Mothering Secretly

[mercifulheavens]

Disclaimer- I own Charles...

Mothering Secretly

+13

-Prologue-
Mother and Son

A young child picked a book up from the ground and hurried into the other room. His large blue eyes twinkled with excitement as he spotted his mother sitting on the couch. She was going over a stack of papers that to the young boy was a never-ending stack. A sign that his mother was much to busy to read to him. Yet undeterred he silently walked over to her.

“Mama, are you busy?” he asked, innocently. His mother glanced up over her glasses at him.
“What is it?” her voice was the same as he always heard it; soft and patient. He had often wondered why in some stories mothers were depicted as harsh people who never had any fun.
“Could you read to me?” He held the book out in his hands. His mother without hesitation smiled and took the book, carelessly pushing the unfinished work aside.
“Of course.” She said gently ruffled his thick black hair.

Opening the book to the well-worn part that she had read so many times that she had it memorized, she began to read.

“A Good Play

By Robert Louis Stevenson,

We built a ship upon the stairs,
All made of back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.

We took a saw and several nails,
And water in the nursery pails;
And Tom said, “Let us also take
An apple and a slice of cake”;-
Which was enough for Tom and me
To go a-sailing on, till tea.

We sailed along for days and days,
And had the very best of plays;
But Tom fell out and hurt his knee,
So there was no one left but me.”

The little boy smiled as his mother finished. He turned the well-worn page and pointed to the next poem.

“How about that one next?” His mother silently smiled. Although he could not read, her son knew exactly where his favorite things were.
“Two more, all right dear? And then mama has work to do.” The boy agreed with a nod.

“The Land of Story Books

By Robert Louis Stevenson

At evening when the lamp is lit,
Around the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.

Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.

There, in the night, where none can spy,
All in my hunter's camp I lie,
And play at books that I have read
Till it is time to go to bed.

These are the hills, these are the woods,
These are my starry solitudes;
And there the river by whose brink
The roaring lions come to drink.

I see the others far away
As if in firelit camp they lay,
And I, like to an Indian scout,
Around their party prowled about.

So, when my nurse comes in for me,
Home I return across the sea,
And go to bed with backward looks
At my dear Land of Story Books.”

“I like that one better than the other.” The child commented, leafing through the book looking for the final poem.
“Why’s that, love?” His mother asked watching him over his shoulder.
“His friend doesn’t leave him.” He answered simply pausing at the poem he wanted.
“This one, please.”

“My Heart’s in the Highlands
By Robert Burns,

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer -
A-chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North
The birth place of Valour, the country of Worth;
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Farewell to the mountains high cover'd with snow;
Farewell to the straths and green valleys below;
Farewell to the forrests and wild-hanging woods;
Farwell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods.

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here,
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;
My heart's in the Highlands, whereever I go.”

“Thanks for reading to me, Mama.” The boy climbed off his mother’s lap and kissed her cheek. “I’ll go get ready for bed.” He hugged the book to his chest and scampered off toward his bedroom.
Sighing deeply his mother looked over at her stack of papers, then reached over and pulled the first one of the stack.

The little boy put the book away as his mother had taught him and pulled his nightshirt out from under his pillow. Slipping it on over his head, he buttoned the two large buttons. Once dressed he made his way into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

“Be sure to wash your hands and feet, Charles!” his mother called from the other room. Charles frowned. But knowing that his mother would not let him go to bed ‘dirty’, he climbed into the bathtub. Turning the lion shaped knob, he watched as the water began to fill the tub. Soon he had washed his feet and hands. After drying his hands on the hand towel he turned off the water and began to brush his teeth.

Charles had been in bed for a good ten minutes before his mother entered the room to tuck him in. He smiled as she used her wand to light up the dark room and sat by his bed. The enchanted cover began to sing a soft lullaby as the animated dragons on its front and back danced to the tune.

“Could you read one more poem to me?” Charles asked. He had learned early on in his life that he would never get anything from his mother by begging.
“Not tonight, dear.” Her soft hand stroked his hair and she pulled the covers up to his chin.
“All right, Mama. Good night.” He reached up and wrapped his arms around her neck. She gently kissed his forehead and returned the hug.
“Good night, my little bairn. I love you.”
“I love you too.” And the light dimmed as the boy slipped off into a world that was composed entirely of his own imagination.

[tabby19]

OMG that was adorable!!!
I loved it!!!
it was soooo sweet!!
that just like made my day!! ;D
thanks!!
please update soon!!

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter I-
Breaking the Rules

The moon twinkled benevolently down on the land. Her silver beams shone into the bedroom that a young boy slept in and sighed gently as a breeze ruffled the red curtains. Lost in a deep slumber, the child gripped his blanket edge tightly. His dreams were happy and content as most young children’s dreams are and a small smile had tiptoed its way across his face.

High above the child the ceiling glittered as the many charmed stars twinkled where they had been placed almost seven years prior to that night. They had seen the small room change many times, yet they had remained. It had started out as a nursery with a high walled crib and a red changing table. But in just two years it had been transformed into a muggle sport called soccer themed bedroom with a closet and small round bed. Then but a year later it had changed once more only this time it had become a dragon habitat with dragons on the walls and floor.

Suddenly and without warning the child awoke. His large tired eyes surveyed the room as though he had heard something though no sound had been made. Wiggling out from underneath his cover, he climbed out of the single bed.

Charles walked over to the window and stared out at the trees that he had never seen other than from the window. Sometimes in the day he had seen people walking out by them; but any questions about them were always forgotten before he could ask. His mother had told him in her quiet gentle way that whatever he saw out his window or any other window had nothing to do with him and he was never to wave or interact with them.

He had been outside many times on wonderful picnics and walks with his mother. But she had always taken him someplace else other than where they lived. Once they had been to London, another time Edinburgh; sometimes he didn’t ask where they were. After all what did a location matter to a seven-year-old little boy? As long as he had his mother, Charles was quite content to live with the little mysteries of his life.

But there was one mystery Charles just couldn’t ignore. He had hardly ever been out of the front door of the room. There were many places to go and play inside of the chambers; but the one door that led out into the unknown had been forbidden. His mother had never told him a reason for its restricted access; but he was fairly sure it was a good one.

Slipping his small slippers on, Charles left his room and peeked into his mother’s bedroom. She was fast asleep in her bed; though he knew better than to make any noise, as she was a very light sleeper. Tiptoeing across the sitting room, he soon faced the Forbidden Door.
It loomed in front of him like a piece of candy that he simply had to unwrap. Slowly he reached out and grasped the silver handle. It was cold to the touch and it sent a shiver down his spine as he turned it. Excitement mixed with fear as it began to pull open. Suddenly it slammed shut with a terrible bang and Charles stood stock-still hoping his mother would not wake up.

“Horatio Charles!” His mother said softly, exiting her bedroom and making her way over to her son. He hung his head at his full first name; she only said that when he was in trouble.
“I’m sorry, Mama.” He muttered, his eyes filling with tears. The fact that he knew his mother would be disappointed in his lack of obedience was worse than any punishment he could receive.
Gathering her son into her arms, his mother sighed.

“I don’t tell you things so that you can ignore them, wee one. Rules are very important and if you break them bad things always happen.” Charles shook his head miserably.
“I won’t do it again, Mama. I promise.”
His mother smiled.
“Now go on back to bed, it’s very late and you’ll be tired tomorrow if you don’t get enough sleep.” Charles nodded vigorously and hurried back into his room. He barely missed his mother whisper several locking charms over the Forbidden Door.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 2-
Accidental Disobedience


As usual a house elf had brought Charles his breakfast and he had begun to eat it at the sitting room coffee table while watching television. It was a fascinating device to be sure, with lots of things that his mother could never figure out how to work. Thankfully, Charles had learned how to use it by the tender age of three. He had always found it hard to understand how his mother could be so good with magic but fumble terribly when it came to simple things like TV.

