Harry Potter
Something Wicked This Way Comes
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: N/A (as of now)
Genre: Adventure/Friendship
Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.
Summary: Charlie Hunter and Riley Spirit thought they were ordinary girl's, but when they each recieve a letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Their lives change completely. What adventures lie ahead for these Muggleborn Witches?
Author's Note: Yay! My faithful reader DJScales returned with another review, along with two new comers; A True Fallacy and Annoumous reviewer Annabelle. I hope you enjoy this next update.
Christmas at Hogwarts
Charlie laughed as she and Riley reached the top of the grassy slope leading from the Quidditch pitch and back up to the castle, behind them they could hear the Slytherin team talking amongst themselves about what had gone down on the field and Marcus was still complaining about the way Harry had caught the Snitch. Only for Nikki to retort that Harry hadnt broken any rules and that he should stop sulking. It didnt suit him.
"He doesnt know when to quit does he?" Riley asked, coughing slightly as she tried to breathe through the cold air
Charlie shook her head "Nope," and she glanced over her shoulder as the Slytherin team grew closer "Come on...lets head inside" and pulling her best friend up, the two hurried into the courtyard where they located Harry, Ron and Hermione talking with Hagrid.
"...he tried to get past the three headed dog on Halloween," Harry was saying, as the girls drew closer "It bit him. I think he was trying to steal whatever it was guarding"
Hagrid looked surprised "Who told you about Fluffy?"
"Who's Fluffy?" Riley asked, as she joind her friends
"That three headed dog," Ron answered
Charlie looked startled "That thing has a name?" she exclaimed
"Well o' course he's got a name, he's mine" Hagrid said "I bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year - I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the -"
"Yes?" Harry asked eagerly
"Nope, don't ask me anymore," Hagrid said gruffly "That's top secret that is"
"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy's guarding," Harry cried "Snape's trying to steal it!"
Charlie glared at him
"That's rubbish," Hagrid said "Snape is a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort"
"Then why did he just try to kill Harry?" Hermione asked
Charlie rolled her eyes. What was it going to take, to prove that it wasn't Snape who had tried to kill Harry?
Hermione nodded "I know a jinx when I see one…you have to maintain eye-contact and Snape wasn't blinking"
"Neither was Quirrell!" Charlie reminded her "Im tell you! Snape was muttering a counter-curse or something!"
Ron, Riley and Harry looked surprised by her accusations
"Im tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" Hagrid said hotly "I don' know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all six of yeh - yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel -"
"Nicolas Flamel?" Riley questioned
"I should not have said that," Hagrid muttered, as he turned and hurried away, leaving the friends "I should not have said that"
"Who's Nicolas Flamel?" Harry asked, turning to the his three Muggleborn friends.
The three girls looked at each and shrugged
"I dont know," Hermione murmured.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
After the talk with Hagrid, the four Gryffindors and the Slytherin hurried up to Gryffindor Tower for the celebration of Harry's win on the Quidditch field, as soon as they entered Harry was pulled away from his friends and hoisted onto the shoulders of Fred and George Weasley as they carried him into the centre of the room, Harry shouting to be put down. Charlie laughed at the sight of him "Enjoy it Harry," she called after him "You never know how long it will last"
A hush fell over the whole common room, as everyone turned in the Slytherin's direction "What's a Snake doing here?" someone asked
"There's a snake here?" Charlie asked, mockingly looking around "Oh wait! You mean me!"
Riley rolled her eyes "I invited her"
"Why?" the boy who asked, stepped forward revealing himself to be a sixth year student, whom Riley recognized as Leighton Chadwick. A pureblooded Gryffindor, who had times could pass for a Slytherin.
"Because she's my friend," Riley responded "Professor McGonagall gave her permission to come up here whenever she wants. Just like I can go to the Slytherin common room whenever I want!" she explained "That, and she is friends with Harry too!"
Leighton did not look pleased "But why would she be up here celebrating with us," he pressed "When her house just lost to us!"
"Because I don't sulk," Charlie responded "Well I do...but not over a silly game!"
The Gryffindor team gasped "Quidditch isnt just some game!" Captain Oliver Wood responded
"Then what is it?" Charlie asked "I know your obsessed with it Oliver, but dont tell me you sulk when you lose. If you do, then your as bad as Marcus"
There was a dead silence, it was common knowledge of how much Oliver Wood and Marcus Flint loathed one another, and comparing them to each other was never a good idea. But Charlie stood her ground, she wasnt one to back down, and she stood by her statements right to the end. Or unless she was proven wrong.
"Im nothing like him!" Oliver responded
Charlie smirked "Good, so if Slytherin does beat you for the Quidditch cup, you wont bat an eyelid?"
