Harry Potter
Their Biggest Challenge
By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you dont recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Rating: K
Pairing: Marcus/Charlie - Fred/Riley - Harry/Ginny - Ron/Hermione
Genre: Adventure/Friendship/Romance/Suspense/Drama
Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything. If you do not like the story, then why are you reading it?
Summary: On their own and on the run, the Hogwarts five must now rely on one another more than ever.. Their biggest challenge has yet to begin, as they set out to find and destroy Voldemorts Horcruxes; and fight the Dark Forces that threaten to tear them apart.
Author's Note: Chapter dedicated too: Fan of Fics, BamaRose, Razmend, Forever Dreaming Grace, Matt-hardy-lover-101 and DJScales.
Author's Note Two: In response to Forever Dreaming Grace, Marcus and Charlie don't get the best of luck when it comes to being alone, do they? And you know what I just realized? I havent even had them tell one another that they love each other yet. :P
Also in response to Fan of Fics don't worry about not reviewing the other two chapters. Im glad to hear off you. To answer your question Protege Horribilus is not one of my own creations, it is actually seen in one of the films...cant remember which one, but it is the orange force field that surrounds Hogwarts. Professor Flitwick used it to strength the charms protecting the castle, I think it is used in the upcoming seventh film I am not sure. But apparently it deflects all means of Dark Magic, including the Unforgiveables and I figured Riley would probably be the only person who could pull it off whilst in pursuit of a Death Eater. I found it on HarryPotter Wiki; under spells.
The Forces of Darkness
Strike One
Marcus rolled over, and cracked open an eye lid to check the time on the alarm clock beside the bed. He felt Charlie shift beside him and smiled as he rememebered the previous night. It was nearing 10:00am on the 31st of July. Rolling onto his side, Marcus looked over his girlfriend taking in her sudden appearance. Charlie was curled up on the bed beside him, her knees bent inwards towards her chest one of her hands had disappeared beneath the pillow on which she lay as the other curled across her stomach. The twenty-one-year-old smiled and moved closer to her, gently touching her bare shoulder with his lips.
"Rise and shine, Charlie" he mumured
Charlie groaned reached behind her and pushed him away "No, sleepy time" she mumbled curling back up and pulling the blanket over her in the process.
Marcus chuckled as he tugged at the blanket and pulled it away from her, as he lent down further and brought his lips to her ear "Up and at 'em birthday girl,"
Again Charlie ignored him, but this time reached behind her and placed her hand over his mouth, to muffle his voice. Marcus muttered something against her hand, causing Charlie to roll onto her back and frowned at him "Are you going to be a good boy, or do I have to gag you?" she questioned
The twenty-one-year-old cocked an eyebrow in amusement, and the now-seventeen-year-old removed her hand. She smirked "Good boy," she teased "Now, do I really have to get up?"
"Yes, you do" Marcus nodded "Im guessing we've got about 10 minutes before Nikki comes looking for us"
Charlie groaned and rolled over again, burying her head in her pillow "Im seventeen!" she grumbled "I can do what I want!"
"Since when does age stopped you from doing what you wanted anyway?" Marcus asked
"It didnt," the Muggleborn answered "But now I can do what I want without Nikki breathing down my neck" she grinned, rolling back onto her back
Marcus smirked "Nikki will always be breathing down your neck," he pointed out "Its what older sisters do" he leaned down and kissed her slowly "Happy Birthday" he mumured against her lips.
"Thanks," Charlie smiled, as she kissed him again
There came a loud knock at the door "Stop making out in there, get dressed, and meet me downstairs!" came Nikki's voice
Charlie and Marcus broke apart and glared at the door.
"And stop glaring at me!" Nikki added, before her footsteps disappeared downstairs
Charlie scowled "I hate when she does that," she pouted, as she rolled out of bed. She grabbed her wand which lay on Adrian's bed, before frowning "Did Adrian come back last night?" she asked "His bed doesnt look like it has been slept in"
She glanced over her shoulder at Marcus, who had also gotten off the bed and was mid-way through dressing.
