Charlotte Weasley

Chapter 31 - Anonymous Letter

I never told anyone about my discovery of the Hall of Remembreance, not even Britt. I kept it a secret, I don't really know why but we never really do for these things. 

I was still sitting in my bed, the others fast asleep their dreams unencumbered by thoughts of death eaters and the dead. It was friday so double potions. 

A soft tapping arose myself from my thoughts and I sat up in bed, looking at the window where a brown owl clutched a note in its beak. I crept over and unlatched the window trying to make minimal sounds. Once I had the note the bird took off.

I unfurled the scroll and read, my curiosity peaking, 

Dear Charlotte, 

You do not know me but it is better that way. I have.. certain knowledge about Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic and if it were to get into the wrong hands could be disasterous. 

I will not tell you all I know, obviously, but I will tell you some.

First, there is a teacher at Hogwarts who does not have the best interests at heart. DO NOT TRUST EVERYONE. This is all I can say about that. 

But secondly, there is a certain department in the Ministry of Magic that was reportedly closed. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I do not know forsure what is going on in there but I do know for certain that it is not good.

This is all I can say for now, and I am risking a great deal to tell you this. 

The letter wasn't signed. 

I pondered who might have written and sent the letter, someone in league with the Order or the death Eaters.. It could have easily been false and sent by a follower to get me into trouble. I decided to send Ophelia home with a letter:

Dear well.. Everyone, 

I have just recieved an owl from an unknown correspondant providing me with minimal information about a spy in Hogwarts, a teacher as well as some department in the Ministry of Magic that was repotedly shut down but has not. They did not write a name and said that they were risking a great deal to tell me this. 

Charlotte

I gave the letter to Ophelia and she set off into the morning sky.

During Potions that day I stayed unusually quiet and Britt asked what was wrong.

"Oh nothing of importance," I smiled, trying to relieve some of her suspiscion.  Britt nodded and turned back to her cauldron. We were making the "Wiggenweld Potion", a difficult and complex potion that reversed the effects of the draught of the living death. 

After the bell rang we gathered our bags and left the dungeons and into the sunny halls above. Spring was coming and the snow was beggining to melt considerably. Pools of water and slush spotted the courtyard but the weather was pleasant and mild. 

In the Great Hall, many other students were already eating their lunch so we found spots next to Lacey, Valerie, Morgan, and Quinn. 

"So, Charlotte, how are things going for Quidditch? Going to win again?" Valerie asked while spooning some potatoes onto her plate. 

"I hope so!" 

Lacey leaned across the table conspiratorialy, "Did you guys hear that we are apparently going to have a new headmaster next year?" She waited to see our reactions, "McGonnagal is apparently retiring."

Someone paused while walking past our table, "Now girls," a cold voice spoke behind me, sending chills up my spin, Professor Grifiths leaned over us, "I don't want such rumors to be going around. Five points from Gryffindor."

I raised an arm in outrage but Britt yanked it back down, "Don't make us lose more!" She whispered furiously. 

I sighed but then remembered what got us in trouble, "Wait, so you have seriously heard that McGonnagall is thinking about leaving?!"

"Not thinking about it, she is leaving."

"Wow, then I wonder who is going to replace her! An outsider or another teacher?" Britt wondered aloud.

"I have no idea..." 

Lunch ended and we had to return down to the dark and musty dungeons for the second half of potions. Professor Grifiths was glaring at us the entire time. 

I ignored his stares and added five more lionfish spines. 

Still keeping my eyes on my book I added flobberworm mucus until the potion turned lilac. 

I heard someone's shoes click to a halt behind me, "Not lilac, Weasley! Purple!" Professor Grifiths chided. 

Britt's potion was perfect as usual so Professor Grifiths had nothing to critique. 

Finally the period ended and just as we all started putting our books away, Professor Grifiths called for us to put a vial of our completed potion on his desk. I poured some of the green liquid into a vial and set it carefully on his desk with the others then turned to leave. 

We had an hour and a half to burn before dinner so Britt and Quinn decided to head to the library and the others went to the common room. I decided to give Hagrid another visit. 

The walk down to his house was very pleasant and when I arrived he was outside tending to his enormous pumpkins. 

"Charlotte! Great ta see ya! Come inside, come in!" 

He led the way inside and set out a tray of rock cakes. I didn't take one this time from experience. 

"So wha' was it tha' ya wanted ta see meh about?" he asked, sitting in the chair across from me at his table. 

"Oh nothing, just wanted to say hi," then I thought about it. Hagrid was apart of the Order, "But I got this letter this morning from someone, they didn't say their name, but they said that there was a teacher working here undercover and there was a department in the Ministry that was reportedly shut down but actually wasn't."

Hagrid looked concerned, "I don't know anythin' about it but thank you for tellin' me. Have ya told anyone else?" 

"I sent a letter to the Burrow."

"The Burrow? That's good."

I stood up, it wasn't dinner time yet but I felt like I needed to do something. "Thank you for the rock cakes, Hagrid. I'll see you later."

"Yer leavin' already? Bye!" He waved as I walked back up to the castle. 

Once I was inside I nearly sprinted up to the Library where I found Britt and Quinn in the back of the library searching the shelves for some good books to read. 

"Britt!" I whisper-yelled over to her, waving my hand to motion for her to come over. She looked up but Quinn was too immersed in her book to notice. 

When she came over she asked, "What is it?" 

"Okay so this morning I got this letter," I handed her the letter. 

Her eyes danced across the page and when she finished she said, "No wonder you were so quiet earlier. Hmm what do they mean? Do you know who this is from?" 

I shook my head, taking the letter back from her and slipping it into my pocket, "But I''m sure we'll find out."

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Thank you for reading :) 

I am not sure when I will be able to post the next chapter but hopefully soon :)))

And as always, comments and votes are much appreciated,

❤ Rose