Chapter Two! I feel as though I want to introduce this chapter some how. But I don't really know what to say…
This chapter should be covering a similar period of time as the first chapter, only rather than having all of the detail in the first month of their relationship, it'll be key moments through out the time, and will also include Heather (a character I thought up) who I mentioned in the intro to chapter one. A lot of this will be Alex dealing with Charlie going away to Romania, and dealing with her own life during a time that's very difficult or confusing for all teenagers - PUBERTY! In this I'm also going to look further into Alex's developing feelings for Charlie, as well as some boys her own age that attend her school (so she wont end up obsessing over Charlie completely).
Also, the gay/relationship/character will be developed a little more - I imagine that anyone who's read the first chapter is already fully aware of who that is going to be (subtlety isn't my forte).
AND! I just realised I mucked up Charlie and Alex's age difference at the end of the first chapter - at the start I had Alex as Five and Charlie as fourteen - which, when Charlie was seventeen would make Alex eight - so at the end of the last chapter, Alex is eight, not ten - sorry!
As with the first chapter - only Danny, Michael, Alex, characters mentioned in Alex's school, and Heather are my characters - Everyone else belongs to You Know Who.
And by You Know Who - You know I don't mean the actual one. I mean the writer one. The original struck me as a bit of an uneducated philistine if I'm honest.
… Voldemort = Philistine.
J. K. Rowling = Author. In case their's still some confusion.
*20
Alex wasn't to keen on chess. It confused her a little to much, and Ron always got far to serious over it. When she was younger she thought that a far better game would be to take all of the moving pieces off of the board and have them do battle with Danny's plastic green soldiers. Nobody else had agreed, not even Charlie - and Charlie Always agreed with her.
There was a game going on between Ron and Percy. The younger brother was beating his elder with ease, and Charlie, Bill, Ginny and Danny were all watching avidly. Alex herself was curled up against Charlie, counting the cracks in the walls. Every so often Charlie would turn and smile at her, asking if she was ok. She always replied yes, because as far as she was concerned, she could never be upset when she was near Charlie. He always made her feel happy. Even if others were making her feel mind numbingly bored. All she really wanted to do was go and play outside. There was still a little mid summer sun left, and she'd wanted to climb the apple tree earlier, but had twisted her ankle playing football earlier and Charlie had forbid her from going near it for fear she'd fall.
The boredom was diminished slightly when Ron's queen took out Percy's last Knight coincided with an owl appearing on the kitchen windows ledge. Molly let it in, being closest, and it flew straight to Charlie. The owl wasn't one that they recognised, but Charlie's eyes lit up, instantly spotting the wax seal and knowing who it was from. He removed the letter quickly, nearly elbowing Alex in the face when pulling open the tie. She watched curiously as he broke the seal and pulled out a neat letter, written in black in. A grin spread over his face and a burst of nervous laughter gushed out of his throat.
"What?" Ginny asked, tipping her head to the side.
"I got it!"
"Got what?" Alex asked, a little nervous.
"The dragon keepers apprenticeship! They've accepted my application!" Bill whacked Charlie on the back.
"Charlie that's great! Why didn't you tell us you'd applied for it!" Alex watched in confusion as Molly hurtled round the kitchen door and hugged her son tightly, while demanding to know why he hadn't told her. Alex didn't miss the glance he threw at her.
*20
Charlie's warm body was curled around Alex's protectively. Her bed was a little small for the both of them now, but with one thick arm cradled around her stomach, and his back pressed against the cold wall they were comfortable. He was reading over her shoulder, the magazine she held being an old copy of a Quidditch. Charlie knew she wasn't reading it. When she read she usually bit her lip, worrying it until it got to sore.
"Are you ok, Alli?" she fidgeted for a moment, eventually squirming around in his arms, which he loosened slightly to give her some room.
Her large grey eyes looked dejected, as though she'd discovered something to be a lot less than it was, and Charlie sincerely hoped that the something wasn't him.
"We're friends right?" she whispered, afraid of breaking the silence. Charlie carefully brushed her fringe out of her eyes while she watched him.
"Best friends, honey."
"And I tell you everythin' don't I? No matter what, even if I think it'll make you angry or sad."
"Yeah."
"And I tell you all that cause you mean everythin'." his eyes softened, knowing what was about to come. "Why don't you feel the same?" a fat tear rolled down one cheek and over the bridge of her nose, "I thought I was important to you, but…" Charlie pulled her forward tightly, burying his face into her shoulder while she sobbed.
