Charlie Meets A Stranger.
Chapter One
Charlie decided to wait in the muggle coffee house until it was time for him to catch the train. Every table was taken. He had been fortunate to grab the last one. A muggle woman who looked to be in her early to mid thirties strode up to the counter. She was pudgy with short brown curly hair, and green eyes. "Tea please. Medium." Was all she said to the girl behind the counter. She paid her and then looked around for an empty table.
Charlie felt embarrassed about his slip in manners, and piped up "You can come and sit with me if you want." The young lady looked relieved. "Thank you. I think I shall!" She put her duffle bag down by her feet, and a book she had been carrying on the table in front of her. Charlie looked at the cover. 'A Guide To Reading Aura's' By Newt Bringim. 'Unusual reading for a muggle.' Charlie thought.
As if she read Charlie's' mind she said, "Just a hobby of mine. I've had the gift of seeing them since I was seven." Charlie offered his hand to her. "Charles Weasely, but everyone just calls me Charlie." She smiled. 'She has a nice smile thought Charlie. She took his hand and clasped it. "Nice to meet you Charlie. My name is Valerie Rune. You waiting to catch the train as well?" Charlie laughed. "Me and about half a dozen other people in this shop. Your accent is different. Where do you come from?" Valerie took a sip of her tea. "From no where around here. I hale from Canada. Southern Ontario to be exact."
Charlie was floored. "No kidding. What are you up here for? It can't be the weather!" Valerie laughed. "Believe me. It's better than at home. I come to meet my younger cousin. She's getting married tomorrow. She told me the address, but I just can't seem to find it on the map. She's getting married at a place called The Borough."
Charlie almost had a heart attack rite there. "Are you related to Hermione Granger?" He blurted. Valerie smiled. "Distantly. A cousin of mine is a cousin of hers I believe. We met would you believe it at a wedding." Charlie laughed. "Valerie. You are not going to believe this but it is my youngest brother your cousin is marrying. Not only can I show you where the borough is on a map, I can take you there. That's were I'm headed."
Valerie felt a sigh of relief escape her. She had worried about how she would get there. She knew the people were different. Wizards to be exact. Hermione had confided in her halfway into her first year at Hogwarts. The school she went to. She had trusted Valerie, because even though Valerie wasn't a witch like she was, there was something different about her. She could see auras and was knowledgeable about herbs. "Excellent! I'll take you up on your offer. I'm hopeless with directions. Your roads are all backwards here!" Valerie teased. Charlie grinned and said, "Well then! Shall we leave? The train will be arriving in twenty minutes." "Lead on McDuff!" Was Valerie's reply.
The train trip was too short in Charlie's opinion. It turned out Valerie was only two years older than Charlie. She had turned thirty-six only two months before Hermione's twenty seventh birthday. Charlie was amazed at how similar their interests were. Charlie treated large animals. Valerie treated large animals. Only none of the animals Valerie treated were magical. Valerie volunteered at the Toronto zoo in her spare time. Her favorites were the Siberian tiger and Cheetahs. Before they even knew it, they had arrived.
Charlie helped Valerie off of the train. Disregarding her protests he carried her bags to the outside of the station. "Our ride will be along shortly." Charlie assured Valerie, as he led her to a bench not far away. He put their luggage down beside the bench and together they sat to wait grinning at each other.
Charlie told Valerie about his other siblings, caricaturing them perfectly. Valerie was laughing so hard at his rendition of Percy, she almost peed herself.
Charlie looked at her face. There definitely was something special about her. The more he talked to her, the more he wanted to get close to her. He'd never felt so alive in the presence of another person in his entire life. He was happy to hear that she would be sharing a room with Hermione. He would have a whole weekend to spend in her company. They were laughing over one of the pranks Fred and George had pulled on Percy, when Arthur and Molly Weasely arrived. They were laughing so hard, that Arthur Weasely had to clear his throat to get Charlie's attention. "Oh! Hello mum. Hello dad. This is Valerie. Hermione's cousin.
