Chapter Four:

The stone walls shimmered as the sun rays beat down on them from the high window to the left of the empty desk. Charlotte was sitting with her back against the one of the walls as she stared out of the window. She had to meet up with her father and that was the last thing she really wanted to do. She had asked for Snape's help because she didn't trust being around her dad for longer than a minute. Yes, she was twenty-three years old and well capable of running her own life, but she was also still half the size of the man and he always carried that cane of his.

"It will be okay you know?" Bill walked in through the door and stood in front of her so the sun no longer fell upon her tiny frame. She shivered at the loss of heat, but didn't look up at him. She refused to show that she was scared that the evil man of her nightmares was coming to see her. Before long she felt his gentle, caring hand on her shoulder but she shrugged it off. She didn't need his sympathy, she didn't need him going around acting like she was a little girl anymore.

"Go away," Bill grabbed her hand and held it tightly, making it very apparent that he would not be leaving. "Why do you have to do that?"

"Do what, love?" Bill squeezed her hand affectionately and pulled it into his lap.

"Come in here and break down all my walls," there was a moment of silence where neither one of them knew what to say. Charlotte leaned on Bill's shoulder and sighed. "I hate him, Bill."

"I know you do."

"He's done so many awful things to me in the past," she confessed.

"I know Charlotte and they shouldn't have allowed him to come, but what are you to do now? I can stay with you if you want." Bill looked around the little room and frowned. Everything in the room seemed cold. There was nothing in the room that would give off the impression people lived in there.

"I wont let you," Bill went to let go of her hand, but Charlotte held onto it tighter. Bill smiled despite himself.

"You need to relax Charlotte, you seem to often over work yourself and if you try and put every little thing on your plate before you've even thought about it, you'll explode." Charlotte rolled her eyes as Bill put his other hand around her shoulder. "I really want you to be careful. You don't deserve to have bad things happen to you and-"

"Yet they still do," she finished for him.

"Yes, they still do," he whispered to her quietly. As she stared at the wall across from her she felt Bill's hand run down her back to her waist. "You're broken and bruised, Charlotte, but I still love you."

!OD!

He hadn't meant it as anything but as a friend though in his mind he didn't know to believe he did. He had stood by her side for so long it was hard not to doubt his feelings for her even if he had told all the world different, but he shrugged the thoughts out of his mind. He wouldn't ever get to express how he felt towards her and that was okay. He cared about her and would be willing to do anything to protect her and that's all that mattered then.

!OD!

Charlotte looked up at Bill and sighed. He was lost in his thoughts and she wasn't going to disrupt him while he was so deep in them. She put her head against his chest and closed her eyes. She suddenly felt so tired that she could hardly think straight. Without saying another word to the man she was using as a pillow she fell into a relaxed, carefree sleep.

The two stayed that way until Bill gently picked her up off the floor and carried her out of the office room to her own bed room. He didn't feel like waking her when she finally found peace in her dreams. He knew that place to be her own personal neverland, to dream and live the way she wanted it to be.

A/N: I am very sorry it's short, but I needed it in there. Yes I do realize that it's rather sappy, but I made it that way for a reason. It will all come into play soon enough and I assure you the rest of the story will get better if you don't think it is now. Thank you all for reviewing, for those who did. I appreciate it more than anything. I like knowing that my work is enjoyable for others than me.

Good Day,

Miss Lady Karalyn