The next morning, Charity's alarm pierced the silence at 6:30 am. She groaned sleepily, and rubbed her eyes awake, before shutting it off. Not fully awake yet, Charity laid staring up at the ceiling, of her spanking new bedroom, in deep forethought.
'I wonder what Hogwarts is going to be like. I hope I have the same classes. I wonder if the professors are cool. Oh what on earth am I thinking, I live in England now. This place is full of the stuffy and the strict. Hell they probably can't even take a joke.'
Charity sighed and decided she should start getting ready for her appointment at Hogwarts, so she bound out of bed and headed for the bathroom to take a shower.
In a few hours time, Alicia and Charity had an appointment with the new headmistress Delores Umbridge, and Charity knew her mother wasn't looking forward to meeting her. From what Charity's grandparents told them the previous night, Umbridge took over when the minister for magic, Cornelius Fudge, interfered at Hogwarts.
Once ready Charity packed her disc man, a couple CDs, a roll of parchment, a few quills, her transfer papers, and her final exam results in her satchel. She then headed down stairs for some breakfast before her mother and her were to take the portkey at 9:00 am to the school. She arrived in the dinning hall around 8:15 am, leaving her plenty of time to eat. While eating breakfast the family discussed with Charity what she should expect at the upcoming meeting at Hogwarts. Edric and Alicia graduated from Hogwarts, and were excited for their daughter to be going there, but not with Delores Umbridge running things. They talked in further detail about just how much Umbridge had changed things around the school, and how she was playing the students against each other.
By the time Charity and Alicia were finished eating it was five minutes to nine o'clock, so Alicia fetched the portkey and they held it waiting for it to activate. When it reached 9:00 am Charity instantly felt a tug at her navel and her feet being lifted from the ground. She saw blurred colors and images speeding past her sight until seconds later she landed on the front steps leading into Hogwarts. Alicia opened the door and led Charity into the vast entrance hall where they were to meet Umbridge. After closing the door Alicia began to look around for Umbridge.
"Where the blazes is she?" Alicia questioned crossly.
With gaping astonishment Charity stared around the entrance hall to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the place she will soon call home for the next couple of years. As she inspected the area surrounding her, she decided Hogwarts had to be four times larger than her school in America, but not as well to do. New York School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's walls were painted in intense colors, it's banisters made of gold, and it's floors of shiny marble. Also the furniture in every room of the school was an antique, and unlike Hogwarts, there were no suit of arms in the corridors. Charity's attention; however, was brought back to reality when she heard her mother speaking to somebody.
Just as Alicia and Charity arrived Harry Potter, the boy who lived, but so desperately just wanted to have a normal life, was wandering aimlessly down the marble staircase. He was busy thinking about his unhappy life when he heard, "Excuse me, could you put us on the right track to Headmistress Delores Umbridge?" Alicia asked.
Charity and Harry locked eyes. He had never seen her before, and judging by her attire she was not a student. "Er, Professor Umbridge is no longer with us. Professor Dumbledore is back," Harry replied tactfully.
Charity couldn't shake the feeling that the male standing before her had eyes filled with pain. From the moment their eyes connected she felt this heart wrenching anguish coming from him. She couldn't explain it, but his eyes deceived him. They told stories of sorrow and misery.
"Is he really? That's terrific, where can we find him?" Alicia question gleefully, breaking Charity's thoughts again.
"Well breakfast is just ending, so he might still be in the great hall," Harry said as he tore his eyes from Charity to lead the way.
"Thank you so much for your assistance. I graduated from here, but it's been a long time since I wandered these halls. I'm sure eventually I would have gotten us there," Alicia said.
Charity followed close behind her mother and the mysterious gentleman that just entered her life. She studied the way he walked, the way he avoided eye contact with any person that walked past him, how he only responded with a simple nod of his head, as his fellow classmates would say hello to him. She quickly looked away when Harry had turned his head to see if she was still following. Charity instead busied herself with checking out the castle. It amazed her that so much detail was put into the design of the castle.
When they entered the great hall Charity noticed her mother grin. She wondered how many incredible memories came back to her by being back in the school she attended so many years ago.
"Here he comes," Harry said and pointed at Dumbledore.
Charity looked where Harry was pointing to see an aged man with a long, silver beard approaching them with a gracious smile. She closely observed the man before her. His charisma was moving. There was an aura coming from him that seemed to put people in a state of calm, like they were protected. She also sensed he was very wise, wise beyond his age. She had a pretty good idea this man knew everything that happened in his school.
"Ms. Maxwell, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's Appleby now Albus."
"Ah of course it is. I must be getting scatterbrained in my old age." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I highly doubt that Albus. Oh yes, this is my daughter, Charity, and we had an appointment with Delores Umbridge this morning, but I'm in a state of high excitement to see that you're back," Alicia replied with a satisfied grin.
"Pleased to meet you Charity. Why don't we go to my office," Dumbledore spoke quietly as he looked at Charity from over his half moon shaped glasses.
"Thank you so much for your assistance young man," Alicia said with a smile.
"Not at all," Harry answered back.
'Hum, I wondering what this meeting's all about! She must be around my age. Well Charity I sure hope we get better acquainted!' Harry thought to himself as he smiled at Charity.
"I hope I get to see you around," Charity said to Harry.
"You can count on it," Harry responded.
Charity smiled kindly at Harry before turning to follow her mother and Dumbledore.
"Now my dear what was this meeting pertaining to?" Dumbledore was asking when Charity caught up with them.
"Well we've moved back, so Charity is transferring here in September. We were meeting with that 'Umbridge woman' to go over everything," Alicia responded with distaste in regards to Deloris Umbridge.
"I see." Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "Yes I do remember reading about Edric taking over as duke. How is he?" Dumbledore inquired.
"Incredibly well thanks."
"Glad to hear. Now Charity I guess you will want to know all about Hogwarts, and what house you will be in, of course. What year will you be starting?" Dumbledore asked.
"Sixth Sir," Charity replied. "I do have a question about Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. My mother informed me that fifth years take them to know which N.E.W.T. level classes they will begin in their sixth year. America doesn't have such an exam. We do have to pass our finals with certain grades to advance into higher-level classes, though. So I guess my question is what are we going to do about me not taking the exams? I want to be in as many N.E.W.T. level classes as possible," Charity inquired pensively.
"Why don't we head up to my office, and I think we can get everything figured out," Dumbledore suggested thinking if the young witch before him was even half the witch her mother was in school, then Hogwarts is in for quite a treat.
