Hermione listened for Charlie to go down the stairs before she locked the bathroom door. Though totally embarrassed, she felt she'd played it off okay by smiling and acting as if nothing was amiss. Stepping inside the cubicle shower, she realized she hadn't any clothes (aside from the ones she had been wearing), nor a towel, nor her wand. And all of her toiletries were two floors down inside of Ginny's room. "Shoot." She murmured to herself. Grabbing a bottle filled with an orangish gel, she puffed it toward her nose to smell. Ooh… I like this, she thought. It gave soft hints of amber and something else she couldn't place. Almost immediately an image of Charlie's face blurred her vision when she realized he had smelled just like it. A blush crept up her neck — silly. It wasn't like he was there watching her. Besides it wasn't as if she were doing anything wrong… it was just body wash that she hoped he'd not mind her using. Letting the firm patter of water hit her back, she groaned. Though they weren't visible, she had bruises up and down her spine. She ached whenever she turned a certain way. She pressed her fingers into her lower back, massaging it, but it sent up painful jolts. Bubbles pooled around her feet, the aroma was refreshing. Normally by now, if she were back in her own home, the water would start to become cold. She didn't look forward to leaving the safe haven.

Shivering as she got out, she noticed she stepped right onto her pile of clothes, soaking them. Idiot. She scolded, her mind was so boggled she hadn't even thought to place them somewhere they'd not get wet. She groaned with frustration as she bent down to retrieve them and set them on the toilet seat—where I should've put them in the first place... She reached for the hand towel and started to dry herself, only for the material to quickly dampen as it was so small. Hermione knew if she were to holler for Ginny, the youngest Weasley would start with a series of questions that would be completely irrelevant to her situation. And if she were to call for Charlie… then everyone would come poking up the stairs wondering why she needed him and not them. Holding her chin with her forefinger and thumb, she constructed a plan. The best she could come up with: covering herself with the soaked T-shirt, creep along the wall into Charlie's room and from there, she could borrow one of his shirts and jogging bottoms until she could get to Ginny's room and dress properly.

Peeking out the door, she gripped her clothes tightly to her body. "Hello?" she practically whispered. No one answered. Charlie's room was just a few steps away. Quickly pulling herself from the washroom, she pressed her back against the wall. Her bum tingling at the sudden cold touch. The air was definitely chillier than inside the bathroom, but she was already halfway there. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and she froze, holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut, hoping she'd camouflage into the interior. A door shut. She exhaled and tiptoed only a few feet more until she was at her destination. She heard: "Anyone know where 'Mione went?" Ron. Letting out an unsteady breath — had Charlie not told them what he said he would? Finally there, she inserted herself through his semi-closed bedroom door and shut it.

Inside it was dark. She felt around blindly for a candle; she hadn't excelled in wandless magic, but she could at least ignite a flame by hand. Feeling a waxed figure, she touched the top for the wick; charcoaled and burnt many a time. Waving her hand over it, a soft glow dimmed his room. It definitely hadn't been lived in for some time. His bed was made with a dark green quilt, folded over showing mismatched sheets. His walls were covered in astronomy posters and one specifically titled: 101 facts about Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragons! The corner of her mouth curved crookedly. She studied his walls and room in awe of all the things she had never pegged Charlie a lover of. A photograph of he and his brothers and a toddler Ginny caught her attention, next. They were all sitting on a red quilt in their backyard with a basket full of treats. Percy sat away from them all reading a book and paying no mind to his siblings. Ron, funnily enough, was eating on a sandwich not taking the time to smile. Fred and George were holding a stretched out slinky, smiling widely as they slinked it back together. Hermione felt the tears swelling up and her chest begin to hurt. She sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand when she landed on Charlie. He was about twelve and his hair was being mussed up by Bill. His look of aggravation was something she had familiarized herself with quite quickly. But the love was there within all of them and it was very heartbreaking that it'd never be that way again.

THUMP!

Hermione jumped, dropping her clothes forcing her to remember she was still butt-naked standing in Charlie Weasley's room.

THUMP!

