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: DJScales, Aileen Autarkeia, BamaRose, Fan of Fics, Razemend and Matt-hardy-lover-101. So, what will Dumbledore be teaching Harry and Charlie? Lets find out...shall we?
Author's Note Two: This chapter includes the lesson with Dumbledore. I would just like to point out that only the memories will be in italics. Anything to do with present day Harry and Charlie will be in normal font. Even when they are actually in the memory. Understand? I hope so.
Review response: In response too Fan of Fics and anyone else who is wondering; Alex Malcolm is in fact back as a seventh year. He is repeating his final year of education under the identity of Aaron Logan. I hope that clears up any confusion. If there is anymore confusion, let me know when you review and I will try and clear it up as much as possble.
Okay. On with the chapter.
Private Lessons
Part I
A stiffled yawn escaped the slightly parted lips of Slytherin's Muggleborn; Charlie Hunter. The young teen was sitting cross-legged on the black leather sofa in the Slytherin common room reading through her Care of Magical Creatures essay notes, and adding second annotations in places where she though relevant. Occasionally she would pause in her work and look around, for the last half an hour she had the undoubtedly bad feeling that she was being watched, but there was no one in the common room but her. With a small shake of her head the Slytherin crossed out a line on her essay and scratched in something that was more relevant to the subject topic "...the Gryphon can be easily recognized..." she muttered as her Quill scratched against the parchment "...as a eagle with the hindquarters of a lion..." she stopped and looked over her essay once more, before referring to the text she had checked out the library beside her Oh, that looks interesting she thought, putting Quill to paper once more "...it is believed that once a Gryphon mates, it is for life. If one partner were to die then the second would never re-mate after..."
"Talking to yourself, again?" breathed a voice in her ear
An invoulntary scream escaped Charlie's lips, as she flew out of her seat and vaulted over the opposite couch. Her ink well crashed to the ground and smashed the ink soaking into the carpet and dyeing it black. Her essay fluttered to the floor as her hand grasped her wand and she raised it up, and aimed it at her target as she whirled about "You!" she spat, her eyes narrowing dangerously as the locked with the steel gaze of Aaron Logan "Was wondering when you'd go back to your old ways!" she hissed "A whole week, thats got to be some sort of a record"
"Don't know what you're talking about," Logan responded.
"Yeah right," she scoffed "as if your not here for your own purpose!"
"Okay, then Hunter," Logan spoke, levelling her with his own glare "tell me what it is I am supposed to be doing here, you know, besides perfecting my education in Magic. Since you seem to know all about me, that is,"
Charlie's glare intensified "I know for a fact that you are not this 'Aaron Logan' that you claim to be," she sneered "You are in fact Alex Malcolm, son of a Death Eater. You've been given a task to do here at Hogwarts, which is the only reason for your return...you wear a glamour so no one can recognize you, especially Slytherins, Gryffindors and the professors, because you fear that they may automatically jump to the conclusion that whatever it is you are doing, involves me!"
Logan smirked, his eyes never wavering from hers "You'd know all about that wouldnt you...Charlie?" he questioned "You'd know what it is like living a lie. Living with a new identity. How many people here at Hogwarts know who you truely are?"
Charlie was silent
"Precisely," Logan continued, his voice low "I'll tell you what...you keep my secret..." he smirked "...and I'll keep yours!"
Somewhere, a clock chimed, and Charlie jumped at the sudden noise. It was 8:00pm. She was late. "Whatever!" she retorted, waving her wand and watching as her essay disappeared, the ink well that she had been using reparied itself and the ink disppeared from the carpet, she then hurried around the sofa, her wand still trained on Aaron incase he tried something while she was close "Don't wait up!" she stated sarcasm dripping from her voice, and with that she disappeared through the portrait hole, and out into the corridor beyond.
Alex watched her go, a sinister smile on his face "Don't worry baby," he mumured to himself "there will come a time when neither of us will have to hide, who we really are!"
xXxHarryPotterxXx
After leaving the Slytherin common room, Charlie hurried up seven floors and finally came across the stone gargoyle that hid the Headmaster's office from the rest of the school. She paused...she didnt know the password Oh this is bad she thought, chewing her lower lip and contemplating how to proceed. Just as she was about to turn around and head back downstairs to Snape's office to get the password, the gargoyle lept aside startling her and Harry stepped out from behind it.
