Author's Notes: I must say this story is extremely hard to write at the moment. Originally, this chapter was going to be longer and actually have him go into the forest. I decided to shorten it. Why? Well I do owe you the chapter and it would've taken me too long to type the rest. Sorry. I really do feel bad :( It's just gotten so hard; sometimes I can't even put in all my effort. Plus, I've got other stories that I like writing better. Shoot me, you have the right. Well now that I'm done, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It turned out fine despite my wish to have extended it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything from here. JK Rowling owns them. However, I own this story, Lin, and Alec. As well as Malcolm and Grag.

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Chapter 4: I Bet You

It's been a lot of weeks since Hogwarts started. Already, it's October. October 31 to be exact. So far school has been fine. Homework is completely and utterly boring though Alec doesn't complain while doing it. He says that there's no use in complaining and that it only makes things worse. Tonks disagrees, vowing that homework is a plot to suck away all the fun time we could be having instead. Tonks complains a lot about it all the time. I can't help complaining when we get an extremely heavy load, but usually it's okay. Well as okay as homework can be for a growing boy such as myself. Really, I'd rather be spending time outside.

My classes are going along fine. Well except for Potions, but I blame the teacher, not myself. The teacher is none other than Severus Snape. Snape, as we must call him, is really mean to us Gryffindors. You would think he wouldn't choose favorites, but no he totally does. He treats the Slytherins as if they're the ruling house with Malcolm as their prince. Ugh, Malcolm is so not close to princely. I suppose this is because Snape is the head of Slytherin. Snape doesn't have a nice bone in his body. I can't stand Potions and I always dread that class. Ugh, I'm not looking forwards for the years of it that I have left. But who knows? Maybe a flying car will hit Snape and that will be the end of my problems. Hey, I can wish, can't I?

I would talk about the rest of my classes, but who cares about classes? Let's talk about my life instead. Bill mostly ignores me at school. I don't really mind. It would be embarrassing if he was one of those brothers who wanted to watch me like a hawk. You know, to ensure that I didn't get into trouble. He's not like that at all. I think he would be happy if I didn't go here, but he just has to deal with me here. No, we don't hate each other. I think he just gets embarrassed of me sometimes. He still talks to me, but we each prefer to hang out with our other friends.

Talking about other friends, Alec and I have grown to be best friends. He's so much more outgoing when he's not around his sister. We joke around all the time. Still, we have a lot of differences. He never complains about anything. All he says is that you can't change anything, so why should you complain about it. I hold a different viewpoint on this. You should tell people when you're upset right. I don't complain about everything, only sometimes such as when we get heavy loads of homework or when Snape has especially been unfair.

Tonks and I are fairly good friends too. It's hard having a friend in another House. We get into arguments whenever Quidditch games come around and we're always sitting at different stands. Tonks cheers for her House, I cheer for mine. That's just the way things are. Still, we're good friends. Tonks is really good at making people laugh with her special ability. She does a good impression of Snape complete with everything from his nose to his voice. Okay, the voice isn't perfect, but it's good.

Lin… Well she's year older than me, so of course she doesn't always hang out with the three of us. After all, she has her own friends. I still harbor that crush on her that I've had since day one. Fortunately, I can control myself better, which means it's easier for me not to make a fool of myself. Those first days were really embarrassing… I don't even want to think about how big of a fool I acted like. Whenever Lin's around, Alec disappears in a shell. Strange, huh? Who knew siblings could have such an effect? Someone interrupted my stream of thoughts.

"Hey chicken, I bet you can't go into the Forbidden Forest at night," taunted a voice. I growled. Malcolm, of course. He always does manage to annoy me. I turn around to look him in his beady eyes.

"No, I'm not a coward," I say. My jaw is clenched as I fight down the desire to punch Malcolm out. However, I don't think I would be too safe with that plan as Grag is standing behind Malcolm. He cracks his knuckles to let me know that he's paying attention. I fight down the gulp. That monster of a boy scares me.

"Then how about a bet? You and me, Forbidden Forest as the sun falls. We can see who the stronger and braver wizard is." Malcolm is smirking now. I must not be caught up in this bet. My mind searches for an excuse that won't make me look like I'm scared. Because I totally am not.

"What about the Halloween feast?" I counter. Perfect excuse… People would notice someone missing, won't they? Even Malcolm wouldn't want to get detention for some little bet. Or so I assume he wouldn't.

"You don't have to make excuses, wimp. Just say you're too much of a chicken to come along." Malcolm nodded and the desire to punch him grew. "I'll understand. All those scary creatures are too much for a widdle Gryffindor. Not much of a lion, is he Grag?"

"No, no lion here." Grag shook his head wildly. His speech was still simple and more animal than human. I guess he sold his brain for those muscles. Who would do that I don't know?