"Yes," Oliver nodded
"Shake on it," Charlie challenged, holding her hand out
The Gryffindors, had parted like the red sea as the 1st year Slytherin and 5th year Gryffindor stared at one another from across the room. Harry had been let down by the Weasley Twins and returned to his friends as he continued to watch the challenge between his two friends. Wood was staring at Charlie like she was insane, whilst the Slytherin looked more at ease, calmly Charlie walked forward so that she was standing in front of Oliver.
"Go on Oliver," she smiled innocently "Or is it eating at you? Knowing that if you lose...then you've proved the point that you are exactly like Marcus Flint?"
The Gryffindor captain glared down at her, before reaching out and shaking her hand "I'll prove you wrong!" he told her
"Looking forward to it," she winked, re-turning to her friends and approaching the table that was ladened with food. She piled some onto a late, grabbed a drink and hurried off to sit near the fire with Riley and Hermione. She could feel eyes on her for the majority of the celebration party and everytime she looked up to investigate who was staring at her, she would lock gazes with Wood and smirk all over again. She knew her challenge was eating away at him already...she could see it, he would try is very hardest this year to beat Slytherin at the Quidditch Championship, just to prove that she was wrong about him. But she knew...she knew that he as just like Marcus when it came to his sport!
Meanwhile, the rest of her friends were chatting happily about the game "It was brilliant!" Ron grinned
"I had a brilliant time," Harry nodded, as he bit into a pumpkin pasty "Did you see the look on Flint's face, when I caught the Snitch?"
Riley nodded "He kept ranting about how you didnt catch it," she told her friend "about how you nearly swallowed it. He would have gone on for hours, if Nikki O'Donald had stepped in and told him to hush up!"
Harry, Ron and Hermione chuckled, glancing at Charlie who had remained silence throughout the entire conversation
"Are you gonna stare at Wood all night?" Hermione interrupted her friends staring contest, with the Gryffindor Captain "Or are you going to acknowledge us?"
Charlie frowned "Huh?" she questioned in confusion turning back to her friends "Oh, sorry guys!"
"You're not crushing on him are you?" Riley teased
"Ew!" the Slytherin exclaimed "Im 11, why would I be thinking about boys? Especially Gryffindor boys?"
Harry and Ron did not look impressed "Hey!" they protested
The girls burst our laughing
"Okay, so you're thinking about Slytherin boys," Hermione teased "Like Flint! That's why you always defend him; like today when Fred or George hit that Bludger at him, you screamed his name -"
Charlie glared "Im not about to stand back and watch my friends get hurt!" she retorted
"You just defended him against Oliver," Hermione pointed out "You always sit by him in the Great Hall..." by now she was ticking the reasons off on her fingers "...you always run to him when you need help"
"Not true!" Charlie exclaimed "I dont always run to him! I defended him against Oliver, and shouted at him during the game because he is in my house! I defend my house! I always sit by him in the Great Hall because I sit with Nikki, and Nikki is friends with him!" she clarified "I repeat, I am eleven years old; why would I be interested in Boys?"
Riley and Hermione exchanged smirks as Charlie glared
"You jumped to defence pretty quickly there," Riley pointed out "Are you sure there isnt anything -"
The Slytherin growled and had the sudden urge to throw her drink at her best friend, but managed to restrain herself "Don't," Charlie warned "Because there is alot of things I can point out about you two and the guys in this house!"
Hermione and Riley turned the shade of scarlet at the sudden turn of tables and quietly went back to eating their food. Charlie smirked, happy that the sudden teasing spree had been taken off of her. She didnt mind the attention, but when her friends started throwing accusations around then she didnt like it! She would put her foot down!
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Several hours later, Charlie was returning from the Gryffindor Common room; she had had fun celebrating with her friends but couldnt wait to see how the Slytherins celebrated. It had to be better than the Gryffindors, didnt it? She wasnt grasping at anything when it came to the houses but usually everything another house did; her house always seemed to make it worth while. Gryffindors were great Quidditch players but there was something about the way Slytherin played that had caught her attention right from the beginning; maybe it was the way that they didnt care for the rules, or maybe it was just the tension between the two teams that had caused to her indulge further into the game than she expected...or maybe it was something else.
"Oh shut up!" she scolded herself, shaking her head "Your eleven years old, for goodness sake!" ridding herself of all thoughts of playful banter from Hermione and Riley earlier the 11-year-old Slytherin made it back to her common room in once piece. It was only about 8:00pm and she had another hour before curfew, but that didnt mean being in the Hogwarts castle alone, walking down several flights of stairs (which had the tendancy to move) didnt freak her out...just slightly. She was a Slytherin, she didnt get scared.
"Well, good evening Miss Hunter," Headmaster Slytherin greeted as she approached him "and where may I ask have you been?"
