I'm running.

Breathlessly running down the hallways of Hogwarts, trying to outrun her.

Everyone thinks I'm going crazy, that I'm losing my mind, and that no one is after me. I'm only in my second year and suddenly I'm the newest freak show?

Dumbledore was of no help, he just told me that I was safe and that if she got through he would be the first to know. He hugged me tightly and sent me back to my private quarters with the promise of seeing me in the morning.

Something told me he wouldn't keep it.

I found myself suddenly in the forest surrounding Hogwarts. I was deep inside of it...was I really running that fast?

A cackling laughter made my blood run cold.

It was her.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Hello little Charlotte Potter!" She spit out that name like it was poison.

"Bellatrix." my horrified, breathless voice was a mere whisper.

"You know, I never did like a Gryffindor." she tapped her wand against the side of her cheek with a crazed look in her eyes.

"I've never liked a Slytherin." I shot back cursing myself internally for not grabbing my wand before I ran from my room because of my panic attack.

"My my, you show up to a wizarding duel like this? In your night robes none the less! Dumbledore will be upset when he finds your dead body dressed unprofessionally." she smiled and I instantly took a step back in response.

"I thought after our last fight you would have had your fill of me Lestrange." I spoke darkly and suddenly my still fresh wounds burned.

"I told you I was not convinced of your innocence!" she snapped "And I thought we were having such fun." she poked out her lip at me.

"Well, if your going to kill me get on with it. Then feel free to make your leave before Dumbledore gets ahold of you." I opened my arms in taunting.

"Ugh, such a lack of self-preservation" she rolled her eyes "I never have liked a Gryffindor." she repeated and got into a stance.

"I've never liked a Slytherin." I concluded.

Great choice of last words Char.

She started muttering enchantments, many I was aware would cause me great pain, and as the light coming from her wand grew brighter and brighter I felt my magic crack and run along my body. My veins boiled from my heated blood, my skin crawled as visible sparks danced along it, my joints popped from the overwhelming pressure, and my scalp bussed from the static electricity between us.

And then suddenly I was screaming.

"Charlotte, calm down you're okay! You're awake! You're awake!" Bella was screaming as I kept thrashing. I could barely hear her cry for Charlie as suddenly my scars started to burn like they were set of fire. More tears streamed down my face as I clutched my chest were the worst of my reminders from Bellatrix were.

My blood was boiling more intensely now, still left from my nightmare, and I couldn't help but start screaming the pain was so intense.

Bella and dad kept trying to calm me or speak to me one but I couldn't hear them, I couldn't force myself to speak the pain was too much. My magic was starting to overwhelm me as well and I feared if I let it get the best of me Bella and Charlie would suffer along with me.

I finally gave up and slipped into a peaceful unconsciousness, still vaguely aware of the burning scars.

***************

I became slowly aware of my surroundings. I could see needles lining my arms, hear a hospital monitor nearby my head, and a cold comforting touch was carefully stroking my face.

"Charlotte? Can you hear me?" Carlisle was suddenly touching my face with both of his hands, sounding overly worried.

"Yes." I grumbled, my voice was horse, and I realized I had an oxygen mask on for the first time.

"Bella! She's awake!" He called loudly and I heard someone bound up the stairs quickly and my wild looking sister burst through the door.

"Char!" She cried and hurried to my side taking one of my hands and squeezing tightly, making pain shoot up my arm.

"Sorry." she quickly put my hand down after realizing she was hurting me, she patted my hand and I noticed her arm was tightly bandaged up.

"Di-did I do that?" I croaked and cried at the same time, tears threatening to spill.

"No! No, I accidentally smashed it into your bedroom window and cut it open! You could never hurt me Charlotte." she smiled softly and ran her fingers along my forehead and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your room on the other hand..." she cringed a little.

"What did I do?" I was almost to afraid to ask if it wasn't for the famous Gryffindor curiosity.

"Dad got you put on his back when you passed out and as I was getting some of your stuff you just screamed and this hot light shot off of you and hit the wall. It caught on fire and Dad bolted out of the house, pulling me with him while he was still carrying you, and then ran back in and got it put out. You would've been proud of his speed." Bella laughed "But your room got charred pretty badly." she smiled sadly at me.

