Chapter Text
There is a great estate overlooking the village of Caldwell Valley. Nobody ever wanted to go near the property, as they are filled with eerie dread whenever they as much as think about the place.
Charltonham has been the subject of countless urban legends and horror stories in the small town. The house was built even before the town itself by one of the town's founders and namesake, Caldwell Charlton, who was as mysterious as the house itself.
The townsfolk would often hear inhuman screeches and wicked cackles whenever they pass by the estate at night. Alfie, a man in his sixties from London who settled in Caldwell Valley after retiring from his job as an investment banker, swore that the stone carvings in the brick walls surrounding the estate watches him whenever he passes by. When he brought this up in one of the town hall meetings, everyone in the room quieted down and his concern was never addressed. After the meeting, he was pulled aside by one of the village council members to tell him of the unspoken rule in Caldwell Valley.
"Maybe you don't know because you are new here. But I have to warn you, we NEVER speak of Charltonham. We just let it be." The village council member Jonathan Bailey told Alfie.
"Why? It is just an old abandoned house." Alfie, who was in shock that a simple question would gather such a remarkable reaction from the other villagers, asked.
"Oh, Mr. Finkle, that place is anything but abandoned." Jonathan shook his head and chuckled. "And if you would like to live the rest of your life in peace here in Caldwell Valley, you must never talk about Charltonham. Sinister things happen in that house and horrible things happen to people who try to figure it out."
Alfie gulped and nodded. He'd had forty years of chaotic life in London, he just wanted to spend his remaining days peacefully in a small town. And if it means avoiding the spine-chilling house on the far side of the village, then he would.
"Thank you, Mr. Finkle." Jonathan smiled at Alfie as the old man left. He sighed as he made his way to the man waiting at the corner of the town hall.
"Jonathan." The man nodded in greeting. He seemed to be in his late thirties or early forties. incredibly handsome with his chiseled jaw, curly blonde hair and gray eyes.
"Can't you tone it down a bit, David? New people like him are bound to ask." Jonathan shook his head at the man.
"Is that not why you are here, Jonathan?" David smirked. "The payment so that my mother would not need to tone anything down. Let the old woman have her fun."
Jonathan shook his head disapprovingly at David's amused smile.
"How about the other thing?" David said. The tone of the conversation shifted, from lighthearted to serious. Jonathan shifted his stance and looked at the other man nervously. "I trust that there are no problems so far?"
"Nothing yet, David." Jonathan answered. "Tomorrow is your late father's first death anniversary. We have four more years."
"Yes, four years." David said coldly. "I have to go, Jonathan. You know the rules. You must tell no one about this. As discussed, you will be compensated handsomely."
"Lord Charlton." Jonathan bowed. David nodded and walked to the far side of the town hall, where a shadow was set by one of the structure's columns. He stood behind the column and disappeared with a pop.
Across the other side of town, where people did not dare venture (well except for old Alfie Finkle), David Charlton appeared in front of the twenty feet-high metal gates of the ghostly fortress. The eagle gargoyles on either side of the gates looked at him and nodded at each other, then the gates opened to let the master of the house in.
Contrary to the eerie fog, high brick walls, and terrifying gargoyles outside the property, the inside of Charltonham is well-lighted and elegant. The path from the gate to the palace-like mansion is paved with cobblestones and lined with lanterns. On either side of the pathway are the front gardens where flower beds and geometric topiaries are aesthetically arranged. At the end of the path is a marble fountain whose centerpiece is a gold sculpture of the greek goddess Athena holding an owl on one hand and a spear on another. Inscribed on the front side of the fountain is the Charlton family motto: 'Sapientia, Gloria, Excellentia'.
