A/N: Oh gosh. First off,can I just apologize for not updating within a year? I wanted to get back to this fanfiction as soon as I started writing it but then college took over and I was scrambling to do well with that. Not to mention, I've gone and done other things include trying to write other fanfictions, my own original stories, and just been kind of lazy. I'm sorry to those who had to wait over a year for this. I know it's ridiculous. My perfectionist side also kicked in and had me redoing this chapter over and over again. This is also quite lengthy so you can imagine how much frustration I had to go through to write this. I mean, it's not to say I don't enjoy it! I do absolutely as I cannot wait for Charsey and her friends to finally go to Hogwarts and interact with Harry, Ron, Hermione, the Weasleys, and everybody else!

I hope you enjoy this chapter. I had to do some kind of studying for the journals and whatnot which you'll see in the chapter. I wanted to make sure that I sounded true to the wizarding world as possible. Also I hope you like where I've taken Hubert and Charsey. As always, you can always review and share what you thought of this fanfiction. I'm also quite aware that I may have a lot of grammar/punctuation errors for the most part but hopefully, if I can, I'll find somebody who isn't picky enough to beta read a material such as this. Moving along, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Chapter 5 should up shortly after this!


Chapter 4: An Unusual Access

Charlotte was still eyeing the Hermione Granger's journal lost in thought as to whether it was an elaborate prank or not. She also realized there were at least six other journals to leaf through along with the tissue-wrapped object and the crinkled, folded poster. She hoped those would provide the answers to her questions. Charlotte went over to her bed and found the crinkled, folded poster, the tissue-wrapped object, and the other journals lying around untouched. 'Well at least I'll have time to sort through this.' She thought to herself with a shrug. Now which one would she dive into? The six journals in front of her? The unfolded and crinkled poster? Or the tissue-wrapped object? She never got to make a decision because just then she heard the ring of her doorbell sounding off. Who could be appearing at their doorstep this hour? Peeking out of her curtains, Charlotte tried to see who could be standing in front of her house but tried to remain concealed just in case it was an unfamiliar visitor or a solicitor but the answer came in form of Hubert who was standing patiently.

This seemed to startled Charlotte a bit. Why is he here? Didn't he already have plans with his homework? Did he forget something? Charlotte thought as she noticed him. Charlotte got out her phone, checked for messages, and saw that there was a text from him that notified her that he was coming over. Well seems like I must of missed it then. She thought as she pocketed her phone. It was probably because she had it on silent mode and was absorbed in Hermione Granger's journal that she hadn't been aware of that was the reason why he came over to her house too. He had wanted to make sure that she was okay. Otherwise, the only time he'd visit if there was an urgent emergency going on and he needed help or if he needed to borrow something from her.

Charlotte tore out of her room and headed downstairs. "Hey Hubert, I just got your message. Did you want something?" She greeted him after opening the door.

Hubert nodded and held up what seemed to be a letter addressed to him. Wait did he get a letter too? Charlotte pondered when she noticed it. "Yeah, I got this and it said—" But Charlotte was already nodding and beckoning him to follow her up the stairs where they passed Beatrice's room. They could hear the snores emitting for her sister was taking her daily after-school nap.

The two reached Charlotte's room and she gestured for Hubert to sit anywhere that he'd like. He was about to but spotted the items on the bed and stared at it as he made his way towards the chair in front of her desk. "You win a contest or is this a present from one of your relatives?" He asked eyeing them curiously after he sat down.

"Neither, actually." She replied to his curious case. He glanced at the objects curiously. "I know this because this is going to sound crazy but somebody sent me these but I'm not familiar with the person." Charlotte said after leaving the door ajar because her parents made the 'No Closed Doors When Parents Aren't Home' rule. It was too bad her parents didn't understand the platonic relationship that she and Hubert shared.

"Strange. So it's not from anybody you know?" Hubert commented but his eyes were still peeled to the objects on her bed. She knew that he wanted touch them and was wondering if she should let him. He might know about what going on but then she remembered why they were in her room in the first place.

"Before we get started with that. Why don't you explain the letter to me?" Charlotte pondered inquisitively after taking a seat at the chair at her desk. She glanced around to see if her laptop was on but so far it was off. She would of have gotten on it if it weren't for the series of mysterious events happening.

"Oh right," Hubert spoke, turning around to face her. "Okay, the thing is that as soon as I came home, I found a letter that was addressed to me, so I was trying to figure out what it meant," He started to explain. He then rummaged around his jeans pocket came up with an envelope.

Charlotte watched as he took out the paper from the envelope, unfolded it, and slid it over to her. "Here, read it." He said. The first thing that she noticed was that he also got a note but she found that it was also scrawled in the same handwriting as hers and she knew that something was up but continued reading on to see what his said:

The one who lives across the street from you will come to a decision. A decision that will have an impact on not only themselves but those around them including you. It involves much of their desired wish and because of that they will be driven to flee away from this world.

No wonder he decided to come over and had that letter with him. It was probably because he couldn't discuss this note with his mom but had personally wanted to make sure for himself that she was okay with it. It also explained why he texted her ahead of time to let her know that he was coming over.

