1Charlie unwrapped her other presents, books, a few dolls that she inwardly groaned at.
Why couldnt people figure out she didn't play with dolls?
She was eleven now not five!
She looked around and saw Vanessa Wood, the youngest daughter of the Woods, the one, unfortunately, Ginny'd died having.
Vanessa was tall and skinny with silk-like red hair and deep blue eyes.
She was the kind girls were jealous of and guys loved.
But despite her outer beauty, which had got a few guys into a fight over her once, she had a perfectly beautiful inner one too.
She was beautiful and talented from anywhere from quidditch to singing or acting to pranks, which everyone that Charlie knew was great at.
She also was extremely smart.
And she had a crush on Alex.
Most girls did but only Charlie knew how much of a crush Vanessa had on him even if she was great at hiding it.
"Hey" Charlie said going over to her.
"Why're you standing over here?" She asked then a mischevous glint came into her eyes.
"Because of Alex?" She asked.
"No of course not! But i got you a pretty cool present, here but watch out, its kinda heavy." She said, eager to get off the subject of Alex.
"Sure... lie to one of your best friends, i don't mind" Charlie joked.
"You gonna open it or not?"
"Yeah, yeah... wait a second" Charlie said sitting the box down.
It was plain cardboard box with air holes cut into it and Charlie could hear some noise in it.
She quickly opened the box and froze with both delight and suprise as a furry thing jumped out and licked her senseless, its tail wagging like it'd never stop.
"A puppy" she said looking at it then turned to her parents.
"Mom dad can i please keep it?" she asked giving them her special puppy eyes.
"You spoiled her" Harry said to Kathy who laughed.
"Me? you did!" She said mock indignantly.
Harry laughed and relented, turning to Charlie.
"Yes, hon you can keep it." He said, giving in.
"Whatcha gonna name it?" Alex asked, comming over to Charlie, who was getting licked by the maniac puppy.
"How's about Snuffles?" She said.
Harry and Kathy both just about choked on their butterbeers
"What?" Harry said coughing.
"Snuffles" she repeated "the name just came to me."
"Oh" Harry said trying to get his heart to beat normally again.
Of all the things they'd told their children, they'd never told them about Sirius' nickname they used from fourth year to sixth.
Harry had promised Sirius to tell nobody.
Kathy had found out from Sirius, and, keeping his promise, Harry had told nobody else, not even his own children, about 'Snuffles'.
"Thank you" she said to Vanessa as she got the pup off her.
"No problem, what're friends for?" Vanessa said taking Snuffles for a minute.
Charlie got up and they all went to her room after her and Alex had gotten done unwrapping all their presents.
They all stopped dead at the door.
Four barn owls sat on Charlie's bed.
" D'you think this is..." Alex started.
"I dunno" Charlie said going over to the owls and untying each parchment from their legs and giving them some water then slowly handed out all the letters to each of them.
'Miss Charolette Potter. Third floor, most left room with a balcony.'
Charlie's heart stopped and she quickly untied the parchment.
"... We are proud to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry..."
She looked up her face pale and her eyes wide with shock.
Alex's face showed the same as did the other two's.
" Did you..." Nick started
"... Get in?" Charlie finished him.
"Ok on the count of three we all show each other our papers" Vanessa said still staring, dumbstruck, at the parchment before her.
"Ok... one... two... three" Alex said.
They all nervously showed each other their papers and cried out.
They all had been accepted.
"Well its obvious with you guys, isn't it? your parents were wizards!" Kat said, not as suprised as the four were.
Her, Tasia and Belle were starting their second and third years -Belle & Tasia, second years, Kat a third.
"Yeah but still.." Alex said but was cut off by Charlie
"Hey wheres Adam?" she said, noticing Belle go red at that name.
Geeze whys everyone got a crush on eachother? she thought exhaperatedly.(sp?)
Alex woke up in his bed.
He didnt know how he got here from the play room or whatever it was called (the room's name switched daily).
He got up and went out of his room, almost stepping on a owl.
It was Belle's owl but it was from Vanessa.
For Charlie.
Alex sighed as he started for Charlie's room and slid the letter under her door.
He liked Vanessa, he liked her much more than just a childish crush, he loved her. But he didnt know if she loved him back. He was good at hiding it and he would forever unless he somehow found out she loved him back.
He knew he wouldn't have any problems with girls liking him at Hogwarts.
He had his mom's (green) eyes and his dads very untidy black hair wich the girls seemed to love in his muggle school.
