Title: Love Again
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Charlie/Fleur
Warnings: past character death
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 497
Summary: Fleur doesn't know what she would have done without Charlie

Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Advent Calendar - For Sophie (Screaming Faeries)

Hogwarts Writing Club: Writing Club - Forgotten Characters - Charlie Weasley

Fic Title Prompt Competition: Why Momentarily


Momentarily, Fleur wondered how this could have happened. She wondered why this happened. Her and Bill had been newly married. He wasn't supposed to die in the final battle, even if it was to protect Fred. They were supposed to have many, many years together. They were supposed to have a family and be deliriously happy until the day they died.

Now, that future was never going to happen.

Charlie's arms were wrapped around her waist as she cried by the gravesite. He was a comforting presence even though he didn't say anything. He was just there.


Fleur tried to take care of herself, but she found herself simply not caring about basic things like food and sleep.

That was why she was lucky Charlie was there.

He made sure she ate. He made sure she cleaned herself. He made sure she laid down in her bed and slept. If he hadn't been there, she might have died from simple starvation.

Charlie never asked for anything in return. He was just there. Always there.


Fleur didn't know when her feelings began to change. She knew that she was young, and she might eventually fall in love with another man. She wasn't naive to believe that Bill had been 'it' for her.

Still, she hadn't expected that her heart would start beating faster for Charlie. She might have felt guilty about falling in love, but she would have dealt with it. How could she deal with falling in love with Bill's brother, though?

Wasn't that the worst betrayal? Wasn't that like spitting on Bill's memory?

What would Charlie say if he knew?


They didn't talk when Charlie came to see her. It was three years since the final battle. Three years since Bill's death.

Charlie's blue eyes—a shade lighter than Bill's—looked deeply into her own eyes, as if he was peering into her soul.

Charlie obviously saw something because he leaned forward and kissed her.

Fleur's spine stiffened, but she couldn't hold back, not when this was what she had been dreaming about for nearly eight months. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around Charlie's neck, and returned the kiss.

Her passion matched Charlie's perfectly.

When he pulled back and the heat began to die, reality came crashing down, and Fleur felt like the guilt was going to swallow her whole.

"Don't," Charlie gruffly ordered.

"Bill—"

"Is dead," Charlie interrupted. "And I know my big brother. He would want you to move on with someone that loves you. Someone that treasures you. Someone who knows how wonderful you are. And that someone is me. He wouldn't want you to say no due to feelings of guilt. He'd want you to be happy."

Charlie was right. Bill would want all of those things, and she knew Charlie would treat her well. He had Bill's heart after all.

Instead of answering verbally, she leaned forward and kissed him.

Charlie returned it.

Answer given.