me! Nice username by the way…

Disclaimer: Not mine, but probably not yours either.

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When the alarm clock went off at 4: 24, Charlie leaped out of his bed with so much gusto he smashed his head against the bottom of the top bunk. Gregory, his roommate, grunted indignantly, rolled over, and continued snoring. Even though he was still seeing stars from the blow, Charlie thought he would burst from excitement. After weeks of painful rehabilitation and tedious exercises to strengthen his leg, he had finally been deemed healthy enough to start as a Patrolman. He could barely tie his shoe laces, his hands were shaking so much. He was finally returning to where he belonged.

Charlie made sure that Gregory was fully conscious before stepping outside. Immediately, he was glad that he had thought to dress warmly—it was mid-November, and winter came early up in the mountains. He took a moment to take in the beautiful view of the mountains before starting up the path toward the Patrol headquarters, where he would be briefed about his new assignment. He thought wistfully back to his first day as a Keeper. He had felt invincible at that moment, when he got to work with a real dragon for the first time.

"Huh. Like that was anywhere close to the truth," he said to himself, trying not to think about his leg.

"That's not normal," said a vaguely familiar voice in his ear. Charlie jumped with alarm.

"Merlin! You can't sneak up on people like that!" he exclaimed angrily, drawing his wand and whirling around to face his new enemy.

"Well, I guess we're both abnormal, then. You talk to yourself, and I sneak up on people," replied the witch who was responsible for the incident. Charlie stared at her for a second, trying to place her familiar face. She was tiny…not much over 5 feet tall and barely 100 pounds, with unruly brown hair that was escaping from the tight braid that hung down her back.

"Staring is also not normal," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Charlie could the blood rushing to his face.

"No…I was just…just trying to figure out where I know you from," he stammered. "Er…I didn't catch your name."

"I didn't say it. Nina Galbraith," she said, extending a hand. Charlie shook it awkwardly.

"Charlie Weasley," he replied.

"I know." She smiled at the confused expression on his face.

"I was in Ravenclaw, two years behind you," she explained. "I was a chaser on the Quidditch team."

"I remember now! You were the one who nearly knocked Penn Quigley off his broom in the championship match!" Charlie exclaimed. Poor Quigley had never been able to figure out how he had almost been de-broomed by a girl who weighed half as much as him.

"So…what are you doing here?" Nina asked. "I'm starting Patrol today. I wanted to be a Keeper, but the bastards said I was too small." Her face darkened and her hands curled into fists. "I wish I could show them what 'too bloody small' can do to their faces," she muttered.

"I'm starting patrol as well," Charlie answered quietly. Nina looked at him skeptically.

"What, huge bloke like you can't be a Keeper?" she said.

It was Charlie's turn to become upset. Without a word in reply, he stormed up the path. He didn't want some insensitive little girl to be the reason he was late on his first day.

"Wait! Weasley!" Nina called after him. Charlie kept walking, his eyes fixed resolutely ahead.

"WEASLEY!" She yelled in his ear. She had snuck up on him again.

"Dammit! Why do you always do that?" he shouted, rubbing his ear gingerly. He wouldn't have been surprised if it had been bleeding.

"Look, I don't know what I said that made you so angry, but I didn't mean to upset you," she said. "I mean, if you have body image problems or something…"

"That's not funny," Charlie snapped.

"Well, would you care to explain why suddenly you go from staring at my chest to biting my head off?" she replied defensively.

"I WAS NOT STARING AT YOUR CHEST!" Charlie bellowed. A few people who were coming up the path behind them stopped and stared.

"Move along, now!" he yelled at them, motioning up the path. Catching a glance at his watch, he swore under his breath. He had 20 seconds to make it to his Orientation. Sending Nina one last death glare, he jogged up the path as fast as his leg would allow him to.

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After arriving at Patrol Headquarters, Charlie had been reprimanded for his tardiness, been given at least fifty pamphlets with pictures of smiling wizards and witches on them and titles like, "What Patrolling Can Do For You," and "A Future in Magical Security." According to the packet they had given him, he was to be with Patrol 17. Charlie glanced at the map of the area they would be covering---lots of mountains, no surprises there---and then found the page that listed his Crew.

"Henry Kendrick….Hadrian Ainsley….Simon Pellegrin...Charlie Weasley….Nina Galbraith," he read aloud. Then he did a double-take. "Nina Galbraith!" he exclaimed. It wasn't possible. But there was her name, right under his. Charlie closed his eyes in despair. He did feel a little guilty about the way he had treated her back there on the path, but she had been so obnoxious.

A stocky wizard with a large graying mustache came forward to address the gathered crowd of new Patrolmen.

"In a few moments, you will be joining your Crews," he said enthusiastically. "All of the Crews have at least two experienced members to show you the ropes. All of the information you need is in the packets you were given when you arrived. However, before we begin another season of successful patrolling, I must go over some safety guidelines…"

Charlie wasn't really paying attention. He was busy scanning the room for familiar faces. Everyone was either from the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, or Australia…people from other countries were in various other buildings. There had to be at least one other person he had gone to Hogwarts with...but the only person who looked remotely familiar was Nina Galbraith, and he was planning on avoiding her for as long as possible.

"Now, I want to you go and find your new crews!" the wizard said brightly. "You'll meet the other new members in your crew now. The others are waiting outside." With a flick of his wand, golden numbers appeared around the room. Charlie sighed and headed for the large "17" that was floating in the front left corner. This wasn't going to turn out well.

Unfortunately for Charlie, the only person who was standing under the "17" was Nina Galbraith.

"Of course," he muttered to himself when he saw her there. "Hopefully the other three aren't completely off their rockers as well."

"Oh," said Nina aloofly as he approached. "You."

"Look, I didn't ask to be assigned to the same patrol as you," he said indignantly.

"First they say I'm too small to be a Keeper, then they assign me to a patrol with a pervert who talks to himself," she grumbled.

"You're talking to yourself now," Charlie said pointedly.

"Are we all properly introduced now?" said the mustachioed wizard. "I hope you've all made friends!" Both Nina and Charlie rolled their eyes at this. "Now it's time to meet the other members of your crew. They're waiting outside, and once you've been introduced you can begin! Good luck!"

Resolutely ignoring each other, Nina and Charlie headed for the exits.

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There you have it! Sorry about the ooooooo things, it wouldn't let me put in the usual lines.

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