.

It had been five years since the end of the second war. Five years since he left Romania to work at a dragon reserve in Wales. Five years since his long-distance relationship with his Romanian girlfriend ended abruptly when she wrote to tell him she'd found someone else. Five years since he decided that maybe he would be better off without a woman in his life.

It had been five years. Five years of being single, with the exception of a few flings. Five years living in his small flat… alone.

Then, after five years, everything changed.

~-~Ana means Grace~-~

Charlie Weasley shivered and shoved his hands into his pockets, hunching his shoulders in an attempt to keep warm. He was wandering down a street in muggle London, following the familiar path from the Leaky Cauldron to his flat.

Charlie scanned the shops around him. Something about the street seemed different… but he couldn't place it. It was usually quite a busy street, as it was quite a popular shopping area, but today it was quieter than usual.

Then, at that moment, something (or someone rather) caught his eye. It all happened very quickly, but Charlie still remembers every detail of that moment to this day.

She was walking towards him, carrying a large, heavy looking box while struggling to keep hold of a cup of coffee. A loud ringing sound suddenly came from her pocket and she was caught off guard. She stumbled a few steps… started to fall forwards… Her coffee started to tip and fall from her hands. All of this seemed to happen in slow motion. Then, everything sped up and Charlie acted instinctively. In one swift moment, he leapt forward, snatched the coffee cup out from mid-air with one hand and grabbed the woman's elbow with the other, preventing her from tripping over.

The woman yelped in surprise, looking amazed that she was still standing. Her eyes turned and met Charlie's. She had olive skin, and warm brown eyes. Her jet-black hair was thick and wavy, and pulled back in a messy knot, several strands hanging over her face. She wore faded jeans, a pale yellow t-shirt and an old, baggy grey cardigan.

Then she blinked and the moment was gone. Charlie realised he was still holding her elbow and let go abruptly, his cheeks warming.

"Um, here." He said awkwardly, offering her the coffee cup back.

"Oh. Thanks." The woman said with a smile. She had a strange accent that Charlie couldn't place. She tried to take the coffee cup from him but she couldn't move much other than her wrist and hand or she'd drop the box. A small crease appeared between her eyebrows as she tried to clutch the coffee cup and the tip of her tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth. Charlie felt himself grin at her expression and surprised himself by thinking 'she's cute'.

"Would you like me to get that for you?" he asked. She looked up at him, surprised, as if she'd forgotten he was there.

"Um…" she looked at him, then the coffee, then her hand and the box. "Yes please." Charlie smiled at her and took the box. It was heavy, but nothing Charlie couldn't handle- he'd carried heavier. The coffee cup was now gripped awkwardly in his hand since he was now holding the box and the cup. "Thank you." The woman said, flexing her fingers now that she was free of the box. Charlie winked at her in response and shifted the box so that he held it in one hand and the other hand was free for him to pass her the coffee cup. She blushed and took it.

"Um… so were you taking this far?" He asked.

"Oh, no." The woman replied, "Just here actually." She gestured to the shop they stood next to, and Charlie suddenly realised what was different about the street. This shop (which used to be a run-down florist) was boarded up.

"Okay." Charlie grinned and gestured for her to lead the way. She opened the door of the shop for him and walked inside. Charlie noticed that without the load of the box, she was very graceful. She pushed a strand of black hair out of her face as Charlie followed her into the shop and placed the box among many others on the floor. The shop was dusty and lots of newly made shelves had been added to the walls, which were all newly painted a light yellow colour, like the woman's t-shirt. Charlie looked at the contents of the other boxes and realised why this box was so heavy.

"Books." He said. "You're starting a book shop?" He turned to the woman who smiled and nodded. He looked at her for a second, realising how pretty she was. "Is this all you've got so far?" He asked, looking at the five boxes that were on the floor. The woman grimaced.

"Um, no actually, there are three more in my car." She said.

"Would you like me to help bring them in?" Charlie asked. The woman blushed.

"If it isn't too much trouble." She said quietly.

"Not at all." Charlie grinned. "Lead the way."

As he followed her outside to her car, part of him started to try and stop him: Stop it, Charlie! It said. You said you wouldn't get involved with anyone; it'll only lead to disaster, just like last time. Just make up an excuse and leave! Don't do this to yourself- she's got to be at least five years younger than you, and she's a muggle! A muggle! There is no way this would ever work out!

Charlie almost listened to his rational side, but then he arrived at the woman's car and turned to smile at him, and suddenly he'd forgotten everything his rational side had just told him.

~-~-~

Three boxes later, Charlie straightened up and ran a hand through his messy hair.

"Thank you so much!" The woman said, "This is such a big help."

"No problem." Said Charlie. "I'm Charlie, by the way. Charlie Weasley." The woman looked taken aback.

"Ana Blakelock." She said.

"Ana." Charlie repeated, with a small smile. "That's a Romanian name." He said.

"Um, actually I'm from New Zealand, but err, my name comes from the pacific islands." She said. So that's where her accent was from.

"Oh, New Zealand, huh?" Charlie said.

"Yeah." Ana said. There was a short pause before she asked "Are you from Romania?"

"Oh, um, no." Charlie shook his head. "But I lived there for a while. I worked at an animal reserve."

"Oh, awesome." Ana grinned. Charlie smiled at her; he couldn't stop staring at her face.

"Ana means Grace." He said quietly.

"What?" Ana asked, sounding confused.

"In Romania. The name Ana means grace." He met her eyes. "It suits you." He said softly.

"Thank you." She breathed, staring right back at him. And Charlie decided to take a chance.

"Hey… I know we just met, but would you… would you like to come out for dinner with me tomorrow?"

Ana's cheeks turned pink and she smiled. "Sure." She said shyly.

"Great." Charlie said happily. "I'll pick you up at eight."

~-~-~

They spent the next evening at a small restaurant in muggle London, and then Charlie took her to a nearby park, where he showed her a spot where they could watch the sunset. Once the sun had disappeared behind the horizon, Charlie took Ana's hand. She almost didn't notice… it felt so natural. Then, he leant forward and kissed her.

They went out for a year before Charlie revealed that he was a wizard.

They stayed together for another year before Ana opened a new branch of her bookshop in Diagon Alley.

Another year passed and then Charlie proposed. They were married a few months later.

One year later, Ana gave birth to their first child: Ellie

And one more year later, Charlie, Ana and Ellie went on a walk in Hogsmeade; where Ana was thinking of opening up a third shop.

And Charlie realised that it had been five years since he'd met Ana.

Five years since everything changed.

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A.N- To my best friend and sister Ana.B! I love you too!!

Again, feedback appreciated!

Toff.x