Charlotte suddenly woke, covered in a thin layer of sweat. Panting hard she looked out the window to find it was still dark outside, maybe in the early hours of the morning. She quickly grabbed the photo of her and her little brother, she had taken with her. In the photo she and Blake were smiling on Christmas morning with their father. Blake was the spitting image of him, down to the black hair, light complexion, hazel eyes, and freckles on his cheeks.
She remembered her dream, her stepfather Derick had been drunk yet again, sitting in the lounge room ordering Blake to get him another beer. Blake being only seven was scared to bone. Before being hounded for dropping the pint of beer in his hands when handing his stepfather his drink.
Before Charlotte got her Hogwarts letter, it was normally her who would give her heavily intoxicated stepfather his drinks. Of course, she hated every minute she was near him, and that only increased when he was drunk.
Her mother Susan married Derick when Charlotte was young, only about six. From the first time she met the man she hated him.
He tried to replace her father immediately demanding that she called him Dad and help out around the house doing the jobs he was supposed to do.
At first Charlotte just ignored his actions and told herself it would blow over, but it didn't last long.
Blake only being two years old didn't remember his father, and with her mother being so occupied with her relationship with Derick left Charlotte to raise her younger brother.
For the first three years of her mother's new marriage with Derick, everything was bearable for the two kids.
Only Derrick and Susan's relationship started to crumble after that. Fights were more constant, lastly late into the night. Derrick walking out became a usual thing. Along with the man coming back after a few days or weeks smelling of alcohol, looking like he hadn't showered since he left.
All Charlotte wanted was for her life to restart, change back to when it was happy. When her father would tuck her in at night with the best bedtime stories. When her and her mother would cook cookies and cakes in the kitchen. When Blake's smile was ever present, and magic was a gift and a secret her father shared with her, and only her.
The wizarding world was mostly a dream to muggle kids or those unaware of their own magical abilities. But not to Charlotte, her father was the one man she knew who was a wizard, before coming to Hogwarts.
Not even her mother knew of her husbands ability. As a kid she never questioned it and went along keeping secrets from her mother, now it was all she thought when she brang up the subject.
When her father died, she had stolen his wand from his bedroom and all his wizarding belongings, hiding them in his trunk underneath a section of lose floorboarding in her and her brothers room.
The bedtime stories that her father once told her, she now told Blake.
He kept the secret as well, but even if he shouted about it and showed their mother all his belongings Charlotte doubted if she'd even look Blakes way. Derick would probably destroy everything and Blake and her would be left with only a photograph of their father to remember him by.
Charlotte now out of her bed sat at the window seat looking out at the moon.
The same moon that Blake could be looking at right now.
Leaving Blake for Hogwarts was one of the hardest things she had ever done.
Blake wasn't angry at his sister for leaving but he wasn't joyed about the news.
Since their father was a wizard, no one from the ministry came and explained the wizarding world to them, probably thinking that they would already know.
After receiving her letter, she made Blake promise to not tell a soul, the young seven-year-old knowing the seriousness agreed. Together they disguised a plan to make their mother and stepfather think that she had been accepted to a fancy boarding school in wales on a scholarship that their school principal had applied her for.
Her parents just agreed to the fake consent letter before continuing their argument downstairs.
Charlotte remembered having to walk to London's busy streets and through to the leaky cauldron to get to Diagon alley. Her and her brother snuck through the pub thinking that they hadn't been spotted, but Hagrid had seen them.
They fessed up about how they were keeping it a secret of Charlottes acceptance letter, and how they needed to get to Diagon Alley. Intentionally leaving out the whole remarriage thing and the details of their living conditions.
Hagrid had known their father when he was a young grounds keeper at Hogwarts and decided to join them. Helping them get Charlottes supplies for school. But they didn't visit Ollivander's. Charlotte had discovered that since her fathers death, his wand had chosen her as its next owner.
Hagrid was sceptical at first but decided to trust the young witch, she seemed to have her fathers wits.
"Mhm Charlotte, what are you doing up?" Victoire' asked grumbling as she was tired. Pulling Charlotte from her memories.
"Nothing, go back to sleep" Charlotte whispered back, looking at her friends tired expression.
"What about you?"
"I will soon" Charlotte responded.
Victoire' then turned, her back now facing Charlotte.
Charlotte picked up the letter that she had received on Thursday when the mails came, it was from Blake.
He wrote about how he was fine, But he also noted that Derick had been drunk more often than his usual. Worrying Charlotte more than she would like to admit.
Blake wrote at the end not to worry and that he could handle everything, also whishing her a great Halloween, and that he looked forward to seeing her at Christmas. Charlotte had to admit that he was quite smart for a seven-year-old.
