Harry Potter
The Fight for Survival
By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you dont recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Rating: K
Pairing: Marcus/OC - Fred/OC - Harry/Ginny
Genre: Adventure/Friendship/Romance
Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.
Summary: In order to deal with the future, one must understand the past. As the final battle approches the safety of Hogwarts is called into question. But as danger looms, the fight for magic...may come with a price.
Author's Note: Chapter dedicated too: Aileen Autarkeia, NewFanFictionFan, Matt-hardy-lover-101, DJScales, BamaRose, Razmend and Fan of Fics. I would also like to apologize for the lack of updates, but until recently I have not been able to update any of my stories. I have just found a way around the problem, so expect a series of updates on every one of my stories in the next couple of days; or at least until the problem is fixed. I hope you enjoy this new update.
Secrets of Alex Malcolm
Next morning, both Charlie and Riley who had been rooming in Fred and George's old room at the Burrow, were awoken to the sounds of screaming coming from the upper floors, where Ron's room was situated, followed closely by the thundering footfalls on the wooden staircase outside their room.
"What the hell is going on?" Charlie complained, pushing the blankets off of her and sliding up towards the door, she pulled it open and looked out "Whats with the noise?" she asked
Hermione, who was mid way down the stairs, paused and turned back "Harry just told me that the OWLs are arriving today!"
"Owls arrive everyday," Charlie yawned "Wizards don't have telephone's remember?"
"No, Charlie," Hermione groaned "OWLs! Ordinary Wizarding Levels...our exam results!" she threw her arms up and started thundering down the stairs again
Charlie rolled her eyes "Well, could you keep the noise down?" she shouted "Some of us are trying to sleep!" she pulled back and closed the door "Tell me again, why we put up with her?"
Riley shrugged "Why is she running down the stairs?"
"Something about OWLs," Charlie grumbled, falling back onto her bed and pulling the covers over her head "Goodnight..."
Riley rolled her eyes at her friend, but instead of following her example jumped out of bed and grabbed her clothes from the trunk at the end "Charlie, im going to go shower,"
"Okay," came her friends muffled response
Turning her back on Charlie; Riley shuffled out of the room and into the bathroom. She closed the door -and locked it- before proceeding to shower, brush her teeth and dress. When she was finished she returned her room, and proceeded to get Charlie out of bed, and into the bathroom so they could go down to breakfast together.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
When Charlie and Riley finally arrived downstairs ten minutes later, along with Harry and Ron; they found Hermione sitting at the table getting more and more agitated by the minute. She was wringing her hands nervously in her lap and kept glancing towards the kitchen window "Mrs. Weasley, you're quite sure no owls have arrived this morning?" she asked, glancing back at Ron's mum
"Yes, dear, I'd have noticed," responded Mrs. Weasley paitently "But it's nearly nine, there's still plenty of time..."
But Hermione wasnt listening, but was muttering over and over to herself "I've failed Anicent Runes," she mumbled "I definitely made at least one serious mistranslation. And the Defence Against the Dark Arts practical was no good at all. I thought Transfiguration went all right at the time, but looking back -"
"Hermione!" Charlie snapped, her friends muttering's finally getting on her nerves "Just shut up! You're not the only one who sat your exams, we're all nervous! Your just making it worse for yourself!"
Ron nodded "and when you've recieved your eleven 'Outstandings' OWLs..." he started
"Don't! Don't! Don't!" Hermione interrupted, flapping her hands hysterically "I know I've failed everything"
Riley rolled her eyes and exchanged looks with Harry, who was looking confused "What happens if you fail?" he asked
"You have to have a meeting with your head of house," Riley answered "You discuss your options before you can proceed onto NEWT level"
Charlie, who had turned in Riley's direction, opened her mouth to speak, but her words were drowned out by a hysterical scream from Hermione who was once again standing in the kitchen window and pointing at the several black dots in the distance, and they were growing larger and larger each minute.
"They're definitely owls," Ron said, his voice hoarse as he jumped up to join Hermione in the window
"And there are five of them," Harry said, hastening to Hermione's other side
Charlie and Riley followed them, the Slytherin popping up behind Harry as Riley appeared behind Ron "One for each of us," Riley squeaked
"Oh no...oh no...oh no..." Hermione said in a terrified whisper, as she gripped both Harry and Ron's elbows.
The owls were flying directly towards them.
Once they were level with the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley squeezed past the students and opened the window as the five owls swooped in and landed on the kitchen table, and raised its right leg. Exchanging looks, Charlie moved forward and took the letter that was addressed to her, from the second middle owl.