“Does Master Charles be wanting more to eat?” asked Yinny, the house elf that helped Charles the most. Charles shook his head and Yinny disappeared with his finished breakfast dishes. It had always intrigued him that Yinny had been able to disappear. But then again he had always wondered more where he went than how he did it.

Using the remote to turn of the boring program, Charles rose from the floor. He could hear his mother dressing in the other room. The clock next to the television states in bold digital letters that it was 6 am; his mother would leave at 30 past and return around lunchtime.

He knew what she did during the time, but frankly was so un-intrigued with her occupation that it had never really interested him. She was a professor in the school that the room was apart of. Once when he had been younger she had taken him on a tour around the large school, he didn’t remember very much of it.

“Charles, are you going to be all right here today?” His mother asked. She never seemed to notice that she had said those same words every weekday morning since he was three. Before then a house elf, mainly Yinny, had taken care of him while she taught her classes.

“I’ll be fine, Mama.” He muttered, turning to give her a hug. His lovely mother had transformed from sweet, gentle fragile woman he usually saw into a taunt, strict strong professor who he assumed everyone but him saw. Charles always liked his mother the way she was with him. Her long wavy hair smelled wonderful and he loved to sit on her lap and snuggle into it. The glasses that she only wore to read made her look older.

“You look prettier with you hair down, Mama.” His mother knelt down in front of him and hugged him close.
“I can’t look pretty when I teach, darling.” Her large green eyes captured his blue ones and he smiled.
“I know. I love you.”
“I love you too.” With a loving kiss to his forehead, his mother rose and strode over to the Forbidden Door. “If you need anything, call for Yinny.”
Charles nodded and watched as his mother disappeared into a hallway that led to the unknown.
By lunchtime, Charles was becoming quite restless. House elves did not play games very well and he didn’t have the patience to teach Yinny how to play better. After several short games of solitaire, he flicked through the television channels for a few minutes. Nothing that he wanted to watch was on.

Walking over to the game cupboard, Charles put away the cards and pulled out ball. It only took five bounces of the wall to bore him. Nothing was very interesting today. Entering his bedroom, Charles gazed out the window at the forest and the lake that was supposed to have a giant squid in it. He was just about ready to resign himself to eating lunch when he noticed a boy standing by the lake.

Curious, Charles stared out at the boy. Although he was quite a ways away from him, Charles was able to pick out a few of the boy’s more prominent features. Messy black hair and large glasses were just about the extent of what he saw.

Suddenly, the boy turned around and faced the castle. Charles without even thinking ducked to avoid being seen. Then he scampered out of his bedroom and ran over to the large window in the sitting room. Peeking out through the thick curtains, he saw the boy still gazing in his general direction. When the boy waved at him, Charles felt his heart soar. He had always wanted a friend. House elves and a gold fish never were the same as the friends that were in stories. So Charles raised his hand above his head and waved back. A smile lit his face as the boy waved again. He had been seen.

[McGonagallsGirl]

What a great idea. Keep it up

[tabby19]

Ahh that's adorable but I feel so bad for Charles!
I cant wait for the update!

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 3-
The Boy in the Window

Just as he had returned the wave, realization sunk into his mind. One thing he was never suppose to do was let people see him. Charles hid behind the curtain and waited until the boy walked away. Sighing deeply, he called for Yinny and sunk down to wait for his lunch.

His mother was right on time to eat with him and seemed a bit agitated about something. As soon as she had closed the Forbidden Door and whispered the locking charms, she began to unpin her long luxurious hair. Charles watched her melt down into her usual self with hidden glee then scooted over so she could sit next to him.

Gathering her son into her embrace, his mother sat down on the floor. Her wonderful scent calmed his slightly worried mind and he snuggled closer to her.

“How was your morning, love?” she asked, casually.
“Fine.” He said quickly reaching out to grab her plate for her.
“Are you all right?” His mother had caught the fear in his voice. Thinking quickly, Charles hung his head.
“I broke one of my toys.” He lied, knowing she would dismiss it as harmless and ask to see it.
“Oh, that’s nothing to be worried about, wee one. Bring it here and I’ll fix it.” Charles nodded and stood up from her warm embrace.

Once in his room, Charles got down on his hands and knees and pulled one of his many toys out from underneath his bed. It was in perfect running order but with a few hard pulls and twists, he had the perfect broken toy. Hating himself for lying to his mother, Charles exited the bedroom with the toy in hand.



His mother had left to teach another class only minutes after finishing her lunch and Charles was left with nothing to do but brood over his past actions. First he had waved at a boy he wasn’t even supposed to see; then he had lied to his mother about it. What would he find himself doing next?

Charles let his mind wander for a moment and suddenly without warning his eyes both fell on the Forbidden Door. He knew that his mother kept it locked with several charms; all of which he had no idea how to break. No, he would not disobey her again, he reasoned.

A quick nap helped his guilty conscious greatly and hardly after an hour had passed since lunch, Charles had forgotten all about the boy and the lie. Such is the beauty of being a child.

Looking over at the window, Charles strode over to it. A quick peep out wouldn’t be very exciting, but then again lying on his bed and watching charmed stickers blink was not very amusing either. Pulling back the heavy fabric, Charles gazed out at the wood and lake. The boy and another boy were by the lake. This other boy had messy red hair and no glasses. Both seemed to be staring at him.

Charles pulled away from the window and went back to watch TV. However as he reached over to flick the set on; he noticed that the Forbidden Door was not closed all the way. Hurrying over to assess the situation, Charles realized that in her haste to not be late for her classes, his mother had not locked the door. With a quick glance either way down the empty hallway, Charles slipped out into the unknown.

[minervammcg]

THis is great!! Update soon. I'm very excited to see what Charles gets into.

[tabby19]

Ooooo I wonder what he's going to do next!!??
wonderful update.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 4-
The Trio

Charles cautiously made his way down the hallway. On either side there were portraits and a variety of different suits of armor, so he had no trouble keeping out of sight. Adrenaline throbbed through his veins as he heard voices up ahead. Hunkering down behind a large suit of armor, he waited for the people to appear.

The two men that were talking were both tall; although they seemed to lose all things in common from that point on. While one seemed kind and his happy eyes twinkled; the other scowled and his eyes seemed to glare more than stare. The scowling one wore black robes that matched his greasy black hair amazingly well. It almost hurt Charles eyes to look at the happy man’s robes. Bright purple with millions of shining stars sprinkled all over the fabric made up his robes.

“Severus, my boy.” The purple robed man was saying. His long white beard bobbed cheerfully as he spoke. “You simply can’t take a hundred points from a student for a prank.” It was obvious to Charles that he was greatly enjoying the conversation with the black haired man.
“Headmaster, the prank was on a professor, can I remind you, and therefore should not have been tolerated.” His voice was deep and scary, reminding Charles instantly of every bad person on TV he had every seen combined.
“Oh, loosen up a little, professor. It was only a whoopee cushion.” Charles almost laughed at the image that the headmaster’s comment made. Some student had used a whoopee cushion on the black haired professor.
I wonder what he teaches? Charles wondered watching to two men pass out of his sight. Probably math.

Continuing his trek down the hallway, Charles smiled at his fortune. The adventure that he was having made TV seem dull. Laughter floated down from the end of the hallway and he hid once more.

“Can you believe he took a hundred points for that?” Someone scoffed. Charles peered out from behind a decoration piece to see that the speaker had been a boy with bright red hair. A black haired boy with glasses and a girl with curly brown hair accompanied him. Charles immediately recognized the two boys as the ones by the lake and smiled.

“Yeah, Snape is nothing but a overstepping git anyway. If Professor McGonagall hadn’t heard him shout he would have taken all those points plus a detention.” The black haired boy put in.
“Harry, she couldn’t make him change his mind. We’ll still get detentions. Why did you have to use such an obvious thing? A whoopee cushion with Ron’s name on it?” The girl rolled her eyes.
“How were we suppose to know that my mum had written my name on it?” The boy called Ron said defensively. Harry smiled.
“We may have got detentions but the look of his face was worth it.” All three stopped to savor the memory, before they all burst out laughing.
“What was even better was him trying to explain it to Professor McGonagall.” The girl laughed wiping tears from her eyes.
Ron took a deep breath.
“Yeah. ‘Um…it was a wow pad…I mean a yahoo pillow’” he stuttered reenacting what the professor had said. “Even Professor McGonagall knew what it was called!”

