Accidents Happen C17:

The day before departure for Hogwarts:

'Got everything? Wand? Books? Cauldron? Broom?' Remus listed off.

'Yes, yes, yes and yes! I also have a selection of pranking products!' Charlie grinned

'Yes, I know! You couldn't last a week without a prank.'

'No, I can't last a day! Make that an hour!'

'You are such a Marauder! Good thing you were inducted!'

/FLASHBACK/

'Dad? When can I become an official Marauder?'

'I don't know! Today perhaps? It only needs the master copy of the Marauder's map and the Marauder Manual -we recorded our pranks and events in it- and we're done and away!'

'Please can we do it now?' Charlie begged Remus on his knees.

'Yeah sure! Why not?! You're certainly Marauder material!' he winked at Charlie.

'To the den!' Charlie stuck his arm out like superman and ran to the study which Charlie had renamed the den and put all prank items and such that he let Remus know about in there. On the walls, pictures of him and Remus together and individually were hanged, outside their cottage, on broomsticks in the air, at a picnic and hugging. Charlie looked up at the pictures, the corners of his lips turned up. Remus started rummaging through the prank shelf before pulling out the map and manual.

'Here we go! The Marauder's map and manual! I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.' the map burst into action shortly followed my the manual.

'Messers Padfoot and Prongs greet Messer Moony and his cub and wonder what they are up to?'

'Messer Moony is inducting Messer Lupus to the Marauders after seeming him worthy of such a title!'

'Messer Prongs greets Messer Lupus and asks if they are acquainted?'

Charlie spoke up 'Messer Lupus is very much acquainted with Messer Prongs and is in fact Messer Prongs' son.'

'Messer Padfoot expresses astonishment that Messer Prongs ever managed to get a girl! No matter a SON?!'

Remus beamed at the parchment and then Charlie.

'Do we deem Messer Lupus fit to have status as a Marauder?'

'Yes we do. Messer Lupus please sign the members page in the Marauder's manual and place a drop of your blood under your signature and then a drop onto the map. Thank you!' after doing so, a sketch of Charlie and his wolf form appeared on the manual's page and then a new page with fact file filled itself in. Remus signed the page to make it official.

'Boys, it seems we have a new Marauder! Messer Lupus!' Remus announced proudly.

'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!' Charlie smirked, as Remus ruffled his now red hair.

/END FLASHBACK/

'Last thing, have you got the Wolfsbane potion? I know we made enough to last a year or two!'

'Yeah,' Charlie nodded towards the trunk 'it's in the locked area of the trunk along with the invisibility cloak and the map and manual. '

'Good, now remember that you can't look too magically powerful or you'll draw too much suspicion and attention to yourself and with our furry little problems we wouldn't want that, would we Lupus?' Remus smiled knowingly.

'No Moony, we wouldn't, would we? After all the big bad wolves may eat all the students during lesson time!' Charlie jested.

'That we would not Charlie, that we would not,' Remus said, imitating wiseness. Charlie picked up his trunk, took it down the stairs and deposited it in the hall along with Ezekiowl's cage and his broomstick. Charlie was really looking forward to going to Hogwarts officially and doing the Hogwarts thing his dad had told him so much about. But as Charlie walked out the front door, his eyes fell on something glistening in the flower bed. A snake. He quickly checked to see where His dad was- still in the house- and then bent down to pick up the snake.

"Hellooo my friend, would you like to come with me?" Charlie asked the snake.

"A ssspeaker! How... Rare. I haven't ssseeen one before. They were thought to be legend. Yesss, perhapsss I sshhhall come with you ssspeaker! Where are you goinggg?" the snake contemplated.

"Hogwartsss sschool - it'sss for wizardss like me and my dad!"

"Yesss, I think I sshhhall come!" the snake decided.

"Around my wrisst then!" Charlie said and offered his wrist.

"My name iss Quiessé, but to make it eassy, you can call me Diablo." the snake said.

"Diablo? Rather ssstrange name for a sssnake sssuch asss yoursself!"

"I heard a youngling sssay it in the Muggle world. It sssounded niccee!"

"Hmm... Cool! It iss rather niccee!'

Charlie said as he got up, Diablo around his wrist, his dad walked out the front door.

