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✯❀𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐌𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐍❀✯
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"Take a seat, Lupin, Johnson." Albus Dumbledore said calmly.
Lottie did as she was told, her hands were covered in blood - some was hers, most was Erin's.
"Fighting! In the middle of the school corridor!" Minerva McGonagall exclaimed, watching James Potter as he slipped into the room.
"It was her fault! She attacked me!" Erin cried, her nose was covered in tissues whilst blood poured out of it. "She deserves to be expelled!"
"What actually happened?" James asked his goddaughter.
"She was being the homophobic bitch that she is and-"
"Charlotte," James said sternly, not wanting her to get into any more trouble.
"Still! She was being homophobic! Again!" Charlotte cried.
"Miss Lupin, I advise you to relax." Mcgonnogal said.
"As far as I can see, Charlotte is telling the truth." Dumbledore said quietly.
"What!" Erin shouted.
"However, we do not tolerate violence here at Hogwarts, nor do we condone homophobic behaviour." He continued, his bright blue eyes gazing over at Charlotte. "Therefore I shall give you both one week of suspension, and I ask you, Charlotte, to make wiser choices when it comes to violence."
"This is outrageous!" Erin cried, not seeming to care that she was speaking to her headmaster. "I refuse! I was just calling her what she is, I should be allowed to express my feelings!"
Charlotte was ready to have a round two of punches, although James raised his eyebrows at her.
"I think it's the perfect sanction for them both," he said honestly.
"Why are you even here?" Erin asked.
"Mr Potter is here on my request, Miss Johnson, and I must ask that you respect the professors in my school." Dumbledore said carefully. "I ask that Mr Potter accompanies you whilst you collect your things, as I do not trust you both alone."
"Yep, fine." James nodded, knowing he had to ask his Goddaughter what exactly he saw during lunch time.
"I ask that you are all back here in one hour, Miss Johnson, I will speak with your parents now." Dumbledore said.
"Whatever," she mumbled, turning on her heel and strutting out.
"Oh, Miss Lupin, might I ask you to stay for just one moment?" Dumbledore asked.
James and Charlotte shared a look, however she nodded.
"Your grandparents are currently travelling," he said, "and so they won't be able to take care of you this week."
"Oh," Lottie furrowed her eyebrows as she looked up at the old man.
"Now, no documents were ever written up for Hope and Lyall, so technically they aren't your legal guardians. From here we turn to the orphanage - which as you know, Mr Potter has bought." He gestured to James.
Lottie's eyes widened at the thought of going to the orphanage.
"This makes Mr Potter your legal guardian, and so it is for him to decide where you go." Dumbledore finished. "I shall leave it to the both of you to choose."
"Right," she mumbled nervously, looking up at James who gave her a reassuring look.
With one last nod from Dumbledore, James and Lottie left the office.
"So," Charlotte said as they made their way down the corridor, "where are we going?"
"I have a shift at the orphanage tonight...I wonder if Reggie can drop you to Potter manor," he rubbed his forehead tiredly. "You can stay with Lily for tonight, although I can't promise every night will be the same."
"Okay," she sighed in relief, thankful that she wouldn't have to stay at the orphanage. "Can't I stay at yours on my own?"
James shook his head, "part of the documents...the law things, if I leave you alone for the night, I can have the orphanage taken from me, it's all about the protection of children. They're watching over like a hawk at the moment as they discovered what Mary did."
Charlotte groaned.
"So, you're dating Harry?" James asked, a grin forming on his face as he thought about the bet money he'd be earning.
"Nope," she replied, exaggerating the 'P.'
"What!" James stopped, staring at her in confusion. "You kissed! In the great hall!"
"Oh yeah," Charlotte smirked, deciding to wind him up, "we're actually friends with benefits."
James' eyes widened in horror, and he looked at his goddaughter as if he was going to pass out. "Y-you....I- no! I didn't need to know that! You're not even 16 yet! Oh Godric!"
"Well, age is just a number right?" She replied, attempting to not laugh.
"Oh god," he looked slightly traumatised as he carried on walking, "but...Lily would never allow this! Addie would kill me if - no! Oh Merlin, I'm going to be a grandad! Lottie I'm too hot to be a grandad! Oh and now I sound like Sirius, oh Merlin..."
Charlotte finally cracked and doubled over in laughter as James rambled to himself.
"What is so funny about this?" He asked, staring at her in disbelief.
"I'm just joking!" She said between laughter, "Harry and I are just friends!"
"Mhm, you don't see me kissing Marlene do you? Well that's because I'm a married man and she likes women...but still!"
"It was to get Erin to go away," Lottie shrugged, refusing to admit that part of her wanted it to be more than that.