The threesome continued on down the hallway and disappeared from sight. Afraid to lose the people who had waved at him and curious to see where they had gone, Charles followed after them. He passed through several rooms with several other students in them, but no one saw him.

Finally the three children exited a large door that led outside. Charles froze. There was no way he could follow them without being seen. Taking a deep breath and hoping that there were some bushes by the door, Charles stepped outside.

There were no bushes or trees close enough for him to hide behind. Charles got down on his hands and knees and crawled over to the wall, hoping the trio in front of him wouldn’t turn around. Being careful to stay behind trees and rocks, Charles followed them to the lake.

Suddenly he had nowhere to hide and the girl turned around.
“Hello, who are you?” she asked nicely. Petrified Charles stared at her.
“He looks a little young to be a student.” Ron commented taking step toward the frozen young boy.

“If anyone ever finds you, tell them your name is Matthew and you’re my nephew.” His mother’s words echoed through his mind. She had been very careful about things that could happen. At the time it had been fun answering the questions she had asked him, question that she had already told him the right answers to.

“What’s your name?” Harry asked bending slightly so he was eye to eye with Charles.
“Matthew, but everyone calls me Mattie.” Charles said easily once he had cleared his throat. So far everything his mother had told him was crystal clear in his memory.
“What are you doing here?” the girl asked softly, smiling.
“I am visiting my aunt.”
“Who’s your aunt?” Ron asked. Charles hesitated slightly.
“Minerva McGonagall.” Charles sighed as they gaped at him. It was clear to him that his mother acted as stern as she looked in her teacher’s regalia.

“Who are you?” Charles asked, trying to appear friendly and succeeding.
“I’m Hermione and this is Ron and Harry. We’re third years.”
“Third what?” He asked alarmed.
“We’ve been coming to Hogwarts for three years now. How old are you?” Hermione smiled again and Charles decided he liked her.
“I’m seven. Is it true that there is a giant squid in the lake?” Charles asked changing the topic of the conversation.

Harry nodded.
“Yeah. It’s quite old, but it is still there.” Ron opened his mouth to doubtless ask a question, but Charles beat him to it.
“Do you all like school?” Harry shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess so. Professor Snape makes potions dull. But its fine beside that.”
“You mean Snape and McGonagall.” Ron put in, folding his arms. Hermione cleared her throat and motioned toward Charles but Ron failed to notice.
“Between having those two teachers and the war, I’ll never finish.”
Curiosity coursed through Charles and without even thinking he asked a question.
“What war?”
The trio’s mouths all fell open as though he had asked what a human was.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 5-
The Trouble with Lies

Charles had to admit that he found it amusing to watch the trio stand with their mouths open, staring at him; but it lasted only till the red headed Ron spoke.
“You don’t know about the war with You-Know-Who?” He asked basically reiterating the whole reason they were all silent.
“Should I?” Charles questioned. Harry shook his head in disbelief.
“Yes, you should. How could you not have heard about it? Everyone talks about it and…” he trailed off as realization struck him. “Your parents are muggle born aren’t they?”
The young boy sought out the answer to the seemed simple question.

“No.” Charles shrugged trying to act like he didn’t really care; though his heart rate had quickened greatly since the beginning of the conversation.
“Do they do magic?” Ron asked. Charles shrugged again.
“No.” That was lie, if he had ever told one. His mother used magic from everything to brushing her hair to opening doors. But Charles saw no reason to tell the other children that.
“So how long are you staying here?” Hermione asked, ignoring the fact that ‘Mattie’ seemed nervous; she reasoned he was simply not used to being there at Hogwarts.
“Um…a little while.” Charles breathed. He glanced around hoping to see his mother coming to his rescue. Needless to say he saw nothing.

“What’s Professor McGonagall like?” Ron asked, anxious to uncover whether or not one of his least liked professors was the same all the time. Charles smiled.
“My aunt is a really nice, gentle caring person. Why?” Hermione gave Ron a glare that he couldn’t have missed and turned back to Charles.
“We’re just used to her being quite strict when she teaches.” Hermione announced gently.
“She is.” Charles nodded to show he meant it. “But that doesn’t mean that she’s not nice.” The trio nodded silently.
“Does she laugh?” Ron asked skeptically.
Charles nodded easily. For a moment he had a brief image of him telling exactly how his ‘aunt’ acted, but then it faded. It would be too difficult to say without giving away too much.

“So you’re just visiting her, why?” Harry leaned back against a tree he had sat down by.
“My mum and dad are taking a holiday and I didn’t want to go. So I got to come here and stay with Auntie Minerva.” Ron burst out laughing at the mention of ‘Auntie Minerva.’
“What’s so funny?” Charles knew the reason for Ron’s outburst but thought it best to feign ignorance.
“Ron finds it funny that you called Professor McGonagall Auntie. Ron, apologize!” Hermione hissed poking the still laughing boy in the ribs. The laughter ceased immediately as Ron turned beet red.
“Sorry.” He muttered, obviously embarrassed. Charles shrugged.
“It’s okay.”

“What are your parents?” asked Hermione, taking a seat on the grass by Harry. Charles sighed to cover the panic that was issuing in his mind. His mother had never mentioned what his so-called parents were supposed to be. Then again, he was not supposed to talk to people. Latching onto the memory of his real aunt and uncle, Charles answered.

“My mum designs houses. She doesn’t know about magic. My dad is a lawyer but he is a good one not a bad one.” Harry smiled at this comment. “My dad can’t do magic but he should be able to.”
“He’s a squib?” Ron shouted causing Harry and Hermione to glare at him.
“Yeah, I guess so. But I can do magic because it skipped him. He wants me to come to Hogwarts some day.” Charles was amazed at how simple it was to pretend to be his cousin. He had met the boy once, but the memory was fairly fuzzy. Mattie McGonagall was indeed a wizard, but he would never come to Hogwarts as between his mother being a muggle and his father a squib, he had ignored his letter.

“It must be neat being at Hogwarts for the first time. Who have you met?” Harry asked.
“No one.” Charles answered truthfully. The trio stared at him for a second before Hermione spoke.
“Your aunt is probably to busy to show you around just yet. I’m sure this weekend she’ll introduce you to the staff.”
Charles pretended to be excited about the prospect but really felt disappointed. He had lived in Hogwarts almost all his life and he had seen nothing that the three third years in front of him had.

“Well, I have to be getting back to my aunt’s room before she misses me.” He turned to go.
“Okay, bye Mattie. Will we see you tomorrow?” Harry called out, waving.
Without even thinking, Charles answered.
“Sure.”

[phantomgirl]

That was awesome!

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 6-
Lemon Drops

The hallway was empty as Charles made his way back to his mother’s room. His heart had begun to calm slightly since nothing had happened. Curiosity forced him to take his time to examine the features of the hallway; so his progress was slow.

He had stopped for a moment to examine a strange looking stone statue that stood in front of a door when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Stifling the scream he had almost let out, Charles turned slowly to look up into the twinkling blue eyes of the Headmaster. His mouth opened and hung like it had lost its hinges.

“Good afternoon!” the man said cheerfully, causing Charles to feel a bit more at ease. He closed his mouth and returned the greeting.
“Good afternoon.” His response was softer but had the same amount of sincerity that the older man had had.
“I was looking for a young man like you.” The Headmaster said, smiling. Charles stared at him as though he had taken leave of his senses.
“You were looking for me?” He stuttered.
“Not exactly you, but you will do fine. Can you eat candy?” Charles nodded silently. Of course I can eat candy, he thought confused.
“Good then, shall I show you what you can help me with?” Charles nodded.