Charlie smiled "Good evening Headmaster," she nodded "I have been in the Gryffindor Common room. Celebration"
"Ah, I heard about the match" he nodded "Your friends must be proud"
"He's modest," Charlie answered "Doesnt believe he did much!" she shrugged "Maybe next game we'll win - Parselmouth" she gave the password
The portrait chuckled "Maybe we will," he nodded, before swinging open for her "Have a good evening, my dear"
"Thank you," the 11-year-old responded, as she scrambled through and entered the Common room to find the whole house there. Nikki and Marcus were sitting on one of the couches looking through text books, as everyone else was strewn across the room. Approaching from behind, Charlie lent over the back of the couch and smiled "You're still not sulking are you?" she asked Marcus
The 5th year jumped at her sudden apperance and dropped the book he had been skimming through "Geeze Hunter," he scolded "You'll give a man a heart attack like that"
Charlie chuckled "Unlucky, Flint" she teased, hoping over the back of the couch and falling down between him and Nikki "What I miss?"
"Nothing much," Nikki answered "Oh, this came for you, while you were up in Gryffindor common room. Here." she handed her a letter which was in a Muggle envelope "I figured it was your Mum"
Charlie's face split into a bright grin at the mention of her mother "Awesome!" and she opened the envelope quickly and removed the letter from the inside. She skimmed it over a few times, her smile fading with each line until she came to the end and a permenant sad frown was left on her face.
"Something wrong?" Blaise asked
"I won't be going home for Christmas," she answered him "My mum's been asked to work the Christmas shift, there's a extra bonus involved and she can't say no" she sighed, "I cant really blame her for saying yes, the extra money will go towards keeping me in school"
Daphane glanced up at her friend "So she'll be working the majority of the holidays?" she asked
Charlie nodded "Ah well," she responded, bouncing back to her 'happy-go-lucky' charm "I'll just owl her my presents, and she can owl me mine!" she skimmed the letter again "and Riley's"
"And Riley's?" Nikki asked
"Yeah, Riley's mother works the same shift as my mum, and she's been asked to take the Christmas shift too." the younger Slytherin explained "I guess me and Riley will be stuck at Hogwarts for Christmas." she shrugged "At least we'll have snow!" and jumping up from the couch she bounced towards the stairs "Night guys!" she shouted over her shoulder, taking the dormitory stairs two at a time, and disappearing into the first years dorms closing the door behind her.
Daphane, Millicent and Pansy groaned "Great, she's gonna be up half the night,"
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked
"Sugar crash!" Pansy answered simply, going back to her essay
And nothing more was said on the matter
xXxHarryPotterxXx
The Christmas holidays approached quicker than Charlie expected and soon she was helping her dorm-mates pack their belongings the night before they were to head off home. "Im sorry you have to stay here for Christmas," Daphne said, as Charlie folded some of her clothes and placed them neatly in the open trunk that was on the bed.
Charlie shrugged "Its all right," she smiled "Riley will be here, so will Harry and Ron" she explained "and besides, my mum is earning extra money; I can't fault her for taking the extra shift. We really need it"
"I dont know what I would do if I had your money troubles," Daphne responded
"Most people dont," Charlie explained "The rich kids who live on the otherside of the park, from me, their like you. Well, not exactly like you! But they have the money; and they take it for granted. They dont know what its like to live like me and Riley do, that's why we take what we can. We dont expect anything, we know what we can have and what we cant; when we're lucky enough to get money we don't instantly think of what we can buy out of it, we put it away for a rainy day sort to speak. My mum and I we find ways to make money" she explained "During the summer I work odd jobs for neigbours and I do babysitting a few nights a week, you know, something to just help you"
Pansy looked up from her trunk "What about you're dad?" she asked "What does he do?"
"My dad died when I was a baby," Charlie answered
"Oh," Pansy looked strickened "Im sorry..."
Her friend waved her off "Its okay, you didnt know" she smiled "But it was slightly better when my dad was around, he worked as a doctor; and his employers paid him well. But that was a long time ago" she closed Daphne's trunk "There, all finished" she turned to Millicent and Pansy "Need help?"
"Nope," the girls answered, closing their trunks
After the three girls were sure they had everything, the four friends headed down to the Common room to find the boys already there. Charlie wandered over to the couch where Marcus was sitting playing a rather interesting game of Chess with Draco "Queen to E-3" the Captain said, with a smirk.
Charlie frowned as she watched his Queen slide towards Draco's piece, got off her throne and swung it, destroying Draco's rock "That's totally barbaric!" she cried
"That's Wizards Chess," Marcus told her "Come here...I'll teach you" and he pulled her towards him
"No thanks," Charlie shook her head "Chess is a game of strategy, I dont have a strategy...I usually just run head first into danger without a proper plan! Thats how I get in trouble so often"
Nikki appeared from the girls dormitories "As the Muggles say," she smiled approaching the group "You follow your head and not your heart"
"Exactly!" Charlie grinned, before returning her attention back to the Chess game. As much as she didnt want to learn how to play, she was interested in who would win
"Are you girls all packed?" Nikki asked the rest of Charlie's dorm-mates
"Yes," they answered
Just then Nathan glanced at the clock and gasped "We're gonna be late for dinner!" he stated "Come on!"