Dust fell from the ceiling this time. It was the ghoul acting up again. Feeling like an intruder on Charlie's privacy, she opened the top drawer of one of the three dressers inside his room. It was luckily filled with clothes he must've left behind after he left for the Dragon Reserve. She pulled out a larger black shirt with three yellow dragons and the words English National Quidditch Team … throwing it over her head, the smell of fresh cotton filled her nose.

Rummaging through the next few drawers, she finally found a pair of jogging pants. She caught a glimpse of herself in the standing mirror. His clothes were much too large on her, but they were extremely comfortable. After gathering her own garments from the floor, before blowing out the candle she took one final look at his room. She wasn't paying much mind to anything when she opened the door only to collide right into Charlie's chest.

"Oomph!" She stepped back and looked right into his eyes. "Charlie! Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. I was —" she watched as his eyes scanned over her in curiosity. "I needed to borrow some clothes. I will get these washed and brought right back to you."

He chuckled as he scratched behind his ear. "Er, no it's alright. You can keep 'em."

Hermione's face nearly fell, "Oh, no… that wouldn't be right. I wasn't trying to invade your privacy… I didn't have any clothes up here and I had soaked mine." She held up the wet outfit for him to see.

He threw up his hands in a friendly gesture, still smiling. "It's fine, Hermione. I don't mind. You could've called for one of us to bring you your things."

She dug a heel of one of her palms into an eye. "I realize this… but I wasn't thinking practically. And of course I don't want to bother anyone with me as everyone has…" She gulped. "I'm sorry for going into your room…. without asking and for taking your clothes without your invitation. It was wrong of me and I promise I'll get them cleaned and brought back to you."

Charlie creased his brows together as he observed the woman standing before him. He never noticed the freckles over the bridge of her nose. Or the plumpness to her lips and her familiar smell of his shampoo. Feeling a bit overbearing inside his mind and toward her, he stepped aside, freeing her from his room.

She was a bit confused at this gesture, but she didn't say anything and went on around him. He caught another whiff of her hair as she passed. His mouth quirked into an involuntary smirk.

….

Charlie entered the kitchen. He still couldn't get the birthmark of the girl upstairs out of his thoughts.

He barely heard his mother speaking when he sat down beside his sister.

Molly was looking out the window, wiping her hands over her apron. "Looks like Hattie Mulligan is making her way up the drive. Charlie, love… would you mind telling her we're not up for visitors now?"

The auburn-haired man looked up with widened eyes, "Oh no, please, no," he said, shaking his head frantically.

Scoffing, his mother threw a hand in the air, "Well, why not? You're most acquainted with her!"

"Mum…" Charlie began, but was interrupted for Molly to say: "Fine. Ron you go! Now tell me, Charles Weasley, what you did to that poor girl."

"He broke her heart," Bill answered for him, sniggering behind his napkin.

"I did no such thing!" Charlie eyed his brother menacingly, flaring nostrils and all. "And you know it, Bill. The girl is wonky."

Bill chuckled loudly. "It's true enough!"

"What do you mean by zat?" Fleur asked curiously.

"Nothing sweetheart." Bill winked at his wife. She answered with an eye roll.

Molly stuck her neck out, furthering for them to go on. "Mum, you really just don't want to know. Honest." Charlie's face turned a deep red. He was one to push limits in life…amongst other things… but Hattie Mulligan was a completely different story.

"No. I really do! Out with it," she scolded.

Bill finally cleared his throat, "Mum, in all seriousness you do not want to know. It's not appropriate."

Molly sighed, lowering her shoulders in defeat. "Well, fine. Charlie, did you see Hermione when you came down?"

He shook his head, "No. But I heard the shower running." He said it so quickly he didn't catch the odd look coming from his older brother.

Ron came sauntering back inside, throwing a hard thumb over his shoulder, "She's a bit off her rocker, isn't she?" he asked toward Charlie and Bill, which threw them into a fit of laughter.

"Wha—what did…" Bill could hardly catch his breath. "What did she offer you, little brother?"

Charlie was cowering over the table hiding his reddened face, though not doing much to cover his snorts of amusement.

"Well, she said if I needed anything — like a bl—"

"NO!" Bill and Charlie yelled in unison, standing up. Causing the whole of the family to turn to them in surprise.

