*** hey it's chapter six! How exciting for me!!! OH yeah okay I decided that to make this story make any sense there would be a prequel sort of explaining " The old one" and it will probably help you understand Charlotte better and what is going on with her. Any way I already started it, It's in the originals section under fantasy, it's called legend of the old one. So here we go, it only gets weirder from here! By the way Thank you a million times lee-anne for reading and reviewing my story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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*** J K Rowling and her happy publishing friends own everything in this story except Charlotte and Riencour***
Birds that can't Fly
Chapter 6: Riencour
It didn't seem fair. Serverus Snape frowned deeply and allowed the book to fall from his hands and hit the floor with a dull thud. The infirmary was other wise silent. Madame Pomfrey shot dagger eyes at him because of the sudden noise. He looked at her apologetically, then turned back to Charlotte. pale moonlight filled the room lighting her features and making her hair shimmer.
As he sat and gazed at her the thought occurred to him that this girl looked like any painting of Asha he had ever seen. he shook his head remembering only one time he had seen such a resemblance. Her mother Catherine had all the same features. In the moonlight Serverus found it hard to believe that it wasn't Catherine lying there.
It had been hours since a hysterical Fleur Delacour had brought the unconscious Charlotte up to the Hospital wing. Snape had ran all the way there from the dungeon s as soon as he'd heard. The two of them had waited for Charlotte to wake up, while teachers slipped in and out. All of their hopes had been crushed. When Dumbledore had come it was quite obvious to Snape that the older Wizard had been crying. It must have physically hurt Dumbledore to know he could not protect her. And Snape had desperately wanted to say something to comfort the man, but Serverus had no gift when it came to dealing with people.
But he was alone, almost any way, Fleur was sleeping soundly in a spare bed, her beautiful features were marred slightly by tearstains on her cheeks. Madame Pomfrey loomed at her desk, only a second away, but all the same she was keeping her distance. She to was disappointed. Snape sighed deeply.
It wasn't fair. Charlotte was so young and showed so much promise. An there she lay. The Riencour had no doubt taken full hold of her by now. Snape knew that it would break Catherine's heart to see he daughter take such a powerful potion. But then, part of him also knew that Catherine might be the one person who might have sympathized. This was the only way. Snape knew it, but it didn't stop him or the others from feeling that the young girl who lay before him had been cheated out of life. But perhaps this was the lesser of the two evils.
On impulse Snape took her hand in his own and held it to his cheek. He closed his eyes and remembered back to a time so long ago it seemed more like a distant dream than a real memory. A heart wrenching sob escaped him. He opened his eyes to look at Charlotte and felt hot tears streaming down his face and making her cold fingers damp. He placed her hand back on the bed. Still she did not stir.
Snape felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and through his tears he could see Madame Pomfrey looking down at him. "Serverus....................." she obviously did not know how to react to such an emotional outburst from Snape. "It will be all right....................Dumbledore will find a way.............he always does............."
Snape shook his head. "It isn't that Poppy.................I was just thinking about......" he trailed off fearing more tears if he spoke the name out loud.
The nurse had tears in her eyes as well "You must not think about that anymore Serverus. You did all for her you could have. No one blames you. "
" I can't help it. I think about it everyday. And now she's here........how can I face this?" He seemed to her at that moment like a lost child. She hugged him tightly.
"Have you thought that maybe this is your chance? Perhaps this time you can help her by saving her daughter. Providence acts in strange ways my friend. I think God is giving you another chance."
He looked down at the floor " I don't think I deserve another chance"
"Another chance at what?" Both of them looked at the bed where Charlotte lay groggily rubbing her eyes.
"Nothing , dear." Mumbled Madame Pomfrey, "You'll be hungry, I'll go fetch something from the kitchens." The nurse bustled out of the room. Charlotte and Snape listened silently as her footsteps echoed down the deserted stone corridor.
He wasn't really sure what to say to her. Quickly he brushed the tears from his eyes and prayed she wouldn't ask too many questions. After along moment it occurred to Snape that she might not say anything at all. Deciding anything was better than this silence He began the Conversation.
"So, I take it you decided to take the potion." He said. She stared at him utterly devoid of any feeling.
"It was a necessity." Charlotte answered. " Are you disappointed?"
"No, I was just, well all of us were hoping that you might be able to-"
She cut him off sensing he was flustered. " I'm not strong enough." it was a simple statement. It was clear to Serverus that she did not wish to elaborate on the subject.
He took a deep breathe. He didn't want to ask this question, but he knew he had to. He half hoped for a miracle that would stop him. he waited. It did not come. So he asked, already knowing half knowing what she would say.
"What do you feel?"
She gazed at him for a moment the closed her eyes. Charlotte had don this before, she reached deep into herself , into her soul and found what she knew would be there. She Looked at him steadily. " Nothing, she answered. I feel nothing at all."
***get it? Get it? well probably not. I'm sorry this is so short but there aren't enough hours in the day for me , I must sleep. 6 hours a day isn't quite cutting it for me like it used to. Chapter 7 will be up soon, longer and better than this one, I swear. Anyway have a lovely day! Love you all!