Ending the game, Marcus packed it away before following Nikki and Charlie out of the common room as the rest for the first years hurried up the stone steps of the Dungeons and into the Entrance Hall. During the dinner, the Slytherinn first years and two fifth year prefects, sat together as usual and talking about Christmas traditions, passing stories on their favourite christmases at home. Draco had just explained about what Christmas was like at his home and now it was Charlie's turn to give the traditional Christmas presentation in the Muggle world.
"My favourite Christmas," Charlie was saying, as she ate her dinner "Has to be when I was 4-years-old, it was month before my dad died; we were out shopping late on Christmas eve, we still had to get the tree. So they had taken me to pick one, I always enjoyed shopping for Christmas trees; it'd always be a smaller one, nothing fancy, because we really couldnt afford it. But it was perfect. Once we'd got it home, we decorated it with ornaments, tinsel and lights. Then my dad would put me on his shoulders and let me put the star on the top," she smiled blissfully as the memory flooded her minds eye "Then we'd place the presents under the tree, and settle down to watch Christmas movies together"
Her friends exchanged looks as Charlie continued her tale, so far it sounded like the perfect holiday
"Around 11:00pm on Christmas Eve," Charlie continued "My dad would carry me up to bed, I'd hang my stocking for Santa at the end of it, my mum would come up and tuck me in and then read me a Christmas story before I fell asleep" she smiled "I can remember on Christmas morning, waking up early, to find my stocking full of presents. I can remember running straight into my parents room and jumping on their bed, shouting for them to wake up! I remember my dad that year, he practically tackled me as he got up, before chasing me out of the room and down the stairs -" she poked her food with her fork, as she remembered her father "I can still hear his voice now as I opened my presents." she shook her head "My mum would make then make the most amazing breakfast, after which they would dress me up and take me to visit Riley, and we'd do it all over again"
Once Charlie had finished speaking, Nikki smiled "Sounds perfect"
"It is," Charlie answered "I mean, I still do all that stuff with my mum, watch movies, read stories. I even still go to bed earlier and jump on her bed in the early hours of the morning" she grinned
"Im sure you do," Nikki chuckled "It is Christmas after all"
Just at that moment Professor Snape swept over them "Miss Hunter," he addressed Charlie "Since you are staying for the Christmas holidays, I have cleared it with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore; as they have both agreed to allow you to stay in the Gryffindor dorms over the holidays. It would seem only Miss Granger is going home, the Weasleys have changed their plans and will be staying with you, Miss Spirit and Mr. Potter"
"Sweet!" Charlie grinned "Thank you, sir!"
"You're very welcome," Snape answered "Just be sure that your homework is completed, as I know you will most likely forget while hanging out with them"
Charlie gaped "Im insulted that you would imply such a thing"
Snape glared at her, as her friends masked their giggles and snickers from all around her "Happy Christmas, Miss Hunter" he stated and swept away
"Happy Christmas, Professor Snape!" she called cheerfully after him; before bursting into laughter as she turned back to her friends.
"I dont know how he puts up with you," Millicent pointed out, as her laughter turned into giggles
Draco shook his head "I dont know how any of us put up with her," he responded
"Professor Snape knows what I am like," Charlie explained "He has after all watched me grow up!" her friends looked confused "We're both from Spinner's End! We live on the same street, directly opposite one another actually"
"Oh," the others nodded in understandment, before going back to their Dinner.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
The next morning Charlie stood in a pair of dark skinny jeans, a black t-shirt and trainers as she wrapped her Slytherin scarf around her neck and her mittens on her hands. She was standing in the doorway of Hogwarts bidding goodbye to her friends who were going home for the Holidays. "Behave," Nikki warned "I don't wanna come back and find out you've been giving another round of detentions"
"Yes mum," Charlie teased, laughing as Nikki poked her in the side "I promise I will behave. Have a fab Christmas"
Nikki smiled and leant down to hug the first year "You too, scare some Weasleys for me, okay?"
"Promise!" Charlie nodded as the older teen pulled away "What? No hug?" she added turning to Marcus
The older boy levelled her with a stare "I don't hug," he answered
"Not even me?"
"No one," he replied
Charlie pouted "Aw please," she pleaded "I wont tell anyone"
Marcus shook his head, standing his ground. However, he made the fatal mistake of looking at Charlie who was giving him her best puppy dog pout, eventually he sighed "Fine! But you tell anyone and I will kill you,"
"Cross my heart," Charlie answered, as she hugged him, before he pulled away. "I'll see you after the holidays"
"Bye," Nikki smiled leading the way down the drive "Wait for it..." she mumured
Marcus frowned "Wait for what?"
"I HAD A HUG OF MARCUS FLINT!" Charlie's voice rippled across the courtyard, from the doors. Marcus groaned and threw her a glare as Nikki laughed, turned to wave to the first year, before entering the carriage that would take her to Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts express.
