DISCLAIMER: All the characters you see here that are in any of the Harry Potter books belong to JK Rowling and I am not her. I am simply taking them out to play.

RE-POST: I've put up a new story called Not All Slytherins. It's based in the maurader time period. So if you like those types of stories please check it out and review!

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I really appreciate knowing that people are reading. I hope you all like this chapter. I've been hit with a wave of inspiration since finishing HBP so expect more frequent updates in the future. Oh, and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 14: Revelations

"You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough." – Frank Crane

Charlie was the first student in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He had all but run from the dungeons and was now seated quietly with a blank look on his face. There were only two people who could offer an explanation to what had just happened down in the dungeons. Montague was one but he had a feeling she wouldn't want to talk. Snape was the other. As unlikely as it seemed Charlie knew Snape knew something. Was ordering Montague out of the dungeon a way of protecting her? Or was he just being his mean, uncaring, calloused self? No. Montague had been about to cry and Snape had to have seen that. But what was she about to cry about?

"Charlie," He jumped at the sound of his own name and found Jade sitting next to him with a frown on his face.

"Hey," said Charlie after a moment, "You got here fast."

"What did you do to Montague?" Jade demanded in a not-so-friendly tone.

Charlie stared at his fried for a long moment, "I don't have any idea what happened, and since when do you care?"

Jade glanced around the room. There was still no one there. He leaned down and whispered, "If I tell you something do you swear not to tell anyone?"

"Sure," said Charlie his interest peaking considerably, "I won't say anything."

"Montague's my cousin."

"WHAT!" Charlie jumped out of his chair, "how is that possible?"

"Paula's mum and mum are sisters," Jade answered, "or they were sisters."

"What do you mean they were sisters?"

"Her parents died about a month ago," he said quietly, "that's why she missed that potions lesson with you and why I was," he made quotation marks in the air with his fingers, "'in the hospital wing,' a couple Sundays ago."

"Wait, if you weren't in the hospital where were you?"

"I went to the funeral," he answered, "but I didn't want anyone to know that's where I was."

"Bugger," Charlie sat down in his chair again and other students started entering the room. "Now I think I understand."

"Understand what?" Jade asked as he lowered his voice.

"I dropped a letter from my mum and she picked it up and read it. That must be why she was so upset."

Jade sighed and looked at the ground, "guardianship of her went to her father's brother and his wife. Last time we talked she wasn't too happy about it."

"Are you two close?" Charlie asked.

"We were before we started here," said Jade, "but then she got into Slytherin and I went into Gryffindor. Melissa told me I shouldn't associate with Paula or it would cost me my friends."

"Wow," Charlie let out a low whistle.

"Wow what?" Charlie jumped to find Colton next to him.

"Nothing," said Jade immediately, "it's nothing."

"So you two disappeared out of Snape's class faster than anyone I've ever seen," said Daniel, "what was going on with Montague Charlie? What'd you do to her?"

"Just played a prank," said Charlie with a grin, "I didn't know she'd get that upset over it though."

"Nice one," said Graham, "What'd you do to her?"

"I'll tell you about it later," Charlie answered. He would need some time to think about what to tell them.

"Are you going to sit here Colton?" Alex asked while pointing at the seat next to Charlie.

"No," said Colton, "we'll sit back here." He and Graham took seats at the table behind Charlie with Elaine. The bell rang a few seconds later and Professor Quirrell appeared from the top of the stairs leading to his office.

"Settle down class, settle down," he said as he descended to their level. Everyone took their seats and sat attentively watching their professor. "Open your books to page fifty-seven," he commanded and all the students did as they were told.

"I hope we're not just reading again today," muttered Jade to Charlie.

"What was that Mr. Whitehorn?" Professor Quirrell asked at once.

"Er-" Jade glanced quickly at Charlie for help, "I was just …wishing Charlie a happy birthday," he gave Professor Quirrell the most innocent look he could muster.

"Is that true Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes sir," said Charlie, "that's what he said."

"Well then," Professor Quirrell stared at Charlie for a long moment and he knew he was going to get into trouble for lying, "happy birthday," he smiled and turned back to his desk. "In honor of Charlie's birthday," said Professor Quirrell, "I'm going to teach you a spell that you would normally not learn until the end of the year."

An excited murmur swept its way around the room and everyone, including Charlie, sat up a little straighter.