The Charltonham mansion is a chateauesque house built during the last years of the Elizabethan Era by Sir Edmund Charlton, Earl of Caldwell and a good friend of the Boleyns. The bifurcated staircase in the foyer is covered in a blue velvet rug with silver trimmings and is dividing the left and right wings of the three-storey mansion. The left wing has the kitchens in the basement, dining hall and pantry on the ground floor, a library with about ten thousand books and serials dating back to the 12th century is on the first floor, and the study and master bedrooms on the second floor. The right wing has the potions chamber on the basement, parlor and butler's quarters on the ground floor, and eighteen rooms on the first and second floors. Behind the staircase is the high-ceilinged ballroom with a silver and diamond chandelier as its centerpiece and french doors that will lead to the patio that overlooks the mowed green field. Portraits of Charltons of the past are hung around the hallways of the mansion.
In the green field stands a small quidditch pitch. On its far left is the barn where Jupiter, Zeus, and Odin, the family's eagle owls, are kept. On the far right side of the field is the greenhouse where the herbs and shrubs for potions are cultivated. Beyond the field is a lagoon and a garden of daffodils that can be seen on the other side of the bank. The garden serves as the entrance to the Charltonham burial grounds.
"Sir." A man in his forties wearing black robes welcomed David in the foyer, his mustache making him look like a Napoleon general.
"Paul." David greeted back with a smile and handed Paul his hat and suitcase. "Anything I need to know?"
"Madam Charlton and The Young Miss are having robe fittings with Madam Hastings at Madam Charlton's private quarters. Lady Charlton arrived just before yourself and went directly to her study." Paul reported. "Madam Charlton also asked me to remind you that your dress robes for tomorrow is on your wardrobe and that you should inform me or any of the elves if you wish for any modifications to be made before Madam Hastings leaves."
"Other things?" David asked.
"Dinner will be served in half an hour, Sir." Paul replied with a straight face.
"Alright. Thank you, Paul." David said as he ascended the stairs to his own study. Half an hour later, he made his way to the dining hall where four women are already sitting.
The Charltonham dining hall is made to seat fifty people in a banquet. The head of the table is reserved for David, the head of the family. The chair on his left is occupied by his wife Lady Emilia Charlton, and on the chair in his right is his mother, Madam Pippa Charlton. Both women have blonde hair and blue eyes. The difference is that Emilia has dark blonde hair and light blue eyes, while Philippa has golden blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. On Lady Charlton's right is a woman in her early thirties with light brown hair and brown eyes, Ms. Realonda, the governess of the young girl seated beside Madam Charlton. The girl who looked no more than twelve has wavy black hair that falls just above her shoulders. Cora Charlton's gray eyes lit up as David entered the dining hall.
"Papa!" Cora stood up and hugged her father. "How was Melbourne? I missed you!"
"Good. You all heard from the news, Canada won. Let's eat." The unenthusiastic response made Cora recoil for a bit. Pippa rolled her eyes at her son, Ms. Realonda politely greeted her employer with a small bow, and Emilia didn't even acknowledge her husband. The family and Ms. Realonda started to eat.
"Have you seen your dress robes for tomorrow, Papa?" Cora asked, starting a conversation to avoid the somewhat drab atmosphere. "I asked Madam Hastings if you, me, and Mother can match-"
"I haven't seen it." David answered curtly.
"That's okay. I'm sure that will look good on you. Right, Granny?" Cora faced her grandmother for support.
"But of course, Darling." Pippa said fondly. "You have an excellent taste in dress robes."
Cora beamed. "We will be going to London on Thursday to get my wand, and I was wondering if you and Mother can come with us?" She looked at her parents hopefully. "It is my first wand and-"
"I have a prior engagement, Cora." Emilia answered. "A new cohort of healer and medical potioneer trainees are set to arrive that day and as Head Potioneer and Comptroller, I must be there."
"That's alright, Mother. I understand." Cora nodded her head and gulped. "Maybe we could go again next time, I was looking at one of the new Nimbus models and I-"
"Can't I have a little peace during dinner?" David dropped his spoon with a clang and massaged his temples. "All I hear in the Ministry are people yapping about this and that. Do I really have to deal with that again at my own home?"
The little girl's eyes widened and her face burned up in embarrassment. She looked down at her soup and tried to eat quietly.