"I guess not," Marcus shrugged "Maybe he did come back, and left before we got up" he suggested
Charlie nodded once, before turning away from the ready-made bed and hurried towards the door "I'll meet you downstairs. Im gonna go wake the birthday boy,"
"Okay," Marcus nodded, kissing her as he opened the door. And as Charlie disappeared upstairs, he headed downstairs after Nikki.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
MUGGLE FAMILY MURDERED
Riley staired sadly at the article in front of her, which clearly stated that a Muggle family had been brutally murdered the previous night in their homes. Normally she felt saddened by the fact that another family had been killed, but this one hit a little closer to home; because staring back at her from the black and white picture was two familiar faces.
Dean and Rebecca Spirit.
The Gryffindor genius, felt tears prick her eyes; her father and sister were dead. They had been sevearly beaten and tortured, and although the Muggle police had no idea what had happened and had ruled their deaths homicide the young witch knew all too well that it had in fact been murder. It had to have been the job of Death Eaters or she wouldnt be reading about their murder in the Daily Prophet.
The article didnt state who had found them, or where they had been found, all it said was that two unidentified Muggles had been murdered the previous night and the signs and symptoms looked like they had been through several rounds of the Cruciatus Curse; and to make it even more brutal Dean had been the victim of the Sectumsempra curse, while Rebecca had been hit several times with a Defodio spell, before both had been killed separately with the Kiling Curse.
As the Genius was staring at the picture of her father and sister she was oblivious to everything around her, and didnt realize that she was no longer alone in the kitchen of the Weasley home.
"Good morning," Nikki said, happily as she breezed into the room "You oK?" she added, seeing that Riley hadnt responded
"Huh?" the Genius asked, snapping to attention "Yeah. Yeah. Im fine" she nodded
Nikki frowned "What you reading?"
"Nothing," Riley answered hastily trying to hide the Daily Prophet
The older female frowned "OK, what is it?" she asked, sensing a change in her friends mood "What's in the paper, that you don't want me to see?"
The Gryffindor shook her head "Nothing," she repeated "Its nothing. Really."
"OK," Nikki said, dropping the subject "But if there's anything you want to talk about, you come find me OK?"
Riley nodded "I will," she smiled, before jumping to her feet and leaving the vicinity. She couldnt talk to Nikki about this...in truth, she didnt want to talk to anyone about this.
The reason? It wasnt true! There was no way that her father and sister were dead...they just couldnt be, a mistake had been made and it was some other poor family who had been killed, and people just thought it was her family.
They are not dead she thought, blinking back tears as she hurried out into the back garden they can't be dead. They just can't be.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Later that morning, Charlie appeared back in the kitchen wearing a pair of denim jeaned shorts and a tank top -a birthday present from Hermione and Riley- her hair was slightly damp from where she had just gotten out of the bath, and on her feet she was wearing a pair of black daps "Riley," she whined as she entered the living area to find the Gryffindor sitting cross-legged on the couch reading "Help!" she pointed at her hair
"You're seventeen now," Riley pointed out "Do it yourself"
"It didnt work," the Slytherin grumbled "Please!" she pleaded
Riley sighed and flicked her wand at her best friend and instantly the Slytherin's hair dried.
"Sweet," Charlie grinned "So, why are you inside and everyone else is outside enjoying the sunshine?"
"Because im happy in here," Riley answered
Charlie frowned "Why?" she asked
"Because I am!" Riley snapped
"O...K," Charlie drew out as she took a step backwards from her best friend; Riley had never lost her temper with the Slytherin before; and Charlie had to admit that she could be very annoying at times, but Riley always seemed level headed with it came to dealing with her "Are you okay?"
Riley growled and muttered under her breath
"What?" Charlie asked, knowing she was pushing it slightly here. But there was something wrong with her best friend, and she wanted to know what had happened, and who she was killing today.
