Hey guys, I'm glad you're all loving this so far, I really hoped the rewrite would start off better and so far thanks to you all it has. I think this is a better way to do it, at least this way Harry will grow up loved and prepared for whatever comes his way.

This chapter we pick up where we left off, Charlotte and Apolline talk about Harry, and Charlotte reflects on the past when she lost her brothers.

Oh and a few facts, if the font is normal it's them speaking English, but if it's in italics, it's them speaking in French or a flashback. Google translate is not 100% reliable.

I don't own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

It had taken all of twenty minutes for Charlotte and Apolline to get acquainted, or reacquainted if you would call it that. After the surprise early visit from her old friend, Charlotte had served tea and led them both into the main drawing room with Harry still in her arms. They spent the first few minutes just talking about family, mainly Apolline's husband and daughter, and Charlotte's goddaughter Fleur Delacour. Four years old, adorable and beautiful as can be, especially given her Veela bloodline, but still so strong and loving for a child.

After having tea Apolline all but politely demanded to know where Harry had come from, and why Charlotte had taken him in without saying so. Charlotte spent fifteen minutes explaining, and by the time she was done, Apolline's face had a mix of awe, anger, and shock. The woman cooed at Harry, and Harry seemed to like the attention, Charlotte felt relieved, babies could warm up to anyone but given his case she had been wondering if he would be shy.

"He's very adorable, but so small…you said he's how old?"

"Nearly sixteen months old, but when I found him he was in such awful shape. He's doing very well though, I've only had him for a day but he's improved so quickly."

"He's a strong boy, but…Charlotte, why did you suddenly take him in? You never expressed a desire to have children." Charlotte sighed, she knew that would come up.

"You would be right if this were a year ago, but things are different now and besides, look at him, how can I deny such an adorable creature?" she held Harry up and he giggled, making the elder woman laugh.

"Do you think you can handle it? He may be one child but all children require care, much of it."

"I know, but I promised his mother that if she didn't make it, I would take him in and protect him."

"But from what? Wait…you said he came from England? Was his family killed by that dark lord?" Charlotte nodded, another thing of being the minister's wife, news traveled very fast.

"I'm sure you've heard the news of him being 'destroyed', haven't you?" Apolline nodded, it was all over Europe by now. "Well, that's only partly true, but to make a long story short, Hadrian, is actually Hadrian Potter, the newly proclaimed boy-who-lived." Apolline's eyes went wide.

"WHAT?!" she shouted so loud, Harry started sniffling and huddled into Charlotte's arms.

"Shhh…shh it's ok Harry, it's ok." She rocked him gently until he calmed but continued to cling to her shirt.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten the poor lamb." Apolline looked down in shame.

"It's fine, just remember he's here."

"I shall, but how did this happen?"

"It's a bit of a long story, but I'll make it as short as I can." Charlotte went on about everything, visiting the Potters, her visions, going to Gringotts, visiting the Dursleys, and all the way up to that morning. By the time she finished, Apolline seemed to understand, but still looked unsure.

"That's quite a story Charlotte, but I see you're being truthful."

"I know it's strange, and sudden, but he needs me." She positioned Harry into a more comfortable position on her lap, and he leaned against her.

"He's become attached to you already." Apolline smiled. "You are already good with children, but you never spoke of having your own."

"Would you have let me near your daughter otherwise?" the two women laughed. "Besides, it's not that I didn't want kids, I just never bothered with 'finding a man to settle down with', you know." When she said it the words came out with a partial sneer.

"You are still very angry about that aren't you? Not that I blame you of course."

"Yes, I am, and I doubt I can forgive it either." She didn't want to think about it, that memory she hated most among others.

"I would not blame you." Apolline sipped her tea. "Speaking of which, have you been able to contact your sister?" Charlotte let out a 'tch'.

"No, she hasn't responded to any of my letters. I've probably sent her a dozen since before and after daddy passed away, and our brothers. I don't care if she hates me, but she could at least allow me a chance to know my nephews."

"Have you ever considered going to her home?"

"I have, but at risk of her having me arrested for trespassing and running into that blithering buffoon she married, it's not worth it." Apolline was surprised, but understood.

"You had a vision."

"I did, while I hate that I won't my nephews for many years, I won't expose them to our family woes." Not while they were still so young at least. "Plus, I doubt Molly would admit to any of her faults, she'd just pin the blame on me."

"And it would be foolish to do, since it was her who ran off."