Nobody in the kitchen spoke; and finally...the five owls were taking off through the window once more.
"Who goes first?" Riley asked, turning to her friends
"You!" the five of them shouted at the same time, each pointing at a different person. They each cracked grins, and shook their heads.
Charlie looked thoughtful "Oldest to youngest?" she asked
"Easy for you," Harry pointed "Your the youngest here..."
"Point?"
Harry shook his head "I'll go first," and he opened his letter, and inspected the contents.
"How did you do?" Charlie asked
"Not bad," Harry nodded "You?"
The Slytherin shrugged and opened her letter, she removed the contents and turned the report card over in her hand, as her results stared back at her:
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades: Outstanding (O) - Exceeds Expectations (E) - Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades: Poor (P) - Dreadful (D) - Troll (T)
CHARLIE AVALON HUNTER HAS RECIEVED
Care of Magical Creatures: O
Charms: A
Defence Against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: P
Herbology: E
History of Magic: D
Potions: A
Transfiguration: A
"Wow," Charlie mumured, looking up from her results "I didnt do half bad...I knew I was going to fail Divination and History of Magic," she shrugged half heartedly "Two 'O', three 'A' and one 'E'" she looked up at her friends
Ron grinned "Here - swap -" he handed his card to Harry, and took Harry's from him "Outstanding in Defence, no surprise there!" he turned to Charlie, and held out his hand. The Slytherin handed over her card "Outstanding in Defence...obviously, and Care of Magical Creatures, again, no surprise"
"Hermione?" Ginny asked "How did you do?"
"I - not bad," Hermione said in a small voice
Ron rolled his eyes "Come off it!" and she snatched the card from her hands "Yep, ten 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' in Defence!" he smirked "Your actually disappointed, arent you?" he asked the bookworm
Hermione shook her head, while Harry laughed
"What about you, Riley?" Charlie asked, holding her hand out for best friends results. Riley handed them over without question "Yep. Little-Miss-Genius has struck again..."
Ginny frowned "What do you mean?"
Charlie flipped the card over for them all to see "Eleven 'Outstandings'" she smirked, and handed the report card back to her best friend "Not really that surprised, are you?"
"Perks of an eidetic memory, I suppose" Riley answered "im used to it by now"
Her friends nodded, although Hermione looked a little jealous.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Over the next couple of days, Harry, Charlie and Riley remained within the confinements of the Burrow's garden. It was spent mostly in the Weasley's orchard watching Harry, Ginny and Ron teach Charlie the basics of riding a broom; unlike Marcus, Nikki and Adrian they refused to allow the Slytherin on their brooms with then and prodded her to actually try it on her own Nimbus 2001. After several attempts the Slytherin had finally made it safely into the air and back down without falling off.
"Yeah!" Charlie grinned, hovering beside Harry on her broomstick "Oh, I can't wait to tell Nikki, Marcus and Adrian!"
The Gryffindors laughed, before initiating a game of two-a-side Quidditch (Harry and Charlie, against Ron and Ginny).
They were evenly matched.
Despite Charlie never playing a game of Quidditch before in her life, she had watched enough of it from the stands at Hogwarts; and retained some knowledge of the rules and regulations, making her just as good as the rest of them. While this happened, Hermione and Riley watched from the ground occasionally reading in the shade of a tree.
It would have been a peaceful, happy holiday, had it not been for the disapperances that kept croping up in the Daily Prophet everyday. Soon the holidays started to come to an end, and with them brought the beginning of a new school year, starting with the arrival of Hogwarts letters and book lists. Harry's included a surprise -
"Quidditch Captain!" Riley gasped, picking up the badge "Dude..."
Charlie's eyes widened at her best friend "Did you just say 'dude'?" she laughed "You've been hanging around with Jack to long"
"I know," Riley groaned, burying her head in her arms as Charlie laughed at her expense
"I wonder who was made Slytherin Captain?" Charlie asked, once more her laughter had died down
Harry turned in her direction "Malfoy, probably" he pointed out
Charlie shrugged "Could be Nathan," she responded "He's a fair player, you know"
"I thought you had to be apart of the Quidditch team, to be made Captain?" Hermione asked
"Nathan is a reserve," Charlie inputted "He's a pretty decent Chaser"
Her Gryffindor friends looked surprise, this was new information for them. But once the booklists had arrived, Mrs. Weasley found that she couldnt put off the trip to Diagon Alley any longer and plans to go that Saturday were put in motion.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Saturday dawned without a problem, although Mrs. Weasley seemed very tense at breakfast. It was an overcast, murky day that didnt seem to be shifting. Once everyone was ready, Mr. Weasley ushered them out into the garden where two cars were waiting for them in the driveway; Harry explained that the cars were from the Ministry of Magic, when Riley asked where they had come from. "The last time I was in one of these, was back in second year," he told her
"It's good Dad can get us these again," Ron said appreciatvely, stretching as the car moved smoothly away from the Burrow. He, Charlie and Riley were sitting comfortably in the back of one of the cars, as Harry, Ginny and Hermione occupied the second one.
