Family Matters

Jason sat bored out of his mind in class, History of Magic he easily could have tested out of but with the increased stupidity of Dumbledore he was worried about finishing school too early now. He wanted to hurry up and leave school so he can explore the jobs of the Wizarding world, but also prowl the nights again, with Roy and Kori at his side.

Browsing through the book Roy had sent him he was surprised to see a section highlighted along with a note from his boyfriend. 

‘You mentioned the egg screams? How about this creature, Hogwarts a History says you have them in the Black Lake. XOXO’

 “Sirens huh?” Jason smirked to himself, intrigued by the idea.

--

Charlie was propped up in her bed reading the letters Hari sent her. It warmed her heart seeing how much he cared and worried that she was gone. Even after finding out she was missing, he continued to send letters, so she could have a quicker time catching up when she returned. 

‘When she returned, like there wasn’t any other way.’ 

“Hello, my child,” a serene voice interrupted her thoughts.

Charlie looked up from the letters to see an ethereal being. “Hello, stranger.”

The woman was beautiful, wearing a dark indigo business suit, long navy hair pulled up in a ponytail. But it was her eyes that caught the most attention—multi-colored gems with no iris or pupil.

“I am Hecate, the one who blessed you.”

Charlie nodded slowly. “I’m sure one day I’ll appreciate that.”

The goddess chuckled. “I suppose right now it does feel more like a curse. Do not worry, child, I chose you for a few reasons.” She glided across the floor to sit at the edge of Charlie’s bed.

“I’m glad you understand that. I thought it was because of the marks I met when I was almost killed, the first time” Charlie placed the letters on her side table, choosing to pick up her potion-filled water instead.

“I actually chose you before that, but that night helped my blessing kick into gear, you could say. I know you are very weak right now, so I’m going to explain a lot, and you just need to sip your water and nod for now, okay?” She smiled gently, her black lipstick showing her perfect white teeth.

The injured girl nodded and sipped her water, waiting for her to continue.

“When you were conceived, I could tell you would be a special soul, and I needed one to help sort out the chaos of the previous generations. You see, we gods do actually try to assist mortals, though it goes unseen most of the time. You need not worry, we tend to choose a neutral side or the side that is the most correct. As you are aware, there isn’t a pure good or pure evil for multiple reasons. But that vile thing ruined more generations, playing chess and manipulating people and their gifts for vain reasons. It was agreed by the Fates that Death’s Chosen would be born this generation, so I created a counterpart so they wouldn’t be blind during this lifetime.”

Charlie hummed as she sipped her water. The potion was a magical core-rebuilding one since she exhausted hers during the time she was separated from her body.

“May I ask some questions now?” Charlie panted slightly; she hadn’t been resting as she should have been.

Hecate clicked her tongue before placing her hand on Charlie’s sternum. A tingle of magic flowed through the connection, filling Charlie with an icy warmth. As it settled in her body, she realized she wasn’t as tired.

“I’ll help you heal since you weren’t supposed to be taken at all. Only a little at a time, though.”

“Death’s Chosen, could you tell me more about that?” Charlie nodded while giving the ASL sign for thank you.

Hecate nodded. “Death’s Chosen... have you heard the tale of the Three Brothers?”

Charlie shook her head. “Look it up sometime, but to boil down what actually happened that day: Keres, Atropos, and Thanatos—yes, you can take notes.” Hecate waved her hand, and a little leather journal appeared with a pen. Charlie began to frantically write down the names and key points her goddess was telling her. “They made a bet with three brothers, not realizing they were wizards, a new concept I implemented in the world. Keres and Atropos felt cheated, so when Antioch chose a wand, Keres gifted it to him—but it had a curse; those with a power-hungry heart will die for this treasure. Atropos gifted one of her earrings to Cadmus, blessed with the ability to see the dead—knowing that’s how she’d claim his soul in the end. Ignotus had impressed Thanatos. You see, he laughed when he realized they were wrong to make such a simple bet, and if you can get the god of death to laugh—well, I imagine it would mean a good thing for you.” Hecate chuckled as she recalled Thanatos explaining everything to her in the underworld, the day that it happened. “So he gifted his cloak, no strings attached. He would claim Ignotus one day. He would rejoice to hear the life the smallest brother had. I believe they still have tea every month.”

“All three are the gods of death? Not just Thanatos?” Charlie asked, recalling some of her mythology.

“As you know, there are many gods, and they all cycle through. Our ‘Roman’ counterparts had it the past five centuries. It's our turn again. After a few centuries, it’ll be the pagans, the Egyptians, etc. Now, this doesn’t mean they aren’t active. We will always take care of those who worship us. Like the Christian god. Poor thing looks overworked every time I see them.” Hecate sighed. “I’m thankful we were born the way we were. Back to your backstory, you are to help Death’s Chosen, which is a very uncommon being, defeat the great evil of your lifetime. And help some other blessed ones realize they have another purpose.”

Charlie chewed her lip, looking around. “You mean Hari and his family, don’t you?”

“Yes, they were a very blessed family, probably because of Ignotus. Lily was blessed by Frigga, Regulus by Lofn, and James was kind of just caught in the middle. Hari is Death’s Chosen, and Jason Ares. There are a few others here and there. Has Hari or Draco mentioned Luna Lovegood to you? Her maternal family line was blessed by Baldr many millennia ago.”

The girl recalled one of the more recent letters she read. “Is that why she’s a seer?”

“Knowledge is a powerful gift; it can transcend realities, but also make everyone think you're crazy.” Hecate motioned with her index finger in a circle next to her temple.

“So how am I to help the Black-Potters? Why are they the ones the gods chose?”

“You, my dear, will bring them back to life; and defeat the one that killed them.”

Charlie paused, that was a huge task, transcending death, but the second one gave her pause. “Volde-Cunt?”

Hecate burst out laughing. “What? No!” She clutched her stomach. “Oh, I chose right with you.”

“Who?”

“The man who ruined an entire two generations. Albus Dumbledore.”

“Bruce is going to be mad at me.”

“He can’t defy the will of the gods.”

“Have you met Bruce?”

“...We’ll do it secretly then.”

---

Hecate helped the girl lay down not long after, giving a little bit more magic as her eyes began to become heavy.

"Madam Hecate?"

"Yes, my child?"

"You know who conceived me?"

"Yes, little one."

"Can you tell me who my parents are?"

Hecate paused for a moment, looking off into the distance, seeing if this information would change the future drastically or not. "Did you know that if you love someone hard enough, you can make a child, whether you have the capabilities or not?"

Charlie yawned and shook her head slightly, eyes already drooping.

"Your parents are Evan Rosier and Bartemius Crouch Jr."

Charlie's eyes widened for a moment, but the weariness from Hecate's magic was too strong. "Evan Rosier and Bartemius Crouch Jr.," she murmured as the words sank in. “Bart-Dad has such an ugly name.”

Hecate smiled gently. "Yes, little one. Their love for each other was powerful enough to create you. Rest now. There is much for you to do when you are stronger."

Charlie nodded faintly, her eyelids fluttering shut as she drifted off to sleep. Hecate watched over her for a few moments, ensuring the girl was comfortable, before disappearing with a soft whisper of the wind.