Chapter 2

For the rest of the evening, Charlie participated in only a few conversations spending most of his time thinking about Hermione.

"What've you got to lose?" Jeremy had asked. "She's bloody brilliant, gorgeous, and does something and you also love. Besides, it's not like your family is here to see it or even have to know about it if everything goes south."

Jeremy made sense, it wasn't like they had to tell anyone outside of the reserve that they were seeing each other, they would only tell people if they thought it was worth it. And now that the journalists (Hermione called them vultures) had given up camping around the border of the reserve trying to get a glimpse of the war hero there wasn't much reporting done around them.

For the night though, Charlie would let it be and not bring it up in front of their friends. At least that was the plan, until Hermione sidled over towards him.

"Having fun?" She asked draining the rest of her glass.

"Yeah it's alright. Just wait until the thing actually hatches, that'll be a party."

"You want another?" Motioning for two more the bar tender brought their drinks and waited to be paid.

Hermione instinctively reached for her purse before Charlie stopped her. "You bought my first one, I owe you."

The paid sat chatting for the next few minutes laughing at the drunkenness of their friends before the guys all decided to take the girls home so they wouldn't embarrass themselves. "We should probably go too." Racing to finish the beer they had just ordered they met up with everyone outside. "Hop on."

Charlie crouched down a bit and Hermione jumped on his back like a koala bear. It was easy to carry her around being so strong and her being so little, but he almost dropped her onto her bum when he felt a small hand caressing Charlie's chest. It was a light touch, almost like it wasn't even happening but he felt it.

Depositing Hermione on her stoop and wishing her good night, Charlie ran to his fireplace and threw floo powder into the flames. "Shell Cottage." Sticking his head into the hearth he saw a tiny pair of legs running around the sitting room followed by much larger legs. "Bill!"

"Uncle Chawlie!"

"Hiya Victoire, being good for mummy and daddy?"

The little blonde nodded and smiled as Bill scooped her up and sat in front of the fire. "What's up?"

"I need your help, I think Hermione likes me."

The laughter was almost infectious, if Charlie hadn't felt so sick about it. "I don't think that's a problem mate."

"It is when I'm not entirely sure and I don't want to ruin the relationship we do have by bringing it up."

"Well, what's changed that makes you think she fancies you now?" Charlie told him everything. From walking in on her naked, to the looks at the pub, and her hand on his chest and when he was done Bill smiled. "I don't think it's just Mione who fancies someone Char."

"I know how I feel about her, I need help figuring out how she feels about me!"

"Why can't you just ask her?"

The simplest solution is not always the one you find first. It would have been a lot less stressful to just ask Hermione how she felt about Charlie, she would have thought it admirable even and wouldn't have changed their friendship, but it didn't seem romantic in any way.

"I could do that. Thanks Bill."

"Bye bye Uncle Chawlie!"

Leaving the fire place with a plan forming in his mind, Charlie decided to go to bed.

Early the next morning Hermione was in his kitchen yelling about their run, for having drank as much as she had the brunette was awfully awake.

"Let's go." Charlie said jumping down the stairs and strapping on his arm holster. The run went as it usually did, until they got to the stretch of the run where they usually raced.

"I have a new wager today," Looking over he could see that Hermione was interested. "You get to make your own but if I win today I get to take you out on a date."

"Alright, let's do this."

"What happens if you win?"

There was no answer, Hermione broke out into a full on run which caught Charlie by surprise. He bolted after her catching up after only a moment and with one last shred of energy pulled out in front to bet Hermione home. Standing in front of their houses gasping for air Charlie looked worried.

"You don't have to-"

"I want to. You can pick me up at eight." Smiling, Hermione walked away and into her house knowing that her bum swayed just the right way to catch Charlie's eye.

Their rotation had off that day so Hermione spent the next few hours showering, making sure her hair looked just right and picking out several outfits she could wear. Shoving the clothes into her bag she made her way to the hatchery.

"Hey Tessa, I need your help."

"What's up Hermione?"

Tessa was tall, her brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun but her features were still soft. She was from America but had lived half her life in London so the mixed accent almost made Hermione feel at home.

"Well, I have a date tonight and I need help with what to wear." Ignoring the oohs and ahhs from her friend, Hermione started pulling out the outfits for Tessa to see.

