-Chapter 8-
Jealously
Charles almost choked on the lemon drop in his mouth as he heard Yinny call him by his name. He turned to see the Headmaster's face twist with confusion and then an idea made itself known in his mind. He had been named after his uncle, the real Mattie's father, and though Yinny would have never met his uncle, Charles hoped Dumbledore wouldn't know that.
"No, Yinny. My dad's not here. I'm Mattie." He stressed the name Mattie, though he was certain that Yinny would ignore him.
"Me's being sorry, Master Mattie. I's was thinking you as Master Charles." And then after setting down a tray laden with hot chocolate and a large cake, Yinny disappeared with a plop. Charles sighed with relief; oblivious to the look Dumbledore was giving him.
"Hot chocolate?" Dumbledore asked, holding one of the steaming cups out to him. Charles nodded and accepted it gratefully. After the scare he had just been through, he needed the chocolate more than ever.
"How long will you be visiting your aunt, Mattie?" Charles shrugged. He had a slight feeling of deja vu. The trio had asked almost the same question.
"Until my parents get back." The cocoa was perfectly heavenly and Charles found himself enjoying it greatly. Something about the beverage mystified him though; he could have sworn he had had it before, yet he couldn't remember where or when.
"How do you like being here at Hogwarts?" Charles smiled.
"I really like it. Home is boring." Dumbledore chuckled. He set his cup down and leaned back in his cozy even if strange chair. Charles found it funny that his long white beard was slung over his shoulder, but said nothing. He liked this strange funny man; he wasn't used to people like him, but it would be fun.
"What do you do here?" He asked, finishing his drink and setting it down. Dumbledore chuckled softly and sighed.
"I answer letters and eat lemon drops and chocolate frogs. I placate Professor Snape whenever a student upsets him and help students whenever he upsets them."
"That sounds like fun. Do all headmasters do that?" Dumbledore shook his head.
"No, some are firm believers in never doing anything but work; they usually dig themselves into an early grave. Then others can't stand work and fail terribly because their poor deputy has to do everything. See Mattie my boy, it's all about balance."
Charles nodded. His mother had taught him to be balanced; though he had never really found it useful.
A knock issued from the closed door and Dumbledore smiled.
"It seems as though your aunt is at the door." Charles paled and swallowed. If his mother caught him here; she would have a heart attack that was after she had thoroughly spanked him. Dumbledore patted Charles on the head and motioned for him to stand.
"Don't worry, Mattie. I won't tattle on you. Climb under my desk and she won't see you. But you must be very quiet." Charles nodded and without hesitation, climbed underneath the large desk.
The space was fairly large and he was able to get himself comfortable easily. Dumbledore sat down in his chair and winked at him. "She'll be in, in a moment."
"Enter." He announced. Charles heard the door open and from under the desk's bottom he could see his mother approach the desk.
She looked quite upset about something and if took all of Charles self-control to not crawl out from underneath the desk and comfort her. His mother often came back to her room upset. Tears would shimmer in her green eyes as she pulled him into her loving embrace and he would always comfort her. In a world where all they had were each other; it was very important.
"My dear, you seem troubled about something." Dumbledore said, gently offering her the chair by the front of the desk. She took the seat and sighed.
"Albus, I have almost had it with those boys." Her soft voice was lined with pain and sorrow, causing Charles to sit up.
"Ah, the Weasley boys, Minerva?" She nodded silently. Dumbledore rose from his chair and walked over to her side. Kneeling down in front of her he looked her in the eye.
"What happened?" As his mother told the Headmaster all that had happened in the last hour, Charles sat under the desk and boiled over with jealousy. It's my job to comfort her. She tells me what happened. I help her, not you. His thoughts mostly aimed at Dumbledore were painful. Now he wished that he had stayed in the room and watched television.
Suddenly he didn't care if his mother became angry with him, he only wanted her. Charles rose up from his sitting position and was moments away from climbing out from underneath the desk, when another knock issued from the door. Pulling back, Charles peeped out to see a student enter the office. He had some sort of badge on the front of his uniform and was out of breath.
"Professor McGonagall! Harry and Draco are fighting in the hallway!" The student exclaimed. His mother rose up from her chair and at once adopted the stern façade that she had dropped while talking to Dumbledore.
"I'll be right there, Mr. Weasley." His mother said evenly, addressing the student.
Charles watched the door close as Dumbledore dismissed the prefect. His attention turned back to his mother who was standing not far from her chair.
"I have to go, Albus. Thank you." Dumbledore patted her arm, comfortingly and sighed.
"I'll see if I can get those two to calm down with the pranks. But keep in mind that they're only trying to have fun." His mother nodded, though he was certain she hadn't heard a word the kind man had said.
"Tabby, it'll be fine." And upon hearing those last words, his mother slipped out of the office.
"Now, Mattie. I believe it's time for you to return to your rooms before your aunt does." Charles climbed out from underneath the desk. Though he tried hard to smile at the man and act normally; the jealously he still felt was eating at him. With his arms crossed and a deep frown darkening his face, Charles allowed the man to lead him back to his mother's room.
TBC- please review
(A/N- I couldn't remember if Percy was a prefect in the trio's third year or not-so just bear with me)
