Perfect Aim

Charles Gaunt POV

Charles squirmed through the stair banister, onto the floor, ignoring the fat little rat which whimpered away at the sight of him. On any other night he would have hunted the pitiful creature like the prey it was, but tonight he couldn't, his Master had given him a task – 'Follow the boy!' – and he was eager to please.

He kept close to the walls, wrapping himself around each corner the corridors turned. He had spied fervently on the child for a few days now, boring a task as it was – he would do anything for his Master. The boy hid often in groups of his kind, and the only times he could watch safely were when the he left to outside the castle, making surveillance a tedious matter.

At night, all the humans wearing red would disappear up into a tower and Charles had yet to find a way in. They slept there, he had deduced, being the clever snake he was. Perhaps his Master would praise him if he realised his intelligence.

Usually he would rest at this time, waiting impatiently for his master's prey to leave as the sun rose in the morning, where he would then follow him once more.

But tonight was different. The human spawn had left his hidden little tower and was sneaking about just as he was. It was strange for any of the small children to be outside of their tower this late at night, he had only seen a few older ones wandering about this time before. Being the clever snake he was, Charles knew his Master would want to know why.

He followed the boy, as well as the other little humans who were with him, slipping around the striped rays of moonlight that shone through the glass panel windows. They turned one corner and then another before rushing up a staircase, with Charles not far behind – though he struggled to keep up with their longs legs.

They stopped inside a room full of shining golden cups and posters and armours and waited awhile, talking softly to one another, but Charles couldn't hear their words. 'Closer. I must get closer.' He slicked his way forward, making sure to stay unnoticed. However, when he had finally gotten near enough to here them speak, one of the children knocked into a silver suit of armour and it fell. The toppling armoury clinked and clanged as it hit the ground, almost sounding like a drum's cymbal being bashed.

"RUN!" his prey shouted to his friends, as if mocking the little snake's previous efforts to get closer.

He tried to follow but the boy was moving faster than before and he lacked the legs to keep pace. Fortunately, their steps were hard hitting and heavy against the floor, and he chased after the direction he sensed them coming from. He wasn't the only one chasing, however.

The old man which he had learnt to hide from, lest he wished to be thrown out, was also running after the children – along with his damnable cat. The feline had attacked him the night before, only leaving him alone after he punished it with a stab from his fangs. How he wished he had the venom to kill it. It would have been the tastiest meal he had ever eaten.

Charles hid, his body coiled around a podium stand as he waited for the man and cat to pass. 'Leave! Leave!' he hissed repeatedly in his mind, hatred and annoyance filling his soul. As if to spite him, the stupid old man stopped in place talking to himself.

"Which way did they go, Peeves? Quick, tell me!"

'Leave!'

"Don't mess with me, Peeves! Now where did they go?" he demanded angrily to thin air.

'Leave!'

He paused. "All right – please." Suddenly the man was enraged. "Damn fucking ghost!" he cursed at nothing and charged off.

Charles slithered off towards where he had felt the vibrations come from. Soon, he turned a corner which led to a corridor with a single closed door at the end. His mark was beyond that door, he could sense it, but he could not open it. He would have to wait for them to come out.

Fortunately, he had only needed to wait a few moments as the boy and his friends came sprinting out of the room, fear all over their faces. Charles was curious as to why wanted to investigate inside the room, but he had another mission.

-

Charles awoke in a cold sweat.

'Again?' he grimaced, 'This is the third time this week!'

Feeling groggy, he sighed and sat up. Since coming to Hogwarts there had been many mornings like this one, where he would awake with his hairs on end and sheets stuck to his skin. Whatever dreams he was having; he was fed up with them. He made his way into the bathroom shower and turned it on, trying to remember his dreams, a new habit he had picked up.

He could just about make out a few images if he tried hard enough but they were vague and foggy and unconnected. Strangely enough, he was pretty sure Neville was in this one. After Charles was done in the bathroom, he started reading through one of the history books he had picked up in the common room. Theo and Blaise wouldn't wake up for at least another hour and as he had been waking up early recently, Charles had taken to studying his books to pass the time.

"Excited for flying later?" Theo asked Charles at the breakfast table. There had been a notice pinned up in the Slytherin common room this last weekend, first year flying lessons would be beginning this Thursday – and Slytherin were paired with the Gryffindors. Truth be told, Charles was a little nervous about the idea. He hadn't even been on a plane before, let alone a magical broom and was worried he wouldn't be any good at it.