"There you are!" the Gryffindor cried
Charlie grinned "Here I am!" she responded "And here you are..."
"Where you been?"
"Run into an old friend!" she answered "Why? Is Dumbledore mad?"
"No," Harry answered "I just remembered I hadnt told you about the lessons, and you didnt know the password. He's sent me to look for you"
The Slytherin nodded, before punching him in the arm.
"Ow!" he cried "What was that for?"
"For not telling me!" Charlie retorted, before pushing past him and climbing the stairs. When Harry didnt follow her immediately, she turned and grabbed his arm "Come now Potter, Dumbledore's office is this way" and she led him up the spiral staircase. Knocked on Dumbledore's door and entered after confirmation to do so.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk and smiled when he saw them both returning "Good evening, Miss. Hunter" he nodded at her
"Good evening, Headmaster" she smiled "Sorry im late. I ran into an old friend in the common room, and then realized that Mr. Potter here failed to tell me about these lessons, and he also failed in giving me the password to the Gargoyle" she explained innocently "I would say 'what a great friend' but I don't think it fits in this context"
Harry frowned at her, while Dumbledore chuckled in amusement "Clearly, my dear, clearly"
The Slytherin grinned, looked up at Harry's confused face and patted his head in a patronizing manner "Do not worry your pretty little head, Harry. Everything is A-okay..."
But Harry continued to stare at her in confusion, and Dumbledore watched her in amusement "Okay, enough chitchat," he spoke, after his students had calmed down and returned their attention to him once more "You must be wondering why I summoned you here tonight"
"Well, I don't know about Harry and myself," Charlie responded "But I do know that my friends are, and im pretty sure the Gryffindors are wondering too" she looked towards Harry for confirmation.
Harry nodded
"The answer lies here," Dumbledore answered, getting to his feet and rounded the desk. He approached a cabinet that seemed to be full of small glass vials. Exchanging looks, Harry and Charlie edged forwards in curiosity "What you are looking at are memories," Dumbledore explained "In this case, pertaining to one individual, Voldemort...or as he was known then, Tom Riddle"
He reached in and selected one of the vials, which had a label around its centre "This vial contains the most particular memory...of the day I first met him" he held it out towards the Gryffindor and Slytherin "I'd like you to see it...would you like to see it?"
"Is it optional?" Charlie asked, slowly reaching out for the vial. She took it from her headmaster and examined the label Tom Riddle. Aged 11. it read, before turning to the Pensieve behind her, she unscrewed the lid and turned the glass container upside down as the small silvery contents fell into the basin, where they swirled and shimmered, neither liquid nor gas.
Charlie glanced over her shoulder.
Dumbledore motioned for her to continue "After you," he nodded
The Slytherin nodded once, took a deep breath and plunged his face into the silvery substance. She fell feet first through the whirling darkness and then, landed with a soft thump on her behind on a street at the end of which stood a large building. Seconds later, Harry landed beside her. "Where's Dumbledore?" she asked
"I don't know," Harry answered, looking up at the place he and Charlie had just fallen from. They could see Dumbledore's face, but he was unmoving and merely watching them.
"Look," Charlie mumured, picking herself up and nudging Harry as a man carrying an umbrella hurried along the street ahead of them, he was heading for the building at the end. "Come on, if what Nikki tells me is true, then we have to keep with the person whom the memory belongs too. In this case, I think its him -" she pointed at the back of the man, with the Umbrella.
Harry nodded and they hurried off.
Wools Orphanage, was written on the iron gates blocking the entrance. Once inside, Charlie and Harry followed the younger version of their headmaster into the hallway. It was tiled in black and white, and the whole place looked shabby but spotless. An oldish woman approached them from an office on the left, and introduced herself as Mrs. Cole.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Cole," the younger Dumbledore nodded "I am here to see one of your patrons? Tom Riddle..."