They also thought his glasses made his eyes even more cute.
He thought the glasses were annoying.
Girls also seemed to love the fact that he was tall and pretty muscular.
He went back to his bedroom and went to sit on the bed but jumped back up.
Underneath him was a book with a thick leather, really dragon hide, cover.
On the front wrote in gold was the letters 'The Marauders Guide to Mischeif.'
A note was attached to its front.
Alex,
sorry this is a late birthday present and sorry i wasn't there for your birthday, Remus and i are on a "secret mission" from Dumbledore.
Can't tell you what it is 'cause its a secret.
Anyways this should make up for it.
Professor McGonnagall didn't want us to send this to you.
She seemed to think that two grown men in their early fifties were too old to think of mischeif.
Doesn't know us, does she?
Well anyways, sorry 'bout your birthday. We'll be home in a few days and just so you know, there'll be a few suprises at Hogwarts (and no your dad doesnt know what they are).
-with Love,
Sirius
Alex laughed.
Sirius would never be too old to play pranks.
He could be on his death bed still joking and laughing like nothing was wrong.
The thought of Sirius on his death bed was more than a little disturbing so he shoved it out of his mind quickly.
Charlie slowly woke up and reluctantly opened her eyes against the morning suns light that flooded her room.
She stood up stretching her stiff limbs so she could move then she showered and changed into a pair of handed down clothes from Alex (who got them from Adam).
She had other clothes, but these were more comfortable.
She went to her door just as a envelope slide under it.
What now she thought to her self then started reading it.
Charlie,
you won't believe what was sent to me from someone.
Come over you have got to see this!
from, Vanessa
Charlie read it again and sighed.
Something the way Vanessa worded it could be a cool book or muggle cd to something way important, like the letter from Hogwarts.
She quickly put on her shoes and ran downstairs yelling to her mom she'd be back in time for breakfast, maybe.
She ran across the street to avoid any cars.
"Vanessa!"she yelled and threw tiny rocks up at her window.
"So whats' this important.." she started when Vanessa finally got to the door.
"Shh.. don't let any muggles hear you, come on" Vanessa said dragging her up the stairs to Vanessa's room.
Sitting on Vanessa's shut window seal was the most beautiful creature Charlie ever saw.
It had long beautiful red feathers, a few of which were golden and stuck up on its head like a crown.
Its little golden eyes were shining and it opened its mouth, or beak, and let out the most beautiful note either girls had ever heard.
Suddenly it burst into flames and came to rest on Charlie's shoulder.
"Is this a..." Charlie started, stareing, dumbstruck at the beautiful bird.
"A pheonix?" Vanessa finished her.
"Yeah it is."
"Wow"Charlie breathed.
"Your so lucky."
"Think Dumbledore'll let me bring it to school, you know like to deliver mail and all?. It can."
"Of course he will, he's lettin' me bring Silver to school aint he?" Charlie said, referring to Silver Spirit, or Silver, her beautiful eagle.
"Well yeah, but Silver's not a pheonix"
" Dumbledore's got one why shouldn't he let you, go on ask him. If he see's it, whats its name?"
"Um... i dunno yet, maybe Venus?"
"Sounds cool. But once he finds out that Venus can deliver mail maybe he'll let you"
"Ok ill ask him. Thanks"
"No problem, what're friends for?" Charlie said getting up.
"Well i gotta go, promised mum i'd be home in time for breakfast." She said going down the stairs yelling a quick bye to Vanessa and heading home.
Charlie quickly ate her breakfast, barely noticing that Adam still wasn?t there. Her parents looked somewhat worried though.
"So you two ready to go today?" Their mom said once they?d eaten and she?d cleaned the plates with Charlie?s (grudgingly given) help. Alex looked at her, confused.
"Where mom?"
"To Daigon Alley? she said amazed he'd forgotten.
Memory of the day before shot into his brain like a bullet and he mentally kicked himself.
"Oh yeah! I forgot" he said, ignoring Charlie's snickers she was trying to muffle with her hand.
"Yeah I?m ready mom" he said shooting Charlie a look that made it even harder for her not to laugh.
"You ready Charlie?" Harry said.
"Yep" she replied weakly, her voice almost cracking from laughter at her brother?s face and she quickly got up and went up to her room.
"At least i remembered" she said for only Alex to hear then she ran up the stairs to get her wizard money.
They had their own allowances in both muggle and wizard money, and, thankfully, her saving hers paid off.
At least she wouldn?t have to see those goblins.
They gave her the creeps.
She got there and saw two owls.
