AN: Sorry this chapter turned out awful and that I posted it much later than anticipated. I've been running on practically 2 hours of sleep a day for the past few weeks, so I'm totally sleep deprived. As I said in my last author's note this semester has been horrible, I'm so grateful it is over. Don't worry I'm working on this chapter already. Hopefully I'll have it up tomorrow as a sort of Christmas present.

As always I ask that you review and let me know how you liked (or disliked) this chapter. Thanks to my awesome reviewers and readers! 968 hits I'm so happy!!! Thanks to: Caughtuponhell, Fred-and-George-fan, little firebrand, PadfootStripQuidditch (who I forgo to thank for reviewing for chapter 4) Arikatekiku, Rose Raven Riddle, Toxic-Neon, ArcadeFire, sparkling-steffie, Rachel, and Eternal Silver Flame.


This one's for Fred


A tearful Charlotte sat on a lone part of Salisbury Crags, overlooking the city of Edinburgh. Her arms were wrapped around her legs and her chin rested on her knees. Charlotte had apparated there right after leaving the ministry.

When Charlotte had been three years old her mother, Carlotta Wilson di Lucca, had been an unfortunate victim of a raid in Diagon Alley. After Carlotta's death little Lottie and her father Michaél (pronounced Mee-hal) Wilson packed up their belongings and left their home in Edinburgh, Scotland and moved to a small town outside of San Giminiano, Italia. They spent a few years living in the family villa, where Lottie learned the art of wine making from her maternal family. Her father, a rune translator, had been working from his home office in Italy until one day he was asked to travel around the world with an expedition group, where his skills would be used to their fullest potential. Michaél couldn't bear the thought of being away from his daughter, and so she was brought along with the team. She received her wizarding education from her father and various members of the group. As Lottie grew older she became more involved in the group, assisting her father in ruin translations. So that's how she spent most of her life, though she occasionally visited her maternal grandparents.

It was during one of these visits that tragedy struck poor Charlotte's life again. Her father and his team had been invited to investigate Stonehenge. Michaél had decided that 16 year old Lottie should return to Italy and that he would join her once the team was done. Their parting had been different. Michaél had had tears in his eyes as he told her to be safe and stay strong. As Charlotte watched her best friend walk out the door, a cold dread wrapped itself around her heart.

An hour later there was a knock on the door. A ministry official was at the door with devastating news.

Her father was dead, as were various members of his team.

In just an hour, the whole world as she knew it had been turned around.

The ministry official had said that they had been attacked by same group of Death Eaters that had been involved in the Quidditch World Cup. That he and his team had fought to protect their muggle-born comrades.

For years she had believed that story, until now.

Fresh tears spilled onto her cheeks as she recalled the conversation she had with the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Flashback

Charlotte unsteadily took a seat in the Minister of Magic's office, Harry followed suit and reassuringly rubbed his surrogate sister's shoulder. Charlotte's level of anxiety had risen (a feat she had previously considered impossible) at the sight of the Kingsley Shacklebolt. Kingsley's usually reassuring disposition had been replaced with that of grieving disbelief.

Kingsley inhaled deeply, "Charlotte, I'm sure you are wondering why I've called you in"

"Yes. Harry said it had to do with my father's death"

Kingsley nodded, and tried to speak. Unable to, he stood up and walked to the magicked window in his office and cleared his throat as he looked out.

"There has always been a shroud of mystery regarding your father's death. The official story always was that a group of former Death Eaters had been out on a muggle hunt and attacked your father's team"

Charlottelooked at the tall man skeptically, "Yes, that's what a ministry official told my family"

"Usually, in cases like that aurors are called in to investigate. Fudge never called us in"

"What?"

"As you know, I was good friends with your father back when we were in Hogwarts. As soon as I heard of his death I went to the Fudge and asked to lead the investigation. He told me that the case had been handed to a group of unspeakables, and that I had best not get myself involved with the investigation."

Charlotte shook her head, "why? We were told that a team of aurors had investigated the case."

Shacklebolt shook his head, "I had been trying to find out why there was so much secrecy regarding the case, but then Voldemort returned and I had to focus on that and the upcoming battle and in all honesty I forgot about it"

Charlottenodded in understanding

"But recently, I received a startling new piece of information that had me reopen the case. Your father and his team were not attacked by a group of former death eaters. They were attacked by a former death eater. Charlotte, I don't know how to tell you this, but your father was killed by Barty Crouch Jr., and he was trying to find you"

End Flashback


Dun Dun Dun!!! Evil cliffie! Reviews Are AWESOME!!!