"Charlie," said Professor Quirrell, "come here and be my volunteer. Oh and bring your wand."

"If I get hurt…" Charlie muttered threateningly to Jade before going up to the front of the room.

"Stand here," said Professor Quirrell indicating a specific spot on the floor. "Now everyone else, without letting Charlie know what spell is on the page, turn to page one hundred and eighty four." Everyone did this excitedly and Charlie watched as they read the page. Large smiles spread across some their faces. Charlie gave Jade an imploring look but he shook his head no and smiled. Charlie next looked to Alex but she was staring at the book reading further on. His eyes shifted to Colton but he and Graham were talking to each other and Elaine. Then to Jasmina, but she, Daniel, and Phillip Spinnett, a friendly Hufflepuff, were whispering to one another also.

"Alright," said Professor Quirrell, "Charlie I want you to raise your wand in the air like you're going to attack me."

"Is this going to hurt?" Charlie asked tentatively. Everyone in the classroom laughed.

"No," said Professor Quirrell with a big smile, "This won't hurt one bit."

"Alright," Charlie sighed before raising his wand at his professor.

"Now," Professor Quirrell turned to the rest of the class, "the reason I should wait to teach you this spell is because most first years are just not responsible enough with it. So, you are not to use this spell unless you are being attacked, is that understood?"

The class nodded their heads, "if I hear that you used it for any other reason I will not hesitate to fail you, understood?" Again the class nodded their heads. "Good," Professor Quirrell turned and smiled at Charlie. "Are you ready?"

"Considering I don't know what you're going to do," Charlie swallowed and nodded. This was one of the most unnerving things he'd ever been asked to do.

"On the count of three then," said Professor Quirrell, "One … two … Expelliarmus!"

Charlie's wand shot out of his hand and Professor Quirrell caught it deftly. "Oy!" Charlie shouted, "You said on the count of three."

"Yes but I find if I only count to two nervous students react better."

Charlie smiled at his professor. "Can I have my wand back?" He asked.

Professor Quirrell nodded and tossed Charlie back his wand. "You're not going to be able to master this spell today," he informed the class, "and I do not want you practicing on each other. If you do it wrong the results can be disastrous."

So the rest of the class Professor Quirrell taught the first years the theory behind this particular spell without using their wands and promised they would continue it on the following Tuesday.

"Charlie!" Charlie looked up from packing away his things to find Phillip and a few other Hufflepuffs, including Leslie and Greg, standing by his desk. "Happy birthday mate," said Phillip with a grin.

"Thanks," said Charlie.

"What happened in potions this morning?" Leslie asked, "rumor has it you really upset Montague."

"Merlin rumors travel fast in this school," said Charlie in an exasperated tone, "I didn't do anything to her," he said as he ran his fingers through his hair, "she just jumped to conclusions about something. It's not really a big deal."

"Come on Charlie," said Jade as he tugged on Charlie's robes, "Alex and the others are waiting."

"Well Happy Birthday," said one of the girls from Hufflepuff – the one with the strange name he could never remember.

"Thanks," Charlie smiled at her and she grinned back.

Later than evening while Charlie was leaving the Great Hall with the other 1st year Gryffindors, he was yanked violently into an alcove and a small was hand pressed over his mouth. The others continued walking on without him, noticing nothing. He was pushed up against a solid wall and turned around to face his assailant, the hand was removed.

"Montague?" He asked in an outraged whisper. "What the-?"

"Shut up and listen will you?" She demanded. Charlie folded his arms across his chest and gave her his attention. "I only pulled you over here to …" she paused and ran her fingers through her hair in an agitated motion, "well the thing is…" she looked down at the floor, "I…I well …I'msorryaboutthewayIblewupatyouearlier." She rushed through the last part so fast it took Charlie a minute to understand. And when he finally did his eyebrows shot up into his red hair.

"What?" he asked once he found his voice.

"Don't make me repeat it," she said in a threatening growl.

"No, I heard you but-" he looked her up and down, "is this is a joke?" He looked around in the alcove they were in then around what part he could see of the Entrance Hall. They were both deserted save himself and the girl before him.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" She asked as she poked him hard in the chest.

He fixed his gaze on her again, "I must be dreaming," he said as he pinched himself. He yelped from the unexpected pain. "Ok," now she was standing with her arms across her chest staring at him with disdain. "Why are you apologizing to me?"

