The first time it happens is on a clear and crisp winter morning just days before Christmas. They're all gathered under the tent in the garden, a warming spell melting the snow underneath it, since the Burrow is now too small to hold everyone.
One moment, Charlie is laughing as George recounts one of his many tales of testing gone wrong, and the next, a bee stings Freddy, who immediately starts crying. All focus shifts towards his nephew and Angelina quickly steps forward to cast a quick healing spell on the two year old's face. All Charlie can think of is the blond Healer that's stayed on the Reserve for Christmas; there's a part of him that's worried that Draco'll be lonely during the holiday. There's a pang in his heart at the thought, and he thinks maybe his feelings run a little deeper than he originally thought.
The next moment, he coughs and coughs and coughs until a single emerald green petal falls onto the ground. He can't take his eyes off the petal—it looks to be from one of narcissus flowers that bloom in spring. Everyone knows that when they acknowledge their love for someone else, the flowers in their lungs start to bloom and grow until either their love is returned or they die of suffocation.
For the longest time, Charlie never thought it would happen to him, being too caught up in his dragons to worry about love. But he thinks of the man who has been working relentlessly with him for months to regain mobility in his right arm after a Vipertooth bite him, who has shared his frustrations and celebrated his triumphs too, and he can only smile. Draco Malfoy is not what he expected, but he doesn't disappoint either.
"Oh Charlie."
His mother's soft voice brings him out of his thoughts. When he looks up at her, there's tears glistening in her eyes. It almost feels like an illusion until she said something. He picks the flower petal up from the ground and puts it into his pocket for safe keeping. He flashes her a fugacious smile.
"I'm fine, Mum."
It looks like there's a million questions she wants to ask him, before she settles on, "How long?"
"It just started," he answers softly.
She pats his cheek gently. She sounds reassuring when she says, "You still have plenty of time, then."
His lungs ache, and he wonders if it's a feeling he needs to get used to. He hopes not. "Yeah, I've got time."
The sun is shining; Victoire and Dominique chase Freddy and James around the garden, their shrieks of delight echoing, while his siblings and parents chat amongst each other, smiles on their faces. And all Charlie can think of is that it's a terrible day to realize that he might die.
He can get them removed—the narcissus growing in his lungs—but then he'll never remember what it's feels like to love Draco. That's not something he's willing to do. He'd rather die knowing what it's like to love someone so much that it kills him than have the proof of his love removed.
That's a matter for when the weather isn't as beautiful as it is today. He tugs at the sleeve of his jumper and wills away any remaining thought about his predicament. He takes off after Dominique, who laughs brightly as she runs away from him, and ignores the pain in his lungs as he inhales.
He's going to enjoy his holiday. Then he's going home to attempt to woo the socks off Draco, because he's never had a fear he hasn't faced head-on. He can only hope that there's flowers growing in Draco's lungs too.
Hogwarts, assignment 5, Charms, Task 12: Mimble Wimble: Write about a story with the setting: bright, sunny day
Flowers: Sunflower - (creature) Bee
Gryffindors: Charlie Weasley
Buttons: O4 - Jumper
Lo's: C2 - Occupation: Healer
Insane: 398. Word - Fugacious - (Fleeting)
365: 350. Word - Illusion