Mr. Weasley glanced over his shoulder, as he sat in the front with the Ministry driver "Don't get used to it, Ron" he told his son "it's only because of Charlie and Harry. They've been given top-grade security status. And we'll be joining up with additional security at the Leaky Cauldron"
Charlie groaned, as she exchanged looks with Riley. She really didnt fancy shopping with a horde of Aurors watching her every movement "I hope Harry's got his cloak," she whispered to the two Gryffindors beside her
"Why?" Ron asked, in a low voice
"Because it makes ditching security easier," Charlie answered
Soon, after a short drive, the Ministry driver announced their arrival as he slowed in Charing Cross Road and stopped outside the Ministry of Magic "I'm to wait for you, any idea how long you'll be?"
"A couple of hours," Mr. Weasley answered, he glanced back at the children with him "Come on then, you three"
And opening the doors Ron, Riley and Charlie slid out of the car.
"Charlie!" shouted a familair voice, before seconds later a blur of black and green was attacking Charlie as Riley slid out of the car behind her friend
Charlie chuckled as she patted the head of William Carmichael "All right there Will?" she asked "Miss me much?"
"I woke up one morning, and you werent there!" the 12-year-old exclaimed, pulling back and hugging Riley "Where did you go?"
"The Burrow," Charlie answered, glancing over the car and smiled when she saw Nikki standing between Adrian and Marcus "Nikki..." the Muggleborn breathed, moving around the car and into the arms of her female friend "Your okay!"
Nikki smiled "A little sore," she answered, hugging Charlie back "but I'll survive"
Charlie smiled as Riley joined her, along with William "So much for security," the Gryffindor mumured to Charlie
"I think this is security!" Charlie responded, before shrugging "Doesnt matter. Just makes escaping even easier"
"Could be worse," Riley replied "It could have been a bunch of auror's"
"That would have been a little more difficult to pull off," Charlie answered "Auror's are trained to be like hawks..." she smirked, and turned to Nikki "Kind of like your mum!"
Nikki chuckled "You'd be surprised how many people would agree with you, Charlie" she reached out and grabbed the younger Slytherin's shoulders and turned her towards the Leaky Cauldron "Now lets go do what you came here to do..."
"Escape security?" Charlie questioned, "If you say so - ow!" she rubbed the back of her head "You may be back on your feet, but your still a bully!"
Nikki ignored her "Did you get your OWLs yet?" she asked
"Yes," Riley answered
"And?" Marcus asked, as he slung his arm around Charlie's shoulders "How did you do?"
Charlie glanced up "I managed to get 6 OWLs," she smiled
"Congratulations Charlie," Nikki beamed "What about you Riley?"
The Gryffindor flushed and mumbled her results
"What was that?" Adrian asked
Charlie grinned "She had eleven OWLs at Outstanding level!"
Nikki, Marcus and Adrian paused and stared at their Gryffindor friend. Had they heard right?
"Gryffindor Genius, living up to her name then?" Nikki smiled, patting the teen on the back "Well done Rils. So your both at NEWT level now?"
Charlie nodded "Yup. More work..." she groaned "Great!"
Her friends chuckled as they led her and Riley out into the courtyard, where Hagrid and the others were waiting. The half-giant tapped the bricks with his pink umbrella and the archway leading into Diagon Alley appeared before them, they stepped through and paused, looking around.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Diagon Alley had changed. The colourful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients and cauldrons were lost to view, hidden behind Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Most of these sombre purple posters carried blown-up versions of the security advice, while others bore moving black-and-white pictures of Death Eaters known to be on the loose. Bellatrix Lestrange appeared many times.
"Wow, and I felt sorry for my parentage," Charlie mumured, as she glared at the picture of Bellatrix "Voldemort has got to be better than her, right?"
