Chapter Seven: Remembering
"I have examined the boy again," Doctor Pantely told the small group. "The curse is gone. I can only assume that the boy's memories have not returned for other reasons."
Madam Pomfrey nodded her agreement, as Albus Dumbledore gave a sigh. "This is exactly the problem I mentioned earlier, Albus. Charles Potter has become used to not remembering his past. On a subconscious level, he does not want to remember. And I do not have to remind you or Minerva of his condition when he was found."
Remus Lupin, the last member of the group, smiled thinly. "Albus described his condition well enough. I can't blame the boy. Charlie has thrived under our care. Why should he bother trying to remember something like that?"
Albus Dumbledore rubbed his forehead. "I should tell all of you that Charlie is becoming a very great problem because of this."
"Is it because of the Chamber of Secrets?" Xavier Pantely asked.
"Exactly so. Rumors are easy to follow but hard to stop. The most popular rumor is that we are not looking for one Heir of Slytherin but two. Charles Potter, the mysterious twin brother of Harry Potter appears under unusual circumstances. One month later, we discover Mrs. Norris petrified. Then we discover Colin Creevey, a close friend of Harry Potter, has been petrified. After that, Harry reveals he is a Parselmouth. This is followed by the petrification of Sir Nicholas, the Gryffindor house ghost, and Justin Finch-Fetchley, a Hufflepuff, who happens to be a close friend of Charles Potter. Then Charlie stops Draco Malfoy from casting a spell with a simple wave of his hand. Add to that the fact that Hermione Granger now has more in common with a house cat than any of our students and you find that I have been having a very bad year."
"I am curious," Remus Lupin asked. "According to the rumors, did they petrify their own friends or each other's? Or are they trying to cover up another secret?"
Albus arched his eyebrows. "Has someone been asking about werewolves?"
"This rumor is coming from Slytherin House. It seems that Draco Malfoy is familiar with Xavier's work."
"Which is no surprise," Pantely added. "I suffer from frequent rants by Lucius Malfoy and his friends that my skills could be put to better uses. In certain circles I am very popular in an unpopular way."
Albus nodded. "We will deal with that problem if and when we need to. Poppy, is there any way we can prod the boy's memory?"
"Put him in contact with something from his past that is familiar. That could provoke a response. Do you have anything?"
Albus sighed again.
They were in the infirmary. Hermione was almost back to normal, and looked normal except for some yellow in her eyes. Harry was sitting on her bed while Ron was in the chair.
"It's Hagrid," Harry told them. "Tom Riddle revealed everything to me."
Harry told them about his experience with the diary he had found while Ron and Hermione listened intently. They decided to confront Hagrid when Hermione asked a poignant question. "Do you think you should tell Charlie?"
Harry frowned. "I should, but he'll want to join us. And, well . . ."
"You don't want him to get into trouble."
"He gets into enough trouble on his own," Harry said and reminded them of what happened to Draco Malfoy. "He doesn't have to share in my problems."
"Hermione's right," Ron said. "He'll want to be part of this, because it concerns you."
"You don't understand," Harry told them as he cast his eyes to the floor. Touching the scar on his forehead, he added, "a part of me doesn't believe it's Hagrid, at all." He looked up and directly into Ron's eyes. "What if the rumors are true. What if it is me? I could be doing these things and not even realize it. This scar gave me some of Voldemort's power. What if it gave me something else?"
Ron nodded as he understood the point Harry was trying to make, but he held his ground. "It can't be you, Harry. We were with you when you found Filch's cat. You couldn't have done that. That means you didn't do any of those other things."
"Ron's right," Hermione added. "Whoever petrified Filch's cat petrified Colin and Justin and Nearly Headless Nick. You've heard those rumors so often you've begun to believe them." She put her hand on Harry's. "If it helps your conscience, I'll let Charlie know what you're doing. He's stopping by before dinner to give me my homework. This way you can let him know what's going on while keeping him from any danger."
"I'll tell him," Harry said. "I honestly don't believe it's Hagrid. Maybe we should wait. To see what happens."
"You could be right," Hermione noted, with personal relief. "Whoever the Heir is, they must have become scared. That's why they threw away the diary." She paused. "Why don't you come back when Charlie is here?"
"You fancy him," Harry teased.
"He thinks I'm cute," Hermione said with a smirk.
"Charlie?" Ernie MacMillan walked up to where his housemate was staring out the window.
"Hello, Ernie. I was thinking. Am I late for class.?"
"It's Professor Binns' class. I wouldn't worry."
Charlie grinned at the remark, then turned serious. "Ernie, could I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"It is about the rumors about Harry and myself."
"I wouldn't worry about half of those rumors," Ernie assured him.
"I know you suspect Harry," Charlie said, then paused. "I think I know who the Heir of Slytherin really is."
Ernie failed to hide his amazement. "Who is it?"
