Most people asked themselves how they got themselves into a situation while they were neck deep in a position they never planned on being in. For Hermione Granger, however, she had asked herself time and time again how she could get herself into a certain situation. Ever since the summer before 4th year, she thought of little more than how to get what she wanted out of life and she was getting close, she could feel it. She knew her feelings and she knew that they were real.
The war was finally over as of May 2nd and Hermione was finally going to have some time to herself. Okay not really to herself but she would not be thinking of Voldemort anymore. The boys were taking their offered positions of Aurors and Hermione was preparing to start her life. It would be good to have some time to relax and not be stuck in a tent, on the run, with no amenities. She was excited and was determined to enjoy life as much as she could. If life had taught herself anything, in the last year, it was that she needed to slow down and smell the asphodel.
The funerals had been held, the castle had been repaired, Diagon Alley was thriving, and people were learning to move on the best they could. Hermione had even been able to retrieve her parents, undo their memory spells, and explain why she had taken her course of action. They forgave her, of course, she was the light of their life and knew she would only do it out of love. They had since reopened their dental practice and were thriving even more than before.
Hermione was staying at the Weasley's and didn't plan on going home. They needed her as much as she needed them. George was staying with them, instead of in his flat above the joke shop, while he was still getting used to not having Fred around. It was hard, but Hermione and George had had a very long conversation about grieving and what Fred would want George to do. It had taken a bit, but George had started smiling again. If you listened close sometimes you would hear George talking to Fred, not that he was crazy, just 'sending his thoughts in the wind' as Hermione had called it. When she had lost her grandmother sometimes it helped her to talk to her, even though she no longer could. Thankfully it was also helping George tremendously.
The house was rightly packed, most of the time. Bill was with Fleur, in his old room, on the first floor and Charlie had let Ginny keep his old room on the first floor and optioned instead for the office on the third floor to be changed back into a bedroom. It had been an office since Ginny had taken his room when she was about 3. Percy kept his room and George had his and Fred's old room, on the second. Instead of bunking with Ginny, Hermione took over the crafting room on the third floor, across from Charlie's new haunt. Harry and Ron took Ron's attic room right above Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, on the fourth. Thankfully, things were going smoothly, and the weather had allowed them to eat outside most of the summer. When the weather did turn they would eat helter-skelter throughout the kitchen and sitting room.
By July they were all healing and handling life better. Hermione had taken her own room, due to nightmares, and was trying to let her mind naturally deal with working things out. She placed silencing spells on the floor and ceiling so that no one would hear her and would go to sleep. So far, she had had a few nights that she didn't have nightmares, but it was still rough going for her. The more normal life got the better it would get. She knew this. She needed normalcy and happiness.
After a particularly rough night, Hermione woke early and decided she was done trying to get sleep for the night. After getting dressed she made to go down to make tea. It was only about five in the morning, but it would help her relax. With a book in hand, Hermione opened the door only to look up and see Charlie standing in the door jamb of his room looking rather sleepy. Hermione was suddenly on her toes. He was a sight for sore eyes, even in the dark. He wrestled with dragons for a living, up until the war got too bad, and was built accordingly. His hair had turned more of an auburn color the older he got, almost turning more brown over the last several years. He had dragon tattoos and the thing that made Hermione turn red was the look in his eyes. She could see fire. Hermione flushed and tried to stutter out an apology for waking him so early, she could no longer look him in the eyes.
"You don't have to be sorry," Charlie told her, lifting her chin to make her look at him. "Do you need anything?" He genuinely looked worried for her.
"I- I don't really know." She stammered out. "I- I-" She couldn't make herself finish what she needed because she was afraid it wouldn't make sense to anyone.
"Let's go get some tea." Charlie graveled out in his rough, morning voice.
With a nod, Hermione followed him down to the kitchen. She didn't even realize he was holding her hand until he pulled her to a seat and helped her to sit. He started the kettle and set about gathering sugar and such for them. Instead of the dainty little teacups, Hermione was used to, Charlie grabbed a couple of overlarge mugs from the back of a top shelf. He took them and rinsed them out before pouring her hot water in with the tea. Hermione enjoyed watching him move, he was graceful, he looked like he was dancing about, as fluid as he was. He was probably very fast on his feet considering he had not only been a Seeker but was also a Dragon Tamer. He sat across from her and never once bothered with turning on a light or lighting any candles.
"What is it the You need Hermione?" He asked again after he was seated comfortably.
"I-" Hermione paused for a moment to consider how to relay what she was trying to. Charlie waited, watching patiently. "I need for there to be something normal and easy, for once." Her voice almost broke as she realized what she was trying to say. "I need to have a routine and not have to worry about the next major disaster that is going to uproot my life, again. I need to have good things happen to me that I don't have to worry about. I want to not worry so much about the people I love dying." She stopped abruptly realizing that she had just revealed to Charlie what she had been trying to tell herself for a while. She needed to go back for her final year, but how could she when everyone needed her here. How could she when the one person she wanted was going to be at the burrow and not at Hogwarts, with her. She looked up to see him staring her in the eyes with an extremely intense look.