The Genius got to her feet "I said, I'm fine!" she snapped, storming towards the stairs "Why does everyone keep asking me if im okay!"
Charlie stood thunderstruck at the bottom of the stairs "Maybe its because you're acting like something is wrong!" she yelled at the Gryffindor, who was half-way upstairs.
"Well nothing is wrong!" Riley shouted back "Im fine!"
"You're anything but fine!" Charlie retorted, as Riley came back downstairs "If you were fine, you wouldnt be shouting at me! You wouldnt be denying the fact that something is wrong! And you would tell me who has pissed you off!" she snarled, her temper reaching its limit.
Their arguing had seemed to arouse the suspicions of everyone outside, because seconds later Nikki, Marcus, Fred, Hermione, Harry and Ron appeared in the kitchen, each wanting to know what was going on; what they didnt expect to find was Charlie and Riley standing directly opposite one another mid-way through a shouting match.
"You're alter ego, Charlie!" Riley answered in a low voice "Serenity Riddle has pissed me off!"
"Serenity Riddle doesnt exist!"
"She does Charlie, as long as you exist, she exists!"
Charlie stared terrified at her best friend "Rils," she started "I don't know what's wrong with you, but I promise everything is going to be OK. Alright?" she asked. She could see tears in Riley's eyes and she was becoming genuinely worried for her best friend.
"As long as you are here," Riley responded, "nothing is going to be OK. You can't keep denying who you are anymore, Charlie..." she continued "...my father and sister are dead because of you"
The Slytherin stared thunderstruck at her best friend, had she just heard right? Dean and Rebecca Spirit were dead...and to make it worse, Riley was blaming her.
"You don't mean that," she choked, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.
Riley sighed and without another word, she turned toe and left the kitchen. Heading back upstairs.
Fred hurried after her.
Charlie stood frozen at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the spot where Riley had stood moments ago. Her cheeks were damp with tears and she furiousy scrubbed at them; her best friend's words echoing over and over in her mind:
My father and sister are dead because of you...
Because of you.
Because of you.
Those three small words made her insides twist painfully and her eyes to fill with tears that she refused to shed.
She had never argued so badly with Riley before.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
The rest of the day found Riley and Charlie on opposite sides of the playing field; they didnt look or even speak to one another if they could help it, and when they were in a room together, one of the other usually walked out -this was usually Riley. Charlie's stubborness shone through every now and again, and she refused to back down when confronted-
"Why don't you just apologize to her?" Harry asked, during the evening as they sat on the outskirts of the Burrow; while watching Nikki hang gold and silver streamers over trees and bushes with her wand, and Fred and George bewitch a number of red and green lanterns with the number '17' emblazoned on the front of them.
Charlie shook her head "Because I didnt do anything wrong!" she said stubbornly "I get that she is upset that her father and sister is dead, I would be too, but its not like I ordered the attack on them! So how can she say that it is my fault?"
Harry frowned, seemingly lost for words "Maybe because they were looking for information on you?" he suggested "and because they couldnt find Riley, they went after the only two people they could find! Her father and sister"
The Slytherin sighed "that still doesnt make it my fault," she answered "I didnt order the attack!"
"Charlie," Harry started
"Forget it Harry," the Muggleborn retorted, getting to her feet "Im not apologizing to her, until she does to me!" and she stormed off across the garden.
The Gryffindor sighed as he hoped that Hermione was having better luck with Riley, because he had seemingly struck out with Charlie.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
"...but Riley," Hermione complained, as she lay on her stomach watching Riley wave her wand absently in mid-air "Charlie, didnt have a clue that your father and sister had been attacked." she pointed out "and she looked completely heartbroken when you accused her of it being her fault"
The Gryffindor Genius didnt answer "Look, I know it wasnt her fault," she answered "but it may has well be. Im willing to bet that the Death Eaters were looking for information on her, and because they couldnt get to me, my mum or her mum, then they went after my father and sister...I may not have gotten on with them, but they were my family. It hurts, you know?"
