Hi everyone, I'm sorry that it took so long to update but I did say they would be sporadic didn't I? I hate keeping you guys on edge with the wait but these days I come home so exhausted I can barely think straight. My weekends are just as busy, but I try to find time.

In this chapter Charlotte starts her sabbatical leave, giving herself and Harry some time to bond, or more time at least. We'll get a flashback of her childhood with Molly, Gideon and Fabian, and it's not a horrible memory but not exactly a happy one either. We'll also see how Dumbledore's doing, and you can imagine his reaction in no luck finding Harry.

Read along to find out, and I don't own Harry Potter.

Enjoy!

Flashback dream:

"Ouch! Molly stop, it hurts!"

"It wouldn't hurt if you'd stop moving so much!" a hand on her shoulder tried to keep the fiery six-year-old still, but she kept squirming to get away.

"I don't wanna! It hurts! Ouch!" A comb pulling at her hair harshly made the little one scream so loud thundering footsteps made the elder one in the room jump back. When the door slammed open Charlotte jumped from the stool she'd been sitting on and ran to hug the legs of the person who entered.

"What's going on up here? We could hear the screams downstairs." It was Fabian and Gideon, Fabian being the one holding Charlotte.

"I was trying to tame her hair, but she won't stay still."

"No!" Charlotte pulled her face from Fabian's legs and glared at Molly. "You brushed too hard! You yanked my hair and it hurt!"

"Is that true?" Gideon was the one to ask.

"Did you pull…?"

"Charlotte's hair…?"

"Again?" Molly rolled her eyes.

"I'm just trying to make her look presentable, Auntie Muriel is coming over, you know how she is. Besides it's only pigtails, she would look very cute." The twins let out an annoyed sigh.

"Molly you know that Charlotte…"

"Doesn't like her hair up…"

"She's sensitive, and she hates…"

"Ribbons and curls, which we can see…"

"Right there." Fabian pointed to the little table where several hair ties and ribbons lay.

"I hate ribbons…" Charlotte growled at Molly.

"Charlotte, all girls your age should wear ribbons in their hair, I did."

"Not all girls like the same things Molly, Muriel won't care if Charlotte wears her hair up or down."

"Fabian please, as the only other female in the house I should have a say in how my little sister dresses, Merlin knows she already acts so differently from others her age."

"I do not!" Molly rolled her eyes.

"Oh please, you're more boyish than the first years at Hogwarts, and your manners are something to address, auntie certainly won't approve, daddy shouldn't either."

"Molly…" Fabian rolled his eyes and sighed. "She's six, she's allowed some leeway to her manners. She already knows how to hold a knife…"

"And a fork…"

"And a spoon…"

"She also knows how to say please and thank you, and she's quiet and polite, that's more than enough for a child her age." Molly's face started turning an angry red.

"She needs to learn more, I had to at her age." The words came out in a slight snarl, but Molly held back.

"Well that was dad's choice, but since Charlotte is younger than you were. She will learn in time, there isn't a rush."

"I still say…!"

"Molly enough." Gideon stepped up. "We get that you wish to help, but you're getting too worked up and you know dad won't appreciate that. Now, instead of worrying about Charlotte, maybe you should be getting ready, since you're so determined to impress auntie." Molly huffed but didn't say more and left the room. Once she was out of earshot Charlotte turned and hugged both of her brothers tight.

"Thank you." She whispered and they each patted her back.

"No problem Lottie, and don't be too upset ok? You know how Molly is, she loves you." Charlotte frowned.

"She's so bossy and mean to me."

"She's just being a big sister, and big sisters can be very bossy."

"But you're my big brother, and you're not bossy." The twins shared a smirk.

"That's because we're the fun brothers." They gave her some goofy grins and she laughed.

"You're the best brothers." They hugged her again.

"And don't you forget it."

Six years later:

"Daddy, I don't understand, why are you even considering this?" Charlotte didn't know what was going on, just that after spending some time in the family library she'd gone out to get herself some tea, but then heard her elder sister's voice echoing in the hallways.