'Wonder why they're here? ' she thought going over to them.
One was a brown and silver like white with beautiful crystal blue eyes.
She immediatly recognized it.
"Geminis" she said happily as Sirius' owl nipped her ear affectionatly.
Her blue eyes seemed to calm at being recognized or the tone of Charlie's voice.
She took the packages the owl had.
A note dropped to the floor.
She picked it up and read it.
Charlie,
hey how?s my favorite goddaughter? Well, as you would say my only goddaughter. Well anyways Remus and i are back from our mission, and yes were both still whole and sane, and no I?m not gonna tell you shorty.
I sent you two presents.
Well i didn?t need to say that.
You learned to count at four.
We sent Alex a present worth five and to get in it he has to read the encantation that pops up and swear it. Besides the I solemnly swear that im up to no good. We all know he isn?t up to any good, don?t we?
It says: When i get everything i need from this book i will pass it on to my heir (then it says your name) to continue the practice of mischief making.
Anyways.
Remus sent you three presents (i swear he loves out doing me, but then i love outdoing him.) So before i totally confuse you or give away what your presents are.
I end this letter here.
Happy 11th Pheonix
Charlie laughed.
He?d called her Pheonix since she was old enough to sing.
She?d always sang since she could remember.
Her mother could have been a child prodigy with her vocal talent.
Her father could have been a professional dancer. Though they both swore until his fifth year he couldn?t dance a inch without being led on by a girl until she'd found him and helped him.
She had inherited the Potter hair, hair that never stayed down or straight, and the Evans huge emerald eyes.
Alex had his dads hair, but his moms beautiful green eyes.
They both inherited the gifts of singing and dancing.
She had been Sirius' favorite godchild aside from Harry, naturally. And, at the age of three he deemed her Pheonix.
She shook her head as she read the letter over again.
He was the funniest person she'd ever met.
Nice, funny, charismatic, as her mom called it, but she didn?t even know how pronounce the word.
She slowly went over to the presents, two emerald presents with golden ivy print on them.
One had something silky and silvery, which ran over her bed edge like water from a waterfall. She picked it up and stared open mouthed.
She?d put it on her knees and sat in front of the mirror.
But her legs were gone.
She could only see the bed.
A note fell to the floor.
"This is an invisibility coat. It makes you invisible. It was your fathers and his before him and so on. Use it well Pheonix" she said reading it aloud.
Charlie could have hugged Sirius.
An invisibility cloak! the ultimate use for mischief! all her own.
Not even butterbeer could taste this sweet to her.
She looked at the clock on the wall quickly.
Five minutes until they'd go to Diagon Alley.
She quickly threw on a spaghetti strap black shirt with sparkly stuff on the front.
She didn?t like it, but her mom gave it to her, so she'd wear it just for her.
Then she put on Capri's as girls called them, really they were Adams shorts that were way too long and colored black then she put on her blue shirt she got in America from a baseball game.
No one understood her and Sirius' passion for baseball, but it was "their time" as they called it.
Every 25 of June they went to see a game.
It read 'Pirates', as that was her favorite team.
She took the parcels from a creamy white she-owl who flew alongside Sirius' to get some water.
She looked longingly at the presents left but heard Alex calling for her to hurry up.
She gave the owls a bit of her icing off of what was left of her cake, just barely over a half since they had three, since her pet eagle was actually born on her tenth birthday. Kind of stupid to celebrate a pets birthday, but she loved too, just felt reassuring to her.
The owls nipped her affectionately and she petted them then they left out her window.
She quickly stole a bite of her cake from its box were she'd put a preserving charm on it then ran to the hallway.
"Im coming!" she yelled then jumped off the balcony (which was only on the second floor) and landed on her feet in front of her brother putting on her sandals and tying her long hair into a ponytail that hung down her back.
"This girl's gonna give me a heart attack! It?s like having three boys in the house instead of two!" her mom said watching her daughter, who smiled innocently.
She inwardly was swelling with pride.
She had taught her daughter right.
'Be what you want to be' she had always told her.
'Don?t let anyone tell you what you are, unless it happens to be like a teacher or Harry and i or someone like that.' Her daughter sure had took those words to heart and Kathy couldn?t help but smile.
"Tell me, which one of us spoiled them?" Harry said coming up behind her and kissing her on the top of the head.
She turned around and kissed him.
"Both of us."
"Mm hmm, thought so" he said his emerald eyes shining.
Alex and Charlie looked at each other.
Alex rolled his eyes and Charlie sighed lightly.
