Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Loyalty	By : Dazzlious Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 5492 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from J K Rowling's fantastic books or films, I'm just borrowing and playing with them for a little while and get no monetary reward for doing so.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
A/N: Thanks as ever to my excellent beta, Mamacita who sorts everything out so well. Dx

Snape Apparated directly into the foyer of St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, holding tightly to Charlotte. He called for a Healer and refused to let the Welcome Witch anywhere near them, although he did tell her that Charlotte had been poisoned. The witch, seeing the seriousness of the situation, directed Snape straight to the third floor, Ward for Potions and Plant Poisoning, and warned the staff there that he was on his way.
A few minutes later he laid Charlotte gently on the waiting bed and explained as quickly as he could to the Healer and two nurses exactly what the poison was and what he had done to try to save her life. The medics took Snape at his word about the poison; after all, he was a renowned Potions Master who had helped them out on several occasions in the past. They were also impressed at his quick thinking in casting the stasis spell. Assuring him that they would do everything they could, they set to work examining Charlotte.
Snape paced the room, listening to their assessment of her and the Healer’s discussion about what should be done. At one point another, older Healer arrived and the situation was discussed again. During all this time Charlotte remained in the stasis spell, frozen in time.
One of the nurses suggested that Snape might like to wait in the family waiting area, as it was more comfortable and there were refreshments there, but Snape wouldn’t hear of it. However, eventually, he was told in no uncertain terms that he would have to leave as they needed to work on Charlotte and couldn’t do so with him in the room.
Grumpily, Snape left and hurried to the Floo to go and see Dumbledore and tell him what had happened. Within minutes the Headmaster had joined him at the hospital, and the two of them waited anxiously for news of Charlotte while they discussed the evening’s events.
Eventually, just when Snape was thinking he would go mad if he had to wait for one more minute, the younger Healer appeared. He introduced himself as Barnabus Derwent and proceeded to explain what they had done. While Charlotte was still under the stasis spell they had removed the poison from her body, checking as they went for any signs of permanent damage. Apparently, they had found none, although they couldn’t be certain until Charlotte awoke and was thoroughly examined. Once they were sure the poison had been completely removed, they had ended the stasis spell, and although Charlotte was currently still unconscious, they expected her to wake at any time.
‘Can Severus see Charlotte now?’ Dumbledore asked.
The Healer nodded. ‘Yes, of course. He can go and sit with her, although she’ll probably be out for a while yet.’
Not waiting for another word, Snape rushed off down the corridor to Charlotte’s room. Grabbing a chair, he sat down at her bedside and gently stroked her hand as she slept.
‘How did this happen?’ Healer Derwent asked Dumbledore, out in the hall. ‘Was it an accident at school?’
‘Not exactly,’ Dumbledore replied. ‘I’ll explain it but not out here in public. Do you have an office we can go to?’
At that moment there was a commotion as a young Mediwitch tried to stop a group of people who were intent on barging into the ward. Derwent and Dumbledore looked up as Charlotte’s family all arrived in front of them.
‘I insist on seeing my daughter now,’ Charlotte’s mother announced imperiously.
Healer Derwent shook his head. ‘I’m afraid that’s not possible,’ he replied. ‘Charlotte is still unconscious. Perhaps you can come back tomorrow, by which time she should be awake and ready to receive visitors.’
The family didn’t seem very pleased at this news, but as it became clear that however long they waited around they weren’t going to see Charlotte, eventually they gave up and left. Dumbledore walked with Healer Derwent to his office.
‘I think they were the ones responsible for Charlotte’s poisoning,’ he confided sadly. ‘I think it would be better for everyone if they were kept away from her for as long as possible.’
They entered Derwent’s office, where Dumbledore proceeded to tell the Healer what had occurred earlier that evening.

Back in Charlotte’s room Snape was still holding her hand and talking to her, every so often brushing stray hairs out of her face. Until he saw her awake and smiling he couldn’t relax, couldn’t believe he had saved her. But at least she was still alive. For one horrible moment after he had tasted the antidote and realised it was fake he had dreaded what he knew she was going to do. And that was when it had come to him — that if he could just get the spell on her fast enough, he might have a chance to save her.
Charlotte stirred, obviously now in a more natural sleep, and Snape bent forward to hug her. Charlotte murmured, snuggled closer to Snape, then opened her eyes.
‘Severus,’ she croaked. ‘Hold me, please.’
Snape climbed into the bed next to her and pulled her into his arms, not caring what anyone thought. Almost as soon as he wrapped himself around her, Charlotte fell back into sleep and eventually, Snape, exhausted from the tension of the evening, joined her.
When the nurse came to check on Charlotte she was surprised and angry to see Snape in the bed and woke him up to have a go at him. She got even angrier when Snape told her Charlotte had asked him to do it.
‘You mean she woke up and you didn’t call for the nurse or a Healer?’
‘No, I’m sorry, I didn’t think of it,’ Snape replied, ashamed. ‘I was just so pleased to see her awake.’
‘Yes, but she could be damaged,’ the nurse said. ‘We needed to examine her as soon as she woke up.’