"Yes but if any of her kids are as hardheaded as her, they won't believe me." And she'd be a stranger, who could they believe? The mother who raised them, or the woman who will someday appear in their lives.

"Still, you have tried to reconnect with her no?"

"I have, but each letter I've sent, including the one from daddy, all get sent back. I hate her for that, he died without knowing his grandsons and she just couldn't be the better woman."

"Yes, I cannot understand why she would cut herself off, especially since Gideon and Fabian are gone." Charlotte shrugged.

"She's always been like that; one she cuts something off it stays off. It doesn't matter if it hurts one or several people, she's just stubborn and selfish."

"And this man she married; he is…poor?" Charlotte snorted.

"He isn't completely poor, and yes he works hard, but he has a thing for muggles and their technology, it's creepy. The way he talks about them as if they're a new species…" she gagged. "I have nothing against muggles, hell I know more about them than he could imagine, but still, they're only human." Apolline smiled.

"Another thing I love about you Charlotte, you care not if a person is human, veela, werewolf, unicorn, even flobberworm, you respect all magical and normal creatures."

"I only know what I've been taught and what I've seen over the years, just because a person is a little different doesn't mean they should be harmed or belittled." Charlotte adjusted Harry a little more in her arms. "Another reason to detest Magical Britain, the laws are so strict on creatures it's as if they're asking for trouble."

"They are set in their ways, but change will come, however long it may take." Charlotte nodded. "But back to the matter at hand, what are you going to do about Hadrian? You will have to return to work soon…"

"I have already sent a letter to Madam Maxime; I haven't heard back yet. I will continue out the semester, but after that I will take a yearly sabbatical. Hadrian and I need time to know each other, and right now…I need to get away."

"Away?"

"Just for a while, and it'll be good for Hadrian, give him time to be more comfortable with me now that his parents are gone."

"What about other family? Does he not have aunts or…?" Charlotte's face hardened.

"His aunt is a horrible bitch, she is not fit to raise a child." Apolline stared at her. "I took him from her house, when I got there, he was filthy, starving…" she paused, swallowing the bile in her throat. "She would have probably killed him if I hadn't taken him."

"What…?"

"She's a muggle, but from what I know she hated Harry's mother because she had magic. Jealousy makes people do horrible things, but her…it's become outright hatred." Apolline set her teacup down.

"What about his father?"

"He was an only child, his parents' are gone so Hadrian has no other blood family. He does have a godfather, but the man is childish and right now…sitting in a jail cell."

"Why?"

"It's another long story, but to shorten it, he went after a death eater alone in an area full of muggles, and now…he's being punished as the traitor who sold Hadrian's parents to the dark lord." Apolline gasped, but seeing Charlotte's cool demeanor as she spoke confused her.

"You aren't surprised, do you know something?" she didn't have to ask.

"I cannot say, I don't have all the facts yet and even if I did, that part of the world is in shambles and it will be some time before the pillars are rebuilt…the same, old, prejudicial, ancient pillars no one seems ready to change."

"You're not wrong, but…what else can we do?"

"For now I'm going to take care of Hadrian, and one day I would like him to meet little Fleur but he needs to adjust to me first."

"Has he not already? He already seems to love you as his maman." Charlotte gave a light smirk.

"I believe it's because my hair is the same shade as his mother's, he's a baby so he can't depict the difference, but at least it's something." Charlotte had been stunned too, when Harry became so attached to her so fast. Babies sometimes didn't pick up with strangers, but to her, he seemed fine.

"You also saved him from that horrible woman, perhaps he sees a connection with you? Babies are good like that, you remember when Fleur was born? I couldn't get her to calm down for days after she came home."

"She had colic Apolline, lots of infants get that."

"Yes but Jean had been away on business, yet when he first held her, she didn't cry at all."

"She still loves you though, you are her mother."

"I know, and I know children sometimes pick favorite parents but all we can do is love them. That reminds me, my sisters and I are having a garden party next weekend, and I wanted to invite you."

"A garden party? Haven't had one of those in a while have you?" Apolline shook her head.

"Non, and you don't have to worry, mother will not be attending." Charlotte's mouth turned into a frown. "Mother has taken a holiday with papa; she will not return until Christmas."

"Good, I know she's your mother but that old woman is not my biggest fan."

"Well, you did spill red wine on her dress at my sixteenth birthday." Charlotte gave a light smirk.