"Shh!" she hissed as she looked around, "are you trying to ruin me?"

"What?" he barked, "we're first years. I highly doubt you already have a reputation."

"Look, I'm in Slytherin and you're in Gryffindor, we can't be seen together."

"I'm not stupid-" Charlie began but she cut across him.

"You could have fooled me," she mumbled.

"You're not doing a good job at apologizing by insulting me," he growled at her.

"Just shut up and say you accept what I said," she snapped.

"I can't shut up and talk at the same time."

Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him, "look, I don't like you anymore than you like me, but I talked to Jade earlier and he said you didn't mean for me to find that letter."

"Oh you mean he told you exactly what I told you in class?"

"Yes, but I'm more inclined to believe him than you, now aren't I?"

"And why is that?"

"Because I've known him my whole life?" She gave him a look that made him feel like he was the stupidest person in the world. "And you're a Gryffindor."

"You don't have to be nasty about it," he snapped, "maybe if you gave me half a chance you wouldn't have to apologize for anything."

"Like the half a chance you gave me?"

"You were mean to me first," he replied hotly, "telling me I could make our potion by myself."

"You were frowning when I walked over, before you even said one word to me."

"I was frowning at Snape, not at you," he snapped.

"Well …maybe you shouldn't have ordered me around."

"I only did that after you were rude to me."

"And I was only rude because I knew you assumed I was rotten just like all Gryffindors assume Slytherins are rotten."

"Maybe you should talk to someone before making assumptions about them," he nearly shouted, "Because I never once thought all Slytherins were rotten. You assumed I wouldn't like you before you ever said one word to me."

"Just like you assumed I wouldn't like you!"

"I never assumed that!" This time he did shout, "You were rude to me! Am I supposed to like you after you're rude to me?"

"It's not my fault-"

"Right," he scoffed cutting her off, "You were rude to me because someone made you be, I understand," his voice was full of sarcasm, "You don't have to lie to me. No one but you made you be rude to me, that's why you're in Slytherin. Maybe had you gotten to know me we could have been friends."

"Like you would have been friends with someone in Slytherin," she shot back.

"Maybe I would have had I found someone worthy. I'm not accepting your apology and you can stuff it if you think otherwise. It's your own fault for jumping to conclusions about me when you know nothing about me at all. Now get away from me before I do something I'll regret!"

For the first time Montague looked shocked. She opened her mouth and closed it for a second before turning and storming off. Charlie watched her for a moment before turning and continuing on his way to Gryffindor tower.

Charlie had a horrible time falling asleep that night. He had spoken to no one all night despite their attempts to find out what was wrong with him. He knew if he talked about it he would blow up and possibly hit something or someone. His memories of the Howler his mother sent, cleaning the bathroom on the third floor, and the look on McGonagall's face made him keep his mouth shut. He was not about to land himself in another detention. After getting annoyed with his friends' no stop attempts to coax him out of silence he had gone to his dormitory early and climbed into bed.

As he lay there in the darkness thoughts about Montague swirled around his head no matter how hard he tried to keep them out. His feelings of sorrow and pit for her after finding out about her parents were long since gone. At the moment he only felt anger and contempt. And he could not sleep with these feelings inside of him.

So after about half an hour of lying there he climbed out of bed and went down the stairs. He stopped just before reaching the common room and glanced around the wall that kept him hidden. He did not find the red headed boy he was looking for. So he turned and went back up stairs to his brother's dormitory. He knocked but there was no answer, in fact no sounds at all came from inside. He knocked again, more persistent this time, but nothing made as much as a peep. Begrudgingly he climbed back up the stairs and to his dormitory. This was the first time in his life Bill had not been able there to listen to a problem and the result left a lump in Charlie's throat and a prickling behind his eyes. All the anger gone from him, leaving only complete sadness in it's wake, he climbed back into his bed, pulled the hangings tightly shut, and cried himself to sleep.

What a wonderful way to end the day that started out as the best Birthday of his life.

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Preview of chapter 15:

When they arrived at the Burrow Charlie's heart swelled to the point of bursting. He didn't know how much he had missed this house until he'd seen it again. He leapt out of the car just after it stopped moving and without grabbing his trunk and tore toward the house as quickly as possible. He threw the kitchen door open and burst inside. The warm air hit him squarely in the face and made him grin.