If you feel like you need to have a say before the person makes an irrational decision, go forth and join them or you will have to wait years until you see them again. Who knows? Your role in this might be pivotal and worthy of their life.

What did they mean by worthy of her life? Did that mean that she was not going to make decision that would impact other peoples' live especially Hubert's if so what? This was getting really weird.

Then she read:

Good luck young Muggle!

There it was again! The Muggle word! Did this prankster, stranger, or whoever sent this letter know what kind of impact that they had on her and Hubert? So not only was he getting a different letter from the same person telling him almost entirely different but he was here to stop her from doing whatever he thought she might felt like she was doing.

"So were you thinking about taking off or anything?" Charlotte heard Hubert ask once she finished reading the letter.

"Um, I'm not sure how I can take off." Charlotte replied, confused by his question. "I mean, if I don't know where I'm actually going." What decision could she make that would lead her to go off elsewhere? She wasn't sure what he meant.

"Hubert," Charsey started to say. "Are you worried about that letter being right about me doing something that involves making a decision. I mean, if so, is that why you came here? To see if it's true or not?" She didn't think her friend actually believed the letter since he was usually skeptical to these kind of things. Somehow today that change.

"Well no, I'm not actually but I still came over to you know…just check." Hubert explained but frowned like this wasn't the main reason.

""What if it could be a prank?" Hubert paused and seemed thoughtful about this. "Maybe so," was his reply but it seemed unconvinced somewhat. Then he frowned at her and said, "You're not making any life-changing decisions are you?"

Charlotte started to laugh at this but stopped upon his serious expression. Okay so the letter he got must have been serious but was it the same person writing him. "Um no, not at the moment." She replied but was unsure. "Not unless you count the one about what college I want to go to." She grinned after this. They still might have been sophomores but Charlotte was very indecisive about college even though she had plans to go to a few of them already. Hubert grinned back as he could relate.

"I'd say that you'll decide on Lancaster Fields University or Dalesbergen Heights College." He joked.

"Hmm probably," Charlotte murmured in agreement. She decided to focus back on the letter that Hubert got. There was something odd about the fact that he got a letter from what seemed to be the same person.

"Hubert…do you think the note that you got might be a prank? I mean, because I got one too, a letter I mean."

"Really?" Charlotte nodded. "Yes, along with some items in a package." She pointed to the items that he'd noticed earlier.

"Wait. Can I see it?" Hubert asked her. Charlotte gave him the letter and Hermione Granger's journal, handing it to him saying, "Read the letter first and then the journal. Tell me if you think it's a prank or not." If there was anything who could figure this mystery out, it'd be Hubert since he was all about logical reasoning and craved mysteries.

While Hubert was reading the letter, Charlotte noticed that he was expressionless as his eyes glazed over the letter. She thought she noticed a tiny frown cross his face at one point. She figured that he must of have read the 'Good luck young Muggle' portion like she had. Once he was done, he took Hermione Granger's journal and examined the cover first, and peered at the inside cover for what seemed to be a longer than a few minutes before flipping through the pages of the journal and became absorbed in it.

During the time that he studied the journal, Charlotte eyed the other six journals that were lying on her bed and opened one at random. What she found in the pages was not only unfamiliar but elegant and cursive handwriting. She noticed that it was a book was full of incantations with how to pronounce them. Wait incantations? She pinched herself a couple of times but she wasn't dreaming it. Okay…this is really strange… She thought to herself.

However, the curiosity got the best of her, and she dived into the book. The page she landed was a random one where Hermione (or the person who wrote the journal) scrawled: 'Lumos' on it.

She read what it said on the page she landed on:

First Year Spells:

Lumos

Pronunciation: Loo-mose. (Loo as in the loo and mose like m in the word: dose)

What is it?: Lumos is a spell that is used to cast light for those who find themselves in the darkness and need something to guide their way through it.

How to cast: In order to cast Lumos, one can point the wand anymore and use it in a situation where they can't find themselves within the darkness. For example, if you're wandering through a dark forest or castle corridor at Hogwarts.

Note: It doesn't work in cases of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder (but if I find anything that clearly works, I'll update this).

Charlotte chortled at these words for she knew who sold these products but immediately stopped when she realized the bad effects that it had. She continued to leaf through the journal silently finding other spells like Alohomora and Reducto. Ones that were familiar with her as a Potterhead who studied spells and incantations that she'd never use. They all not only sounded familiar but also from the looks of it even legit. Something told her that it probably wasn't an ordinary journal with spells in it and that maybe she really was holding something of Hermione Granger's. Come again, she was aware this might have been an elaborate prank as well.

"How's it going?" She asked Hubert after closing Hermione's first year spells journal. Hubert didn't answer her as he was still deeply invested in the journal that he was reading. After what seemed about an hour later, he glanced up and said, "If I tell you whose journal it is. You probably won't believe me would you?"

Believe him? Did she think she heard what he just say? Charlotte put one of the journals down and listened.

