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 don't 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, they 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 Voldemort's Horcruxes; and fight the Dark Foces that threaten to tear them apart.

Author's Note: Chapter dedicated too: BamaRose, Fan of Fics, NewFanFictionFan, DJScales, Matt-Hardy-Lover-101, Forever Dreaming Grace and Purple Sunshine56.

Author's Note Two: In response too:

Purple Sunshine56: My friend and I worked this out a few nights ago, I cant remember the exact age we worked out for Voldemort when Charlie was born, but I do know it was late 30's, early 40s. I think, not sur.

Forever Dreaming Grace: I couldnt agree more when you say Charlie would be so proud of Will. I really cant wait to write them back at Hogwarts for the final battle, it will be a beautiful moment, learning of everything he has done. She will be so proud.

NewFanFictionFan: Welcome back. Great to hear from you. Glad your enjoying the story so far, and thanks for the tips on my spelling. Really appreciate it.

BamaRose: Everyone hates that Ron pulled Riley with him, can't say I feel sorry for him, when they finally return. Charlie isnt the forgiving type. Is she?

Sorry I couldnt answer everyone, but its late and I want to get this out before I go to bed.


The Midnight Strike


Feeling eyes on her, Charlie rolled her head to the side and tensed at the figure a few feet away staring at them "Guys," she mumured "There's someone watching us. By the church"

Hermione glanced around too "That's Bathilda Bagshot," she stated

"Does the Dillusionment Charm extend to Magical folk?" Charlie asked

Hermione nodded "But we're standing infront of Harry's parent's grave," she responded "and I've just put a wreath on it. I think it's safe to say she knows who we are"

The woman, Bathilda, turned away from the three teens, pulled her cape closer to her and tottered away.

"Should we follow her?" Charlie asked

Hermione hesitated, it was clear she was ready to leave.

"Yeah," Harry agreed, and he headed towards the spot Bathilda had stood a few minutes ago. Hermione and Charlie hurried to catch him.

"I don't like this," Hermione squeaked, as they followed after the hobbling woman, down a narrow street

Charlie swallowed "But if she knew Dumbledore," she whispered "She might have one of the swords. Hopefully Gryffindor's,"

As they walked, they passed more and more windows which sparkled with multicoloured lights, and the outlines of Christmas trees were scene behind the curtains.

Casting a glance around Charlie stumbled as she walked into the back of Harry, who had stopped walking "What?" she asked "What is it?"

The Gryffindor didnt answer

"Harry?" the Slytherin frowned, looking over his shoulder, only to find he was staring at a house in front of him. It stood out from the rest, the hedge had grown wild, and rubble lay scattered around in the waist-length high grass. Most of the cottages around them were covered in ivy and snow, but the house in front of them, the top floor had been blown apart. It was obvious this was Harry's home.

The Fidelius Charm must have died with James and Lily.

"This is where they died," Harry voiced "This is where he murdered them"

Hermione approached both Harry and Charlie "I wonder why no one ever rebuilt it?" she questioned

"Maybe they can't," Charlie offered "Maybe it's like the injuries of Dark Magic and you can repair the damage"

Harry reached forward and touched the gate

"You're not going inside are you?" Hermione squeaked

Charlie glared at her "Leave him alone!" she hissed "It's his home!"

"It doesnt look safe!" the bookworm countered

The Slytherin opened her mouth to retort, but was cut off as a sign rose up in front of them and Harry let go of the gate. Upon the wood, were golden letters that read:

On this spot, on the night of 31 October 1981.

Lily and James Potter lost their lives.

Their son, Harry, remains the only wizard every

to have survived the Killing Curse.

This house, invisible to Muggles, has been left

in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters

and as a reminder of the violene

that tore apart their family.

"There!" Charlie nodded "That is why we can see it! We're not Muggles!"

It was Hermione's turn to glare. But all or any retort was cut off as the same figure of the church standing directly beside them.

"Holy -" Charlie shrieked, jumping in surprise.