Feeling herself getting tired Charlotte put away Blakes letter and the small photograph of her father and them, before climbing back into bed and falling into a dreamless sleep.
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Today was Saturday, weekend were usually quiet at Hogwarts, but with Halloween being next week, preparations were everywhere. Not to mention that today was the first Quidditch match of the season. Exciting the friends, especially Will for being an muggle born, he hadn't heard of the famous sport until a few months ago.
Charlotte having lied about having trouble sleeping last night instead of telling her friends about her nightmare or her family status, was rather quiet in the groups conversation. Mostly out of fear for their reactions.
The eight of them had together banded into the library to discuss their plans, with Grey taking the lead in the conversation again.
"So, when can Victoire' and Charlotte try talk to the Adams kid?" Grey questioned.
"he's still in the Hospital wing, under observation. Madam Pomfrey won't allow anyone to see him." Victoire' explained
"So, we'd have to do it after he leaves" Teddy commented.
"Observation only lasts a couple weeks if really serious, that means he'd have to get out this weekend" Grey quoted.
"And there's no visiting on Sunday" Victoire' informed.
"wait till Monday afternoon, then all the Professors would still be in their offices doing their work. No one would catch on," said Natasha.
"Mr. Wilkinson is on duty helping out with the preparations for the Halloween feast after the Quidditch game, so if we wanted to get information on him we'd need to do it in the morning" Natasha stated focusing on their other task.
Grey rolled her eyes at Natasha despite internally agreeing with what she said, she's been trying to take control of the conversation so many times. Annoying the raven-haired Gryffindor.
"Okay so we if we want to get people's opinions, we should do it this weekend, that way it's over and done with." Will said.
"Yeah, so Elliot, Will and I can ask people on their opinions of Professor Wilkinson and try find out any important info that could help us" Natasha explained.
"But you can't be direct, suspicion will grow. Then we'd all be in trouble, especially if news gets to may father." Teddy cut in.
"Fine, but if we have to do it subtlety then we should start now" Natasha said hinting for Elliot and Will to follow.
"Okay, see you guys at the match" Will said getting up with Elliot and Natasha and following them out the library.
"Well, I'm going to go hang with Mack and Oliver, they need serious help if they're going to pass our potions test Wednesday" Jake said, saying goodbye before walking out of the library, leaving the four alone in the library.
"Who's versing in the game today?" Grey asked, after Jake left.
"Hufflepuff vs Slytherin. It'll be a tough game, both teams are really strong according to rumours" Victoire' answered.
"We can't always trust rumours though" said Grey.
"True, but I'll think Hufflepuff will win" Charlotte shared.
"Nah, I bet Slytherin will win easily, sorry Teddy" Victoire' said
"It's okay, it just means I can brag when we win" Teddy joked as the three laughed along with him.
"So, you, Jake and Grey going to your house after the game?" Charlotte asked Teddy, changing the conversation.
"Well, Grey is, Jakes got some homework he's got to catch up on" Teddy answered.
"You guys could come if you want" Teddy said lifting the mood a little.
"what about laying low and trying not to get attention from your dad?" Victoire' asked for her and Charlotte.
"Tyler Adams is supposed to get out of the Hospital wing, so asking him outside of the hospital wing wouldn't catch attention" Grey cut in.
"Sure then, I'll come. I haven't met your parents yet" Charlotte agreed.
"Same, your parents would probably be expecting me to come anyway, we've known each other since we were infants" Victoire' stated.
"So where do we meet, First years aren't allowed to just go to Hogsmeade ant all." Grey asked.
"My dad will meet us Hagrid's hut before taking us to my house." Teddy said.
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"Come on it's about to start" Natasha urged at a tired Will and Elliot.
The three of them had spent the last two hours trying to talk to students about their opinion of Professor Wilkinson. Most of them wouldn't budge, giving no hint of like or dislike about the man.
Which was infuriating enough without adding an eager, determined Natasha into the mix.
Natasha started out subtle on the concept to students, but the more resistant they were to acknowledge the subject and give their opinion, the more Natasha became impatient and angry. Will and Elliot had to almost drag her away so she wouldn't lash out at them.
After they had successfully gotten a handle full of opinions and rumours of the professor, the three had to rush to get to the Quidditch stands in time for the match.
"Where coming, Tash" Elliot shouted back to her as they ran up the stairs to the Slytherin stands.
The boys pushed through the crowd of Slytherins to get to where Natasha had saved spots for them. They where right at the front looking over the massive pitch.
"It's huge" Will exclaimed. Having never seen a Quidditch pitch.
"I know" Elliot commented.
"Look the games starting!" Natasha cried out over the boys conversation as the Hufflepuffs flew out on their brooms first.
