Chapter Seven: Christmas with the Potters

It was an unusually somber ride to King's Cross. The four Marauders were all quiet, after they, except Isobel, got a week's detention from an irate Lockhart who failed to see the amusement behind their prank. The other professors, however, gave then each ten points for annoying the inept teacher, or as McGonagall put it 'for excellent spell work'. However, both Seamus and Dean were slightly scared of Harry now, and, for fear of losing two of their best friends, everyone stayed quiet. However, when the train stopped and they jumped onto the platform, all four hugged each other. "Have a good holiday!" They chorused, laughing before they went off with their parents.

Isobel's mom, Emmeline, was talking to Samuel and Remus as they stood on the platform. "I think Spike and Rex thought you'd punch them too." Isobel said.

"Yeah, me too. But, they're not obnoxious little prats, so I wouldn't do that."

"Hello girls!"

"Hello, Mrs. MacDougal." Charlotte smiled. "See you on the train, Is."

"Bye!"

When Samuel Apparated both her and Remus home, he pointed to the couch. "Would you care to explain the letter I received from Professor Flitwick about you fighting a classmate in the dorms?"

Charlotte really didn't want to tell them what was going on at the school, so she lied. "She kept insulting Hermione and calling her an overachieving mudblood."

"And the only way to get her to stop was to punch her in the mouth?" Samuel asked, his mouth impossibly thin.

"Well, she's the one who keeps bullying me in Potions and I got tired of it."

"Charli, this is unacceptable. I've told you about fighting."

"I know, and I tried. But she just got on my nerves, Dad!"

He sighed. "So, what about this week's worth of detentions I hear you and two of your friends racked up with a prank on Lockhart?"

"We were bored. And how did you hear about it?"

"Severus wrote me last night, highly amused with it."

"Am I in trouble?"

"You have nine detentions waiting for you when you get back to Hogwarts. No, I am not going to punish you." He helped her carry her trunk up the stairs.

She grinned, sliding back down the banister, and promptly knocked into Isobel. "You're here!"

"Yeah!"

The two girls hugged, dancing around. "Why?"

"Mum wanted to talk to your dad."

"Emmeline, what a surprise." Remus said, hugging her. "Nice to see you again."

Samuel smiled at her. "Girls, go play."

Isobel and Charlotte took off to her room and instantly pulled their parchments out of their pockets.

Hey. If you two seriously think I'd punch you in the face for thinking Harry's the Heir of Slytherin, you are STUPID! You're two of my best friends and you don't annoy me like Brocklehurst does.

Well, I didn't think you would but Seamus didn't want a girl besting him in a fight.

Oi! Shove off, Thomas. I didn't think that either.

Well, then, why were you two so quiet on the train?

If this monster thing of Slytherin's IS attacking anyone who's not a pureblood, then both Seamus and I are possible targets.

And so is Brocklehurst. And Hermione!

Oh! Can we feed Brocklehurst to it? And Lockhart?

Hahaha! I knew I liked you for some reason, Char. The poor beast is probably hungry, you know. Who knows how long it's been since it ate…

Honestly! You two should be ashamed of yourselves. Isobel smacked Charlotte on the back of the head before continuing. That's horrible!

Not really. Lockhart's incompetent and Brocklehurst is a bully, but you'd get expelled from Lockhart is our professor, no matter how much he sucks at it.

Thank you, Dean.

You're welcome Isobel.

Can we come over to your house the last night of the holidays?

I'll ask Dad.

Charlotte and Isobel ran back downstairs to find the three adults deep in conversation. "-like that, Emmeline. Remus and I have always been friends, I swear."

"Meaning you're still grieving over Mar or?"

"Both." He answered. "But he's never coming back."

"Who are they talking about?" Isobel mouthed to Charlotte.

She shrugged. "Sam, you know my offer still stands."

"I know and you've been great with Charli. I appreciate it, Em."

Charlotte then made their presence known. "Dad, I was just talking to Seamus and Dean and-"

"How?" Samuel asked, confused.

"Oh, um, I enchanted four pieces of parchment for us to communicate with each other. The ink disappears after five minutes and everything written on one piece shows up on every piece, no matter how far apart we are." She explained quickly, not catching the stunned looks on the faces of the three adults. "Anyways, they want to know if they can come over the last night of the holidays."