"Do you want to know why I didn't tell you?" her cheek rubbed against the top of his head as she nodded, "I didn't tell you, because I didn't want you to be upset."
"Upset about what! It's only a job!"
"Alli, hon the thing about the job is… it's not in Devon - it's not even in England. I'm going to move to Romania, and I didn't want to tell you in case I didn't get the job." Alex shoved him back.
"B-but where's Romania? Is it far away?" Charlie got up form the bed and crossed to her book shelf, crammed with all manner of both magical and muggle books, ornament's, toys, games, pictures mostly presents that he recognised from what his friends had sent her, including photo's pinned to the edges of the shelves. Almost all of them were of him, some of Sarah, who had become very close to Alex while she and Charlie had briefly dated. He found what he was looking for, the small glass globe he'd sent her for he seventh birthday, about three centimetres wider than a cricket ball on its radius, still turning and glowing slowly. He picked it up and took it to her, pointing south east of England. "It's just here, near Bulgaria, see?" Alex sniffed again, "It's no where near as far away as Bill went, and Danny was really brave when he went, wasn't he?" Alex nodded, knowing that Charlie was trying to get her to be brave like Danny had.
"I don't want you to go though. You always go away - first to school, now stinkin' Romania. What's so good about their dragons? You said that there was a place in Wales didn't you. I thought that was where you were gunna go!" it dawned on Charlie that Alex had already prepared herself for him to leave, but the shock and distance had made it almost impossible for her to comprehend.
"But it wont be like when I went to school. You'll be able to come and visit me all the time - it's only three floo rides and an apperation point. Wont even take twenty minutes to get there."
"Promise?"
"I promise." he held his little finger out to her, which she accepted before pressing a wet kiss to his stubbly cheek. He went to return the globe, but Alex clutched onto his t-shirt, gesturing to her nightstand, and angling Romania towards her bed.
*20
Alex sat heavily onto one of Charlie's suit cases, sulking. The man who was going to train Charlie had arrived ten minutes ago to make sure that the younger man got to the reserve safely, introducing himself as 'Tarrow'. He sat at the kitchen table, watching the younger girl curiously while Charlie tried desperately to find his wand. The search had made it's way to the ghoul in the loft, and Alex knew that in a minute he'd come charging down the stairs, asking if she'd seen it, for the fifth time, and she'd have to relinquish it from the coat pocket. She didn't want him to go. He wouldn't get as many days off as he had at school. She wouldn't see him enough. He'd forget about her. Despite the bond they'd built so far being based almost entirely on letters and short bursts of concentrated time together, Alex hated seeing him leave. He was her everything, and she was entirely convinced that they'd get married one day. He was hers, and she was his. That was all there was to it.
The man had a big brown beard, and big brown hair, all curly and sticking up in all directions. Alex would have liked it if it hadn't been part of what the man represented - the last ten minutes of time with Charlie at home. He'd only been back for one month three weeks five days. It wasn't nearly enough.
Thundering feet. She huffed, pulling the long wand from her pocket and throwing the man a dirty look.
"Alex-!" she threw it at him, stomping out of the kitchen and trying to slam the back door behind her.
Charlie's seeker reflex's - still sharp - caught the wand easily from the oddly precise throw.
"Sorry about that." the red head mumbled, a blush already creeping up his neck and onto his cheeks. His new boss just snorted a laugh.
"Don't be - my daughter hides our dogs leash every time we need to take him to the vet."
"Are you comparing me to a dog?" the older man boomed his laugh, clapping a huge, rough hand onto Charlie's back.
"Aye, if the cap fits. And I get the feeling that where that little lady's concerned, it's nice and snug."
*20
"It's not gunna eat us, is it Charlie? Cause I don't wanna be dragon poo." Alex grinned from under the bill of her cap, skipping along side him. He'd never realised that saying "now this is Very important Alex, so don't forget it," to an eight year old would be such a mistake - Alex knew that the pendant around her neck would provided a barrier from the dragons, making it impossible for them to get within four metres of her, and yet she'd asked about the likely hood of being dragon dung at least twelve times now.
Charlie jabbed a finger into her soft stomach, making her squeal happily.
"You ask me that one more time and I'll steal that necklace off of you and throw you to one myself!" she giggled up at him.