The woman beckoned them to follow her, as she turned and disappeared down the street once more. After exchanging looks, the three teens followed her closely.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

"Bathilda?" Charlie questioned, standing in the darkened room of the old woman's house. The woman in fact was trying to light a candle on the table "Here, let me do that" the Slytherin offered, taking the matchsticks, striking one and placing the flame against the wick of the candle.

The old woman studied the 17-year-old, as Harry brushed past them, picking up a photo on the opposite side of the room "Miss Bagshot, who is this man?" Harry asked, holding the picture up into the light.

Bathilda turned her attention off of Charlie and onto Harry, but didnt speak. She merely picked up the candle, before pointing at Harry, then Charlie, then herself and finally towards the ceiling.

"I think she want's us to go upstairs with her," Charlie frowned

Hermione shrugged "All right, let's go"

Bathilda shook her head feverishly, pointed once again at Charlie and Harry, then herself, and then the ceiling.

"She only wants us," Harry told the bookworm

"Why?" Hermione asked cautiously

Charlie shrugged "Maybe she does have the swords, but Dumbledore told her to only give them to us?" she offered a suggestion

Hermione hesitated "Well, OK, but hurry back!"

"Lead the way," Harry told Bathilda.

The woman seemed to understand him, because she shuffled towards the stairs. Appearing behind Charlie, Harry motioned for her to go first, and the two disappeared upstairs after Bathilda.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

"Lumos!" Harry mumured, the tip of his wand igniting and sending light over everything around him.

Charlie mimicked his action, as she stepped out onto the landing, but kept close to Harry who stepped out behind her. The Horcrux around her neck started to beat faster, causing a frown to slip onto Charlie's face, she reached up and touched the locket. "I have a bad feeling about this," she whispered

"You're starting to sound like Hermione," Harry whispered back "Look at the size of her, we could easily overpower her if we had too"

"Do you not remember that it's not the size of something that's threatening?" Charlie asked "How many times do you tease me about my height, and how many fists fights have I been in?" she asked

The Gryffindor nodded "Good point. But she's older than you are," he added "Weaker even"

"Don't be fooled by what's on the outside," Charlie warned him, jumping when she felt Bathilda brush against her hand, and pull her further into the dingy bedroom. "Harry!" she squeaked

Harry caught her hand "Im right here!" he promised. He turned to Bathilda "Do you have anything for us?" he asked

The old woman merely stared at them, seemingly intrigued by the tips of their wands.

"Do you have anything for us?" Harry repeated

Bathilda closed her eyes, and several things happened at once. Charlie felt the Horcrux twitch beneath her shirt; and Harry stumbled slightly behind her before speaking in a cold high voice, which wasnt his own.

"Keep them there!"

"What?" the Slytherin asked, turning to look over her shoulder "Harry, you all right?"

The Gryffindor nodded "Yeah, headrush" he told her

Charlie frowned, Harry had never had headrush before.

"Have you got anything for us?" Harry tried again, turning to Bathilda.

The woman pointed to the corner of the room, where a cluttered dressing table stood beneath a curtained window.

Without hesitation, Harry moved further into the room, Bathilda followed; although her walk started to give way. Watching from her place near the door, Charlie raised her wand and aimed it at the old woman.

"Nagini!" Charlie hissed

Harry paused and turned. Bathilda also stopped between the Gryffindor and the Slytherin, turned on the spot and stared at Charlie through slit like eyes. She opened her mouth and fangs appeaered from the top gums.

"Princess!" Bathilda hissed "Your father awaits your return! He comes!"

Charlie connected her gaze with Harry, and motioned with her head for him to come back to her side. But the Gryffindor hadnt taken more than a step forwards, when Bathilda's body collapsed to the ground, and the giant snake, which was Nagini slithered out from the clothes. The snake struck, dividing Harry and Charlie from one another.

"Hermione!" the Slytherin yelled

"Harry!" Hermione's voice yells, followed by the sounds of crashing and a heavy thud "Charlie!"

Nagini reared into the air, and lunged at Harry snapping her jaws as he fended her off with a wooden chair. Pulling back, Nagini struck again, smashing Harry through a brick wall and into the bedroom of the house next door.