James nodded although he had a feeling that Lottie's feelings for Harry went deeper than she knew.
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"Here's your portkey, when I say so, I want you to hold onto it and don't let go until James says so, yes?" Dumbledore said to Lottie, waving at a cushion.
"Yep," she nodded.
"Right then, I shall see you in one week, Miss Lupin." Dumbledore says, "off you go."
She looked at James, who nodded and they both grabbed ahold of the cushion, spinning away.
"Let go," James shouted.
She did as she was told, and felt herself fall onto a patch of grass with a loud thump.
"Why are we here?" Lottie mumbled, sitting up and glancing around.
"Can't be seen using wizarding transport in front of muggles now, can we?" James replied, brushing himself off. "Come on then, Reggie will be waiting."
They walked all the way to the orphanage, where James unlocked the door and stepped in.
"Everyone's at school or college," James mumbled, "only Ella and Lola are here."
Letting out a shaky breath, Lottie nodded and followed him into the orphanage.
"Reg?" James shouted.
"In here!"
The pair walked in to see a man with curly black hair sat with a tiara on his head, fairy wings on his back and a toy fairy wand in his hands.
"Lottie! Your back!" Ella cheered, running over and pulling the older girl in for a hug. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too," she laughed, ruffling Ella's hair. "Are you having fun?"
"Lots of fun! Mr James got us new dressing up clothes and Reggie said he would play with us!"
Charlotte smiled up at Regulus, who looked slightly embarrassed.
"Charlotte right? I'm Regulus, Regulus Black." He held a hand out.
"Nice to meet you," she shook his hand awkwardly.
"Why aren't you at Hogwarts?"
"She's suspended," James sighed, "any chance you can take her to Lily on your way home?"
"I don't see why not," Regulus smiled.
"Thanks Reg,"
"So, what did you get suspended for?" He asked, handing Lola and Ella a cookie each.
"For fighting," Charlotte shrugged.
"How pleasant," he raised an eyebrow.
An hour or so later, Charlotte stood at the front door of Potter Manor with Regulus Black.
"Hello Lottie!" Lily Potter smiled welcomingly. "James sent an owl earlier, come in, come in!"
Charlotte stepped into the house nervously.
"Thank you Regulus, would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" Lily offered.
"Sorry Lily, I have to head back to the ministry." He sighed.
"Not to worry, see you later!"
"Bye," Lottie waved nervously, watching as he apparated away.
"Well then, what are we going to do with you?" Lily chuckled, turning to Lottie.
"We're going to have a party! She punched a homophobic bitch! Go you!" A woman with blonde hair cheered.
"Marlene, that is not the mindset to have!" Lily scolded.
"Sure it is," Marlene scoffed, "Marlene McKinnon, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Lottie Lupin," she introduced herself.
"Come on, I'll take your trunk and Lily can make us a hot chocolate, eh?"
"Marls, I'd like to remind you that you have your own house with your own hot chocolate," Lily giggled.
"Well, Dorcas is working, so I'll have to put up with the gingers for an afternoon." Marlene winked.
A few minutes later the three were sitting at the kitchen table with hot chocolate and biscuits.
"So Charlotte, I hear you're amazing at quidditch?" Marlene grinned, "I'd like you to know that I too, am amazing at quidditch!"
"Really?"
"Yup, I played for the Gryffindor team back when I went to Hogwarts."
"That's wicked!"
"So was Marlene's quidditch anger. You wouldn't have wanted to win against her, you have ended up with a beating from a bat!" Lily laughed.
"Ha! Like anyone ever lost to us!"
"I can vividly remember Hufflepuff winning and Amos Diggory and Addie getting attacked!" Lily giggled, although she seemed to have the ghost of a frown pass her face as she thought about Adelaide Winters, a girl she had grown so close to in such a short period time.
"Well...shush Lily!" Marlene frowned. "Well anyway, I s'pose I better get going. Dorcas will kill me if I haven't fed the cat."
"See you later, Marls." Lily laughed.
"Bye!" Lottie waved.
As Marlene apparated away, Lily turned to Lottie. "Shall I show you your room?"
Lottie nodded, grabbing her trunk and owl (which Dumbledore had sent over.)
"You'll be staying in the spare room, although there may be a possibility you'll have to stay at the orphanage overnight some days. I work late shifts, and if James has to stay at Hogwarts then you'll end up staying at the orphanage whilst Peter, Regulus, Marlene or well...anyone else has a night shift."
"Okay..." Lottie replied nervously.
"Well then! I'll leave you to it."
A/N
Marlene owns my heart tbh
Tysm for 480k!!
Qotd: what are your pronouns?
Word count: 1713