A/N: Essentially, what you recognize belongs to the goddess that is J.K. Rowling, and what you don't belongs to lil' ol' me.
Genevieve had been studying so much that she was actually starting to get the hang of Astronomy, and her Herbology classes were going really well. It had also reached the point where even Snape was forced to admit her knack for Potions, and, ever so rarely, begrudgingly gave her House points for it.
Meanwhile, Genevieve and Charlie would spend many an afternoon talking. It helped to clear his mind, and Genevieve didn't mind listening. He was under the stress of N.E.W.T. classes and Quidditch hadn't been going too great either. Slytherin had a nasty habit of playing dirty, and they pummeled the other Houses.
"So when was the last time Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup?" Genevieve asked.
"My second year," Charlie replied grimly. "We've been hit with a string of bad luck since. Injuries, illness, and, I'll admit it, serious mistakes on Gryffindor's part. Everyone always talks about my playing like I'm some legend, but I'm not so sure. I just don't know what my legacy will be, if it's not the Quidditch Cup."
"Isn't it obvious?" Genevieve responded. "Your legacy is us. You'll know you've made an impact here when the people remember you, not the school itself. And as for Quidditch, you're a right good player, but sometimes it's just not meant to be. You've gotta know that."
Charlie grinned. "Look at you being all sensitive and wise." Genevieve laughed.
"Out of curiosity, what are you going to do once you leave Hogwarts?"
This time Charlie smiled widely. "If all goes well? I'm off to Romania. Studying dragons."
Genevieve gaped. "D-dragons???"
Charlie chuckled. "What, not a fan of animals?" He asked jokingly.
She shook her head, and it was Charlie's turn to gasp. "What? How? How can you not like animals?"
She shrugged. "It's not that I don't like them. It's just that animals are . . . different. They're like an unknown quantity. You don't know what they're thinking or what they're gonna do. Something about that just . . . scares me, I guess."
"Humans are an unknown quantity too," Charlie argued.
"And I was planning on as little human interaction as physically possible when I first came here. Before I met your family," Genevieve admitted.
Charlie was silent for a moment, considering something. Finally, he said, quietly, "I think I've found my legacy."
"What?" Genevieve questioned, confused.
"I've found my legacy," Charlie repeated. "If I can get you to like animals by the time I leave Hogwarts, enough so that you sign up for Care of Magical Creatures in third year, then I'll have succeeded."
"That's not what I meant when I was talking about your legacy!" Genevieve hissed.
"No, but see, this is perfect. You said that my legacy lies with the people I leave behind. Well, I'm leaving after next year, so that gives me just enough time to slowly ease you into a comfortable environment - with animals." Charlie sounded excited now.
"And I know just where to start! Come on, let's go!"
"Go where?" Genevieve queried, confused. But Charlie was already pulling her along, so, with a sigh, she followed him.
He seemed to sense her reluctance, and resorted to begging and guilt tripping. "Please, Genevieve. You don't want to be responsible for my lost legacy, do you?"
With one final groan of apprehensiveness, she reluctantly replied, "I suppose not."
How it was possible, she didn't know, but Charlie's face broke into an even wider grin as he said, "Thanks, Gen. I really owe you."
"You bet you do," She grumbled in reply, but that was cut off by an enormous hug from Charlie, one that swept her off the ground. She laughed and all bitterness disappeared.
After a while, they came to a hut just on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Charlie knocked and the half-giant who had guided the first years on the boats to Hogwarts answered, fighting back an enormous dog.
"Hi, Hagrid."
"Jus' a mo', Charlie. Back, Fang, back!"
He hadn't seemed to notice Genevieve yet, or the look of utter horror on her face. Charlie, however, witnessed the color drain from her face and almost doubled over in laughter. She retaliated by smacking him.
"Ouch!" He wheezed. "You really weren't kidding when you said you were scared of animals!"
Hagrid finally saw Genevieve and had to fight back a chuckle as well. "Oh, don' yeh worry. Fang barks his head off but he wouldn' hurt a fly. Come inside, yeh'll freeze out there."
It was indeed chilly outside, as Christmas was on its way. They hurried into the hut, and Genevieve had just stepped inside when Fang tackled her, causing her to shriek in fear. However, instead of ripping her to pieces, the dog was simply . . . licking her face?
During this, Charlie explained the situation for Hagrid, who looked pleased Charlie had chosen to come to him for help.
"Well, I reckon we start slow. Let Genevieve here bon' wi' Fang fo' a bit, an' then we can introduce her ter Buckbeak."
"Sounds like a plan."
Genevieve didn't know who Buckbeak was, but given the situation, she quite agreed with Hagrid's decision to go slowly. And she knew one thing: Charlie Weasley owed her big time.