Chapter Three - All About Lily, Nomomom
{ Charlotte Evans }
Only the faint patter of socked feet echoed through the hallway outside the library, soft enough to be mistaken for the wind. At least, that's what Charlotte hoped as she moved stealthily through the darkened corridors, her wand hidden under the folds of her woollen robes.
Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of excitement and adrenaline coursing through her at the prospect of breaking school rules. It was always the same. There was something unfair about it, how her body seemed to revel in the thrill of doing something she absolutely shouldn't. She wanted to run, throw open the library doors, and dance across the empty room in triumph—though why, she couldn't say. Perhaps the adrenaline had simply gone to her head.
Instead, she slipped through the shadows, silently approaching the library doors. With a quick flick of her wand, she aimed to lift the locking spells—but the first one didn't budge. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried again, muttering under her breath, "Alohomora."
The lock clicked faintly, but the door remained stubbornly closed. There was more than one charm in place, and these weren't the simple ones she was used to undoing. Charlotte glanced around nervously, her grip tightening on her wand. If anyone caught her standing out here, there would be no way to explain it away.
She took a steadying breath and tried again, her voice barely above a whisper, "Finite incantatem."
For a moment, nothing happened, and she felt the surge of panic rise in her chest. But then, with a soft shiver of magic, the second charm dissolved.
"Finally," she muttered.
One more to go. This last one was trickier, but she had studied it carefully. Her hand trembled slightly as she pointed her wand and whispered the incantation. The spell unraveled with a soft snap, and Charlotte sighed in relief as the door creaked open.
The small victory left her feeling a mix of triumph and nerves. She quickly slipped inside, her eyes scanning the room to ensure it was empty. Once she was sure, she resealed the door behind her, locking it just as carefully. If anyone noticed the spells had been lifted, it would be clear that someone had snuck in.
For weeks now, she had been sneaking into the library at night, using every free moment to study. Sometimes it was for exams, other times for things far more... intriguing. Tonight, her goal was a specific book, one she'd been hunting for ever since she began her nightly visits.
She loosened her robes, which hung over her pyjamas, and walked quietly toward the back of the library. As she passed row upon row of bookshelves, her fingers trailed lightly over the spines of old and new tomes alike, drawing a contented sigh from her lips. Unlike Lily, who only read for academic purposes, Charlotte loved to devour books for the sheer joy of learning. It didn't matter what the subject was—if it interested her, she wanted to know everything about it.
Lately, her curiosity had led her beyond the usual textbooks and into more restricted territories.
Her fingers continued gliding along the shelves until she spotted it—the book she had been searching for these past weeks. It was a worn, tattered thing, tucked high up on a shelf, its faded brown cover looking completely insignificant. But Charlotte knew better.
She stretched up to grab it, but even at just under six feet tall, she couldn't quite reach. Grumbling under her breath, she glanced around and spotted a stool nearby. Stepping onto it, she finally pulled the book free, holding it in her hands with a sense of triumph.
"Finally," she whispered, opening it to the first page with a wide grin.
"Charlotte?"
The voice from the shadows startled her so badly that she yelped and flung the book forward, her back colliding with the bookshelf behind her with a loud thunk.
"Ow," she groaned, rubbing the back of her head. She squinted into the darkness, where the intruder was still hidden. The voice had been unmistakably male, but she couldn't see who it was.
A figure stepped into the light, and Charlotte's heart sank. Of all people, it had to be James Potter.
He bent down, picking up the book she'd thrown, glancing at the cover with wide eyes.
"Give it here, lover boy," she hissed, lunging forward in an attempt to grab it back. But James simply held it higher, well out of her reach, his expression shifting from curiosity to something bordering on alarm.
"Animagus?" he whisper-shouted, eyes wide with disbelief. He looked between the book and Charlotte, his expression enough to make her feel like she'd just confessed to a crime.
"Err..." she stuttered, unsure how to explain herself. She couldn't exactly lie. He had caught her red-handed. But what was she supposed to say? "I was just... you know... studying?"
It sounded ridiculous even to her ears.
James looked like he was trying to process the situation, his face scrunched up in bewilderment. He didn't seem horrified, exactly, but he definitely wasn't impressed.
"Damnit," Charlotte muttered under her breath, kicking the nearest bookshelf in frustration. The shelf shook slightly, but the books remained stubbornly in place.
"Oi!" James hissed, grabbing her arm before she could cause more damage. "Unless you want to get caught in the restricted section with that book, I suggest you calm down."