"I know that probably might sound uncharacteristic of me. I'll admit it right now. But what you just gave me…" Hubert started to say but glanced again at the journal as if to finalize his decision. "This journal is...no, wait, I know for a fact," He stopped again. "I know for a fact that this journal belongs to Hermione Jean Granger."

"Wait," Charlotte interjected, looking confused by this. It wasn't that she didn't agree but she felt that her best friend would never agree to this. She wondered if something hit his head along the way. "How do you know it's actually hers and not somebody else's with the same name as her?" She didn't let Hubert speak as she kept asking questions. "What if it's an elaborate prank or a something from the movies?"

Once she was done and had gave him a look of uncertainty, Hubert seemed quite puzzled by her reaction but also slowly but quietly replied, "To be honest, I don't think this is elaborate prank, Charsey." She wanted to ask him what made him say that and how he knew but he held up his hand like he knew what was going to come next.

"Trust me, a elaborate prank like this would take forever to pull off. The effort that goes into this kind of prank would" He started to explain. "Also the way this journal is written sounds like it comes from an actual human being. I mean, given the reason, why would anybody put so much detail regarding their emotional state about how much they loved subjects like Defense against the Dark Arts or Transfiguration to an elaborate study of spells like Alohomora and Windgardium Leviosa and complete with actual pictures and notes of how they studied the actual magic that one could only make up in what you and Bethany read as fanfiction?"

Charlotte didn't speak because of two things: first, she was still in shock of the way he spoke about it and two, he actually seemed to believe that the journal belonged to the person who could be the Hermione Granger. Not somebody with the same name or a crafty writer who can be a poser.

"I don't get it," She heard herself speaking up after this. "How is it that you are so sure about everything that you just told me is real? What if somebody was truly elaborating a prank and no offense, but you're a fool to believe it?" She wanted to believe her friend but felt also that she needed to stay on the 'just in case' route at the same time as well.

"This is going to sound odd coming from me," Hubert responded. "But I don't think somebody would joke nor attempt this kind of prank." He proved his point by giving her one of the journals. "Look at the bounding and you'll see what I mean." He instructed. Charlotte examined the bounding of the journal. So far it was leather much like the journals she'd seen but it reminded her of the old historical used that passed by on tours of different museums and locations. The book did seem kind of dusty if she scanned it carefully. Not to mention the designs reminded her of the ones back in the late 40s.

"Can I also show you something?" Hubert asked after she was glancing at the journal. She gave it back to him and he flipped through the journal pages, landed on it, and handed it to her. "Now give this a look."

Charlotte took the journal and stared down at what seemed to be a picture of a badly-drawn creature that a straggly figure lines with wings. She could only assume was a Cornish Pixie because of the way the person colored its eyes to an inky-filled circle. "I also examined the writing and I feel that it's not inked by a pen." She heard Hubert explain to her while she read it. She flipped the page to see if there was any other drawing but couldn't help but let a gasp.

"You're right," She agreed after doing so.

"So I am but what makes you say that?" He wanted to know. She handed him the journal. When he saw what she saw, he whispered, "Is that what I think it is?" No way that this was real. It just didn't exist today. Of course, it was only used for displays possibly in historical museums and if not there, often rarely used. Yet there it was lying between two pages of writings: it was a brown quill.

"Too bad there's no ink but try pressing it to the page," Hubert commented as he took it from Charlotte and turned over a page and started to press it like he was going to write something in the journal.

"Well it's odd how the person didn't send an ink with it. Even if that's the case, the quill is very real." Hubert concluded after examining the quill and analyzing it over and over with his eyes.

"What if the quill's actually fake? How can you be so sure?" Charlotte countered, even though the quill was very real after she had touched it. She couldn't explain what it was but she guessed it came from a large type of bird like an eagle or pheasant. She noticed the color of this particular quill was black and gold.

"Honestly? I have no idea why but this journal makes me believe that it's real because…" Then he stopped and realized that he didn't seem to give her the answer she wanted. "Well because, crazy as it sounds, I have a gut feeling about this. I don't know how or why but I always listen to it when it's right. And now? Something's telling me that it's real despite everything else." He finished, sounding resolute about this.

Yeah somebody who's probably crazy that's for sure. Charlotte thought, trying not to shudder.

Of course, she didn't say those words. Most of the time, Hubert's gut was right but most times. Focusing on her thoughts to what the journal was about. She kept glancing at the bounding to the contents of the journal.

"I know…but if they wanted to us to believe that it was real?" Charlotte went on, unconvinced despite the fact that her insides were tugging at her to believe what he just said.

The evidence was all there. It wasn't that she didn't want to; she did but also didn't want the hope she was gaining to skyrocket and then plummet afterwards when it didn't real. So it became natural for her to stubborn

"Fine, don't believe me," Hubert sighed, throwing his hands up. She knew that he was probably exasperated by her doubts and yet she kept pestering at the topic.

"I do believe you! It's just—" She stopped when she saw his eyes glazing over to the items on her bed. Oh right! The package that she got today! Hubert walked over to her bed, picked up the small tissue-wrapped item, and handed it to her.