‘I’m sure she’ll be awake again soon,’ Snape said still holding onto the sleeping girl.
‘If she hasn’t slipped back into a coma,’ the nurse said, obviously still annoyed at Snape’s selfish behaviour. ‘I should throw you out, Professor.’
‘Please don’t.’ Snape’s voice was warm and calming. ‘She’ll be scared if she wakes and I’m not here.’
The nurse sighed but nodded her head, leaving the couple to go back to sleep. ‘But you call as soon as she wakes,’ she commanded.
Snape assured her that he would.

When Charlotte did wake again she was a little fretful until she realised Snape was with her. She didn’t want him to leave her for a second, but he promised he would return as soon as he had found a nurse. Slipping quietly from the room, he headed for the nurses’ station and noticed that there was already a group of people in the waiting area. Charlotte’s family were back already.
He found the nurse and informed her that Charlotte was awake, and requested that her family not be told for a while. He knew Charlotte would be distressed about them being there and was unlikely to want to see them. The nurse assured him they wouldn’t be allowed in until the Healer was satisfied that Charlotte was up to visitors, although as they were her family they couldn’t be kept out permanently if they insisted on seeing her. Snape was going to reply but knew he needed to get back to Charlotte.
As he was heading back to the room Charlotte’s mother looked up. When she saw him she began yelling, screaming for him to be kept away from her daughter, shouting that he was a murderer and all sorts of other names. The nurse looked at Snape in confusion, uncertain what to do, but Snape rushed back to Charlotte’s bedside before she had a chance to react.
By now Healer Derwent and Albus Dumbledore had reappeared after a long and frank discussion in the Healer’s office. Dumbledore proceeded to try to calm the family down, while the Healer went to check on Charlotte.
‘Hello, Charlotte. My name’s Barnabus Derwent and I’m looking after you. Call me Barney. So how are you feeling?’ He looked intently at the young woman.
‘I’m feeling okay,’ Charlotte replied truthfully, ‘although I’ve got a bit of a headache. Nothing that some more sleep wouldn’t sort, I expect. Can I go back to school now?’
Barney smiled. ‘Well, let’s just check you over to make sure we completely removed the poison, and then we’ll see.’ He turned to Snape. ‘If you could just leave the room, Professor, we’ll call you back in when we’ve finished.’
Snape scowled. He nodded curtly and turned to leave, but Charlotte wasn’t having it.
‘No. I don’t want Severus to leave,’ she said her voice quivering with tears. ‘I need him here with me.’
The nurse tried to calm her. ‘It’ll only be for a few minutes,’ she said kindly, ‘and then you can see your family.’
Charlotte reacted even more badly to this comment, begging the medics to stop her family from coming to see her, asserting that she didn’t want to see them. She was getting so distressed that Snape had to go back to the bed to comfort her. He sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around her, gently stroking her hair and talking soothingly to her, assuring her that her family wouldn’t be able to get to her.
Finally, Charlotte was calm enough to be examined, but she wouldn’t let go of Snape; so he stood at the side of the bed holding her hand, trying not to get in the way as she was examined. Soon Barney announced that she was perfectly well, although in need of a headache potion and more rest. Now there was the question of what to do about her family.
‘Charlotte, legally I can’t stop your family from coming to see you,’ Barney said apologetically. ‘They are still your guardians. However, if you feel they would be a danger to your health . . . .’
‘No, they’re not my guardians,’ Charlotte replied through her tears, ‘Severus is. They tried to have me killed and I don’t want to see them. I’m here because of them.’
Barney looked questioningly at Snape and was about to ask how it was that he was Charlotte’s guardian when the door flew open and Charlotte’s family barged into the room, all arguing and shouting, followed by Albus Dumbledore who was still trying to calm the ruffled group.
Charlotte’s mother ran to the bed, screaming for Snape to be removed from the room. ‘He tried to kill my daughter,’ she kept shouting over and over.
The nurse looked at the woman in astonishment. ‘I think there must be some mistake, Mrs Travers. Professor Snape saved your daughter’s life.’
‘Huh! That shows how little you know,’ Charlotte’s grandmother replied imperiously.
‘That . . . man . . . gave the poison to Charlotte in the first place.’
The nurse turned to look in confusion at Snape, who was still holding Charlotte’s hand and trying to comfort the girl as her family continued to scream around her.
‘Get him out! Get him out! Get him out!’ This was Charlotte’s mother.
Charlotte’s father turned to Barney. ‘As Charlotte’s father and legal guardian, I demand that you remove Professor Snape from the room. His presence is not required here any longer as it distresses my wife.’
‘But don’t let him go,’ warned Charlotte’s grandmother. ‘He needs to pay for what he’s done to my granddaughter.’
Barney turned towards the bed and looked apologetically at Snape. ‘I’m sorry, Professor, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. If you could wait in my office until we’ve sorted this out?’
Before Snape had a chance to answer, Charlotte screamed, loud and angry, furious and scared.
‘No!’
She was so loud that everyone stopped shouting for a moment.