"Now I have lost my appetite." Pippa said. "Tilly!" She called and an elf with big blue eyes, wearing a gray knitted jumper and pointed shoes appeared beside them. "Bring some dinner at my lounge for me and Cora. We will be having our meals there until someone learns a bit of courtesy." She sneered at David. Tilly, the house-elf bowed and disappeared back to the kitchen. Presumably to prepare what her mistress asked.
Cora stood up. "Papa, Mother, Ms. Realonda. Have a good night." She followed her Grandmother out of the dining hall and up to the second floor of the mansion.
A few moments later, Emilia also finished eating. "I am done." She said simply and stood up, not even waiting for her husband's response. She went back to her study to finish a report on this quarter's finances of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Ms. Realonda also finished her dinner quickly and thanked the master of the house before shuffling back to her apartment on the third floor of the mansion.
David sat alone in the dining hall made for fifty, finally having the peace and quiet that he was longing for.
.....
The next evening, Charltonham was filled with people in their best summer robes. Pippa Charlton has been notorious in the wizarding society for the lavish parties that she hosts and one of them is the end of July gala held at the estate's back lawn. The quidditch pitch has been transformed to a temporary outdoor garden where people from the wizarding high society gathered.
Cora opened her curtains slightly to take a peek at who made it in the guest list. As usual, the Malfoys are there, so are her Gran's cousins, the Fawleys. The Flints are also there, and she already saw Marcus pushing one of the little kids down. Many of her Papa's colleagues from the Ministry are there, even the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge is present. Devlin Whitehorn, a family friend and the owner of Nimbus Racing Broom company can be seen chatting with Corban Yaxley, Gwenog Jones, and Gilderoy Lockhart. The Greengrass children are playing with the Nott and Bulstrode children, but she still cannot see the boy that she was looking for.
There was a knock on her door which made Cora move away from her window. "Come in!" She called.
Her Gran walked in her room wearing a violet summer robe and pearl necklace and earrings. Philippa Charlton looked barely fifty even if she is already in her seventies. She embodies grace and classical beauty with her round heart shaped face, thin lips and prominent cheekbones. A lot of witches envy her beauty and her sense of style. The Daily Prophet even named her the Most Stylish Witch of the Decade for the 1940s, 1950s, and 1980s.
"I found this lovely set in my wardrobe." Pippa said cheerfully as she opened a flat, square, velvet box containing a silver choker and two pear shaped diamond stud earrings. "This will be perfect for your robes!"
Pippa pulled Cora in front of the mirror and clasped the necklace and earrings on her. "So?" The older woman asked.
"I could do with a bit more color." Cora commented, looking at her white summer dress robe chinching at the waist and ending below her knees with sheer material as sleeves. Her fascinator hat is also white and so are her gloves. "I thought that maybe I can borrow your Lapis Grace collection-"
"That will age you, Dear. You're eleven not eleven hundred." Pippa said, fixing Cora's hat. "Besides, we cannot wear too much color, it's your Grandfather's first death anniversary!"
"But you can throw a party?" Cora frowned.
"Of course, Darling. We are celebrating his heroic life and mourning his untimely death." Pippa answered. "The flowers in the estate are symbols of our hope that he passes on to the afterlife beautifully and peacefully."
"Grandfather wouldn't mind if I wear the Lapis necklace." Cora tried to reason. "Maybe it's you who don't want me to borrow it-"
"Oh, how preposterous!" Pippa sneered. "Why ever would I do that?"
"Because you love your jewelry collection more than you love me." Cora huffed. "Come on, Gran. My dress will be prettier paired with that necklace-"
She was interrupted by a loud pop in the room. "Kelpy is sorry for the intrusion, Your Ladyship." Kelpy, the gray eyed house-elf of the Charltons, bowed when she saw that Madam Charlton was in the room.
"Go ahead, Kelpy." Pippa waved her hand. "What did this girl ask from you again?"
