AN: Happy Late Christmas! Thank you all for the wonderful response to the last chapter. I can't believe this story has received 1092 hits! Thanks to ArcadeFire, Arikatekitu, and usedupsoul for your encouraging reviews. I'd also like to give a big thank you to those of you who added me to your faves and story alerts lists. My Christmas gift to you all is this chapter.

This one's for Fred

Fred and George Weasley were exhausted. They had apparated to what felt like a million places in search of Charlotte, who had been missing since the previous afternoon.

Harry had returned after the meeting with Kingsley and had informed them of the situation, and how Lottie burst out of the ministry as soon as Kingsley had finished speaking with her.

Mr. Weasley had suggested that they let her cool off a bit, much to the twin's objections.

Afternoon turned to evening, and evening turned to night without word from Lottie.

Fred had had enough of waiting, and flood to Pittenweem in search of her. George and Hermione were right behind him. They first searched her house without any luck, and then proceeded to search the town. When they still had not found her they sent Hermione back to the Burrow to tell the others. They would all spit into pairs and search Lottie's favorite places, and communicate through their old DA Galleons.

When morning hit and they still had not found her, Fred and George decided that a cup of coffee was in order. They were feeling sluggish and needed energy if they didn't intend on splinching themselves.

"Besides," Fred said light-heartedly, "I always think better after a cup of coffee"

That is how Fred and George found themselves at the Three Broomsticks drinking a cup of coffee.

George stirred his coffee without interest. He had no idea where exactly Charlotte could have run off to.

"Fred, do you reckon she's left Britain? Maybe she went back to Italy?"

Fred who was about to raise his cup to his lips shook his head; "She wouldn't just up and leave. She'd be leaving all her mates behind and work"

"I don't think she'll ever want to work again. Not after what she thinks her research caused"

Fred sighed, "She'll probably take a break from it. Most likely a long one. And in that time she'll realize that Barty Crouch jr. was a lunatic and that she had nothing to do with it"

George shivered, "That's strange isn't it? How he started reading about the research her father's team and her performed while he was in Azkaban"

Fred nodded, "Yeah, and kept all the clippings. But she's a lot like him, you know?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I heared Sirius and Lupin talking about him once. He was brilliant in school, and wanted to be like his old man. The only problem was his father was a tosser, and Jr. made the wrong choice. I bet he realized that. I bet he saw bits and pieces of himself in her."

George snorted, "Yeah, to bad he couldn't be a normal and simply idolize her from afar instead of trying to capture and convert her to Lord Moldy-wart's ways."

Fred nodded, "Yeah. Thankfully he wasn't able to succeed. Can you imagine what life would have been like without our Lottie?"

"So I take it you're no longer mad at her?" George asked before taking a sip of his coffee, before blanching because of how sweet it was.

Fred shook his head, "Lottie and life are to short. There are more important things that need to be done"

George nodded, and let his thoughts drift. Fred sighed before taking his first sip of coffee. No sooner had he swallowed the hot liquid than Lottie's whereabouts hit him.

He jumped up, which startled George so much that he snorted up his coffee.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you? That blooming hurt!"

Fred put down his cup and pulled on his coat, clearly lost in thought.

"Oy! Forge! What has gotten into you?"

"Lottie! I know where Lottie is!"

"Where is she?"

"I can't believe I didn't think about it before," Fred said as he searched his pockets for change.

George grabbed Fred and shook him a bit, "Where is she?"

"She, my much slower half," Fred said as he put money on the table, "is at Salisbury Crags in Edinburgh. Remember, that's where her father took her after she found out about her mother's death"

With that parting bit of information Fred said good-bye to Rosemerta and apparated

"He does think well after a bit of coffee"

In Edinburgh

Charlotte was lying on her side in the same spot she had been at all day. It had started to rain long ago, but she did not notice. She was so wrapped up in her emotions that she failed to hear two distinct popping sounds behind her. It wasn't until a warm coat was wrapped around her shaking frame that she noticed she wasn't alone.

"Fred?"

"The one and only"

"I thought you were mad at me?"

Fred shrugged, "I discovered that I can't stay mad at you. Anyway, who will help keep me in check when I'm being a prat"

"Yeah" George said as he helped her stand up, "And no one else will put up with us"

Charlotte smiled sadly before tears streamed down her eyes, "After what I caused, I don't deserve you lot. I ought to spend the rest of my life alone"

George shook his head, "It wasn't your fault"

"Besides," Fred said as he held her face in her hands, "As long as we're around. You'll never be alone"

And so ends another chapter. Worry not everyone, this story is far from over. For every review I get, I will hug my roommate's brother one more time (in my dreams). He is so GORGEOUS!