Hey everyone, thanks for being patient with me here. I'm sorry I made you wait, but it's been going up and down out here in reality. My husband and I both got sick, and my work hours have changed, so I find little time to write these days but I try to get a little done each day. I did warn you guys I would be updating sporadically
In this chapter Charlotte let's Harry meet the members of the Delacour family, and a little meeting between Charlotte and Madam Maxime. We also get a little view on Charlotte's life as a teacher.
Remember, if it's in italics, it means they're speaking French.
I don't own Harry Potter.
Enjoy!
Some days later:
"Dolly, Hadrian's jumper is missing did you take it to be cleaned?"
"I's did mistress, it's be drying now."
"Dear lord, can you dry it faster please? The Delacours will be here soon."
"Right away mistress." Dolly popped out of the room and Charlotte gave a tired sigh. It didn't matter how long she'd known the family, but each time she met with them Charlotte had the urge to dress and clean up almost fifty times before she felt everything was perfect. Dolly and Dipper were fine with it, they were miracle workers, and oh she loved them!
She'd been bustling around since the evening before, making sure everything was perfect before Apolline and the rest came. They were coming over to meet Hadrian, and bring over the nanny elf mentioned last time; Charlotte would be grateful for the help, Dolly and Dipper were fine with it too, neither of them had much experience with small children so an expert elf was great. As for the house, Charlotte was no slob by any means but being around Apolline and her family over the years had driven a sense of cleanliness and organization into her. It was also thanks to the etiquette lessons in Beauxbatons, the school raised their students to be upstanding members of society regardless of blood or race.
"Hadrian…" the little boy was sitting on the floor, in only a nappy, playing with his newest toys, babbling away to them as if they were alive. "Come on sweetie, we've got company coming."
"Pway!" Harry picked up his stuffed blue dragon and held it high as his little arms could.
"You can play more later, we've got people coming to see us and you need to get dressed." She picked him up, and he held the little dragon tight.
"Pway?"
"You can play again soon, but we need clothes first."
"Here's be little master's jumper mistress." Dolly handed her the jumper, and in an instant Hadrian was changed and dressed, though he did put up a fuss when she tried to put shoes on him.
"I know you don't like them sweetie, but you have to wear them." What toddler liked shoes? Babies, after learning to walk and run, loved going barefoot, it was almost funny to see them fuss over socks and shoes.
"Mistress, Dipper's be telling Dolly that lunch wills be served soon."
"Good, they should be here any minute and little Fleur has quite an appetite for her age." Her goddaughter was always active, so the child loved food, but as she got older Charlotte knew her mother would put her in lessons of etiquette. They'd helped her a lot growing up in the social circles, with the women's gatherings and parties. Charlotte could admit she had been a wild child, but after the visions came, she'd learned to mellow out.
"Ma…ma…" Hadrian held to her as she carried him into the grand sitting room. The clock read noon, the Delacours would be arriving any minute.
'He needs to be around others, he needs to be loved.' A little interaction with another child would help him, that's what mattered, until she could get him into a childcare center.
"Charlotte?" the fireplace went off and Apolline's voice called out.
"Apolline, are you all ready?"
"We are."
"Come on through then." She held Hadrian as green fire lit up the room and out stepped two adults, an older house elf, and a little girl who ran at Charlotte to hug her knees.
"Auntie Charie!" Charlotte patted the child's head, and knelt down to hug her.
"My little star, you've gotten bigger."
"Maman says I'm still growing!"
"That you are little one, that you are." The little one looked ready to go off in a chatterbox until she spotted Hadrian, and her mouth gaped like a goldfish.
"Who is this auntie? He's so little, where did he come from?"
"Fleur, don't badger." Apolline remanded her child, but Charlotte gave a reassuring smile.
"It's alright, she's just curious is all." She smiled at the man next to Apolline. "It's good to see you Minister Delacour." He laughed.
"You know you can still call me Jean Charlotte, none of that formal talk while we're together."
"Of course, it's just still difficult to say otherwise, you've only been minister for a year and yet it's still fresh on my mind." They shared a laugh, until Hadrian started wriggling in Charlotte's arms, reaching for Fleur.
"I think he wants to meet you Fleur." Apolline knelt to her daughter's height, and the little one just beamed at Hadrian.
"Auntie, can I hold him?"
"In a moment little star, but why don't we all head to the drawing room, I'll have Dolly bring out the tea."
"That sounds wonderful." Jean and the others followed Charlotte into the room further down the hall. Dolly, as instructed, arrived with a tray of tea and biscuits, and nodded at the other elf who entered the room before disapparating away.