"You haven't opened this have you?" He wanted to know. Charlotte glanced at him for a second trying to figure out where he was going with this but knew that he was on to something. Taking the tissue-wrapped item from him, she fingered the shape of it, and was aware that it was circular after much examination.

"You're right. I haven't but what do you suppose could be in here?" She asked, looking up at him.

"I'm not sure but we'll find out right?" Hubert said gesturing for her to open it but Charlotte went back to fingering the item. The only thing she could do was guess what the object was unless she opened it. The item was definitely miniature in size and there were many objects that came to her mind: could it be a trinket? A piece from a board game? Or could it also be a piece of jewelry or a box that held it?

The curiosity, however, grew and suddenly Charlotte found herself removing the tissue paper and held up what seemed to be a blue handheld mirror. The mirror was ancient looking as it was scattered with coats of dirt and the paint seemed like it was chipping off. Not to mention, parts of the mirror had lines of slight cracks. The circular head was glazed with flowery-etched symbols that twirled around the sides of the head. The handle was smooth in surface but really, it wasn't anything special. Sure it held minor beauty to it but Charlotte wondered why anybody would send her an old mirror if it wasn't good for use.

"A handheld mirror? I wonder how old that one is." Hubert commented once he saw it. His eyes then landed on something else too. "Hey look, there's a note." He took the piece of folded paper that fell onto her bed, unfolded the paper, and scanned it.

"What does it say?" Charlotte wanted to know as she peered over his shoulder, trying to read it too. This handwriting seemed a lot smaller in contrast to the letters they got. It made it harder to read.

"It says…" He squinted at the letter.

"Here, let me see that," Charlotte said, holding out her hand. Hubert handed her the note and once she read it, she noticed that it was from a different person as the handwriting in this one was more unreadable. Despite this, she continued to squint and read it:

My replica sleeps in your backyard. It'll remain there until 5:30 p.m. sharp. When you have it in your procession: touch it, count to 3 or backwards if you prefer, wait, and it shall take you to a place that is far away from where you are and no longer one of your own recognition.

Once she finished reading the note after a few times. What could the note mean anyway? Far away and no longer of your own recognition? Where was that? It could be anywhere but where was that? Did the note mean the wizarding world or elsewhere? Charlotte pondered, her mind drifting back to the wish.

"You know I think this note is the answer to what my letter was explaining to me before." Hubert grinned but not a smug one but rather anticipation. Charlotte couldn't help but begin to share his feelings too even though it seemed different the way he was acting. They both exchanged intrigued glances.

"Hubert do you think it could be…" Charlotte started to say but closed her mouth quickly. What did the note mean by 'shall take you far away from where you are'? Was it possible that her wish was coming true? The handheld mirror didn't strike her much other than it appeared somewhat rusty and ancient-looking.

"Could be what?" Hubert was puzzled by her expression.

Charlotte tried to rack her brain for the second time as to why the object sounded so familiar. It was something that she had read before that witches and wizards used for transportation, wait a minute, something that took witches and wizards to different locations apart from riding a broom and floo powder but what was it?

"Do you think it's a…" She tried again, not sure of what else to call it.

"A what?" He was still confused by her words.

Oh what was it called? There had to be a name for it! It started with what letter? G? No, not a G. What about J, T, or B? Nah. Somehow those letters didn't sound right. She racked her brain for every letter in her head until she got to a P. Wait a minute…a P! What did the P in the wizarding world aside from Harry's last name stand for? 'Come on, think, think, think!' She willed herself. Something with the letter P and it would take her to places. Then finally it came to her! A portkey! That's what it was!

"A portkey! Hubert, I think it's a portkey!" Charlotte wondered out loud. Her insides begin to soar with a rushing sensation that only materialized after this. If it was a portkey…then that meant that the wizarding world could be real!

"You mean one of the magical means of transportation in the wizarding world? I mean, that's what I can recall from my readings of Goblet of Fire." Hubert answered, startled.

"Yeah, that's what I think it is." Charlotte said, caressing the frame of the mirror rather gently. If this mirror was a portkey… that meant they could go to another world! Okay, just maybe. She had to be realistic just in case it wasn't real. If! Only and if!

"Hmmm…you're actually right. It could be that. Because when I first saw that," Hubert pointed at the handheld mirror that she was still holding. "I actually wanted to throw it out and regard it as joke since it's definitely an antique item store item but after I read the note…"

"Yeah …?" Charlotte said after he paused but he gone silent after eyeing the mirror for what seemed more than seconds. He was probably still trying to debate about what she just told him or process what it was doing here in her bedroom. "Okay, reading about portkey out of curiosity as to how it functions in the story," He began and seemed to sound as though he wouldn't mind doing so. "This might sound wild but I seriously think we should test what the note said. Don't you?" Did she hear that right? He wanted to actually experiment with the mirror to see if it was a portkey? Not that she didn't want to or believe what he was going on about but this was Hubert. He was the one who was the logical one with reasoning that pertained to the depth of factual information and whatnot. It was him who never thought the possibility of a stranger's note that he just read with her could be real nor take a chance at magic that she could possibly ceased to exist.