The Headmaster rose up to his full stature.
“Chocolate frogs!” he said clearly. Much to Charles great delight, the stone statue leapt aside and the door opened. Ushering him through the door, the Headmaster took him up a flight of moving steps. Charles laughed out loud at the thrill of almost floating up the staircase and the Headmaster soon joined in his laughter.
“I remember when I first went up these stairs. I had so much fun that if I remember correctly I did it again fifty times. The Headmaster at that time found it amusing.”
“Really?” Charles exclaimed, amazed. It seemed hard to believe that the Headmaster of Hogwarts could act so childishly.
“Here we are, my office.” The Headmaster pushed the door open and the two of them entered the spacious room.

Charles immediately liked it. The whole office smelt of lemon and chocolate while the office itself lacked the serious décor of a normal office. Bright purple chairs and an orange couch sat at one end of the office, while a well-polished large desk sat in front of the huge window. The desk was covered with stacks of papers and letters held down by odd paperweights such as tins of candy and odd-looking trinkets.

“Care to take a seat?” The Headmaster asked, motioning for Charles to sit on the couch. He obliged the man and sat. It was obvious that the Headmaster was either insane or either extremely eccentric. Charles found that he didn’t really mind.
“Now for a few questions to see it you qualify for the job.” Dumbledore settled into the orange chair across from Charles and adopted a mock serious look on his face. It was so comical that soon Charles found himself roaring with laughter.

“So you find it funny that work must be done?” The Headmaster asked, laughter tainted the serious tone of voice he failed to use. Charles quieted down and shook his head.
“Good. Now your name would be the first thing to check off.”
Charles sighed. He would love to tell the wonderful man across from him the truth, but his mother had been quite firm about it.
“Mathew McGonagall. But you can call be Mattie.” The Headmaster raised his large white eyebrows.
“Mattie McGonagall! You’re Minerva’s nephew. I thought I saw a resemblance. Does your aunt know that you’ve been touring Hogwarts?” The twinkle in his eye showed Charles clearly that he knew the answer.
“Um…no…but I’m sure she’d understand.”

“Yes, I’m sure she would.” For a moment, the Headmaster stared at Charles, his usual twinkle replaced by an unknown emotion. Then he smiled and the twinkle returned.
“Now about that job. How old are you?”
“I just turned seven.”
“What was your last job and why did you leave it?” Charles chuckled at the game they were apparently playing.
“I used to sneak around schools until you offered me this job.” The Headmaster doubled over with amusement. It took several full minutes before they were both able to stop laughing and continue.

“Now I think you qualify for the job. I have been doing an experiment and I need another person’s advice. Which of the three candies here do you find the best?” He held out three different candies for Charles to take. It took Charles no more than a second to point of his favorite.
“The lemon drop!”
The Headmaster smile grew.
“It seems as though my experiment was successful. The lemon drop always scored highest.” Charles stuck the candy into his mouth and relished the sweet yet slightly sour flavor. It had always been his favorite candy since he had been very young.

“Good?” The Headmaster asked. Charles shook his head. “Well, then help yourself to the tin.” He motioned over to desk and brought it over with wandless magic.
“Oh yes. It’s delicious. Thank you!” a chuckle answered him.
“You are very welcome, Mattie. But thank you for helping me out.” He finished by calling out for a house elf. “What goes better with candy than hot chocolate?” Charles beamed. This day was getting better and better. That was until the house elf appeared.
Yinny did a double take when he saw Charles and exclaimed with a squeak.

“Master Charles!”

[minervammcg]

An update!! This was excellant and I can't wait for more.

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 7-
Jealously

Charles almost choked on the lemon drop in his mouth as he heard Yinny call him by his name. He turned to see the Headmaster’s face twist with confusion and then an idea made itself known in his mind. He had been named after his uncle, the real Mattie’s father, and though Yinny would have never met his uncle, Charles hoped Dumbledore wouldn’t know that.

“No, Yinny. My dad’s not here. I’m Mattie.” He stressed the name Mattie, though he was certain that Yinny would ignore him.
“Me’s being sorry, Master Mattie. I’s was thinking you as Master Charles.” And then after setting down a tray laden with hot chocolate and a large cake, Yinny disappeared with a plop. Charles sighed with relief; oblivious to the look Dumbledore was giving him.

“Hot chocolate?” Dumbledore asked, holding one of the steaming cups out to him. Charles nodded and accepted it gratefully. After the scare he had just been through, he needed the chocolate more than ever.
“How long will you be visiting your aunt, Mattie?” Charles shrugged. He had a slight feeling of deja vu. The trio had asked almost the same question.
“Until my parents get back.” The cocoa was perfectly heavenly and Charles found himself enjoying it greatly. Something about the beverage mystified him though; he could have sworn he had had it before, yet he couldn’t remember where or when.

“How do you like being here at Hogwarts?” Charles smiled.
“I really like it. Home is boring.” Dumbledore chuckled. He set his cup down and leaned back in his cozy even if strange chair. Charles found it funny that his long white beard was slung over his shoulder, but said nothing. He liked this strange funny man; he wasn’t used to people like him, but it would be fun.

“What do you do here?” He asked, finishing his drink and setting it down. Dumbledore chuckled softly and sighed.
“I answer letters and eat lemon drops and chocolate frogs. I placate Professor Snape whenever a student upsets him and help students whenever he upsets them.”
“That sounds like fun. Do all headmasters do that?” Dumbledore shook his head.
“No, some are firm believers in never doing anything but work; they usually dig themselves into an early grave. Then others can’t stand work and fail terribly because their poor deputy has to do everything. See Mattie my boy, it’s all about balance.”
Charles nodded. His mother had taught him to be balanced; though he had never really found it useful.

A knock issued from the closed door and Dumbledore smiled.
“It seems as though your aunt is at the door.” Charles paled and swallowed. If his mother caught him here; she would have a heart attack that was after she had thoroughly spanked him. Dumbledore patted Charles on the head and motioned for him to stand.
“Don’t worry, Mattie. I won’t tattle on you. Climb under my desk and she won’t see you. But you must be very quiet.” Charles nodded and without hesitation, climbed underneath the large desk.

The space was fairly large and he was able to get himself comfortable easily. Dumbledore sat down in his chair and winked at him. “She’ll be in, in a moment.”
“Enter.” He announced. Charles heard the door open and from under the desk’s bottom he could see his mother approach the desk.

She looked quite upset about something and if took all of Charles self-control to not crawl out from underneath the desk and comfort her. His mother often came back to her room upset. Tears would shimmer in her green eyes as she pulled him into her loving embrace and he would always comfort her. In a world where all they had were each other; it was very important.

“My dear, you seem troubled about something.” Dumbledore said, gently offering her the chair by the front of the desk. She took the seat and sighed.
“Albus, I have almost had it with those boys.” Her soft voice was lined with pain and sorrow, causing Charles to sit up.
“Ah, the Weasley boys, Minerva?” She nodded silently. Dumbledore rose from his chair and walked over to her side. Kneeling down in front of her he looked her in the eye.
“What happened?” As his mother told the Headmaster all that had happened in the last hour, Charles sat under the desk and boiled over with jealousy. It’s my job to comfort her. She tells me what happened. I help her, not you. His thoughts mostly aimed at Dumbledore were painful. Now he wished that he had stayed in the room and watched television.

Suddenly he didn’t care if his mother became angry with him, he only wanted her. Charles rose up from his sitting position and was moments away from climbing out from underneath the desk, when another knock issued from the door. Pulling back, Charles peeped out to see a student enter the office. He had some sort of badge on the front of his uniform and was out of breath.

“Professor McGonagall! Harry and Draco are fighting in the hallway!” The student exclaimed. His mother rose up from her chair and at once adopted the stern façade that she had dropped while talking to Dumbledore.
“I’ll be right there, Mr. Weasley.” His mother said evenly, addressing the student.
Charles watched the door close as Dumbledore dismissed the prefect. His attention turned back to his mother who was standing not far from her chair.