Madam Hooch was waiting in the centre of the field as the Hufflepuffs Quidditch team flew out on their brooms. The Hufflepuffs cheering loudly over Slytherins rare Boo's, With the other two-house teams clapping and cheering for both teams.
Soon the Slytherin Quidditch team flew out n their brooms. The Slytherin stands erupted with cheers and the Hufflepuffs started to clap in respect.
"Look Teddy, there's the captain of Hufflepuff, Daniel Clark" Jake exclaimed to his friend pointing at the sixth year, with a mop of brown hair and freakishly blue eyes.
"Teddy!" Victoire' called out pushing through the cheering Hufflepuffs with Charlotte and Grey following behind her.
"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" Teddy asked over the crowd.
"We thought we'd come and join you" Charlotte explained.
"Plus, its not any of our teams vs each other, no one's gonna care that we're here" Grey commented.
"Cool, Thanks" Teddy said before Madam Hooch Blew her whistle.
"Now I want a nice clean game, from all of you" Madam hooch said before blowing her whistle and releasing the Quaffle into the air.
"The whistle is blown, and the game has begun!" Karah declared from the commentator booth with her and Courtney commentating the game.
"Slytherin quickly come into possession of the ball, Henry Davis passing it on to Josie May" Courtney exclaimed
"Dodging a few attacks there from Madeline Green" Karah stated.
"Josie gaining ground heading for the goals, she throws…" Karah's enthusiastic voice creating suspension.
"And blocked by a magnificent save from Hufflepuffs Keeper Samuel Hunt!" Courtney finished.
Cheers and groans erupting from opposite ends of the pitch.
"Captain Daniel Clark quickly grabs the Quaffle from Samuel before passing it on to Heather Adams" Courtney stated.
Time felt slowed with shock suddenly entered the eights bodies as they realized the name that was just shouted over megaphone.
Jake quickly recovered from his shock and started cheering for Hufflepuff with the rest of the crowd. However, Teddy, Charlotte, Victoire' and Grey gave each other a look before ducking down into the stands heading to the Slytherins side of the pitch.
"Do you think that's Tyler's sister?" Grey asked as the four rushed through the underneath of the stands.
"I don't know, lets just focus on getting to Tash and the boys before we question everything." Charlotte answered in a worried tone.
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Recovering from the shock from Heather's last name Natasha quickly grabbed a pair of unused binoculars from the stands, she zoomed in on the so-called Heather Adams. By the description of what Tyler Adams looked like from Greys analysis, she could well be closely related to him, a sister even?
Looking back over to the Hufflepuff stands she caught a glimpse of Teddys Turquoise hair and the gleam from Greys bracelets disappear underneath the stands.
"We need to meet with them" Natasha said out loud.
"Who?" Elliot asked.
"Teddy, Grey and the girls, but I don't know where they went from inside the stands" Tash answered.
"Which way did they go out?" Elliot asked. With Tash pointing it out.
"They're probably coming to talk to us" Elliot answered.
"Let's go then, we'll have a more private conversation underneath the stands rather than on them." Will explained.
The three of them dashed out from the stands to the underneath framework.
It was all wooden, simple corridors with no windows and stairs lading up to the stands and box seats.
"Hey, I think I see them!" Will noted.
"Hello?" Elliot calls out.
"hey" A familiar voice calls out from the other side of the corridor.
Quickly turning the corner, the two groups almost running into each other.
"What are you guys doing?" Grey asked.
"Coming to see you?" Natasha answered.
"Same" Charlotte quoted.
"We all heard Heathers last name, right?" Will asked, with intense nodding and a few agreements.
"Could she be related to Tyler?" Victoire' asked the question they had all been wondering.
"I don't know, maybe" Natasha answered.
"So now we've got three people to get information on, with two of them who we need to speak to privately" Grey commented.
"Two?"
"Heather and Tyler" Grey continued
"Why do we need to talk to Heather?" Charlotte asked.
"To find out if she's related to Tyler, if she is she may know what happened to him." Grey said.
"wouldn't we find out from Tyler?" Teddy answered.
"He could be uncooperative" Will quoted.
"Why would he be uncooperative, not many people here are" Victoire' stated.
"We didn't have much luck being subtle about finding peoples opinions of Professor Wilkinson." Will fessed up.
"How?" The other four asked together.
Natasha described their behaviour, and weird demeanour of most of the people they asked and talked too. Intentionally leaving out the part where Elliot and Will had to drag her away from a fourth year.
Something that didn't go unnoticed by the two boys.
"That doesn't seem right" Teddy commented with everyone agreeing.
"But that doesn't mean Tyler and heather will be the same" Grey said.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I agree with Grey on this one" Natasha admitted earning a smug look from Grey.
"Fine, but me and Charlotte are asking Tyler about the incident tomorrow, someone else has to do Heather" Victoire' stated.