Molly smiled and took her hand in greeting. "Hermione told me all about you. She and her parents are at the house now. I am sure she will be anxious to see you." Valerie smiled. "I'm anxious to see her as well. I haven't seen her in over three years."
The Weaseley's lead her to a black VW. Mr. Weasely put their luggage in the trunk and they all squeezed in. "When did you get the new car dad?" Asked Charlie. Mr. Weasely grinned. "I bought it off of old Mr. McFearlain two months ago. I've already got it mostly tricked out." Molly winced. Charlie laughed. His father would never change.
As soon as they were out of site, Arthur hit the invisibility button. Once that was done, he pushed another and the car went up vertically. Valerie was impressed. It kind of reminded her of riding in a plane with no wings. The ride only took about twenty minutes and then they were descending to land neatly in front of the borough.
Under the incredulous eyes of Molly and Arthur Weasely, Charlie carried Valerie's things into Ginny's old room. He left her there and came down to collect his own. He would be sharing with Bill once he arrived. He was just reaching for his bag when his father put his hand on his shoulder. "Son. Can I have a word with you? Outside?" Charlie looked at his father. His father looked at him. Arthur could tell there was an attraction between his son and Hermione's cousin. "You do realize that there could be repercussions if you get involved with that girl!" Charlie instinctively got defensive. "We're just friends dad. We're not involved. Yet!" Charlie grinned. Arthur put his face in his hands. "Just be careful! I can sense what is going on between the two of you. Believe it or not it's very similar to what went on between your mother and I before we got hitched."
Arthur's face turned pink. He could just imagine the two of them struggling to make ends meet, and seven kids between them. Charlie grinned mischievously. "Don't worry dad. If anything serious does look like it's going to happen I know just the charm to keep any repercussions from happening." Arthur looked ready to faint. Charlie ducked out of the room with his luggage and a big grin on his face, and headed upstairs.
Chapter One
Charlie decided to wait in the muggle coffee house until it was time for him to catch the train. Every table was taken. He had been fortunate to grab the last one. A muggle woman who looked to be in her early to mid thirties strode up to the counter. She was pudgy with short brown curly hair, and green eyes. "Tea please. Medium." Was all she said to the girl behind the counter. She paid her and then looked around for an empty table.
Charlie felt embarrassed about his slip in manners, and piped up "You can come and sit with me if you want." The young lady looked relieved. "Thank you. I think I shall!" She put her duffle bag down by her feet, and a book she had been carrying on the table in front of her. Charlie looked at the cover. 'A Guide To Reading Aura's' By Newt Bringim. 'Unusual reading for a muggle.' Charlie thought.
As if she read Charlie's' mind she said, "Just a hobby of mine. I've had the gift of seeing them since I was seven." Charlie offered his hand to her. "Charles Weasely, but everyone just calls me Charlie." She smiled. 'She has a nice smile thought Charlie. She took his hand and clasped it. "Nice to meet you Charlie. My name is Valerie Rune. You waiting to catch the train as well?" Charlie laughed. "Me and about half a dozen other people in this shop. Your accent is different. Where do you come from?" Valerie took a sip of her tea. "From no where around here. I hale from Canada. Southern Ontario to be exact."
Charlie was floored. "No kidding. What are you up here for? It can't be the weather!" Valerie laughed. "Believe me. It's better than at home. I come to meet my younger cousin. She's getting married tomorrow. She told me the address, but I just can't seem to find it on the map. She's getting married at a place called The Borough."
Charlie almost had a heart attack rite there. "Are you related to Hermione Granger?" He blurted. Valerie smiled. "Distantly. A cousin of mine is a cousin of hers I believe. We met would you believe it at a wedding." Charlie laughed. "Valerie. You are not going to believe this but it is my youngest brother your cousin is marrying. Not only can I show you where the borough is on a map, I can take you there. That's were I'm headed."
