Wow, I'm really sorry, that last chapter was short and dinky. That is a funny word. So I'll try to make this one longer and get a bigger chunk of story moving. Anyways thank you all you lovely reviewers, there is a special place reserved for you in fan fiction heaven. Here we go, hope you like it.

***********see chapters 1 through 8 for complete listing********************

Birds that can't fly

Chapter 10: Of love and other mysteries.

Freds alarm went off at 5:00 in the morning. Quidditch practice started in 15 minutes. George was a monster. He had kept the Gryffindor team under his sudo-tyranical regime for the past week. Fred rolled over and groggily rubbed his eyes. He was about to go back to sleep when he remembered. She kissed me, the thought lit up in his mind like a big neon sign. She kissed me, she really kissed me. Fred grinned and felt his heart dance a tiny jig inside his chest.

It wasn't just the kiss, he realised, it was how she kissed him. For a moment in time he had felt as though he understood all of lifes little secrets. It was as though when Charlotte and him were looking down on the earth and all of a sudden he knew exactly how he fit in. That kiss had not been his first, but if it was the last, Fred was sure he would die a happy man.

Hearing rustling on the other side of his bed curtains Fred opened them to see his twin brother beaming down at him. His Quidditch robes were wrinkled and his hair was in a state of disarray.

"Did you sleep in your Quidditch robes?" Fred asked.

George blushed a little. " Nothing wrong with getting a little head start on the day. Besides, it's a big day Fred, a big important day." There was no disguising the slightly maniacal gleam that had entered his eyes. " I am going to really take the reigns! The more power I have the better off everyone will be......."

Fred raised an eyebrow "George, not to burst your bubble or anything, but you captain of the house Quidditch team, not minister of magic......"

Georges smile turned slightly manic " Today Gryffindor, Tomorrow the world!!!!!!!!!!" Unfortunately for him, his evil laughter was cut short by a well aimed pillow launched by Lee Jordan.

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"Professor!" Called Charlotte down the corridor. "Professor Dumbledore! I must speak with you." She ran to where the head master was conversing with Serverus Snape. They both looked down at her, the concern they felt was evident.

"Charlotte.....are you alright?" Asked Snape.

She caught her breath and waved this question away. " I'm fine.....I just.....I have to talk to you professor Dumbledore. It's important."

Dumbledore smiled " How can I help you ms Wildsmith?"

Charlotte glanced around, when she was satisfied that no one else was around she continued. " I need to know the circumstances.....surrounding......surrounding the death of my mother"

The smile dropped for Dumbledores face and Snapes' look of concern deepened.

" You've had another dream, haven't you?" asked the potions master.

Charlotte nodded. " But this one was different..........I saw...I saw all these flashes ....of images... horrible pictures...of my mother. The day she died. I need to know what happened. I need to know once and for all what is happening to me."

The two teachers exchanged a look. As though they were both deciding the best coarse of action. Charlotte reached out into their minds but found they had both been locked up tight.

"Please." she implored. " I have to know."

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It took a while for the full gravity of the situation to hit her. Perhaps it was the effect of the Riencour being removed from her, but her mind seemed to have slowed down. At long last Charlotte understood her mother. Suddenly everything seemed so clear to her. Now that she was being forced into her mothers shoes, all of a sudden suicide didn't look like such a bad option any more.

I wish I had never found out. Why did I have to ask? Charlotte replayed the mornings events in her mind. Dumbledores office, teary eyed Snape, solemn professor Dumbledore. Slowly she meandered down corridors and up stair cases, until she wasn't really sure where she was anymore. It didn't really matter.

She stopped in front of a large bay window. Outside the sun was so bright. Charlotte opened the window with trembling hands. She could hear laughter and distant conversations. It made her sad to think about all those people out their and what they would say when they found out. They would find out. Her life was as good as over.

As she stepped up onto the window sill the tears began to flow. It was all too much. Charlotte thought about her mother. She remembered the day her mother had taken her into the bathroom, she had only been a child, an infant, but it was still so clear. She remembered her mother telling her she loved her. And Charlotte saw in her minds eye Catherine Wildsmith falling to the ground, dead. She felt the warm blood surround her and she remembered the last words her mother whispered before Death took her.

"Miserere Mei Deus." Charlotte whispered spreading her arms and inching towards the opening.

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Fred watched her enter the sunny corridor. She didn't seem to see him, and something told him instinctively not to call out to her. He had never seen Charlotte like this. There were no tears but an aura of supreme tragedy surrounded her. He watched as she opened the window. When she stepped onto the window sill his heart had begun to beat a little faster. Now it was fear that kept him where he was.

He heard her whisper those words "Miserere Mei Deus" and open her arms. Only when she had stepped out into the air was Fred able to move.

"Charlotte!" He cried racing forward to the window. It didn't take long for Fred to realise he wouldn't be able to stop him self before hitting the window. Pain shot through his knees as they contacted the wooden window sill. Then cold air enveloped him. Fred was falling to the ground.

Time seemed to slow down. He could see the ground coming closer and closer and with a sinking heart Fred realised he was going to die. He closed his eyes and tried to brace himself for what was coming.

But it didn't come. Fred waited with his eyes closed for an eternity. He felt arms around him holding him tightly. He caught the scent of wild flowers. Slowly he opened his eyes. It was Charlotte, some how she had caught him. Fred looked down and nearly fainted, the two of them were hovering 3 feet above the ground.

"It's alright Fred." Charlotte whispered. Slowly they settled back on to the ground. Fred still held her. Not really sure what was happening, not really caring. Relief flooded through him, she was alright, Charlotte was alright.

She gently pushed him away. The question came spilling from his mouth before he could think. " How did you do that?"

Charlotte smiled sadly " It's a gift. From the old one."

Fred's heart almost stopped. Asha. " You are a child of the old one?" he couldn't keep the reverence out of his voice. Charlotte nodded.

"It is the same with all of my family......." she trailed off. This seemed to be a source of some deep shame to her.

" Charlotte..........I........thank you....."

Gently she took his hand. "Don't go killing yourself for me Fred. I'm not worth it."

" I think you are." He whispered. His heart was pounding so hard he was almost sure she could hear it. he reached out with his free hand and brushed a stray piece of hair away from her face. His hand rested on her shoulder. " What happened Charlotte.........."

She pulled away from him. Tears had once again come to her eyes. " You don't know how much I want to tell you Fred. You don't know how much I want to make you understand...........I don't see how you possibly could. No one would."

Fred drew her into hid arms and embraced her tightly. " Please Charlotte, just tell me."

"I can't loose you." came the muffled response.

He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly. " You can't loose me." He kissed a tear that was running down her cheek. "I'll understand, no matter what."

"I can't." she whispered. " I just can't." Charlotte pulled herself from his arms and from him sobbing.