So not sure where this came from. I was just thinking one night about how Charlie doesn't play much of a role in Harry Potter, and about how he shouldn't be so left out and alone. He is such an interesting character! So I started thinking and from those thoughts Aimee and this story were born. I'm trying out a new style with this so be warned, it kind of starts backwards.
The begining of each chapter (unless otherwise noted) will be three years after the war. Each chapter will have at least one flashback in either Charlie's memory(his point of view) or Aimee's memory (her point of view)
Also, I have gotten(and will continue to get) my information from the Harry Potter wiki. So if the ages seem wrong or the times seem wrong that's why. It seems like the most legit way to get dates rather then just guess.
Disclaimer: I own Aimee, Hope, and Eric. Everything else is property of J.k. Rowling
She stared across the street, willing her eyes to shift the scene and make this be a mistake. It had been years since she had seen the man she was eyeballing, but Aimee Trulow would know that orange red haired pony tail anywhere. A part of her was excited to see the man, but a part of her was hesitant. Of course, it had never been in her nature to act on that hesitant part.
"Charles Weasley!" Aimee shouted, causing a few heads to turn. His included. Her own deep blue eyes met his lighter ones and a grin spread across both of their faces. He walked over to her, still a bit taller than her 5'4" frame, and engulfed her in a hug. Aimee let out a soft laugh before throwing her hands on her hips.
"I haven't seen you since- "Charlie cut her off with a sharp nod. He knew she meant the war.
"That street works both ways Aimee." He teased. Aimee rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
"I've been busy, but from the looks of it, so have you." Aimee let her eyes wander over the fresh burns and scars that marred his excessively freckled skin. Charlie squirmed slightly under her gaze. "Be careful, mmkay? It may have been a couple of years, but you're still my best friend Charlie."
Charlie let a small smile grace his lips as he exhaled. He wasn't sure why, but she was one of the few girls he had ever cared what she thought. Normally he ignored when people noticed his scars, but Aimee? He cared. He always had cared about her. Mumbling some noncommittal words about being more careful he took her in. She hadn't changed much in the years. Her hair was burgundy, a color he knew wasn't her natural, and yet she'd had it that way long enough he knew he was one of the few who knew it. Her skin was sun tanned, hinting that she'd been spending a good bit of time outside. She was speaking, he could see the pink lips moving, but he couldn't register what she was saying as he took her in. He couldn't believe she was standing in front of him.
"What're you doing in Romania?" He blurted, before he could stop himself. She stopped mid sentence and rose a brow before passing him a guilty half smile.
"How about we talk over lunch?" She didn't need to see the nod, she knew that he had never been able to say no to that smile.
September 1985 Aimee's memory
I crossed my arms, planting my feet firmly in place. This was my first year to go to Hogwarts. I had been counting down the days for three months, pestering everybody, everyday, with how many days we had left until I got to leave. To me it was a chance to be off on my own, as much as I could be on my own at eleven, and find my own path instead of following my brother. Yet, here he was holding my owl hostage so I would follow him to his friends and sit with hisfriends. I had no problems finding my own! That was just how my brother was, at two years older than me he thought it was his job to be protector of me. Even if that was screening my friends for me.
"Eric! I'm not moving until you give me Sir Spots back." I pouted stubbornly. A few steps ahead of me, my brother stopped and turned around. He gave me a sigh before running his hands through his shaggy black hair. He looked at my brown spotted owl, before our identical eyes locked. It was easy to see the inner debate he was having, so I threw my bottom lip more into a pout and gave him the most pathetic eyes I could manage. Caving, he took the cage and set it on my trolley. I grinned, my brother was such a push-over.
"Fine, but will you please sit with me? I don't want you stuck sitting next to Slytherin's or anything." Eric pleaded.
"Fine! But if your friends are lame I'm leaving." I huffed, before starting to push my trolley again. Eric stood there a moment, before shaking his head and following after me. Brushing a strand of blonde hair from my face I grinned. Sometimes it was just that fun to mess with my brother.
Once we'd gotten on the train he shuffled through the compartments until he found two red haired boys sitting beside each other. He grinned, motioning me in. I studied both boys, peeking out from my brother's side. I was short, always had been. My brother was not so short. It made peering over him impossible, so I took where I could.
While it was obvious they were both related, their similar orange red hair and pale freckled skin made that clear, but they were complete opposites of each other. The one sitting to our right was tall and thin, with very few freckles. The other to the left was shorter and stockier, and his face was full of freckles. They were both dressed in worn muggle clothing. The taller having on a black shirt with a muggle band and the other a plain red shirt. Both had on jeans ripped in various places. Eric went in further and allowed me time to squeeze in.