"You mean about the replica of this mirror?" Charlotte said, trying to see if he was tired but his bright eyes filling with anticipation revealed that he was fully awake.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about." Hubert said. She was about to argue back that it might have been a trick but he seemed pretty adamant about his decision earlier and didn't bother trying to waste her breath. They'd just have to find out later wouldn't they?

"Um sure, why not?" Charlotte had said instead. It couldn't hurt to at least try it out though right? Maybe it'd take her away the doubts swimming in her mind. So trying to appear eager, she asked: "Do you want to test it out now?"

Hubert was about to answer but his grin faded after he looked like he just realized something. "Hubert, what's wrong?" Charlotte was now concerned by her friend's sudden change of reaction. She wondered if he was reconsidering this or thinking about their argument earlier. "I was thinking...w-what about Bethany? I-I mean shouldn't we let her know about this? We can't leave without her now could we? Remember your wish?" His voice was quiet again and he looked up at her genuinely bothered by this.

Charlotte felt guilt tearing down her face after he mentioned this. Oh right. Bethany! She had momentarily forgotten about her other best friend after they both found themselves absorbed in the mysterious mail. It also wasn't like her to not think about her other best friend. The question floated into her brain: how could she have forgotten her very own best friend? Did that mean that she valued going to Hogwarts without her other best friend? She certainly hoped not but she knew that Hubert was right. They both couldn't definitely leave Bethany behind especially with the turns of events.

"You're right." Charlotte agreed with him. "Fine. We pack all this stuff, head over to Bethany's and see if she's home, then head to my backyard, find that replica of the mirror in my backyard, and then test it and find out if it works or not. How does that sound?" She suggested hopefully. There, it was already a better plan already. It was the only plan that she felt certain that she had at the moment. A plan that wouldn't also leave her other best friend out either.

"Fine but let's just say what if Bethany's not home. I know she did mention about fixing dinner but you know…" Hubert started to mention this. Charlotte knew that he wasn't going to leave her behind nor did she want to but had a strong feeling that they might have to for some odd reason, whether they liked it or not.

"Yeah, her family can be spontaneous at times." Charlotte agreed. She could recall that Bethany sometimes whined about not hanging out with them on weekends because her family wanted to drag her to places often times.

"I'd say that unless the portkey doesn't work, we don't tell Bethany considering we don't have to deal with her wrath and maybe just forget about the whole thing." Hubert suggested thoughtfully as if he were thinking another way about this. Charlotte couldn't help but find herself snickering at this.

"So you agree with me then?" Hubert asked her.

"Yes, I do but what if the portkey doesn't work and it was just a hoax?" She heard herself again. Yes, the doubts still ran in her mind but only because of how today's events went. Something about didn't seem right either. "I mean, if it is, then we'll get rid of the journals, forget about this whole thing, and by doing that, Bethany doesn't have to know." Hubert seemed to see where she was going because he nodded as to understand what she meant.

"It's like I said before, if she doesn't know then we don't have to feel bad about her not going to the wizarding world with us." Hubert said finishing Charsey's thoughts. It was kind of funny too considering they switched roles on each other considering she'd be more excited about this whereas Hubert would be more realistic about it like she was at the moment.

"Yeah but what if it works and we don't give a shot?" Hubert continued on. Then he peeled his eyes over to Charsey's desk like he was lost in thought.

"I do, Hubert, I do. I'm just saying just in case. I mean, what if it doesn't work and it turns out to be a joke after all?" Charlotte muttered at the last part.

"We'll have Plan B." Hubert finally said after much silence that filled the air between them as they tried to come up with another plan.

It didn't take long before they agreed to Plan B. This plan would be that if Bethany wasn't around, they'd deliver her a letter of explanation of what happened to them. They would text but she rarely answered her phone these days and they felt like it had to be in person or means that would get her attention. While Hubert agreed to write the letter and Charlotte decided to prepare her things. The two of them got ready. Hubert sat down on her desk and started composing a long letter that would explain the events of what happened today. Charlotte, on the otherhand, went on a searching frenzy. She needed something that could her items in. So she crounched down on the ground and searched under her bed.

"What time is it? If so, how much time do we have?" She asked her best friend as her eyes scanned the random items buried from underneath the bed. Time might be an important factor today for all she knew.

"Well it is 4:30, so half and a hour from now," Hubert noted when he glanced at her analog clock in her room. He went back to composing the letter. "We still have time to convince her to come with us. What time do your parents get home?" She knew that he was afraid of them getting caught doing something unfamiliar to them.

"They usually get home about five but I think they come home later on Fridays like around six? It depends." Charlotte told him.

Even then, they wouldn't notice what activities are going to be held in the backyard since they rarely pay attention to me. She eyed random journals that she used, books that she hadn't read in a while, and some figurines under her bed. None of those things would work.

"Sounds good." Hubert glanced up from his letter. "Now if anything happens, we'll use the goose on the loose signal."