The woman nodded "Of course," she motioned to the stairs "This way," and she started to climb them "I admit some confusion upon receving your letter, Mr. Dumbledore" she spoke as she climbed, the younger Dumbledore following behind, as Harry and Charlie hurried after them "In all the years Tom's been here, he's never once had a family visitor." she reached the third floor from the top, and led the way down the corridor "There have been incidents with the other children. Nasty things" she explained
Harry glanced sideways at Charlie, who was staring ahead at the two memory formed people. She didnt look up, but she could feel him watching her.
"Tom," Mrs. Cole started, as she pushed open the door to one of the rooms "you have a visitor"
"How do you do, Tom?" the younger version of Albus Dumbledore spoke, as he moved into the room.
Charlie started forward and followed him inside, reaching behind and tugging Harry by the arm and through the door. Sitting near the window was an eleven year old boy, that they two friends could only guess was Tom Riddle...or Voldemort.
"I'll leave you alone," Mrs. Cole nodded at Dumbledore, as she turned and walked away.
The younger memory formed Dumbledore touched a wardrobe, but the eleven year old boy stopped him "Don't!" was all he said. Further inspection upon the room, showed that it may have belonged to a kid with OCD. Shells and pebbles lay on the windowsill, each one in order of biggest to smallest; a book lay on the desk its papers stacked neatly together and sticking out of the bottom. The bed was made perfectly and nothing was out of place.
Tom swivelled around in his chair, as the younger Dumbledore sat on the bed "You're the doctor, arent you?"
"No," Dumbledore answered "I am a professor"
"I don't believe you" the boy answered "She wants me looked at. They think I'm different."
"Well, perhaps they're right," Dumbledore suggested
"I'm not mad!"
Dumbledore shook his head "Hogwarts is not a place for mad people," he explained "Hogwarts is a school. A school of magic."
The boy frowned and stared at Dumbledore.
"You can do things, can't you, Tom?" Dumbledore asked "Things other children can't"
"I can make things move without touching them," Tom explained, without prompting "I can make animals do what I want without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who are mean to me. I can make them hurt..."
Charlie shuddered beside Harry, causing the boy to instinctively wrap his arms around her shoulders protectively.
"...if I want" Tom finished "Who are you?" he questioned the younger Headmaster
Dumbledore paused "Well, I'm like you, Tom "I'm different"
"Prove it!" the eleven year old boy, demanded
And without warning the wardrobe beside the door burst into flames. A rattling sound echoed from inside the wardrobe as Dumbledore turned to Tom "I think there's something in your wardrobe trying to get out, Tom"
Tom got to his feet and approached the wardrobe, he opened the door and removed a metal box from the floor of the burning wardrobe. The flames disappeared as the young boy opened the box and emptied its contents onto the bed. They were small trinkets...treasures.
"Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts, Tom" Dumbledore explained "At Hogwarts, you'll be taught not only how to use magic, but how to control it. You understand me?"
The young boy just stared back, contemplation on his face.
"He's hiding something," Charlie mumured, still standing close to Harry. Her friends arm resting comfortably around her shoulders. The idea of this innocent eleven year old that stood before her, was about to grow up and become the monster that he was today, was something that scared her to the core; but also something that she couldnt quite wrap her head around.
Dumbledore turned and headed for the door, he hadnt stepped two feet over the threshold when he paused and turned back as Tom spoke once more "I can speak to snakes too," he stated, clearly "They find me. Whisper things. Is that normal for someone like me?" he questioned
Dumbledore turned back to face the boy, but no words were spoken.
Swirling black smoke distorted the image and seconds later Charlie and Harry rose into the air and stumbled backwards as they reappeared in Dumbledore's office.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
"...Woah!" the young muggleborn Slytherin yelped, as she stumbled backwards and landed on the steps separating Dumbledore's office with his study. She shook her head and glanced up at Harry who stood over her "Oh, so not fair!" she grumbled "How come I hit the ground and you stick the landing?"
The Gryffindor smirked and held out his hand to help her up "Because your clumsy," he answered
"Oh, and you're supposed to be graceful are you?"
Harry nodded
"Don't make me laugh," Charlie teased "Or do I have to remind you about the duelling club in second year, and the DA meeting last year? When I unceremonisly deposited you on your behind?"
