The scorching sun emblazoned an imprint on Charlie's back. He immediately swished his chaotic hair back and a ringing of giggles followed afterwards. Lately, a group of new interns studying dragons pursued Charlie everywhere he went. It didn't help that he was shirtless and revealing his velvety tanned skin. He groaned, such girls annoyed the daylights out of him, always sniggering on his every step. He glanced over at his watch, which read 5:57, meaning three more minutes until he would take the dragons into their caves and his job would be done for the day.
As soon as he was finished, he quickly apparated to his diminutive two-floor house. Charlie saw the stack of mail on his desk left by his only companion, his owl Mina, and opened the one that had to be from his mother. It read:
Charlie, why you must come! We've got great news! Fleur is pregnant! Come as soon as possible! Everybody's already here, so don't take awhile!
With great love,
Your motherAbsolutely fantastic. He didn't mind being around his siblings, but his mother would drive him nuts with questions about his love life, something that was non-existent at the moment. He'd have to go anyway, and the later he went his mother would pay more attention and hound on his back. He took a quick shower and packed his things. He would apparate in the morning.
"Charlie! You're here!" screamed Ginny when her eyes spotted her brother in the kitchen of the burrow. Suddenly, a pair of feet rushed down the stairs to meet him. Mrs. Weasley came down with a giant grin on her face.
"Goodness, Charlie, you haven't brought anyone with you?" asked Mrs. Weasley abruptly.
"Hello to you too, mother," answered Charlie in a droning tone.
"Darling, you know I have the best intentions, along with Fleur and all. OH! You should see her, come upstairs, she's lying on her silk pillows. One would think, she'd be happier with us now, but she's even worse," said Mrs. Weasley directing Charlie to his old room. He soon entered the room and found Fleur radiating with happiness contradicting every explanation his mother just gave him.
"Congratulations, Fleur!" said Charlie as he hugged Fleur.
"Ello, Charlie, ow' ave' you been doing? Molly, can I ave' a cup of water, I've gotten ather' thirsty," asked Fleur. Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes and mumbled all sorts of vulgarity.
"Charlie, Bill's down the hall, if you want to see him," said Mrs. Weasley before she left.
"See you later, Fleur," commented Charlie before he left as well. As he walked through the lengthy wall, he found Bill lying on a bed rubbing his eyes. To call his attention, Charlie knocked on the door twice. Bill hastily got up and grinned.
"You're here! Finally, I thought you weren't going to come," began Bill.
"I wasn't about to because of mum, but then I figured what the heck," said Charlie pulling up a chair and sitting down.
"Well, luckily I've got tickets to a Quidditch match tomorrow. Puddlemere United vs. the Cannons. Anyway, how's your life going? We haven't spoken in so long, with you disregarding mum so," said Bill as Charlie groaned.
"I know I shouldn't be blaming her for anything, but if she would stop asking about my love-life when she knows nothing is going on, than I would stop," said Charlie staring at his palms.
"You're just lonely, you'll get over it. I was the same way until I met Fleur," said Bill as his eyes twinkled like stars. Immediately noticing this, Charlie playfully threw a pillow at his brother.
"You've got entirely to lovey-dovey mode, something you said you wouldn't turn into."
"Wait till' you experience it, then judge," said Bill as their mother called them for lunch.
The next day, the sun shone on the quidditch field like a golden coin. Ron was as usual voting for the Chudley Cannons convincing his entire posse to wear crimson. All but Fred, George, Bill, and Charlie were wearing red. The match begun and within the first five minutes, Puddlemere United had ten points to zero. No sooner did Fred and George start rubbing it in Ron's face.
"Bill, who's the keeper for Puddlemere United? He looks awfully familiar," asked Charlie looking through his omniculars experiencing deep déjà vu.
"You should know him, you taught him quidditch," said Bill smirking.
"Is that?" asked Charlie to the air. Bill nodded glancing at him as if he were mental.
"You've been away that long that you forget everything? My, my what a pity," chuckled Bill to whom Charlie cuffed in the arm lightheartedly.
"WOOD SAVES THE GOAL AGAIN FOR PUDDLEMERE!" bellowed the loudspeaker.
The game soon ended and every single one of them went to wait out for the sore losers: the Cannons. The cannons dreadfully came out first and upset dear old Ron even more. He rooted for them but one would realize the unfortunate disappointment in his tone. Bill patted Ron's back as they were about to leave but than a distinct voice called out.