Ron's ears went pink when he realized his brothers were pointing at their mum — who was standing with her arms crossed and ready for whatever was about to come out of her youngest son's mouth. "Right…" he nodded. "She just said she was here for us…" his face still pink.

Ginny stood from the table and exclaimed, "You lot sound about as batty as you make Hattie Mulligan out to be!" and left the kitchen.

Ron looked over at Harry who was smiling wildly, as he hadn't had this much humorous entertainment in a while. "Anyone know where 'Mione went?" Ron asked.

Charlie had almost forgotten about the woman he had left upstairs, his thoughts beginning to turn into water droplets over her skin… and…

"Harry, let's go for a walk!" Ginny interrupted as she pranced back into the room. "We should talk."

"Oooh…," the eldest Weasley's teased, earning them a glare from their baby sister.

Charlie started up to his room, he could subtly smell the use of his shampoo and body wash lingering. As he hit the final stair, he noticed the bathroom door was ajar and the door to his room was closed. Interesting. Not that he was in hopes of seeing the woman naked or anything, he was fairly curious as to why she had gone into his room. He was just about to turn the knob when the wind of the door opening blew into his face. Her hair wasn't as frizzy and abstract as normal; it was dampened but slowly curling up. Her eyes were guilty and he couldn't help but take in a breath of her freshness. He tried to fight the oncoming inappropriate thoughts away. "Charlie! Oh my goodness!" she said, her voice melodic.

….

The next morning Hermione stared at the picture as she held the tray full of glasses she was getting ready to set out onto one of the tables inside the tent.

"He was so full of life, wasn't he?" The woman jumped at Molly's voice. Molly chuckled and patted Hermione's back. "Sorry, dear. Didn't mean to startle you." She took the tray from the younger woman's hands and went on to set them where she wanted. Ron came out with a bundle of Sweet Pea flowers, giving Hermione a brief smile before he fell into conversation with his mother.

Feeling slightly put off, Hermione headed back to the house. Harry awaited her by the door. He gave her a crooked smirk and said, "Can I speak with you? I need some advice."

"Of course." She was ready as ever to be there for him, as she felt no one really wanted her help with anything.

They started toward the wider creek further down from the Burrow, nestled into a nice alcove of rocks, moss, and other floral hanging from the trees. They sat upon a larger rock, watching as the water rippled over the pebbles, tadpoles and fish swimming by. Briefly Hermione wondered what it'd be like to not have a care in the world such as those small animals. "I remember the first time I came out here… George and…" Harry's eyes moved to his feet. He took a shuddering breath. Hermione reached over and took his hand, rubbing her thumb over it lightly. "Fred," he said, "they and Ron had rescued me from my aunt and uncle's, do you remember? Before our second year?" His eyes were beginning to water. "I needed a moment alone, you know? To think… it was nice knowing I had a family that cared about me and I didn't know how to really understand it. So, I went for a walk and I had come across this place, not knowing that Fred and George would be out here." He wiped his nose. Hermione listened quietly, a look of sorrow over her features.

"Everyone always had this outlook that the Weasley twins were these maniacal, funny people… but they were so much more. I didn't notice them when I sat down over there." He pointed to a further rock. "But they came upon me and asked if I was okay, Ii I needed anything… and that they were there to listen at any time. I don't think I had ever seen them so serious ever since…until the battle." Harry brought a hand up to wipe away the fallen trail of tears from his cheek. "When I was running to find the Grey Lady, they stopped me for just a brief minute and asked if I was okay, if I needed anything… and that once this was all over, they'd be there to listen at anytime. I don't really remember saying anything back to them. I took it for granted, I guess." Hermione wrapped an arm over Harry's shoulders pulling him closer to her.

"I think that once this is all over, perhaps you should ask George if he needs someone to talk to," Hermione suggested in a whisper.

Harry nodded against her shoulder, "I agree. I think I will." He sighed and straightened himself up, "Now for advice."

Hermione knew Harry didn't like lingering on anything for too long, so she set aside the sad feelings of Fred for that moment. "Alright, what is it?"

"Minister Shacklebolt asks if I could give him an answer by the start of next month about the job offer for becoming an Auror. I think that I might do that still."