"I'll kill her," Marcus grumbled, following his friend into the carriage, to find a few of the Slytherin Quidditch team already waiting "Shut up!" he told them, slamming the door as they each grinned at him.
Meanwhile, Charlie chuckled to herself and turned away from doors as she watched the carriage disappear through the gates and she made her way up several staircases until she came across the Fat Lady "Fairy Lights" she gave the password, as the woman in the portrait nodded and swung open to allow her entry. She found Ron, Harry and Riley sitting in front of the fire playing Wizards Chess, they looked upon her arrival.
"Hey Charlie," Riley smiled, waving her over "Come see this!"
"Its Wizards Chess," the Slytherin answered "Marcus and Draco were playing it yesterday before Dinner. Its totally barabaric! Marcus wanted to teach me, but I wouldnt let him"
Riley smiled
"Have you seen the task Hermione has set us for the Holidays?" Ron asked, looking up from the game "She wants us to find information on Nicholas Flamel"
"But its CHRISTMAS!" Charlie yelled, "The only work im gonna be doing is my homework, then im spending it having fun!" an idea struck her "Lets go play in the snow!" she suggested, nudging Riley
Her friend waved her off "Maybe later," she smiled "Lets get this sorted up here first. Shall?"
"Whats there to do?"
"Sort out your sleeping arrangements for starters," Riley pointed out
Charlie frowned "I thought I was sleeping in Hermione's bed?"
"You are," Riley nodded "Where's your stuff?"
"Oh," the Slytherin frowned, her stuff was still in her dorm room, in the Slytherin common room. Down in the Dungeons. "We'll get it after Dinner"
Riley nodded "Okay,"
"Can we go play in the snow now?"
"How about we finish our homework first?" Riley asked "Then we'll have all the time in the world for fun"
The Slytherin sighed "Fine!" she grumbled, knowing if she went out in the snow, her homework would never get done! And the two set to work, Charlie may not have had her sleeping clothes and stuff with her, but she had her homework. She often wondered how she always had this on her, when she rarely did any homework.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
That afternoon, Charlie and Riley laughed as they linked arms and walked ahead of Harry and Ron and down towards the Great Hall for Lunch. They were met by Hagrid in the Entrance Hall carrying a large Christmas tree.
"Oh," Charlie breathed
"Wow" Riley also breathed as she stared up at the tree and followed Hagrid into the hall; they waited for Hagrid to set the tree down on the ground, before he turned to them a huge smile on his face.
"Hello Girls," he greeted cheerfully "Looking forward to Christmas"
"Yes, Hagrid" The girls answered, before they became distracted by Professor Flitwick levitating boxes. They followed him, just as the boys appeared behind them.
"Can we help Professor?" Riley asked
"You want to help? Most students don't enjoy decorating the school" Professor Flitwick squeaked
"How come?" Charlie asked, as she dipped into the box and pulled out a long trail of tinsel, wrapping around her friends shoulders, "Its fun…we usually decorate all the time at home. It's a tradition we have always had"
"If you girls would like to help, then I see no trouble in it" Professor Flitwick said, smiling as the friends cried in delight and dived into the boxes. Near the doors, stood Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape.
"Such energetic pair aren't they?" Professor Dumbledore asked with an amused smile
"Yes, they are" Professor McGonagall answered "I do believe one of them is yours, Severus" she turned to the potions professor
"I do realize that, Minerva" Snape answered "And I have nothing to say about this expect that it is good that she does not act like this in school"
"I don't agree Severus," Dumbledore said "Charlie seems to be quite a ball of energy during school, or so the other teachers say."
"She must not be hyper in your class Severus" McGonagall said
"She would never be able to handle the punishment for being hyper in my class"
"I bet she could survive anything," Professor Dumbledore said "Those two can survive anything, as long as they are together"
"Then lets pray that they never get separated" Snape growled, before leaving the Great Hall. Even at Hogwarts people agreed that Riley and Charlie were never to be separated.
Professor McGonagall smiled and turned back to the two girls, who had wrapped the poor Charms Professor, and Harry and Ron who had come to help in Tinsel and garlands. "He is very attached to her, isn't he?" she asked Professor Dumbledore, without looking at him.
"I would believe so," the Headmaster answered
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Later that night Charlie moved a few of her things up into Gryffindor tower with the help of Riley, once back inside the Gryffindor common room the Slytherin set her eyes on their common room Tree "Please tell me that is not your tree?" she asked
"What's wrong with it?" Ron asked, glancing at the tree
The Slytherin frowned "Seriously?" she asked "It looks bare! You cant leave it like that, if you do, im moving back down to the Slytherin common room! You cant see our tree!"