"Yeah," the bookworm nodded "But don't you think Charlie is hurting right now?"
Riley frowned
"You're her best friend!" Hermione cried "and you just openly accused her of being someone she is not, and blamed her for something that wasnt her fault!" she got up and headed for the door "Think about it!" she then disappeared out of the room, leaving Riley to her thoughts.
Riley rolled onto her stomach, stuffed her hands under her pillow and buried her face in it as the tears flooded her eyes. She hadnt meant to say what she had said, but there was no way she could go back in time now and change the fact that she had said it. And she was just as stubborn as Charlie was when it came to apologizing.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
The rest of the evening past, the excitement of the fact that Harry and Charlie had turned seventeen didnt seem all that exciteable at all; not now that everybody knew that Charlie and Riley were arguing; upon Riley's request Jennifer and William Carmichael had been invited, along with both Muggleborn's parents the only person who wasnt there was Severus Snape, and when asked where he was Jenn merely responded with her usual answer of 'I don't know' but it wasnt only Snape who had missed the -unfortunately- unpleasant day.
Adrian and Chad had yet to return from the job they had been allocated by the Order, and Nikki was starting to become worried about her husband and friends safety. What if something had gone wrong?
When the cakes had been brought out, Charlie's jaw hit the floor. Mrs. Weasley had gone all out and created two separate cakes for both her and Harry; the Gryffindors was in the shape of a Snitch and the Slytherin's was in the shape of a serpent.
"Mrs. Weasley," Charlie exclaimed "You really shouldnt have! One cake would have been just as amazing!"
Mrs. Weasley waved her off "Nonsense Charlie, it's not everyday that you turn seventeen" she smiled "Happy Birthday" she added, hugging the Slytherin
Charlie hugged back "Thank-you" she smiled. As she pulled away she caught Riley's eye, and instantly the smile faded as a stabbing pain cut through her chest, and her best friends words echoed once more in her mind. She turned away and walked off.
Mrs Weasley watched her, before looking across at Riley who was walking away towards Fred and George on the opposing side of the Burrow. The older woman sighed sadly...she hated seeing such good friends, like Charlie and Riley, fighting. Especially over something that was out of anyone's control.
Suddenly there was a crack, as a tall figure with a mane of grizzled hair marched up the lane towards the gate of the Burrow, he allowed himself entry and approached the house. All party guests paused in whatever it was they were doing and turned to face the Minister of Magic.
"Bloody hell," George muttered "What's the Minister of Magic doing here?" he asked
Hermione and Harry exchanged looks, as the Minister became level with the guests "Sorry to intrude," he said "Especially as I can see that I am gatecrashing a party" his gaze flitered between Charlie and Harry "Many happy returns"
"Thanks," the two friends responded
"I require a private word with you," Scrimgeour went on "Also with Mr Ronald Weasley, Miss Hermione Granger and Miss Riley Spirit"
Ron looked stunned "Us?" he asked "Why?"
"I shall tell you that when we are somewhere more private," said the Minister "Is there such a place?" he asked Mr Weasley
The older Weasley nodded "Of course," he looked nervous "The, er, sitting room, why don't you use that?"
"You can lead the way," Scrimgeour said to Ron "There will be no need to accompany us, Arthur"
Harry and Charlie exchanged looks, as did Mr and Mrs Weasley; before Ron turned and led the way into the Burrow. The friends followed, and the Minister brought up the rear.
Scrimgeour did not speak as they passed through the kitchen, into the sitting room, and although the garden was light in the afternoon sun, it was already dark inside. Harry flicked his wand and the oil lamps sprang to life. "I have some questions for the five of you," the Minister finally said "and I think it will be best if we do it individually. If you four," he pointed at Harry, Hermione, Charlie and Ron "can wait upstairs. I will start with Riley"
"We're not going anywhere," Charlie retorted "You can speak to us together, or not at all" and she hopped up onto the back of the couch. Harry joined her as Hermione and Ron sat beside Riley in front of them.
