Charlie looked at the sleeping girl next to him. Her long blonde hair cascading down her bare back shone in the moonlight. She turned over taking the sheets with her…she always moved in her sleep. Charlie absentmindedly held her hand. He smiled sadly; tomorrow he would be leaving for Romania for a six week introductory course. It would be six weeks before he could hold that tiny hand again. Charlie still remembered the first time he saw her.
"Serino, Rachael," McGonagall had called out to the sea of students. Charlie watched as the tiniest person there stepped up to the stool. The sorting hat fluttered over her celery colored eyes and soon enveloped her entire face. Even at age eleven she managed to make his heart flip.
"Ravenclaw," Charlie couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed as she sat down at the Ravenclaw table. He was certain he was going to be in Gryffindor.
"Darn," Charlie heard Jeremy Spiel muter. Jeremy, Charlie's best friend since age four, was another guaranteed Gryffindor. "It would have been nice to have her in our house."
Charlie smiled as Rachael mumbled something incoherent in her sleep. She had a slight habit of talking complete nonsense when she slept, contrasting deeply to her usual banter of information. He could still remember the first time she talked to him.
The two had been assigned partners in potions class. Professor Snape was having them brew a hiccupping solution from memory. Charlie gazed dumbfounded at their bubbling cauldron. He had no idea where to even begin.
"Do you want to get the roots or the pits?" Rachael had asked.
"Come again?" Charlie said feeling quite stupid.
"The ingredients for the potion," Rachael clarified.
"I don't know the ingredients," Charlie admitted. They were merely first years.
"Ok then, you get the daisy roots and cut them into seven equal pieces alright?" Rachael suggested.
"Yeah, I can do that," Charlie agreed looking around the room. Most pairs were just staring at their cauldrons as if they were expecting the answer to form out of the bubbles. A few students had bravely begun to add what appeared to be arbitrary ingredients to the solution. Two Ravenclaws had abandoned their partners and were working alone.
"Charlie watch out!" Rachael warned him grabbing Charlie's hand that was currently holding an extremely sharp knife. He had nearly severed his own hand.
"Thanks," Charlie said blushing. Rachael continued to explain the solution rattling off information as if she were the author of the potions textbook herself.
"How on earth do you know this?" Charlie asked. Rachael just shrugged.
Yet as Charlie would learn in years to come her brilliance was consistent. Rachael always had the answers. He would never forget the one time towards the end of first year. They had been set an impossible Defense Against the Dark Arts exam. Rachael was sitting next to Charlie and every so often she would elbow him and point to the answer he was currently struggling on. While she was brilliant Charlie had difficulty applying himself. The differences didn't stop there.
In second year they had both made their house Quidditch team. Charlie, being short and stocky yet muscular had the build for a beater but he had prodigious skill as a seeker. Rachael on the other hand, was the smallest girl in the school, light and agile she appeared to have the form of a seeker yet she was surprisingly strong making her an excellent beater. Charlie grinned remembering the shock he'd received upon hearing tiny Rachael was one of Ravenclaw's star beaters.
Charlie couldn't help but think back to third year. He had eagerly signed up for Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes. Rachael had chosen the same plus the much too challenging Arithmacy. Rachael who was so amazing at everything she attempted could not wrap her mind around Care of Magical Creatures. Charlie however, was the best in their class. Professor Kettleburn always said he was born with a natural talent for dealing with animals. Rachael on the other hand could barely feed an owl the usual owl treat. She was always amazed when Charlie would get along so incredibly well with Creatures the students had never even seen before. She was always in awe of him, never jealous. Although, she did give him his first concussion...
It was fourth year and the last match of the season, Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw. As it was only his third year on the team Charlie still got nervous before every match. A time would come when confidence would replace his nerves but right at that moment he was shaking with nerves. Maybe if he hadn't been so nervous Charlie wouldn't have gotten a concussion. Ravenclaw was up by twenty points but everyone knew Charlie was ten times better than the Ravenclaw seeker. The Ravenclaw Caption Kyle something had called a time out. Charlie saw him whisper something to Rachael who nodded and then looked directly at him. The two made eye contact and Rachael smirked. Charlie gulped. Kyle had probably told her to target him rather than protect Ravenclaw. If Rachael was targeting him Charlie had no doubt he was going to get hit. He wondered when, and where, would it hurt? She had never hit him straight on before. Sure he had been nicked by one of her bludgers before but Rachael hadn't been "shooting to kill" just protecting. The two teams took flight again. Charlie attempted to stay far away from Rachael while searching for the snitch.