"Mom dad it's nice that you love each other and all but we gotta go" she said. They both looked at each other and laughed. Then Harry turned serious.
"Honey, I've got to go to the Ministry. You understand?" He asked kneeling down so he was her height.
"Of course i understand. I'm not four" she lied.
Of course she didn't understand and she never would. She didn't know where her father went and stayed sometimes for days.
She didn't know why he went or anything. How could she understand something she didn't know?
Harry smiled affectionately at his daughter.
"That's my girl, I'll see you in a bit then. Tell your brother that i said bye and I'll see him later. I've got a big surprise for both of you when i come back."
'If i come back ' he thought sadly.
"Sure dad" she said running outside to her brother.
"He's leaving again ain't he." It was more of a statement than a question. She nodded her head slightly and bit her lip.
"He . . .. he said he'd be back in a few days" she said quietly.
She could tell he was about to snap something back by the look of frustration in his eyes but before he could, their mom came out.
"Come on we'd best get going" she said getting them in the car.
They got out of the car in London a little while later.
Charlie looked around and spotted the familiar old pub in between some old company building and a book store, it was barely noticeable to muggles. Charlie wasn't even sure if muggles could see it. She stared at it a minute thinking until Alex pulled her across the street. They went into the old pub after their mom almost silently.
Alex looked around.
He liked this place even though some might find it a bit odd.
With the dust piles in the corners and crevices of the walls growing and the few cobwebs that were too high to reach that wove around the rusty old chandelier positioned in the middle of the room. Its light reaching a few dark corners seemed enough to make the place feel warm and welcoming.
The children had been here since they could remember and even made a few friends here.
"Ah . . .. miss Potter. Usual today?" Said the old man with old some rotten and some golden teeth and a long beard.
Alex thought he looked like a pirate since his grin would show off the pirate teeth as him and Charlie called them.
Alex thought is name was either Will or Bill. He didn't know since they always called him Pirate.
"No, my kids are starting Hogwarts and were here to get their stuff. Maybe later today" she said
politely.
"Where's Harry? Haven't seen him in a while" he asked ,as he'd known Harry once a while
ago.
"He's at work" she said shrugging and brushing a strand of hair from her eyes.
Pirate flashed the two his 'Pirate grin' and they couldn't help but laugh.
"Well I'll see ya'll later then." He said as they left.
They went to Gringotts first, Charlie stayed outside since she had money already.
A boy with light brown hair and dark blue eyes that looked like they could pierce through you with so much as a glance walked up to Gringotts alone. He was sort of small and pale and acted rather strange.
Charlie looked at him and knew she'd seen someone like him before, but she couldn't place him with any of her parents' friends.
The boy must've noticed her gaze for he turned, the royal blue robes that hung about loosely on his thin pale frame, flowing gracefully behind him and fixed her with such a look. She shifted, starting to feel uncomfortable.
Something about those eyes fixed her to the spot.
He seemed to study her.
She was wearing muggle clothes and draped around her was a light, loose scarlet cloak. He seemed puzzled at her appearance.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice so sharp it felt like the bitter cold air of winter had ran through her.
"Charlie Potter, who are you?" she replied trying to keep eye contact and be polite.
"Potter..." he said thoughtfully to his self. "Potter... I'm Mike. Mike Landavor." He said.
Charlie looked at him confused.
She remembered the name vaguely.
They were an old wizarding family, like hers. But they were all bred in Slytherin.
His parents, if she remembered correctly from a story Harry would tell them about his child-hood, were rather rich too. They, despite the Slytherin background, had helped Dumbledore. His father, Peter, had transferred from America in Harry's sixth year.
They had fought bravely against Voldemort, but not like anyone had imagined.
They, like Severus Snape, Harry's old potions teacher at Hogwarts, had spied on Voldemort.
"Nice to meet you" she said offering her hand, as they always did when they met old friends or acquaintances that knew their father somehow.
"Same here" he said, his eyes had softened somewhat but still retained a coldness that seemed to surround him like a blanket.
"Well I've got to go." He said quickly heading inside Gringotts.
"Who was that?" Alex asked, he'd just come out.
"Just someone I met" Charlie said in an offhand sort of way.
"So... now you need books, you know where to get them, right?" Their mom said coming out of Gringotts after Alex. They both nodded
"Right... I have to go do something. I'll meet you in Florean Fortesque's in about a hour and a half that should be enough time, right?"
They both nodded again and she kissed them both then set out in the opposite direction of them.