"Molly we've discussed this, your sister's powers are getting stronger, to the point of where she's becoming so stressed it's affecting her magic. She needs special help, help that Hogwarts cannot give her."

"But Hogwarts is the best school in the UK, surely Headmaster Dumbledore can figure a way to help?"

"Dumbledore knows nothing of true divination Molly, and this isn't something that can be taught by a mere teacher, it requires another seer's ability."

"Daddy you can just hire someone can't you? Why should Charlotte be allowed to go to Beauxbatons?" she heard her father sigh.

"Because it's the only school around that has the teacher she needs, other than that Japanese school and Ilvermony, but those two are already full. To top it off, Hogwarts is full of bigots and snobs, especially purebloods from ancient family lines, who will try and use Charlotte, I refuse to allow it."

"Aren't you being a little dramatic? Dumbledore will…"

"Dumbledore will not be around your sister Molly! I don't trust that man!" Charlotte about jumped when she heard her father raise his voice, she'd never heard him so upset before.

"What? Why? Headmaster Dumbledore is a great man!"

"Great men have flaws Molly, as does everyone else in the world. Dumbledore, great man or not, has many flaws and while he may be 'light' he is not perfect and I don't trust him around your sister." She heard Molly sigh.

"I think you're making a mistake; Charlotte doesn't even speak French." Charlotte sniggered.

"That's where you're wrong, while you and your brothers have been away I've had Charlotte taking language lessons with tutors. I know you like Dumbledore because he's your headmaster, but he's not perfect."

"I never said he was, daddy this is ridiculous, Charlotte doesn't need to go to some fancy French school she can get a good education at Hogwarts!" A loud thump was heard, Molly had stomped her foot, and she was supposed to be the mature one.

"Molly, my decision is final, and besides Charlotte wants to go. She's already received her acceptance letter, and she'll be going in a week to France to gather her supplies with Aunt Muriel."

"But daddy…"

"No buts Molly, this is all I'll say on the matter, now go on. I'm sure you still have schoolwork to do, and don't bring this up with Charlotte, it's her choice."

"Fine." Charlotte quickly moved away from the corridor and pretended to just be coming out of the library when Molly rounded the corner. She saw Charlotte and glared, and Charlotte did the only thing she could think of, glare back.

"You get everything…" she heard Molly say but kept silent as her elder sister stormed upstairs to her room. Charlotte shook her head, ever since Molly had gone to school she'd been worse than before, acting as if she were the 'mother' of the house, trying to boss everyone around even when their dad was out. Her 'maturity' really grated Charlotte's nerves, and it was worse when her jealousy came out.

'I wish you hadn't died mum, maybe you could keep Molly under control.'

End flashbacks.

"Ugh…" Charlotte woke early in the morning, the sun rays peeking through her bedroom window slightly blinded her eyes. She stretched and moved her loose hair from her face, then listened to the baby monitor. No sound from Harry yet, she had a few minutes to get up, put on her house robe, and pull back her hair before heading to the nursery.

'Odd, I haven't thought about that in a long time.' Charlotte thought back to the last time she'd attempted to contact Molly, another failure with a returned letter; Charlotte knew she'd been the first to say they were done if Molly continued to support Dumbledore, but since the birth of William, she'd been wanting to 'attempt' to make amends. She didn't need to use her power to know that Molly was stubborn, Merlin knows the woman had a pride larger than the fields around the burrow.

Charlotte already knew it'd be a long while before she'd get to meet her nephews and new niece, though at the same time, she dreaded the meeting itself. In the future, there was a chance of all the Weasley children having issues growing up, especially with the pressure Molly would put on them the second they start school. Molly, like any other parent, wanted her children to do well and make a good living for themselves, but she would have them do it in a way only she approved of.

'You could strain your relationship with your own children sister, and by the time you realize it, it'll be almost too late.'

"Mama!" Harry's voice on the baby monitor broke her out of her thoughts. Poor baby was probably in need of a change and some food.

"Coming Harry!" She quickly grabbed her house robe and slippers, all but running into the room next door. When she entered the nursery, Harry was already standing up in his crib, bouncing happily with a sunshine grin. "Good morning baby!"

