Another boring chapter! I know, but it is going to pick up substantially in the next chapter. I'm going through exams right now so give me a week or two to start the sequel to "Expectations, Truths and the Tale of Beedle the Bard". Thanks for reading guys!
The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows
After they were safe on the Hogwarts Express he went back to Bill's flat, setting up a portkey straight out of the train station had proven difficult so he had agreed to leave early the next morning. Fleur had gone shopping leaving the brothers alone to drink a bit and mull over the summers events.
A few drinks in Charlie admitted, "I kissed her."
"Please tell me you aren't talking about Hermione."
Charlie shrugged, "Just once."
Bill looked as if he wanted nothing more than to knock his brother out. Instead, he focused on controlling his breathing, his hand clenching his tumbler of gin tightly.
"She's sixteen Charlie." He reminded him, his voice controlled and as void of emotion as he could manage.
"I know Bill, it was only once. I told her what happened in Romania, she was nice to me, and I couldn't help myself."
"Fleur's nice to you, mum's nice to you, I'm nice to you! I don't see you kissing us though." Bill slammed down his glass, sending the liquid up in the air before it pooled on the table near the edge of the glass.
Charlie shrugged again, unfazed by his brother's outburst, and said, "It was only once. I told her I might owl her. I won't."
"Very nice Charlie." Bill was seething mad and Charlie was a bit taken aback by it.
He topped off his glass, taking slow languid sips that burned his throat before responding, "Do you want me to write her then?"
"No, but you shouldn't have said you would in the first place. I told you she's Ron's."
"And I told you not to be so certain."
Bill sunk back into his chair, weary of the argument and downed his partially spilled drink. "You're his brother Charlie."
"It was only one time, it won't happen again. I was just being stupid."
Bill wholeheartedly agreed, "Very stupid."
They drank in silence, polishing off the bottle of gin as the afternoon wore on. Fleur would be back soon with carry away food for the three of them. Charlie was loathe to go, he would miss his brother, but he missed his dragons more.
"Hey Bill?"
Bill turned his head away from the window he had been peering out, looking for Fleur and said, "Yea Char?"
"If it makes you feel any better, I can kiss you too." He laughed then, a deep gravely laugh all his own.
Bill shoved his shoulder, good naturedly, "Wanker."
The dragon reserve in Romania was massive, spanning miles and miles of mountains and valleys. One would expect the living accommodations to be decent on such a successful reserve, the owners did not agree.
Most of the trainers lived off sight at quaint little homes nearby, they had wives and children and fulfilling lives outside of the reserve. Then there was Charlie and a few others, men who were married to their work so to speak. They stayed in the tents, ten of them in total. They were ruddy little things, weatherproof but not much else. They didn't have real floors, just patted down dirt and all the rooms combined into one, save the bathroom.
He liked it that way though; it gave him an excuse to spend as much time as he could manage with the dragons. That's what made him happy, being around the fiery creatures, even if they did singe his clothes and leave him with permanent burn marks.
He never did owl her, the longer he was away the more foolish he felt. He had kissed his kid brothers girlfriend, true they weren't really dating but there was an unspoken commitment between the two. More to the point, she was a kid, a naïve kid.
He took up with another dragon trainer, Lenore. She was ten years older than him and bitter on life. She was also a known drunk and wildly entertaining, her bawdy humor would have embarrassed even the twins at times.
She would sneak into his tent at night in garish costumes that did nothing for her. He would have laughed if he didn't think she could kick his arse back to Britain. She had commented one day that he made everything about him and when he hadn't disagreed, she stopped coming. It was better that way he reasoned, she was asking too much if she expected him to make an honest woman of her.
Charlie wasn't keen on marrying and Lenore was past her prime and plain old mean. That wasn't to say he didn't feel badly for her, he did at first, until one night after a few too many drinks several other trainers, some married, revealed they too had seen Lenore's impressive costume collection.
He kept up with news from home mostly through Bill. Things weren't well at Hogwarts and Hermione had not come back for Christmas. According to Bill, Ron was dating someone else, Lindsey or something like that. Everyone was very disappointed he noted.
Charlie had laughed when he read it, that was Bill for you, he would mention Hermione in his letter, he was testing Charlie for a reaction, but he wouldn't get one. She was a nice girl, that much he was sure of, but certainly not for him. Probably not for Ron either, if she was destined to be a Weasley, Percy would do just fine, or one of the twins if they could stand to be tamed anyway.
