My response to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Assignment 11 Careers' Advice Task #4: Write about Charlie Weasley.

Type: One-shot

Disclaimer: Characters obviously belong to JK Rowling.

Summary: Missing Scene From GOF. Charlie gives Ron a brotherly kick in the butt.

Tough Love

Ron,

Tea at my house 'round three?

Hagrid

Ron was rarely at Hagrid's without Harry and Hermione and had no appetite for rock cakes, but he put the crumpled note in the pocket of his robes and knocked on the door anyway.

"Good, you're here."

It wasn't Hagrid who ushered him in. It was Charlie, who seemed to sense his brother's confusion, because he said, "Hagrid teachers Care of Magical Creatures to the third years at three. I asked him to send you the note."

"What's he teaching them to do," Ron asked. "Sing lullabies to the Blast-Ended Skrewts?"

Charlie laughed as he prepared the kettle for tea. "Interesting creatures, aren't they? Hagrid told me something else that was interesting. He says Hermione is very upset about a fight you and Harry are having."

Ron nodded, as he set two chipped china cups on the table. "Yeah, she thinks we're a couple of gits."

"Not to agree her, but I can't think of any good reason to be fighting with your best mate."

Ron threw up his hands in agitation. "I knew you'd be on Harry's side."

Charlie didn't take the bait. If anything, his voice took on an extra note of patience. "This isn't about sides, Ron, it's about friendship. Friendships like the one you and Harry have, they only come around about once in a lifetime. You two have faced down life-sized chessmen and idiot professor. Last year, you nearly got your let bitten off trying to protect him."

"How do you know about all of that?"

"Mum writes me in Romania. Anyway, the point is, are you really going to ruin all of that over a stupid piece of paper with Harry's name on it? Even while said best mate is about to risk his life facing a dragon."

"Harry has to face a dragon?" Ron's mouth was agape.

"Oh, Merlin! Don't tell him-actually do. The Beauxbatons girl probably knows already and it's only fair. Did I tell you about Hagrid and his lady-friend Madame Maxime..."