A/N — Written for Houses [g] themed with the prompt a huge disappointment.

[500]

Everything changed when Bill went to Hogwarts. At first, Charlie had been excited; they'd grown up on stories of the school — how it led to the best people; the best friends; the best adventures — and Bill going just meant Charlie was that much closer to experiencing it for himself.

But, after the first few days of having a room to himself, Charlie was bored. Bill leaving hadn't been at all what he was expecting; his best friend was gone, and there was only so many times he could face having to de-gnome the garden because Mum had caught him saying how he had nothing to do.

So Charlie decided that it was about time he made friends with his other brothers. Ginny was too young, and really so was Ron, but —

"Hey, George!" Charlie called, racing up the stairs and ignoring the yell of "No running!" from the kitchen.

"I'm Fred," the boy said, folding his arms across his chest and glaring.

"No you're not."

"Yes, I —"

"Hey, George!" the other twin leant over the banister above them, grinning and waving a jar of … something.

"Dammit, Fred!"

"Language!" Mum yelled; Charlie honestly had no idea how she managed to know exactly what they were doing at all times. It had never really occurred to him that they were all just very loud children.

"What'd you want, Charlie?" George asked, clearly still a little annoyed. Charlie looked from one twin to the other, before his eyes settled on the jar.

"Nothing," he said. "Never-mind." And, running past them, yelled: "Percy!"

"Is he telling on us?"

"He's telling on us!"

"Shut up, I'm not telling o—"

"Boys!"

Charlie hammered on Percy's door.

"What?" Percy hissed, swinging the door open quickly. He had a battered quill clutched in one hand, and Charlie could see a loose sheet of parchment lying on the bed, the ink still drying.

"What're you doing?" he asked, pushing his way into the room.

"Get out!" Percy tried grabbing Charlie's wrist to stop him, but Charlie just shrugged him off, and dropped down onto the bed on his stomach. It turned out it was actually two sheets of parchment, stacked on top of each other. Letters, though only one was completed.

"Bill wrote you?" Charlie asked, all traces of humour gone.

"Uhm …"

"Whatever," Charlie huffed, rolling off the bed and bounding for the door. "I don't care. Was gonna ask if you wanted to do something actually interesting, but you're busy." He shrugged and left.

Close to tears, Charlie slunk into the living room, hoping no one would notice that he was sitting around and not doing anything; well, okay, hoping his mum wouldn't notice. He didn't really feel like doing chores right now — even more so than usual, that is.

It just wasn't fair. He wanted his best friend back. They'd already had the best adventures, right here at home; how could Hogwarts beat that?

But Bill had ruined it all in less than a week.