He waved the book in the air, his eyebrows raised as if daring her to argue. Charlotte glared at him but reluctantly nodded. She sank into the nearest chair, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Why do you have this?" James asked, still holding the book. His initial shock had faded, replaced with pure curiosity. He wasn't going to let this go, that much was clear.
Charlotte sighed. "That depends. Are you planning on telling anyone?"
James studied her for a moment, looking uncharacteristically thoughtful. He was still in his school robes, hair as messy as ever. She hadn't forgotten their conversation at breakfast, though she had been surprised that he remembered her at all. Most people didn't, after only one meeting.
"I won't," he said finally, leaning against the bookshelf. He sounded sincere, but Charlotte wasn't exactly in a trusting mood.
"I don't see why I should believe you," she muttered. "Can't you just give me the book and forget you saw me?"
James smirked. "Now, where's the fun in that? You've made me curious. I'll give it back when you tell me why you've got it."
Charlotte looked at him, her suspicion growing. James raised his right hand, a solemn expression on his face.
"I solemnly swear," he said, as if that should mean something to her.
"Sorry, but your solemn swearing doesn't mean much to me." Charlotte rolled her eyes. Did he really expect her to trust him just because of a silly promise?
"You've got some serious trust issues."
"And you've got glasses. Can I have my book now?"
James sighed, clearly exasperated. "I already said I'd give it back once you tell me why you want it. Look, I may be annoying, but I don't break my promises. Ever."
Charlotte studied him closely. For some reason, he didn't seem to be lying. She couldn't understand why he cared so much, though. It wasn't like they were friends. But his curiosity seemed genuine.
"Why do you want to know so badly?" she asked, testing him.
James hesitated, then shrugged. "Let's just say I know a bit about the subject. More than you'd think."
Charlotte's eyes widened slightly. "You're an Animagus?"
James raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning in full force. "Maybe. Maybe not."
"James," she huffed, stepping closer. "Are you or aren't you?"
He shrugged nonchalantly, clearly enjoying dragging it out. "Let's just say I know a thing or two about it. Enough to help someone who's... interested."
Charlotte narrowed her eyes, catching onto his game. "And what do you want in return?"
James grinned, leaning just a little closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'll help you, but you've got to help me with something... or someone, to be more specific."
She groaned, realising exactly where this was going. "Let me guess. My sister?"
"Smart as ever, Lottie." His grin widened. "Do we have a deal?"
Charlotte was about to respond with another sarcastic remark, but something in his gaze made her pause. She frowned, staring at him for a moment longer than she intended. It wasn't his usual grin that threw her off—it was his eyes.
Hazel.
She blinked, feeling a strange flicker in her chest. All this time, she had assumed his eyes were blue—just another detail she'd never bothered to notice, too caught up in dismissing him as her sister's admirer. But now, up close, she saw them properly. Not blue, but hazel, with flecks of gold that caught the light in ways she hadn't expected.
It was unsettling, seeing something so different in him. She had always lumped James Potter in with all the other boys who fawned over Lily, but this small discovery—his eyes, so different from what she'd thought—felt like she was seeing him, really seeing him, for the first time.
Her resolve wavered for just a second, but she quickly forced it down, crossing her arms in mock defiance.
"So let me get this straight," she said, trying to maintain her usual bravado. "You'll help me become an Animagus, and I help you get a date with my sister?"
"Exactly." James nodded, looking far too pleased with himself.
Charlotte sighed, still unsure about the whole thing. But her curiosity outweighed her reservations. She held out her hand. "Alright, deal."
James shook her hand, a wolfish grin spreading across his face.
"What's your form, then?" Charlotte asked eagerly, her curiosity now fully piqued. It was a bold question, and she knew it, but she couldn't resist.
James's grin widened, and with a teasing glint in his eye, he simply replied, "You'll see my form soon enough," before letting go of her hand.
Charlotte couldn't help but laugh. "You're a tease, James Potter."
"Don't I know it," he replied with a wink.
They began walking toward the library door, their footsteps quiet on the stone floor. As they approached the entrance, James leaned in slightly, his voice low. "By the way, we can't let Lily find out about this."
Charlotte snorted. "Trust me, Potter, if Lily finds out, we're both doomed."
He chuckled softly, and they slipped out into the hallway, both careful to stay silent as they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower. By the time they reached the common room, Charlotte's mind was racing. The deal had been struck, and now there was no turning back.
This was going to be interesting.