“I have to go, Albus. Thank you.” Dumbledore patted her arm, comfortingly and sighed.
“I’ll see if I can get those two to calm down with the pranks. But keep in mind that they’re only trying to have fun.” His mother nodded, though he was certain she hadn’t heard a word the kind man had said.
“Tabby, it’ll be fine.” And upon hearing those last words, his mother slipped out of the office.

“Now, Mattie. I believe it’s time for you to return to your rooms before your aunt does.” Charles climbed out from underneath the desk. Though he tried hard to smile at the man and act normally; the jealously he still felt was eating at him. With his arms crossed and a deep frown darkening his face, Charles allowed the man to lead him back to his mother’s room.

[phantomgirl]

That was an awesome update.
That is so nice of Albus to cover for Charles.

[minervammcg]

Great update! Keep it up.

[twinkle]

I'm quite curious what Charles' next adventure will be.
Keep writing ;o)

[tabby19]

ooohhhh that was aomderful!!
i can't wait for the next update!!
~tabby19~

[mercifulheavens]

-Chapter 8-
Guessing Truth

Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, and young Charles McGonagall made their way down the empty hallway. Every once and a while a student would appear and Charles would simply slip behind the headmaster’s large robes. If any of the students had seen him; they hadn’t said anything.

“Here we are, Mattie. Now would you happen to know your aunt’s password?” Charles looked up at the Forbidden Door and swallowed hard. Not only did he not now the password; but he had not even known that there was a password.
“No.” He mumbled, still angry about what had happened up in the office. The Headmaster and the students of Hogwarts got his mother all day long; he only got her when she read to him or played with him at night. It wasn’t fair.

“Well, then. I guess we’ll just have to try to think of something she might use as a password.” Charles nodded at the man’s logic. Much as he hated to admit it; the man was smart.
“It might be Ginger Snaps, she likes those.” Charles ventured. The Headmaster shook his head.
“No, she is not like me. Minerva would pick something that no one would guess that easily. How about listing off your mother and father’s names?”
Charles said nothing as the Headmaster bent down to face him. He felt guilty for being angry with the man; as he had nothing but kind to him. He wasn’t used to people in general; his mother was nothing like Dumbledore and Yinny wasn’t really the example of most of the human race. They were the only people he had ever done anything with till today.

“Is something wrong, Mattie?” Dumbledore asked, seriously. Charles looked up from the floor to see his eyes fixed on him. The twinkle that seemed to bring certain cheerfulness to the man was gone; replaced by a firm yet gentle purpose. The Headmaster was a man who was easily thought of as a crazy old man who had an obsession with lemon drops; yet beneath the twinkling eyes and eccentricness, he had a deeper quality.
“I’m not sure.” Charles muttered, truthfully.

He wanted to tell the man everything. His desire to see the unknown that had always loomed on the other side of the forbidden door. His disobedience to his mother by trying to exit the room; and the guilt he had felt after being caught. His boredom from having nothing to do all morning and the excitement he had experienced after seeing the boy wave to him from the lake. His confusion at why he was never allowed to do certain things and finally he wanted to beg the man for answers to his many unasked questions. But he couldn’t.

Dumbledore laid a large hand on his shoulder and tilted his chin up to face him again.
“What aren’t you sure about?” The question was one of those questions that few know the answer to. What was he not sure about? Life in general; or just his life in general?
“I just don’t know the password.” He lied. Dumbledore smiled and the twinkle returned to his blue eyes.
“Well, you needn’t worry about that. We’ll come up with it sooner or later.” Dumbledore straightened and stared hard at the door.
“Try saying your parents’ names.”
“Charles McGonagall. Winifred May McGonagall.” He said softly, repeating his aunt and uncle’s names out loud as he had done in his head. The door did not open.
“Try your name.” Dumbledore suggested. He was leaning against the wall now and munching on a lemon drop. Charles smiled as he took the offered candy and said his presumed name.
“Matthew John McGonagall.” The door did not open.

For a brief while the two “men” stood by the closed door and happily munched on lemon drops trying to think of the password. Suddenly while he was swallowing his ninth lemon drop, Charles had it. His name would have made it to simple for him; so it had to be from one of the poems his mother read to him. His mother enjoyed My Heart’s in the Highlands the best and would doubtlessly use that for a password. Only, he paused for a second to finish his tenth lemon drop and swallow it, she would have said it the way she read it to herself; in Scottish Gaelic.

“I think I’ve got it.” Charles declared happily, tugging on Dumbledore’s robe. The man smiled and nodded.
“I figured you would. Well?”
“It could be from my aunt’s favorite poem, My Heart’s in the Highlands. But I think it would be in Gaelic.” Dumbledore blinked but said nothing.
“I presume you speak Gaelic?” He asked finally. Charles shrugged. He knew how to say some things such as I love you and Good night, but that was about it.
“Not really.”
“Which part do you think it would from?”
“The first part.”
Dumbledore nodded and smiled.
“Then I’ll have to say it. Lemon drop?”

Charles took the eleventh lemon drop and stared at the man. He spoke Scottish Gaelic and knew My Heart’s in the Highlands! What kind of a person was he?
Dumbledore began to mutter the Gaelic words to the door, fascinating Charles by how fluent he sounded. Finally he finished and both looked expectantly at the door, which did not open.
“Mac Horatio.” Dumbledore muttered. The door opened and the Headmaster steered the shocked boy into the room and closed the door behind him.

Charles stared at the door with a shocked expression on his face. Translated ‘mac’ meant son and Horatio, well, that was his real first name. How had Dumbledore known that? A plop sounded behind him and Charles turned to see Yinny standing there with a tray of food.

“Its being time for supper for you, Master Charles.” The house elf set the tray laden with fruit and a tasty looking supper down and looked expectantly at his young master.
“It looks fine, Yinny. Thank you.”
“Will you being need anything else, Master Charles?” He shook his head.
The house elf slipped the tray out from underneath the food and vanished into thin air. Charles climbed onto the couch and tucked his chin under his folded arms. He was going to tell his mother what had happened that day.

[minervammcg]

Nice update! Keep it up.

[mercifulheavens]

Chapter 9
Confession

The sun had already sunk beneath the earth’s sheath by the time Charles’ mother returned to her rooms. Her son had waited for her, silently seated on the couch; his mouth set into a determined line. The door closed magically behind the tired woman and she sunk into an armchair sighing deeply. Upon seeing her son she smiled and beckoned for him to come over to her.

Rising up from the couch, Charles approached his mother. Trepidation was showing in the form of sweat on his forehead and by the nervous biting of his lip. His mother ignored the tell tale signs of guilt, however, and pulled him into her loving embrace. Her small hands brushed his thick black hair back from his face. Parent and child sat in the armchair seemingly content.

“Mama?” Charles started, softly. His mother nodded tenderly and pulled him closer into her embrace.
“I am so sorry about last night, love.” Tears shone in her dark green eyes and reinforced the guilt that Charles felt gnawing at him. “I shouldn’t have been so very hard on you, darling.” She offered no defense only sorrow and it hurt Charles badly.
“I was wrong, Mama. Not you.” He wrapped his arms around her slender neck, pressing his face up against her chest.
“What’s wrong, Charles? Did something happen while I was away?” Alarm showed in her eyes and she tilted his face up to look at her.

“I left the room.” He stammered, tears forming in his eyes. His mother froze as though time’s current had suddenly ceased to flow and Charles wished instantly that he could have taken back those words and replaced them with something else.
“What?” She breathed, growing pale. Her tight embrace on her son melted and her body leaned back against the chair back.
“I found the door open a bit, so I went down the hallway.” Charles climbed out of his mother’s lap and took her hands in his. “Are you ok, Mama?” Her eyes were closed and her breathing faint.
“Did anyone see you?” she asked so softly that he had to lean forward to hear her. He swallowed. She had taken it badly enough that he had left the room; it might kill her to hear that he had spoken with four people. Charles had a dilemma.

