This story takes place 3 years after the Battle of Hogwarts.
A/N : By the way, it took me FOREVER to figure out ages and stuff. And for marriages and children, I have no sweet clue their dates. I tried to do as much research as possible. I'm horrid in math, so just trying to figure out Charlie's age 3 years after the Battle of Hogwarts was stressful. I may update depending on if I feel like it, or I get some reviews. I love reviews! .
PAIRINGS : CharlieXOC (Creature.)(Name will be given in later chapters.), HarryxGinny, RonxHermione, BillxFleur. Mentioned : PercyxAudrey, GeorgexAngelina.
STATUS : Harry/Ginny-Married. Ron/Hermione-Married. Bill/Fleur-Married. Percy/Audrey-Long term relationship. Soon to be engaged. George/Angelina-Casually Dating. Eventual relationship.
DISCLAIMER : .. Why do people feel the need to put disclaimers? OBVIOUSLY we're not J.K.Rowling if we're posting on . And are people actually going to sue us? No. -.- Moving on..
WARNING : MalexMale relationship. Aaaand the first chapter is always boring.
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Chapter
.1.
Coming Home
Charlie Weasley coughed as he stumbled out of his fire place, his eyes watering from the air born soot. He rubbed one of his eyes lazily as he looked around the room. The clutter had grown since his last visit, as always. The sunshine poured through the window in front of him, giving the room and orange, summer glow, even though it was the dead of winter. Charlie turned and headed towards the many voices, as he rounded the corner the sound grew much louder, and the familiar rush of hello's greeted him. His mother, of course, was the first one to hug him, pushing poor Ron and Percy out of her way.
"Oh Charlie, you made it! And just before
dinner. I made the potato's the way you like them," Molly
said, her eyes very small from her wide smile. She quickly planted a
kiss on his freckled cheek.
"Thanks Mum," Charlie began,
but didn't have time to say more before Bill wrapped an arm
around his younger brothers neck and pulled him in a half hug.
Charlie used to hate when Bill would do this to him, it reminded him
he was younger then Bill. But now, he found, it didn't bother
him as much.
"What, too good to come visit your family
anymore?" Bill said mockingly, releasing his hold on
Charlie's neck. Charlie smiled and felt a sting of guilt; his brother
had a point, he had been very busy lately, and forgotten to visit as
often as he has said he would.
"Well, you know," Charlie
began nervously, trying to think up a good enough excuse, "the
dragon's mating season just finished, and all the new eggs kept
me busy."
"Ah, don't get him started on his dragons,
he'll talk for weeks!" Arthur came up from behind the boys and
put a hand on their backs, "good to see you, son." His
father smiled, never taking anything too seriously.
"Good to
see you too, Dad." Charlie said quickly, getting used to the
hustle and bustle of the Weasley house once more. Bill
scurried away, seeing the heavily pregnant Fleur from across the room
was having trouble with a frayed lace on her
shoe.
"You know, there's something I'd like to discuss
with you after dinner," Arthur said to Charlie, raising his
voice a little over the noise of the dining room while he directed
his son to his appointed chair at the dinner table, "don't let
me forget it, it's to do with the ministry!" Charlie nodded with
a quick, 'alright', as he sat down. He looked around at the table,
careful where he rested his hands, remembering how easily glass could
break in all the excitement. He sat between Ginny and Percy. The
seating arrangements seemed to be pre-arranged. He could have just
imagined the stress his mother must have put on herself to get it
just right.
At the head of the table sat his father. To his Dad's
right sat his Mum, or where his Mom would sit after she served the
food. She sat next to Percy, who was already seated and leaning
heavily across the table to talk to Bill about something to do with
centaurs. To his Dad's left was of course, Bill, who sat next to
his glamorous, even when 7 months pregnant wife, Fleur,
who was tending to their 3 year old daughter, Victoire. She sat
politely, as no doubt, her mother had showed her, and adjusted
her seat on what seemed to be dusty old text books. She seemed older
then just three.
Moving on, next to Victoire was George who sat next to Hermione. They seemed to be in a heated debate of whether a certain 'muddle puggle' was allowed to be sold in George and Ron's shop, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes. Ron sat beside Hermione and joined in the debate from time to time, but every time he tried to put a word in, Hermione quickly shut him up with ease. Ron seemed to shrug it off, obviously used to it. He and Hermione casually held hands on top of the table, despite Hermione's demeanour. Charlie's sight lingered on George for a few extra seconds, still not used to seeing only one twin. Charlie blinked a few times to get his mind off his deceased brother. Sitting beside Ron was the famous Harry Potter, who seemed to find amusement in Ron and Hermione's behavior as, he too, was holding hands with his spouse, Ginny. Almost on cue, Ginny turned to Charlie and welcomed him home. Percy also turned and welcomed him, commenting on his lack of visitations lately thanks to Charlie's dragons. Charlie casually brushed off the remarks with simple excuses he knew nobody really cared about.
"By the way, Percy, where is Audrey?"
Ginny leaned forward slightly to see her brother more
clearly. He brought his hand up to scratch his nose, but there was no
hiding his obvious blush at the name of his current girlfriend.
"Has
she been here already?" Charlie asked before Percy had a chance
to respond.
"Of course, she met the family last Easter."
Ginny said excitedly, in a rather high pitched voice.
"Ah,"
Charlie said, another sting of guilt haunted him, "I didn't
know it was that serious."
"It's not-" Percy began
modestly, shaking his head.
