It was a long apparition, much longer than she was used to. Her first thought upon arrival was to make sure the cloak was still close around her. Severus dropped their hands instantly and strode away. They were on a grassy mound. Ahead of them was a ring of torches. Charlotte wondered if this was the same meeting spot she had seen before, it certainly looked similar. More black-cloaked figures were making their way up the hill and Charlotte and Ron scrambled for a spot out of the open beside a small bush. They huddled together trying to make as small a shape as possible, never taking their eyes from the cluster of torches. She couldn't even spare a thought to acknowledge they had somehow made it to Voldemort's side, she was too focused on making sure the three of them survived the meeting.
A figure at the top of the circle raised his hands and the mound became still. "My loyal followers. The time is at hand. Even now our dear Lucius is being freed of his prison and returned to us. With our numbers thus renewed we can set our final plan in motion. The days of Muggle-lovers and mudbloods are numbered – and Charlotte Parnell will be one of the first upon the chopping block." Charlotte felt Ron stiffen in surprise beside her, no doubt wondering why Voldemort even knew her name, let alone wanted her dead. "All those who stand in our way shall know the wrath of Lord Voldemort. Serve me faithfully and you will be rewarded, fail me and there is only death." He studied the Death Eaters carefully. "Severus, step forward." Snape did as requested, kneeling before Voldemort and raising the hem of the Dark Lord's robes to his lips. "You were slow to reach us this evening Severus, why?"
"I was not alone when your call came, my lord, it took some time to get away." Snape's voice was calm and he spoke without hesitation. Voldemort seemed to accept this answer, but was not finished with the potions master yet.
"What news do you bring me of Hogwarts, Severus?"
"Everything is much as it was, my lord. Dumbledore continues to meet with little success convincing the Ministry of your return. Potter and his friends are meddlesome troublemakers and the members of Slytherin house eagerly await their chance to serve you." He really did lie beautifully, Charlotte decided, but would Voldemort believe him?
"Their time will come Severus, I have not forgotten them. Remember Severus; I give you more leniency than I do the others because you are useful to me. See that you remain so. Crucio!" Snape fell to the ground writing in silent agony. Voldemort let him suffer for several minutes before ending the spell. "When you are summoned next, my followers, it will be to learn your role in the conquest." And with that, he was gone. The other Death Eaters soon followed suit, not sparing a backward glance for their fallen comrade. Ron kept a tight hold on Charlotte's arm until they were certain everyone was gone. As soon as he let go, she ran to Severus. With Ron's help she pulled the Potions Master to his feet.
"Are you okay?" Charlotte asked, leading him off the mound.
"Fine," he replied tersely. She had seen him far worse, certainly, but it was awful to see him in any kind of pain.
"Can you apparate? I don't think I can do the three of us."
"I can manage. I will see you in Hogsmeade."
Charlotte and Ron arrived in the village in time to Snape collapse to the ground. "I think he's just unconscious," said Ron, checking Snape's pulse.
"Mobilicorpus!" at Charlotte's command, the prone figure lifted into the air. "Let's get him to the infirmary – hopefully we'll find Madam Pomfrey there."
They walked in silence through the town but at last Ron blurted, "Why does You-Know-Who want you dead?"
Charlotte sighed. "Because it was my testimony that got Lucius Malfoy sent to Azkaban." Ron did not appear satisfied with the short answer. "Alright. What I am about to tell you must remain strictly between us. You cannot tell Harry and Hermione and you certainly can't let Severus or any of the other Professors know that I told you. I am not just Muggle-born, I was a Muggle until only a year ago." She summarized the strange events that led her to her current position as Muggle Studies Professor at Hogwarts.
"Bloody Hell! I wish I could have seen you punch that slimy Malfoy in the nose!"
Charlotte laughed, "It was amazingly therapeutic. So you see, I'm fairly high up the Death Eater hit list, after Dumbledore and Harry that is. So I'm at Hogwarts at least until Voldemort is defeated."
"You think we'll win then?"
"I do. It won't be easy, of course, but in the end good will triumph. I have to believe that." She looked down at Severus floating between them.
"You love him, don't you?"
Charlotte smiled and blinked away tears. "I do. That may seem impossible to you, but I do. I just want him to survive the war."
Ron half-smiled at her. "It's not impossible. He's different around you, not the git us students see."
Charlotte grinned, "He can still be a git sometimes, even around me." She stopped short. "But Ron, you can't tell anyone about this – if it were to get back to Voldemort that we were involved—"
He nodded. "I know. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. No one would believe me anyway!"
"You're a pretty astute young man, Mr. Weasley."
Ron blushed pink. They stopped in front of the castle's main doors and eyed them in trepidation.
"This is it." Charlotte said and pushed the doors open. To their surprise and delight, Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Madam Pomfrey were all waiting inside.
"Oh thank Merlin!" Charlotte exclaimed, hugging the Headmaster.
"Welcome home to you both," said Dumbledore, clearly pleased. "I trust you have an interesting tale to tell."
"Indeed Albus, but first we need to let Poppy see to Severus. We came home by way of Voldemort," she added by way of explanation.
"It's late. Why don't you return to your dormitory, Mr. Weasley?" said McGonagall.
"If you don't mind Professor, I'd like to go with Professor Parnell and Professor Snape to the infirmary."
Charlotte smiled at Ron. "I don't mind Minerva, I'd be glad of his company."
"Very well then. I look forward to hearing your story once Professor Snape has recovered." Dumbledore smiled at them over the tops of his half moon spectacles and they parted company.
***
The next morning the trio joined their headmaster for breakfast. Over multiple cups of tea they related the events of the previous weeks up to and including the meeting with Voldemort.