It'd been three months since Charlie had left, and he'd visited home twice since then, but this was the first time Alex had been allowed to visit him. Charlie hadn't realised when he left, that visitors had to be properly prepared for, with safety equipment and protection pendants made for the specific person. The pendant had cost Charlie a lot of money, but in his eyes it was more than worth it to see the tiny blondes face light up in wonder. Every turn of her head showed her something new, and as good as Christmas morning. Tarrow walked with them, his daughter draped across his shoulders in a piggy back. Alex didn't like the girl much. She'd made Alex feel stupid when she'd tripped over that morning, and had laughed at her. Tarrow had told her off for it but she hadn't taken much notice. But Charlie was looking after her, and had given her a big hug to make her feel better. She hadn't felt stupid after that. Alex had grinned up at him, not bothered about her scraped up knee's, just glad that he'd remembered her name.
*20
Alex twirled her finger through the dry grass surrounding the rock she sat on. It's lip hung over the pond Bill had found the first year they'd gone camping. She was waiting for Eric, who was bringing his dog to meet her so they could go for a walk. She'd known Eric from school since her first show and tell, and now, four years later he was her best friend from school, and the only one who'd never excluded her from a game for being a girl. He was nearly as great as Charlie was, but not quite.
The barking of a Golden Retriever caught her attention. The dogs name was Sandy, and had been a key part in convincing her dad to get them their own dog, who sat comfortably below her, just at the edge of the lake in moist sand and cool shade from the rock, her short wheaten fur had dried easily after their swim together, unlike Alex's hair, which was still damp and had curled a little around her ears. But she didn't mind much. Charlie said it was cute when it did that, and she liked it when Charlie said she was cute.
Eric appeared through the tree's, Sandy straining on the leash. Bono, leapt to his feet to go and greet his best dog friend, wagging his tail happily, stopping once to make sure Alex was following.
"You already been for a swim then?" Eric asked, his floppy brown hair pushed out of his eyes. Alex nodded, saying hello to Sandy and grabbing Eric's hand "Come on, it's not deep." Eric blushed at her hand in his, the redness unnoticed to the girl.
*20
A year later, Alex awoke to her first day of secondary school. The sky was bleak, with thick and low rain clouds blocking the sun. the clouds matched her mood.
Her uniform had been hung neatly on the back of her door - a pristine white long sleeved shirt, a red, black and gold striped tie, black blazer with the schools logo proudly stitched onto the left breast pocket.
And a mandatory black, knee length skirt poked out from the bottom of the blazer.
Alex and Eric's parents had taken them to buy their new uniforms at the same time, going to the shop that stocked all of the local schools apparel. The clerk had politely informed them that the school didn't allow girls to wear trousers to school. Alex had told the clerk that if the school was so interested in having boys wear boys clothes and girls wear girls clothes, then they shouldn't make the girls wear ties either. The clerk had agreed. After trying on the uniform Eric had bellowed in laughter at the desolate look on her face.
Alex quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face, still having to use the booster step to see into the mirror and reach the sink. She could already smell her breakfast waiting for her downstairs - hot porridge, a table spoon of strawberry jam and Nesquik banana 'milkshake'. she scuffed her feet on the landing carpet in protest of what she would have to do next.
Alex had been fortunate that in her eleventh year of life, she hadn't felt uncomfortable of self conscious about herself until that moment. Compared with the other girls in her class, she looked no different, and her uniform was neat. But comparing her self to the older girls, and then comparing the girls her age to them as well, she noticed something a bit… off. She knew that when she got older, her body would change, and so would all of the girls her age - auntie Molly had explained that to her and Ginny at the same time. She knew that she'd get breasts, that her hips would get bigger, and she'd start to look even more different from the boys her age. And when aunty Molly had told her that all the girls her age would be experiencing it at the same time, she'd believed her. But here, at school, surrounded by older girls further along in the process then the eleven year olds, she noticed that a lot of the girls in her class had already started to change. None of them looked like the older girls just yet, and indeed were a long way off from doing so, but the gap between her and the other girls, and the other girls and the older girls was rather similar. She was still short, still to thin. Her belly still held a youthful roundness to it that her dad had pinched when she was younger and asked if she had a puppy in there.
She shied away from the people in her tutor group that she didn't recognise, and clung to Eric, who was by then a lot bigger than her. The teacher had quickly sat them all down and started the register.
"Alexandra?" No reply.
"Does anyone know an Alexandra?" some of the girls from her primary school class looked at her. She wasn't sure why. Eric nudged her hard in the side.
"Alex!"
"We're not supposed to talk in class." she whispered back.
"No! She's calling your name." Alex looked at the teacher baffled.
