Thank you so much to Wendy and lee-anne for your great reviews and wonderfully kind words. I'm so glad that you liked my story and took the time to read it. I am forever grateful (corny but true.) So here we are at chapter 7. Back to dealing with Fred and the aftermath of that night. Hope you enjoy.

****Disclaimer, everything but Charlotte, giant foot powder and Riencour, belongs to J.K. Rowling and her Publishing friends.******

Birds that Cant fly

Chapter 7 : When it rains.....

Fred looked blankly into his cauldron during potions. He was supposed to be helping George with an itching potion, but nothing about the purple bubbling mess appealed to him at this moment. He didn't even get annoyed with his brothers insisting he pay attention because this could help them in their future career. A thick layer of apathy had overcome him. For the life of him Fred couldn't imagine what had brought it on.

That's not true. He thought "It's her." For the first time that day Fred allowed himself a quick glance in Charlottes direction. She stood carefully cropping up dried mandrake roots. She went about this carefully and methodically. But something was missing. Fire thought Fred looking down again. Everything I sensed about her, it's gone..

Over night a change had over come Charlotte. There was nothing left of the smiling quick witted girl Fred had met on the train, nor any remnant of the scared Child he had seen sobbing that night. For almost a week now there was nothing about Charlotte that suggested anything but startling calmness. It was unsettling really, the way she walked don the halls and looked on passers by as though they were some faded photograph. And it was more than a little frightening to see the way she reacted to things. Or rather the way she did not react at all.

Not even when Fred and George had tested their giant foot powder last week. Not even a laugh or shriek of terror as the poor rat grew to six times it's regular size. She just stood there and observed the fiasco with utter detachment. Fred had even received a sympathetic smile when Snape had given both boys a weeks worth of detention. Not even a bemused grimace when students left in right had their shoes covered with Giant Rat poop. Nothing Fred thought it' almost as if a knot in his stomach tightened it's almost as if she's died, but her body hasn't realized it yet........................

But it wasn't that that bothered him the most. It was more the way she had shunted him to the side. Charlotte had hardly said two words to Fred for almost a week now. I've done something, I'm such an idiot, she loathes me. Doubt shouted in his mind. This feeling was only made worse by what he knew he felt for her. Almost as soon as he met her he knew, she was the one, the only one for him. The realization had hit him like a punch in the stomach. And Fred felt it even now, as she stared through him.

All of a sudden he be became aware of movement around him. Class had ended. the last class of the day was over , everyone was packing up and heading outside to enjoy the last days of an Indian summer. The weekend at last had come.

"Come on Fred!" said George eagerly throwing ingredients into his bag.

"Um , I gotta do something. I'll meet you out side in 10 minutes , okay?" Quidditch practice, he would have to hurry.

His twin hesitated a moment. Snape had left, gone to see Dumbledore. The only other person in the dungeon except Charlotte. Georges' eyes flickered towards the girl staring intently into a cauldron and back to his brother. He gave Fred a confused look.

"Alright, don't be late. Were picking a new captain. Reckon I gotta good chance."

Fred smiled "No worries." George frowned slightly and left the dark room. Cautiously , and silently Fred crept up behind Charlotte. The fire light picked up brilliant red strands of hair all over her head. He came closer. She smelled like some wild jungle. Gently he place a hand on her shoulder. She spun around. Fred hoped to see surprise, or even anger, but there was nothing. Nothing blemished her calm facade.

"Fred.........what are you doing here?" She asked.

He could tell he was blushing, his face had grown warm and his ears were burning. " I........I uh I wanted to talk to you." Smooth Romeo, real smooth.

"Oh?" Funny, her voice mimicked intrigue and concern so well, but he could see in her eyes that it was all just an act. " Is anything wrong?"

"Oh.. uh no........well maybe, " Getting tongue tied was not something Fred Weasley was used to , he harboured a small resentment towards her for being able to make him sound stupid. "Actually Charlotte, I was sort of hopping you could tell me."

" If something is wrong with you? " She asked " I think that's really more Madame Pomrey's area of expertise." Well this was something. An evasion is at least a reaction, at the very least.......

" You know what I'm talking about Charlotte. you don't have to put on an act with me. What's wrong? You've been acting differently lately..........."

She stepped away from him. He was close, so close she could smell his aftershave . So near that if she wanted Charlotte could have counted each of his individual freckles. He was beautiful in the dim light.

" You don't know what your talking about." She whispered so quitely he had to strain to hear it. Charlotte moved to leave the room, but he stopped her. Fred had taken her hand and held it firmly in his large grip.

He pleaded as he looked into her eyes. " Maybe not Charlotte, but I think I know you. if your in some kind of trouble.................I want to help you........"

Fred Held her shiver slightly and take a quick breath in , as though something had just struck her. Almost immediately he saw the change in her. Chralottes' features stiffened and her mouth quivered. And tears were welling up behind her eyes. Tears it was apparent she was desperate to keep from falling.

She opened her mouth and at first no sound came out, and when she spoke it was scarcely more than a breath " Please leave."

Fred nodded. Gently he released her hand. " Charlotte-" He began.

"Please Fred."

Fred nodded again and left the room. Charlotte stood stalk still. Wondering if she had only imagined what had just taken place. Impossible she thought. But somehow she couldn't put the thought from her mind. In that instant that Fred had held her hand it was as though...........it was as though she had never taken the Riencour at all. She had felt her heart pounding in her chest. She had felt pain, and yes perhaps she had felt love. But as she stood alone in the dark and felt the all the emotions once more leave her being, the thing that left a whisper of fear in her was simply that she had felt anything at all...............................

I'm going away for a few days, so I don't know when exactly chapter 8 will be up, but it will be soon. Please keep reading and reviewing!!!!!!!! Love y'all !