ABEYANCE: 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏

ABEYANCE: 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏

Everything had changed, and not for the better. Voldemort had returned to his former glory, even if there were people who chose not to believe it. The Dark Lord had returned and no one was safe.

Charlotte's fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was nothing like she had anticipated. At the end of the summer, Charlotte joined the Weasley family, Hermione, Harry and the Diggory family to the Quidditch World Cup. She had always had an inkling for the sport- so there was no way that she was going to pass on going to the event. But part of her wishes that she hadn't left the Longbottom household. Death Eaters had invaded the muggle grounds and tormented everyone around them- primarily the muggle caretakers and the muggle-born witches and wizards that were there for the World Cup.

Following the dreary events of the Quidditch World Cup it was announced to the students of Hogwarts that the school would be hosting a legendary event, the Triwizard Tournament. The tournament in itself was a whirlwind of an experience, even if you were chosen by the Trizard Cup to compete. It was also that Charlotte had experienced her second bout of heartbreak and loss. She had witnessed the death of her dear friend, Cedric Diggory.

She had known the Diggory boy since her second year at Hogwarts, two Slytherin boys by the names of Vincent Crabbe and Gregg Goyale had spent their entire afternoon tormenting the muggle-born witch, chasing her around the castle in between classes. Cedric had seen the young witch rush past him in the corridor, he was almost about to write her up for running recklessly in the corridor but once he had seen what she had been running from- he had decided to give the punishment to the two Slytherin boys instead.

Cedric was in his fifth year and was the prefect for the Hufflepuff House. Luckily he had been able to catch up to the three younger teenagers before Crabbe or Goyle could do anything more to the young witch. He had yelled at the two boys for harassing Charlotte, sending them both to Professor McGonagall with a note explaining what had happened. He had sent the two Slytherins to McGonagall because he knew that Professor Snape would do nothing about the matter.

Before leaving he had made sure that she was okay, asking more than once if she needed to go to the hospital wing to go and see Madam Pomfrey, Charlotte ensured him that she was okay. From that moment forward he had seen her in the light of a younger sister, he had grown to be protective of the girl.

Her brother, her protector of sorts was killed in cold blood by Lord Voldemort and both Harry and Charlotte were witnesses. Although Charlotte was not there in person, she had still seen the murder happen. It had become more prevalent for Charlotte to have bouts of what she thought were visions. But she did not think about it all too much, she just wished that someone would obviate the moment from her memories forever.

Cedric had been called a 'spare' within the last few seconds of his life, and Cedric Diggory was far from a spare. The Hufflepuff champion was brave and loyal to a fault. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and had become a causality of the second wizarding war.

She had remembered it so clearly, everything had seemed to turn black in her mind, both Nora and Anromdea talking to one another. Not noticing that Charlotte hadn't said anything for a few minutes- but that was nothing out of the ordinary, it had been a custom for Charlotte to daze out of conversations that she was a part of. She had seen her close friend killed and then she had been brought back to reality.

Charlotte got to her feet quickly, getting down to the grass just seconds before Harry returned with Cedric's dead body in his hands.

"He's back! He's back!" Harry's hollow screams could be heard throughout the entire Quidditch pitch, it was etched into her brain the contortion of permanent pain that was plastered on Harry's face as he wailed over his dead friend. Nora and Ron were quick to Charlotte's side. Ron had pulled his friend in for a comforting hug while Nora just held her hand, the tears did not leave her eyes though, she never cried.

Along with the permanent memory of Harry's wails of pain that was etched into her brain, the same noises from Amos Diggory were there too. Not only had he lost a child, but he had also lost his only child, his only son. How was one meant to react after that?

***

Every single Hogwarts, Durmstrung, and Beauxbatons student along with their respective professors were gathered in the Great Hall, they were all in mourning for the loss of the Diggory boy. Charlotte looked ahead and saw Headmaster Dumbledore sitting in his golden chair, the same one he has had since he became Headmaster.

The look on Albus Dumbledore's face was unreadable, which was not unusual but in a moment like this it did not make anyone feel better than they were already feeling.

A memorial was held for Cedric at the end of the school term, no matter the relationship everyone had with Cedric, they all felt the pain. Cho Chang had lost a boyfriend she had come to love, the Hufflepuff House had lost a leader and dear friend, and Charlotte had lost a brother, the only brother she had ever had.

Albus Dumbledore's forehead rested on the palm of his hand briefly as he tried to conjure the words to speak to the children and professors sitting in front of him. It had been a week since Cedric had been murdered, and he still did not know what to say.

"Today we acknowledge a really terrible loss." Headmaster Dumbledore's words were strong as they left his mouth, he was trying to be strong for everyone. "Cedric Diggory was as you all know, exceptionally hard working, intricately fair-minded. And most importantly a fierce fierce friend." The great wizard stood from his chair, walking closer to where the students were. His own frailed fingers inserted with one another as he stood there.