"Auntie, can I hold him now?" Fleur was bouncing heavily, and she hadn't even eaten a biscuit yet.
"He's a little big for you Fleur, here why don't you play with him on the floor? Dipper!"
"Yes mistress?"
"Can you bring Hadrian's toys?"
"Of course mistress." A few seconds in and out of the room Dipper returned with a small box of little toys, one that included a flying wizard on a broom. Charlotte had ordered the toys the other day, and Hadrian seemed to love them. When she sat him down on the soft rug, Fleur bounced her way over to him and sat in front.
"Fleur, be gentle with Hadrian now he's just a baby after all."
"Yes maman." Charlotte smiled as Hadrian toddled his way over to the toys, and happily held one out to Fleur. She took it and they played, Hadrian just babbling away as she spoke to him.
"Little Fleur has grown immensely Apolline, talking better too."
"Thank you, we've been teaching her more and more, but we don't want to overwhelm her."
"You're doing great, I hope she can rub off on Hadrian a bit."
"Charlotte, I believe you remember Pearl?" the elder house elf stepped forward and curtsied to Charlotte.
"Ah yes, hello Pearl, how are you?"
"I's well young mistress, Pearl has been asked by mistress and master to help you's with little one."
"Oh yes, I want you to help teach Dolly and Dipper about infants, they're a little inexperienced, that is of course, if you are willing to do so?"
"Of course mistress, Pearl's be loving babies and will happily teach other elves."
"Thank you, now, I think Dipper is in the nursery, why don't you start the basics with him?" Pearl happily bowed and popped away, and the sudden noise made Hadrian jump in his spot, but Fleur calmed him down.
"Poor dear, has he been frightened of loud noises before?" Apolline looked at Charlotte.
"Until now no, I haven't really had him around anything loud." Charlotte watched as Hadrian started playing with Fleur again, she made him giggle while making silly faces. "She's a natural with him."
"Indeed so, I suppose this means we don't have to worry about her being jealous."
"Of course not, I mean Fleur is an only child and even though Hadrian is still very young it's good for him to meet other children." Charlotte sipped her tea. "Apolline, are you feeling well?"
"I'm fine, why do you ask?" Charlotte stared a moment.
"Something just seems different about you, you're…glowing." Apolline and Jean stared at each other before smirking at Charlotte, and she caught on. "Wait…are you…?"
"Seven more months, and Fleur will have a sibling." Charlotte's face broke into a wide smile, and after all but throwing down her cup she walked around the table to embrace her friends. They all shared a happy laugh, even Fleur joined in, leaving little Hadrian on the floor looking confused.
"Aaah!" Hadrian's loud vocal opposition at being left out of the hug made the adults all turn around. "Baah!" when his face scrunched up and turned slightly red Charlotte couldn't hold back her laugh.
"Oh, I'm sorry Hadrian." Charlotte let go of the others to go ad pick the child up. He gripped the front of her dress and continued his babble as she brought him over. "I didn't mean to leave you out of it." She kissed his cheek and the other two adults hugged again around the little boy. Apolline kissed Hadrian's other cheek and he giggled, while Jean slightly ruffled his hair. Fleur tickled his feet and he squealed, everyone laughed so hard they had to sit back down.
"He's such a delight, babies have such an effect on everyone." Jean let Fleur sit on his lap.
"Yes indeed, and Fleur?"
"Yes auntie?" Charlotte smiled.
"Are you excited to be a big sister?" little Fleur beamed and happily nodded her head. "Do you want a brother or a sister?"
"I want a sister! I want someone I can play with!" Charlotte laughed.
"You may just get your wish little star, but you must be patient. The little one won't be here for some time." Fleur pouted.
"I know, maman and papa said I have to wait, but I want my sister!"
"You'll have to wait, and besides, you have a new godbrother, Hadrian." Fleur smiled again.
"He can't talk yet, but he's so cute!"
"He likes you very much, see?" Charlotte held Hadrian out a bit to get a closer look at Fleur, and he reached out. Fleur took his tiny hand in her own and kissed it, right as he leaned over to get a hug.
"I like him very much too auntie!"
"Baah! Maaa!" Harry wanted to get down, and so Fleur helped him crawl towards their little play area while the adults continued.
"I'm happy for both of you."
"Thank you Charlotte, and of course, when this child is born you will be their godmother as well."
"And I am honored to be so."
Sometime later that day:
After having a nice lunch and cake with the Delacours, the family had to return home later in the afternoon. Fleur had tuckered herself out along with Hadrian, so Dolly had taken the little boy to his room to finish his nap. Charlotte did a quick cleanup before checking the time, noticing it was close to five. Madame Maxime was due to arrive soon, and Charlotte was to discuss with her the 'leave', just for a year to get Hadrian settled.