'Let's go!'

The next morning at the station:

Platform 9 and 10 was packed with muggles. They were everywhere, bustling about, knocking into people and generally getting in the way of others. Charlie rolled his loaded up trolley along the platform until he reached the barrier, with his dad's guiding hand in his shoulder, they ran at the barrier and popped out at Platform 9 3/4. Remus bent down and became even with Charlie's eye level.

'Cub, it'll be fine! Are you really that anxious?' Charlie nodded, biting his lip so much the skin started to break.

'Well! Let's edit your face for the journey! I think wavey blonde hair- like the surfers in Australia you saw! And blue eyes and tanned skin. Why don't we bump your height up to five foot five or six? Only another inch or so!' after Remus' description, Charlie changed his features and looked at Remus in anticipation of if the change had gone well, it had. He let a small smile out, the scar wasn't there anymore and he looked quite good he thought! He put his trunk in the luggage carriage and then went back to his dad, small bag of pranking items and coins in hand, who was waiting a metre away.

'All ready? Let's jump on! Shall we get on this carriage?' he gestured towards a carriage two down, Charlie nodded and followed Remus. When they got on, Remus said that he was going to go and ask the teacher on duty something and left the compartment. A red head sauntered towards their compartment and stuck his head in, lounging against the door frame - it was Fred and George's brother.

'I'm Ron Weasley. Have you seen Harry Potter anywhere?' Charlie was liking this boy less and less by the minute, 'I'm looking for him, gonna be his friend you know? My brother George said that I should let him chose his own friends, so did Fred actually as well, but I want to be friends with someone famous. And rich. ' he added as an after thought

Charlie decidedly didn't like the boy. He was too arrogant and fame seeking for Charlie's, or for that matter anyone's, taste. Charlie shook his head and went back to rummaging in his bag for nothing in particular.

'What's your name?' the boy asked.

'Charlie Lupin. ' Charlie replied on telling the red head this, he shrugged, apparently gave up interest and walked out.

'Ah! Charlie! Just checking about any duties I may have possibly had to do- none it turns out! So we get a free train ride to do what we want. Firstly, I advise you socialise. It's a good way to make friends. Secondly, chill. Thirdly, if you do socialise and get overly anxious or something: you have prank planning sanctuary here!' he added with a grin.

'Ok! Er... I think I'll socialise first, pop back for lunch or a tad earlier and perhaps meet up with others later? Sound ok to you?' he planned.

'That sounds great cub! Go and find some third years to meet! And others too, but you know...' Remus added, knowing Charlie's reservations about what he called 'stupid young people who don't know anything.' which Remus found rather arrogant at his age but at the same time, understandable seeing as his magic was so advanced- Harry had progressed to NEWT level in transfiguration and charms and had progressed to a year into an auror curriculum when it came to defensive and offensive spells. Remus had put his foot down when Charlie started blowing things up purposefully and said to wait for Hogwarts to use it in pranks and to fill spare time. In actual fact, he was rather scared at what Charlie could do, not that he'd admit that!

Charlie stood up, gave Remus a hug and a kiss and walked out of the compartment and turned left to where loud bangs were coming from. Trust Charlie to gravitate to noise and explosions! Remus thought.

When Charlie got to the location of the noise, he found two identical red heads sat in a compartment, their heads bent over a box of pranks. Charlie leant in and cleared his throat, they had been too engrossed to notice him before. Their heads sprang up and they pushed the box behind them.

'Messers Gred and Forge-'

'At your service.' they said.

'Hi, guys, it's me, Charlie,' Harry waved at them

'CHARLIE! We didn't recognise you!' the twins shouted in unison, getting up to high five him.

'We were wondering where you were,' Fred said.

'Is your dad here? We heard he was-' George began before Fred took over.

'Teaching Defence,'

'Yeah, he is,' Charlie grinned, 'next carriage down,'

'Well, now we've-'

'Reconvened:,'

'Prank?' George grinned.

'Why not?' Harry shut the door and blinds wandlessly and then proceeded to hang the boys upside down and temporarily banish their clothes except their broomstick and snitches underwear.

'THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEANT!' the twins laughed from under their robes. Charlie laughed and lowered them down and restored their clothing before saying

'Any idea where a first year called Draco Malfoy is? I think a visit is in order.' the twins nodded and showed Charlie where he was- he was sitting with the arrogant boy from earlier, snippets of conversation drifted out.

'Yes, father's going to buy me a Nimbus 2000 as a welcome to Hogwarts gift-' Malfoy smirked.

'I already have one!' the arrogant boy boasted, much to the amusement of the twins, who shook their heads in disdain, knowing the boy to be lying. Charlie morphed his figure under the cover of his cloak before looking back at the twins with a smirk at their astonishment and waltzed into Malfoy's compartment.

'Yes, I know,' Charlie said, his back to Malfoy, 'I'll be right back, one second!' and he turned round to face the compartment. He took one look at Malfoy and said 'You!' accusingly, his eyes sending Malfoy a dark look, if looks could kill, Malfoy would be six feet under already.

'What?,' Malfoy said in shock before raising his voice at recognition at what had happened,' WHAT?! You fake- weird- IMPOSTER! That's what you are! An imposter!' Charlie just smirked at his confusion and anger.

'No, Mr. I-am-not-actually-a-Malfoy, I am the real thing! You came and STOLE MY PLACE! Oh well! Father shall not be please that some mudblood like yourself came and took a pureblood's place. It insults me and the wizarding world. Besides, being a noble man like myself has privileges. Like being superior to stupid ignoramuses like yourself. Perhaps you'll get into Slytherin. Most likely not. Only noble blood gets in there!' Charlie sneered.

'And where will you go? Eh? Hufflepuff? Gryffindor? Or maybe you won't get sorted at all and get sent back home!' Malfoy retaliated.

'No. No, I won't. Is that the best you can do? And anyway, I'll be in Slytherin with the rest of the noble blood. Until then puffer.' Charlie waved and walked out whilst wandlessly banishing Malfoy's outer clothing, revealing pink underpants and a thin, pale body, much to the amusement of the nearby twins.

'Charlie-' began Fred, or was it George?

'That was-'

'AMAZING!' they finished together.

'We should have thought of that!'

'We could be everywhere at any one time!' one twin said to the other in scheming joy.

'Wicked!' the other said.

'Marauder at your service!' Harry mock saluted to them.

'A MARAUDER?!' George gasped.

'But they're stuff of pranking legend! Did your dad induct you?' Fred said.

'Are you serious Charlie?'

'Yup! Hang on, come with me!' Charlie gestured for them to follow him, they walked quickly to Charlie and Remus' compartment. Charlie pulled open the door and smiled at Remus, Remus put his paper down and folded it up and put it on the seat next to him.

'Hey dad!' he said, Remus and the twins shared a look of confusion at what Charlie was doing.

'Hi Charlie? What's up?' he asked.

'Oh nothing, just Maraudering about.'

Remus looked at the twins, who grinned and brightly said, 'Mornin' Mr. Lupin!' Remus smiled and waved before turning back to Charlie.

'Not already? You pranked someone ALREADY? Blimey? Who, what, where and why? And should Moony know about this?' Remus asked and a second later the twins gasped.

'Moony?' Fred asked Remus, 'Are you Moony?'

'Why yes! Yes I am!' Remus bowed to Fred and George. The twins gave each other a look and got on their knees.

'We always thought you were slightly-'

'Cooler-'

'Than other parents but-'

'A marauder!'

'We are not worthy-'

'Oh great pranking one-'

'Please teach us-'

'In the realms of-'

'Super awesome pranks-'

'For we are measly amateurs-'

'We bow down to the great Moony!' they said alternately in a form of mantra. Remus at first sat in shocked silence and then a grin grew slowly on his face, when they finished, he gave one look at Charlie and burst into laughter.

'Well, in my capacity as a teacher, I shouldn't really,' the twins' faces looked crestfallen, ' HOWEVER, I know that Moony and Lupus can,' the twins beamed at him and then looked confused.

'Lupus?'

'Who's Lupus?' Fred asked.

'Lupus? Why he's the latest Marauder! CHARLIE!' Remus announced as Charlie grinned.

