Chapter 1
The dragon reserve had been Charlie Weasley's home for close to a decade, it was hard thinking that he had to leave for the war. But he was finally back and happier than ever to return to the chaos that was dragon taming.
After the Battle of Hogwarts, Charlie had stayed with his parents for a little bit helping to clean up the mess and pick up the pieces. George wouldn't go into the old room he shared with Fred in the Burrow and there was no way any of the boys were letting Molly do it. So Charlie had taken up the task of packing up his lost brothers things, trying to figure out what could be tossed and what George might want to keep. Charlie did find a photograph of he and the twins when they came to visit Romania for a weekend and silently pocketed it.
I was away for so long, I missed so much. And now here I am packing up my dead brothers things.
"Uhm, Charlie?" A small voice came from the doorway, obviously not trying to startle him or snap him out of his thoughts but still trying to get the attention of the redhead on the floor. "Your mum says dinner's almost ready."
"Thanks Hermione." With a nod the witch closed the door behind her, obviously trying to keep anyone else from looking into the room. She had probably volunteered to tell Charlie that he was wanted downstairs so that none of the Weasley's had to face it.
Selfless that one is. She had given up everything for her friends, and was always willing to keep giving to help them. Her parents had gone to Australia with no recollection of her whatsoever and then moved on from there, but no one knew where they had gone and so Hermione Granger was without a family.
Of course the Weasley's couldn't let that happen, so she was staying in Bill's old room in the Burrow, being fattened up by Molly's cooking and interrogated on muggle things from Arthur. But mostly she was still helping keep their minds off of Fred and of George's absence.
The war hadn't been great to any of them, but Hermione looked frailer than he had ever seen her. Thin to the point of breaking in half from a hug, and so tired. She was always stealing away for naps in the middle of the day, and it was starting to worry everyone. Ron and Harry had immediately been offered positions in the auror's office after Voldemort had been defeated, Hermione too but she had declined. She was done looking for trouble and didn't want to hunt down evil any more.
"So Hermione, what are you thinking of doing job wise?" Charlie asked when he had finally made his way down to the kitchen for dinner.
"I'm not really sure yet. I was thinking of training to be a healer." Always trying to save people.
"Well if you'd like, when I go back to Romania in a couple of weeks, you could come along and see if the type of healing on the reserve is anything you'd enjoy. It's nothing terrible," He gave a pointed look at his mum. "But it's still interesting. And plus you get to see dragons!"
The brunette smiled from across the table. "I'll be honest; I've never really known much about dragons. I researched them a bit for Harry during the Triwizard Tournament but that's about all I know."
"Perfect, it'll be a learning experience then!" Trying to get someone excited about dragons as much as Charlie Weasley was a difficult task, but intriguing Hermione Granger on the prospect of learning something new was always simple. "It does sound fun…"
Charlie didn't let her finish. "It's settled then. Come with me, stay for a week or two and if you don't like it you don't have to stay any longer."
Molly and Arthur both nodded their approval. They had always worried about Hermione, but everyone agreed that she needed to get out of the bloody house.
"Alright, when do you leave?"
And just like that Charlie was taking someone back to Romania with him.
"We have to make sure you're back to a healthy weight by then dear," Molly Weasley cooed running around fixing Hermione breakfast the next morning and slyly adding a potion to help her keep the weight on. "We can't have you trying to see a dragon and turn into dust, now can we?"
"Molly I don't think Hermione is going to get herself burnt to a crisp by a dragon. And besides, Charlie wouldn't let that happen to her."
"Only for the fear of returning home and being murdered in my sleep by mum." The old quidditch jersey was faded and worn, the shorts battered but Charlie Weasley was never one to get dressed up for breakfast when it was only his parents and one other person. He figured Hermione had seen a sleepy Ron enough while at Hogwarts to know what a Weasley looked like when they just woke up. Although the thought of it did bother him a bit, he realized that they had camped out for a year together seeing all three of them in every form.
"And you remember that Charles Weasley, if any harm comes to this sweet girl while she's at that blasted reserve of yours…" Molly didn't have to go on, the look she had given her son was enough for him to throw his hands in the air with defeat.
"It's not as if I'm going to take her into a dragon enclosure or anything mum, I'm going to show her around and then let her see what types of healing we need. Not that we need much of it." Covering his tracks he tried to make sure that his mother never worried, dragon taming was a very dangerous job of course and Molly Weasley knew that, but it was nice to remind her that he was in capable hands and was safe. Realizing it didn't work Charlie went for the Ron approach and started shoveling food into his mouth.
"Hermione dear I think you might need a few more things before you leave, why don't you and Charlie go to Diagon Alley this afternoon and he can help you find what you'll need for your trip."
"That sounds fun, would you be ok with that Charlie?"
"Absolutely, just let me get showered and presentable." Inspecting the small brunette Charlie realized that she was already clothed and freshened up. A pair of dark jeans and crimson tee shirt allowing her collar bones to seem more prominent, but being able to cover them up with her hair which was cascading down her back in waves.
In only fifteen minutes Charlie was showered, shaved, and dressed. Khaki shorts and a beat up tee shirt was what he felt most comfortable in, and he didn't think that Hermione would mind much if that's what he wore today. Making way down to the sitting room he found his parents having a cup of tea and reading the Daily Prophet.