"No she didn't, she said Alexan… oops." the teacher tutted.
"I hope this isn't a sign of what's to come, young lady."
"Sorry miss, I -."
"I don't want to hear any excuses - and don't talk back." she felt like she was starting primary school all over again.
*20
If Charlie was honest with himself, he'd say that he'd become a little jealous of this Eric boy that Alex kept talking about in her letters - he'd say he'd wish it could be him helping her with her homework, going to the beach with her, exploring the woods near his house, finding their way into the youth centre near by that had been closed due to lack of interest. How they'd found a dead rat and thrown it at a girl they didn't like in their class.
He'd admit that when Alex had told him about going swimming with Eric in the pond they went to every time they camped, he'd felt a little hurt that she'd shared something that had previously just belonged to the four of them.
He'd say that he wished he'd stayed closer to home, so that he could see her every weekend rather then just every few months. He'd admit to hating himself for missing so much of her growing up - he'd known her for six years now - say that he felt like he'd abandoned her, and in doing so let the strings of their close bond float about for someone else to catch.
But Charlie didn't feel like being honest with himself about that. He didn't feel like being honest about how much he needed Alex.
*20
Alex really liked basket ball. She loved any sport in general. Loved running, jumping, throwing. Anything that meant she got to do something. She hated sitting around and writing because she found her legs jumped and her fingers tapped and her nose itched.
She loved basketball because it let her do so much. She could run, she could jump, she could throw, she could steal the ball off of the others, could work in tune with her team mates. The only problem was that her school didn't have a girls basket ball team, or a mixed team. The only offer for girls was netball. And Alex didn't like netball. She found all of the letters confusing, and got infuriated when most of the girls judged one metre as half an inch, and shoved their sweaty armpits into her face.
The teachers called her a nuisance. Claimed that she whined about to much, that she was spoilt. It took her a while to realise that they were partially right. Although what they saw was usually against the segregation of boys and girls, forcing them into roles that she didn't want to be put into, in most other things she was used to getting what she wanted. When she was younger, she'd just thought that was how things happened, people doted on you, you asked for something and you got it. You pouted enough and people caved. It was how life had always been for her. But getting to school she realised that in life you really had to work for things, had to work hard for what you wanted.
If truth be told, and she was willing to say it needed to be said, she'd say she'd tried to make Charlie pay a little for leaving her and going to Romania. She adored every inch of Charlie, loved every freckle on his body, every smile he had, and wouldn't pass it up for anything in the world. Wouldn't give it up for anything. But he'd stolen it from her. He'd robbed her of himself. So she made him pay. Made him feel guilt for each time she had to say good bye. She'd become so adept at crying each time he left, or she had to leave him, that she didn't even know if they were real tears any more. Even in her letters, she tried to make it look as if he was missing out by not being there.
But she understood a little better. Long before she'd shown up, Charlie had fallen in love with dragons'. they were his dream. They were what he wanted to work with - the reservation was a dream come true for him. She saw it each time she visited him, and saw how it hurt him that his dream appeared to be hurting her.
So she'd work. She'd work hard to fit in. She'd work hard to abide by the rules, just the same as everyone else was doing. She'd make the most of her time with Charlie. Show him that she was interested in his work because he was interested in it. Respect his work because she respected him. Love the dragons' because she loved him.
*20
It hadn't taken long for Danny to follow Bill to Egypt. Like Charlie and Alex, their bond was a strong one - they clicked, right from the start, but unlike Alex and Charlie, they had always treated each other as equals - whereas Charlie would bend over backwards to cater to Alex's every whim, Bill and Danny helped each other - worked together. And after Bill left for Egypt at the age of eighteen, Danny had worked himself to the bone to be able to follow him.
He'd scoured every book about the Egyptian pharaohs that he could, learnt everything he could ever dream of, just to be good enough to work there. He wasn't a wizard, and so the Gringotts Goblins weren't entirely sure what to make of him. But on Bills recommendation, a one month trial, and paying his own way to get there, Danny got a chance. He worked hard to do just as much work as the wizards and witches in Bills group, did everything that any one asked and more. Earned respect, and a place amongst them. Learnt even more then he could imagine while he was there.
He and Bill lived together in a pokey flat near the edge of Cairo, their combined wages bringing in enough to rent a bigger place, but the frequency of their trips home meant they had to down size to afford it all. The single bedroom was large, and so they'd divided it with a heavy drape, silencing and privacy charms put up to make it just as good as a solid wall.
