House: Gryffindor
Category: Short
Prompt: He looked down at what was left of their money - fifteen galleons and twenty-five knuts
Word Count: 530
He looked down at what was left of their money - fifteen galleons and twenty-five knuts. It would be just enough.
Charlie Weasley loved his family. There was no doubt in his mind that he would go to the ends of the earth for any of them if needed. Even Percy, when he was being his normal prat-like self.
But sometimes they were a little much.
His parents, Arthur and Molly, stretched themselves thin to give him and his siblings the best childhood they could manage. Though they were poor as dirt, they had everything they truly needed. And Charlie loved them for that.
He was the second oldest of seven children. Growing up in such a large family had natural led to factions amongst the siblings.
Charlie had always been closest to Bill, who was two years his senior. Growing up, they'd been the adventurers of the family- always wanting to explore the wild fields surrounding The Burrow and make up crazy stories about beasts and curses upon the land.
Percy was three years his junior. He and Bill had tolerated Percy tagging along on their exploits, but Percy never fit in. He had always been more reserved and questioning, while the older boys could be a bit reckless in their play.
Next were Fred and George, the twins and jokesters of the large brood. Charlie appreciated them for the levity they could bring to most any situation, but sometimes their pranks could be trying. Especially when Charlie was unfairly blamed for them.
The last brother was Ron. Ickle Ronniekins was only four years old when Charlie had left for Hogwarts. Charlie watched as he desperately tried to emulate himself and Bill. How Ron tried to tag along with the twins, but was left behind. Charlie was relieved when Ron finally started at Hogwarts and found Harry Potter.
The last sibling was Ginny. The baby of the family. The only girl born into the Weasley family in generations. With six older brothers, one might have guessed that she'd grow up to be a pampered princess, but they'd be wrong. Charlie was proud of how resilient his sister was; she could hold her own against almost anyone.
Charlie, upon entering the working world, sent every spare knut back to support his family. His parents tried their hardest, but he knew that what little contributions he could make were much appreciated.
The first time he saw his whole family after starting work in Romania was in the Summer of 1993. His father had won a small sweepstakes prize and taken the family on their first international vacation to visit Bill in Egypt. The sweepstakes funds burned through their pockets quickly until all that remained was fifteen galleons and twenty-five knuts.
Charlie had noticed Ron desperately trying to repair his old wand. The spell-o-taped monstrosity was next to useless, but Ron was too proud to speak up. So Charlie took matters into his own hands.
Before returning to Romania, he escorted his youngest brother to Ollivander's to purchase a new wand. Charlie willingly exchanged the last of his funds for his brother's happiness and returned to Romania with empty pockets once more.