The Goose on The Loose was a signal made by him and passed to her and Bethany. It was basically silly movements involving goose-flapping gestures and honking sounds that the three of them used for communication between themselves. Nobody could understand what it meant apart from them since Hubert was the inventor of it. He convinced them it one of the ways that the goose communicated with one another.

"Got it!" Charsey exclaimed when she found a scarlet-palette backpack. Despite its timeworn and dusty appearance, it had enough zipper compartments to put her packaged items along with the notes that her and Hubert got in the mail. This was perfect for her and Hubert to carry their items for what could be possibly their journey into another realm. Well, that is if the replica handheld mirror was an actual portkey that truly functioned.

After Hubert finished writing the letter to Bethany, Charlotte stuffed it into her pocket. Once they packed everything from their letters to the quill and the seven journals, they finally ready to head on out. They both had to tip-toe out of her room considering her sister was still napping, down the stairs, opened the back door and slip outside swiftly and quietly (after making the door was completely locked) before heading next door to Bethany's house.

Once they arrived on the front steps of Bethany's door, the two waited outside after Hubert rang the doorbell.

"How do you think she'll take it?" Charlotte said, trying to prepare herself for how her other best friend would take this news. She figured that maybe Bethany wouldn't believe them until evidence showed up. That or she'd believed it the whole time and would go with them. The latter sounded right thought considering how obsessed her friend was with the Harry Potter series.

"She'll probably be happy or call us crazy unless it becomes real…" Hubert trailed off. They waited for a big longer to see if the door would open or not.

"Do you think we pressed it hard enough?" Charlotte asked when there was no answer. She wasn't sure if she heard the usual chimes playing on the first try.

"Yeah…I think so….let's try again." Hubert agreed, pressing it again. They heard chimes playing multiple of times. Nothing happened.

Hubert frowned and turned to Charlotte. "That's peculiar. Isn't Bethany home

"Yeah, she had to set up dinner today and all that." Charlotte recalled, trying to remember what happened in the coffee shop earlier that day.

"Let's try again, maybe she got into her music or something…" Hubert said, as he rang the doorbell again.

Still, there was no answer, after several attempts but nobody answered. "Do you think somebody broke in?" Charlotte was beginning to worry now. It wasn't likely that it'd happen considering they'd know because of how small their neighborhood was.

"No. I mean if they did, Bethany would give them a sign of struggle and—" He didn't get to finish his sentence when a sound of a, "Message Received." interrupted them.

"Is that yours?" Charlotte asked, aware that her cell phone texting notification didn't say those words.

"Yeah, it is." Taking out his cell phone, Hubert's eyes skimmed quickly and then held out the phone to Charlotte.

Charlotte found that it was a text message that read:

Hey Charsey and Hubert,

Just letting you know that if you're looking for me, I'm going to be at my uncle's house in Indiana. You see after I came home from our coffe hang out, my family decided to spontaneously surprise me before I came home to cook dinner.

It was the first message that cut out because the text notification said, "Message Received!" The second message continued to read:

So we're going to visit one of my relatives in Indiana. I probably might not be on my phone much but contact me if there's an emergency. Otherwise, see you guys on Monday! Bye!

3

Bethany.

Well, at least it was a good thing that she had sent them a text message because she felt Hubert would jump to the worst conclusion ever. She didn't want him to worry too much considering she was the one who worried and well, Hubert was the logical one who usually was calm and rationalized about ideas. Well, usually.

"I guess there's our answer." Charlotte said glumly although she was relieved that her friend was safe. "So what do you suppose we do now?"

"I'm not sure although we should leave the letter and then test out the portkey. You know go with Plan B." Hubert said with some reluctance.

"Yeah, I remember Plan B." Charlotte recalled with a nod as she took out an envelope and placed it into Bethany's mailbox that was attached to the side of her house.

"I guess. I mean, we'll be alright if it doesn't work right?" Hubert suggested as they walked over to her backyard from Bethany's house. Charlotte knew he was trying to be optimistic for their sake considering they might of left Bethany behind if it worked. Only if.

As they got to her backyard, Hubert and Charsey decided to make it easier by splitting up and examining the specific areas in her backyard for the portkey. Hubert would search nearby the shed and the left side of the birches. Charlotte agreed to take the right side of her yard which consisted a set of logs and other birches although it could be anywhere in her backyard but it might had to be hidden just in case any other Muggle, apart from them, were to get their dirty hands on it. Finally after much scanning of her backyard from where her broken pool was to under the trampoline, Charlotte identified a tiny blue object that was lying nearby the tall birches that separated the yard from her and the neighbor's that lived behind her on her end.

"Hubert! Look over there!" Charlotte called over to him. Hubert, who had been searching around nearby her shed, glanced up, saw where she pointed to, and nodded. The two of them hurried in that direction. They stopped a couple of meters away from the birches in front of the exact replica mirror that Hubert got from out of Charlotte's backpack.