He sent Ron some rare dragon scales for his birthday and received a messily written but albeit gracious thanks in return. He hadn't sent birthday presents to anyone in years, usually his mum put his name on things pretending he had put thought into it.
He was just settling back into the swing of things when the letter came, an official post from the Order – Dumbledore was dead and Bill had been attacked. It struck him in the gut; it was at once unexpected and completely devastating. He would have to leave Romania again, at least for a while. There would be the funeral and then plenty of Order work to be done. So he filled a request and was quickly granted it. He would be back to Britain for Dumbledore's funeral, June 31st.
The funeral was devastating, but going back to the Burrow was much worst. His mother cried for days on end and the others walked around like ghosts. Bill's face was heavily marred with deep scars, etched into his skin. He was quieter now too, he shrugged off everyone's pity, telling them it was really nothing.
Then there was Dumbledore's death. The loss of Dumbledore in and of itself was great, but what it meant for the Order was horrifying. They had lost a leader, the most powerful of their ranks.
Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped up of course, he was a good sort of man, a bit quiet but he demanded respect and he was just in his decisions. Charlie was particularly fond of him and identified with his isolationism.
Tonks and Lupin married during those early unsure weeks, secretly of course. They had been good friends in their school years, Charlie and Tonks, and the familiarity was still there. They bantered on and on for hours before and after Order meetings while her husband looked on, the ghost of a smile on his face.
He hadn't been there when the Battle over Little Whinging had occurred; he hadn't been there in the first few hours after George lost his ear, his face devoid of all color but still making off the cuff jokes about the whole thing.
He could sense the hurt his absence had caused the next morning when he returned. He had been on Order detail as well of course, meeting with some foreign members that could be influential to the movement, but that didn't matter to them. He had once again not been there in his family's time of need.
George had forgiven him first, almost immediately after seeing him. Charlie had panicked at first, but his younger brother eased things over with a joke, "You have to call me 'your holey-ness' now Charlie."
Seated next to his brother on the couch Fred commented sagely, "That's what happens when you're riding with a wolf." He winked at Lupin who couldn't help but smile; the twins had that affect on people.
He hadn't noticed her absence at first, not until her and Ron stumbled in from the garden, Harry close on their heels. They all shared a conspiratory look before sitting on opposite sides of the room. She had sat right down next to him, as if nothing had happened the summer before, as if all was forgotten. From the glances she was sharing with Ron, it probably had been forgotten.
He noticed Bill studying the two of them hard; looking for something that he must have decided was not there because with a shake of his head he looked away again, returning to his conversation with Ted Tonks.
No longer able to ignore his presence Hermione turned her head, no more than half a centimeter, just enough to see him out of the corner of her eyes and said, "Hello Charlie." Her tone was impersonal and vastly more mature than he remembered.
She was talking to him then which meant their brief run-in in the twins little shop of horrors had been mostly forgotten. "Nice to see you again Hermione. Enjoying your summer?"
It was a daft question after what had transpired the night before, nay the year before, but it was the best he could come up with at the moment.
"Oh yes, just lovely." Her voice was laced with sarcasm as she held back a smirk, turning away from him to talk to Ron who was seated on her other side.
Well that had gone well.
He turned his attention instead to Tonks. She was perched on the edge of the couch next to him, watching the twins antics amused. She could feel his eyes on her and turned to face him, smiling brightly.
"Wotcher Charlie, back in Britain again?"
Charlie couldn't help but smile at her cheerfulness. Tonks was a good sort; they had gone to school together and had gotten on quite well.
"Things to do, you know how it goes. How've you been?" He asked, they had seen each other several times since he got back but had yet to say more than hello and goodbye.
He noticed her twisting her wedding ring round and round her finger as she spoke, "Good all things considered. Looking at the happy things instead of the sad. Looking forward to Bill's wedding then are you? Best man I hear."
"Of course, very exciting. I get to walk an eleven year old down the aisle, lucky me." He wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, clearly teasing.
Tonks laughed, "You always had a way with the ladies Charlie."
"Couldn't keep their hands off you could they brother?" Ron called from behind him, teasing but obviously pleased with his brother's popularity.
He shrugged it off, "Not quite, I think you've mistaken me for Bill, Nymphodora. I preferred visiting Hagrid's pets over taking girls on dates."
"Oh that's right. You were the odd one running around after the centaurs."
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Hermione paying close attention to the conversation. That was a surprise to him, her icy demeanor had given him the impression she would rather be back up in the sky fighting Voldemort than talking to him.
