AN - Sorry about the little screw up, thank you to those who pointed it out - here's the real chapter 12 :)
On June 24th, she got a distress call from her mum. It was late in the evening, and she was on her way home, when her mum's patronus appeared in front of her. The lioness opened its mouth, and spoke with her mum's voice. "Come to Hogwarts hospital wing, as soon as you can – something had happened to Harry" she said, and the patronus disappeared. Charlotte disapparated the moment she entered her flat, and walked up to the castle from the gates.
When she entered the hospital wing, she was immediately crushed by her mum's hug. When she pulled away, she could see on her mum's face that she had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red. "What's happened?" Charlotte asked. She noticed Bill, the twins, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione was sitting around a hospital bed.
"You-know-who is back" her mum trembled and a tear fell from her eyes. Charlotte looked toward Bill who nodded.
"But that's not possible – how is that possible?" She asked. Her mum shook her head, and walked back to the hospital bed. She looked at her family, who all seemed in great distress.
"Harry saw him – he's back" Bill confirmed. Charlotte walked over to them, and saw Harry sleeping in the hospital bed.
"What happened – why is Harry lying in a hospital bed" She pointed to the bed.
Ron shivered, as Ginny and Hermione were holding each other, and even the twins looked grim. She turned to Bill.
"Please, tell me – what happened?" She said to them. Bill told her the story of how the triwizard champions had to get the cup from the maze the teachers had set up. They had put up some hindrances along the way, but never had they realized that the person they believe to be mad-eye was in fact the death eater Barty crouch Jr. who had been playing mad-eye the whole year by using polyjuice potion. Crouch had the real mad-eye stored away in a big container standing in his office all the year, and no one knew the better. But Crouch had imperius Viktor Krum to get rid of the contestants so that harry could get the cup. But he hadn't realized Harry would share the 1st place with Cedric Diggory, so when they both took hold of the cup, they were transported to a graveyard – the place where Voldemort returned. The moment he had returned, he'd killed Cedric, and almost killed Harry as well, but Harry escaped, and took Cedric's body with him.
However, it was first when mad-eye had dragged Harry off, that they realized it wasn't mad-eye, but Crouch.
Charlotte didn't know what to do. Voldemort was back, and had already killed a student.
After Bill had told her the story, a shabby looking man walked into the room from one of the joining rooms, he stopped up in his tracks, as he saw her looking at him. At first she didn't recognize him, but at further glance – she pulled out her wand, and was about to point it at him, when -
"No – no – Charlotte, he's not a murderer" Ron said instantly, as he had realized she had seen him. It was Sirius Black. Charlotte looked from black – who stood completely still, to Ron. "He's innocent, he's never murdered anyone in his life – it was Peter Pettigrew who killed all those people – and it was Peter Pettigrew who made sure you-know-who is back – Sirius is the good guy!"
"Who is Peter Pettigrew?" She asked, confused as ever.
"A rat" Sirius Black spoke.
"You know my rat Scabbers?" She nodded "Well, last year we found out he's an animagus – Peter Pettigrew is Scabbers. He turned into a rat after he had blown up the street, cutting off one of his fingers, and framed Sirius for it" Ron said, still frantic. She looked at her mum, to see if she should believe it and her mum gently nodded.
"Oh – well then, pardon that I almost had you sent back into the wall" she apologized, putting away her wand.
"No worries – happened to me quite a lot this evening" He looked at her mum, who looked a bit sorry. "I don't really blame you" he grinned, and walked over to them.
"I'm Charlotte Weasley" She introduced herself.
"Sirius Black, but you already know that" he grinned. She took a seat next to bill, and looked at the sleeping form of Harry. His scar was more red than usual. Suddenly they heard raised voices outside the hospital wing, and the spot where Sirius stood before, there now was a shabby looking dog. This explained a lot, in Charlotte's opinion.
"They will wake him up if they don't shut up" Ginny muttered, and Ron nodded.
"What are they shouting about? Nothing else can have happened, can it?" Hermione wondered. Charlotte, bill and their mum were on their feet immediately, looking at the big door.
"That's fudge's voice – and Minerva McGonagall's voice isn't it? But what are they arguing about?"
"Regrettable, but all the same Minerva" the minister's voice was loud.
"You should never have brought it inside the castle" McGonagall yelled. "When Professor Dumbledore finds out – "In that moment the doors swung open, and the ministry walked in with large steps, determined toward Charlottes mum – at his heels were McGonagall, and to Charlotte's big regret, Severus Snape.