"This is it Charsey." He sounded breathless. "The replica mirror that the note was talking about." Hubert was saying as he picked up the replica of the mirror that Charlotte had in her backpack. He took out the mirror and matched them together.

"Yes, it's real." He was saying while Charlotte stared at it, trying to grasp at the fact that it was so. A tiny part of her wondered if the person might of have bought the same two mirrors but that seemed impossible unless you were working with a duplication spell or wanted the same mirror for future use. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed something. When she turned to see what it was, she found a white parchment was lying next to it which caused her eyes to widen in shock but picked it up and glanced at it.

"Hubert, look." She gave him a light nudge. His eyes tore away from the mirror to what she was holding.

"Is that a parchment?" Hubert gasped, awed by what they were staring at. Charlotte could only nod in response because her reaction matched his.

"What does it say?" He inquired.

"Let's find out shall we?" Charlotte answered as she unrolled the parchment and their eyes found a message that was blotted with ink.

The parchment read:

Greetings Muggles,

At exactly 5:30 p.m. (which is your time), the portkey in front of you will be ready to whisk you off on your journey. However, this parchment is important, as it'll guide you throughout much of it. Please do not show this parchment to anybody for it is only important to you and your eyes only. If you do show it to anybody else in your world or ours, it'll put many of us in grave danger.

To conceal it from other eyes apart from yours, all you have to do is fold it back and whisper, "I do not believe in this wretched parchment I am holding," and it'll turn into a page from the Fairytale that many of you know as Cinderella.

Good luck on your journey!

"But I'm not a Muggle! I'm a witch!" Charlotte wailed after reading this. Too bad, Bethany couldn't make it. They'd be giggling about it if she was here now. Well, somewhat that is.

"Maybe they don't know that but we'll see won't we?" Hubert said, taking out the replica again. Or what could be the portkey.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Charlotte agreed, folding up the parchment again and stored it safely into her backpack. "What's the time right now?"

Hubert got out his watch and glanced at it. "Only five minutes but we have to start to test it out right now, just in case."

"No, it's fine. I think it's the perfect time right now. Okay, you know how this supposedly works right?" Charlotte asked him.

"Yes, touch any part of the mirror and she which one you can grip onto." It didn't take long for Charlotte to find the circular head of the mirror and touched it like she was going to hang onto it. Hubert followed suit by holding onto the handle.

"Okay, what next?" Charlotte inquired, suddenly wondering if the weather seemed to be changing as dark clouds began to form above them.

"The counting. One of us got to count slowly to 3." Hubert told her. He tried to remain clam but Charlotte thought he sounded somewhat unsure of himself.

"Okay fair enough. Who's counting? Me or you?" Charlotte asked him, wondering how much they have left.

"I will." Hubert said finally. Charlotte didn't say anything. It was going to happen and they were going to leave Bethany behind. She wasn't sure if she wanted to do this even if this meant her dream coming through.

Hubert saw it too because his eyes filled with as he said, "It's worth the shot right? Besides, if it came true, Bethany might join us later, you'd never know" Charlotte eyed him and sighed. She knew that he was trying to be optimistic for her considering Bethany wasn't around to do so.

"You're right, let's do this." She said with a small smile. With a sigh, Charlotte listened as Hubert started to count:

"1…..." As he counted slowly with a few seconds passing by, Charlotte stood there wordlessly clinging to the mirror. It would of appeared silly to anybody who noticed this but Charlotte's thoughts strayed far from it.

"1...and a half..." She tried to mentally prepare herself for the reaction that would come when they reached to could happen then? If the portkey did work could they be in the Next Generation timeframe like they were now? Or could they go back in time? If so, what timeframe would they go land in? Could it be the Golden Trio's time at Hogwarts, the Marauder's Era, or way back even before then? Of course, going back in time meant there was a time-turner involved and if anything Hubert would be all over it by then.

"2..." A silence reigned over them. Charlotte wasn't sure if she should encourage him to keep counting but so far nothing happened. There was no change of the scenery nor were there hardly any signs of their bodies about to become moving objects although Charlotte could feel the strands of her hair lifted by a soft breeze that swept through the afternoon sky.

"2 and a half..."

"3..." Charlotte could see that Hubert remained blank before he stared down at the handheld mirror in front of him.

I guess it's nothing happening…Charlotte concluded gloomily when her best friend hadn't counted for a while. She could feel energy that pulsed her vain drained from her. She couldn't blame Hubert for wanting to experiment this and knew that it was a good idea but what if she had been right the whole time? No! This is worth the shot!

Suddenly, without warning, her body launched forward in a rapid pace, her feet were no longer on the grass—wait a minute her feet weren't on the grass?—Charlotte gazed downward just to find herself floating somewhat but an invisible force that pulled her caused her to grip onto the mirror, even tighter. She wasn't sure it'd work but there was no way that she was letting go. Her body was thrown into a spinning motion of a variety of colors. The two of them screamed while their shoulders contacted. It didn't take long before she felt herself being chucked forward briskly onto the grassy lawn below. The landing would have been a perfect one if she had landed on her feet but instead after her feet met with grass, she collapsed into it. When she rose to her feet, she found Hubert was lying next to her and was moaning.