"I don't care, I can fix my room, but I can't bring you and dad back to life." I reached for her hand but as soon as I tried to move I flinched.

"Bella brought you to me immediately. You scared us all Charlotte. You should have told me." Carlisle, who I had forgotten was there, suddenly was beside me and rubbing my forehead.

"Wait...Bella told you?" I asked mortified and he nodded with a slight smile.

"I always knew you were too perfect to be normal." he laughed and I couldn't help but laugh too, no matter how much my lungs screamed in protest.

"Okay, I can't handle this anymore." I took a deep breath to steady myself "Reparifors" I cast quickly. My ribs popped, my blood cooled, and I could breath deeply. Most important of all, my scars no longer burned.

I sat up quickly and began to take off my oxygen mask but Carlisle stopped me.

"No, Charlotte your wounds are too severe right now." he smiled and tried to get me to lie back down.

"Carlisle, I'm fine now. I cast a healing spell, I'm all better, let me show you." I smiled at him and after a brief pause he began to un-hook me from the machinery.

I stood up and launched myself into his arms and kissed his jaw.

"See? All better!" I kissed his jaw again.

"But-well, that's amazing!" He laughed, tightened his arms around me, and spun me in a circle.

"Let's go downstairs, the others have questions for you." he kissed my lips quickly and a feeling of dread settled over me.

We got downstairs and everyone seemed shocked to see me. Alive, awake, or a witch one I didn't know.

"We're a mixture of the three I guess." Edward suddenly spoke and I stared at him in surprise.

"I read minds." he answered.

"Oh, I know about that, but how did you read my mind? I have tons of shields put up." I wondered if my barriers were as strong as I thought they were.

"This is actually the first time I've heard it. Maybe whatever you did went away while you were hurt." he tried to help me figure it out.

"Knowing my luck that sounds about right." I put my head in my hands and began to think through all of the charms and enchantments I knew that could restore a temporary bind without taking to much energy.

"You're giving me a headache." Edward slumped forward "or at least I think that's what this is." he groaned and I forced myself to put his safety first.

"Sorry, just trying to find something that helps restore my binding." I sat criss crossed on the floor at the front of the room so I could face everyone.

"Can't you just do what you did before?" Bella asked, she's always loved my magic.

"I could but it would take too much of my energy. The first time I placed them I spent a week in the infirmary and Madam Pomfrey finally just gave me a potion and sent me to Dumbledore." I explained returning my head to my hands. I felt very uncomfortable discussing this side of my life with the Cullens. Even though I love them like family, I feel an overwhelming need to protect them from something I know I can't.

"Madam Pomfrey?" Carlisle questioned.

"Dumbledore?" Alice giggled.

"Madam Pomfrey is a matron and she's also the head of the hospital wing of Hogwarts. She uses mostly potions and herbs to heal and the woman can work wonders. I probably would've died my first year there if it wasn't for her." I laughed at that thought "Dumbledore is the headmaster of Hogwarts and one of the most respected men in the wizarding world. He's kinda like a grandfather to me, he's the one who took care of me when I was young, and really my whole life he has. A few years ago we thought another professor had killed him but he was really just in hiding until...." I decided to skip the part about the war for now "Well, I tracked him down and found him." I concluded and the Cullens looked like they were in shock.

I felt the familiar crackle of magic stir around inside of me and instantly shot to my feet.

"Bella, please tell me you grabbed my wand!" I suddenly felt panicked that I didn't have it. Which is strange considering that I don't need my wand to cast.

"No, I didn't. I didn't think you needed it. Are you okay? Is something wrong?" Bella started to get worried and I rushed over to her.

"Shh, nothing's wrong, I just feel strange." I hugged her and rubbed my hand in circles on her back.

"Strange how?" Carlisle asked worried.

Suddenly the large mirror hanging on the wall over the couch spit a blinding golden light. I shielded Bella and practically threw her across the room to Alice.

I took stance in front of it, ready to prepare myself to drain my magic if I had to, if it meant protecting my family. The glass glazed over and became fully golden while I thought through all of my spells of defense.

As it started to fade I was met with a very familiar face in the mirror.

Dumbledores.

And he looked upset.