"That was an accident, and it wasn't my fault it was your idiot cousin Mikel, fool just couldn't take a hint."

"Yes, and while you did apologize you still ended up being thrown out."

"I didn't get thrown out, I left, and that was AFTER I gave that fool a black eye. How is he by the way?" Apolline laughed.

"You remember I told you he was married, well, his wife is a no-nonsense person, she has him under her thumb like a trained animal, even his parents couldn't whip him into shape."

"She's a lovely person though you told me, and aren't they expecting their first child?"

"They are, she's due next month."

"Good fortune to them both." Charlotte sighed.

"Well, I can see you must have a lot to do, but if you need anything from me dear, I'm only a floo call away."

"I will, and actually, there is something I could use your help with."

"Oh?"

"I would love it if you could send over a nanny elf to help teach Dolly and Dipper more about infants, they're both still young and haven't had much experience."

"Of course, I will send over Pearl, she's Fleur's nanny elf and she is wonderful."

"Thank you, if you can send her over this afternoon I'd appreciate it."

"I will, now I must be off before my darling daughter wonders where I am. I'll see you later dear and let me know if you want to come to the garden party."

"I'll be there, just tell me when." The two women bid each other good day with a peck on each cheek, before Apolline flooed back home. Charlotte looked down noticing Harry had fallen asleep, the long talk must've bored the little one. Oh well, he could sleep a little, Charlotte could take the time watching him to see if anything else was needed for the nursery.

She took him back upstairs to her room, placing him back into the bassinet and covering him up to his waist. All the while talking about Molly had made Charlotte's heart hurt, the last time she'd seen Molly things had gone horribly wrong, too wrong. To think everything had once been at least decent, they'd been a good family; nowadays they barely spoke, and it was partly her fault, Molly's fault, and…it was also Dumbledore's fault.

Flashback:

"I'm sorry to disturb you all so late in the day, but I'm afraid this couldn't wait." Everyone in the room stared at the old man, confused and slightly agitated. Who could blame them though? Day after day since the start of the year a war had been brewing, and people were fighting and dying left and right; the body count was almost too high, but they were doing all they could to keep the danger away.

Charlotte knew why they were here, and she didn't say a word. She'd arrived a little after everyone else, and leaned in the corner with her arms tightly folded over her chest; her eyes were dry and painful, and no doubt red, she'd been up all night long and hadn't bothered trying to sleep in. They stayed in a large room in an old house, who's she had no idea, nor did she care; she just wanted to get this over with and leave.

"Albus, you've received news?" Minerva McGonagall, deputy headmistress, head of Gryffindor house and transfiguration professor at Hogwarts, walked up to the old man, headmaster Albus Dumbledore who had a disheartened expression on his face.

"I have, and it is with my deepest regrets that inform you all…that Gideon and Fabian Prewett were killed last night." Gasps were heard all around, Charlotte didn't share it, these people were friends of her brothers, but not her. Molly started sobbing, and her husband, Arthur, held her in his arms as she went against his chest, gripping the front of his robes.

"How…how did it happen?" a voice low and rough asked, Charlotte recognized it as Remus Lupin.

"They had gone on a mission to the north, to the mountains, and they encountered some death eaters."

"The Lestrange brothers and some new recruits." Charlotte spoke up and everyone turned to her. "They went to stop them from destroying a village, killing the citizens, and instead…they were ambushed." She slowly walked up towards the front, straight at the old man.

"Charlotte…"

"They weren't just ambushed by death eaters though, were they…Albus?" she said in a low and deadly voice, the room picked up a sudden chill. Everyone knew what this meant, and while some took a step back, others had their hands slowly inch towards their wands.

"Charlotte, I understand you're upset…but you and Molly have my condolences, they were good men." Charlotte's eyes narrowed.

"Oh yes they were, they were very good men, too good to be working under the likes of you." She snarled the words, and someone gasped.

"Charlotte! Don't talk to the headmaster like that!" hazel eyes rolled, and then snapped to the person who dared speak to her like a child.

"You stay out of this! If I want your opinion I will ask for it, so shut it!" the entire room was on edge now, and Charlotte turned her attention back to the old wizard, who seemed a bit fearful of the woman just a few feet away from him. "My brothers were good men, they were strong, they were smart, but the biggest mistake they made, was following you."

"Charlotte, they knew the risks of the mission, we all did…"

"Yet you had to ask them to go, alone?!" her hands clenched into fists. "It wasn't just death eaters in that area, there was also a small pack of werewolves there!" more gasps.