Scrimgeour gave Charle a cold look. The Slytherin ignored him. "Very well then, together" he nodded, and proceeded to lay a flat pouch on the table.
"And this is...?" Harry questioned
The Minister removed a document from his brief case, it floated out of his hand and opened in mid-air beside hm "Herein is set fourth the last will and testament of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore..." he read "...first, to Ronald Bilius Weasley, I leave my Deluminator, a device of my own making in the hope that, when things seem most dark..." he opened the pouch, and removed a silver lighter like object "...it will show him the light"
Ron took the Deluminator "Dumbledore left this for me?" he asked
"Yes" Scrimgeour nodded
"Brilliant" Ron smiled "What is it?"
Riley looked up "Click it," she instructed
Ron did so and the balls of light from the two lamps Harry and lit went out, as they were sucked into the Deluminator. He clicked it again and the lights returned to the lamps "Wicked"
"To Hermione Jean Granger," the Minister continued "I leave my copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard," he removed a old book from the pouch "...in the hopes that she find it entertaining and instructive"
Hermione took the book
"Mum used to read me those," Ron spoke "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot..." he started
Charlie smiled as she remembered her copy which was upstairs "...Babbitty Rabbitty and the Cackling Stump..." she added "...Oh, and don't forget the tale of the Three Brothers. That's my favourite"
Her friends stared at her
"What?" she asked
"To Riley Elizabeth Spirit," the Minister continued "I leave my copy of The Master of Death and the Ritus puzzle, in hopes that she might fight it helpful and challenging" he handed over a black book, and a diamond shaped 3 dimensional puzzle, which was littered with ancient runes.
Riley frowned and took both item, as she looked over the puzzle and then flipped over the book "Well, I do love a challenge" she grinned
The Minister turned back to the Will "To Charlie Avalon Hunter," he glanced at the Slytherin "I leave a the copy of The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts from the Hogwarts library; in hopes that she will find it instructive and useful" he handed over the book. Charlie frowned, why was Dumbledore leaving her a book on the Dark Arts?
"To Harry James Potter," the Minister added "I leave the Snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, as a reminder of the rewards of perseverance..." he unwrapped the Snitch "...and skill" he handed it over, looking hopefull.
Harry took it and the Minister seemed to deflate.
"Is that it, then?" Harry asked
"Not quite," the Minister shook his head "Dumbledore left you and Miss Hunter a second bequest: The swords of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin"
Harry and Charlie exchanged looks
"Unfortunately, the sword of Gryffindor and Slytherin were not Dumbledore's to give away. As important historical artifacts, they belong -"
Hermione cut him off "To them!" she stated "They belong to Harry and Charlie. They came to them when they needed them in the Chamber of Secrets!" she explained
"The swords may present themselves to any worthy Gryffindor or Slytherin," the Minister contridicted "That does not make it that wizards property"
Charlie jumped in "Techincally, the Sword of Slytherin is rightfully mine" she pointed out "It belonged to Salazar Slytherin, and I am a direct descendant of his...so his property is mine!" she explained "I want my sword!"
"Technicalities are in question, Miss Hunter" the Minister told her "and, in any event, the current whereabouts of the swords are unknown"
"Excuse me?" Harry asked
"The swords are missing," the Minister repeated, "I don't know what you five are up too," he continued "but you can't fight this war on your own..." he shook his head "...he's too strong"
Charlie smirked "We're stronger..." she answered, catching Riley's eye "...we're stronger as long as we have each other!"
Riley looked away, and Charlie hoped she realized that this was as close to an apology that she was going to get.
A/N: People wanted to know what happened to Riley's father and sister; I hope this answers any questions.
Oh-no, Charlie and Riley are fighting...will they make up?
Find out soon
Review (please)
~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated 20 April 2011 at 03:36am