"Mummy!" He reached out for her, and she picked him up, smooched his cheeks, and carried him to the changing table.

"Let's get you all cleaned up, and we'll have a yummy breakfast. Does that sound good Harry?"

"Yeah!" Harry giggled and wiggled as he was cleaned and given a fresh nappy and carried into the kitchen. Charlotte took a seat at the table, levitating Harry's highchair over to her side. As Dolly and Dipper continued to fix breakfast, she kept Harry entertained.

"What's your name, come on baby what's your name?" Charlotte spoke in a tiny babyish voice, trying to make the little bouncer on her lap talk. "Harry, Haaarrrryyy, come on you can say it."

"Ha…Hawwy…Hawwy!" Charlotte gave a happy gasp.

"Good boy Harry! Who's a smart baby? Who's a smart boy?" Harry giggled as she lifted him above her head.

"Mistress?" Dolly popped into the room.

"Yes Dolly?"

"Yours and little master's breakfast be's ready." Charlotte let out a relieved sigh.

"Oh magnifique, we were hungry weren't we Harry?" Harry started flailing his arms happily as she stood.

"Hungy hungy!" he chanted it as she put him in the chair; Dipper brought the breakfast over, Charlotte took hers and began to feed him the pureed strawberry and banana mixture. It was his favorite so far, and the faces he made while eating were too adorable to resist.

"Eat up Harry, that's a good boy."

"Num num num…" he made the cutest sounds, it really warmed Charlotte's heart. He was a good eater, he liked fruit, some mushed veggies, and of course he liked chicken and potatoes, she would introduce him to other meats soon.

"Mummy eat!" Harry pointed to her own dish of pancakes with sliced bananas on top.

"Mummy will eat after you baby, you eat first." Harry made a face, still pointing at the dish.

"Mummy eat!" Charlotte smiled and took a quick forkful of dry pancake, taking a bite.

"There see? Mummy's eating too, now you eat." She held up a spoonful of his pureed fruit and he took it. Dolly poured some syrup on the pancakes while Charlotte fed Harry, each time he would only eat if she ate too.

"Ooh…burp!" Harry let out a small burp after he drank some apple juice from the sippy cup.

"Excuse you baby, was that good food?"

"Gooood foooo…" Harry yawned a little.

"Ooh, a full tummy makes you sleepy. Well, that's too bad because today Harry, you and mummy are going to the beach."

"Beach?"

"Yes Harry beach, we're going to play in the sand and in the water, because we are on vacation!" She knew he didn't understand, but it was good to talk with a one-year-old to improve speech.

Several months had passed since she'd taken Harry into her life, and while it had been a little tough adjusting to caring for a toddler, it was also very fulfilling. Charlotte felt as if a puzzle piece in her life had been put back in after going missing, and Harry settled in better than she'd hoped.

Charlotte had been able to make things work around with her teaching schedule; thanks to Felicia, she'd started her sabbatical leave earlier than expected. Her students were a little upset, but after she explained her reasons, they all begged her to bring Harry by after the leave was over, which of course, she'd promised to do. Fleur was upset she was leaving with Harry, but Charlotte promised to bring him by for a visit before the new baby came.

The house they were staying was a small French style villa located on the private beach in Plage d'Etretat, in the Seine-Maritime. It was small to the naked eye, but inside it was like a decent sized manor with an undersea theme. The main room of the house was painted aqua blue with white wicker furniture and feather pillows, the kitchen was mostly white with tan granite counters and a light oak dining table. The master bedroom, Charlotte's room, was set in a teal green with a queen-sized canopy bed dressed in dark and light blue bedding, with mahogany furniture from her old room. Harry's nursery was decorated in a painted farm scene with sheep, goats, and ducks in a pond with a comfy crib, changing table, dresser, and a nice sized toy chest. There were three other guest rooms all decorated similarly, but all kept neat and tidy. There was even a porch front and back, both with beautiful views of the beaches and the deep blue sea.