"Werewolves…no that's no true, we would've heard…" McGonagall looked at Dumbledore, but he looked away.

"I warned you old man, I warned you they would be there, but you dismissed my concerns. I warned Gideon and Fabian too, but they trusted your word too much to listen, and now look what's happened?!"

"Charlotte, I did tell them to be on guard, and I said if they needed more people to go along I would see to it."

"You didn't tell them anything you white-bearded old bastard!" her hand went back and smacked him so hard he fell back against the wall. His crescent glasses went flying but McGonagall caught them before they could hit the floor. "Do you think I'm a fool?!" the tears she'd thought ran dry the night before started to flood her eyes. "I saw them before they left! I warned them they would be killed, and I told them about the wolves, but do you know what they told me?" Dumbledore looked a bit worried.

"Charlotte I…"

"You told them it would be just a handful of rookie death eaters! You said it would be easy for them, but when I told them about the wolfpack nearby, and the Lestrange brothers, they didn't believe me!"

"Charlotte I swear I didn't mean for them to get killed…"

"Maybe not, but you might as well have done it yourself. You have no business toying with people's lives!"

"Charlotte stop…" Molly looked ready to protest, but Arthur held her back.

"This is the second group that's been killed off under your watch old man, Merlin forbid the same thing happens to the rest of us."

"Charlotte, I understand you're angry, and hurt, but please, I didn't want this to happen I really thought it wouldn't be a difficult mission."

"If you thought that, then why in the bloody fuck am I here?!"

"Charlotte!" Molly's cool gaze broke instantly. "Watch your mouth!" Charlotte turned around so sharply Molly about jumped.

"You shut up you're not my bloody mother!" she turned back to Dumbledore. "If you 'believed' so much, then why am I even here? You asked me to come saying my visions would help to the cause, yet each time I give you something, you just brush it off and act as if it's useless!"

"Charlotte it's not that, it's just…there's already so much at stake, and things are already getting worse. I know your visions can help, but I don't want to rely on your power too much, as we all know the future isn't set in stone."

"There's not going to be a future if you keep pussyfooting around! You are having us all go out and battle these monsters, but instead of fighting lethal, you'd have us stun them and leave it at that!"

"They deserve a chance to see the error of their ways, they can be saved."

"Saved…? You think they can be saved? YOU'RE BLOODY DELUSIONAL!" The entire house started shaking when Charlotte yelled. Unlike her sister whose voice grew high and screechy, Charlotte's voice was loud and booming, like an eruption.

"Ms. Prewett please calm down…" McGonagall got between her and Dumbledore but Charlotte had none of it, she reached out and shoved the older woman aside, but someone caught her before she could hit the wall.

"These monsters torture and kill innocent people for fun, they rape muggleborn women, even just muggles, for fun! They don't' care about good or evil, all they care about is power! Voldemort fucking lets them do whatever they wish if they get the job done, and you think they can be saved?"

"Everyone deserves a second chance Charlotte, I'm sorry you can't see that." He looked at her with such heavy disappointment it made her nerves ignite like fireworks. Charlotte's temper rose so high, she didn't even comprehend her foot going back and kicking the old man so hard across the jaw. She almost didn't see him slam into the wall, nor did she hear him scream out in pain, until she saw him holding the left side of his jaw. Someone yanked her back, and she felt a wand tip at the base of her neck; several others surrounded Dumbledore, but the angry glares that came her way didn't faze her.

"How dare you!" Molly screeched. "How dare you attack Albus! You had no right to…" Charlotte broke away from whoever's hold on her and smacked Molly across the mouth.

"I don't need a lecture from you bitch." Molly's eyes went wide at the insult. "I am not in the best of moods in case you didn't notice, now get out of my way."

"NO! I won't let you hurt Albus again, regardless of how angry and upset you are, you cannot hurt an old man like that!"

"And what about our brothers Molly? Do you not care that HIS ignorance got them killed?!"

"Of course I do!" Molly had tears again, but she stood her ground. "But they knew the risks, they should have taken more people, they were overconfident!"

"No, they were misled and misguided, and so are you. Every single person who follows this old goat blindly are nothing but sheepish little wankers, willing to sacrifice others in a war that shouldn't have started to begin with!"

"We are doing what we can, but we have limited manpower Charlotte, Albus is doing his best."

