Despite the misleading title, the main charecter of this piece is Charlie Weasley. But worry not, Remus fans! He appears in a vital role later in the story, along with everybody's favorite shapeshifting crimefighter, Tonks. Now that your worries are gone, on with the show!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
How High the Moon
(Formerly titled 'Tears of Heaven')
.ψ.
Prologue: Spectator Sport
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
"William Abeus Monfred Weasley!"
The shrill cry rang out in the hospital room like the oft quoted 'shot heard round the world'.
Charlie, who had long since grown used to his mother's antics, merely peered at his brother over the top of his copy of the Daily Prophet.
Only two days after Professor Dumbledore's funeral, Bill's condition had relapsed and he had been rushed back to St. Mungo's as his face began to bleed at an alarming rate. Yet despite their best attempts, the healers were at their wits' ends for a cure, and Bill could not move his lips to speak without opening fresh gashes between his scars.
The bed ridden man threw him a secret wink before rolling his eyes and beginning to scratch something out on a sheet of parchment in response to their mother's cry.
-I'm going to try it.-
Family arguments are a lot like a good Quidditch game, Charlie decided as he settled back in with his paper, keeping one eye one the unfolding match in front of him. He had always preferred to keep amused by running a silent commentary of the plays rather than join in.
"Bill, you will do no such thing! Do you hear me young man?" Began his mum, coming out early with a strong offense.
"Bill, are you sure dat zat es a good idea?" interjected his soon-to-be sister-in-law, pouting and looking slightly too attractive to be his brother's fiancé.
-Can't get married if I'm still stuck in here, can we?-
"I will make eet 'apun anywhere, if you are there." Fleur grumbled, slowly but surely losing ground as Bill made eyes at her.
Bill had always been the most persuasive of all his brothers, and she had never really stood a chance against such an excellent offence.
"Now Molly, honestly dear, the boy's a grown man."
Charlie couldn't help but smile as Mr. Weasley made a valiant effort using diversionary tactics. Much as he loved his dad, it was as plain as the freckles on his face that it was up to Bill to win this game on his own.
"Grown Man? Pah!"
"Uv course my Bill is a man!"
Charlie gave a little inward cheer, knowing that his brother had just succeeded in turning the tides of the match. With Fleur on his side, he might just stand a chance of getting his way.
"Molly, he'll never be happy if we don't let him make his own choices!"
"Of course he'll be happy! All men are happy when left to their own devices. Ignorance is bliss!"
"I resent that!" Cried his father, raising a gangly finger in indignation.
He found himself snorting despite the stinging blow to his gender. Mum could certainly put some whollop behind those buldgers when she was determined. Charlie was more than happy to observe and laugh, glad not to be in the path of the storm.
"Now wait zust a minute! My Bill, 'e has brains for a undred men."
Mrs. Weasley shot her a withering look that would have made a charging hippogryph cower, and continued on. Fleur, finally seeing the futility of her shrieking, timidly sat back down next to his brother.
"I'm sure you would. Who are you to be sticking your nose in medical business again, any how? After that nonsense with those … those … stitches!" She began to swell with every word, red and fiery as any dragon Charlie had ever seen.
In fact, given the choice of faceing one of the two, he would have picked the dragon any day.
Thus, in his heart, Charlie was quite content to ponder the action, and did not envy Bill his trouble. Trying to sway his mother from a decision was like trying to breed a housebroken horntail. God just did not intend for certain feats to ever be achieved by mere mortal man.
Yet even in the humor of the moment, he could not help but feel a small surge of jealousy, not just of Bill, but of his parents as well. Bill and Fleur, Mum and Dad, -flustered and grouchy though they were- had someone to fight with. Charlie knew in his heart of hearts that it was not just Fleur's undeniable charm that had him in a sad state of loneliness. It seemed as though the entire world around him had begun to pair off, comforting each other and taking strength in those they loved as uncertainty grew closer. Even his little brother and sister had found someone.
"After all," he mused as a charmed bedpan flew through the air, a victim of the quickly escalating war, "what's the fun of playing the game without another team to fight?"
Bill's scratching pen broke his thoughts as the source of the entire trouble stood in the doorway and stopped dead.
Charlie looked up to see a very familiar pair of eyes.
"Long time no see, huh?"
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.ψ.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Authoress's Notes: The story title is inspired by a wonderful song called 'How High the Moon?', which was made famous by one of my favorite singers, Ella Fitzgerald. The lyrics are as follows:
Somewhere there's music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there's heaven
How high the moon
There is no moon above
When love is far away too
Till it comes true
That you love me as I love you
Somewhere there's music
How near, how far
Somewhere there's heaven
It's where you are
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon
As with any author/authoress, I adore comments and constructive criticism, and I am most motivated to write when told that people are interested in what I'm doing. If you like what you've read, a few moments of your time to comment would be deeply appreciated. If not, then thank you for reading any how.