Chapter 2: The Morning After
Hermione woke to a splitting headache. Memories of the previous night flooded her head as she slowly sat up. "I swear I am never drinking again." She quickly hopped in the shower hoping it would help. After a long hot shower, Hermione wrapped herself in a towel and exited the bathroom, only to run headlong into Charlie. "Shit!" Charlie dropped the hangover potion he was carrying, spilling it all over Hermione and the floor. In her haste to back away from him, Hermione's foot hit the puddle, sending her flying. Charlie attempted to stop her from falling, only to end up pulling the towel from Hermione instead.
"Well I would say I'm sorry but… damn what a view!" Charlie grinned as he looked down. Hermione blushed and curled into a ball, trying to cover her ample breast with her hair and hands.
"Charlie how dare you say such a thing! Give me my towel and turn around!" Hermione all but screamed.
Charlie just chuckled, "I don't think I will, and if that tramp stamp of your is any indication you don't want me to either!" Hermione's blush deepened as she realized what he said was true. Her tattoo had bloomed, and was now recognizable as a cherry branch. The necklace had begun slipping off, and the cocoon had begun to crack open.
"I… umm …I," she stuttered, trying to deny the feeling of lust she was getting watching Charlie eye her. "Oh hell." Hermione gave in to the inevitable, and turned over, giving Charlie the full view. She was surprised to see him grinning.
"Who would have thought that Hermione Granger would be turned on by being seen naked. Kinky."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied, trying to figure out just how to get out of her predicament. It was then, looking into Charlie's twinkling, deep blue eyes that it hit her like a sack of bricks. She, Hermione Jean Granger, had a crush on the rugged dragon tamer from Romania. She felt the tattoo on her back change again as the realization took hold. She knew that now it would show the necklace barley hanging on, and orange showing through the split in the cocoon. What she didn't know was that Charlie had spotted the change too.
"Very interesting Mya," He grinned cockily. He started to hand her the towel, but changed his mind and pulled Hermione to her feet instead. Hesitating only a second, he pulled her into his strong arms. Running a hand appreciatively down her back, he settled it over the tattoo. "Very interesting indeed." His lips crashed down onto Hermione's causing her to gasp in shock. Charlie took advantage and slipped his tongue into the depths of her mouth.
Hermione felt her knees go weak and Charlie tighten his hold in response. She allowed the kiss to go on for several minutes before pushing away. "Charlie as much as I want this," she hesitated.
"Now isn't the time or place," he finished for her. Handing her the towel, he mumbled something under his breath before sighing loudly. "Look, I'll be in town for another week, if you change your mind you know where I'll be." He started towards the door.
"Charlie wait!" Hermione just couldn't stand to watch him leave. "Give me a minute and let's talk about this." She hurried into her bedroom, not waiting to see if he had listened to her or not, hoping that he had. When she emerged, Hermione found Charlie sitting on the couch with a cup of tea waiting for her.
"Before you say anything I need you to know something. I'm not sorry for what I did. Between the way you looked last night and that damn tattoo of yours, it was only a matter of time." Hermione stopped breathing upon hearing these words. "You can sit there and play innocent all you want, but I know you were planning on seducing me the minute you stepped down that hallway. What I don't know is why after all these years of casually flirting you decided that now was the time to step our relationship up a level." Hurt was written across Charlie's face as he scuffed his toes across the carpet, waiting for Hermione to reply.
Tears were threatening to spill down Hermione's face as she searched for the right words. "Look Gin put me up to it, but truthfully…" she hesitated again, "as soon as you walked through the door I made up my mind." Blushing, she whispered the next words. "Charlie I think somewhere deep down I want more than just a one night stand." She looked up to see confusion in Charlie's deep blue eyes.
"What do you mean Gin put you up to it?"
"She wanted me to find out if you knew about her engagement to Harry. I could have found a dozen different ways to ask but wanted… no needed the excuse to flirt." Hermione paused. "What can I say to make you understand?"
Charlie licked his lips. "Hermione for one of the smartest people I know you sure can be dumb sometimes." He leaned over, catching her by surprise as he brushed his lips across hers. "All you had to do was ask." Hermione knew he wasn't talking about Ginny anymore.
She returned the kiss before asking; "Charlie Weasley would you like to go on a date with me?"
"I would be honored Mya." Charlie kissed her again, before standing. "Pick you up at eight?"
Hermione grinned, "Sounds like a plan." She followed him to the door, and after one more kiss, watched him Apparate with a pop. Whistling she went to her closet to see if she could find anything else that Bridgette may have left behind.
A/N: I know that I am completely evil, but the Muse Fairy wants what she wants. I plan on adding to this story later, so please read and review!