'Woah! What gives the nickname?' George goggled at him. Remus laughed and said smoothly,

'He had an obsession with wolves when he was younger,' much to Charlie's relief.

'But don't tell anyone, want to make it a surprise. You know...' Charlie trailed off.

'We solemnly swear that we shall keep the secrets of the Marauders. ' they saluted and said together much to Remus and Charlie's amusement.

As the journey drew to a close, Charlie sat on the red velvet seats of his compartment, staring out into the lush woodland, his eyes were drawn to the deer that stood in the outskirts of the forest eating foliage. They were natural and seemed to belong in the forest, would he belong, or would he be an outcast for who and what he was? His dad had done it, could he? What if they didn't like him for it? What if they said that he was a monster like Charlie was convinced he was. No matter what his dad said, Charlie knew that really he was a monster, a half-breed. He was powerful and strong, but he was still a dark creature. A dark being. No matter what anyone said, Charlie was dark. And there was nothing he could do to change that.

'Charlie? Cub?' an anxious voice broke the silence, 'What are you thinking? Please tell me,' it was his dad.

'They won't like me. They'll find out and leave me alone. No one will be my friend once they've found out! And then what do I do?' Harry said, trying to hold back tears.

'Charlie, come here,' Remus held his hands out wide, inviting Harry into a hug, 'Charlie, when you don't use you magic to change you, what do you look like?'

'Brown ish hair, green eyes, tanned skin and a scar across my face.' Harry mumbled.

'Exactly, and what does the scar tell us? That you are brave! That you are courageous and push on through, no matter the circumstance! This scar doesn't show that you're a monster. Quite the opposite in fact,' Remus said as he traced where the concealed scar ran, 'If people don't like what you are and stop being your friends, they were not real friends in the first place. If they stay, the are friends for life! Some of my happiest years were at Hogwarts, and my friends knew but they didn't care, in fact they gave me a nickname about it!' Remus tried to console Charlie, 'And if all else fails, which it WON'T, I love you son. And you can stay with me and learn somewhere else. Besides, you have the twins! And you may be in Gryffindor,'

'But what if I'm NOT a Gryffindor?' Charlie said.

'Then another house will have gained a good person!' Remus smiled.

'I think I may be in Slytherin though! Will that matter?'

'No, not in the slightest.' Remus embraced Charlie in a hug, 'Oh and Charlie, Hogwarts has you down as Charlie Remus Lupin to avoid any issues. So no chance of other people knowing your birth name if you don't want them to,'

'Yeah that's fine dad, really good actually,' Charlie smiled at Remus.

'And your dad and your first dad are undoubtedly proud of you!'

'Dad, is speaking to snakes ok? I mean, being a parselmouth?'

'Why? Who do you know who is?' Remus asked, suddenly curious.

'Well, I found this snake in the front garden before we left and he's very nice and could I possibly keep him?' Charlie said.

'You? A snake? Talking? What?! Are you telling me you're a parselmouth?'Remus said, eyeing Charlie suspiciously.

'Well sorta, yeah I am. Can I keep him? Please?' Charlie pleaded Remus.

'Well, he may be taken off you, but I suppose that then he can live in my quarters. Has he got a name?'

'Yeah, one's a parseltongue name and the other he says can be Diablo, cos he heard some kid in 'Muggle world' playing with one,' Charlie informed Remus.

'Riiiiight. Well now we've cleared up the name of your pet snake that you talk to, anything else you want to clear up?' Remus said sarcastically.

'Erm, not really, just can we have a duel sometime soon? I need to see if I can use the auror spells in a duel and I am NOT going up against a third or first year. This is second year auror stuff!' Charlie said curiously.

'Yes, normal rules! No unforgivables. We can duel now if you want? Have you got you shrinky trunk with you? The one with the dueling chamber?'

Remus asked.

'Yeah, here,' Charlie said as he pulled a matchstick size box out of his pocket and made it expand, he lifted the lid and put his hands in to flick through what appeared to be paperwork folders, but when grown became rooms. He found a navy blue folder and pushed his hands apart inside. A rope ladder hung from the side of the trunk, descending into the room.

'You first dad,' Charlie said, gesturing for Remus to enter, which he did, shortly followed by Charlie.

