"Hermione, open this door right now. Mum sent a basket of food and a note telling me to feed you." Charlie Weasley yelled through the door, this was insane. Two weeks ago Hermione had begun a new job as the interim ambassador to Romania and had moved there despite Molly Weasley's pleading. Love for his mother was all that had Charlie standing on her doorstep. It was freezing out here and apparently the girl in question was not at home. He was about to walk away when the door was flung open, "Charlie?" It took him a moment to respond, "Who was this woman?" He hadn't seen Hermione at all in several years, she had been somewhere with her parents or off working, and when she had been at the Burrow he had been here in Romania. "Charlie?" she waved her hand in front of his face, "Charlie maybe you should come in and sit down." She took the hamper from his hand and pulled him inside by his arm.
It was no wonder that it took her forever to get to the door, Charlie thought as she led him into the house, it was enormous. From the outside he had assumed it was one of those old houses they turned into apartment complexes, he was mistaken. He shook his head as he realized that he had no idea what she was rambling on about. He had to pay attention.
"So what did Molly send with you? She's been sending me packages everyday despite my protesting that at 27 I can actually cook for myself." She smiled at him as she pulled plates down out of the cabinet; it was then that she noticed that he was staring at his surroundings. "This house is insane, I actually got lost this morning trying to get down from my bedroom."
Charlie laughed at that. "Is that why it took you so long to answer the door tonight?"
"Of course not, I was leaving bread crumbs so I could find my way back to where I was; it took some time to tear the bread." She laughed at the confused look on his face, "It's from a muggle fairy tale Charlie, these children are lost in the woods and leave bread crumbs behind to find their way home."
"Sounds like a really bad story." They stayed silent after that. Hermione continued to rummage through the cabinets while Charlie unpacked the food.
Once they had their food and where eating, Charlie broke the silence. "So why exactly do you live in this humongous house if you can't even find your way around. I have dragon pens smaller than this place."
"It is rather large, I didn't want to move in here, especially with the house elves they have working here, but it comes with the job."
"Why exactly are you here?"
"Kingsley's been having trouble finding someone he trusts enough to establish in a lifetime position in a country that he is having difficulty with. He asked me if I minded relocating for a bit." She looked up, he seemed to be listening intently so she continued; "I've been working for the Ministry with the former Ambassador to Romania on negotiations with a new trade treaty."
"I didn't realize there were problems." Hermione looked back up from her fork quickly.
"You actually aren't supposed to; we've been keeping it under wraps to keep it out of the press. It always works better for both parties if we can work out what's best for our countries without the interference of an angry mob." She half smiled at him, "So don't tell, okay."
Charlie laughed at her and they continued to eat their meal. He told her about his work on the dragon reserve and kept her hanging on his every word as he told her a tale about his latest venture out in the mountains trying to wrangle an escaped young dragon.
When they had finished eating Charlie started gathering up the dishes. "Charlie, what are you doing?"
"I'm cleaning up the dishes, Hermione, what do you need the left over crumbs for your bread trails?"
"No it's just…well I mean."
"Yes?"
"Nothing. Just thanks for helping." She finally replied as she began to fill the sink with hot soapy water from her wand.
"Alright, now it's my turn." She turned and looked at him, "What are you doing?"
She chuckled, it wasn't like the laugh of most of the girls he knew, it came from within, like she really meant it, it was nice. "Hermione, you're a witch, you know."
"I know, but I never really feel like my dishes are clean unless I do it myself," she shrugged, "guess I'll always be a muggle at heart."
An hour later, Charlie declared that he had to get back home, "I've had a blast tonight Hermione, it's been a long time since I've seen someone from home."
Hermione smiled up at him, he looked so much like the rest of his family, and she really missed them. "Well then we'll have to do this often." He hugged her before he disapperated back to his home on the edge of the reserve.