TITLE: Like Me
AUTHOR: jeri
E-MAIL: jeri@kronerxf.net 
WEBSITE: http://www.zilmamebrika.org
RATING: PG
CATEGORY: VC
KEYWORDS: CharlieFic
SPOILERS: none
ARCHIVE: Ephemeral/Gossamer - yes
         KTF/Enigmatic Dr. - yes
         CharlieFic - yes
         Others - with permission
STARTED: March 30, 2002
FINISHED: March 31, 2002

SUMMARY: A different take on the Charlie Scully story.

**DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the concept.

DEDICATION: Happy birthday Lizabelle! I hope the jump to 
the second decade is smooth and uneventful. ::snicker::

^*^*^

May 20, 2003
Wollingford Academy
Salem, Massachusetts

My youngest nephew turns two today, and I've yet to meet 
him. It's not my fault. I've tried numerous times to get 
away, but the only free times I'm allowed are in the 
summer, and then I've got things like World Cups and 
Tourneys and other projects to deal with.

Besides, my sister and her family are supposed to be in 
hiding right now. If I show up, it'll look suspicious.

But I've heard things. I know things. Things that my sister 
would probably want to know about, if her mind is open 
enough to believing them. She's been worried about William 
being an anomaly, something not natural.

She needn't worry; William is more natural than she knows.

William is like me.

That begs the question, I suppose: What am I?

Officially I am Charles Scully, Tertiary Headmaster, 
Potions Master, at the Wollingford Academy of Sorcery. To 
my friends I am Chuck. To my enemies I am Mudblood. And I 
am a wizard.

My mother is the only other person who knows this about me. 
I received my invitation to Wallingford on my eleventh 
birthday, and the following September I took the train to 
my new school. My father was at sea, and my siblings 
thought I was going to a special school because I was, 
let's admit it, a bit on the slow side. Wollingford snapped 
me out of it, and I actually became one of the top students 
in my year. I was a prefect in my seventh year, and part of 
the chess club in my fourth and fifth years.

I met my wife Rhiannon while I was studying in England 
after Wallingford. She'd attended Hogwarts, the best of the 
best, and truly helped me to hone my skills. We have four 
beautiful children -- Edward, Jason, Claire, and Marshall, 
and not a Squib in the bunch.

I haven't seen my sister, brother, or mother since my 
father's funeral. I've missed Bill's wedding, the births of 
two nephews, and all of the happy things in my sister's 
life.

I *have* worked side-by-side with Hermione Granger, trying 
to find new ways to keep Voldemort -- I can say his name, 
I'm not afraid -- from returning to power again. I've met 
wizarding world leaders, Quodpot and Quidditch stars, and 
have made a bit of a name for myself in the Potions Society 
(much to the dismay of Severus Snape, as he despises both 
Mudbloods and Americans).

But today is my nephew's second birthday. And he's already 
on Wollingford's list. In nine more years, he'll receive a 
very important letter. It would be nice if he had someone 
to talk to, someone who knew what he was getting into.

I think I'll send him an owl.

THE END

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZ!

^*^*^

NOTE 1: If you've made it through this story and are NOT 
familiar with the language of Harry Potter, allow me to 
include a quick glossary --
   Muggle (n.) - a human with no magical talent
   Mudblood (n.) - slang term for a wizard with two Muggle 
parents; highly offensive
   owl, an (n.) - an animal; (in context) used for 
delivering mail
   Quidditch (n.) - wizarding game, played with 4 balls and 
on broomsticks
   Quodpot (n.) - an American version of Quidditch; highly 
explosive (literally) 
   Squib (n.) - a non-magical person descendent from a 
magical family; rare and embarrassing

NOTE 2: Apologies to Mimic117 for some big similarities to 
"Chip Off the Old Block". I've been tossing this idea 
around for a while, and was in no way affected by Mimic's 
story. But it is a super one, and if you liked this, then 
be sure to check it out -- it won the CharlieFic Challenge!

4 out of 5 doctors say expressing your enjoyment 
of a fanfic to its author increases your life 
expectancy 23-23.8 years. The other doctor was 
killed by Cancerman before we could ask him.
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