Riley, who had appeared beside her best friend, shrugged "Dunno," she answered "I'd say you and Nathan are pretty tied in that department. Both your parents are crazy!"
Charlie smirked "Techincally my parents are sane..." she responded "Serenity's parents on the other hand...her father is a total Psychopath!"
"True," Riley nodded, before grabbing her friends hand and pulling her back towards the others "Its a wonder Voldemort and Bellatrix aren't planning your's and Nathan's wedding yet"
"He'd have to get in line," Charlie responded, catching up with Marcus and Adrian once more "Voldemort has already promised Serenity's hand to Alex..."
Riley's eyes widened "Your kidding?" she gasped "Alex is promised to marry you!"
"Serenity!" Charlie corrected
Riley glared
"But yes," Charlie nodded "That's if he completes whatever task he has been set to do this year" she shrugged "I thought I told you that?"
"You told me about the task," Riley responded "Not that you could be Mrs. Alex Malcolm, this time next year"
Charlie shuddered at the title "Please, don't say that" she pleaded "I think I might just kill myself!"
"What if he succeeds in this task?"
Charlie glanced sideways "Then im changing my name, and leaving the country!" she stated "Because there is no way, on this planet...that I am marrying Alex, and becoming his little trophy wife!"
Riley smirked throwing her arm around Charlie "But where would we go?"
"We?" Charlie questioned
"You really didnt think you'd be leaving with me, did you?"
The Slytherin smiled, shook her head, and threw her arm around Riley's waist "Not a chance in hell," she promised
Nikki -who had been listening over her shoulder- smiled. It was nice to know things between Riley and Charlie, would never change.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Despite the rest of Diagon Alley going through an overnight make-over, one shop seemed repelled by the posters of the Ministry of Magic and stood out brightly from the rest, and that was the shop run by Fred and George Weasley. The Joke shop stood out against the dull, poster-muffled shop fronts around it. The windows hit the eye like a fireworks display. Casual passers-by were looking back over their shoulders at the windows and a few rather stunned-looking people had actually come to an halt, transfixed.
The left hand of the windows was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods that revolved, popped, flashed, bounced and shrieked. While the right hand window was covered with a gigantic poster, purple like those of the Ministry, but emblazoned with flashing yellow letters. While over the door stood a mechanical man, who was making a rabbit appear and disappear under a top hat.
Reaching the door first, Ron led the way inside.
Standing on the steps leading to upper floors, and calling to their customers stood the Weasley Twins "Step up! Step up! We've got Fainting Fancies..."
"...Nosebleed Nougats..."
"...and just in time for school..."
"...Puking Pastilles!"
They hadnt noticed their family and friends enter the shop yet, it wasnt until they looked down and to see a little boy looking sick, did Fred notice his girlfriend standing out amongst the crowd. A smile graced his features as he hurried down the steps, pushed through the crowd of people and scooped her up as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Fred!" Riley grinned, hugging him
"All right, Little Gem?" Fred Weasley asked, pulling back from the hug and kissing her lips. "Snake..." he added to Charlie, who grinned.
"I'll leave you two alone," Charlie said, waving the couple off, before diving head first into the crowd to look for Harry. She found him, near the back of the shop, looking at what appeared to be lumps of coal glittering on a shelf "What's that?" she asked, startling Harry as she appeared out of nowhere.
The Gryffindor glared at her "You sure, you don't have an Invisibility Cloak?" he asked
"Positive," Charlie nodded, looking up as George joined them on a ladder. "So what is it?" she asked
"Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder," he answered, picking up a lump and tossing it in the Slytherins direction "A real money spinner, that. Handy if you need to make a quick getaway"
Harry exchanged a look with Charlie, that could come in handy. Especially for them at Hogwarts. The Slytherin pocketed the item that George had given her, and turned when she heard Fred's voice from behind.
"Hello ladies," he greeted, approaching Hermione and Ginny, his arm wrapped around Riley. "Love potions, eh?" he asked
"Yeah, they really do work" George added, joining the conversation "Then again, the way we hear it, sis, you're doing just fine on your own"
Ginny frowned "Meaning?" she asked
"Are you not currently dating Callum Thompson?" Fred asked
"It's none of your business," Ginny brushed them off, as she walked away.
Beside Charlie, Harry looked crestfallen "Do you mind if I nick your girlfriend?" the Slytherin asked, reaching towards Riley and pulling her away from Fred
"Mind you bring her back," Fred winked
Charlie saluted, as Ron appeared "How much for this?" he asked, holding up an item to the twins.