"Are you okay?" Charlotte asked, offering him a hand.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Hubert responded and took her hands.

Without much effort considering he was light, she pulled him up from the ground. When he stood, he glanced around the grassy area that they landed on. "Where do you suppose the portkey went to anyway?" He brushed the grass off of his jeans.

"Probably somewhere around here," Charlotte said, not really caring where it went. "I still can't believe that was a portkey!" This time her voice was filled with awe and giddy.

Then making sure that it truly was, her eyes traveled from the grassy lawn they were standing on to a lane filled with pebbles on the road nearby. Her eyes trailed up the road and lead her to what seemed to be a peculiar large house. It wasn't just any house though. This particular house that stood over them consisted of stony-filled pigpens, Charlotte noticed. On top of the house were five chimneys decorating the cherry-painted roofs. But it was the crooked-structure that made kept her eyes focused on the house. How did it hold up the pigpens anyway? It was probably magic considering there was no other way to explain it. Magic? Was it possible? Isn't that how they got to this place or were able to read the inked message of the parchment?

Charlotte stepped towards the peculiar house but somehow, this house seemed be familiar with her. It was like she had seen or read about it but where? She remained standing as her thoughts began to process where she was. She enough to ring the doorbell, that is, if these people who lived here did have one.

"Say, do you recognize this place at all? Because I know I do." Hubert observed, trying to make sense of this place. Charlotte was about to agree that she did so but sounds of clucking that came from nearby distracted them. Turning around, Charlotte and Hubert found themselves eyeing several brown chickens scuttling about pecking on what to seem bits of their food. They were enclosed in a coup.

Okay. So who would keep chickens and have a strange yet cool looking house in this universe? She tried to rack her brain for the answer. It had to come to her sooner or later.

"Charsey," She heard Hubert say. "please tell me that my eyes aren't playing tricks on me or am I imagining that." She turned to see that his eyes already widening but still glued to the house.

"What do you mean? You're not imagining it. I see it too." She was definitely aware of how real the house was even though she did shut and open her eyes to see if she was dreaming but nothing happened and she ended back in front of the house.

"Wait a minute. You don't recognize this place do you?" Hubert asked, lowering his voice.

"Yeah, I think I do. It seems familiar doesn't it?" Charlotte commented, still observing the house. She could also hear pigs also oinking nearby as well. The house did have crooked structure but somehow it seemed to be held up. Charlotte wasn't sure of the source but yet there was something familiar about the house they were gazing up at. She could assume that they probably landed in a roadside of a country somewhere. The main question was as to where it was located exactly.

Hubert stopped glancing at the house and stared at her. "You seriously don't know what this place is Charsey?" Shock filled his voice. Charlotte was about to ask him why he was reacting this way until he said, "I'm surprised you don't recognize it by now considering you're a fan of the Weasleys." Wait a minute. Did she hear that right? The Weasleys?

"You mean the one in front of us?" Charlotte hissed back, still unsure of where this was going but when he mentioned the Weasleys…it did bring something back to her.

"Of course, the one in front of us! You don't see any other houses do you?" Hubert shot back as if his best friend needed another reminder. Charlotte didn't answer her and instead glanced around trying to spot any houses nearby but found none.

The answer came to her when her eyes spotted a woody, crooked sign nearby in block letters that read: The Burrow. Oh. My. Hippogriff. Her thoughts were saying. This couldn't be right yet the sign did say those words. It probably explained the sounds of chickens and pigs along with the house that was probably was filled magic that was able to explain the crooked structure of the house.

"Oh my gosh. We are at the Burrow aren't we?" Charlotte squeaked finally. Hubert didn't answer but slowly nodded.

This was a joke right? Hearing its name wasn't just astonishing but also unattainable due to the fact that it housed The Weasleys. Okay what if they did land in the Weasleys' territory then it meant that she could possibly be meeting with the nine of them soon but which one? It also depended on the timeframe that they landed on. No. Charlotte willed herself not to think about this.

All of what we're seeing in front of us is probably an illusion. There was no way that her and Hubert could actually be within reaches of the wizarding family that she read about. This place that was hovering above her couldn't be real. Yeah, she truly wanted it to be but what if the Burrow faded into a dream that she could possibly have woken up from? The one where she encountered Hermione and The Mountain Troll had definitely vanished as it had been a dream. Yeah that was probably it! They were probably in another dream but this one was more realistic! Shutting her eyes, Charlotte tried to command herself to wake up but when she opened them again, she found herself still rooted in front of the Burrow.

After that, she tried other techniques including the famous pinching to slapping her face but stopped after receiving minor injuries to herself. However, she didn't try anything else because, at that moment, it just occurred to her that she definitely wasn't dreaming nor was she hallucinating or imagining it. No, this time it was different. This was because this time it was undeniably real. Upon the realization this caused a genuine smile to play on her lips. Come again, there was a matter of a tiny question that rang in her mind though, If the portkey did work than who could of have sent them here and why?