While the area itself was popular thanks to the beautiful scenery, Charlotte had bought the house not long after her father's passing; mainly used as an escape/safe house when the war in England began. She had planned to let Molly's family use the house in the summers if they ever reconnected, but for now it wasn't happening. It was warded within a ten-mile radius of muggles, anyone who came close would be mildly confounded to walk in the opposite direction; if by chance someone broke through it, stronger ones were in place as well.

One day it'll be a good spot to retire, if not 'inherit' for a nice vacation/honeymoon spot.

"Beach! Beach! Beach!" Harry started bouncing in his chair excitedly, making his mummy, it still felt strange to call herself that, his mummy laugh.

"Yes beach, but first, let's get you into something more comfortable." She picked him up from his chair and carried him back to the nursery. Harry squirmed to be let down, but Charlotte would not relent until they were inside the room.

'This gets a little easier every day.'

"Mummy play!" he bounced again and she caught him halfway.

"We'll play soon sweetie, let's get you changed first." She used her wandless magic to summon a set of toddler swimming trunks, blue plaided with palm trees in the squares, and a light blue swim shirt that would help keep Harry's sensitive skin safe from the sun. She'd also bought him a beach bucket hat and baby sunglasses; muggles might be odd at times but they had such cute things for children.

"Dolly, Dipper is the bag ready?" she called out as they appeared in the front.

"Beach bag be ready miss, Dipper shall accompany mistress and little master to beach."

"Excellent, now please watch him while I get changed." Dipper and Dolly nodded, using their own magic to entertain Harry with floating toys. While he became preoccupied with the new 'game', Charlotte snuck away to her room to change into her own swimwear. A dark magenta one-piece suit with a sheer white shawl, black flip flops, sunglasses, and a straw beach hat with a white ribbon wrapped around it. She had a bag as well, with a towel, her wand stashed in the bottom, and of course muggle adult and baby sunscreen; potions worked as well, but she didn't have any on hand. With a swish of her hand and a quick look in her full-sized mirror, she was ready for some fun in the sun.

"Alright…" she strolled back into the hall and Harry toddle ran to her. She picked him up, carried him to the door and motioned for Dolly and Dipper to follow her outside.

'To think this is what my life is like now."

Meanwhile, in Hogwarts:

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was just about at his wits' end; his mind was buzzing as loudly as his magic, though he could keep it controlled long enough not to destroy his office. Fawkes was nervous with his countless pacing; it was all he could do these days since school was out for the summer.

He'd had no luck in finding Harry Potter, the blood wards at 4 Privet Drive had completely fallen, the goblins refused to budge on who the boy's guardian could be, and so far things at the Ministry had been kept quiet. To top it off, all his instruments that held small bits of the boy's magical signature stopped working. He had considered going to the Ministry to get help, but with the war still fresh on everyone's minds, and the countless death eater trials, not to mention the upcoming elections for the new Minister of Magic, it would tip off too many individuals who'd like to get their hands on the boy. Harry Potter needed to be with someone he knew could keep the child humble, but still protect and love him; he knew Petunia had been reluctant, but once he got the boy back under his wing, he would speak with her.

"Albus?" Dumbledore stopped his pacing at his deputy headmistress Minerva McGonagall, stepped through his office door. "Is everything alright? We missed you at dinner."

"I had the elves bring food to my office Minerva." He went around his desk to sit. "I've been a little preoccupied."

"May I ask what for? The students have all gone home and you don't have any duties to the Wizenagamot until later in the week."

"Yes, it's not that." He sighed, he might as well tell her, Minerva was one of few people he could trust these days. "Harry Potter." Her eyes widened slightly.

"Harry Potter? Did something happen?"

"Yes, he's missing." She gasped.

"Missing, but how? You placed him with his muggle relatives, you put up wards to protect him didn't you?"

"I did, but it seems that James and Lily left custody of him to someone else in their wills."

"But you are the boy's magical guardian, you should have been notified at once."

"I would have, but the goblins had not yet recognized me as his magical guardian, and the day I was going to fill out the paperwork someone else had been summoned and took the boy." He rubbed his temples.