"NO he is not! He's not doing damn thing and neither are you!" she looked around the room. "Are you all so blind? Do you not see how outmatched we are against this dark lord and his forces? You all believe simply stunning them will work?"

"Albus has never led us wrong before." James Potter stood up, in front of his fiancée Lily.

"Oh yeah? And what about Marlene McKinnon and her family?" some looked down, remembering the news of one of their beloved members, other innocents destroyed by Voldemort.

"He couldn't have known! Neither could you!"

"It doesn't matter, his stupid belief in second chances is going to get everyone killed!"

"Well what good would it have done? It's not as if you had seen it happening! Hell you're just as guilty because you didn't warn us!"

"James!" Lily yelled at her husband in disbelief.

"Why you…!" before she could charge at the fool Charlotte felt someone grab her arm, but she turned around and punched the person so hard their nose broke. She saw it was Sirius Black, the man was a diehard Dumbledore supporter just as Molly, and a stupid flirt.

"Don't ever touch me again Black, I wouldn't want to catch fleas." She snarled at him.

"Enough!" Remus Lupin reached down to his fallen friend and helped him stand. Charlotte's anger wouldn't dissipate, she couldn't believe the idiocy of these people. "Enough, we're all on edge right now, but fighting amongst ourselves won't do any good." He looked past her, and someone walked forward.

"Charlotte, I think it's best that you leave." Arthur spoke in a stern voice, coming up behind Molly.

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" she stared Arthur down, he flinched under her gaze. "You're all fools, to believe that these beasts can be saved well let me tell you something. Second chances are only given to those who deserve them, and these death eaters, these killers and rapists, they deserve none." She could see her words hit home in some, especially Mad-Eye Moody, but others like Elphias Doge and McGonagall looked at her as if she were a monster in disguise.

"Charlotte, please go." She glared at her brother-in-law, merlin how she hated calling him that.

"Fine, I'll go, but once I set foot out that door, you and I are finished." She looked at her sister, who looked as if she hadn't heard her.

"What?" Molly stared at her.

"As long as you stand with him, then we are done." Charlotte looked over everyone and saw Dumbledore's blue eyes bore into her own. "Your philosophy of the greater good is going to get people killed, and mark my words Albus, one day in the future, your past will catch up, and when it does, it will be the end of you." With that said she spun on her heel and marched toward the door, ignoring her name being called by several others.

End flashback.

Charlotte hated how things went down that day, in her grief of losing Fabian and Gideon she had let her anger explode and cut several ties with that part of the world. The last time she saw Molly was at their funeral, and even their father wouldn't spare a glance her way. Charlotte saw how his grief weakened his health, his heart, and he became so depressed that it made him bedridden. Charlotte didn't want to lose him too, so she tried to reach out to Molly and apologize, begging her to come see their father in hopes of regaining his spirit, but she sent each letter back unopened.

Ignatius Prewett died five months after his sons, and with it a heavy heart of regret; he had asked Charlotte to keep reaching out, and she did, he wanted to see his grandchildren before he died, but Molly's stubbornness and pride kept her away. He died a broken man, and Charlotte was left alone in the world at the age of nineteen. Her saving grace was being taken in by Apolline's family, and then the Delacour family after she married Jean. In the passing years Charlotte continued to try reaching out to Molly, but nothing worked.

So as it came, the sisters didn't see each other again; Charlotte used her visions, her scrying mirror and bowl, to keep track of their lives and continued to try writing and sending money on holiday and the children's birthdays, but each one kept coming back unopened. She knew it would be years before she and Molly reconciled, but for now, her main priority would be raising Harry.

Looking over into the bassinet, she saw him still sound asleep; her hand brushed over his dark hair, and her heart warmed at the tiny, sleepy smile he gave in return. Regardless of how long it took, this child was going to be prepared for whatever life threw his way, and she would be right there with him.

'I won't let anyone hurt you again, sweet boy.'

Hey guys, I'm sorry it took so long to get this out. My husband got hurt at his job and had to stay out for a week so I've been working a little overtime to get the money coming in. Plus I've been up and down sick so let's just say I haven't had a lot of energy to get writing done. Still, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Just a little note, Molly and Charlotte's estrangement started long before the war did, but more of that will be explained later.

Next chapter we skip ahead to Charlotte introducing Harry to the rest of the Delacour family, and then a little meeting with Madam Maxime for Charlotte's future employment.

Comments are much appreciated!

Later!