Hermione smiled, "Harry, I think that is wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. It's something that you've wanted to do for some time now, isn't it?"

"Yes, I want to root out the bad! I want to… catch whoever did that to Fred… to Lupin… to Tonks…" he said determinedly.

Hermione could see the fierce look in his eyes. She understood; she, too, wanted justice for all those they'd lost.

"I'll write to him this evening to let him know I will accept the job," Harry said. "I wonder if Ron will as well… have you decided if you'll go back to school?"

Hermione's shoulders slumped. "Mmm… well, no. Not really. I haven't given much of anything a thought. I know that as soon as I feel brave enough to face my parents, I'd like to retrieve them from Australia."

It was Harry's turn to comfort his friend. He reached over and took Hermione's hand into his own, "If you want me to go with you, I will. Just tell me when."

"Thank you, but I think it might be something I need to do on my own. However when I decide to go, you'll be the first to know."

He nodded, "I understand. So will you and Ron… you know rekindle what happened at Hogwarts?"

She sighed. Honestly, she hadn't thought much about what happened between them. "No… but I was so stressed during the battle and I needed to know that in the end I had him by my side… that sounds horrible I know."

Harry shrugged, "I don't think so. I think that you're human and you're allowed to feel a certain way… especially when you're in the middle of danger and death. You should talk to him about it. Because I think he's feeling kind of out of the loop about it. He told me last night that he wasn't sure what to think."

"I will…" she promised.

….

"Have you seen Harry and 'Mione?" Ron asked Charlie.

"No, they're your friends… why don't you keep up with 'em, mate?" Charlie teased.

Ron shrugged, "I dunno. They do it a lot... go missing. Sometimes I feel like they don't think I can be good in a discussion."

Charlie could understand that, as his brother could seem a little out of it sometimes. But he didn't say it. He reached over and mussed Ron's hair. "I doubt that. Maybe they are in love and don't want you to know."

Ron's ears reddened. "Humm. Well, I hope not."

Charlie lowered his head in question, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, because I li — oh, there they are! I'll see you in a bit, Charlie."

The older man watched as Ron went into the alcove where his two mates were sitting in full realization that his brother was in love with Hermione Granger.

"Hey, you two, the wake's 'bout to start!" He heard him say, then watched the three of them walk to the tent, readying themselves to say goodbye.

Charlie walked into the house and poured himself a cup of coffee. Even though the day was already sad and he was in mourning, he found himself morose at the idea of Ron and Hermione and he had no idea why.

….

"What's he doing here?" Ron asked. Hermione and Harry followed his line of sight toward the tall silvery-haired man, Draco Malfoy. Following close behind him were Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott.

Hermione noticed one of Ron's hands clenched into a fist. She laid a calming hand on his shoulder and whispered,"A lot has changed, Ron… I'm sure they aren't here to start trouble."

Not showing any sign of listening, she did see his hand unclench and he moved them into his pockets instead. "If they start any trouble, I swear it, I'll kill 'em," he murmured.

It was Harry's turn to say something. "You know I'd be the first on that train. But I really don't have a bad feeling about them being here."

Ron didn't say anything and went on to sit beside his sister and brothers.

Hermione didn't feel any trouble in her gut either, but was fairly surprised that Draco Malfoy would show his face here of all places, no matter the circumstance. Harry squeezed her hand and went over to Ron and the rest of the Weasley clan.

Hermione looked over at them, a sea of variegated red hair. Molly's a deep copper tinged with white and age on the sides and just as curly as her own. Arthur's a faded strawberry red, but no signs of grey or balding. Bill's hair was fiery and long, which he was constantly nagged about by Molly. And Charlie… Hermione let out a quick breath at the surprise of not seeing the man sitting amongst his family. She scanned over the six people — not including Harry — again, and sure enough he wasn't there. For whatever reason, this seemed to bother Hermione. Her eyes wandered through the tent at the abundance of people and Charlie Weasley was nowhere to be found. Without notice, she picked up the skirts of her summer dress and walked out of the tent and into the Burrow. She wasn't sure how long the hunt would be for the man, but dammit! She would make sure he'd be there to support his family. She didn't have to make it too far when she stepped into the kitchen to find Charlie standing at the sink with a coffee mug in his hand.