"I know," Riley nodded "Both myself, anyone within the vicinity and the poor tree got covered when you decorated the Slytherin tree" she pointed out
Charlie grinned "I told them not to let me loose on the thing" she pointed out "but did they listen? Nooooo..." she glanced back at the Gryffindor tree "Where's the boxes?"
"There," Harry pointed at the boxes which were hidden under a table near the window, the Slytherin grabbed them and pulled them across the room towards the tree
"Come on Rils," she called to her friend, as Riley grinned and mimicked her actions. The Weasleys whom were left crowded around and watched the two first years decorate their tree with alot more garlands, tinsel, lights and oranments. When they were done, it looked much more chrismassy than it had. "There!" Charlie grinned jumping backwards to admire her work "Where's the Star?"
Fred scouted around and finally found the Star in one of the cupboards under the window "Right here!" he answered, holding it up
"Thanks," Charlie took the star from him and handed it to Riley "Wanna do it?"
Riley looked excited and looked up at the tree "I cant reach!" she frowned, before squeaking as she was lifted up from behind,
"Relax little Gem," George grinned, as he lifted her up high enough to put the star on top of the tree "There!"
"Perfect!" Riley chimed, as she was placed back on her feet "Thanks" she added to George who nodded in return
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Later that evening, after cleaning up the mess that had been created with the tinsel and the tree; the friends were settled around the fire, drinking hot chocolate with Marshmallows and chatting about Santa.
"Do you believe he is real, then?" Fred asked, as he glanced at Riley and Charlie who sat beside him
"Oh course!" Charlie exclaimed "I've always believed in Santa"
The twins grinned
"But how does he manage to get to every boy and girl in the whole world in ONE night!" Riley asked
"Time turners," Percy answered simply
Riley frowned "What?" she asked "What are Time Turners?"
"Exactly what they sound like," Percy answered "They turn back time"
"Where do you get them from?" Harry asked "I've never seen them in Diagon Alley, or anything"
Percy shook his head "That's because you can't just buy them from the shops," he answered "Their under restrictions in the Ministry of Magic. There has to be a special reason to acquire them. When using them, there are lot of rules to follow, because you are messing with time and space. If anything goes wrong, then you could unravel entire centuries"
Charlie and Riley exchanged looks, that did not sound fun
At around 11:00, the friends bid goodnight and turned into bed. Exhaustion gripping them at the edges of their minds. Darkness was rolling in fast, and as soon as their heads in the pillows, they were out cold.
Goodnight, had formed on the Charlie and Riley's lips, but neither had the strength or time to whisper the word as their eyes closed.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
"WAKE UP! COME ON GUYS, WAKE UP!"
The girls were awoken by Ron screaming at the top of his lungs. They lay still for a moment staring at the canopy of four-poster beds that they lay in. It seemed just like another day, until realization sunk in, and the threw back the covers and flew out of bed. Reaching the balcony at the same time Harry did, they hung over the edge staring at Ron, who was standing in the middle of the common room staring at them. A huge smile on his face.
"Happy Christmas" Ron said
"Happy Christmas!" the three people up on the balcony chimed together
"What are you wearing?" Charlie asked. He was wearing what appeared to be a knitted maroon sweater.
"My mum made it," Ron answered, "Looks like she's made you lot some too"
"PRESENTS!" Charlie cried and she scrambled down the stairs into the common room, attacking the large pile of presents that were addressed to her, as Riley followed.
It took a moment before they realised that Harry weren't beside them.
"What's the matter Harry?" Riley asked turning to look at her friend
"I've got Presents?" he asked, in surprise
"Of course," Ron answered "Come on," he turned to the girls, who were already opening their gifts "Before the girls decide to open them for you"
"Hey!" the two girls chimed, each picking up a cushion from the couch and throwing them at the red head, who ducked
Harry appeared at the bottom of the staircase, and settled down on the floor beside Charlie, who passed him a present from his pile. She watched as he ripped open the paper and pulled out a scarlet sweater with a golden 'H' on the front.
Charlie also received one; it was Green with a black 'C' on the front. Riley, got one in the same colour as Harry and Ron's. Charlie smiled and slipped the sweater on over her pyjamas.
"Oh, it so warm" she said, hugging herself, and then reaching for another present "Oh, here you go Harry, this ones from me"
"Thank you," Harry said, pulling the girl into him for a hug, she squealed and released herself from him, before reaching for another present. She read the card and smiled.
"Thanks Ron," she said, starting to tear the paper of the present. Inside was a box full of Chocolate Frogs. She grinned up at her red-headed friend. As she heard Riley groan from beside her. "Yes! Thank you, Ron. Thank you so much!"
"A hyper Slytherin, that's all we need" Riley complained
"Thanks girls," Harry suddenly cried, and the girls turned to see he was staring at the book he had received from them Quidditch Through the Ages.
At that moment the Weasley Twins and Percy appeared in the room, the twins carrying Percy's prefect badge high above their heads.