"Weasley what the hell are you doing?!" The Gryffindor captain Mark Helinski bellowed as Charlie had bolted out of Rachael's path.
"Um looking," Charlie's pathetic reply came.
"Are you sure? Because if you ask me it looks like you're avoiding Blondie. Get your head in the game Weasley!" Mark scolded. Charlie frantically scanned the pitch; the sooner he caught the snitch the sooner this game would be over. Charlie saw it glittering by Ravenclaw's goal post. He dove for the tiny glittering ball. He focused his eyes on the snitch and then suddenly he was hit in the stomach by a bludger so forceful it knocked him completely sideways off his broom. The bludger was traveling at such an incredible speed no one had time to react. Charlie hit the ground and lost consciousness when his head crashed down. Charlie awoke hours later in the hospital wing. His brothers Bill, Percy, his friends, and his teammates were all surrounding his bed. The team had long since changed out of their Quidditch robes.
"Dude you've been out for ages."
"So that's why you were avoiding Blondie."
"We lost by the way."
"Ravenclaw caught the snitch and scored seventy points."
"Oh good, you're not dead."
"Mum is going to murder you."
"Guys shut up I hit my head, I have a killer head ache," Charlie moaned not being able to distinguish who was saying what.
"You're even more boring awake Weasley."
"Don't worry we don't blame you about the game."
"But I do blame Serino."
"That's good to know," Charlie groaned.
"Speaking of which…Blondie's been here for ages. She's over in the corner, probably waiting for us to leave."
"So am I. Seriously guys, headache," Charlie moaned wishing his friends had softer voices.
"We're going back to the common room."
"See you when the wench lets you out." Knowing Madame Pomfrey she would probably make him stay the night. As his friends cleared out Rachael approached his bed. Charlie noticed she was still in her Quidditch uniform.
"You've got quite the fan club," Rachael commented. "I'm sorry about giving you a concussion," she added.
"It's ok. It doesn't hurt that much," Charlie lied, his head was killing him.
"Mr. Weasley would you like a pain relieving draft?" offered Madame Pomfrey.
"Merlin yes!" Charlie exclaimed.
"Doesn't hurt that bad?" asked Rachael laughing.
"You're still in your uniform," Charlie pointed out.
"Yeah, well you were out for a long time," Rachael informed him.
"You've been here the entire time?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I didn't mean to give you a concussion," Rachael said in an apologetic tone.
"It's alright. Honestly until today no one on the Gryffindor team thought you were that strong. But you really showed 'em. Proved that you're not just a pretty face," Charlie admitted.
"What?" asked Rachael unsure whether she had heard that last part correctly.
"Nothing I uh said you showed 'em and then I stopped talking," Charlie insisted.
"Clear out Serino. Mr. Weasley needs to relax," Madame Pomfrey instructed.
"Bye Charlie," Rachael said giving him a knowing smirk. A smirk that much to his chagrin at the time gave him butterflies in his stomach.
However, it wasn't until their fifth ear that Charlie thought he had a chance with her. Charlie and his brothers had to stay at school for the winder holidays because the twins had some sort of illness that was taking up all of their mother's time. The only other people staying were Rachael, a first year Slytherin, and two second year Hufflepuffs. The great hall had been decorated majestically just for the Christmas season. Twelve trees fully decorated were on display. Mistletoe, ornaments, and wreaths lined the walls. The ceiling was showing the soft snow flurries of the outdoors. The three Weasley brothers were preparing to go out in the snow when it occurred to Charlie that Rachael was probably very lonely. He told Bill and Percy to go on without him and they would meet up later. Charlie instinctively checked the library for her. Before looking real hard he spotted her sun-kissed hair in the middle of the Charms section.
"Rachael!" he called out to her. Madame Pince looked up and glared.
"Rachael," he whispered this time.
"Yeah?" she asked looking up from her book.
"Do you want to come outside with me and my brothers?" Charlie wondered.
"Alright sure," she replied placing the book back in its exact spot on the shelf. "Come with me to my common room so I can grab my cloak," Rachael urged. Charlie followed Rachael through the castle to a section he had never been to before. Rachael stopped in front of a door.
"Once you say my name I no longer exist," the voice seemed to be coming from the door.
"Merlin what the bloody hell was that?" Charlie exclaimed clearly bewildered.
"You have to answer a riddle to get in," Rachael explained, "Wanna try?" Charlie thought for a moment. He honestly had no clue what the hell the door was talking about.
"I dunno," Charlie confessed.