“Um…I didn’t let anyone see me, but I saw a few people.” Charles sniffed back the sob that was forming in his throat and looked straight into his mother’s pained eyes. “I…I went outside and three people saw me.” He paused and looked up to see what his mother would say. When she said nothing he continued. “Their names were Harry, Ron, Hemion or something like that. They were really nice and so I told them what you told me to tell people. I was your nephew and I was visiting you for a while.” Taking a breath and finding it easier to talk then he had thought, Charles continued.

“I was coming back to the room, when I met a really nice man who wanted me to do a job for him. So he took me to his office and gave me candy and hot chocolate. Yinny came in the middle but he didn’t do anything.” The young boy trailed off as tears began to make their way down his mother’s face.
“Are you okay, Mama?” he asked, frantically rushing over to retrieve her a handkerchief.

“Oh, Charles.” She whispered, between gasps for air. Her hands were shaking badly and her tears had begun to torrent down her paling cheeks. Charles had never seen his mother so upset before. Wrapping his arms around her, he tried to comfort her, but her crying only escalated into sobbing. Suddenly the boy felt his mother go limp and he looked down to see her head fall back. She had fainted dead away.

Almost hysterical with concern, Charles patted her hands and fanned her, trying desperately to wake her. Above the couch, the clock chimed declaring that the time was 7 o’clock and the boy looked around in the gathering dark for something to help his mother with. Finally given into despair, the boy laid his head on his mother’s lap and cried himself slowly off to sleep. His dreams were full of images of angry people and the constant thought that he never should have told his mother about the events of that day.

(((((!(!(!(!(!(!(!)))))))

The next morning found both beds of the bedchambers empty and the occupants of the room both asleep in the sitting room. The mother, who usually awoke at that time and began to dress, lay back in a large armchair, her eyes closed. By her feet, kneeling and fast asleep was her son, who usually slept in his bed until his mother woke him. His head was resting on his mother’s lap and his hair was messy from his sleep.

Yawning the boy lifted his head up from his mother’s lap. His eyes were crusted from sleep and he had to rub them before he could see clearly. At first he just stared around him as though he could not figure out why he was seated on the sitting room floor. Then it struck him and he slowly stood up.

“Mama? Are you all right?” Charles shook the sleeping woman slightly, delighted when she moaned. “Mama?” She opened her eyes and blinked in the dim light. The curtains were still drawn over the window but several streams of light peered into the room from the edge around the curtains.

“Charles?” Her voice was weak causing Charles to be concerned. “Why are you dressed?” Charles looked down to find that he was still in his clothes from yesterday and bit his lip. His mother was also still in her teaching robes from yesterday.
“We both fell asleep out here. You fainted.” His mother’s eyes widened slightly, but no sound issued from her mouth.
“I’ll help you to your bed.” The boy wrapped an arm around his mother’s slight waist and helped her up from the chair. She leaned heavily against him; but he was able to keep her upright.
“I have classes today.” She muttered, as they slowly made their way into her bedroom. Charles said nothing as he pulled back the made bed and helped her underneath the think red and gold coverlet. Mama can’t teach today. He thought frantically as he arranged the pillow under her head. Her hair was still partly up in its bun, so he pulled out the remaining pins and tucked the loose hair under her head.

“Can’t you take a day off?” He already knew the answer to his question; but then again it never hurt to ask.
“No, I have to teach today.” Her hand searched along the covers for her wand and Charles hurried back into the sitting room to fetch it.
“Here.” He gave her the polished wand and helped her sit up. After whispering several things that Charles couldn’t understand and didn’t see anything occur because of them, his mother dropped the wand.
“I can’t do it.” Tears began to stain her white cheeks once more and Charles hung his head.

“This is all my fault. I’m so sorry Mama.” He threw himself on her bed and began to cry. If he had stayed inside and been a good little boy, as he had been told, none of this would have happened. Yet he never would have met Dumbledore or the three students. Was having met them worth his mother’s health? Charles cried more and felt even worse as the whole reality of the situation dawned on him.

“There, there, love.” His mother soothed. Her hand slowly rubbed his back and he crawled over to fall into her embrace. They lay back against the pillows of the bed for some time before a knock echoed through the room interrupting them.

“Who is that?” Charles asked, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve. His mother shrugged helplessly and then smiled.
“Just go to your room and shut the door, love. I’ll be fine.” Charles nodded and automatically made his way to his bedroom. He went to close the door but stopped. What if Mama needs me? He thought suddenly. I can’t help her with the door closed. He left it open a crack and knelt down so he could see out of it.

His mother slowly made her way to the door and opened it, as it had not been charmed the night before. Even though he could only see the man’s long white beard and the hem of a purple robe, Charles knew instantly who it was. He pressed his ear up against the door crack and listen intently.

“Are you feeling all right, Minerva?” The Headmaster was saying gently.
“Yes, I’m fine. Won’t you come in?” His mother replied too softly. The man said nothing as he entered the room. The door closed behind him and they both went over to the couch. Dumbledore courteously helped his mother seat herself and then sat down next to her. His twinkling blue eyes strayed from the woman in front of him and he looked around briefly. Charles surmised that he was looking for him.

“I hope that it’s no bother, Minerva. But I came across your nephew in the hallway yesterday. We had a splendid time together and he behaved himself very well. However he told me that you didn’t know about his exploring of the castle and I wanted to make sure he was safe and sound back here.” His smile dimmed as the other occupant of the couch sighed.
“Are you sure that you are alright. Maybe I should take you to see Poppy, you look pale.” Charles’ finger’s curled around the edge of the door, as his mother said nothing.

“Thank you for your concern, Albus. He left last night to go back with his parents.” Dumbledore nodded sadly and leaned back against the couch.
“I was afraid that he would only be staying for a short amount of time.” Dumbledore leaned forward and wrapped an arm around his mother’s shoulders causing Charles to almost jump up. “My dear, he spoke with the trio but they thought he was your nephew.” He whispered. His mother nodded and laid her head against the headmaster’s chest.

“What if they…” Dumbledore put a finger to her lips and continued for her.
“They won’t tell anyone about your nephew visiting you. I’m sure. Now I am afraid that he knows that I know who he is. It would be best to tell him before he comes to the wrong conclusions.” She nodded but said nothing.
“You can come out of your room, Charles. Your mother and I have to speak to you about something.”
And so Charles rose up from the floor and made his way out into the sitting room. Each step brought him closer to unraveling the mysteries that had always made up the delicate web of his life.

[minervammcg]

OMG! UPDATE!!!!!!!! This was great. I can only guess what they are going to tell Charles, but I can't wait to find out. Update soon and keep up the great work.

[Katheryn Mae]

OMG!! I love it!! I don't want it end!! There'd better be lots more.

[phantomgirl]

Awesome update, I can't wait to find out what happens next!

[mercifulheavens]

Chapter 10
Unexpected Revelation

§

The Headmaster motioned for Charles to sit between them on the couch. Curious as to what they were about to say to him; yet careful due to possible anger, Charles wiggled in between the two adults. He felt his mother’s hand go to his shoulder and felt a bit more at ease because of it.

“Charles, you have grown up here at Hogwarts under certain rules.” Dumbledore said seriously, his eyes held their twinkle but the words were impossible to take as a joke. Charles nodded in agreement and hung his head. In doing so he missed the exchange of looks between the people on either side of him.
“One of those rules was for you to not ever leave these rooms. But there is nothing we can do about you disobeying that rule. And now we will have to explain things to you. First off, Charles, I am your godfather.” Charles looked up at the smiling older man and frowned.
“Really?” The Headmaster nodded. The boy smiled.
“Wow, I didn’t know I had a godfather. Do I have a godmother too?” Dumbledore laughed and shook his head at the boy’s curiosity.