"Five Galleons," both twins answered
"How much for me?" Ron asked
"Five Galleons," the twins repeated
Ron frowned "Im your brother," he pointed out
Fred and George shrugged "Ten Galleons," they responded, upping the price, before walking away.
Ron shook his head and turned to his friends "Come on, lets go"
And leading the way through the crowd, Riley and Charlie led the way out onto the streets of Diagon Alley.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
"Wait for me," William shouted, running after Charlie and Riley and catching them outside.
The older Slytherins, who had been standing guard outside, looked up as the younger students appeared "Where you lot off too?" Nikki asked
"Walking," Charlie answered, moving further out onto the streets as the others filed out of the shop behind them
Adrian frowned "There is nothing to see, Charlie" he pointed out "Half the alley has closed down"
"Doesnt mean anything," Charlie shrugged "Come on..." and she tugged Riley further down the alley, as the Gryffindor grabbed Will's hand pulling him with them.
Nikki sighed "Why do I get the feeling, i'm going to regret this?"
"Because we usually do," Adrian responded, before he and the others followed after the younger students.
As they walked Hermione spoke "How are Fred and George doing it?" she asked "I mean look around, there's nothing here anymore!"
"Fred reckons people need a laugh these days," Ron responded
Harry nodded "I reckon he's right," he agreed
"Oh no," Riley whimpered, stopping in her tracks outside one shop in particular "Everyone got their wands from Ollivander's" she was looking up at the run-down old wand shop. She reached for the door handle and pushed it open, before entering.
Charlie stopped near the window, and looked out "That's her..." she spoke; her gaze landing on a familiar woman across the street.
"Who?" Riley asked, doubling back
"Carmen Malcolm," Charlie answered "she made the Unbreakable Vow with Professor Snape..." she glanced sideways "She's Alex's mother!"
Harry, who had appeared behind his friend, nudged her shoulder "Come on," he mumured and headed for the door.
"Harry!" Charlie called, running out of the shop after him "Harry! Wait!" she followed him across the alley. The others following close behind.
The two in the lead turn onto a narrow alleyway where a 'Wanted' poster had been pasted to the wall, the picture of a scary looking man underneath followed by the name 'Fernrir Greyback' written underneath.
"Who's he?" Hermione asked, pointing at the picture
Nikki glanced at the poster "Known Death Eater," she answered "He's also a werewolf!"
Riley's eyes widened, as she gripped William's hand tightly "Im gonna take a guess and say he is nothing like Professor Lupin"
"You'd be right," Nikki confirmed "Now where have Potter and Charlie, gotten too?"
"Knowing them two?" Marcus spoke, "Nowhere good"
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Having lost the others in their haste to follow the Malcolms, Harry and Charlie hurried down the alleyway and stepped out onto Knockturn Alley, before following the Malcolms down some narrow steps, hiding in the shadows the two friends watch as Carmen and Alex disappear into a shop labelled 'Borgin and Burkes'
"Why are they going in there?" Harry questioned
Charlie frowned "Why?" she asked
"Its a shop for the Dark Arts," he answered "I'll explain later" he added
The Slytherin nodded, before pointing at something over Harry's shoulder "Look!" a light flickered to life at the rear end of the shop "Help me up!" she told Harry, as she reached up to grab hold of the adjoining roof over head, following her lead, Harry climbed up beside her as Alex and his mother followed an old man across a courtyard, the Death Eater from the posters behind them. The room in which they had entered, reached from the ground floor up to the roof. They saw Alex, running his hand over a tall embossed wooden cabinet.
"What's he doing?" Harry whispered
Charlie shrugged and shook her head "I don't know," she answered
Inside the room, several figures approached Alex as Carmen kissed his cheek. Pulling herself up to get a better view, the man from the posters appeared in the window, causing both her and Harry to slide down slightly to avoid getting caught. Breathing a sigh of relief, Charlie pulls herself back up, but is met with a blank window as the blinds have been closed.
"What task has Alex been given?" she demanded to know, as she slipped off the roof, after Harry "And why is he in Borgin and Burkes?"
Harry shook his head, as he held out his hand and pulled her off the wall "I don't know," he answered "But we will find out!"
And together the pair headed off to find their friends, whom were waiting for them at the opening which separated Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley.
A/N: Due to glitches with editing/uploading. Most stories had been put on hold. But I am back and ready to bring you more updates.
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~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated on 22/03/2011 at 04:27am