Aaaaaand I'm back!
Sorry for the silence, life and university and other such loveliness(?) got in the way. I've written this one entirely on the Notes App on my iPad as my laptop is currently FUBAR. I emailed it to myself and stole my Mum's laptop to upload.
This is a new Charlie/Hermione, based loosely on a dream I had were I fell off a cliff and got swept into an old canal (Lord alone knows what I ate before I went to bed!).
I've also been playing a lot of Temple Run on said iPad (seriously, get it. It's amazing, but a sure life-ruiner!) so I wanted to go for an explorer/adventure type thing. It's not my usual thing, but I thought I'd give it a go on the basis I hadn't done it yet.
This is set a few years after Hogwarts. Fred, Sirius and the Lupins are alive and well.
Ancient Ruins and Hopeless Showing Off
Charlie and Hermione are researching, in the back end of the Mediterranean in the old canals and waterways. A misplaced foot was all it took to bring a once cocky Charlie and his inflated ego back to the ground
The sun was hot. Blisteringly hot in fact.
They had been working on a cliff, rigged up to harnesses and ropes for weeks and weeks looking for the runes Hermione needed to finish her translation. She had been digging in Turkey nearly four years previously and found the first evidence of the old magical tribes that had died out thousands of years before. Ever since, she was determined to find out all she could. She applied to the Ministry for a grant to fund the research, and due to her efforts during the war they threw money at her; left, right and centre. She quickly drew up plans for camps, staff, local experts and specialised rune readers.
Hermione and her team then isolated themselves, spending months trekking through deserts, up mountains and fighting their way through rain forests. The community of people she had around her were her rock. They quickly became friends and confidantes, with cooks and medics to keep them alive and good friends to talk to when e stress became intolerable. They were a godsend after long days and short nights.
Every Christmas the camp broke for their winter break, spending the time with their family and taking a much overdue rest. It was during the most recent break that Hermione went back to the Burrow. Four years away from her most favourite place in the world was far too long, she thought. She missed her family more than anything when she was working and owled them as much as she could; though according to Molly it wasn't enough.
One Christmas Eve, she and her worldly possessions (her rucksack from her recent research trip Apperated to the garden of the Burrow and calmly walked up to the door. Knock or just walk in? She stood, hand on handle and took a breath. They weren't expecting her and she hadn't written since May. Would they still want to see her? A shriek behind her, a clatter and a hearty laugh told her she was still loved. Molly and the twins were walking through the yard with logs for the fire piled in buckets and baskets. She was engulfed by Molly, making up for all the mothering she had missed out on in the form of a rib cracking hug. The twins then joined in as Molly fretted over her and exclaiming she was too thin. Her anxiousness that was drowning her only moments before was expelled as Harry, Ron and Ginny came thundering through the house and swept her into a hug to rival the one she got from Molly.
"Hermione! I've missed you. How was Turkey, or Spain, or Greece or -" Ginny started.
"Give her a chance to breathe" Harry said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Ron was holding back, not sure of how awkward this meeting would get.
"Hermione, I've missed you" he started, taking Hermione into a hug. "I'm sorry I was a dick before you left. I was stupid"
"We'll talk later, I promise" Hermione said, saving him from an awkward conversation buy kissing him on the cheek.