'Now, try not to kill me cub! Let your old man stand a chance against some of those spells you learn!' Remus said jokingly, he hadn't realised that Charlie had been studying in secret to prepare for Hogwarts.

'Yeah sure, now we bow!' Charlie agreed.

'3-2-1!' and the duel began. Spells flew back and forth, all manners of spell craft being used, runes, transfiguration and offensive spells. Charlie, pushing his luck as usual, even threw in a couple minor dark spells an jinxes, but nothing the new DADA professor couldn't handle. They dueled fast and furiously for what seemed like hours, but Charlie was the one who won the duel with his favourite spell: Serpensortia.

"Greetingssss Ssspeaker, what sshhhall I do?"

"Ssscare the mannn over there for mee, do not bitee though, jussst ssscare."

"Ccertainly ssspeaker..." the snake said as he slithered towards Remus, his scales reflecting the light from above.

'Charlie, cub, get the snake away please! I don't like snakes. Get the snake AWAY!' Remus shouted.

'Oh right, shall do, he won't hurt you anyway, I told him not to!'

"That'ssss enough, thank youuu my friend, your help wasss needed! Thankssss" Charlie said as he banished the snake with a flick of his wand.

'Charlie, not funny. Do you have any IDEA how FREAKY it is listening to someone TALK TO A SNAKE?' Remus said, evidently shaken by the experience.

'Not really, but I wanted to test the spell out in a duel and this was the perfect opportunity. Sorry dad, I won't do it again... to you... Probably.' Charlie said, his head going from side to side as if weighing up possibilities.

'Charlie... Charlie... Cub... What am I going to do with you!? You'll be the death of me, the death! But I have to say, it was PRETTY cool!' Remus admitted as they climbed out and shrank the trunk.

'Why thank you father!' Charlie winked.

Just then, a small girl with brown eyes and hair knocked on the door.

'Sorry to bother, but has anyone seen a toad around? Neville's lost his. Oh sorry, I forgot... My name's Hermione Granger, you are?'

'Charlie Lupin and this is my dad, Professor R. J. Lupin' Charlie told her, ' and also, have you not tried a summoning spell? It'd be much easier!' Charlie flicked his wrist and sensed for the toads whereabouts before pulling it towards him, 'Here you go!' Charlie said as the toad arrives in his hand.

'That was very good! But you didn't use a wand... Thanks anyway, what year are you in?'

Realising his mistake, Charlie lied smoothly, 'I did use my wand, didn't you see me?' he looked genuinely confused, 'anyway, I'm meant to be a first year but I'm in third year. So I'm not going to be in your classes, but I may be in your house.'

'Ooh, you must be good then! I don't know which house I'll be in, Ravenclaw I suppose, but I would like to be in Gryffindor! What about you? And what happens when you leave school, but can't properly leave because you'd be 15 or 16 when you finish.'

' I'm not exactly sure... An apprenticeship perhaps or do a masters? Or teaching or something in the castle? And Gryffindor or Slytherin. I don't think I'm Puff stuff or a knowledge person. More power and ambition, yet I am reckless sometimes and brave. So either really!' Harry summed up.

'Oh right, from what I've heard, Slytherin is evil, but I'm not so sure! I mean, they can't all be bad!' Hermione insisted.

'I'm sure they're not, but it's just more prejudice you know! Like with muggleborns and supposed 'dark' creatures and talents, a load of cods wallop if you ask me!'

'You seem well... Versed in the prejudice among wizard kind, almost like you are prejudiced against. But why would you be?' Hermione said to herself quietly, but Charlie's extra sensitive hearing picked it up and all the blood drained from his face, this girl was sharp, too sharp. Dangerous.

"Sshhee isss trusstworthy though ssspeaker!' Diablo hissed.

"How do you know thisss for a fact, Diablo?" Charlie whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"I can read her... You can read heerr tooo, ssspeaker. "

Legilimency.

He could use surface Legilimency, where you looked at a persons intentions and personality as opposed to memories. She seemed curious yet trusting and there was a hidden sense of loyalty. Maybe she only trusted and was loyal to a few, like Charlie only trusted a few. Maybe she had a secret?