"I have had an owl from Cornelius already," said Dumbledore, pouring Ron a fresh cup. "Lucius has indeed escaped. While this may confirm his allegiances to the Dark Lord, I'm afraid there are still plenty of people with more interest in his money than his politics. He will still be of use to Voldemort." The headmaster's eyes took on their usual twinkle. "As usual you have all performed with the bravery I have come to expect. However, I cannot allow Mr. Weasley to fall behind in his schoolwork." The redhead's face fell. "Go to your common room, Ron. I believe Miss Grainger has been devising a program of instruction since your disappearance." Ron brightened at the thought of seeing his friends again and made a speedy exit.
Once they were alone Albus smiled fondly at the two professors. "And how do you do, my children?"
Charlotte and Severus exchanged a glance. "Glad to be home, certainly, but I've had better days," Charlotte answered with a grimace.
"With your permission, Headmaster, I'd like to continue our research on the potion that made all this possible."
"Certainly, Severus, but do be careful."
"It is also my intent to discuss our departure with certain members of my house," he continued sternly, and Charlotte did not envy Crabbe and Goyle one bit.
Severus had offered to walk with Charlotte to her rooms, but she thought it better to go alone. As she approached the staff corridor, tears began to prick at her eyes.
"Charlotte!" The portrait exclaimed catching sight of her. "I'm so glad you're back! But what's wrong?" she asked, seeing Charlotte's face.
"I'm glad to be back too Celeste. Really glad to see you again."
Celeste sighed. "I'm sorry you had to see – what you did. It couldn't have been easy."
"You knew where I was? And what happened? How?" Charlotte asked, stunned.
"Well, you did meet me, if you recall. Not that I was in the best shape at the time. I believed what everyone else did, you and Snape and Ron were just guests of Headmaster Torht's. When you first arrived at this Hogwarts I didn't put it together, it was a long time ago and I knew you as Mrs. Charlotte Snape, remember. After a while I did guess what might have happened, and when you three disappeared at the same time, I knew for certain. Do you hate me for not telling you?"
"Don't be silly! What would you have said? 'In a few months you're going to get sucked into a cauldron and go back in time where you will meet the original Celeste and then get to see her killed by a wack-job wizard and some Luddites'? I wouldn't have believed you."
"No, probably not."
Charlotte stifled a yawn. "I'm sorry, Celeste, I didn't get much sleep last night, I think I'm going to grab a quick nap. But I'll tell you the full story when I wake up, alright?"
"That's fine. But there is one more thing. Headmaster Torht thought of leaving me unfinished, but what you said helped convince him not to, although he didn't exactly hang me over his desk. After several years, however, he was able to talk to me. I liked to think that I reminded him of all the good things about his daughter, rather than her death." She paused. "He was a good person."
Charlotte nodded. "He was, but you're no slouch yourself."
Charlotte and Severus did not see much of each other during the next few days, each occupied with salvaging classes as the Christmas holidays rapidly approached. Snape spent much of his remaining free time researching the potion while Charlotte ensconced herself in the library or her room with history books. At last the Express pulled out from Hogsmeade station and the school achieved a relative degree of quiet. Charlotte sat in her room one afternoon engrossed in a book when she heard the telltale sound of an arrival by Floo.
"Hey," she said, not looking up. "Did you know that Nathaniel Seon went on to become Headmaster after Torht? And the wizard leader of the Luddite army was one of the first people sent to Azkaban Prison."
"Fascinating," answered Snape dryly. He turned to face the fireplace and was quiet a moment. "At the expense of my other, more pressing, concerns I have given a great deal of thought to our situation. While I cannot presume to know your thoughts on the matter, I believe –" He looked up from his intense study of the mantle to see Charlotte still buried in her book. "Charlotte! Can you at least attempt to pay attention while I'm trying to propose to you?" Charlotte nearly dropped the volume in her hands. She placed the book carefully on a table and turned to face him. Under her intense scrutiny, Severus faltered. "Perhaps it would be easier if you were not listening."
She smiled. "Too late, please continue."
He pulled up another chair and sat in front of her. "For as long as Voldemort is a threat I can only offer a promise. If you were to agree to my request, nothing could change."
Charlotte nodded and took his hand. "I know that. We're still what we are: crafty double agent" she pointed to him, "and troublesome mudblood," she finished, leveling the finger at herself. "But to have that promise is something special, even if we're the only two who know about it. Someday it'll be different, I know it will be."
Severus shook his head. "You and Albus should found a society for deluded optimists."
Charlotte laughed. "No doubt. But if we're going to do this, I don't want to hear any more moping from you. There will be no noble sacrifices on my watch, mister!"
He rolled his eyes but acquiesced. Reaching into the folds of his robes, he pulled out a grey box and handed it to her. "I am not so ill informed on social customs as to come into this empty handed."
Charlotte opened the lid and gasped. Inside was a single square sapphire on a platinum rope chain. "Oh Severus." She held up her hair for him to fasten the piece around her neck, shivering slightly as he placed a kiss on the nape. "You know I'm never going to take this off," she said, surveying her reflection in the mirror.
"That was rather the idea," he replied, kissing her again. She buried herself in his arms, too happy to do more than enjoy the weight of his promise on her heart. A loud sniffle from the direction of the door made them both look up.
"Celeste?" asked Charlotte, concerned.
"I'm sorry," said the portrait, "I'm just so happy for you both." Celeste blew her nose.
The potions master glowered at the entrance. It was obvious to Charlotte that the only way to prevent any disparaging remarks about nosy portraits was by kissing Severus into submission. So she did.
END
A/N: Well, that's the end of another one. I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed and my lead beta, Lockholm. Stay tuned – I'm not done with Charlotte yet! Expect a new story to begin with in the week. If you want to know when it is posted to ff.net, send an email to [email protected]!