Charlie's eyes widened, as she scrambled to her feet, snatched up her wand and pointed it at the moving mass that was her best male friend and Voldemort's snake. "Expulso!" she yelled, her spell hitting the snake, which uncoiled itself from around the Gryffindor and slithered back through the rubble towards her.

"No!" Harry hissed

"Yess..." Nagini responded, in her own langauge "Yess...must keep Princessss...Massster wantsss the Princesss..."

As Nagini drew closer, Charlie felt the Horcrux's heart beating in tune with her own.

"Charlie!" Hermione's voice echoed as she reached the top of the stairs "Get down!" she yelled

The Slytherin complied and dived for the floor, as Hermione's spell hit the snake and hurtled it backwards, over the banister of the stairs and down them. Pulling herself up onto the bed Charlie knelt, breathing heavily as Harry appeared beside her, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"He is coming!" the Gryffindor nodded "We have to get out of here!"

Charlie glowered at the space the snake had disappeared "I say let him come!" she growled "Finish him here and now!"

"Charlie, we haven't found the Horcruxes!" Hermione reminded her "He's too powerful while they are still out there"

"So we're just going to run away?" Charlie asked "We're not even going to attempt to fight him?" she snatched her wand from Hermione, who had picked it up from the space where it had fallen

Harry glowered at the spot where the snake had disappeared, where had it gone?

Pulling themselves to their feet, the three friends jump backwards as Nagini reared up from downstairs and attacked. Hermione flicked her wand as a flame burst from the tip "Confringo!" she cried

The flames burst outwards, shattering the only window in the room. Harry, seized Charlie, knowing full well that she would avoid Disapparating to stay and fight if given the chance. He then grasped hands with Hermione and the three of them Disapparated out of the bedroom.

A cold cry of rage echoed with them.

Voldemort had arrived...but he was too late.

They had gone.

xXxHarryPotterxXx

It had been hours since they had left Godric's Hollow. Hours since Harry had stopped screaming like Voldemort and lay silently on the bottom bunk in the boys room. Hours since Hermione and Charlie had acknowledged one another, let alone spoken to one another. Charlie knew exactly what was on Hermione's mind and was just waiting for the scolding she was going to get.

Movement from the boys bedroom, alerted the two girls to the fact that Harry was awake, and seconds later the boy in question entered the room. "Im sorry," he apologized

"What?" Hermione asked

"We shouldnt have gone to Godric's Hollow," Harry explained "It's my fault, i'm sorry"

Charlie didnt even look up, from the snitch in her hands.

Hermione shook her head "I wanted to go too," she stated "I really thought Dumbledore might have left the swords there for you. So it's partly my fault too"

"Yeah, well..." Charlie finally spoke "You got that wrong, didnt you?"

Hermione glared "Well, I didnt see you trying to stop us!" she snapped

"Like you would have listened to me!" Charlie sneered "No one tells the bookworm what to do! Remember, I tried that in second year, right before you got Petrified!"

The bookworm's glare intensified.

Harry quickly got between them "Stop it!" he ordered them both

Still glaring at Hermione, Charle snatched her wand from the table and got to her feet "I'll take first watch!" she stated, trying her best to level her voice out. And with that she turned, and left through the mouth of the tent.

Hermione threw Harry a glance

"I know what you're thinking," Harry responded, "But you're wrong. She's not changing!" he shook his head "She's fine!"

"She's not!" Hermione pleaded "She's derailing without Riley. Harry, she wanted to stay and fight -"

"Because its the natural thing for her to do!" Harry defended

The bookworm shook her head "She's going to get us killed, or worse!"

Harry sighed "What do you want me to do?" he asked

Hermione looked scared "You have to calm her down!"

"I can't!" Harry retorted "I'm not Riley!"

And he too left the tent.


A/N: Just a quickie. So Charlie continue's to derail, huh? How far will she go before Riley returns? Find out next time.

Maybe...just maybe...there will be a bit more from Hogwarts in the next chapter. Find out soon. Would have had this out sooner, but I started another chapter for another story, on another part of this sight. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this installment.

Read and review (pretty please)

~*Kara*~

All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated 28 April 2011 at 04:58am