"That's not what you said
yesterday. Common, she's thinking of when you're going to pop
the question, I know it." Ginny said with a large grin at
the thought of another wedding.
"Well maybe sometime next
summer." Percy admitted. Charlie smiled, patting his little
brother on the back, congratulating him.
"What about you,
Charlie? Any news in the love department?" Ginny asked
curiously. This seemed to catch Fleurs attention, who sat across
from them.
Charlie looked down at his plate and fidgeted with
his empty water glass, "none so far. Sorry to
disappoint."
"My goodness, Charlie, you ar' 30
years old! 'Ow can you not be worried?" Fleur sounded
alarmed at the mere thought.
"I'm 28 actual-"
Charlie tried to state, but was cut off by Fleur.
"Zat
does not matter, what matters eez you need to get out of zeez caves
and start looking for a woman, 'ow do you expect to meet someone when
you are all zee way out in Albania?" Fleur seemed to be
quite appalled.
"I've actually been transferred to Bulgar-"
Charlie attempted to defend himself once more.
"No matter.
All of your younger siblings ar' getting married, including
Percy. Even Ginny eez married."
"Hey!"
Ginny chimed.
"I'm not married," George joined
in as well.
"I thought you and Angelina were dating,"
Harry said quickly. George shrugged, but did not respond,
his eyes catching sight of his mother rounding the corner with dinner
floating a few feet in front of her, with the aid of her wand. She let the food drop carefully onto it's designated plate. Ron and
George were the first to help themselves to a full plate. Charlie was
thankful they got off the subject of Charlie's love life, which was,
regretfully, non existent. Not that Charlie thought about it that
often, he'd been far too consumed in his work, which he loved.
Perhaps married life was just not for him. Though, he did feel lonely
from time to time.
His depressing thoughts were quickly
subsided when his mother called to him, "help yourself Charlie,
before Ron and George eat it all. I swear those boys are
bottomless pits," She directed her attention to other members of
the family, telling them to take more food, or offering to fetch some
extra gravy or dipping sauce. It was obvious she loved having her
family together, she must miss having a full house all the time.
Poor mum, Charlie thought to himself. He then flooded his plate with
the potatoe's mixed with carrots and peas. Mum would appreciate
him eating most of the potatoes in which she obviously was thinking
of him while preparing.
Fleur, being pregnant, and from what
Charlie had seen, quite hormonal, didn't hold back on extra helpings,
after cutting up little Victoire's meat loaf. Bill and his Dad were
in a conversation most of the meal, and Ginny, Harry, Ron, and George
were in one large group discussion in which Charlie occasionally
joined, but mostly he spoke with his mum and Percy.
After a
large dinner, plenty of laughs and stories of the family's new
lives, they retired to the living room. One by one they each found a
place to sit. It was crowded, but not in an uncomfortable way.
Looking under the packed Christmas tree, you could tell who bought
what presents. The gifts from Fleur and Bill were done in bright
blues and reds and were tied with lace. Fleur had obviously taken
care of those. The presents from George were badly wrapped, and over
taped. But it was understandable, seeing the odd shape of the actual
present under the wrapped paper. The gifts from Charlie were very
plain, wrapped brown paper, sent by a couple of owls a week
before he had arrived. He really didn't know what to buy everyone, so
he resorted to safe gifts. Gifts he thought anyone would like. Things
like notebooks and clocks. Still, he couldn't help but throw in
things like dragons teeth and scales just on the side. Everyone liked
dragons teeth, right? Charlie thought.
"Here Charlie, Ron,"
Bill came around and handed them both a pint of what smelt like
butterbeer, interrupting Charlie's thoughts on whether his gifts were
okay or not, "a toast!" Bill proposed, raising his
mug, "to being together as a family."
"Here
'ere!" Percy, Charlie and Arthur said at the same time. Others
agreed and took a swig. Molly smiled and clapped her hands
proudly.
"May every Christmas be this wonderful,"
Hermione added, leaning her head on Ron's arm with her usual
smile.
"Agreed." Harry said as he put his arm around
Ginny, taking another sip of his butterbeer.
Just then, Arthur
pulled a cushioned purple chair next to the end of the
couch in which Charlie was sitting.
"Ai, Charlie, about the
ministry matter, we've got an.. interesting situation with the
Magical Creatures Department. I overheard some people talking about
it, seems to be a pretty unique case. I suggested you for the matter
right away!" Arthur explained.
"What situation? A
dragon?" Charlie asked, confused.
"Well, yes. But it's..
more complicated then that. We've never seen anything like it,"
Arthur scratched the back of his neck, "seems it's been hiding
away for a very long time, Hagrid even had a hand in keeping it out
of the ministry's care."
"What do you mean? Something
you've never seen? A certain species of dragon?" Charlie
questioned again, getting impatient.
"..Perhaps." Arthur
shrugged.
"Dad, you're not making sense." Charlie
chuckled.
"Well, we'll talk more about it in the
morning, after we open the gifts, how about that? I can even go take
you to see it." Arthur grinned, patting Charlie on the back.
Charlie agreed, as Arthur said a quick, good boy, then got up to
leave again, sitting with his wife on the double sofa.
Charlie tried to get the thought and excitement of the possibility of a new species of dragon off his mind, but it plagued him the rest of the evening.
- - -
A/N : I was bitten by a plot bug. oo I've been meaning to put it in words for a while, sooo here it is. xD This is the first chapter, just me getting used to writting again, seeing as I haven't done it for a while.