It's a Long Story

Chapter One Going Home

I woke up screaming to bloody hell.

More nightmares. Never ceasing, never repenting nightmares. I rubbed my now burning scar on my back of my neck causing waves of pain and relief at the same time.

I'm grateful it's morning. I get up and head into the joined bathroom of my room. I have my own room adjoined to Dumbledores mainly because he's been my guardian forever and also because I've been a student here longer than anyone. I belong to the Gryffindor house but kept my private rooms because I had to stay away from Harry.

I slip off my night clothes and hop into the shower extra mindful to get all of the grease out of my long curly hair. Its gotten a lot longer since I've last seen Bella and dad. I get out and with a flick of my wrist my hair is dry, fluffy, and my curls are neat and precise. My eyes look puffy with purplish rings under them that I bet would rival my sisters boyfriends.

That's right. I know Edwards families secret. When Bella first started writing me about him I instantly knew what he was. Poor Bella wouldn't know a thing without my help.

I warned her to be cautious. Not to get too involved and to guard her heart very carefully. But low and behold Charlie called me frantic asking if there was anyway I could help my dear little sister out of her depression from his leaving her. Sadly I was so far away and stuck in the wizard war that I couldn't help her even through a long distance spell.

Suddenly there was knocking on my door and I was shocked that I somehow had managed to get myself completely dressed, packed, and ready to go. "Come in." I answered somewhat dazed.

"Charlotte Potter Swan." Dumbledore greeted me warmly and I hugged his neck tightly.

"Dumbledore!" I greeted as he swung me around. He's definitely like a grandfather to me.

Everyone though he was dead after Snape but low and behold after Voldemort I discovered he was alive and sought him out and saved him much to everyone's relief. Especially mine. We just tell people he was in hiding and since came out. He's always been one of my constants besides Bella and dad and I don't know what I would do without him. One of my reoccurring nightmares is of when I was told he was dead. I was a wreck for months.

"Today's the day my little Mage!" He cheered as he looked around my chambers. "All packed?" He asked and I nodded. "Good, good. Come to me, I'll help you open a portal." he motioned me towards him.

"Good luck and keep your wits about you my girl. I'll check on you soon enough." he kissed my forehead and we opened a portal that would open in an empty terminal of the Seattle Washington airport. I so desperately hoped to see Charlie's police cruiser. I love riding around with him in it much to my little sisters dismay. I stepped through and instantly relaxed in the coolness of the air in the airport. The welcomed atmosphere of Seattle surrounded me as I heard a familiar cry of delight behind me.

"Charlotte!" Bella giggled in her beautiful overexcited voice and I rushed to bring her into my arms tightly.

"Oh, my Bella." I swung her around and held onto her tightly, and ran my fingers through her long soft hair. I set her down and gripped her shoulders so I could get a good look of her.

Her mahogany hair was longer, though not as long as mine, and definitely straighter. Maybe she's finally taken up doing her hair. No makeup, runs in the family, I can't stand the stuff either. She's still a wee little thing. Her deep brown eyes shown through with excitement.

"I've missed you so much my Bella." I smiled brightly at her. My first true smile to someone other than Dumbledore in months.

"I've missed you too Char!" She latched herself onto my neck again and I, somehow, smiled even wider.

"What? Too good for your old man now?" A deep gruffy voice laughed.

"Dad!" I exclaimed and locked my arms tightly around my fathers neck.

"Alright, alright don't choke me to death now. I'm sure you could kill me in more exotic ways than that." he laughed making me relax my hold.

"Sorry, I've just missed you two so much!" I smiled at Dad as Bella wrapped her arms around my waist and I instantly throw my arms around her shoulders and kiss her head.

"We've missed you too but squeezing each other to death isn't going to help the situation." Dad laughed ushering us outside. As soon as I saw his cruiser I laughed with delight.

"I remembered how much you liked to ride around with me in this thing." Charlie dismissed as I hoped into the front seat. I turned to talk to Bella but my face met with the divider screen sharply. I felt a stab of pain as blood started to run down my face heavily.

"Char!" Charlie cried, throwing open my door, looking at my head carefully and moving it side to side. "Im taking you to the hospital." he stated firmly.

I cast a little spell by mind that heals wounds. His eyes go wide as my blood slowly starts to creep back up my face and disappear back into my gash. The cut automatically vanishes without a trace.

"Why would you need to take me to the hospital?" I asked innocently.

"Witch." he muttered under his breath and got back into the drivers seat.

"I don't know about you two but I'm excited to get Char home to see her room." Dad smiled at me and my grin expanded.

"You're going to love it! Alice has been helping me design it all week." Bella exclaimed.

"When am I going to meet the little pixi?" I asked.

"Tomorrow I was thinking. If you're going to be okay to do that?" She asked.

"That's perfectly fine. The sooner the better." I smiled my reassurance to her.