A pregnant pause filled the air before Hermione broke it by saying goodbye and see you soon to them both and leaving.

'She was too observant. I felt uneasy,' Charlie told his dad, 'what if she puts it all together? She could you know!'

'Then we swear her to secrecy unless you are really close friends. Even then you could make her swear!' Remus plotted menacingly, Charlie really wouldn't want to be on his bad side.

'I should get changed, we're gonna arrive in about ten minutes!' Charlie said excitedly.

'Alright,' Remus said.

'Dad?'

'Yes?'

'Do I have to be in a house?'

'Yes I think you do, why?' Remus asked, baffled by this random question.

'Because, I don't think that I'd fit in Slytherin because of my Gryffindorness, but am too dark and secretive and stuff for Gryffindor. And that also, I am more magically wise than nearly everyone my age. Spell wise I mean.' Charlie said.

'Charlie, I know that this is exciting, but don't go boasting about it, you may make a few enemies and stuff! Just tone down what you do and try to fit in! Do well, but don't do amazingly and then show off! We need to keep this sorta half under wraps ' Charlie looked puzzled and then said:

'Yeah, I guess that wouldn't be the best plan ever. Thanks for pointing that out dad,'

'Not a problem, come on you need to get changed, we're about three minutes away!'

'Righteo!' Charlie said as he pulled off his shoes and socks and proceeded to get changed, 'I think I could be a tad taller, don't you think? Just an inch or so?'

'Half an inch, or you'll stick out too much with blue hair!' Remus said firmly.

'I forgot about that! Hang on! Electric blue?' he said quietly and scrunched up his face in concentration as his hair turned blue, 'Blue hair!' Charlie sang, he then made it messy and fairly long , 'Messy blue cool hair!' he sang even louder, to Remus' annoyance. Remus didn't really like loud noises because of his extra sensitive hearing, Charlie sort of understood as he shared the same problem, but it didn't stop him from being noisy.

'Cub, one last thing: no matter what, I'm proud of you, ok?' Remus said as he pulled a now changed Charlie into his arms.

'Yeah, I love you dad,'

'I love you too cub, I love you too! Remember to go with the first years to the castle and then sit with the third years!' Remus winked at Charlie.

Charlie and Remus exited the compartment as the journey pulled to a close and with one final hug and kiss, split up. Charlie walked down the busy, crowded corridor to meet up with the twins and Lee Jordan- one of their mates- and they walked off the platform laughing, Charlie then split up with them telling them he needed to be sorted after seeing their confusion.

'You're going to be sorted? But you're in our year?' Lee said giving Charlie a weird look.

'Yeah, but I haven't been sorted before, so I really need to!' Charlie explained.

'Oh right, seya then!' Lee and the twins said, waving Charlie off along with the twins.

As Charlie walked up the hill, he saw a familiar face, a very familiar face, one that Charlie almost cried out in sheer happiness to see.

'NEV!' Charlie shouted to attract his attention, Nev span round and looked at Charlie in confusion who ran up to him and whispered in his ear

'It's Charlie, I didn't want any attention so I edited myself a bit' Charlie said mischievously.

'I was gonna say! Blue hair in a wizard! Not very common!' Nev laughed.

'Yeah well, apart from that! I always wanted to have blue hair at my sorting!' Charlie shrugged.

'Wow! You're normalcy astounds me as usual!' Nev smirked.

'Oi! The weirdo has feelings too!' Charlie said in mock distress, clutching at his heart dramatically before wiping an invisible tear from his eye.

'Riiiight! I'll bear that in mind!' Nev chuckled at his friends stupidity.

'You do that.' Charlie said straightening up, 'Oh and by the way, the Weasley kid in our year is searching for 'the famous Harry Potter!' Horrible kid!'

'I'm sure that Weasley can't be THAT bad!' Nev said.

'Oh trust me!' Harry said darkly, 'He is! He came up to me and told me he wanted to be friends with Harry Potter for his fame and money! I told him to stick it where the sun don't shine!'

'Trust you to do that!' Nev shook his head, hiding a giant beam of a smile, 'Any pranks as of today?'

'Yes! I had a great idea on the train! I'm gonna pretend to be Snivellus Snape! Then walk into the great hall and proclaim my love for McGonagall! In front of the whole school! It's gonna be awesome!' Charlie said excitedly.