Charlie gave him a sad look. "I think it is me."
"That's impossible," Ernie replied, trying not to shout.
"Hear me out. This is no idle thought. Think this through with me. Harry was here all of last year and nothing happened. But I appeared suddenly and without explanation. I have no memory of my past, and I told you what Dumbledore said about that. I am admitted as a student and then Mrs. Norris is found, petrified."
"But you were at the feast," Ernie protested.
"Mrs. Norris was found after the feast. No one knows how long she was hanging from the wall sconce. I could have done it, unknowingly, before I went to the feast. It all fits. I am the only unknown factor in the puzzle."
"You were with me and Susan when Justin was attacked," Ernie pointed out. "We left him in the common room and the three of us were together the entire time until we heard the news." He smiled as he made his point. "If you didn't attack Justin, then you didn't attack anyone else."
"Harry was there, too."
"But he left just before they found Justin. Don't forget. Harry is a parselmouth. We don't know what else he can do." Charlie gave Ernie a peculiar look. "Charlie, what is it?"
"I almost had a thought. It was as though I was about to understand something but," he concluded in irritation and disgust, "I swear on the King's name I do not know what it was."
Ernie gave a surprised look. "You swear on the King's name?"
"Excuse me?"
"Charlie, you said that you swore on the KING"S name."
"Why would I say that? I would have sworn on the Queen's name if I were to make such an oath."
Ernie smiled. "What was it you said that Madam Pomfrey told you? That you might say strange things? You're starting to remember."
As they went to the infirmary to let Madam Pomfrey know what had happened, Ernie pointed out that they now had a legitimate reason for missing class.
"Are you sure, Charlie?" Hermione asked as he and Ernie confronted her.
"I swore an oath on the King's name." Charlie said.
Hermione glanced at Ernie who nodded then turned back to Charlie.
"Why would I say something like that?" Charlie asked happily. "As I told Ernie, I should have sworn on the Queen's name if I were to make such an oath."
"I love the way he talks," Hermione whispered to Ernie just loud enough for Charlie to hear.
Hermione grinned widely. "Charlie, you really are staring to remember."
Ernie shared the smile but it faded as he noticed the other beds around him, the ones that were partitioned off. He looked over at the bed that held Justin and his good humor left him completely. Hermione followed his eyes when he heard Ernie sigh, knowing that he considered Harry responsible for what happened.
"It is ironic," she said. "Justin is in the same bed that Harry was in when they brought Colin Creevey to the infirmary."
Ernie turned and gave a thoughtful look at Hermione. "What so you mean?"
Hermione gave a look of surprise. "Don't you remember? The rogue bludger that broke Harry's arm."
"But why would Harry stay in the infirmary? I broke my ankle on that trick stair, last year, and I was out of here within the hour."
Charlie snorted. "You had Madam Pomfrey heal you. Harry had Loopy Lockhart."
Ernie was honestly curious. "What did he do? It's obvious what he tried to do, from what you said."
"It was an honest mistake," Hermione said defensively, and Charlie began to laugh. Ernie snickered at the reaction but tried to ask his question again. Hermione became offended and refused to answer.
Finally, Charlie answered, "Lockhart removed the bones instead of repairing them. Harry was forced to spend the night while they grew back."
"And it wasn't pleasant," Hermione added. "Madam Pomfrey even warned him it would be painful. That's why he was awake when they brought Colin in."
"I didn't know about that," Ernie admitted.
At his next class with Harry, Ernie apologized for his accusations, admitting that he was upset and looking for an easy target. It was a short but interesting conversation. Harry forgave him easily, pointing out his own doubts and that Ron and Hermione helped correct him. Ernie, in turn, relating how Charlie had the same doubts.
As Harry and Charlie looked at each other, surprised that they shared the same doubts for the same reasons, Hermione commented, "Great Minds think alike." She and Ron smirked, and he added, "And so do you two."
For four months nothing happened. Then the Easter holidays came and Charlie was faced with an unusual choice. He had to choose a subject he would like for the following year. Susan was in the common room talking to Ernie MacMillan and Megan Jones when he walked up.
"Stumped," Ernie asked and Charlie nodded.
"I have no idea what to take. Professor Flitwick is praising my Charms work but he spent twice as much time with me as with any of his classes. He suggested Arithmancy, but I do not know."
"That is a difficult subject," Susan Bones noted. "The standard rule in Hufflepuff is that anyone who takes that course has to move to Ravenclaw."
Ernie smiled. "That's what Diggory told her when Susan said she was thinking of taking that course."
"I'm going for Muggle Studies," Megan said. "I've met so many muggle-borns that I'm curious how they actually live."
"And it is an easy course," Ernie noted. "I'm thinking of taking that, too. Either that, or I'll write all of my options on pieces of paper and throw them in a hat. Then I can pick one without a problem."