"Well then, how about you?" the door asked turning to Rachael. Charlie did not appreciate its tone.
"Silence," Rachael responded with a small smile.
"Correct," the door swung open allowing them inside. Charlie stood outside a little wary.
"Come in there's no one here but me," Rachael laughed taking his arm and pulling him inside. Charlie admitted the Ravenclaw common room while Rachael ran up stairs o get her cloak. The common room was not unlike that of Gryffindor. They had an excellent view of the mountains. Moments later Rachael came back down the stairs.
Rachael and Charlie joined Bill and Percy o see the two boys making snowmen. While Percy was rolling and patting snow into perfect balls Bill was adding a wand and broom to his sloppy yet complete figure. Charlie watched as Rachael fell back into the snow and began to make a snow angel. She showed no regret in turning and putting a handprint on it as she got up.
"The handprint doesn't bother you?" Percy asked.
"No, It's nice. It's like a necessary flaw. Nothings perfect." Rachael told him.
"I like it," Charlie agreed. The young Slytherin was watching the older students outside from a window.
"We should ask him to join us," Bill said.
"But he's a Slytherin," Percy pointed out. But Rachael was already sprinting up to the castle to get him. Charlie was pretty sure she didn't even know his name.
"That girl," Bill remarked shaking his head in an amused sort of way.
"What about her?" Charlie asked preparing to defend his friend.
"She's really something else." After a few moments they were joined by Rachael, the Slytherin, and the two Hufflepuffs.
At Christmas Eve dinner all the house tables had been cleared away and one large circular table was in the center of the room. The teachers and students all ate together. It was the same Christmas day too. Around ten thirty at night Bill, Percy, Charlie, and Rachael were still in the great hall.
"It's a shame Timmy is going back to hating all of us once break is over," Percy commented. The others nodded in agreement.
"I'm getting tired I think I'll head back," Charlie announced.
"I'll go with you," Rachael said getting up from the able. Charlie didn't notice Bill and Percy putting their wands together and conjuring up some mistletoe, then levitating it to the exit, until he was right under it.
"Oh," he said in surprise as he looked up.
"Smells kind of like oranges," Rachael commented laughing. Charlie personally agreed. The next thing he knew Rachael had lightly pressed her lips against his. Charlie was so shocked he barely remembered to kiss her back. He vaguely heard Bill wolf whistle as they pulled apart. Charlie was sure his cheeks were tomato red. He could feel his ears heating up as well. He was slightly relieved to see a light pink blush was splattered across Rachael's cheeks as well.
"Happy Christmas Charlie," she said as she disappeared off to the Ravenclaw common room. Charlie just remained rooted to the ground in complete shock.
Charlie couldn't really pick out the moment his feelings for Rachael had turned from friendly to something much more. However, he could vividly remember when he realized that they had. It started with a Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin Quidditch match. The two beaters had decided it would be in Slytherin's best interest to take Rachael out of the game. While Rachael was beating one bludger away from her seeker the Slytherins get the other straight into her shoulder. Charlie could tell it had hurt from the way she jerked about two feet to the left. Just as she was getting over the pain the other bludger had caught her unaware and hit her in the stomach sending her flying backwards off her broom. Charlie watched in horror as her head collided with the ground.
Professor Flitwick had rushed onto the field and levitated Rachael to the hospital wing. Charlie followed them easily due to the trail of blood Rachael's injuries were leaving. He watched as Madam Pomfrey patched her up somewhat slower than usual. Charlie heard her muttering the common Quidditch injuries: broken ribs, sever bruising, deep cuts, dislocated shoulder, concussion. Charlie knew he, Rachael and so many others had experience those same afflictions multiple times but he couldn't help feeling scared for her.
The game eventually ended in a Slytherin victory and visitors poured in. Rachael's teammates as well as friends were all there. As time progressed they each left. Charlie soon discovered that sitting next to an unconscious body isn't all that entertaining. Charlie was surprised to find that Madame Pomfrey had yet to kick him out. Maybe she had forgotten he was there. With head boy Bill, straight O Percy, crazy twins, and little Ron Charlie was often overlooked. Charlie was surprised to see that when he looked back at Rachael she was looking up at him through open eyes.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Ok. It doesn't hurt that much," she replied. Charlie knew she was lying from the way she was gritting her teeth when she sat up.
"There's some pain medicine Madame Pomfrey left in case you woke up. You want some?" he offered.
"Merlin yes!" Rachael exclaimed.
"Doesn't hurt that bad?" Charlie asked smirking.