"Hey Bill, Charlie, this is-" Eric started, but I cut him off.
"Aimee, who is perfectly capable of introducing herself favorites brother." I passed him a cheeky grin as he rolled his eyes and sat beside the taller kid.
"Yeah, yeah, munchkin. Anyways, this is Bill, "The taller kid gave a wave, "and that's Charlie." The other kid gave a nod. I plopped into the empty spot beside Charlie.
"So are you guys both in my brother's year?" I asked, tilting my head to the side glancing between Bill and Charlie. Bill shook his head.
"Nope, I'm a fourth year and Charlie here's a second year." Bill answered, motioning to Charlie.
I nodded, but my attention was quickly drawn to the lady I could hear offering sweets to the nearby compartments. Soon enough she pulled up to our compartment, stopping.
"Anything from the trolley dears?" She asked in a nice voice. Anyone pushing that much candy automatically has a nice voice. Bill and Charlie looked slightly dejected for a moment, and I glanced at Eric. He didn't say anything but got three chocolate frogs. I wiggled in my seat pulling out the money our mother had given me for the train as Eric was handed the frogs.
"Can I get a chocolate frog, too, Ma'am?" I asked. She shuffled around her cart before looking at me sadly.
"He just got the last three. We do have a bit of licorice wands left." She offered. Accepting my glum fate I gave her the money and she handed me a licorice wand. My brother had just finished handing out the frogs to the others when Charlie glanced at me.
"Licorice wands aren't so bad." He offered, helpfully.
"I know, but they just aren't chocolate frogs, either." I answered, giving him a half guilty smile. I loved those frogs from some reason. He looked at his frog, and then back at me, before taking a deep breath.
"I'll swap you my frog for your wand." He said out in one rush. We all three stared at him.
"Really?" I asked, perking up and smiling, "like you are one hundred percent sure it is okay?"
"Uh, yeah. " Charlie answered, shrugged as if it was no big deal. Judging by the way Bill was looking at him it was. He held out his frog and looked away. Placing the wand in his hand and taking the frog, I leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"Aww thank you!" I was too busy munching happily on the frog to notice Charlie's red cheeks and shocked face. Eric and Bill were not.
When we'd gotten to Hogwarts I'd been in awe at the castle. As a first year I was seperated from my brother and his friends, and shuffled in with the other first years. A brown haired girl was shuffling nervously beside me. I nudged her lightly, grinning.
"What'cha nervous about?" She jumped at the contact before looking at me with wide green eyes.
"I... I..." She stuttered, "the castle is huge, I mean everything... Magic, really? It's all so..." She trailed off and I nodded.
"You come from a muggle family? A normal non-magic family?"I asked, noticing the confused look on her face. She nodded.
"Do you?" She asked hopefully.
"Nope, my whole families been witches and wizards. But hey its 'sokay. Just stick with me and I'll help you out. I'm Aimee." I answered, shoving my hand out.
"Hope." She shook my hand, before we were ushered onto a boat with a first year boy.
Once we made it across the lake, something I about fell into trying to get a closer look, we were filed into a rough line and marched into the great hall. I saw Eric wave at me and I smiled brightly and waved back. He was sitting with Bill and Charlie at what I was assuming to be the Gryffindor table. The sorting hat did a song, just like my brother had said it would, and a professor began to call us up one by one. I waited dutifully, tuning out everything but my own name as I surveyed the place.
"Trulow, Aimee." I jerked up and all but skipped to the sorting hat. Sitting on the stool I felt the hat placed upon my head. It felt like the hat was trying to swallow my head, the way it fell so far.
"Hmm... I can see you have a passion for learning. Yet you seem to be a bit too outspoken for Ravenclaw, and a bit too lax in your studies. There seems to be a great deal of courage in you for one so young, almost as if you have no fear at all. At least no worry of fear, I guess the only place to stick you would be GRYFFINDOR!"
I jumped off the stool once the hat was lifted and grinned, the Gryffindor table was loud with clapping and by the time I got there my brother had cleared a spot between him and Charlie. Bill passed me a nod from across the table and Charlie whispered a congratulations.
"Valor, Hope." I drew my attention back to the sorting hat as I crossed my fingers and watched intently. After a few moments the hat shouted out a loud Gryffindor and I joined in with the clapping. Forcing my brother to scoot over I sat Hope between us as she shuffling nervous.
"Don't be so nervous, you got a friend like me." I whispered. Hope perked up and shot me a thankful glance. A few students later and food appeared on the tables. We ate like pigs that night.
