2 YEARS LATER
Arranging time off from our very understaffed reserve was difficult to do. Especially when you were one of the few specialist 'dragon doctors' as the dragonologists liked to call us. But I had managed to get a week off, knowing I'd have to face Mrs Weasleys wrath for 'breaking her sons heart'. Godric, the woman had sent a howler all the way to Romania when I hadn't been able to attend the late birthday party they threw for Charlie when he returned home from Hogwarts for the holiday. And I didn't think she'd appreciate it if I missed her son's graduation celebration either.
Now Charlie, he always forgave me and it took nothing more than a few gestures of affection. His mother, on the other hand, it was a lot harder to get back into her good books. But by managing to get this time off, I had wound up back in hers. Bill found it hysterical that his mother was less forgiving of me now that I was Charlie's something than when I had simply been his best friend.
Despite managing to arrange the time off, I had a bit of a problem with arranging the portkey in time and because the ministry was a right old mess, my portkey had been activated an hour late. By the time I arrived in the garden of the Burrow, Charlie's graduation party was already underway.
Lugging my suitcase behind me, I approached the Burrow, hoping that Mrs Weasley would be in a more forgiving mood. It was hardly my fault; it was because of how inept the Ministry was that I was forced to run later than I had planned! By the time I reached the door, it was open and someone was already waiting for me. I grinned at the welcome face, laughing aloud when Bill wrapped me in a hug that lifted me off the ground.
"Just because you're in another country doesn't mean you can forget to write," he chastised, keeping me off the ground as a petty form of revenge.
"Oh please," I protested, hitting him on his back repeatedly until he lowered me back to the ground. "You could write instead of waiting for me to write first. Merlin knows Irwin seems to find time to write to me."
"She does?" he questioned in surprise, following after me as I walked inside in search of Mrs Weasley. "She didn't tell me that."
"Of course, she didn't," I said with a roll of my eyes. "She writes to complain about you."
"What does she say?" he asked, continuing to trail after me as his mother caught sight of me, grinning and making her way towards me.
Charlie, who had been busy talking to his mother, was startled by her suddenly abandoning him. But, seeing where she was heading, his eyes widened and he was beaming as he crossed the room.
"Now why would I tell you, Bill?" I raised an eyebrow, watching as Charlie easily overtook his mother and headed straight for me. "I promised not to tell."
Before Bill could speak another word in complaint, he let out a reluctant laugh when I was hoisted into another hug, with my feet lifted off the ground again. What was with these Weasley boys and their unnecessary displays of strength? Keeping the thought to myself, I wrapped my arms around Charlie's neck I held him close until he let me back onto the ground.
"When did you get here?" he asked, the grin refusing to leave his face as he held me close to him, a hand framing my face.
"Literally minutes ago," I said, unable to remove my smile either.
"Come with me." He took my hand and before I could protest that I needed to talk to his mother, he was dragging me through the Burrow and up to his room.
He kept a deaf ear to my words and the moment we were in the privacy of his room, he shut me up in the best way possible. Even when I tried to draw back from him, trying to catch my breath, his hands framed my face and kept me close to him before he kissed me again. The resistance I had lasted less than a few seconds until I relented and let him do as he pleased. When he drew away from me to press his forehead against mine, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"What's gotten into you?" I brought a hand up to his hair to fix the mess my hands had made during their exploration. "Are you that happy to have graduated?"
He shook his head, pressing a simple peck to my lips. "That's good and all, but I did it. Two years of waiting. Now, no more."
By the time I understood what he was referring to he, he was ducking down to kiss me again. I dodged it this time, moving out of his arms. He looked at me in surprise, watching as I moved away from him.
I bit my bottom lip hesitantly, "About that –"
"You'd better be fucking joking," he said without a hint of amusement.
"I'm in Romania!" I exclaimed, thinking rationally whilst he narrowed his eyes at me. "Think of the distance; you wouldn't be able to see me as often as you wanted and we'd eventually be unable to deal with it. Can't you tell how it'll end?"
Charlie scoffed, crossing the space between us to take a hold of my arms. He looked as if he wanted to shake some sense into me, but he just stared down at me.
"Would it kill you to stop being so rational for once?" he demanded. "If you like me back then the measly problem of distance doesn't matter at all. Now, I've waited two years so you'd better be honest and tell me that you like me."
"Do you really need to hear me say it?" I couldn't help but whine. "Isn't the answer obvious?"
"Doesn't mean I don't want to hear it."
"Fine," I muttered, scrunching up my nose as I muttered, "I like you."
"But do you like like me?" he teased, laughing when I narrowed my eyes at him. "See how ridiculous this entire situation is?"
"Oh hush." I swatted at his arm, leaning into him when he wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Mullan? I've got some news."
I furrowed my eyebrows – there was something in his voice. "What news?" I asked apprehensively.
"You know how I applied to a reserve?" At my nod, he smiled gently, "They accepted me."
"That's wonderful!" I exclaimed, hugging him. When I pulled away from him, I asked curiously, "Where is it?"
His smile became less innocent, curving up too much on one side. "Romania."
"Which reserve, Charlie?"
His answering smirk was all I needed.