His nervousness must have shown on his face as Theo was quick to reassure him. "Don't worry, with my help you'll be leaving everyone in the dust in no time!"

"C'mon Theo, both of us know I'm the better flyer," Blaise sniggered. "Ask me if you need any tips. If you did what Theo told you then your broom would end up in the lake."

Charles nodded. "Well I definitely don't want to get my robes soaked. Thanks, you've really saved me Blaise," said Charles gratefully and Theo complained about his lack of faith. "By the way, did Malfoy's helicopter story actually happen?"

Ever since the announcement of their Flying lesson, Theo and Blaise had been bragging about how they played Quidditch together all the time at the Nott Manor. Noble families apparently often held fancy sounding get togethers and would have their heirs entertain one another whilst they went around greeting other guests. Probably a means to keep the families aligned, Charles mused. Because of this, most of the Slytherins from noble houses were well acquainted and spent many days at each other's homes. Malfoy was of course included, and Theo often brought up the time where he had quit their game and gone home after his teammates, Crabbe and Goyle, kept accidently giving the Quaffle to the other team when passing.

"Doubt it," said Blaise. "Though we did see a helicopter together once."

"And Draco nearly pissed himself!" Theo laughed. "It was pretty exciting, you know, seeing as we had never seen one before. Didn't even know what it was."

"A broom's more convenient. If muggles weren't too incompetent to use them then helicopters wouldn't even exist!" said Blaise. He looked to Charles. "You grew up with them, right? Have you ever been on one?"

"No. Only ever been in a car or a bus."

"Ah! We have busses too. Ever heard of the Knight Bus, Charles?" Theo asked. Charles shook his head. "Well it transports stranded wizards. Father just has us floo or apparate everywhere as he thinks the bus is too common. I want to ride on it at least once though."

"Sounds convenient," said Charles. "Wish I could just floo places." Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of owls delivering post. Letters and gifts from home were dropped onto the table and both Theo and Blaise picked up the ones that had fallen on their plates. Nothing landed in front of Charles, but he hadn't expected any different. No one would write to him.

"It's a Remembrall!" shouted Neville excitedly from across the room, momentarily gaining the attention of the Hall. Neville held up a large glass ball full of wispy white smoke.

"What's a Remembrall?" Charles asked his roommates.

Theo looked up from his letter. "It's a gimmick item. Goes red when you've forgotten something, I think."

Curious, Charles looked back at Neville on the Gryffindor table. Indeed, the sphere had turned red. "Seems Neville's forgotten something then."

Theo scoffed. "Figures."

His eyes were still on Neville when Malfoy suddenly snatched the boy's Remembrall. Charles hadn't noticed before, but Harry and Ron were sitting beside Neville and they shot up to their feet, seemingly ready to fight. Everyone was watching them now, Professor McGonagall included, and she swiftly went over to intervene, making Malfoy hand back Neville's gift before things escalated. The blonde strutted off soon after, leaving Neville with his red ball.

'He's forgotten his robes,' Charles realised quickly. It wasn't a difficult deduction to make as the boy was the only one wearing just his Hogwarts jumper. Remembering Neville had kind to him on the train, and though that interaction hadn't ended ideally, Charles decided to help. He scoured the table for something small. 'That will work.' Charles grabbed a slice of bread, tearing a piece off and mashing into a little ball with his hands.

Theo looked confused. "What are you doing?"

Charles didn't answer, instead throwing the dough ball towards Neville. It hit the back of the pudgy boy's head. 'A perfect throw,' Charles thought, pleased with himself. Rubbing his nape confusedly, Neville turned around as the nearby Slytherins laughed. The two made eye contact. Charles checked to see if his friends were paying attention, they weren't – far too busy sniggering to be looking at him – and tugged at his robes. Neville must have gotten the message as the next second he was dashing out of the Great Hall, though to everyone else just looked embarrassed.

"Charles!" McGonagall reprimanded from afar. But she was stopped by Dumbledore, who gave Charles a little wave with a knowing smile.

'Thanks old man.' Charles was grateful the Headmaster had helped him, Professor McGonagall's stern face reminded him of an angry Sam.

"That was great Charles," said Blaise, having finally finished reading his letter, which he quickly stuffed into his pocket. "If you can throw a Quaffle as well as you can bread balls, then maybe you'll make the Quidditch team!"

Charles grinned at the joke. Suddenly he was really looking forward to the Flying class.