"So?" He asked. "What will it take to give you that?" Charlie already knew the answer to the question he had asked but he could only hope she would voice it.
There was pecking at the window, interrupting them from their moment. Charlie got up untied the letter and gave the owl some water. He read through the note, quickly and leaned against the counter for a moment in thought. Hermione watched him standing in nothing but his pajama bottoms with his arms crossed and the letter hanging in his hand. He shook his head and reached for a quill and ink, left on the counter for quick replies, and he scribbled something on the paper before sending it back with the owl. He watched the owl while shaking his head and turned around with a grin.
"What?" Hermione asked him.
"Just got some good news but I can't share it, yet." He smiled at her in a way that made him look very content. "So, what do you think will give you the routine you need and the happiness you want while also making you feel as if you are safe and the ones you have are safe?" He picked the conversation back up.
"Well, I think I know what I need but at the same time it will break my heart a bit." She said looking in Charlie's eyes. "I think I need to go back for my final year." She admitted, unable to break eye contact. "It's routine and structure. I already know almost all the curriculum because I learned what I could while we were hunting Horcruxes. I could take it a bit easy and hang out with Ginny, but I'd be leaving everyone else here." She finally broke eye contact at the thought of leaving here whole heart behind.
"Then you should go," Charlie told her simply.
"What about everyone I'm leaving behind?" She asked
"They will manage," He answered, "You need to do this and if they cannot wait to be with you then you deserve better." He looked her in the eyes sadly "If Ron doesn't see-"
"Oh gosh no." Hermione interrupted. "We can only be friends, we wouldn't work out, the war made that very clear. There's someone else I think that I might like, he just doesn't know I exist." She finished quietly.
"I bet he does," Charlie told her. "You'll just have to suck it up and tell the sod if he's too blind to see." He smirked.
"I don't know what he would say, there are a few years separating us." Hermione snorted "he'd probably call me daft and tell me to pick someone else. Besides, I've never heard of him having a girlfriend, he might not date at all."
"The bloke might be bent." Charlie laughed at Hermione's expense for a moment. "Or maybe he's been waiting." He added seeing the look upon her face. "Anyhow what do you need to get yourself in order to go back?"
"Mostly just wait on my letter and see if they send me one."
"They will," Charlie told her confidently, "they would be crazy not to."
"But what if it doesn't work out? What if they won't even give me the chance?" Hermione worried
"Well, then I'll write them a letter telling them they are stupid and need to take you for your 7th year." Charlie chuckled, "I think you'll be safe, even just politically it would look good to have you back at Hogwarts but with McGonagall taking over as headmistress I'm sure she will send you a letter without any prompting." He reassured her reaching across and squeezing her hand briefly.
"Thank you." Hermione really had needed this chat, for once she had someone she felt she could rely on.
Charlie took her mug and looked at the tea grounds in the bottom. "You have a very clear anchor." He told her.
"That means good luck, I believe." She mused, maybe this year was going to be good for her.
"Among other things," Charlie said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Hermione looked at him questioningly but before she could ask what else it meant Mrs. Weasley walked into the kitchen.
"Good morning!" She chirped brightly "Do you know what today is?" She asked excitedly.
"Harry's birthday," Hermione answered automatically. "I need to go to Diagon Alley and get his present, today. I haven't had a chance to go, yet."
"I know the war is over, but I'd feel better if you took someone with you." Mrs. Weasley said in concern.
"I don't want Harry or Ron to know, besides I have a lot of shopping I need to do. I need to buy some new clothes and such." Hermione said.
"What's wrong with the clothes you have?" Mrs. Weasley didn't catch her small hint. "I can knit you some more jumpers if you need."
"I would love that, but I also need a few other things," Hermione said.
"If you give me a list I can get Arthur to stop and get them for you." Mrs. Weasley was still not catching on.
"I really wouldn't be comfortable with that, I don't know all of my sizes anyway," Hermione said.
"We can measure you here." Mrs. Weasley was really trying to be helpful.
"I need new bras and such." Hermione finally admitted in exasperation, turning a bit pink.
"Oh, um, well…" Mrs. Weasley didn't know what to say to this. She was also turning a bit pink. "I'm sorry, Hermione, I don't know why that wouldn't occur to me."
"It's ok, just between that and Harry's present I'd really rather neither Harry nor Ron go with me." Hermione was trying not to be embarrassed but was hyperaware of his presence.
"I can go," Charlie offered. "I can look after you while you shop and even carry your bags if you like." He winked at her like he often did when he was being cheeky.
"I think that's a good idea." Mrs. Weasley looked at Hermione, hopefully.
"I think that would be wonderful." Hermione conceded. How could she not agree when it was Charlie Weasley at her service. Maybe she should watch her thoughts before they went somewhere they shouldn't… Or at least not during the morning, in Mrs. Weasley's kitchen.