"Where's Hermione?"
"In the garden dear."
Saying good bye to the both of them he went to retrieve Hermione from under the big oak tree.
"Ready to go?" Holding out a hand to help her stand Charlie smiled. "I almost hated disturbing you, you seemed so relaxed."
Hermione gave a small smile, not fully understanding how sad she had seemed to everyone else. "We'll apparate there, meet you in front of Gringott's? I've got to get some money out." With that the pair of them disapparated and reappeared directly in front of the giant marble bank. Although Hermione had been a main part in the banks destruction they had rebuilt at an amazing pace allowing for the bank to continue functioning. But, she wasn't very well received by the goblins anymore. Luckily for her, Bill happened to be working that day and was able to help them.
"What's up Char?" He asked thumping his brother on the back and leaning down to kiss Hermione's cheek. "Hermione, lovely as ever." The oldest Weasley's smile caused his scars to wrinkle a bit more, but it happened to make women swoon after Bill more than ever. He was loving the attention he was getting especially after Fleur had left.
After catching up for a bit the pair left the bank, Hermione's purse filled with coins so she could purchase everything she would need.
"Romania is very sunny and dry, we only get about three centimeters of rain a year but even when it does rain the sun evaporates it almost immediately. Good thing is it's not humid at all which helps when it comes to the heat. Because it's not humid we don't get many people down with heat related problems, unless of course it's from a dragon's fire."
They went into a clothing shop and purchased a few shirts for Hermione to wear. Light weight shirts, some long sleeved and others sleeveless. Next were a couple pairs of shorts and some boots. After Charlie was happy with their purchases they moved on to the next shop. Making their way down the Alley they finally happened on Flourish and Blott's.
"Do you mind if we stop in here for a moment? I'd like to get a couple of books on dragons so I can read about them."
Dragons were Charlie's favorite thing in the world next to his family, he was always happy when someone else showed that same interest. Following Hermione through the aisles picking up one or two books on healing and a few more on dragons of the world, she was satisfied and they left.
"The rest of things that you'll need are really just your wand and maybe a notebook to write notes down, which I don't think will be an issue from what I've been told about your schooling days." Hermione chuckled, of course her being a bookworm would have been her one attribute from Ron. "Fancy an ice cream?"
The pair sat outside eating their ice cream and making more small talk.
"Why invite me with you?" The question had been burning in Hermione's mind all night, what better time than now?
"Everyone is worried about you, you can't pretend to not notice I see the look in your eyes when you offer to help mum with something and she tells you to relax. But Hermione, you spend all your time at the Burrow, locked away just hoping that you can help in some way. Right now, mum and dad and mourning for Fred, we all are but they are putting on a brave front for everyone. With you there mum feels the need to coddle and cook and act as if nothing's wrong, but she needs to take some time off and relax herself. You as well need to take a vacation of sorts, and I figured that you could come visit Romania where you'll still be with someone you know but you'll also be on an adventure learning something new which is what you really crave."
There was nothing but silence. Hermione knew that Charlie was right and she felt so sad that she hadn't helped Molly like she intended and instead had hurt her even more.
"I…I didn't realize. I'm so sorry."
Charlie reached a calloused hand across the table catching on of Hermione's smaller and softer ones. "Don't be sorry, you did what you thought was necessary but you need to take a breather too. Things were difficult during the war for all of us, but for you especially. I know what Ron is like, I know that you had to keep him in line more than a few times and being held as the smartest witch of your age was probably a lot of pressure on you to figure things out. You need to worry about yourself and get away from Britain for a little while. What better way than to sweep off to a foreign land with a bloke you barely know?"
The joke alleviated the gravity in Charlie's words, but they still hung there and he was still holding onto her hand, drawing small circles above her thumb with his own. Eventually he released it and stood.
"Why don't we stop in at George's shop? See if we can't pick up a few fun pranks to pull while we're on the reserve."
"And check in on George because your mum asked you to."
"Well there's that too."
She really is very bright.
Weasley Wizard Wheeze's was as busy as ever, with a few people in matching magenta robes ran around trying to help as many customers as possible. A pop behind them alerted them to George's arrival.
"And what is my favorite brunette and one of my many older brothers doing here?"
"Hermione's coming to Romania with me, we'll need a few jokes to play while she's there."
George's smile fell for a moment before spreading across his face again. "What are you doing stealing her away to bloody Romania for?"
"I'm going to see how the healers work on the reserve."
"Hermione love, if you need a job you know there's always a spot here for you!"
"I know George, but it's been pointed out to me that I need to get away for a while, clear my head."
Hugging the witch tightly George sighed. "Send me a dragon egg, will you?" Hermione laughed as she hugged George back. "And Charlie I swear on Merlin's pants that if she gets hurt-"
"You might as well save it George, I've already heard it from mum." Stealing a glance at Hermione who was starting to look around the shop, Charlie sighed. "But if it makes you feel better, if she gets hurt while she's there you can hex me all you like."
"Deal."
An hour later the pair stepped out of the fireplace back at the Burrow, Hermione's purse filled with her purchases which she excitedly showed off to Molly.
I'm going to have to put a box around that woman.
A/N: Here is my new Charlie/Hermione fic! I really hope you all enjoy it.