Harry glared as Charlie smirked in response. No words were passed between them, until Dumbledore cleared his throat and the two students turned in his direction.
He was watching them in amusement again.
"Did you know, sir?" Harry asked "Then?"
"Did I know I'd just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time?" Dumbledore asked, he shook his head "No. If I had, I..." he trailed off "Over time, while here at Hogwarts, Tom Riddle grew close to one particular teacher. Can you guess who that teacher might be?"
He surveyed the two friends cautiously,
Charlie chewed her lower lip "You didnt bring Professor Slughorn back, to just teach Potions, did you, Professor?" she asked
"No, I did not" Dumbledore answeerd "You see, Professor Slughorn possesses something I desire very dearly. And he will not give it up easily"
Harry stared down at the basin in front of him "You said Professor Slughorn would try to collect Charlie, Riley and I" he spoke "Do you want us to let him?"
Charlie snapped her attention to Dumbledore.
"Yes," the old headmaster nodded
Exchanging looks, Harry and Charlie nodded. If it mean't understanding Voldemorts past, to learn how to beat him in the future, then, maybe they should have allowed Professor Slughorn to collect them...well, what did they have to loose?
At the end of the lesson Dumbledore dismissed them, with a wave of his hand. Pausing at the door, Charlie turned back to the Headmaster "Professor?" she questioned "Would it be possible for us to tell our friends, about this?"
"I believe it is necessary for you too inform, Miss. Spirit," Dumbledore nodded "You may also tell Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger..." he nodded "...and I believe Mr. Flint and Mrs. Young can be informed, as they will most probably worry the most" he explained "But I draw caution; do not breathe a word to anyone else. Understand?"
Harry and Charlie nodded "Yes, Professor"
"Good," Dumbledore nodded "Off you go. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Headmaster" the two friends responded, before hurrying out of the room and parting at the Marble staircase, as they returned to the safety of their common rooms.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
While in the Gryffindor common room, Harry found his friends waiting awake for him, Charlie found Marcus passed out on the couch in front of the dying embers of the Slytherin fire. She smiled as she approached him, and knelt down beside the arm of the couch on which he slept
"Marcus?" she whispered, reaching out and shaking his shoulder gently "Come on Marcus, wake up..."
The older boy jerked awake his gaze locking with her's "Charlie?" he grumbled, rubbing the sleep from his tired eyes and sitting up "When did you get back?"
"Only this minute," she answered, dropping down beside him "Why are you still up?"
"Waiting for you," he answered "What happened? What Dumbledore want?"
Charlie shook her head "Not much, we're just going through memories," she explained, stiffling a yawn that threatened to escape. She grabbed his arm and pulled it around her shoulders as she rested her head against his chest "Im tired..." she mumbled in his clothes
"Then go to bed," Marcus responded, although he made no move to release her, but only held her tightly
"Too tired," Charlie answered "Climbing those stairs takes effort" she rested her head against his chest, and closed her eyes. Within seconds her breathing evened out and it didnt take a genius to figure out that she was asleep.
Marcus glanced down and chuckled at her, he moved carefully as not to wake her, and scooped her bridal style and proceeded to carry her up the stairs of the boys dorms. The room he shared with Adrian was right at the top of the boys dorms behind a tapestry. Carefully sliding open the tapestry, Marcus entered the cool, dark room and lay Charlie down on his bed and pulled the covers over her sleeping form as she snuggled further into his pillow.
He smirked, as he watched her, lightly touching the scar on her face -the same one she had recieved from her cauldron exploding, in her first year- after he had watched her for at least 5 minutes, the former student lay down beside her, kissed her forehead lightly and wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer
"Goodnight Charlie," he whispered, before falling asleep himself
Subconsciously, Charlie moved closer to Marcus as she slept. A content smile evident on her features.
Now this...this moment right now...was perfect!
A/N: Aw, you all wanted more Marcus/Charlie...so what did you think about that? Nothing like a fluffy ending before bed...that is where I am off. Night.
Off to bed now, because I am dropping. Goodnight.
~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs too xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated 26 March 2011 at 03:13am