"Where is Dumbledore?" the minister demanded.
"He's not here" She replied angrily. "This is a hospital wing, minister, don't you think you should – " the doors opened again, and this time, it was Dumbledore who walked in.
"What has happened?" He asked, looking from McGonagall to fudge "Why are you disturbing these people? Minerva, I'm surprised of you, I asked you to stand guard over Barty Crouch – "
"There's no need for that, the minister has seen to that!"
"When we told Mr. Fudge we had caught the death eater responsible for tonight events" Severus said in a low voice. Hearing him speak again, even though it was because of such a grave reason, sent shivers down her spine. But she stayed focused, and looked at the minister. "He seemed to feel his personal safety was in question. He insisted on summoning a dementor to accompany him up to the castle he brought it up to the office where Barty crouch – "
"I told him you would not agree, Dumbledore!" McGonagall fumed "I told him you would never allow dementors to put a foot inside the castle, but –"
"My dear, woman" fudge roared "as minister of magic, it is my decision whether I wish to bring protection with me, when interviewing a possibly dangerous –"
"The moment that – that thing entered the room" she raised her voice louder than fudge, pointing at fudge, trembling all over "it swooped down on crouch, and – and –"
Charlotte looked straight ahead at the minister. She had personally seen people who had been victims of the dementor kiss. Numb people, only the shell of them left. It was better to have sent them to Azkaban, than giving them the kiss.
"And what a loss!" the minister said sarcastically.
"Minister, Crouch cannot give testimony of why he killed all those people now" Dumbledore sound agitated – Charlotte had never seen him like that before.
"But we already know why he killed those people! He was a raving lunatic!"
"He was under Lord Voldemort's instructions" Dumbledore billowed "Their deaths were merely by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The plan succeeded. Voldemort has been restored to his body"
Fudge blinked, and seemed as though someone had just swung a heavy object at his head.
"You-know-who returned? Preposterous, Come now, Dumbledore… "
"As Minerva and Severus doubtless have told you, we heard Barty crouch confess. Under the influence of veritaserum, he told us how he was smuggled out of Azkaban, and how Voldemort – learning his continued existence from Bertha jorkins – went to free him from his father and used him to capture harry. The plan has worked, I tell you. Crouch helped Voldemort return" Dumbledore said, but fudge still wouldn't understand. He went into denial. Sirius, in his dog shape, growled at the minister, and was even baring teeth at him.
"You are prepared to believe that Lord Voldemort has returned on the word of a lunatic murderer, and a boy who… well… "
"You've been reading Rita Skeeter, Mr. Fudge?" Harry's voice sounded, and Charlotte jumped. She noticed her mother, brothers, and Hermione did the same. They all hadn't realized harry was awake. Charlotte turned to look at Harry; he was glaring at Fudge.
"And if I have?" Fudge's face was red "If I have discovered that you have been keeping certain facts about the boy quiet? And a parselmouth, eh? And having funny turns all over the place- "
"I assume you are referring to the pains Harry has been experiencing in his scar?" said Dumbledore.
Fudge kept ignoring their statements – even when Harry named those of whom he had seen at the graveyard.
Charlotte was horrified – the minister couldn't possibly be serious? He couldn't possibly be so daft, that he couldn't see the evidence when it was clear as the sky, in front of him?
"Now see here, Dumbledore" Fudge was waving an angry finger at Dumbledore, after they once again, had tried to make him see the facts. "I have given you free reigns over this school – more than anyone else would have. I have not agreed with all of your decisions, but I have kept quiet. There are many who wouldn't have let you hire werewolves, or let you keep hagrid. Many who wouldn't have let you teach the students without reference to the ministry. But if you're going to work against me - "
"The only one whom I intend to work against" Dumbledore said keeping his voice calm. "Is Lord Voldemort, if you intend on fight him, then we remain in the same side"
"He can't be back, Dumbledore, he just can't be – "
Severus walked toward fudge, arm outstretched, and pulling back up his left sleeve of his robe as he walked; he struck out his left arm at Fudge who looked in horror.
"There" he said harshly. Charlotte looked on with surprise – he was a death eater. That was something she certainly not had expected, though she had heard the rumours while she was in school, but she had never believed it. She looked at Severus with wide eyes.