Danny often wished the blasted thing weren't there. Wished the room was big and bright like it should have been. Wished his single bed was gone. Wished Bill's double was pushed against the wall facing the large window that showed the sunsets. Wished the sheets were white. That he could curl into Bill's freckled chest. That Bill would hold him like he did those girls.
The sun was hot, striking onto Danny's deeply tanned skin. His hair a brighter blonde then it ever had been before, his eyes were a constant, brilliant silver. Bill loved that about him. If nothing, Danny was bright. Cheery smiles, cheery hellos, cheery everything's. If there was one thing he found attractive it was when a girl looked happy, looked content, relaxed. Bill grinned to himself as Danny received a mouthful of sand, making the young man jump up, spitting and cursing his luck, while the man who'd thrown the trowel of sand carelessly over his shoulder melted into chuckles. Bill tossed over a bottle of cold water, which bounced off of Danny's hip and onto the ground. The younger man looked over his shoulder, grinning again as he picked it up, washing his mouth out quickly. Bill joined him, bumping their shoulders.
"How you doing brat?"
"Aye, not bad."
"Didn't swallow to much this time did you?" Bill teased.
"Not enough that it'll throw out my daily intake." Bill snorted, knowing exactly what the blonde meant, and eyeing his sandwiches, which despite being in a zip-lock bag inside a plastic box, inside his bag, would undoubtedly hold a gritty 'surprise' for him.
Bill noticed a sweep of coarse sand over Danny's cheek bone, and rather then brushing the grit over Danny's delicate skin, Bill pulled the younger's face to him, gently blowing it off of his cheek.
Being more than used to the exhibitions of such close contact, Danny just watched the look of concentration on Bill's face, so close he could lean in and…
But no. the sand is all gone, and Bill lets him go, smiling his crinkly eyed grin before slapping Danny's backside and telling him to get back to work.
On Friday nights they always went out to bars. Usually it was one only two streets away from them, so they didn't have too far to stagger back to bed. Bill liked it because it played music he liked, served cheap drinks, and the women were normally up for a fumble. Danny like it because the lights they used made Bills hair glow scarlet, and because it played music Bill danced to. He wasn't a great dancer by any stretch of the imagination. But Bill loved dancing. And Danny was happy when Bill was happy.
The blonde hated it for one of the main reasons Bill liked it. The women. They threw themselves at Bill. And being young still, the red head wasn't that picky about who he went home with. That was a side of Bill that Danny wasn't to keen on. For a seventeen year old guy, Danny was oddly reluctant to share his bed with many. There had been the odd nights when he'd gone home with someone. But they didn't happen often, and he usually ended up sleeping on a friends sofa every Friday. Bill never seemed to notice. Given the silencing and privacy charms the elder had in place, there was no real need for Danny to avoid his home as far as Bill was concerned, and Danny made sure he was always back early in the mornings. Ready with a hang over potion if Bill needed one.
His throat tightened as Bill eyed a girl near the bar. Dress that barely covered her hips, breasts hanging out around her straps, make up applied precisely. And she was winking back at Bill. Danny pulled a face of disgust, which Bill caught. the elder mans eyes furrowed in concern.
"You ok mate?" Danny shook his head, avoiding Bills piercing look.
"Naw, I feel a bit sick. Think I'm going to find Flo and head back to her place."
"Flo? Why Flo's? What's wrong with your own bed?" Danny glanced to the girl at the bar, looking confused at the sudden lack of attention. Bill caught the look again.
"What, you like her to?" Danny snorted, downing the rest of his drink.
"To be honest mate, despite all your fairy dust," Danny teased, "The idea of you shagging some girl on the other side of a curtain is something I can live without." a flash of hurt crossed the blondes eyes at the idea, even without the prompting.
"Danny, if you're ill I'll leave her. Come on, lets get back and get you into bed."
"No, Bill I'll be fine, you have fun." the red head rolled his eyes, grabbing Danny's hand and pulling the young man to his feet.
"Be useful and get our coats, I'll tell the rest we've gone home."
Back in the flat, Danny flopped onto the sofa. His long frame flowed gracefully into the worn out springs.
"Do you want some water?" Danny nodded, watching Bills shadow on the left wall, "You should have stayed. That girl was well into you."
"You're more important then any girl, Danny. You know that." the glass was set before him, and Bill manoeuvred Danny's limbs so the younger man was lounged over Bills body, the tension in his back obvious.
"Sleep in my bed tonight, yours is way to small for you now."