"Charlotte!" the fireplace made its whooshing sound, and there was Maxime in the flames.
"Bonjour Madam, come on in." the flames grew and the half-giantess stepped through. She brushed herself off a bit and the two women embraced.
"It's good to see you Charlotte, you look well."
"You as well Madam, can I offer you a cup? I can ask Dolly to make a fresh batch of tea."
"Non eet's fine, I'm afraid I cannot ztay too long, I'ave a meeting." Charlotte offered her a chair.
"Does this meeting have anything to do with Claire Beaumont?" the woman rolled her eyes.
"Zat girl is a beegger spoiled brat zan Henry VIII, and zat's vithout zhe decapitation."
"Or the multiple marriages and flings, we should be lucky the girl is in an arrangement otherwise her family would have disowned her by now." Charlotte laughed. "I may be against arranged marriages, but in this case it's something of a blessing."
"Zhe girl eez lucky the family she's betrothed to has a strong matriarch to teach 'er, but even zhen, her fate can only change if she does."
"As I've told you and her, but it seems she refuses to let herself change. Still, there's hope for her."
"True zhere eez, but zhat is not zo important…" Maxime cleared her throat. "I rezeived your noteece Charlotte." Charlotte sighed.
"I know, and I apologize for it, but at least it's not last minute."
"Oui, zo I'm confused…ou requested zhe leave, for a child?"
"Yes, my newly adopted son, or at least he will be in time. I need to be with him a while, let him get used to me and I to him." She took a breath. "I did tell you that something would change for me, some months ago remember?"
"Oui I do, and I don't doubt that you will be a wonderful mother to eem, but oo've left me in difficult position. Ow can I find anozer professor on such zhort noteece?" Charlotte smirked.
"You won't need to, I already found someone who could take my place for a year."
Flashback:
"Alright everyone that concludes today's lesson, remember at the end of the week you're to turn in a full roll of parchment on dueling strategies, and be prepared for a practical warm up for your final exams. I expect you to be thorough in your research, and while you're allowed to assist each other you are NOT allowed to plagiarize your classmates' work or I will deduct your grade a level. Understood?"
"Oui professor." Charlotte smiled and clapped her hands together.
"Excellente! Classe ajournee!" the students slowly but swiftly filed out of the classroom, all except for one student. "Ms. Beaumont, what's wrong?" the girl, Beaumont, a thin but petite bodied girl with strawberry blonde curls pinned back and wearing far too much makeup for a fifteen year old approached the desk. She had a cool look on her face, but her eyes held a cold fury.
"Mademoiselle Prewett, I fear zer eez a miztake vith my essay." She pulled out a rolled parchment, and revealed the top part that held an 'A' just next to her name.
"I see, well I'm sorry but there is no mistake, you got an A for acceptable, and you still passed."
"But I rezearched jus' as 'ou said! I darezay zees vas better zhan my last!"
"In a way it was, but I also noticed that despite your better research, you had a few similar lines in there to that of Ms. Tremaine, who as I understand, is one of your friends correct?" the girl paled a bit. "I see, and now you understand that I can pick out certain discrepancies in whatever work I grade, because I know your caliber of writing. You would have gotten a better grade without cheating."
"I deedn't cheat! I vill go to zee headmistress about zis!"
"Do as you wish, but you'll only make the situation worse than it needs to be. Ms. Beaumont, you are a good student, you have potential, but your laziness and woes of entitlement will be your undoing. I have offered you tutoring along with extra study tips multiple times as have the other professors here, yet you refuse to take it." The girl crossed her arms over her chest.
"I zee no reason too, I am smart enough."
"Perhaps, but if you have a goal in life, you need to work to achieve it. You've got two more years of school and this is already a critical year and I can tell you now if this keeps up, you will not graduate with your peers. Your family I know is high up but even they cannot help you unless you help yourself first."
"I am a good student, you just zaid so!"
"Yes, but you can do better." Charlotte stood from her chair and took a breath. "Mon Cheri, I am not saying this to make you feel bad, but you really need to buckle down and study hard, otherwise whatever goals or dreams you may have will be far beyond your reach. Now, since you obviously have an issue with your grade I will give you an opportunity to make it up."
"Vat? Zis eez unfair!"
"If you think it's unfair then you should've done it right the first time. You will redo the assignment, this time with two rolls of parchment, and you will hand it in, next Monday." The girl's face turned an angry red, so much she almost reminded Charlotte of Molly.
"Zhat's no enough time!"