"Shut up," Rachael said before draining the contents of the bottle Charlie had given her. Rachael's eyes then went to the clock. It was nearly midnight.
"Charlie why are you here?" she asked abruptly.
"Because I'm visiting you in the hospital wing. Remember you kind of fell. Well more like plummeted towards the ground. Don't tell me you have brain damage or amnesia or something," Charlie answered.
"No I mean, why are you here, at midnight, when visiting hours are over and all my friends are gone?" Rachael clarified.
"We're not friends?" Charlie asked still avoiding the question.
"Never mind," she sighed sitting back further in her bed. Why was she being so weird? Rachael usually had no problem with bluntness and asking or saying whatever was on her mind. Come to think of it…why was he still here? Well really he had just never thought to leave.
"The same reason you were still there," Charlie finally concurred.
"What?" asked Rachael obviously lost in previous thought.
"You asked me why I was still here. I'm still here for the same reason you were still there when I was unconscious," Charlie explained.
"I highly doubt that," Rachael remarked
"Why not? We're friends right? Friends support friends-"
"Charlie do I have to spell it out for you?!" Rachael asked sounding somewhat exasperated. She had even gotten out of bed. She liked to stand, or maybe she only stood when her brain was going way too fast for the rest of her body to keep up. Charlie would notice that happened a lot.
"Spell what out?" Charlie asked still bewildered. The band aid on her head was lopsided from her grabbing it out of sheer frustration.
"Oh forget it," she muttered sitting down. Charlie sat down next to her. With their close proximity he couldn't help but notice how she smelt a bit like a strawberry.
The next day in potions Charlie and Rachael were finishing amortentia. When Rachael announced it was finally the right shade they both leaned forwards eagerly and took a sniff. Because really, who doesn't want to know their hearts desire?
"What do you smell?" Rachael asked.
"My mum's traditional chicken, broomstick polish, and something like strawberries…which is odd I don't even like strawberries. How 'bout you?" Charlie said.
"Bubblegum, new books, and this type of-" Rachael paused and smelled again to figure out the third scent. A look of comprehension crossed her face. "Nothing else." Charlie knew she was lying because, well with Rachael he just knew.
The next day Charlie finally figured out why he smelled strawberries in potions class. Rachael came over to eat with him and Jeremy as she did every Wednesday and Charlie couldn't help but notice the excess amount of red fruit on her plate. After lunch Charlie caught her eating some of that very same fruit. During dinner Charlie finally said something as she piled her plate full of red.
"You really like strawberries don't you," Charlie remarked.
"Well yeah. I've only eaten them three times a day every day for the past six years," Rachael laughed. And then it clicked. But first he had to know something, what was that third thing she smelled in potions class? He had to be sure. No! Said a voice from somewhere deep inside him. You're a Gryffindor; you don't have to know, be brave, and take a risk. Charlie's thoughts were racing through his head confusing the crap out of himself. He now knew why Rachael always stood up when she was thinking. It gave you something to do, a feeling of accomplishment. Without a second's consideration Charlie found himself turning to his right and kissing Rachael. He could taste the strawberries on her lips, and then he thought, maybe strawberries weren't so bad. The great hall had gotten relatively silent. Jeremy let out a loud catcall which aroused some laughter and eventually talking resumed.
"Charlie," Rachael finally said pulling back, "I-uh,"
"What was that third thing you smelled in potions yesterday?" Charlie asked his confidence wavering slightly now that the big moment was over. Rachael blushed visibly.
"Mistletoe with a hint of oranges."
Charlie grinned remembering how they had spent the last year and a half together. He wasn't sure what exactly love was, but Charlie reckoned what he had with Rachael was as close as it got. Charlie observed the goose bumps on Rachael's back. She always had a tendency to kick her blankets off. He pulled her closer. Charlie wanted to spend every night just like that, with her in his arms. Getting of the train and leaving with Mark, the dragon tamer trainer was going to be the hardest thing he'd ever do. As he hugged Rachael goodbye he could feel the wetness from her tears. It took all his will power to pull away and leave the station with Mark. He felt great remorse, and yet, another part of him was excited. He couldn't wait to learn all about dragons; but even as images of Hungarian Horntails and Chinese Fireballs soared through Charlie's mind he couldn't get rid of the picture of a tearful Rachael smiling sadly as she waved goodbye. It was only six weeks though. Rachael made it out to seem like she didn't believe he was really coming back
(A/N just a one shot about Charlie Weasley that sort of forced itself into my mind
status of chapter two: revision)