Chapter 2

Charlie absently played with Ingrid's hair as he watched her eat. He didn't know how to talk to his mother right now and he was trying to think of the best way to drop that bombshell with the least amount of collateral damage. Although he thought he knew what her reaction would be, he wasn't one hundred percent sure, so he was hedging.

He was just about to open his mouth, when Ingrid piped in, "I can't wait to see Uncle George and Uncle Ron. They own the joke shop, you know. Uncle George wants to make a deal with Daddy."

"What sort of deal?" Molly asked.

"Product promotion," Charlie said. "The 3W's have a contract with the USA Quidditch League for official USAQL products, and George wants me to promote some of the products. Since I'm so famous and all," he joked.

"How exciting," Molly said. "Like what?"

Charlie shrugged. "Not sure. I'm supposed to meet with them and their marketing department while we're here. The Reds' owners think it's a wonderful idea." He had a tinge of sarcasm in his voice.

"Daddy's going to be doing commercials," Ingrid said. "Like on television."

"Television?" Arthur piped in. "How wonderful. Do you think we can watch?"

Charlie nodded. "Sure. It's probably too late for Christmas, but we'll see how good George's marketing team is. I'd like to get it over with the sooner the better. I'm not thrilled with the idea, but Guy Bingly told me to man up and take one up the, uh, take one for the team. I'm sure there are other players who will be doing the same thing. I wouldn't even consider it but," he shrugged, "it's family. What can you do?"

"Well, you are the face of American Quidditch," Arthur said. "It makes perfect sense."

"I guess," he said, grimacing. Charlie never understood his popularity with the press. He simply loved the game and just wanted to play. He was the most popular and most famous Quidditch player in America.

"Daddy, can we please go see Uncle George and Uncle Ron now?" Ingrid asked after she took her plate and glass to the sink. She wiped her mouth daintily with a napkin. "I'm ready to go now."

Suddenly, there was a loud "POP" and George appeared in the Weasley's kitchen. Ingrid jumped when she heard the noise; the sound always scared her a little bit.

"Oh, Uncle George. You're here. We were going to your store to see you." She sounded a little disappointed.

Charlie laughed and gave his brother a manly hug. "She thought she'd be getting a new toy. What did I tell you, Ingrid?"

She made a pouty face. "I wasn't going to ask for anything."

"Yeah, right. Well, I'll tell you right now, you're Uncle George is immune to the charms of children, especially cute little girls." He tapped her on the tip of her nose and she giggled. She didn't believe for one minute anyone in her family wasn't immune to her . She was a beautiful, sweet, and extremely polite little girl. She knew she could get what she wanted from her granddaddy, and Charlie was a sucker for her, too.

When Ingrid's mother died, Charlie was with at her side. He held them both until she slipped away. He took full responsibility for Ingrid, but he kept her last name, Johansen, out of respect for Jessica. She was doing much better, but she still woke up in the middle of the night crying for her mother. Minnie took excellent care of her and slowly but surely she was turning into a bright, very normal little witch.

"Oh, I don't know, Charlie," said George, "I might have a little something here I'm not using at the moment." He dug into his pocket and fished out a brightly colored kaleidoscope from his pocket and handed it to Ingrid. She squealed with delight gave her uncle a big hug.

"Thank you so much," she said. "I have always wanted one of these."

"So," Molly said, smiling. "Everyone knew you were coming but us?"

Charlie nodded. "I'm shocked that everyone kept the secret. But I'm glad because the look on your face was priceless. And I was hoping you wouldn't mind."

Molly gave her son a look and then smiled broadly. She touched his face. "I just wish Gretchen could have come."

Charlie stepped back quickly and turned away from his mother, leaving her standing with a confused look on her face. "I don't want to talk about it right now, all right? Come on, Ingrid, let's get ready to check on Minnie." He took his daughter's hand and they went upstairs where their luggage was already unpacked and the clothes were neatly put away. He dug into a dresser and pulled out a dress and a pair of tights. He slipped her dress over her head and quickly put the new dress on. He helped her put on her tights and she picked out the pair of shoes she wanted to wear. Ingrid was very fussy with her appearance and Charlie learned early on she wouldn't wear just any pair of shoes; they had to match her outfit.

"I'm sorry, Charlie," Molly said. "I didn't mean to pry."

"I know," he said buckling Ingrid's Mary Jane's. He kissed his daughter on the top of her head and she sat watching her father and Molly.

Charlie stood up and looked at his mother. She couldn't read his expression, so she waited for him to speak. He started to say something, but shook his head. Why was this so freakin' hard, he thought.

"Are you coming with us? I still want to take you out. And I thought we could do some Christmas shopping."

Molly sighed. "Of course, dear. I need to pick up a few things as well."

This was the stiffest either of them had been with each other. Normally Charlie could tell his mother everything.

"I don't know how long this is going to take. The mutt isn't magical, so I don't know how that'll work out. It might now be a big deal at all, but Minnie won't stay here if the little bastar--, uh, Hercules won't be let in."

"I'm pretty sure they will make accommodations," Molly said. She played with the hem of her apron.

"Are you ready, Ingrid?" Charlie asked holding his hand out for her. She nodded and took his and Molly's hand.

"I don't want to apparated. I don't like that," she said.

"Don't worry. We'll floo. You like to floo, don't you?" he asked.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Ready, Nan?"

"Just let me change clothes and I'll meet you downstairs," she said, pulling off her apron and patting her hair into place.

Charlie and Ingrid bounded down the stairs. George was eating a sandwich when they came down.

"Well?" he asked, swallowing a piece of bread and then taking a large drink of ice cold milk. "How did Mum react when you told her?"

"Shhh," Charlie said. "I haven't exactly told her yet."

George raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Don't wait too long; she's going to kill you, you know?"

"I know," Charlie said quickly. He heard a noise from behind him. He turned around quickly and saw him mother standing at the bottom of the stairs with a murderous look on her face. "Oh shit," he said under his breath.

"Charlie Weasley! What have you done now?"