“No, Charles. I am afraid that all you have in a boring old coot of a godfather.” Charles almost felt the sadness in the statement and on impulse he hugged the man. It was strange at first to have his face buried in a soft white beard, but Charles decided instantly that he liked it. He had never hugged anyone other than his mother before. Suddenly he felt two large arms wrap around him and return the hug. Dumbledore squeezed him gently and let him go.
“Thank you, my boy. I needed a nice hug.” Charles looked over at his mother who was smiling a small but nevertheless happy smile.

“What else are you going to tell me?” He asked, raising his eyebrows as his mother did when she asked a question. Dumbledore chuckled at the inherited trait before responding.
“Your mother and I brought you here when you were a baby. I suppose that’s when you were introduced to the lemon drop. It was during the summer and whenever I watched you for your mother I gave you one or two.”
Charles’ mother laughed softly as the statement.
“One or two, good grief. He nearly ate the whole bag.”
“It never ruined his appetite though did it?” Dumbledore said defending his past actions. Charles smiled at the two’s playful banter on a time he had been present but failed to remember.

“So when your mother came back to Hogwarts you came with her and for a while I babysat you. Then a terrible thing happened and the ministry banned all people from Hogwarts who didn’t teach or take classes. Since you were a baby, you either had to go into hiding or live with your aunt and uncle. Your mother couldn’t part with you and the castle was more than helpful in supplying a room for you. The door is even charmed to disappear when closed.” Charles mouth fell open at this new information and he sat in silence for a while.

“People didn’t want me to be here so you had to hide me? My door becomes invisible when closed?” Both adults nodded silently. “But why can’t people see me outside of here? Why do we always go places that no one is?” Though he tried to control it, anger laced his curiosity and his mother flinched at his almost accusing tone of voice.

“Charles, only a few people even know that you are alive. If people knew that your mother had a son who did not stay with her brother and sister-in-law, they would know that she must keep you here at Hogwarts.” Charles had to admit it sounded logical.
Ashamed by his rash behavior, he hugged his mother.
“Sorry, Mama.” He whispered. “I almost ruined the whole thing, didn’t I?”
“No, love. You were very good by doing what I told you to do. However you should never have left the room. Telling people that you were my nephew was an emergency plan not an every day convenience.” His mother said softly, stroking his hair.

“Now go to your room, my little bairn. And close the door. Uncle Albus and I need to talk about something.” Charles nodded and after his mother kissed him on the forehead, hurried into his bedroom. He wanted to hear what his mother and newly discovered godfather were talking about, but reality seemed to be working against him when it came to eavesdropping.

Looking about his room, his eyes fell on his toy chest in the corner and he sighed. Every game in its wooden confines had been played with a hundred times; not to mention that each game and toy had been altered as many times as it had been played with. Charles often took his toys to his mother asking if she wouldn’t mind turning a stuffed bear into a playhouse or plastic tree or a box of cards into a more rousing game such as Monopoly™. He did not understand that she only transfigured it into something else for the time being and when he bored of the ‘new’ toy, she changed it back for him.

Of course he had to play all by himself most of the time, and he had become quite accustomed to winning each and every game he played, that was except chess. Try as he might he had yet to beat his mother at chess. Once he had asked his mother to play his favorite game with him, a muggle game called Sorry™ Charles had so badly defeated her that he had never asked her to play it again. Most things magical his mother understood and knew everything about, but anything muggle was beyond her understanding no matter how hard she tried to understand it.

Since he was too young to use magic and could not go outside, Charles had found several means of entertaining himself from a young age. One way had been yelling into the fireplace, which if done the right way reverberated the scream several times. That had soon lost its appeal after his mother had caught him. Another form of entertainment had been laying upside down from the couch and making his face bright red, but after doing to often one day he had gotten a nosebleed and that had ruined that. Finally on his sixth birthday he had received a present that had changed his life, a television.

Even at his young age, Charles had had no problem figuring out how it worked. Within hours he had become hooked on cartoons and Disney™ channel. However he soon lost the desire to watch the colourful characters as they began to all look and sound the same. His mother had regretted getting the television by the fourth month of its stay. But it had remained and was used every once and a while. It was on his seventh birthday that the very best present had been given to him. A wand.

His mother had been very excited when he had opened the oddly shaped box; and rightly so as it had been her wand when she was younger. Charles had at first only stared at the brightly polished smooth wand. He had only seen one other before and his mother had always told him to stay away from it.

Charles knelt down by his toy chest and opened the light lid. His mother had found it much too heavy for her son to lift so a charm had been laid on it to make it lighter. Beneath the lid were the toys that Charles adored and detested all at the same time. In a way they were special because they were all the friends he had; yet in another way he hated them because they were all the friends he had. It was ironic in a way. Still in its box sat the wand that he usually ignored.

Now he pulled it out and sighed. Maybe he could entertain himself by pretending he could do magic. He had heard his mother say many spells over the past months and years. Many of them were embedded into his memory. Thrusting the wand out in his right hand, Charles pointed it at his stuffed dragon that sat on his bed.

“Accio toy!” He cried, mimicking what his mother did to retrieve things she wanted. Charles expected nothing as he had never done magic before and his mother had told him that it would be awhile before he could do it. But to his great alarm and excitement the dragon flew over to him and nestled into his arms. He had just done magic.

[Katheryn Mae]

Yay! Two chapters in one day! I feel lucky! And I love little Charles - adorable.

[mercifulheavens]

Chapter 11
A Day with Dumbledore

Charles had spent the last hour from discovering his magic practicing by throwing simple spells around the rooms. He was greatly enjoying himself and deeply intent on trying to levitate his bed when he heard a knock on his door. His heart leaped at the chance to tell his mother about his discovery and he ran over to open his door. However when he opened the door, Dumbledore stood in the doorway instead of his mother.

“Your mother has classes today, so I was wondering if you would like to spend the day with me?” Charles couldn’t help but feel sore about the whole predicament; it would have been better if the Headmaster had done her classes and his mother could have spent the day with him.
“Mama doesn’t feel well.” He stated, staring at the man’s chest.
“No, but she said she was feeling well enough to teach today. Would you like me to stay with you today? If you don’t I shall leave.” Charles smiled and looked up into the man’s mockingly hurt eyes. It was impossible to be angry with his godfather.

“I want you to stay.” Dumbledore beamed as though he had been granted immortality.
“Thank you for the honor, Charles. I swear to behave myself so I shall be worthy of your presence.” Charles laughed as the man bowed low in a sweeping manner and took of his purple hat.
“You’re so funny!” He remarked as his godfather straightened and seated himself on the couch.
“I’m hurt. I meant that from the bottom of my heart.” Uncle Albus pouted, folding his arms over his chest. “But again I am much too hungry to worry about petty hurts. Yinny!”
Charles happily made his way over to the couch and sat down to await breakfast.

Never in his life had Charles ever eaten anything like what he ate that morning for breakfast. Five golden waffles under fountains of syrup and butter and topped with whipped cream had been the highlight of the meal. Several confections topped with either chocolate or vanilla cream and blueberry, chocolate and lemon flavored doughnuts had followed the waffles. Finally to finish the feast had been a beautiful lemon meringue pie split right down the middle and two bowls full of ripe strawberries mixed with raspberries. All the former had been accompanied by cup after cup of hot chocolate.

Needless to say, both consumers of the feast could do nothing but burp and lie still for a good thirty minutes after eating. Charles felt so full and content that he forgot all about feeling angry with his godfather.
“So, that was a Dumbledore breakfast, Charles. What do you think?” Charles sighed and smiled.
“Its amazing. I wish I could have that every morning.” His godfather laughed softly at the statement.
“So do I, my boy!” Then both of them began to laugh about the silliness of their eating habits and tastes.
“Now that the wrinkles have been thoroughly removed from our lean bellies, what shall we do?” Charles sat up, slowly and looked over at the man.
“Uncle Albus, could you read to me?”
The man nodded and leaned back.
“Yes, that would be the best thing to do at the moment. I am so full I can’t move.” Charles laughed at him for a second that was until he found he couldn’t really move either.