It gave him an odd comforting feeling knowing that she must not hate him completely. In fact, it left a smile on his face for the rest of the night and when he went upstairs to sleep that night the last thing he thought about was how she had smiled in his direction briefly over dinner.
The days leading to the wedding passed quickly in preparation. There was de-gnoming and gardening to do as well as getting dress robes fitted and listening to his mother bore them all with miniscule details.
He still had not written his speech having only found out he had to write one several days after his arrival. Bill said he didn't care either way but his mother had insisted, giving him that put out glare until he agreed. Four scraps of parchment and two quills later he still had no idea what to say about the new couple.
If it had only been about Bill he could have filled parchment after parchment with fond memories and wishes, most were probably not appropriate for his mother's ears of course, but he had no idea what to say to Fleur.
The French beauty was a bit uppity for Charlie's taste and her opinion on him was no better. She had at every turn knocked his choice of career and how he made his family worry for him. As if his mother didn't guilt trip him enough.
They had just settled into dinner the night before the wedding, Fleur's family in attendance, when his future sister brought the topic up again.
"Zee is the problem with your job, Cha-lie." She began, clearing her throat to bring the attention on to herself.
The others turned curiously, a bit of annoyance on the redhead attendees parts, known of them took kindly to her besmirching one of their own.
"Zee job you have chosen, is, how do you say, immature and –"
He was shocked to hear her speak up on his behalf, "Now stop right there, Charlie has no easy job. It takes a lot of talent and skill to be a dragon keeper."
The others were just as shocked at Hermione's outburst. Of course they all knew her distaste for Fleur, but her chilly behavior towards Charlie had not gone unnoticed either.
"I don't zink it is a conversation for a child like you." Fleur sneered down her perfect button nose, ignoring Bill pulling on her arm. For his part her father looked a bit embarrassed, but the mother was sneering more openly at the young girl.
"Well I'm sick and tired of you putting him down. You don't know Charlie so just cut it out." Then with a huff Hermione pushed away from the table and stormed out of the kitchen, ignoring the curious stares of the Weasley's.
There was silence following her departure, save for a sniff and a snide comment about the immaturity of Hogwarts students from Mrs. Delacour.
"Well…" Ginny said, staring directly at Charlie.
"What?"
"Are you going to go after her? She stuck up for you, you know."
He hadn't thought about that. He had expected Ron to run after her, he was her boyfriend after all. He certainly didn't think she would want to see him right now. But the others were staring at him too, waiting for him to make a move, so with one last longing look at his still full plate he followed Hermione up the stairs.
He found her sitting on her bed in Ginny's room, breathing heavy, her eyes squeezed shut as she gripped her wand. A smarter wizard might have walked away at that point, Hermione looked ready to hex someone and nobody wanted to be on the wrong end of her wand. But he was still a bit confused from her outburst and entered the room anyway.
He knocked hesitantly on the door, "Hermione?"
"You never wrote." Her voice was tight, jaw clenched. She didn't open her eyes, didn't relax her hand on her wand; she didn't move at all.
The words hung in the air between the, an accusation, a broken promise, so that was what she was upset about.
He sighed, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest, "I know Hermione. Bill said it was a bad idea, I didn't want to confuse you."
She scoffed, "Didn't want me to fall for you more like it. Don't worry Charlie, I don't and never have had any intention of doing so. I just don't like being lied to."
"I only said I might."
"So that's where the twins learned to twist their words. They don't lie much though, not to me anyway. Not like you." Her voice had settled but was still angry and dare he say hurt.
"Thanks for taking my part against Fleur."
"Phlegm is a moron."
He sighed, shifting on the balls of his feet, this wasn't going anywhere and she was just as mad at him as when he had arrived at the Burrow. He had to think of something to appease her and quickly.
"Save a dance for me tomorrow?" He mentally kicked himself, that probably wasn't the right way to go about it.
Her wand had lowered and she didn't look as furious, finally opening her eyes to set him with a cool gaze. "Fine."
"Good. I think I hear mum putting out pudding, wanna' come?"
She held back a smile at his pleading face, "I guess."
His dress robes were a bit too snug, pulled taught across his chest. They were all up in Ron's room getting ready, Bill, Charlie, the twins, Ron and Harry who was disguised as one of their cousins. Percy was notably absent.
The twins were the first ones dressed and were playing with some new invention of theirs, they would chew a little candy, break into spastic fits and then force-feed the other end to each other before returning to normal. He decided against asking what they had created this time. Bill was helping Harry and Ron with their robes, leaving Charlie to his thoughts.