"You're bigger then me. You'd be uncomfortable in mine." Bill snorted.
"Danny you know I love you - but nothing would make me offer to take your bed. We can share tonight." Danny prayed that he didn't look to excited at the prospect.
"You sure?"
"Yeah, not like we haven't before."
"Last time we shared I was twelve, you'd just let me watch 'Silence of The Lambs', and I was close to pissing the bed because of it." Bill snorted at the memory.
"What ever - get up before I have to drag you."
"Too late." Bill stuck a finger into Danny's ribs, making him flinch.
"Fine." Danny felt a swirling sensation in his midriff as Bill flung him over his shoulder to clatter onto his back, legs against Bill's chest.
"Put me down Bill."
"No, now quit squirming."
"I'm not squirming. Don't forget my water either."
"You don't forget your water."
"Lower me down a bit and I'll be able to reach it."
Eventually Bill got to their room, and without thinking, flung Danny onto his large king size bed. The glass of water hurtled with Danny, instantly soaking the blonde. He lay in the middle of the bed, thin white shirt drenched from the pint glass, a large wet patch spreading down one trouser leg.
"I can't believe you just did that. I'm gunna have to get undressed now!" The thought alone of taking his clothes off then was difficult to him. Bill chuckled, but bent over Danny, easily undoing his belt, button and zipper, peeling off the tight trousers and dumping them at the end of the bed. He moved to straddle Danny's waist, gently slipping each button from its hole. The shirt was skin tight and already showed off Danny's taut stomach without the water. He sighed contentedly while Bill pushed the shirt over his shoulders and down his arms, easily lifting their hips to pull the shirt away completely. Danny wrapped his arms around Bill's neck looking for a hug from his best friend. Bill happily obliged, pulling the blonde up, and moving to peck his soft cheek with a kiss.
Danny tried to turn his head into Bills neck, eager to smell the freshness of him. Their lips met, and for a second neither of them reacted. But as Bill went to pull away, Danny pushed in, holding Bill in place by the back of his neck. He kissed him slowly, pink lips moving easily. Bill pulled away again, looking down at the boy in confusion. "Danny…"
"S-sorry." he blushed, pulling away from Bill in return.
"Don't be. I… I know, how you feel about me, that is." Danny looked up at him incredulously, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it's just… I'm not sure Danny. I'm not sure if I could feel that way. About a guy, I mean. You already know how much I love you as a friend - You're my best friend. You already feel like my other half, but… I don't know. It's weird. Anyone else and I'd never even consider it. But… But with you I just… it feels kinda right, in a way that feels so weird." Danny leant his forehead on Bills, watching his eyes as Bill spoke.
"I just need some more time. Time to think." The blonde nodded, knowing how difficult it must be for Bill, gambling a great friend on the chance of becoming something more. Danny stroked Bills rough cheek, tracing each freckle. Bill wetted his lips, and Danny glanced back up in question. The other man nodded lightly and slowly, allowing the younger to dip back in, tasting soft lips. Bill kissed back after a moment, testing the new experience - Danny's mouth was more forceful then any girls he's kissed, his lips harder against Bill's, but not in an unpleasant way, but in a way that challenged Bill to at least match it.
Bill pulled away first, feeling even more disorientated then he had to start with, but he pulled Danny down with him, turning the shorter man so he could spoon his back.
*20
"Dad, can you come with me to pick out Eric's birthday present?"
"By pick out do you mean pay for?"
"A little." Michael rolled his eyes.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alex hoped up onto the work surface in the kitchen, her long legs dangling over the edge and swaying.
"Well I've saved up ten pounds already, but I don't know what to get him yet."
"How old is he going to be?"
"Thirteen." Michael nodded.
"We can go this afternoon if you like?" Alex smiled, thanking him and skipping away.
When Charlie arrived back from Romania, only for there to be no Alex to greet him, he was disappointed. She'd told him that she'd meet him at the Burrow, and that they'd go on to the pond for a swim if he wanted.
He stayed home with his mother, everyone else either at school or work, and helped her to prepare dinner. It was a while before the sound of a car crawling down the narrow lane met their ears.
Charlie ducked to look out of the living rooms window, recognising the car as Michaels, and seeing Alex's blonde head in the front seat.
"Mum do you mind if I go say hi?" Molly waved him off, smiling at his enthusiasm to see the young girl.
Alex hoped out of the car, and nearly slapped herself when she saw Charlie walking out of his front door.