"Hermione," he said with a deep sorrow in his tone.

A chill fell over her shoulders. Perhaps a brisk wind came through the window— but the window was closed. She cleared her throat, "Are you all right?"

He chuckled darkly. His hand curved around the sink, and his other set the mug down. "I shouldn't have to be doing this, you know?" That question held much more meaning than she knew.

Hermione thought she knew exactly what he was saying. He shouldn't have to be saying goodbye to his younger brother. She didn't say anything. She didn't move, she stood there uncomfortably with her hands twisted in knots. Charlie turned to her, rudeness evident in his tone and his manner, "Why are you here, Hermione?"

Taken aback by the question, she felt her jaw drop open and her body freeze up. "I'm… m-m-m… well, I —" For the first time since Hermione was in her first year at Hogwarts, she felt completely speechless. Get it together, Granger. "Because you all are my family," she said without missing a beat but her face red with embarrassment.

"What about the real one?" he asked. But before Hermione could answer, he said, "You're taking advantage. You have two people that love you. At the moment they don't even know you exist, and here you are, acting as if they don't exist… they are alive and you should be spending more time with them. They don't deserve what you're doing to 'em."

She couldn't even stand up for herself before he stormed past her, leaving her dumbfounded and sick to her stomach.

As soon as he heard the gravel crunch beneath his boots, he stopped. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He shouldn't have been so hard on her, but he also knew that he needed to rid the thoughts he'd been having of her. He needed to forget the pretty little birthmark on her lower back. He needed to forget about Hermione Granger.

….

Hermione sat on the opposite side of the tent, the tears in her eyes were of two different things. One, of course, for the loss of Fred. And now — the way Charlie Freaking Weasley treated me! She kept her head turned toward the speaker, which was Lee Jordan at the moment. He was busy telling stories about he and the twins' endeavors through their years at Hogwarts. Which caused a few ooh's and ahh's as well as pursing of Molly's lips with the struggle to keep from laughing.

Hermione tried to laugh along with everyone else, but she couldn't find it in her. Chancing a glance over at Charlie, she found he was slouching in his chair, with his arms crossed and a fine line over his lips. He wasn't having the stories either, apparently. She just wanted to know why he turned on her so suddenly. What did she do to piss him off that badly for him to act like that toward her? She was well aware of the pain and suffering the Weasleys were going through… but what he said to her was unfair and mean and there was a bigger problem lying beneath his words. She sighed heavily, causing her neighbor to look over at her with a raised brow. Hermione whispered a quick sorry then turned back to Lee. He was finished soon after, and George walked up before everyone. He looked sharp, his hair combed to the side, and he stood taller than usual.

"By now, Fred and I would normally have some sort of joke or prank for you lot, but seeing as he's not here…" he swallowed hard. "He was my best mate. He was there for me when I felt as if I had no one else. He helped me through tough times… a lot of you don't know this but, I struggled back at Hogwarts with a lot of things. It wasn't as bad as it was after Sirius died for the most part." He looked over to Harry. "Sirius taught us a lot of … being a fellow Marauder." He smirked, knowing Harry would understand just that. "But, I also dealt with problems on the outside of laughter and fun. I go back and forth between anxiety and depression. Sometimes, it'll be just for a day… then there are times it'd be for months… most of the time it could be one or the other, but I fell into both about a year ago and started drinking heavily." The whole tent was quiet. No one knew this aside from the Weasley Family — not even Harry or Hermione. "I couldn't get out of this funk. I wanted to stay in bed all day, I didn't want to go out and play a game of Quidditch. I wouldn't shower for days, I wouldn't eat. I couldn't eat. My mind was constantly going on and on and on and it wouldn't shut up. I was afraid that if Mum walked out of the house she'd be taken hostage by Voldemort. I was afraid that dad would get attacked again. I was afraid that Ron, Harry, and Hermione wouldn't make it back from trying to save the world. And I dreamt about each of these situations for weeks, months at a time. I needed to get away from it. I needed to numb the fear. I needed to forget. I needed to forget so badly that… I wanted to die… and I almost did. But Freddie saved me from it." George wiped beneath his eyes, staring down at the floor, he continued to speak with the best that he could muster. "He talked me down. He comforted me, he held me like only a brother could, he showed me that it was normal to have these problems inside my mind, and that we're only human. We're only human." His lip quivered, "I came home that night after it happened. I grabbed a bottle of gin and I sat inside mine and Freddie's room for five days straight. I barely slept, I didn't drink, but I stared at that bottle day in and out. Then a knock came to my door, reminding me again that I am human." He looked over at Charlie who was staring down at his feet, his hands knitted together, with his arms resting on his lap. "We all are and Fred wouldn't want us to be sad about his death. He'd want us to celebrate him and his life. So please, enjoy your time here with us while we say our goodbyes to my best friend."