The rest of the evening was spent reuniting Hermione with the rest of the Weasley's, the Lupin's, Sirius and Neville and Luna. She had missed a lot since she had last been home. Harry and Ginny were engaged, but waiting for Hermione to be the maid of honour before they got married. They desperately wanted their best friend there and we're willing to wait until she was finished with her research. They didn't mind of course, as they had Grimmauld Place as their refuge when Molly become over bearing. Tonks and Remus had married, with Teddy keeping their hands full and Order work when he was sleeping or with Sirius. With the war over, Sirius was now a free man. He wasn't accepted by everyone; if anything he was far from that, but he was able to walk around without too much hassle. Neville and Luna had married, but with no family left of their own (Neville's grandmother and Luna's father had died during Hermione's first research year) they had been adopted into the Weasley family. Ron was the person Hermione was most curious of. They had parted ways amicably, but things had been left unsaid as Hermione started out on her career. Were they to see each other again? We're they to marry when she returned? In Harry's letters to Hermione over the years he hadn't mentioned much, just that Ron was being Ron. He went out with Harry and took the occasional girl home but nothing much after that. The rest of the Wesley history passed in a blur of marriage, babies, job promotions and job changes but Hermione barely listened. Late in the night, Harry said the first goodnight and the trickle of people in search of a bed for the night started.
"Hey, Hermione? Can I speak to you?" Ron asked, just as Hermione was heading off to her old bed in Percy's old room.
"Of course" Hermione replied while using Charlie's thigh to lift herself from the sofa. "Kitchen?" she added and followed Ron through the door.
"Hermione, I'm sorry you left with all those loose ends" he started, looking at the floor rather than his friend. "I wanted to tell you so many things, but right now I don't know how"
"Its ok, Ron. Don't take this the wrong way, but it doesn't matter now" Hermione started. She knew this was coming. "If it wasn't said back then, then I don't think I need to hear it. I was away for a long time, I've thought about everything and we're best friends, Ron. I love you, but we'd never work as lovers"
"Thank god you said that" Ron said with a shaky laugh. "I love you too but I've met someone. I was going to bring her to dinner tomorrow but then you came back and I didn't know what to do" he admitted in a small voice. He chanced a look at Hermione to see her smiling.
"Really? Who is she? What is she like?" she asked, excited as meeting her best friends new beau.
"You're ok with this? You honestly don't mind?" Ron asked, slightly bewildered at Hermione's behaviour.
"Yes, of course I am! I worried and worried about leaving you unhappy when I took off without telling anyone, but you've found someone and I'm pleased for you" Hermione said while rubbing his arm affectionately. All she wanted to see was happiness after so many years of anguish. "So tell me, who is it?" she added with a smile.
"Her name is Lisa, Lisa Grant. She works at the coffee shop next to Wheezes" Ron smiled at the memory he held of her. "She's smart, and funny and hates quiddich" he ended, earning a laugh from Hermione.
"We'll get along just fine then" Hermione laughed. She was genuinely happy for Ron, but growing more and more tired and she tried to stifle a yawn.
"Go to bed. It's been a long day for you. Plus, you need to mentally prepare for mum trying to set you up with anyone with a dick tomorrow" Ron finished with a hug and a kiss to Hermione's forehead. She chuckled and went upstairs. She was happy she had come back.
The following day was filled with Christmas cheer. Hermione woke early, still running on a different time zone and her usual five in the morning starts. She crawled out of her bed and made a beeline for the kitchen. She jumped as she found she wasn't alone. Molly and Charlie were awake; the former flinging pans around as though her life depended on it and the latter trying to avoid them while grazing on toast and marmalade.
"Mor- morning" Hermione said around a yawn and a stretch. "What are you both doing up so early?"
"Oh good morning Hermione dear" Molly smiled at her from her place at the chopping board. She jabbed her wand as sprouts and carrots started to peel themselves and lined up on a spare chopping board, ready to be cooked later. "This family won't feed itself, and with one more eating I need to make some more" Hermione was about to protest, but Charlie cut her off.
"Hey Hermione, sleep well?" He asked as he buttered her some toast. There were no plates around, so handed it straight to her. She took it and slightly brushed his fingers as she did, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch. His long hair was falling to his shoulders around his face and his eyes still weary with sleep.
"I'd forgotten how lumpy that bed is" she smiled as she bit through half of the slice of toast. "It's nice to be back though. I missed it" she sighed, more to herself than anyone else.
"It looks like you've missed real food too" Molly said as she turned around and Hermione was finishing her toast. "Charlie, is there more toast or have you eaten it all?"