"Charlie! Charlie Weasley! Is it you?" said Oliver Wood through his scorching accent. Charlie turned around to be greeted by a cheery faced Oliver with slightly longer hair making him appear even more boyish.
"It certainly is, you guys go ahead without me, I'll be right there," yelled Charlie to the rest of his family, but only Bill seemed to notice.
"It's been a long time, how many years since you left Hogwarts?" asked Oliver as they began walking down a less crowded path.
"About seven years ago. You were great in the game,"
"Only because I was taught by the best," said Oliver with a chuckle nudging Charlie in the shoulder.
"Enough flattery, watching you were all the compliments I needed," said Charlie as Oliver smirked.
"So, you still working with dragons in Romania?"
"Pretty much so. It's a well paid job and I can't help but love dragons,"
"Well, that's great for you. Are you staying here any time sooner?"
"I am staying here for five days, so if you want to meet and catch up, I think that'll be lovely,"
"Settled than, you're staying at the burrow, right?"
"Where else?" said Charlie with a chortle.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow than, at noon, if it's alright with you,"
"That'd be great. I haven't been in Surrey for quite a while now, so… I'll see you later than,"
"Bye," said Oliver waving his hands.
"Bye!" yelled Charlie as he ran off to catch up with the rest of his family.
"Charlie! Oliver's here for you," yelled out Mrs. Weasley in the afternoon.
'It's quite all right, if he's still asleep, than I'll return later," said Oliver politely.
"Pish-posh, they all wake late on weekends, let me fetch you some breakfast, dear. You must be hungry after that game you had yesterday," continued Mrs. Weasley as George came down the stairs.
"Oliver, what are you doing here?" said George scratching his bed-hair.
"Don't be rude, George," said Mrs. Weasley as she gave Oliver some sausages with toast.
"Wasn't being rude, just asking," replied George sitting himself down at the kitchen table.
"Taking Charlie on a tour of London," said Oliver.
"That's great, mate. He really does need to get out of here. Seems so depressed and down except for when he's with Bill, but that's just because they are close. Otherwise, it seems like he doesn't want to be…"
"Here. Hello Oliver," interrupted Fred coming down the stairs soon followed by Ron, who tried to appear happy.
"Hello, hello Ron," said Oliver trying to brighten him up from yesterday's match.
"Great match yesterday," said Ron tearing up a piece of sausage with his ferocious teeth.
"Sorry bout' that," said Oliver.
"Mum! I'm going to leave in a few… oh, Oliver you're already here," said Charlie while buttoning up his jade shirt. "You ready to leave?"
"If you are, aren't you going to eat anything before you go?" asked Oliver.
"Exactly, just what I was about to ask," said Mrs. Weasley.
"Not hungry, mum. Am already running later than scheduled," said Charlie.
"Oliver, dear, you're seeing anybody?" asked Mrs. Weasley as Fred, George, and Ron snorted out chuckling. Charlie just smirked.
"Um, not at the moment, no. Wrapped up in quidditch and all," said Oliver.
"Well, dear, don't get distracted by your job as Charlie is. You're too handsome to be put to waste," said Mrs. Weasley as Charlie rolled his eyes.
"I think we're ready to go Oliver," said Charlie much too quickly.
"Have a good time boys!" yelled Mrs. Weasley as the rest mumbled good-byes through their food.
"Bye, Mum!" said Charlie as they left.
Charlie and Oliver spent the entire day strolling through London's muggle shops. Searching new broomsticks, laughing at the silly jokes Fred and George could have made, and simply enjoying their time. It was not until it grew dark did Oliver suggest going to a bar. Charlie agreed and Oliver took him to a place called Red Lot. It was iridescent in neon lights when they entered. They took a seat by a foggy window, looked like there was going to be a thunderous downpour.
"I've never been here before," said Charlie.
"Well, it is new," said Oliver.
"So, how's Quidditch going for you?"
"Well. It's become my life now. Since I have nothing else to focus on in my life. Just like your mother mentioned,"
"I do apologize about her. Don't let her get in your head. She only speaks the negative rubbish. Now, especially amongst anything that is associated with me,"
"Why?"
"Because Bill already got married and now is going to have a baby…"
"Bill and Fleur are going to have a baby!"
"Yep. Now, mum's gone bonkers thinking its surely my turn to get married and have a child: produce another Weasley bunch…"
"Hello Olive, and finally a partner, what drinks shall you have?" asked a waitress.
"Butterbeer, and don't get any ideas," said Oliver.
"Butterbeer," said Charlie.