Kelpy bowed. "Well the Young Miss just wanted Kelpy to inform her once Young Master Leopold is here-"
"Leo's here?" Cora asked, a wide grin appearing on her face.
"Yes, Miss. The Young Master arrived with Master Silas-" Kelpy didn't even get to finish her sentence when Cora dashed from her room to the foyer. When she got there, the Averys were already gone and Paul was already greeting Pius Thicknesse and his wife at the door.
Cora ran to the ballroom where the french doors leading to the patio are all open. She stopped running and started walking slowly once she realised that the guests were looking at her curiously. "Cordelia!" It was Silas Avery, Leo's father, who first saw her enter the patio.
"Hello, Lord Avery." Cora smiled at the man as she joined the little group. "Lord Malfoy. Hello, Draco." The ten-year-old boy grinned at her.
"Ah! Our lovely Miss Charlton." Lucius greeted her cordially. "The garden looks magnificent as always. Your Grandmother outdid herself again."
"I'll be sure to pass it on, Sir." Cora said then faced the youngest. "How has your summer been, Draco?"
"Interesting." Draco responded. "Father and I went north to visit Durmstrang. It is much better than that rubbish they call a school here, Hogwarts." He spat. "Isn't that right, Father?"
"Now, Draco." Lucius said condescendingly. "Hogwarts only became mediocre ever since that old fool, Dumbledore, took over. It was easily the best school in Europe when Professor Dippet was the Headmaster. Hogwarts is not just the legacy of the four founders, you know. It is also the legacy of the Charltons, who became the school's stewards for years."
Draco seemed to realise his mistake and paled for a shade lighter. He tried to look apologetic at Cora but she still had her eyebrows raised and was scowling a little.
"I'm sure Draco means well." Leo Avery said, trying to diffuse the tension. His honey blonde hair was swept on one side by the wind and his clear blue eyes were illumined by the last rays of afternoon sun. "Anyway, I think Cee wanted to show me something that's why she went here. Don't you?"
"I'm not-" Cora said but stopped as soon as she saw Leo's pointed look. "Right! Right, I have something to show you. Come along now, Leo." She grabbed his hand and dragged him inside the house.
"You do realise-" Lucius Malfoy muttered to Silas Avery as they watched the children run hand in hand "-that Cordelia Charlton is the only heir of the Charlton and Selwyn fortunes and will get something from the Fawleys as well."
"It seems, Lucius-" Silas drank from his goblet of brandy and smirked "-that my son has his use after all."
.....
"Your attention, please." The chatters stopped as Madam Pippa Charlton stepped on the patio and addressed her guests sitting on the chairs and tables set up in the garden.
"I'd like to say a few words." Pippa said. "First, I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. It means a lot to me, to my family here today-" she looked at Cora, David, and Emilia, who are sitting on the table nearest to her "- and to Robert. It has been a tough year for us. Robert, as you know, is the sturdy foundation that kept our family intact. He was the best husband, father, and grandfather for our family and Charltonham has never been the same since he left us."
"Sometimes I even forget that he is gone. I call out to him in the mornings to ask what time he is expected to be back at the Ministry and when I hear David's footsteps, I sometimes think that it's him." Pippa shook her head. "But he is gone. All that's left now are nothing but memories. Good memories: of how he would play wizard's chess with Cora, or how his booming laugh would be heard by the whole left wing of the house, or how he would get up early in the morning to cook breakfast for all of us. Memories that we will keep deep in our hearts."
"My dear friends, we are all here not only to remember the good times we had with Robert, but also to look forward to the future. He may be gone but his legacy lives on: with our son, David, who has just been promoted as Junior Minister for the Department of Magical Transportation." Cheers and claps were heard from the guests as David stood up and bowed at them. "Our daughter-in-law, Emilia, who is now the Comptroller of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries." Emilia smiled gracefully at the well wishes of the people. "Our dear granddaughter, Cora, will be starting Hogwarts this term and will surely be sorted to the house of all Charltons: Ravenclaw." Cora grinned at her grandmother as people around them clapped.