"Um, if their parents say okay." He said, "and I do want to meet them as well."

She nodded, pulling out her sheet, and Isobel did the same. "May I see yours, Isobel?" Remus asked politely.

"Sure, Mr. Lupin."

Hey, Gryffin-dorks! Dad said check with your parents first AND he wants to meet them, but if they okay it, it's fine with him.

Gryffin-dork? Really, Char? And okay. Dad's fine with it, but Mam wants to meet your dad too. When?

Since it's only my mom, she seemed relieved that Mr. Potter wants to meet her. And Gryffin-dork? Not cool, Fang. Not cool.

I got one for you and Talon! Raven-nerd.

We ARE smarter than you too. Just kidding! Um, the day after Christmas?

Okay! I'll tell Mam.

I'll tell Mum.

It's settled then. See you Gryffin-dorks then.

"This is incredible!" Remus said, handing it back to Isobel. "I'm very impressed."

"Okay. Isobel, you'll come over too." Mrs. MacDougal said brightly. "We should probably head home, though."

The MacDougals left and Samuel shook his head. "Charli, you amaze me."

Then, the day after Christmas arrived and Ardara Finnigan was the first to show. Samuel's face blanched when he saw her, though. "Oh, Merlin."

She, however, tilted her head up haughtily. "I should've known, Potter."

Seamus looked carefully between his mother and her father. "I, uh, it's been a long time, Ardara."

"Hmm, well, yah weren't as bad as yah brother, that's for sure. Yah can stay, Shay."

Seamus grinned, hugging his mother. "Thanks, Mam!"

"Um, how've you been?"

"Good. I was sorry to hear 'bout Marlene. She was a sweet girl." Ardara smiled. "Don't know why she went with yah, though."

Samuel snorted. "Yeah, neither do I."

"If yah have any problems with 'im, send 'im back." She said, hugging her son. "Take care, Samuel."

"You too, Ardara."

Seamus raced to put his bag in the spare room next to hers as Isobel arrived through Floo Powder, just as someone knocked on the door. Charlotte took off in search of Misty, finding the house-elf in the drawing room. "Misty, would you mind making us five cups of hot cocoa?"

"Of course, Mistress. Misty lives to serve the noble house of Potter." She bowed deeply.

"Thank you!"

Dean soon joined them in the living room. "Mum loves your dad, Charli. Said he was a perfect gentleman."

Seamus, stretched out on the floor, sighed happily. "This is great."

"Misty has your hot cocoa, Mistress."

Charlotte smiled and set the tray down on the coffee cup as her father and Severus joined them. Seamus and Dean frowned briefly, but, as they were sitting with the girls, they ignored Snape. "So, what's next?"

"The school." Dean answered. "But we're doing that later, right?"

"Yeah, I think so. Start a tradition, guys." Charlotte grinned.

Isobel rolled her eyes. "As long as we don't get expelled."

"Nonsense. My uncle, James, did way worse than this and he never got expelled."

That night, after Seamus and Dean went to bed, Isobel perched on the middle of Charlotte's bed. Merlin was in his usual spot on her pillow. "Dean's cute."

"No more Harry?"

"He's still cute but Dean's cuter." Isobel grinned. "What do you think?"

Charlotte laughed. "I don't know. Wood's still pretty cute, but…"

"But what?"

"But Seamus-"

"I knew it!" Isobel said triumphantly. "You glare at Mandy every time she says something about how cute he is!"

"Doesn't mean anything." Charlotte muttered. "Go to sleep, Is."

She, however, after Isobel had fallen asleep, went back to the living room, where her father and Snape were talking and sat down on the couch beside Snape. "Did you know Charli enchanted four pieces of parchment as a communication device for her and her friends?" Samuel asked. "It's quite brilliant. One of them writes on theirs and it appears on the other three as well for a few minutes and then disappears. And, it works from long distances."

Snape looked at her, his eyebrows raised. "That's quite an impressive feat, especially for a second-year."

"We just needed a way to talk to each other, is all."

The next couple of days passed by quickly and soon, Samuel took all four to the platform. Charlotte was carrying her new broom, a Nimbus 2001, as well. "Be good, you four."

"We will!" They said together, laughing as they found their compartment.

And, as soon as the train was off, four heads came together to discuss the spring's term of mischief.