The girls were several floors below in Ginny's room, helping Fleur prepare. He wondered if she was as nervous as Bill looked. He had been up and down the stairs several times to deliver messages, but so far had not gotten a glimpse of Hermione, his mother answered the door every time he knocked.
In less than an hour he would be leading Fleur's little sister down the aisle. Gabrielle was promising to be as beautiful as her sister, but was quite a bit shyer. When they had told her she had to walk with Charlie she had nearly fainted before twinging a light pink and smiling pleased at him. Since then she had been following him around the Burrow, a silent shadow wherever he happened to be.
He checked the clock on the wall, they had ten minutes. Bill had finished with the boys and was pacing the room nervously, warning the twins not to get too out of hand during the ceremony with a twinkle in his eye.
"Ready to go Charlie?" Bill asked, walking towards the open door, all signs of nervousness gone from his face.
"Better question Billy boy, are you ready to go?" The twins asked, slinging an arm each around their eldest brother's shoulder, wide grins on their face. This would certainly be interesting.
The procession down the stairs was slow, the girls were, surprisingly, headed out at the same time and with a shriek they pulled Fleur back in before Bill could see her.
The guests were numerous and they seemed genuinely happy to be there he noted. Then again, a reprieve from the world as they knew it was certainly welcome.
The binding ceremony passed quickly, and loudly – both mothers sobbed the entire time. When it was done he met Gabrielle at the front of the alter and they began the long walk. The younger girl clung to his arm, tottering ever so slightly on her heels. The walk to the tents set up in the garden seemed endless, but finally they made it.
He was lost in the sea of people watching the couple's first dance and eventually found his way to an almost empty table. A few men from Bill's year were passing around a bottle of Ogden's, gulping it down greedily all the while swearing up and down they would never marry. They were more than happy to share.
The more he drank the more he noticed her. She danced with both the twins and Ron several times until they took notice of Fleur's veela cousins. Then he noticed Hermione found herself with only Harry for company. Ginny was avoiding him, careful not to be seen paying too much attention to her "distant cousin".
He finished off the bottle in his hand and mustered up his courage, standing to approach her. He had promised her a dance after all.
"Traitor Charlie!" One of the boys called after him, laughing drunkenly.
He approached her slowly trying to gauge her reaction, but the alcohol was having more of an effect on him that he had realized and her face was blurring. When he reached her he bent slightly, offering his hand, "How about that dance Hermione?"
She looked away from Harry, eyeing him, judging him, "Fine, let's go."
She placed her hand lightly in his, avoiding his stare as he lead her to the dance floor, it was a slow song and he noticed how comfortably she fit in his arms.
"You're plastered." She observed.
"A bit. You look beautiful."
"Thank you."
If he had been more with it he would've noticed several pairs of eyes on the two, most notably one Molly Weasley and her youngest son. But he was plastered like Hermione had said and his mind was focused on her.
"Gorgeous actually."
"Charlie stop."
"Why?"
Her voice was muffled in his chest, "It isn't fair. And Ron's watching."
He held back a groan, of course, his little brother.
"Hermione I –"
"Charlie I –"
"DEATH EATERS!"
They were gone, all three of them swept up in the mass chaos and when things settled down and the death eaters had been driven out the three were nowhere to be found.
His mother had retreated to her room, sobbing loudly and his father had followed. The rest of the guests had apparated to their own homes leaving only the remaining Weasley children to clean up the all but destroyed garden.
Their beloved garden had taken quite a beating. The tents had been reduced to ash and the trees were bare and burnt. A shocking reminder of what had taken place only an hour before.
The twins were cleaning up the tents leaving Ginny and Charlie to tackle the rest of the garden. They worked quietly side by side, although he couldn't see her face Charlie knew his little sister was crying from the quiet sniffs and choking noises she made.
She turned to him, "Charlie are they going to be ok?" Her face was streaked with tears and bloated from crying.
"Of course Gin, come here," he said offering a hug, "everything is going to be fine. I promise."
He couldn't know that of course. At that moment Charlie felt like crying too. But instead he comforted his sister the rest of the night until she cried herself to sleep and then shared a remaining bottle of Ogden's with the twins before stumbling up to his bed.
The next morning he found a scrap of parchment and a quill and began a letter to her. This time he owled her, a letter a day, they all returned but he didn't give up hope. He wouldn't see her again until the trio appeared at Shell Cottage.