"Okay then Teddy can do it" Grey said.
"why me?" Teddy asked a little rudely.
"You're in the same house it'll be easier, plus Jake can help you out" Grey Continued.
"Okay fine" Teddy agreed.
"HUFFLEPUFFS SEEKER APRIL PRICE HAS JUST CAUGHT THE GOLDEN SNITCH WINNING THE MATCH FOR HUFFLEPUFF!" Courtney and Karah announced together loudly on the megaphone.
"Aw dam" Natasha grumbled.
"My dad!" Teddy blurted.
"Come on we have to go meet him by Hagrid's hut" Teddy now realised, the pride of Hufflepuffs win short lived.
The four said goodbyes to the three Slytherins before running down the corridor to the exit, and off to Hagrid's Hut.
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The four ran as fast as they could to Hagrid's Hut, puffed out by the time they got there they quickly sat down on some old crates just by the side of the circular hut.
Nearly all the students had left, by the time Remus made his way over to Hagrid's hut. Hufflepuffs cheering over their win and the Slytherins returning with frowns and groans over their loss.
Walking up to the four he noticed a certain look of impatience and preoccupation.
Remus knew this look all too well. From his schooling days it seemed to be the only look on his friends faces just about. James used to be the worst for it when he was planning another prank on Severus.
Now seeing it on his sons face and, on his friends, scared the older man.
He knew that all they wanted to do was help, but as a father he couldn't sit back and watch his son get him and his friends into danger. Especially with Arley, from the start he didn't trust the man, nor did many other Hogwarts staff. But he put up with it none the less, for Teddys sake.
"I see you guys are ready" Remus announced walking over to the four as they got up from the crates.
"Hey dad" Teddy greeted his father.
"These are my other friends Charlotte and Grey, of course you know Victoire'" Teddy introduced his friends.
"Yes, they are my students Teddy, I know" Remus chuckled, with the kids joining in.
"How are you, enjoying Hogwarts?" Remus asked.
"Oh yes, it's better than I thought it would be" Grey responded with the others nodding.
The five of them walked down to Hogsmeade and to what looked to be large cottage house on the outskerts of the town.
It was made out of cobble stone and wood, mainly. Having a front porch and its own small garden. Snow hadn't started to fall yet making the lush green grass seem evermore green.
"This house is lovely" Victoire' complemented as they walked to the front door.
"Thank you Victoire'" said Remus.
Teddy knocked on the front door, with his mother soon answering.
She had a tired look to her eyes, something that shocked the young Hufflepuff.
"Hey Teddy" Tonks said hugging her son as he came inside.
"Hey, mum" Teddy greeted hugging his mother back.
"These are my other friends, Grey and Charlotte" Teddy said
"Guys, this is my mum, Tonks" Teddy said back.
"Greys non-binary by the way, going by they and them pronouns" Teddy said quieter.
"All good, would any of you like a drink" Tonks asked leading the four deeper into the house.
"Woah" Charlotte exclaimed looking around the kitchen. It was a large area connecting from the mudroom to the lounge/dining.
The counters were made out of wood and marble having a window looking out to the small town.
The four kids took a seat on the lounge together while Tonks fetched them all a glass of water.
"I thought you were up in bed" Remus whispered to his wife at the counter of the kitchen. Quiet enough so the kids didn't hear.
"I'm feeling fine now Remus, it was just a bug" Tonks looked back at her husband.
"It just didn't look that way this morning," Said Remus.
"When will you realise, I'm fine, you don't have to babysit me" Tonks joked at her husbands worry.
Tonks quickly grabbing the four cups of water and bringing them over to the kids.
"So has anything big happened, over the last few weeks" Tonks asked the kids sitting down on the couch with her husband.
"Well, Hufflepuff just one the first Quidditch match of the season to Slytherin" Grey announced.
"Was it a close game?" Tonks asked.
The kids gulped at the question, they hadn't paid attention to the scores after meeting with Will, Elliot, and Tash.
"I think it was a pretty close game, don't you kids" Remus said covering the silence from the four.
"Yeah, close" The kids agreed covering up their stifle.
Suddenly a pounding knock at the door was heard. Surprising the whole group.
Remus and Tonks quickly rushed to the door, with the four kids closely walking behind them waiting in the mudroom.
Remus opened the door to see their neighbour Mason Campbell on their doorstep with a very worried expression.
"Remus, Tonks you have to help there's been an incident, we need your help" The older man said puffed out.
Fear now shown on the couples faces.
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Dan Dan Daaa!
A/N: Sorry it has taken me so long to update with the start of school and writers block hitting me hard, it's taken me a while to update.
Sorry to leave you on a little bit of a cliff-hanger, stay tuned for the next update. Hopefully, it'll be soon.
Thanks for reading, please R&R.