"No Firewhiskey? Olive, you're going to lose your mate now, you wouldn't want to do that,"
"Ingrid, please,"
"Tusk, tusk, Olive. You must learn that I respect your boyfriend here. He is terribly gorgeous," said Ingrid pinching Charlie's cheek to which Charlie looked uncomfortable.
"Ingrid, go away," said Oliver as calmly as he could. Ingrid left with a huff. "Sorry about that."
"No need to apologize, I'm quite flattered to be considered up to your par," said Charlie with a large grin, aware of his effect on Oliver who appeared to be blushing madly. This was quite fun for Charlie after spending so many months in Romania being watched by petty gruesome imbeciles.
"Well, thank you. Don't listen to anything she says, she's full of rubbish," said Oliver with one great gulp of his own saliva, hoping his Butterbeer would arrive soon and by another waiter. "The dragons doing you justice?"
"Well, certainly. It's a great job just that there are a new bunch of hideous interns who don't even care for the bloody dragons that watch me all day, and for no reason either, bloody girls not even my type" said Charlie a tad irritated by the mention of them. Oliver's mind went in gigantic loops at this point. Not only was Charlie hinting at liking Oliver, but also he even mentioned those "girl" interns were not "his type."
"And what would you're type be?" asked Oliver trying to conceal his authentic objectives.
"Dunno, someone that doesn't annoy me," said Charlie laughing quietly.
"Two Butterbeers for the lovely couple," said Ingrid placing them one the wooden table. Oliver turned redder than Charlie's illuminating tresses.
"Why do you insist upon us to be together?" asked Charlie. Oliver slowly turned his eyes to look at Charlie, his heart slowing down.
"Because Oliver here hasn't brought a guy in so long. What was it? Seven months. I just feel he needs to get laid," said Ingrid leaving Charlie to blush madly this time.
"Uh…" said Charlie taking a large sip of his Butterbeer. He peered at the awestruck Oliver whose own Butterbeer was fully consumed. "Well, I see she might not be such a great friend,"
"Never falters," said Oliver causing an abrupt chuckle from Charlie. "She believes I have no love life. Thinks that I'm too picky with men," said Oliver, soon realizing what he had said. He had just poured out his own flaws that he himself knew to be true.
"You should hear my mum, well you sort of did this morning. Why do you think I never come back?" said Charlie feeling a tad dizzy. "I haven't had a Butterbeer in so long, the effects have just dawned on me."
"Butterbeer isn't even as bad as firewhiskey," said Oliver realizing how drunk Charlie was getting.
"I have never had this much Butterbeer, all I drink in Romania is water,"
"And why is that?"
"Damned interns. Can't trust to drink anything, but my own supply of water,"
"Are they that terrible?"
"Have you seen me ever come back in my seven years gone?
"Only once, and you didn't even bother contacting me, what a great teacher you are,"
"Ah, I miss those days," said Charlie laying his head on the table. His eyes began to close profusely.
"I thought I'd never see that day my own Quidditch teacher didn't have the energy to be awake," said Oliver leaning back and grinning.
"Well, there's a first for everything, like this amount of alcohol consumption for me. If you don't mind I'd rather like to go to sleep, before I commit something that is positively foolish," said Charlie stifling a yawn.
"It's only eight bloody thirty and you're this tired! I should take you back to you're mothers," said Oliver beginning to get up.
"No, no, no, no, no, my mother would freak, can I sty at your place tonight?" asked a rather droopy Charlie. Oliver's heart stopped. The guy he had a crush on since Hogwarts had just asked him to take him home. How splendid!
"Surely," said Oliver trying to pull back the childish grin appearing on his face. Luckily, Charlie's eyes were fully closed. He began to pull Charlie up.
"C'mon don't fall asleep on me yet," said Oliver.
"Yea, not yet love, don't want to disappoint," said Ingrid, picking up the empty glasses after them.
"Don't worry, I never disappoint," said Charlie being carried up by Oliver. Oliver managed to pay Ingrid as her mouth was left open in shock.
"You didn't have to do that," said Oliver laughing out loud.
"It's all I can do," said Charlie speaking monotonously. As soon as Oliver got out of the bar, he apparated to his apartment. By the time Oliver got to his bedroom door, Charlie was fast asleep in his arms.
"What to do with you," said Oliver speaking to himself. He fell on his own bed with Charlie still on his arms. Charlie would not let go on the grip around Oliver's neck thus Oliver decided to give up and play into his own needs. He let Charlie lay on him and he kissed him on the forehead. Next time, it'll be lower.