Susan looked up at Charlie. "I'll make a deal with you. We both take Arithmancy and sink or swim together."
"Done and Done," Charlie said.
"You're not getting sweet on each other?" Megan asked mischievously.
Charlie laughed. "That is exactly the type of thing Roger would say."
"Who's Roger?"
Charlie frowned. "I have no idea. But I suspect I will know soon enough."
The day finally came. The Quidditch match that the entire school had wanted to watch since the first match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. It was Gryffindor against Hufflepuff but it was commonly referred to as Potter vs, Potter. Both teams were undefeated. The winner of this match would win the Quidditch Cup and, because of the points awarded, the House Cup as well.
Charlie waited to meet Harry by the Great Hall, which was the only reason that Harry was hurrying. As Harry explained on their way to the pitch, the diary he had found was stolen the night before. Susan Bones, who had waited with Charlie asked about the diary when Harry stopped and looked back at the castle.
"Did you hear that?" He exclaimed. "It was loud enough if I could hear it this far from the school. One of you must have heard."
Charlie and Ron were shaking their heads, as was Susan, but Hermione was looking at Harry in surprise.
"Harry, I've just remembered something. I'm going to the library. I'll meet you down by the pitch."
As she ran back to the school, Charlie looked at Harry. "I would bother to ask what is going on, but it is Hermione."
Susan laughed and led the way to the pitch. "Charlie, Maybe she figured out who Roger is."
"Who's Roger?" Harry asked as they approached the pitch.
"My brother," Charlie said casually, then paused to look at a surprised Harry. A knowing look entered his eyes which Harry noticed. In an exchange of looks Harry asked Charlie if he remembered his past and Charlie shook his head no but his look assured his brother that he did remember parts. Harry's response was a look that said it was wonderful, and Charlie's expression was one of gratitude that Harry would feel that way.
Ron broke their concentration by asking. "You have a brother named Roger."
"No," Charlie said, still looking at Harry. "We have a brother."
Before anyone could ask another question, the two brothers, as though by agreement went to join their separate teams. Susan followed Charlie but refused to ask anything. She had to think about the game first, and she knew Charlie well enough to know that was what he was trying to do.
They mounted their brooms, and everyone flew a few practice laps. For fun, Harry and Charlie raced around the pitch, neck and neck on identical brooms. If nothing else they would enjoy the match.
When Madam Hooch told the players to get ready, Charlie flew to his position in front of the hoops. Despite what had happened so recently his only thought now was that Cedric's early morning practices had better pay off. Then the whistle blew and Charlie cleared his mind. Angelina Johnson grabbed the quaffle and became the most important person in Charlie's world. She flew directly at Charlie as though to ram him but as she closed in, Charlie flew directly at her so that she had no room to toss the quaffle. She acknowledged his feint by turning sharply and back-passing the quaffle to her teammate. Charlie did a quick flip on his broom and flew back into position, turning around in time to see the quaffle heading over his head directly for the center hoop.
It was a problem all broom riders had. You could never fly directly up unless you were pointed in that direction, and in cases like this, the keeper rarely had to go far. That is why Charlie had spent many hours, close to the ground, practicing his next move. He literally jumped up on his broom and swatted the quaffle away. For one brief instant he was in the air, but practice payed off. Eleanor Branston had the quaffle for Hufflepuff, and Charlie landed on his feet on his broom. He slid down into his normal flying position as the students and teachers roared their approval at the maneuver. Even Oliver Wood nodded appreciatively, knowing whom Charlie had stolen that move from.
Cedric was taking the time to thank Charlie on his quick move, while Eleanor was uttering a mild curse when her shot was blocked by Wood. She had tried a tricky move of passing the quaffle to Susan Bones who would just as quickly pass it back. Despite being caught facing the wrong way, Wood managed to be in front of the hoop in plenty of time. That was when the whistle blew. The bludgers obediently flew back to their box as did the snitch. Madame Hooch was waving all of the players down.
When both teams were gathered, Madame Hooch informed them. "The match has been cancelled." She turned to the pair of twins in opposing uniforms. "The two of you are to see Professor McGonagall immediately."
"Why?" "What Happened?" Everyone was asking the same questions.
"Quiet," Madam Hooch yelled. "All I have been told is that there was another attack."
Harry looked at Charlie. "Hermione?" And both rushed off the pitch to find Ron waiting for them.
"Do you know what happened?" Ron asked in a tone to show that he knew.
"I'll tell them," Professor McGonagall said as she approached them.
"It's Hermione," Harry said and the Transfiguration teacher nodded.
"It was her, and Penelope Clearwater. They were coming out of the library when they were attacked. I'm so sorry, Ron, Harry, Charles. I know she was a close friend to all of you."
Charlie turned his head when he saw someone. "Professor McGonagall, why is an Armsman here?"
