Disclaimer: The HP characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing them for this fic. Reviews make me happy, but please be gentle. This is my first HP fanfic.
Description: Collecting data was her love, Charlotte often said, and the last thing she needed was a distraction. It also didn't help that she was arse over elbows in love with Fred Weasly. (Non DH), FW/OC + many more.
Author's Note:
Hey all. So here's chapter 2 of Ci Vidiamo. This chapter is sort of meant to fill you in on what's going on in the some of the other character's lives. Chapter 3 is almost done, so that should be up soon.
This one's for Fred
Eight o'clock found Lottie standing with two bottles of elf made wine in front of George and Katie's London home waiting to be let into the building. She didn't have to wait long before she heard George's voice over the intercom.
"Whatever it is you're selling, we're not interested"
Lottie rolled her eyes, "let me in you tosser. It's freezing out here"
"I don't think you're cut out for sales pitching. Your people skills leave much to be desired"
Lottie's response to this was making a rude hand gesture at the intercom's camera. She heard George and Fred's laughter before a loud buzzing noise came from the door. Lottie soon made her way into the home and was engulfed in the warmth of the place. She could hear laughter coming from the sitting room up ahead.
Katie came into the hallway and gave Lottie a warm hug, before helping her out of her coat.
"It's so good to see you Lottie"
"It's good to see you too. Where are the kids?" Charlotte asked referring to Arthur Fredrick (Arty for short) and Jillian, George and Katie's children.
Katie hung Lottie's coat on a peg, "They are in Exeter with my parent's. Mum and dad are taking them down to the Eden project. When little Arty heard that you would be here, he almost threw a fit. He wanted to see his Aunt 'Ottie' so badly."
"Well, I'll have to take my godchild to the zoo sometime soon, if that's alright".
Katie nodded, excitedly, "He'd love that"
Lottie handed Katie the bottles of wine and smiled, "this is my way of thanking you for the dinner invite"
Katie squealed as she read the label, "How lovely, it's from your family's vineyard! Thank you so much."
Lottie shrugged, "it's the least I could do. I heard Fred through the intercom. So, beside him and Chloe, has anyone else arrived yet?"
"Chloe couldn't make it for dinner. Thankfully, the cow simply couldn't miss the launch of some French designer's line. Let's hope they keep her" Katie whispered conspiratorially as the two women walked to the sitting room.
"Oy!" The room's occupants shouted in greeting as Lottie walked into the sitting room. Fred who had been standing next to the door way grabbed her in a hug and spun her around, before putting her down, leaving Charlotte a bit dizzy. Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to recover before George did the same.
"Why do you guys always do that?!"
"It's because you're snack sized" Fred said as George rested his arm on Lottie's head.
The room's occupants all laughed, before Katie showed them the bottles of wine, and ushered everyone to the dinning room. The long table was covered with dishes of delicious food. Katie and George sat in opposite ends of the table, and everyone else took their places and began to tuck in. Charlotte looked around the table, at all her mates. Harry and Ginny sat at Katie's right. Charlotte had grown up hearing the story of the boy who lived. When she had met Harry a few years back she had been surprised that he was so young, yet so strong. Harry was like a younger brother to her. She was one of the few people he knew that had lost both parents. Her mother had died during Voldemort's first reign of terror. Her father had raised her, and taught her all she knew, until he passed away on her 17th birthday. Harry was now a fully trained auror; many people compared his skill to that of their late friend, Alastor Moody. She smiled as she watched him beam at Ginny. The fiery redhead and Harry had resumed their relationship after Harry had fulfilled the prophecy, and brought about the end of Voldemort. They were currently refurbishing number 12 Grimmauld Place, with the aide of Kreacher, to make it a child friendly home.
Ron sat between Ginny and Hermione. His appetite had not changed in the least, but the war had changed him. The war had pushed him to mature, and it also helped him gain an appreciation for all that he had. He was currently the Chuddley Cannons star keeper, and the team was no longer at the bottom of the league. All the years he had been secretly jealous of Harry's fame and fortune, had been foolish, he discovered after the media began hounding him and his on/off relationship with Hermione Granger.
"Ron, could you please stop talking with your mouth full," Hermione chastised
Charlotte turned to her right, and shared a smirk with Fred, who Ron had been speaking too.
"Those two should just tie the knot; they already act like an old married couple" Fred whispered to Charlotte as he patted her thigh, before turning back to speak to Ron. Lottie felt her cheeks burn, and hoped that no one had noticed. Hermione cleared her throat, and gave Lottie a look that informed her that the bookworm hadn't missed the researcher's reaction. This only made Charlotte blush more.
Hermione new all about Charlotte's crush; after all she was Lottie's other best friend.
Hermione Granger (as well as Ron and Harry) had been given honorary degrees from Hogwarts after the war. Instead of becoming a healer or an auror, she had decided that she would help in the rebuilding of the Ministry of Magic by fighting for the rights of magical creatures. She was now the head of the Ministry's new Department of Support & Protection of Magical Creatures. In the early days of her grassroots Hogwarts campaigning she had been met with much ridicule. That all changed after the war when witches and wizards had heard about the role house elves and other creatures had played in the final battle; especially that of Dobby's. Even with the support of so many people Hermione, being the perfectionist that she was put all her time and effort into building up the department.
The sound of tinkling glass interrupted Lottie's thoughts. She saw it had been Lee, who had been sitting to Katie's left that had made the interruption.
"I have some bad news," Lee said gravely, "Angelina and I can't join you lot after dinner tonight"
A wave of protest could be heard from everyone, and she heard George mutter "You're not the only ones who'll be missing out" which made Fred glance at Lottie, before Lee resumed.
"I'm sorry. It's just not possible. Angelina is in no fit condition to be out and about, and I reckon she won't be for the next 8 months"
Everyone's mouth dropped open having figured out what exactly he meant.
Katie turned to look at Angelina, "Do you mean…"
Angelina simply nodded with a large smile on her face. Everyone jumped up and shouted congratulations to the happy pair. The next few minutes where filled with the sound of scraping chairs, squealing, and words of happiness; as well as laughter after Angelina whacked Lee for his comment about "making an honest woman out of her" within a fort night.
It turned out that Angelina was expecting twin girls, and Lee had asked Fred and George to be the babies' godfathers and Lottie and Katie to be godmothers. One of the girls was to be named Alicia in honor of their late friend Alicia Spinnet, who had been a casualty of the final battle. When everyone had returned to their seats they toasted to Alicia's memory and to Lee and Angie's new blessings. Angelina was positively glowing.
Charlotte looked around the table filled with smiling faces, and had to hold back tears.
She was blessed with the friendship of such wonderful people.
She felt Fred rest his hand over hers, in a comforting gesture. She turned to look at him, but he was engrossed in a conversation with Angelina.
Fred always had the uncanny ability to sense Charlotte's emotions, and comfort her in a way that no one could.
Charlotte smiled