"They should switch the mascot from a lion to a big, white chicken. It would suit the House more." Okay, this time Malcolm had gone way too far. Insulting my House isn't something you can get away with. Anger coursed through my system. I always had been more emotional than my other siblings. I guess that's what drove me to do it.

My fist connected with his jaw, making a loud cracking sound. It was satisfying and I couldn't help a grin from coming on to my face. Sure, my knuckle was hurting. The look on Malcolm's face was worth it. He was surprised that I punched him and it showed on his stupid face. Blood dripped from his gaping mouth. He really hadn't expected that. Ha! That will show him not to mess with me. Or any of my friends.

"Weasley!" The strict voice sent a jolt through my systems. No, he hadn't seen. No, no! I'm doomed, finished. Why, oh why? Why did he have to choose that moment to appear here? Even if he had come here earlier, I bet he would've blamed me anyway. Yeah, it was Snape.

"What did you do to this poor boy?" Snape came up to the three of us. A deep frown was on his face though I could see the shimmer of joy deep within his eyes. Figures he would be happy to punish me.

"Look, Professor Snape, he was aggravating me. He was saying that Gryffindor wasn't fit to-" I was cut off by Snape's raised finger.

"It doesn't matter the reason. You don't go around and punch other students in the jaw like that. I'm afraid I'm going to have to forbid you from going to the Halloween Feast." A pleased smile formed on Snape's lips as I stuttered. Forbidden from a feast?! And my first Halloween here at Hogwarts to boot… It's all Malcolm and Grag's faults. Both of them though mostly Malcolm…

I knew I couldn't just stay angry at him, or at least I couldn't show it. Snape would love that. It would give him reason to punish me harder. Maybe give me detention for a few days. Instead I nodded my head like a defeated dog. That's how I felt to except for the shimmer of happiness that I was smart enough to avoid further punishment. Of course, Snape might not even be seeking to punish me further. "Yes, Professor Snape."

"Good." I could see the edges of Snape's smile tweak downwards just a tad in a frown. Yes, victory for Charlie! I have decieved the Potions Master. I really am good! "Malcolm, I suggest you go have Madam Promfrey check that out." He stalked off and I glared at his receding back. What I wouldn't give for something to fall on him at that moment? Of course, nothing did fall.

"I'm going into the Forbidden Forest tonight. You better be there unless you're too scared," I teased Malcolm though my tone was dead-serious. My mind was made up. Going into that forest would be the only way I can enact revenge on Malcolm for causing this exile from the feast. I had really been looking forwards to it. He looked shocked. Guess he didn't think I would actually say yes. Well he was dead wrong. I was taking him up on this little bet.

"Right. Well we'll see if you don't chicken out in the end." Malcolm waved his hand to Grag. "Let's go, Grag. I have an appointment to make before tonight." Yeah, an appointment to fix your jaw. I fought back laughter. He walked off in a fashion that reminded me of a defeated villian. Well he is a villain, so the metaphor works. Grag glared at me.

"You betta' show." Grag grumbled in a voice that reminded me of a baby and a brute at the same time. To my surprise, he pulled his fist back to punch me. I glared right back at him. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins right now. I didn't care that a hulking monster was in front of me instead of that wimp, Malcolm. I could totally take him. He wouldn't stand a chance. I'd have him blubbering like a baby.

"Grag!" Malcolm called. Grag grumbled and walked off after shoving me to the ground. I stood up and dusted myself off. Okay, thank you Malcolm. I had been just about to get myself killed by Grag... Who knew Malcolm would save me with a simple command? I couldn't resist taunting after Grag.

"Bye-bye doggy," I called to Grag, causing him to give a growl of anger. I chuckled as the two walked off. Yes, this was a victory for me. Don't look at me weirdly. He's a bit like a dog. He has the whole follow-Malcolm-because-he's-my-master thing down. Just like a loyal pet dog.

Then, the realization of what I was going to do sunk in. I was going to break the rules to sneak into some stupid forest just because some stupid boy drove me nuts. Man, I must be crazy or something. Fear stabbed me. Fear of what was in those dark woods and fear of being discovered. What if Snape caught me? Oh well, it was too late for regrets. Plus, all the teachers would be in the Great Hall feasting. And no one would notice that a little first-year was missing as Snape had punished me. I gulped anyway. What had I done? Stupid, stupid Charlie.

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A/N: Well, there it was. The next chapter will involve Charlie's friends telling him not to go as well as him actually going into the forest. What will he find there? Will Malcolm be waiting there with a teacher? And will this story ever be easier to write? Find out all this and more next! Except maybe that last question… Reviews are appreciated and thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter.

Twilight Phantom Dragon