"Can you not request an audience with them? Do you know who it is?" he shook his head.

"Unfortunately, I do not, the goblins are keeping it all quiet per the new guardian's request, I am unable to send them a letter or anything to have a meeting."

"Do you think they'll harm the boy?"

"I cannot be sure, and while I hate to doubt the Potters' will, their trust in the wrong person is what got them killed in the first place. Whoever has little Harry must see reason…"

"But what if they're good to him? Albus I warned you those muggles were awful, blood or not, if he's in a good place why remove him?"

"Harry is important to our world Minerva, but he must grow up in a place where he can be kept grounded and safe. If raised in a magical home he could become too big-headed, you remember how James was."

"Yes but James was an only child and spoiled, it doesn't mean Harry will be the same, he also has Lily's genes."

"Even so, he must go back to the Dursleys." Minerva huffed.

"Even if by chance you do find him, what makes you think they'll just hand him over? If they're his rightful guardians you'll have no say."

"I will do my best Minerva; I only have the boy's best interest at heart." She gave him a look.

"His best interest? Albus, I respect you as a colleague and ally, I also love you as a friend, but your judgment can be questioned easily. Back to what you said about James, I recall wanting to be more assertive in his punishments at school, but you always let him off a little too easily, especially when it came to Severus Snape." He sighed.

"It wasn't that bad Minerva, and James wasn't the only guilty one."

"Yes, Sirius Black was who you thought different from the rest of his family, and now look at him, a criminal, a traitor. Peter Pettigrew is dead, James Potter is dead, and Remus Lupin, Merlin knows where he is now." She paused. "And as to 'it wasn't that bad', Sirius Black nearly sent a boy to his death, and if he had succeeded, another boy could've died as well due to our negligence."

"Minerva, if you intend on bringing up my past mistakes then you'll have to get in line with all the others who would do the same. This isn't about me though, it's about finding Mr. Potter." She sighed.

"Very well, how do you intend to find him if you haven't a clue to his guardian's identity?" he rubbed his eyes.

"I have a few contacts who might be able to help, but they haven't gotten back in touch with me yet. I need to keep this as quiet as possible, if word gets out the boy is missing it won't be good."

"I should say not, but Albus, if you insist on locating the child then I can't stop you. However, if you do find him and try convincing his guardians to give him up, and they refuse, then I only hope you're prepared for whatever fight they'll give." With that, she turned and left the office, leaving the elder headmaster alone, again.

"Fawkes…" he looked at his companion, who trilled at him. "I know it's difficult, but if we're going to survive a second coming of Tom, then the boy must return." Fawkes looked away, and Dumbledore sighed.

'I'm sorry my boy, but I do what must be done, for the greater good of us all.'

Yeah I know, not the way I wanted to end it but late at night with a tired mind, it's the best I could come up with, still I hope you all enjoyed it.

Again, I'm sorry I made you wait so long; I will try to do better in the future. Truth be told I've gotten too far ahead in my thoughts to where I want to get to the good stuff, but I can't rush this. Honestly, I might skip a few years in the next chapter, but we'll see. I don't want to rush too far ahead into Harry 'jumping' into school and all, but I don't want to drag it out either.

Also, maybe you all can help me with something concerning the Weasleys. I admit I wanted to bash a few here, but I'm beginning to think of different ways of family drama without bashing too many members of the family. Truthfully, I want Charlotte to get close to the boys and Ginny, but not all at once.

The two I'm thinking of are Ronald and Percy, mainly because I've recently read some fics where these two get hurt and need comfort, or get bullied/neglected, run off and return later, it almost breaks my heart. I'm considering passing 'the gift' on to one or both, but neither will be as strong as Charlotte's. I know Ron has huge jealousy issues and Percy is a pompous jerk, but I have an idea of what to do. I'm considering letting Ron meet Charlotte before starting school, and if possible a friendship with Harry before they start school.

There's still some time before that though, but let me know what you think!

Next chapter we have a time skip, and Charlotte comes face to face with someone who 'catches' her with Harry. Who could it be? Friend or Foe?

Comments are much appreciated!

Later!