Charlie Jones - Chapter 1 - Part 2
September 1st arrived, and Charlotte was up at the crack of dawn, making sure everything was just right. Her hair was a golden yellow today, something a little more conspicuous than her usual choices, but she wanted to make sure she didn't stand out too much. Her eyes, however, stayed electric blue. She needed some quirkiness, considering the parents she had.
Her dad placed everything in the boot of their old car, except one item; her birthday present from her parents. Charlotte still couldn't believe they gave her a beautiful tawny owl! The only stipulation was that she had to write home at least once a fortnight, to let them know what was going on.
As they arrived at Kings Cross, Jane started to get very nervous about having to get onto the platform. Artemis had told her time and time again that there was nothing to fear, but Jane, well, she was just a muggle, after all. When the time came to get onto the platform, the three of them held hands and ran straight at the wall. Charlotte and Jane squeezed their eyes shut, and prepared for the impact that them knew wouldn't come. Lo and behold, in a split second, they were surrounded by hundreds upon hundreds of people saying hellos and goodbyes to each other.
"Artemis! Artemis Jones!"
"Arthur! Oh, how lovely to see you! Dropping off your boys, I see."
"Yes, Percy is in his fourth year now, and the twins, well, they've been allowed back for their second year. Thank Merlin. Although, this must be your daughter! Charlotte, isn't it?"
"Charlotte, Jane, come and meet Arthur and Molly Weasley. Arthur works at the Ministry as well."
Charlotte blushed a hello, feeling her face turning pink, knowing that her hair would shortly follow.
"Hello my dear," said Molly, "let's get your things all ready to be loaded onto the train. If we're not careful, the men will sit around chatting about work forever."
"Thank you Molly," replied Jane, hand around Charlotte's shoulders. "I'm not sure I could do this without you, having lost my husband to the conversation of work."
"Of course, of course! Now, let me find my boys while you, my dear, say goodbye to your parents. I'll make sure the boys look out for you while you’re at school. FRED! GEORGE! Where are you two?"
Charlotte turned to her mum and tried to stay strong, because she knew that as soon as she started crying, so would her mum. "B-b-bye mummy. B-bye daddy."
"Oh Love Potion! You'll be fine! Just don't forget to write. We love you! Have fun!"
Molly came running up, with two red-headed boys in tow. "Alright, Charlotte, this is Fred, and this is George, they're going to keep an eye out on you while you're at school. And if they do ANYTHING to upset you, and I want you to owl me immediately."
"He's not Fred, I am!" Said one of the twins.
"Honestly woman, you call yourself our mother." Said the other.
Fred winked at Charlotte, "Only joking mum, I am Fred!"
“Oooooh, you boys! Off with you! Go on, before the train leaves without the three of you!"
And with that, Fred, George, and Charlotte boarded the train, found an empty compartment, and waved vigorously at their respective parents.
"Bye mum! Bye dad! See you at Christmas!"
"Please, don't forget to write, Love Potion!"
Once everything had calmed down, and the train was out of the station, the boys settled down in their seats.
"Love Potion?" The one, she believed was Fred asked, eyebrow raised.
Charlotte blushed profusely. "It's a nickname. My middle name is Amortentia."
"Your parents named you after the most powerful love potion in the known world?! Why?" The other boy, George, asked.
"Well, you know how when you smell it, it's supposed to smell like the things that you find attractive? My dad, he smelled a mix of scents, ones that my mum ended up having, except there was one scent he never smelled from my mum. He didn't think on it much, since he's totally in love with her, and nothing could change that. Until the day I was born, apparently. He was holding me for the first time, and burrowed he nose in my neck, froze, looked up at my mum and whispered 'Amortentia!' Turns out, the other scent, the one he was missing, was me..." You spluttered out, turning red.
"Woah!! Your hair! It just changed colors! You look like us!!!" Fred exclaimed excitedly. "Are you, are you a metamorphmagus?"
"Oh, um, yes. We're not sure where in the family I get it from, but yeah... So far I can only change my hair and eye color..."
"There's this Hufflepuff who is in her last year. She's a metamorphmagus too! Except she can actually turn herself into other people. We heard this story about her transforming into Dumbledore and going around pranking everyone." Fred said, full of admiration.
George looked at his brother a rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but we're determined to outdo her. We will be infamous, brother mine."
Charlotte giggled at the twins. She had a good feeling about them, she hoped that they would continue to hang out with her, regardless of what their mum asked them. "Which house are you two in?"
"GRYFFINDOR!" They yelled in unison.
Charlotte concentrated, and changed her hair color, half gold, and half Gryffindor red. The boys loved it, and spent the rest of the train ride coming up with different combinations for her to try. Charlotte knew that she had finally found somewhere to fit in.
During the train ride there was a knock on their compartment door. The door opened, and this girl with bright purple hair walked in.
"You're a metamorphmagus. What's your name?" The stranger asked.
"I-I-I'm Charlotte. Charlotte Jones."
"The name is Tonks. Well, Nymphadora, but don't call me that."
The Weasley boys nudged each other, incredulous that a seventh year was in their compartment.
"You're the Twins, aren't you? Charlie's little brothers?"
"I hear you're pranksters, too." She turned back to Charlotte, "we have an easier time of pranking, though, don't we? Being able to change into anyone, we can get away with loads more stuff." A mischievous glint lit up her eyes.
"I, I can only change my hair and eye color right now..." Charlotte mumbled, embarrassed.
"Keep working on it. You'll get there. Promise. And if you need help, come find me." Tonks gave a small smile. "You better put your robes on. We should be arriving soon. See you in the Hall." And with that, she was gone.
"You have got to work on it! You could help us be unstoppable!" Fred was bouncing up and down on his seat.
"Fred, let the poor girl recover, and figure out which house she wants to be in. Gryffindor would mean fun times with us, but Hufflepuff would mean she gets to spend time with someone just like her."
"I get a choice? My dad never told me that."
"Well, your choice gets taken into account. What was your dad?"
"Well, then you...." George trailed off. "We're here!!!!"
Charlotte scurried into her robes, and the twins helped her off the train.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" A booming voice called out from the dusk. The voice belonged to the largest man Charlotte had ever seen.
"That's Hagrid. Don't worry, he's a big softy." One of the twins whispered.
"See you in the Hall! Hopefully you'll make the right choice and join us!" Fred called back to her as they ran off in a different direction.