"It's more than enough time if you stop dilly dallying with your friends. They too have other assignments and while they have similar habits and lifestyles as you they find time to complete them. I suggest you take a lesson from that."
"I…I…ugh!" the girl turned on her heel, grabbed her bag, and stormed out of the classroom. If Charlotte felt like it she'd give the girl a detention but it wouldn't do much yet. Taking a deep breath, she ran her hand through her hair and stretched out.
"Beaumont giving you trouble again?" Charlotte's head snapped towards the door and she smiled.
"Felicia, bonjour." A woman, same age as her, with tanned skin, dark brown hair tied up in a curled bun, dark eyes, and a brilliant smile entered the room.
"Bonjour Charlotte, how are you today?"
"Good, you look well yourself, how are things with you and Felipe?"
"Magnifique!" she waved her hands up and twirled around, and Charlotte laughed. "We are going out tonight, he says he has a special surprise for me."
"Aaah, might this special surprise include a ring?" she winked.
"I should hope so, we've been courting for two years now."
"Be sure I receive an invite tot the wedding." The two laughed again. "Now, I know you came because you got my message." Felicia nodded and shut the door.
"You said that something big is going to happen soon, can I ask what?" Charlotte shook her head. "Can I ask, if it affects anyone of us or just you?"
"For now just me, and in the future it may affect everyone on this part of the world, all the way to London." Felicia's eyes widened slightly.
"London, you left that part of the world for a reason."
"I did, and I might need to go back at least for a bit. When I return I will need to take some time away, and unfortunately there aren't many people that I can trust to take over my job." Felicia chuckled.
"So you're asking me to take over your classes, for how long?"
"A year, I don't have an exact date but I won't leave in the middle of term. I just have to go away a few days to settle some matters. Maybe longer than a few days, but still."
"Charlotte, you're a dear friend and I'll gladly help you, but one day, can you please be honest with me?"
"I'm always honest with you Lessy, I just hold out some details." Felicia nodded.
"You do, and you saved my life and Felipe's."
"Doing that brought you two together, though I didn't exactly intend that. Look Lessy, I will owe you for this, I promise you can reach me if you'll have trouble just for now, take my word for it."
"I always do, so when are you leaving for London?"
"In a few weeks, maybe less." Felicia nodded.
"Alright, I'll take over for a year and while you're gone beforehand."
"Thanks, now, how about we have lunch at Epicure? My treat." Felicia giggled.
"Tre Magnifique! We'd best invite the headmistress, it's her favorite restaurant!" Charlotte summoned her coat and stood.
"Then let's not keep our esteemed headmistress waiting."
End flashback.
"I should've realized you'd taken me out for a reason." Maxime put her cup down. "Zo I vill speek vth Felicia, and I vill grant you zis leave."
"Je vous remercie Madam." Charlotte sipped the last of her tea. "Would you like some more tea?"
"Non, zis is fine." Maxime sighed. "I vill miss you as vill ze studentz."
"I'll miss them too, but it's only for a year and they love Felicia."
"True, but ztill." The two women stood. "I must get back to zhe school, ve have a busy week ahead. Ve vill zee you next veek?"
"I'll be in, but I might need to bring Hadrian with me until I can find a suitable sitter. Apolline says she'll help but right now I want my son to be comfortable with me."
"I understand as long as zhe boy eez not a diztracion to zhe students."
"He might be a cute distraction Madam, but it's only until I find someone to trust with him. My elves do well, but they have enough work as it is." Maxime smiled.
"Very well, I vill zee you later. Good day Charlotte."
"Good day to you too Madam." As the floo went off again, Charlotte found herself alone. It was quiet for about a minute before a loud pop caught her ears.
"Mistress, little master is wakened from his nap." It was Dolly.
"I imagine he's in need of a nappy change, I'll got take care of it. Dolly go help Dipper make us dinner, and make sure you make enough for yourselves as well."
"You is too kind mistress, best hurry for little master." With that Dolly popped away again and Charlotte quickly made her way to the nursery. Hadrian kept crying until she picked him up from his crib and onto the changing table. In a manner of minutes the baby was clean and fresh as a daisy.
"Alright Hadrian, are you hungry?"
"Hungy…h-hungy…"
"Then let's eat baby boy, let's eat."
Again sorry it took so long, but I hope this made up for it. I did warn you after all.
Next chapter we'll have a time skip, not sure exactly how much but it'll be around the time Charlotte takes her sabbatical leave. We'll see a flashback to her childhood with Molly and her brothers, and we'll probably check in on Dumbledore. After that there'll be additional time skips until we hit our point with the remaining marauders and more.
Reviews are much appreciated!
Later!