"There. The dark mark, it is not as clear as it was, when it burned black an hour ago, but you can still see it. Every death eater had it burned into him, it was a very of distinguishing him, and for the dark lord to summon him. This dark mark has been growing clearer all year. Karkaroff's too – why do you think he fled tonight? We both felt the dark mark burn. We both knew he had returned. Karkaroff feared the dark lords vengeance; he betrayed too many of his fellow death eaters to be sure of a welcome into the fold again" at this, the minister stepped back even further than he had already done. He looked at the mark on Severus's left arm with disgust.
"I don't know what your staff is playing at, Dumbledore, but I have heard enough. I have no more to add, and I will be in touch with you tomorrow, to discuss the running of this school. I must return to the ministry" Fudge had almost reached the doors, when he turned around, and walked over to Harry's bed. He gave him a sack full of coins, and left. Dumbledore turned to the group around Harry's bed.
"There's much work to be done" he said, and looked to Charlotte's mother "Am I right to assume I can count on you and Arthur?"
Charlotte looked at her mother – she was white as a ghost, but nodded.
"Of course you can"
"then I need to send a message to Arthur" Dumbledore said "All those that we can persuade of the truth must be notified immediately, and he is well placed in to contact those at the ministry who are not as short sighted as the minister"
"I'll go to dad" Bill said, standing up "I'll go now"
"Excellent" Dumbledore said "tell him what has happened. Tell him I will be in direct contact with him soon. He will need to be discreet, however. If fudge thinks I'm interfering at the ministry – "
"Leave it to me" Bill said. He dropped a hand on Harry's shoulder, kissed their mum on the cheek, and gave a fleeting look at Charlotte, before pulling on his cloak and walking out of the hospital wing.
"Minerva" Dumbledore said, turning to McGonagall "I want to see Hagrid in my office as soon as possible. Also – if she will consent to come – Madame Maxime"
McGonagall nodded, and left without a word.
"Poppy – would you be so kind and go down to Professor Moodys office where I think you will find a house elf called winky, in certain distress? Do what you can for her, and take her down into the kitchens, where I'm certain Dobby will look after her for us"
"Very – very well" she said, and left as well.
"And now, I think it is time for two of our numbers, to recognize each other for what they are, Sirius, if you please?"
The shabby dog, Charlotte knew to be Sirius Black, jumped down from the bed, and transformed into a human. Severus didn't look the least bit startled, by the sight of an assumed mass murderer.
"Him!" Severus snarled, looking at Sirius with much animosity "What is he doing here?"
"I invited him – I think it is time, you put your hatred for each other behind you, so that we all can work together in this"
Charlotte noticed how both of them, reluctantly, agreed, and by Dumbledore's request, shook hands.
"Now, I have work for both of you – Sirius, I want you to alert Remus lupin, Arabella fig, Mundungus Fletcher – the old crew. Lay low at the Lupin's for a while"
He nodded, and was about to leave. Harry seemed to want him to stay. Charlotte didn't understand this, so she turned, puzzled, to Ron.
"He's Harry's godfather" Ron said, and it made sense to Charlotte. But Sirius left, and Dumbledore turned to Severus. "You know what I must ask you to do"
Severus nodded, and left the ward as well – Charlotte realized what it was Dumbledore wanted him to do. She got up from the chair, and ran after him.
"Severus" She yelled at him. He stopped up in his tracks, and turned around. She came to stop in front of him, her eyes still wide.
"What?" He gritted his teeth
"You're not going to Voldemort, are you?" She asked instantly.
"Don't use that name" He said still through gritted teeth "And I don't see how that is any of your business"
"It's not. Just – just be safe, alright?" She closed the space between them, and leaned up to plant a kiss on his cheek, before turning on her heels, not believing she had just done that, and walked back to the Hospital wing.
When she entered, Dumbledore was looking at her with a twinkle in his eyes. He was smiling at her, as she walked over to Harry and the others.
"Now Charlotte – I know this will be too much asking" Dumbledore began "But as you are a healer, and not working here at Hogwarts, I might have use of you as well, can I count on you?"
"Of course you can – whatever you need, just ask" She smiled back at him, and sat back down next to her mum, who laid an arm around her. Charlie had disappeared as well, but the rest of the Weasley family was still sitting around Harry's bed.
"Thank you" He smiled at her mum "I'm glad I can count on your family" he added to her.
Disclaimer - i don't own anything in the potterverse.
- I'd like to pay my respects to those in Norway. Terrorism is a horrible thing, and to have it so close, is just very unreal.
The victims of the bombings in Oslo, and victims on Utøya Island are in my thoughts - #PrayForNorway.
