Reality

This is in response to The Charlie Weasley challenge on HPFF challenges forum. I created an OC in another challenge response that I've used for this challenge too.

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I sat for a long time, I'd read every sodding magazine in the building. I'd re read every book I owned, which were about Quidditch or Dragons. I'd talked to every member of my family about everything but what had happened, I was sick and tired of the sighs and veiled looks. I was going back.

I knew that the announcement that I was going back to Romania would simply freak everyone out, especially mum, I considered taking her to St Mungo's to tell her, so they could revive her when she collapsed from hyperventilating. I didn't know how I was going to tell them all, I had a fair idea of the reactions. Mum would probably confound me so I couldn't go. Dad would look worried and chew his already non existent nails even further. Bill, well he'd do the older brother talk thing, rather like the one he'd made me sit through when he brought me home, battered and burnt from Romania. Percy was a non starter; he'd probably come up with a load of statistics about Dragons and death, and then shrug and say it was my life. The twins would probably bring some light relief from the doom and gloom, demanding to hear the story behind my injuries again, and generally acting like well, the twins. Ron, now he would go one of two ways, he'd either shout and sulk or ignore the fact completely and I expected Ginny's reaction to be rather like my mothers. Ginny had barely left my bedside since Bill had half carried; half dragged me back into the Burrow. Her and mum had fought endlessly over who could tend to me, bring me soup and spread the horrible gunk prescribed by the Mediwitch, on my cuts and burns.

Then there was the reaction of those back in Romania, Rute, my best mate over there was the only one who knew I wanted to go back and start working again, but even he didn't know the true reasons why. We'd written via owl several times when I'd been able to hold a pen again, and he'd been as Rute generally was, outspoken to the point of downright rude. When I'd written that I wanted to come back to the Reserve and continue working with Dragons, he'd asked me, and I quote 'Why the fuck would you do that?' I pondered his question again, as I had done hundreds of times since I received his letter. I'd told Rute that I needed to get back to my life, that there was nothing here really for me, this was my childhood home, I was an adult and I needed to get back to the niche that I'd carved for myself in Romania. What I didn't tell him was that I needed to get back to Rosie, even Rute with his open minded attitude, would think I'd lost the plot and needed to be committed as a mental patient there and then.

If I told my family the real reason I wanted to go back, they would certainly tie me to the bed and incapacitate me in every way possible, but I had to go, she was there and I had to work this out, I had to try and make it right again.

I pulled out the parchment I kept under my bed and started to write again, I knew deep down that Rosie probably wouldn't get this, that she'd never read what I wrote to her but I had to try. Just like I had to go back to Romania and find her and sort this mess out.

Rosie,

Mum is still driving me mad, I'm almost healed but I'm barely allowed out of bed. I'm sure you can imagine, I've told you enough about what she's like haven't I? The big scar on my chest is doing well, with that gunk the Mediwitch forced on me, tell me, why do you healers insist that the most disgusting stuff works the best? It's like having vomit on my chest twice a day.

I love you and I miss you and I'll be back soon.

Charlie

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"ARTHUR!" my ears were still sensitive from the damage they had sustained and my mothers screech had just reminded me of such.

"Merlin Mum!" I protested.

She merely glared at me from across the kitchen table as Dad appeared in the doorway, looking flustered and tired as usual.

"Have you heard this nonsense?" she demanded, without giving him chance to answer she ploughed on "Romania, he's going back! He shouldn't be out of bed yet, but here he is, telling me he's going back to work with those things and I'm supposed to let him?!"

"Molly…." Dad started to be shouted down again.

"I mean what in the name of Merlin is he thinking? He's only nineteen, only been in the job two years, it's not like he's in a life long career. Can't you get him a job at the Ministry with you? The creatures department?" I opened my mouth as she paused for breath, but got cut off by another wave of motherly hysteria "Well, you could, couldn't you Arthur? Or he could work at Gringotts with Bill; he's always been good with spells. No, there's no need for him to go back to Romania and those flaming Dragons!" It seemed the pun she had unintentionally said went unnoticed by both of them, I waited a spilt second to ensure she'd finished this time and said my piece.

"I am here you know" I said, but she continued to gaze at Dad, and he continued to mouth without actually speaking. Something he did when he was cornered and didn't know what to say. A trait that I hadn't noticed that he had until Rosie had pointed out that I had it too. That every time she managed to corner me with something I did exactly what Dad was doing now. Rosie laughed when I did it; it diffused what usually had the potential to be a major row with us into silly giggles, not so with Mum and Dad.

"I have a life in Romania" I said firmly "And I am an adult"

"A life?" Ah, seems she had finally realised I was here "Your life was nearly ended! Or have you forgotten?"

"Of course I haven't!" I snapped, Merlin, how could I? The scars were evident to see, and everything still hurt, the large scar on my chest felt itchy, the gouges out of my legs were healed, as were the bones beneath, yet the skin was still tight and bothered me. As for my face, the Mediwitch had managed to heal that without it scarring badly, but I knew they were there, and somehow they bothered me more than any of the other injuries. Not to mention the actual memories of the event, they were deeper than any other scars.

"Then why Charlie?" her shoulders slumped and she all but fell into a chair "Why would you go back there?"

"I didn't die, and now I have to go on, Dragons are the only thing I want to do, and Romania has the best selection and conditions of anywhere" and it has Rosie I silently added. If I voiced that there was no way I'd be going anywhere, they'd see to that.

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I wrote to Rosie again when I was finally allowed out of my parents sight, I could just imagine her response at me making Errol fly all that way as I'd sent my own owl over with my earlier letter. She felt sorry for the stupid old bird who always managed to somehow fly into anything stationary and would hurt, and she'd be a bit annoyed that I hadn't waited for my own owl, Snitch (she teased me mercilessly about his name) to return.

Hey,

Before you start Errol is fine to fly all this way, he might be getting on but he's reliable, sort of. I've told mum and dad I'm coming home tomorrow, I'm fine to floo now, all the scars are just about healed, but Mum hit the roof as predicted. She'll get over it, but I'm not going to hang around and wait until she does, so I'll be back late tomorrow. Merlin I miss you, it seems like forever since I last saw you.

Love you

Charlie.

I watched Errol fly off into the distance, narrowly missing one of those metal pythons that muggles carry their elektricty on, stupid bird. I made my way back upstairs and packed the few things I had brought; or rather Bill had packed for me. I was sure he must have been drunk when he stopped by the hut to collect some stuff for me to come home with, I mean the t shirts he packed didn't even fit anymore and as my work robes had been burnt to a crisp, he'd brought my dress robes, and my old Hogwarts Quidditch robes, where in Heavens name did he think I would be going? Although I suppose he had been quite worried at the time, he'd told me that as they couldn't reach mum and dad, the reserve had contacted him through the bank, to say that I had been badly hurt and they needed a family member immediately. He'd come out straight away, and sat by my bed for two days until I was fit enough to travel back to England.

And now I was recovered and going back, back to work, back to my friends, and back to Rosie. At last I could sort this damn mess out, I knew that there was a chance that she wouldn't be there, she'd have gone, but as she wasn't here and I needed her, I had to try. I think even bill would have balked if I'd told him I was going back to her, he'd never understand, how could he? And I wasn't about to start explaining.

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