The chairs were being turned into tables for everyone to gather and eat together. The girl who had originally sat beside Hermione sat with her now. "You okay?" she asked.

Hermione shook her head, "But I will be. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the information I just learned about George… but, anyway, I'm Hermione." She held out a hand to the woman.

"Mae," she said back, shaking Hermione's hand. "I agree. It's a lot to take in. But, at least we know he will make it through. And I know who you are. I've seen you all over just about every newspaper article."

Hermione sighed again, "Lovely." Which made Mae chuckle. "Take it ya don't like the fame?"

Hermione subtly shook her head. "Never was the one for it. Especially if Rita Skeeter has anything to say."

"Yes, that woman is a cockroach. Can't seem to ever get rid of her," Mae agreed.

Hermione half-heartedly smiled. "How do you know the family?" She observed the woman. She was very pretty. Much longer hair than her own, a dark chocolate brown with subtle waves. Her eyes were an envious green, but serene, no doubt.

"Oh, I'm Charlie's on-again, off-again girlfriend. But at the moment he's avoiding me," she said, looking over her shoulder nonchalantly at the man.

Hermione's eyes widened, "I didn't realize that Charlie was with anyone. I'm terribly sorry." A weird twist jumped in her stomach.

Mae waved the thought away, "No biggie. I'll talk to him soon. So you're friends with… Ron? Right?"

The younger witch nodded, "Mmhm. Going on eight years now."

Mae's eyes widened this time, "That's exciting. A budding romance between the two of you?"

Hermione nearly choked on the drink of water she was taking at the accusation. "No. I thought maybe at one time… but no." Speaking of, Harry and Ron settled themselves into the chairs at the table. They both nodded their greeting at Mae.

"Wow! Never thought I'd be sitting with the Golden Trio! What luck!" She smiled big, making the three uncomfortable. She could tell and looked down at her hands. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat quietly, unsure of what to say around the woman. They were looking in different directions until they heard Mae speak up again, "Char, I was wondering when you'd come see me. I was just meeting your brother and his friends."

Hermione watched the scene before her. Mae really seemed to love Charlie, with the way her eyes smiled up at the man. And Charlie didn't seem at all infatuated with the woman. "Come on, let's talk," he said, paying no mind to anyone else.

Mae looked slightly uncomfortable, but she nodded, "Okay. Well, it was really lovely meeting all of you today. My sincerest condolences and I hope to come across you again one day under better circumstances." She removed herself from the table waving her goodbyes.

Hermione tried to catch Charlie's eyes in the slyest way possible, but he didn't bother giving her even a glance as he laid a hand on the small of Mae's back.

"Weird… didn't know Charlie had a girl," Ron said animatedly.

Just the sound of Ron saying that disgusted Hermione and it angered her that it did. She didn't approve of any girl to be with him for the way he treated her inside earlier. It was rude and uncalled for.

"Mind if we sit?" a voice asked. She heard him from behind her. She could see the surprise and frustration in Ron's and Harry's eyes. Without any of them answering, Draco pulled out the chair beside her with Theo on the other, leaving Blaise to sit between Harry and Ron. "We need to talk. Granger, have you ever thought about M.F.A.?"

Hermione screwed her face looking over at the blond. "I beg your pardon?"

"M.F.A.," he said again, "Magical Forensic Anthropology."

….