"I think therefore you have the right to know exactly how he died." Charlotte's breath hitched as Dumbledore continued to talk, in this moment she felt someone's head rest on her shoulder. It was Hermione, her Gryffindor cloak now being covered by Hermione's curly hair. Dumbledore moved further, now standing where his podium was. His hands still fidgeting among themselves.

"You see, Lord Voldemort murdered Cedric Diggory. The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so, I think, would be an insult to his memory." Dumbledore continued to talk. This would be the first time that Charlotte would cry about Cedric's death. The past week had felt like a blur to the girl, going from class to class, trying to get through the days, ignoring the stares she would receive from the rest of her peers.

Albus Dumbledore's words started to drift from her mind as she started to go numb, she no longer felt the weight of Hermione's head on her shoulder, the only thing she felt was pain, excruciating pain.

That was when she felt a hand grab her left one, she looked to her left slightly to see that Harry had reached his bruised hand to grasp her freckled one tightly. He did not look at her, nor did he say anything either. Soon enough their fingers had interlaced with one another. He knew that she needed the comfort. He understood the pain she had been going through the past week, more so than anyone else in the Great Hall itself.

At the end of the school term in 1995 Harry Potter was named the Triwizard Champion, even though in Charlotte's eyes there would always be two champions of the 1995 Triwizard Tournament. Cedric Diggory had lived a short-lived life, but she would make it known how brilliant of a champion and friend he was

***

The school term had ended, and it was time for Charlotte to return to the Longbottom household. She had been living with Neville, Nora (his twin sister), and their grandmother, Augusta.

Albus Dumbledore had explained to Augusta Longbottom that it was no longer safe for Charlotte to return to the Orphanage in Mermaid Quay. She needed to be living within a magical household. When Augusta Longbottom first met Charlotte, she had been quite apprehensive, but once she had seen the bond and friendships she had developed with her two grandchildren- she knew she had to say yes. 

The summer break of 1995 was spent in bed for Charlotte Carter, she had no family left in this world. That was taken away when Cedric had been murdered. The only time she had been through something like this was when she had lost Lady Marrowbone when she was younger, but that did not hurt her as much as this did. On top of all of the grief she had been going through, all of Harry's closest friends had been instructed by Headmaster Dumbledore to cease major contact with the boy over the summer break. And at first was hard for the girl to do, but she had gotten use to distancing herself from the people she loved so often that unfortunately it had become like second nature for her to do so. 

According to Dumbledore it was safer to keep Harry out of the know for everything that dealt with the Dark Lord himself, the wise wizard knew that Harry would drive himself insane if he had been receiving information- and not be allowed to do anything with it. It was safer for Harry to stay in the bubble of Little Whinging.

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore had given Charlotte one more order before he went into his bubble throughout the holidays. 

'You are to wait here until Moony sends you correspondence, if Mr. Potter sends you an owl, answer it to the best of your ability. however, do not speak of the dark lord although I know how terribly hard it will be for you to do so.' 

Charlotte had been wrapping the book she had gotten Harry for his fifteenth birthday; she had been able to buy it with the money she had been saving from working at honey-dukes over the past couple of summers and on the weekends during the school year.

"He Flew Like a Madman." She had seen Harry read through it a couple of times when they were at the Burrow, and he had been asking Ron about the book more and more, so she thought she would do the boy a favor and get the boy his copy of the book.

 "You have mail!" Nora Longbottom's voice rang out in a sing-song voice, making Charlotte chuckle at her friend. As Nora walked into their shared room, Charlotte closed the envelope that had Harry's birthday card in it, then turned to Nora to take two pieces of mail from her friend. 

"See, this." Nora points at Charlotte's desk, mainly towards the gift she had for Harry. "This does not look like 'I am completely over the silly schoolgirl crush I had on my best friend two years ago.' this shows. 'Harry I am so endlessly in love with you-" Before Nora could finish her sentence Charlotte had thrown the small pillow that was between the small of her back and the chair she was sat on. Nora caught the pillow and held it to her chest, inspecting the work that Hedwig had done to her fingers. 

"You better tell that git off though, Hedwig pecked the hex out of my fingers, I think either she is mad, or he told her to do it." Nora showed Charlotte her index and middle finger.

Charlotte took the letter out of the envelope and read what Harry had written to her.

"Lottie, I have been expelled from Hogwarts, they're going to take my wand.

There was a dementor attack, they tried to get myself and Dudley.

What on earth is going on? Please reply as quickly as possible. Harry."

Charlotte looked at Nora with worry in her eyes, this could not be good. 

"What on earth are they doing so far from Azkaban?" Nora questioned, watching as Charlotte ripped the envelope off of the second letter, she had received

"Charlotte, it is time you need to come to Headquarters now, we are on our way to go and get Harry from Privet Drive, but you need to be there before we are, it is for your safety. R. J Lupin." 

Charlotte read out Remus's messy calligraphy to Nora, both of them sharing the same worried expressions.

"I have to go, Nora. Now. Help me pack." The two girls got to packing everything that Charlotte would need, deciding that she would also pack her school trunk as well- not knowing how long she would be at the safe house. 