'Oh Merlin Charlie! Trust you! But that does sound pretty cool! Perhaps you could make Snape wear some embarrassing robe or something?' Nev suggested.

'Thanks for the suggestion! That's pretty cool! I was thinking more a robe in Gryffindor colours with 'I love Gryffs' on the back?' Charlie said.

'Yeah! That'd be good! Or perhaps he could have a- I dunno... A bat? Floating above him as well?'

'YES! YES! I likey! I likey a lot!' Charlie cried, which attracted a lot of strange looks from the nearby people. In his scheming trance, Charlie didn't realise that they had reached the harbour where little boats where situated, bobbing up and down in the ebb and flow from the lake. Charlie and Neville climed into a boat with Hermione Granger and a boy he hadn't seen before. Conversation didn't last very long as it was often stifled by bouts of OOHs and AHs. The most that Charlie managed to get out of the unusual boy was that his name was Justin Finch-Fletchley and he thought he would be a Hufflepuff- which secretly Charlie agreed with just based on the boys demeanour. As they approached the other side of the lake, Charlie made one final check of his appearance in the calm water below him, his hair and eyes were the right colour - blue hair and eyes! That would have to change, Charlie made his eyes purple as planned originally instead, his blue hair would stay there! About that he was adamant.

(fill in the blank for them walking up)

The castle was stupendously large with colourful stained glass windows, turrets and towers. As Charlie walked up the steps to the door of the castle with Nev, he had one last fleeting thought.

There's no going back now, not once I'm in. What if they find out? Charlie shook his head to expel the idea, but it still lingered.

'I heard that we have to wrestle a troll!' it was the Weasley kid, he was so thick Harry couldn't believe it.

'We would die! Of course we can't!' that was the Malfoy slime ball. At least one of those two arrogant twits had some sense.

'Guys, you're being stupid! Obviously we have to duel Dumbledore!' Charlie said confidently, only Nev knew he was joking, the rest all paled considerably and started trembling. Just then, Professor McGonagall swept into the entrance hall, shutting the large oak doors silently behind her.

'You are about to be sorted, there are four houses, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin,' Malfoy had a smirk on his face at that mention, 'They will be like your family for the school year, rule breaking will lose points, any good work will gain points. The house with the most points at the end of the year wins the house cup. We are ready for you now.'

With a slick swish of her robes, she span round and walked into the great hall after waving the doors open with her wand. They followed her nervously into the hall, eyeing the witches and wizards sat at five separate tables around the room, at the top of the hall was his dad on the teachers table, he wore a proud smile and did a small wave at Harry, which he returned. They collected around the sorting hat at the front of the hall, Charlie noticed lots of strange looks from members of the hall at him, it must be my hair! Charlie thought happily.

One by one the first years went and up and sat on the stool, jamming the poor, beaten hat on their heads.

'Weasley, Ronald.'

After a moments pause,

'SLYTHERIN!'

'WHAT?! But my family are Gryffindors!' Ron shouted in indignation at a amused hat.

'Yes, I know, I've sorted them all! But you are too sneaky too be a Gryffindor, Slytherin would suit you much better! Now off you trot! No resorts for you!' the hat said merrily to an angry Ron.

Professor McGonagall proceeded onwards 'Zabini, Blaise' was a 'SLYTHERIN!'.

By now Harry was the only one left.

'And a third year,' McGonagall said, 'Lupin, Charlie!'.

All eyes were on him, he walked coolly up to the hat and placed it on his head after sending a distressed look to Remus that only he could see

'OH! Another Lupin! But a Potter too! And a werewolf! But you are powerful, very powerful! I haven't seen power that rivals this before, perhaps Slytherin himself, but no! Not like you! And it's growing! Your core is growing at an alarming rate after how big it is already! Already finished the Hogwarts curriculum have we? Well, this puts me between a rock and a hard place! '

'Why?'

'Well, you see, you are fairly Gryffindor in your personality but at the same time carry Slytherin traits and powers. You would be more powerful in Slytherin- which I can see you are desperate you be- but have more friends in Gryffindor. I know what to do-'