"Oh God Charlie I'm so sorry - I completely forgot you were coming home today!" the older man rolled his eyes at her, opening his arms for a warm hug.
"It's fine, how are you?" Alex breathed in deeply, his scent overtaking her brain and making her feel fuzzy.
"I'm good, missed you though." Charlie hummed in agreement.
"Alex can you help with some of the bags?" Michael called, following it with a greeting to Charlie.
"Oh yeah! Come see what I got Eric for his birthday." Charlie almost winced at the realisation that she'd forgotten he was coming home because she was buying a present for the other boy. He hadn't seen Alex in nearly four months.
"it's a darts board!" Charlie snorted as she dragged a wide square faced box from the back seat.
"Alex show him inside! I think it's going to rain in a minute." Alex grabbed another bag and pulled Charlie through the front door with her free hand.
Michael threw a paper bag to Alex once in the kitchen again, which she caught easily, dropping the two bags she was carrying on the work surface, and dragging Charlie into a chair so she could sit on his lap, she happily shared her lunch with him.
"We can go for a swim tomorrow can't we Charlie?" she pleaded after they'd caught up, having moved to the summer house deep into the over grown grass and bushes at the back of the garden. The doors opened onto the soaking grass, and rain hammered onto the wooden roof. They'd pulled out a sun lounger, which they both shared now, Charlie sitting at the top, legs crossed, and Alex perching precariously at the base.
"Of course we can, we can do what ever you want to." She nodded.
"Oh! And we can invite Eric as well! You'll really like him." Charlie's jaw twitched.
"Hm." he doubted that.
"What?"
"Nothing." he lied.
"No, go on - tell me."
"I said, it's nothing." Alex grinned, moving up the lounger so she was in front of him and grabbing his hands.
"Tell me."
"No,"
"Tell me, Charlie."
"I said no Al-." she let go of his hands and tickled his sides instead, making him grin and squirm.
"Tell meee, tellmetellmetellmeee."
"Quit being a brat!"
"Shan't!"
"Come on! I shared my lunch with you!"
"Only because you felt guilty about standing me up!" Charlie grabbed hold of her waist and shoved her backwards, instantly halting her tickling hands.
"Don't you want Eric to come?" he avoided her eyes.
"Why?"
"Alex I don't want to talk about this."
"But I do."
"Yeah, well, you're going to be a bit disappointed then aren't you." her eyes seemed to go into bambi over drive, but he looked away. Alex crawled back up the lounger, sitting in his lap and folding her arms around his neck.
"Please, Charlie. I don't want you to be upset."
"I'm not upset." he returned the hug, laying his cheek on her shoulder, nose pressed into her neck, "It's just… I miss you so much, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I don't like… having to share you, with him."
"But you're not."
"I feel as if I'm loosing you to him." Alex kissed the top of his head, stroking his broad, strong back.
"You wont ever lose me - I'm your's - forever." Charlie pulled back to look into her eyes, seeing the honesty there. He kissed her nose and leant back, pulling her with him so she lay against his chest.
*20
Alex shivered, eyes heavy and in need of sleep. But she couldn't sleep. Not knowing what had happened to Ron's friend, Harry. Molly had explained it to her and Danny at the same time, about the war, about You Know Who.
Alex had met Harry and Hermione several times, but not known much about them, as she and Ron weren't very close. But now, when she looked at the three, she saw them in a new light. She could see how there experiences has affected them, how Voldemort had changed them.
She couldn't see Charlie in the group of scared adults, and she felt very young and fragile in the mix, trying to keep out of the way in the far corner next to the wireless. There was an old man who'd introduced himself to her as Dumbledore. He'd been nice, kind, asked how she was, if she was enjoying school. If she was scared. She'd said no. He was important, she could tell. He didn't need to be bothered with her.
Danny smiled at her from the dinning room table, which she could just see through the legs of the people about her, and the kitchen door way. She wanted to go and sit with him. But everyone was rushing around, and the room was crowded. She couldn't see her dad, either. Fred passed close to her, and Alex latched onto his sleeve, the older boy kindly towed her along to the staircase.
"Ginny's up in her room, if you want company, but mine and George's room is free, if you want to be alone." Alex thanked him and stumbled up the stairs intent on getting to the boys room. She stopped off at Bill and Charlie's to grab some clothes to sleep in, and a book to read, but was surprised to see Charlie sitting at the small desk under the window.