"Give it back!" Percy demanded angrily. Fred and George laughed and ran out the tower, Percy following on their heels.
"That was strange," Riley said, as she turned back to her friends
Charlie nodded in agreement and returned to her presents.
Once they had all opened all their presents, the Charlie was over-looking her pile.
Riley had received a new quill and ink set from her Hermione, two muggle novels from her mother and Serena. A book on advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts from Harry. Another two books from Charlie and Hermione. And assorted chocolates from Ron and Harry.
Charlie received her Muggle music from her mother, Muggle books from her Hermione and Carol Spirit. From Harry and Ron she received a basket of chocolates. From her Nikki she had a gorgeous necklace with the letter 'C' on it (something she had to remind herself to give back). And from Mrs Weasley, she received a hand-knitted jumper and a box of home-made fudge.
"Hey, Harry" Riley suddenly said "There's another one here for you"
She was on her stomach, half of her body under the tree; it seemed she was reaching for something in the very back of the tree. After about 5 minutes she withdrew and threw the package at her friend, who caught it easily.
"Well…" Charlie said, turning around on the floor to look at her friend "Open it! Silly!"
Harry looked at his friends; they were all watching him curiously and expectantly. Before he slowly proceeded to open his newest present. He ripped back the paper and something fluid and silvery slipped grey slithered onto the floor, where it lay in glittering folds. Ron gasped.
"What is it?" Harry asked
"Who sent you that?" Ron asked
"I don't know," Harry answered "There isn't a note on here…"
Charlie had reached for the cloak, it felt like water beneath her fingers. She run her hand across the material. It felt weird to hold. Just then her fingers brushed something rough, and she looked down to see a card was hidden with the material.
"No," she said "But there is one by here"
She held out the card for her friend to take. Harry did. And read it aloud.
"'You're father left this in my possession before he died.
Its time it was returned to you.
Use it well.
A Very Merry Christmas to you'"
"Who sent it?" Riley asked
"There's no name" Harry answered "It just says use it well,"
"Creepy" the girls confirmed
"I'd give anything for one of these," Ron said "Anything!"
"We get it Ron!" Charlie hissed "What's the matter Harry?"
The raven-headed boy was staring at the Cloak. He looked up at his name. But before he could say anything, Fred and George Weasley bounded back into the Common room; Harry grabbed the cloak from Charlie's hands and quickly hid it from sight.
"Merry Christmas," the Weasley twins chorused together.
"Hey look!" Fred cried "Harry and the girls got Weasley jumpers too!"
"Their's are better than ours," George said "Mum obviously makes them better if your not family"
"What are you talking about?" Charlie asked "Your's look amazing!"
Fred and George were both wearing blue jumpers, each other a bright yellow letter on them. George's was 'G' and the Fred's was 'F'. It was one way of telling them apart.
"Why aren't you wearing yours Ron?" Fred demanded "Come on! Get it on! They're lovely and warm!"
Ron frowned "I hate maroon" he mumbled half-heartedly as he pulled it over his head
"You aint got a letter on yours. I suspect she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid - we know our names are Gred and Feorge" George said
Charlie and Riley giggled quietly behind their hands at the twins, as Percy re-entered the common room, carrying his Perfect badge and a lumpy jumper over his shoulder.
"What's all this noise?" he asked
Fred seized the jumper.
"'P' for Prefect!" he cried "Get it on Percy! Come on. We're all wearing ours, even Harry and the girls got them!"
"I - don't - want -" said Percy thickly, as the twins forced the jumper over his head, knocking his glasses askew.
"And you're not sitting with the Prefects today, either" said George "Christmas is time for family"
And they frog-marched Percy back out of the common room, his arms pinned to his sides by his jumper.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
That night after everybody had gone to bed, Charlie lay sleeping soundly to her new music. When suddenly she was awoken by her bed covers being removed from on top of her.
"Whoever has stolen my bedcovers better give them back!" Charlie hissed sleepily. Not moving from her position
"Wake up, Charlie!" Harry cried
Charlie turned onto her side and opened her bleary eyes "What the hell, Harry?" she questioned "Give me my bedcovers back, before I hex you!"
"Would you really hex me?" Harry asked "Im you're friend"
"When it comes to sleep time," Charlie said "I'll hex anyone" she reached for her bed clothes and pulled them back over her body.
"Charlie," Harry whined pulling the bedclothes back again "There's something I need to show you. The others are already in the common room"
Charlie moaned and pulled on her shoes, before grumbling all the way down into the common room. Where the others sat waiting for her. A few minutes later the four students where covered completely under the Invisibility Cloak and had left he tower. On the way through the school, Harry was explaining what was happening.
"So, I went to the Restricted Section" Harry was saying "To find out about Flamel. But I was almost caught by Filch, because the book I opened screamed"
"Excuse me?" Riley asked "Did you say screamed?"