“Where is the book?” His godfather said, noting that Charles had not risen to fetch it.
“Over on top of the book cupboard. The red and silver one.” The said book rose up from the cupboard and made its way over to the bespectacled man on the couch, though he lifted no wand nor said any spell.
“How’d you do that?” Charles asked, amazed. Dumbledore smiled.
“Wandless magic, my boy. Now what shall I read to you.”
“Anything that is from the 100th page to the 190th page.” Charles answered causally. The man raised an eyebrow at the odd statement but nonetheless turned to the designated pages.
“How about this one, An English Breeze?” Charles nodded.
“I like that one.”

“An English Breeze
Robert Louis Stevenson

Up with the sun, the breeze arose,
Across the talking corn she goes,
And smooth she rustles far and wide
Through all the voiceful countryside.

Through all the land her tale she tells;
She spins, she tosses, she compels
The kites, the clouds, the windmill sails
And all the trees in all the dales.

God calls us, and the day prepares
With nimble, gay and gracious airs:
And from Penzance to Maidenhead
The roads last night He watered.

God calls us from inglorious ease,
Forth and to travel with the breeze
While, swift and singing, smooth and strong
She gallops by the fields along.”

Charles found it strange at first to hear Dumbledore’s pleasant but deep voice reading the poem. His mother’s light Scottish brogue was all he had heard the poem read in and he found he liked both voices about the same. While his godfather added a bit more emotion and drama into the poem as he read; his mother added a deeper feeling to it. Both seemed to have qualities that Charles enjoyed.

“That was a nice poem. I don’t believe I’ve ever read it before.” Dumbledore stated, when he finishing reading.
“You can pick the next one if you want.” Charles offered. He hated to be selfish and it seemed selfish to take all the picks.
“Why thank you, Charles. This one here looks good.”


“Ode To The Lemon
by Pablo Neruda

From blossoms
released
by the moonlight,
from an
aroma of exasperated
love,
steeped in fragrance,
yellowness
drifted from the lemon tree,
and from its plantarium
lemons descended to the earth.

Tender yield!
The coasts,
the markets glowed
with light, with
unrefined gold;
we opened
two halves
of a miracle,
congealed acid
trickled
from the hemispheres
of a star,
the most intense liqueur
of nature,
unique, vivid,
concentrated,
born of the cool, fresh
lemon,
of its fragrant house,
its acid, secret symmetry.

Knives
sliced a small
cathedral
in the lemon,
the concealed apse, opened,
revealed acid stained glass,
drops
oozed topaz,
altars,
cool architecture.

So, when you hold
the hemisphere
of a cut lemon
above your plate,
you spill
a universe of gold,
a
yellow goblet
of miracles,
a fragrant nipple
of the earth's breast,
a ray of light that was made fruit,
the minute fire of a planet.”

“Reminds you of the lemon drop, doesn’t it, Charles.” The boy nodded, his full stomach churning away at the food it was still digesting. Dumbledore sighed and leaned back fully against the couch.
“What now, my boy?” He asked. Charles struggled to sit up.
“We could play a game. I have a bunch of dragons we could use.” Dumbledore chuckled.
“Very well, my boy. We’ll play dragons.”

Soon both of them were seated on the floor with a pile of transfigured toys. Charles picked up one of the larger stuffed dragons and sighed.
“What will we play?” Dumbledore said nothing but rose to his feet.
Suddenly he shouted with his finger pointed at the wall.
“Look, Lord Charles, a dragon approached your castle.” Charles leapt to his feet, toys forgotten to look at the wall. Sure enough a great-animated dragon danced across the pale surface.
“We must sound the trumpet!” Charles cried, already enjoying the game. Dumbledore waved his arms above his head and pick up an empty cup from the table.

“Dragon!” He shouted into its top. “Close the gate and man the catapults! We must save the lemon drops from the beast.” Charles laughed but nonetheless dove behind the couch, which seemed the safest place at the moment to hide from a lemon drop-thieving dragon. Dumbledore soon joined him and together they peered over the top of the furniture piece.
“The men at the gate are fighting it. What shall we do?” Uncle Albus asked. He ‘accioed’ the bag on lemon drops on the table over to him and handed it to Charles. “Make safe the treasure whilst I change our décor.” With a wave of his wand he transfigured the couch into a block of stone, to make it seem like they were really hiding behind a stone and their clothes changed into chain mail and lightweight armor. Charles giggled as Dumbledore’s helmet accidentally closed with a bang and the man was left in the dark.

“Aye! The dragon has got me. I see darkness!” The headmaster stumbled as though he was dieing and fell down into an armchair that had been changed into a bush.
“Uncle Albus. Your helmet closed.” Charles laughed, climbing up from behind the “wall”. The man rose to his feet and lifted the metal face guard.
“Well, well. It seems that my acting was not as good as I thought it was.” He joked.

An hour passed and the game had turned from hiding from a fictitious dragon to Charles being a great knight and fighting against the evil Lord Chocolate Frog.
“You shall never defeat me, Lemon Drop Knight!” The evil black-cloaked lord cackled. His long staff was topped with a cute chocolate frog. The Lemon Drop Knight raised his lemon coloured sword.
“Lemon drops will defeat the chocolate frogs any day. Prepare to melt, Frog!” The “evil lord” gasped as the curtain was pulled back and began to scream as he fell down.

“Well, Charles. It seems as though you killed me once again.” Dumbledore admitted rising back on his feet and changing his black cloak back into a dragon-speckled blanket.
“Why don’t we clean up a bit and have some hot chocolate. Its 11 and I usually have a snack at this time.”
“Okay!” Charles said cheerfully closing the curtain and picking up his sword. Dumbledore waved his wand at their clothes and the room. Charles watched as his sword and the chocolate frog staff dwindled into a lamp stand and a fire poke.

“That was a lot of fun.” Said Charles, enjoying the warm soothing aftertaste of the hot chocolate he and his godfather were consuming.
“Yes, more fun than I’ve had in a long while. How about another poem and then a nap.”
Charles wrinkled his nose.
“A nap? How about lunch?” The man shrugged his shoulders.
“You win. I feel much too good to argue with your logic. Go get the book and I’ll read a poem before lunch.”

“Now lets see.” Wiping his half moon spectacles on his robe edge, Dumbledore looked over the book pages. “The Grass looks very nice. Wrong setting; but that can’t be helped.” Charles climbed onto the couch and sat by the man. By habit he leaned against the reader and listened intently.

“The Grass so little has to do
By Emily Dickinson

The Grass so little has to do --
A Sphere of simple Green --
With only Butterflies to brood
And Bees to entertain --

And stir all day to pretty Tunes
The Breezes fetch along --
And hold the Sunshine in its lap
And bow to everything --

And thread the Dews, all night, like Pearls --
And make itself so fine
A Duchess were too common
For such a noticing --

And even when it dies -- to pass
In Odors so divine --
Like Lowly spices, lain to sleep --
Or Spikenards, perishing --

And then, in Sovereign Barns to dwell --
And dream the Days away,
The Grass so little has to do
I wish I were a Hay –“

The last words were lost in a swirl of vibrant colours as Charles’ eyes closed in sleep. His young body was exhausted from the intense play he had undergone all morning and it took the reading and stillness as an opportunity to rest. Dumbledore smiled down at the sleeping boy and sighed. Without moving he banished the book to the cupboard and brought a blanket over from the armchair. Then he covered the boy and closed his eyes. He had wanted a nap that morning and it seemed that his little playmate did as well.

Both dreamed very different dreams as their thoughts were quite varied. Charles dreamed about feasts and battles and dragons; all of which he either ate or conquered. While he was in his fantasy world and enjoying every second of it; his godfather drifted deep into a world that was neither dark nor light. A place where people usually do not even remember going when they sleep; memory lane.

[phantomgirl]

Aww....too cute! Albus makes a good babysitter fot Charles

[Katheryn Mae]

I agree! Can't wait for more!