Charlotte Granger - Hermione's Twin

Chapter 4

(Charlotte's point of view)

I buried myself in the text books, memorising all of the things I would need to know for the first three years at Hogwarts. I tried the wand movements, and was surprised to find that it came to me easily. Unfortunately, I had never met a Boggart, so I didn't know what my greatest fear was; it may have been torture, or the decayed hand and rattling breath of the creature I had once seen on a street. If the tortured screams turned into laughter, and the weapon turned into a feather, it might be less scary. But how to stop that creeping chill? The creature stopping to cough? Tripping over its ragged black robes? Throwing off the robes to reveal Harry Styles or Justein Beiber? I let out a snort of laughter at that thought - Harry Styles' singing sounded somewhat like it breathing...

When it got to 11pm, I tore myself away from learning 'Accio' - the summoning charm, to go to sleep. In the dark of my room, I once more imagined those creatures. Visible only to magical people... Causing the omnipresent and eerie fog... Kissing and sucking out people's souls... Sucking away people's happy memories... I needed to find out how to stop them...

Flicking my light back on, I scrambled out of bed and hunted about my books until I came across Advanced Charms. It wasn't in the main section, but when I flicked to the last page, there were loads more spells all cramped together. Under 'E' I found the words 'repels Dementors'. Were they called Dementors? Tonks had mentioned something about demented creatures - or maybe I had misheard her and she had actually called them 'Dementors'. The incantation read 'Expecto Patronum'. It reminded me vaguely of Latin - Waits for patron (or protector), I think it was...
There was a footnote, which read - After, eat chocolate. That sounded like my kind of cure. I dived back into bed and drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, I was anxious to try the spell. I pointed my wand at nothing in particular and said 'Expecto Patronum'. Nothing happened. Disappointed, I glanced back at the book - where it said, 'Think of a happy memory.' I imagind the feeling when I learnt we were coming back to England, before uttering the incantation. A thin whisp of silver light flew out of my wand - then it stuttered and died away. I was frustrated, so I tried again with a different memory - when I got sorted into Gryffindor. At the time I didn't realise what that meant, but now I was glad it had been Gryffindor - where dwell the brave at heart. Once again, only a stutter of light - although it lasted longer.

After half an hour of impatient trying, I finally managed to produce a consistent haze of silvery light. Good - that was progress. This was the only spell I had had trouble with. I was almost pleased when Aunt Matilda caled me downstairs, as Tonks was here.

(Aunt Matilda's point of view)

Charlotte came hurtling down the stairs, clutching her suitcase and the stick-thing she called a wand. She was quite a lively girl, so I looked forward to having peace and quiet back in the house. I would miss her, though.

Smiling nervously, she handed me a glittering bracelet which flashed and shimmered different shades of purple and pink from different angles. I murmered a quick 'Thank you' before sliding it onto my wrist. It fitted perfectly. Smiling warmly, I wished her 'Good bye', and after a quick pause while she stroked Lilac, she was gone.

(Third person)

Charlotte waved goodbye to her aunt through the window, before clambering into the car next to her suitcase and her bag.

'I thought we were apparating.' Charlotte said, upset that there was a long car journey ahead of her.

Tonks sighed, 'It was a change of plan. And anyway, apparating can make you lazy.'

The advantage of a long journey was that she would have plenty of time to ask lots of questions. Charlotte decided to start as soon as they were on the motorway - Tonks didn't seem like a very confident driver and kept swerving at roundabouts. Thankfully, it wasn't too far to the motorway, where Tonks relaxed more and even agreed to change her hair green, 'purely for experimental purposes.'