"Yes" Harry answered "Anyway, I ducked out of the Library, before he could catch me and hurried down another corridor, I saw Snape and Quirrell. Snape had pinned Quirrell against the wall, telling him he knew what he was doing and that Quirrell wouldn't want him as an enemy"
"Right," Charlie said, linking her arm through Harry's as they walked "But why have you dragged us out of bed?"
"Im getting to that," Harry said "I slipped into this room, to avoid the professors" he reached out from under the cloak and pulled open a door the door that was in front of them. Once inside, they all slipped out from under the cloak, and Harry led them to a large mirror that was propped up on one end of the room. "In this mirror, I saw my parents! See? Ron, step over here"
Ron stepped up in front of the mirror.
"What am I looking for?" Ron asked
"My parents," Harry answered "See them? Right there - that's my -"
"I can only see us," the red head answered
"Look in it properly, go on, and stand where I am"
Harry stepped aside, but with Ron in front of the mirror.
The girls could see Ron, staring transfixed at the glass.
"Ron?" Riley questioned
"Look at me!" the red head cried
"Can you see all your family around you?" Harry asked
"What? Oh no - Im alone - but im different - I look older - and Im Head Boy!" Ron rambled
"Like that will happen," Riley mumbled, Charlie pushed her as Ron glared at her.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, trying to see what Ron was seeing, but only seeing his reflection beside his friends.
"I am - I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to - and Im holding the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup - and bloody hell, im Quidditch Captain too!"
"Let the girls take a look," Harry said
"Yeah, hang on" Ron said, staring once more at his reflection.
Riley sighed, and moved up to his side, before jostling him away "Shift, Ronald!" she said, turning back to her reflection. She gasped once she had done so. "Daddy? Mum? Rebecca?"
Tears welled up in her eyes, as she gazed up at her family. They were exactly as they remembered them. before she became a witch.
"Who do you see?" Harry asked
Riley didnt answer, and Harry turned to Charlie "Her family," the Slytherin answered "Her parents broke up the day we found out we were witches. Her dad left and took her little sister with him"
"Oh," Harry nodded
Charlie touched her friends shoulder "Can I see?" she asked
Riley nodded smiled at her family and stepped aside, Charlie took her place and stared at her reflection and seconds later tears welled in her eyes as her father appeared behind her. The older man wrapped his arms around her from behind and Charlie reached up to touch him, only to realize that her father was only there in the mirror.
"What do you see?" Ron asked
"Its my dad," Charlie answered, reaching out to touch the mirror; her reflection did the same "But he looks...different...younger..."
"How do you know its you're Dad?" Harry asked
"I just do" Charlie answered
"Hey," Ron said suddenly "Do you think this mirror tells the future?"
Harry shook his head sadly "How can it?" he asked "Both my parents and Charlie's dad are dead!"
xXxHarryPotterxXx
For many nights after the discovery of the mirror, Charlie and Harry returned to the same spot in front of the mirror, just to stare at their parents reflections. They never noticed Professor Dumbledore sitting in the corner of the room watching them. Well, they never noticed him until tonight.
"Back again you two," the old man said
The two first years scrambled to their feet, they turned around to see that professor Dumbledore were sitting on top of one of the old desks in the room.
"Yes professor," Charlie murmured
The old headmaster nodded, before walking towards them slowly "So, you, like many before you, have found the delight that the Mirror of Erised brings, Here's a clue – The Happiest man in the world, would look into the mirror and see only himself"
The two first years exchanged looks, before Harry spoke
"So it shows us what we want," he said "Whatever we want?"
"Yes," Professor Dumbledore started "And no…"
Charlie frowned, what did he mean?
"It shows us only the deepest desires of our heart. Sometimes we don't even know we desire these things until we look into this mirror. Many have gone mad. Wasted away. That is why it is being moved to a new home tomorrow. And I must ask you both, not to go looking for it again"
"But Professor," both Harry and Charlie cried
"I'm sorry, I'm aware that you both miss your parents, but dwelling on things will not help bring back what you have lost. One must not dwell on things and forget to live. You must promise me, that you will not go looking for the mirror again"
The two students sighed sadly
"We promise," they murmured together
"Good," Dumbledore said "Now, off to bed, both of you"
Harry and Charlie started towards the door. Harry left first, and Charlie made to follow, but as she pulled the door closed behind her, she caught wind of a light whisper from Dumbledore.
"My dear sister, how lovely it is to see you again,"
Charlie stopped and turned to look back into the room, but the Headmaster had gone. Disappeared. She frowned, shook her head and closed the door, running to catch up with Harry. The two headed back to bed when they reached the common room, not speaking a word to one another.
And soon, the Christmas Holidays were over, and the students that had gone home for Christmas, where returning. The Slytherins and Hermione amongst them.
A/N: Funny. I wrote this chapter days away from Christmas. :D
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it.
Reviews...greatly appreciated
~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated 19/12/2010 at 03:33am