"Eaten it all, but I'll go into the garden and find some eggs and make omelettes" Charlie said with a winning smile directed at his mother. "Want to help? It'll be that last bit of piece and quiet you get until the twins wake up" he reasoned to Hermione. She didn't need reason, she had already reached for her battered walking boots and her wand to cast a warming charm over herself. Following her lead, Charlie did the same and grabbed a soup bowl to put the eggs in.
Once in the barn and shaking off the snow that had fallen on them, Charlie turned to Hermione.
"So then, Hermione. Happy to be back?"
"I think so. I've missed it here" she started, not looking at him but moving the straw that covered the eggs they were looking for. "My work doesn't really let me think about anything but runes, and where to look next". She didn't know why she was telling Charlie, but she was and it felt comfortable for them. Like they always spoke about everything with each other even thought hey barely knew each other.
"What's it like? Being out there?" he asked, a tone of longing in his voice.
"It's incredible" Hermione simply said. It was still too early for deep and meaningful conversations. "But why are you asking me, you've seen it all in Romania?"
"I've seen a hell of a lot of dragon in Romania. I never got the endless treasure hunt you have" Hermione was trying to work out if he was sad or envious.
"Isn't that what you've always wanted? Whenever Ron spoke about you at school he made it sound as though you had your dream job" she asked softly. She didn't know how much she should ask, so she carried on regardless. She liked Charlie and wanted to get to know him more. There was silence as Charlie knelt down and started to load eggs into the bowl.
"It was"
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly, handing him another egg. Again, their hands brushed against each other.
"Not right now" he said softly, staring at the egg in his hand. "I will tell you one day" Hermione smiled at him and put a hand on his arm.
"Come on, I'm bloody starving and you promised me omelette" she said. It earned a laugh and a small shoulder nudge from Charlie as they stood and headed back to the house.
Chaos was the only way to describe the kitchen. It was just past six and everyone apart from Harry and Ginny were awake, even Ron.
"Merry Christmas!" the twins shouted across the kitchen as Hermione and Charlie put the eggs on the table.
"Merry Christmas boys" she replied, smiling at the madness around her. Ron and Arthur were playing with Teddy, trying to stop him opening all of the presents before everyone arrived.
"Harry! Ginny! Get down here!" Bill shouted up the stairs.
"Yeah, Boy Who Lived! Get out of our sister and help Charlie make breakfast!" Fred shouted up after his brother, earning a rap on the arm from his mother armed with a wooden spoon and a laugh from everyone else.
"Fred, why would you say something like that? I've only just got rid of the image I saw when I walked in on them once" Bill added, smiling nonetheless. Hermione really had missed this. Before anymore banter could be thrown around the room, a very sheepish Harry came downstairs, ruffling his hair.
"Merry Christmas Harry" Sirius called over to him. He stopped for a moment, reminded of James when he sheepishly came downstairs after been with Lily all night.
"Harry, my brother in law to be, how are we this fine Christmas morn?" George asked with a mischievous look in his eye.
"Yes, my nearly brother in law. How are we today?" Fred added.
"No." he replied, anticipating a request from one, if not both of them. "Whatever you want, you're not getting it from me"
"What? All I wanted was a kiss under the mistletoe!" Fred said, feigning shock.
"If anyone is kissing Harry under any mistletoe, it'll be me" Ginny called from the staircase, laughing despite herself.
Hermione hugged everyone and wished them all a happy Christmas. The day was a blur of presents and Teddy playing with the box his toy broomstick came in. Food and laughter were top of the agenda, starting out with Charlie and Harry's omelettes.
Christmas was a blur and no one had any time for themselves. Everyone met Ron's new girlfriend, who turned out to be very smart and witty, and totally head over heels in love with Ron. Hermione and Lisa exchanged owl addresses and promised to write and gossip about the boys.
For now...