"And Lastly, Myself. Who, as of today, has taken a seat at the Wizengamot." There was silence among the crowd and Pippa could not help but smirk at them. Only Fudge knew about it because she asked if she could announce it tonight. A clap started from the back and slowly became louder as everyone started to clap. "Thank you, Thank you. That is all I have to say, I hope this night is quite how you expected it to be and have a great rest of the evening." She went back to her seat between her son and granddaughter.
"You saw that, my dear Cora?" Pippa asked. "That is how you give a speech: clear, concise, and impactful." She said as she took a sip from her wine goblet.
.....
Cora excused herself from a rather dull conversation with Marcus Flint, Graham Montague, and Caroline Shafiq. She was walking to one of the bathrooms on the ground floor when she heard two women speaking.
One is Mrs. Caitlyn Fudge, the Minister's wife and the other is someone not familiar to Cora. Possibly one of the Minister's lackeys. Cora did not really want to stop by and chat, especially with Mrs. Fudge. That woman is an awful gossip. So, she went the other way and took the stairs to the first floor bathroom instead.
It was very fortunate that Cora decided not to eavesdrop on the conversation between Caitlyn Fudge and Cadence Fleming as their current topic is her family.
"They are probably the most powerful family in Britain now." Cadence said. "One of the Sacred Twenty-Nine, the landlords of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley, David is a Junior Minister and a Hogwarts Governor, Emilia controls St. Mungo's funds, and the old hag just took a seat in the Wizengamot."
"Could you imagine what would happen if the younger daughter is still alive? Juliet? You remember her?" Caitlyn asked and the other woman nodded. "They would have been more connected, she was set to marry Barty Crouch's son."
"The one who died in Azkaban?" Cadence gaped.
"Yes." Caitlyn said in affirmation. "Imagine if she did not die before they got married, then Juliet would have also been named the Crouch's heir. The Charltons would have taken control of everything!"
"Whatever happened to that girl again?" The other woman said.
"Contracted Dragon Pox, never came back for her last year at Hogwarts. She eventually succumbed to death." Caitlyn shook her head. "A pity. She was a very pretty one, that girl. Fresh faced, blonde hair, gray eyes like the her brother and father. Intelligent as well, she was the first in her class."
"And now everything will go to that little girl." Caitlyn lowered her voice so that Cadence will be the only one to hear her. "David Charlton's daughter from an affair!"
"What? You mean she's not Emilia Selwyn's?" The other woman said a little too loudly that Caitlyn had to shush her.
"Yes. I remember the time when there were rumors that David and Emilia would go to a fertility specialist at St. Mungo's because they couldn't conceive. The word on the street is that Emilia is barren." The way that Caitlyn said the statement made it seem like it was the absolute and non-contestable truth. "Can't you see how different Cordelia is from the rest of them? Her parents are both blondes, where would she get her dark hair? The only thing she got from David is her eye color and she didn't get anything from Emilia."
Cadence nodded and Caitlyn continued. "And does she remind you of anyone? Classic beauty, high cheekbones, heavy lidded eyes? Gets the attention of the room because of how haughty they act?"
"The Black Sisters?" Cadence said in recognition. "Yes, she looks like them. Not completely, though, but I can see a lot of similarities. Especially with Bellatrix."
"And do you remember who was Bellatrix Black's Hogwarts sweetheart?" Caitlyn asked.
"David Charlton!" The other woman exclaimed. "Of course that was before she became deranged, joined the dark side, and landed herself in Azkaban."
"Poor Bellatrix was a pleasant girl when she was still in Hogwarts. Bad things started to happen when David got betrothed to Emilia and Bellatrix to Rodolphus Lestrange. I don't think the Charltons ever really liked the Blacks." Caitlyn said. "However, many believe that the girl, Cora Charlton, is a product of a Charlton and Black sin: The bastard child of David Charlton and Bellatrix Lestrange."