‘My parents no longer have any legal guardianship over me,’ Charlotte began, her voice raw with emotion.
The family began to protest, but Barney hushed them so he could talk to Charlotte.
‘What do you mean, Charlotte?’ he asked gently. ‘Whatever you think your parents may have done, they are still your guardians. I’m sorry.’
Charlotte shook her head. ‘No,’ she insisted. ‘They aren’t. Severus is my guardian. As my husband, he takes precedence over my family.’ Everyone except Snape and Dumbledore looked at her in shock. Then her father erupted.
‘You can’t be married, girl. You have to get permission from your family and we very explicitly didn’t give consent, nor will we ever.’ His eyes glittered maliciously. ‘Now stop being stupid and let go of Snape. It won’t matter in a few minutes anyway. Soon your precious ‘husband’ will be in Azkaban for trying to kill you.’
Charlotte gripped tighter to Snape and screamed ‘No!’ again, a look of horror on her face. ‘You can’t do this!’ she screamed at her father. ‘It was you, not Severus. Do you think I didn’t work it out? How the competition was the perfect way for you to get rid of me without doing the dirty work yourselves?’
She looked in disgust at her family, only her mother seeming upset by the whole thing. The nurses looked around in total confusion. What had happened and who had caused it?
Albus Dumbledore cleared his throat and the noise quieted. ‘Healer Derwent, I think it would be better if this conversation continued outside Charlotte’s room. I cannot believe that all this upset is doing her any good.’
Barney nodded in agreement. ‘If everyone could just move outside, we’ll discuss it out there.’
‘We’re not leaving,’ Charlotte’s grandfather replied. ‘It’s Snape who should be leaving. Someone needs to get him away from my granddaughter before he does something to hurt her again.’
Snape’s eyes blazed with fury at these words but he continued stroking Charlotte’s hair, trying to calm her and didn’t reply.
‘Barney, I want everyone except my husband and Professor Dumbledore to leave,’ Charlotte said firmly. ‘I do not want to see, hear or talk to my so-called family. However, I do want to talk to Severus and the Headmaster. Please, can you arrange it?’
Charlotte’s father roared, ‘I’ve told you, girl, you are not married to that man. It is impossible, whatever he may have told you otherwise. This is just him misleading you again.’
Charlotte turned to her father, her gaze stony. ‘Actually, Father, you’re the one who’s wrong. I certainly am married to Severus. I know because I was the one who arranged the wedding and asked him to marry me. For your information, we married in a Muggle Registry Office, where it is perfectly legal for a sixteen-year-old to marry. This marriage is completely legally binding and is fully accepted in the wizarding world. Severus is my husband, and as such has full legal guardianship over me. You no longer have any rights where I am concerned.’
The whole time she was speaking Snape continued to gently squeeze her hand, giving support.
Charlotte’s mother burst into tears again; her grandparents looked outraged.
Charlotte’s father merely sneered. ‘A Muggle wedding. Do you really think we’d accept that as a valid union? You stupid girl! You’re not marrying until we say you can, and then I can assure you it won’t be to Severus Snape.’
Charlotte didn’t back down. ‘The marriage is valid, Father. Ask Professor Dumbledore. The only way you could stop it is to have it annulled, but of course, it’s far too late for that. The marriage was consummated long since, and neither Severus nor I have any intention of ending it. In fact, as soon as I’ve recovered from the poisoning we’ll be performing a binding ceremony to seal it for life.’ She smiled and gazed tenderly at Snape, who looked back with the same affection.
Charlotte’s father looked furious but seemed to be at a loss for words.
‘My wife has asked you leave,’ Snape said coldly. ‘Now, please do as she asked and go before I have to ask for security to throw you out.’
Charlotte’s father looked mutinous but, realising he had been beaten, had no choice but to retreat, taking his wife and parents with him. However, as they walked out of the room he turned back to the couple.
‘You will be in Azkaban soon, Snape,’ he promised. ‘The authorities are already on their way to pick you up.’ He sneered nastily, then turned on his heel and left.
Charlotte was sobbing now and Snape pulled her into his arms to comfort her. ‘They can’t take you, can they?’ she asked quietly.
‘I don’t know,’ admitted Snape. ‘I expect it depends on what your family have told the Ministry of Magic.’ He rubbed her back in an attempt to calm her.
Dumbledore, who had been quietly explaining to the medics, came over to the bed. ‘I suggest that we get back to the school as soon as possible. Charlotte can rest perfectly well in our own Hospital Wing and obviously, her family have less chance of access to her there.’
Charlotte was already getting out of bed and pulling on her clothes. One of the nurses pulled the curtains around the bed to give her some privacy while she dressed. A few minutes later she was ready to go. She thanked the medics profusely for helping her and apologised even more profusely for her family’s behaviour.
‘No need to apologise, Charlotte,’ Barney said kindly. ‘Families can be funny things, and not just yours.’
Snape, too, thanked the staff for everything they had done for Charlotte. Then he took her arm and prepared to lead her from the room.
- 6
- 7
- 8
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Loyalty