"Ch-Charlie? Are you ok?" the older man glanced at her in the windows reflection, eyes dull and weary. She ventured further into the room, placing a hand on his strong shoulder. Charlie turned, clawing Alex closer, leaning his head into her stomach. She stood very still, unsure of what was about to happen, but knowing that Charlie was upset. That he was scared. The thirteen year old combed her fingers through his hair, loving the deep orange colour, a lovely deep copper.
"I'm so scared Alex."
"Charlie, you'll be fine - nothing's gunna-."
"Not for me! For you! For my mum! My dad, Bill, Ron, Ginny, Percy, the twins! Christ Alex - Any one of us could… and there's nothing - I can't protect you, not when you're all so far away." his eyes were moist with unshed tears, begging her to come up with an answer.
But if she told him to come back, then he'd be in danger. From what she'd been told about the first war, Voldemort hadn't spread any further than the U.K, and so didn't have many followers beyond. Charlie was safe in Romania.
"I don't know what to do." she whispered to him.
Charlie smiled up at her, taking in the scared look to her wide eyes, and her small, winter paled face. He stood, going to his dresser and pulling out a thick rugby jersey and a pair of boxer shorts for her to sleep in, turning away while she changed, and pulling on a pair of jogging bottoms himself. Alex sat on the edge of Bills bed, fingering the comforter and looking through the window panes to the stars and clouds.
"Would Bill mind if I..?"
"Of course not, you just get some sleep honey. Don't fret about anything." a flick of his wand and the lights went out, leaving her silhouette watching the skies, her body bleached of colour from the moon.
*20
Alex hated number 12 Grimmauld Place. It was dark, it stank, there was nothing to do, she couldn't leave the house, the furniture wouldn't let you sit on it, the doors wouldn't let you open them, the bathroom sink had spat on her not two days ago, and the only interesting thing in the house was the Hippogriff - and her dad had forbidden her to touch it. She turned fourteen in a week and none of her friends had a clue where she was - the usual camping trip had been cancelled due to the increase in death eater activity, and Charlie and Bill being needed in other places. Danny was still in Egypt, trying to recruit wizards and witches for the 'cause', letters arrived every morning with news - good and bad, terrifying and disappointing.
Ron and Hermione were worrying day and night about Harry, who still hadn't been picked up from his relatives, and the twins were driving everyone insane by apperating anything from two feet. Though she had enjoyed the rather graphic story about Charlie managing to splinch himself during his first test. Fred was being really nice, and keeping her company during most of the day's, with George tagging along a little more reluctantly joining in the fun they tried to have. Out of the two of them, Fred had surprisingly turned out to be the most serious. They let her sit in when they were making their jokes, but as she didn't know enough about potions to be of help, unless they explained what most of the ingredients were, she didn't understand what was going on.
Bill usually showed up once or twice a week, and Alex would ask about her brother, if Bill had seen him or gotten a letter from him. Bill tended to blush and stutter a reply about him being 'fine'. Alex wasn't always the most perceptive, but even she could tell that something most definitely wasn't 'fine'.
Dinner was always interesting, however, with Alex and Molly being pretty much the only constant in the house (discounting the broody Sirius due to his mood swings), the make up and conversations each night were always enlightening. Alex always liked it best when Tonks' showed up, as not only was she fantastic, but she cheered her dad up about the situation, and her youthfulness seemed to rub off on him. Molly always tried to put on a brave face, but the tension was always clear in the lines on her forehead.
Charlie didn't come back for the whole summer. And he missed Christmas. Alex wasn't allowed to send him any letters, and the house wasn't connected to the floo network officially, so even that was only used in emergencies. Occasionally they heard from him, but it was nothing more then him checking in, the same as the order made Harry do - just on a less frequent basis.
Fred thumped heavily onto the bed next to her. His red head laying on her flat stomach. They both stayed silent for a while, not bothering to greet the other with even a grunt. Alex due to the intense boredom she was trying to keep under wraps, and Fred because he couldn't think of anything to say. But it didn't matter, they had grown comfortable enough with each other over nine years that silence was accepted as an inevitable occurrence. Eventually, Ginny and George found them and joined them, followed closely by Ron and Hermione, who all folded themselves around and on top of each other. Although none of them spoke, they all understood what the silence screamed. They were all afraid of what the future held, and who they might loose in the inevitable blood bath that faced them. But they had each other. There was an untold bond through them, and extending to Harry, who they all feared for, that swore protection, honour, bravery and strength, that would be there to support and protect each other. If one of them was in trouble, they would all be there. They would die for each other. And nothing could break it.