Disclaimer: i own nothing harry potterish

CharlieXBlack: here you go hun. big badda boom.

BlackRose89: glad you like the chapter hun, as for when set, read the A.N.

A.N. sorry, must not have made myself clear. in this, Harry has defeated Voldemort for good, so he will be in his teens. If sirius was 20, when he got sent to Azkaban then it is roughly 17 years later. Charlotte will be whatever age she wants to be.

Charlotte's thoughts

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A small pain in her hip when she stumbled. The aroma of melting cheese in the air. The silk of her dress brushing her thighs. Cool hands taking her warm ones in a gentle embrace. Memories swam through her mind, as they had done every day of the fortnight since her birthday, while her head felt like it was swathed in a thick velvet cloth. Cracking open her eyes, she shrank back from the oppressive dark panelled walls. Sleep weighed on her eyes, coaxing the pale lids shut. Nestling back into the soft furs beneath her back, slumber crept upon her, immobilising her limbs, relaxing her muscles. Then she heard the unmistakeable click of a door opening.

Gentle padding indicated someone stealing towards her. Cloth rustled as the person knelt by her side. Icy fingertips brushed along her stomach. Opening her eyes a fraction, she glimpsed blonde hair. Lucius? No, short hair. Draco. Those fingertips then caressed her leg. She twitched, but then moaned gently and stretched as if in sleep. Then she realised that she wore nothing. The rich taste of red wine lingered on her tongue. A faint tang of spices resided in her mouth. An agreement, an allowance of…of… It took all of Charlotte's self control not to wail and run. Run as fast as her body would allow her.

A second click sounded and the person next to her jumped as though they had been scalded.

'What do you think you are doing?' Lucius voice was like a harshly sharp blade, sliding between you ribs. 'Well?'

'N…N…Nothing Father.' It was Draco.

'Didn't I express my wishes that you were not to touch her. That she is mine, and mine alone.'

Charlotte's eyes slid open marginally. Both men had their back to her. Slowly, she moved to a crouch, and crept towards the door. She looked back. Lucius was lecturing Draco, and the younger man's face, pale with fear, was fixed rigidly on his father's. Charlotte almost felt pity for the younger Malfoy. Lucius temper was viciously cruel at best. Coldly murderous at worst. She softly padded down the hall, and when she judged she was out of earshot, she ran.

'And if you ever…' Lucius broke off. He turned around and let his gaze fall to the floor. The rugs before the fire were empty; explaining the soft thuds of running feet. Both men cursed.

'Find her. The blasted order are her, led by Black.' Lucius spat. ''We can't risk having her found, and Black will never have her.' The younger man nodded before they both took off down the hall, following their ears.

Sobs of terror tore themselves from her throat. The sounds of pursuit informed her that her fear had clouded her usually accurate judgement and she was not out of earshot as she had hoped. But on she ran. Sounds of battle reached her ears, and the sound of a beloved and familiar voice yelling curses and hexes.

'Sirius.' She breathed before taking a passage to the left and then colliding with the man in question.

Both hugged tightly and Charlotte sobbed into his robes.

'I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm so very, very sorry.'

'It's ok baby, what didn't you mean to do?' The he realised she was completely bare. Gasping, he looked down and saw the red bites on her otherwise flawless shoulders. Mistaking his horror for hatred, she wailed and flung herself into his arms once more.

'Well.Well. what a pretty sight.' Malfoy drawled.

'You bastard. You fu…'

'Now, now Black, language.' Lucius chided mockingly. Sirius bristled and snarled. Pointing his wand at the ceiling, and muttered something unintelligible. Dragging Charlotte back, they stumbled to avoid the ceiling caving in, separating them from the Death Eaters. He conjured some clothes and passed them to Charlotte wordlessly. Seeing the look on his face, the still weeping woman accepted them without comment; resigned to the fact that Sirius now hated her, and would never forgive her. Sighing, Sirius kissed her swiftly on the mouth. Frowning he pulled away, before breaking into a grin.

'I'm not mad at you baby.' He murmured as he wiped her tears away. 'I'm just sad about what has happened, and I couldn't stop it.' A muffled "Reducto" reached their ears, and some of the rubble shifted.

'Come on, that won't hold them forever.'

Hand in hand they ran, forever upwards since all routes down were blocked, persued by both of the Malfoys. Bursting into the only room ahead of them, they found themselves in a large bedroom. A latched window, overlooked a wide gravel path which swept into an orchard, dotted by syatues and plants.

'What an appropriate place to meet.' Lucius' leer sounded from the doorway, interrupting their attempts to open the window, as he took in both the sight of Charlotte and the four posted bed. Sirius moved to shield her, never taking his eyes of his old rival. Hatred boiled in his veins, a black, bubbling venom that was destroying his ability to think and reason. It made him oblivious to all save Lucius. He never saw the other door open.

'Why are you shielding her Black. We are not strangers. Surely you know what has transpired between us.'

'I know.' He gritted out.

'You should also know it was consensual. She put up no fight.'

'Yeah, Earthroot does that to you. You do know that Earthroot is an illegal substance. You could go to prison for that.' The blonde man looked taken aback. Sirius sneered. 'I tasted it on her mouth when I kissed her. She would never willingly betray me. He heard to late the shout of "Stupefy" from somewhere to his left. But Charlotte had seen the younger boy enter. Pushing her lover out of the way, she took the red beam full to the chest, and as she slumped against the window, the latch released. Sirius screamed. He couldn't move fast enough. Couldn't get to her. Couldn't catch her in time. She fell to the garden below. Sirius leaned out of the window in heart broken terror. He could see his love, as if sleeping, nestled in the arms where the stone angel caught her. One arm dangling down, and one leg with the soft boots laced up to the knee, hung out of the angels grasp.

Legs giving way in grief, Sirius hung his head; Life as he knew it had ended.


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