Valerie felt a sigh of relief escape her. She had worried about how she would get there. She knew the people were different. Wizards to be exact. Hermione had confided in her halfway into her first year at Hogwarts. The school she went to. She had trusted Valerie, because even though Valerie wasn't a witch like she was, there was something different about her. She could see auras and was knowledgeable about herbs. "Excellent! I'll take you up on your offer. I'm hopeless with directions. Your roads are all backwards here!" Valerie teased. Charlie grinned and said, "Well then! Shall we leave? The train will be arriving in twenty minutes." "Lead on McDuff!" Was Valerie's reply.
The train trip was too short in Charlie's opinion. It turned out Valerie was only two years older than Charlie. She had turned thirty-six only two months before Hermione's twenty seventh birthday. Charlie was amazed at how similar their interests were. Charlie treated large animals. Valerie treated large animals. Only none of the animals Valerie treated were magical. Valerie volunteered at the Toronto zoo in her spare time. Her favorites were the Siberian tiger and Cheetahs. Before they even knew it, they had arrived.
Charlie helped Valerie off of the train. Disregarding her protests he carried her bags to the outside of the station. "Our ride will be along shortly." Charlie assured Valerie, as he led her to a bench not far away. He put their luggage down beside the bench and together they sat to wait grinning at each other.
Charlie told Valerie about his other siblings, caricaturing them perfectly. Valerie was laughing so hard at his rendition of Percy, she almost peed herself.
Charlie looked at her face. There definitely was something special about her. The more he talked to her, the more he wanted to get close to her. He'd never felt so alive in the presence of another person in his entire life. He was happy to hear that she would be sharing a room with Hermione. He would have a whole weekend to spend in her company. They were laughing over one of the pranks Fred and George had pulled on Percy, when Arthur and Molly Weasely arrived. They were laughing so hard, that Arthur Weasely had to clear his throat to get Charlie's attention. "Oh! Hello mum. Hello dad. This is Valerie. Hermione's cousin.
Molly smiled and took her hand in greeting. "Hermione told me all about you. She and her parents are at the house now. I am sure she will be anxious to see you." Valerie smiled. "I'm anxious to see her as well. I haven't seen her in over three years."
The Weaseley's lead her to a black VW. Mr. Weasely put their luggage in the trunk and they all squeezed in. "When did you get the new car dad?" Asked Charlie. Mr. Weasely grinned. "I bought it off of old Mr. McFearlain two months ago. I've already got it mostly tricked out." Molly winced. Charlie laughed. His father would never change.
As soon as they were out of site, Arthur hit the invisibility button. Once that was done, he pushed another and the car went up vertically. Valerie was impressed. It kind of reminded her of riding in a plane with no wings. The ride only took about twenty minutes and then they were descending to land neatly in front of the borough.
Under the incredulous eyes of Molly and Arthur Weasely, Charlie carried Valerie's things into Ginny's old room. He left her there and came down to collect his own. He would be sharing with Bill once he arrived. He was just reaching for his bag when his father put his hand on his shoulder. "Son. Can I have a word with you? Outside?" Charlie looked at his father. His father looked at him. Arthur could tell there was an attraction between his son and Hermione's cousin. "You do realize that there could be repercussions if you get involved with that girl!" Charlie instinctively got defensive. "We're just friends dad. We're not involved. Yet!" Charlie grinned. Arthur put his face in his hands. "Just be careful! I can sense what is going on between the two of you. Believe it or not it's very similar to what went on between your mother and I before we got hitched."
Arthur's face turned pink. He could just imagine the two of them struggling to make ends meet, and seven kids between them. Charlie grinned mischievously. "Don't worry dad. If anything serious does look like it's going to happen I know just the charm to keep any repercussions from happening." Arthur looked ready to faint. Charlie ducked out of the room with his luggage and a big grin on his face, and headed upstairs.