"Do you need me to come with you?" Said Nora. Charlotte shook her head. Nora looked at her friend with a concerned look.

"No, you need to stay here, with Neville and your grandmother, bless Neville but he's not the best for when it comes to defensive spells or protection, Nora." Nora let a stifled laugh out

"But what about you? You're a muggle-born witch, Lottie. God knows what is going to happen to you if something happens, please write to me to let me know that you're safe, I don't know what I would-"

"Nora!" Charlotte cuts her friend off with her words and by placing her hands on her shoulders. "Of course, I will let you know I am okay, I will let you know that the others are-"

"I just want you to be safe, please. You know what-" "Nora, please. Stop worrying, please. I will be fine."

***

She was underaged which meant that apparating out of the Longbottom home was a no-go for her, so the next best option was the floo network. Although she hated using the floo network she knew that using her broomstick while having to carry her school trunk and her rucksack would not go well in the air. It would also gain unwanted attention. 

Using the floo network would have to be one of the weirdest sensations that a witch or wizard would feel. She did not like how it felt like her own body felt like it was being ripped apart, even though it wasn't. But this would be the only way to get to everyone else. 

Nora and Charlotte looked at one another before Charlotte threw the floo power to the ground shouting '12 Grimmauld Blace' before she did so. Nora worried about her friend, in the back of her mind she had been thinking that this could be the last time she could see Charlotte and she would not know how to deal with that. 

With a loud CRACK! She had appeared in one of the two drawing rooms of the Black family home, this would be the first time that she visited the home, as she entered the drawing room via the fireplace she was met with the back side of a couch, she hit her face that hard on the rotten fabric that her nose started to please crimson coloured blood from her nose.

"Bloody hell." She said as she stood from the spot on the floor, after she had gathered her bearings she looked around the dark room, "That's just fantastic." She brought her hand to her nose feeling the blood run down the small distance from her nose to the edge of her chin.

"Lumos" She used the spell to light up the room she was in, the entire room was filled with cobwebs and unused furniture. No moving portraits are to be seen anywhere. She looked around for a door to exit the drawing room, the hopefully be able to find someone in that manner.

"AGH!" The scream left Charlotte's mouth, the loud crack had made her draw the wand from inside her leather jacket. Her other hand clutched to her heart, she looked behind her and saw both Fred and George Weasley standing there with wands in hand- they had passed their apperation tests... brilliant.

"You idiots! I could've jinxed the both of you!" Once she relaised she was safe, the girl put her wand back into the jacket, walked up to the twins, and brought them into a joined hug- both of them still giggling at the look Charlotte had on her face.

"We couldn't help it, Lottie." Said George, he had pulled away from the girl. Fred's body still lingered near Charlotte's though as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Mum told us you were coming, we knew we had to take the opportunity to scare you." Fred's words were followed by an infectious laugh, "Come on, Hermione is worried sick about you." Fred said once more. Picking up her bag from the ground below.

"Hold on, what happened to your face?" George said pointing at Charlotte's nose.

"Oh, that." She said feeling the blood that had already dried under her nose and the skin of her chin, "When I entered the drawing room, I hit my face on the couch there. I am all good, I just need to find a bathroom so I can get this blood off of my face."

***

"Charlotte!" Hermione essentially jumped on top of her friend, Hermione hadn't seen Charlotte since the last day of term. "Thank god you're okay!" She said as she hugged her friend.

"Why wouldn't I be okay, 'Mione?" Charlotte asked, hugging her friend back as she did she gave Ron a look, and he smiled back at her, not knowing what to say to her. "I am all good, it's Harry we should be worried about."Hermione pulled away from Charlotte's body taking a good look at her friend. It had been around two months since the last time either Ron or Hermione had seen the girl, and neither of them barely heard from the girl over the break. The only member of the Weasley family that received owls from the girl was Fred.

"They can't expel him can they?" Charlotte asked moving to where Ron was, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug- she had missed her friend.

"From what we heard Harry needed to use the spell, Dudley was with him." Said Ron, he was worried for his friend. "But the Ministry is so twisted these days that who knows what they'll do to Harry and Dumbledore." Hermione and Charlotte nodded in agreement.

Since the events that took place at Hogwarts last year, the Minister for Magic has been using all of his power to smear both Harry and Headmaster Dumbledore within the Daily Prophet. She had never liked the man, she had always known that he had been a coward and this was just proving her theory correct.

Along with the damnation of Harry and Dumbledore within the Daily Prophet, there had been whisperings about Charlotte. There were also some things that Dumbledore had sworn both Hermione and Ron to keep from Charlotte as well. And as much as Hermione hated lying to her closest friend, she knew that she could not defy any orders that came from her headmaster.

Cornelius Fudge had gotten into the ears of many Aurors, stating that Dumbledore had been hiding who Charlotte truly was, that she was a weapon of sorts. There was a reason why the Headmaster had been keeping it from her, he did not need her any more distracted than she already was.

"He is a git, we all know it. He is going to get us all killed because he cannot face the truth."