"This one would be good for a dinner type date, a restaurant or something of the like. But this one is good for any type of activity, so say he takes you to a lake for a picnic or something you're not overdressed and it's comfortable but you're still showing off your stuff."

They went on for an hour catching up mixed with Tessa trying to guess Hermione's mystery date. Eventually Hermione said thanks and good bye before making her way back to the housing area.

Charlie was standing outside taking a scroll from an owl before taking off again. "Hey there."

"Hey yourself, collecting your fan mail?"

"Letter from George. I actually wanted to talk to you, before we go out tonight I thought I should let you know that I have something planned that you'll want to be comfortable for."

"Good to know, thanks. Now I want to know why you asked me out."

It was just like Hermione to ask questions boldly Charlie had learned long ago to simply let her have the truth and no one would get hurt.

"Would you mind if I told you tonight?"

Smiling, the pair went into their respective houses to prepare for their date.

At eight o'clock Hermione was curled up in her chair reading when someone knocked at her door. She had been ready for nearly an hour feeling nervous that she would keep Charlie waiting.

But he was here, on the dot and Hermione gasped when she opened the door. He had brought her a bouquet of calla lilies and was wearing a tee shirt that made his biceps pop out of the sleeves. Setting the flowers in a vase Hermione was led out towards the broom closet by Charlie.

Pulling out his favorite broom he mounted it and pulled Hermione on in front of him, flying wasn't something either of them was afraid of and yet their bodies shivered. The trip out was easy and fast, the night was warm and the wind on their faces was pleasant. When Charlie brought the broom over a hill, the sight made her gasp.

The lake was crystal clear, shining with the setting sun and rising moon combined. The shores were empty with beaches of golden sand. When Charlie landed he led her to a blanket he had set up for a picnic, inside the basket was a bottle of elf wine, grapes, cheese, crackers, and cold chicken.

For the rest of the date, the pair just sat and talked, getting to know each other in more innocuous ways, favorite small things that wouldn't have been noticed or cared by anyone else, foods that they enjoyed, and funny stories.

"So, you said you would tell me why you asked me out tonight."

"I did," Charlie took a long drink and smiled. "Hermione I think you're one of the most brilliant people I have ever met. You're funny, and intelligent, and you're brave. You like dragons almost as much as I do sometimes and you're always willing to learn something new, there isn't much that you're willing to hide from and I admire that. I think I've fancied you for a long time and I'm just now realizing it and feeling like it's okay to act on. You're no longer my little brothers best friend, you're my friend now and we've gotten close over this past year, I'd like to be even closer if you're up for it."

The silence following Charlie's speech was broken by a giggle. A cute, small, and happy giggle. Hermione reached out with her small soft hand and grasped Charlie's larger calloused one. Together, they watched the stars holding hands.

When the wine was emptied they flew back to the reserve and walked slowly towards the houses.

Making it to Hermione's door Charlie leaned against the doorframe. "I had a really wonderful night Mem,"

"I did too Charlie. I'd like to do this again sometime."

Closing the distance between them, Charlie leaned down until his lips met Hermione's. The kiss was soft and slow, and thought it was only one kiss it felt as if Hermione had been properly snogged, her knees were weak and her breath was taken away.

"Would you like to come in for a night cap?"

Shocked, Charlie remained quiet before nodding his head. While Hermione was not afraid of being bold, he wasn't sure she had ever been so forward. She grabbed two glasses and poured more wine into them before bringing one over to Charlie and sitting with him on the couch.

It wasn't long before they were snogging again, this time rushed and heated. Wrapping her legs around Charlie's strong waist, Hermione was laid down on the couch with her date hovering over top of her kissing down her neck and color bone, sucking on the soft spot where her neck and shoulder met, and nibbling lightly.

Hermione ran her cool hands up inside Charlie's shirt scratching at the soft skin. Charlie broke away and pulled his shirt roughly over his head and placing his hands on Hermione's midsection underneath her shirt. His chest was hard with muscle and made Hermione groan thinking about it, thinking of the things he could do and how he could move them around excited her. Her shorts hung low on her hips as it was but she could feel the need to tug them lower, Charlie seemed to have read her mind because his hands deftly moved to unbutton them and shimmy them down her legs, sitting up so he could pull them restrictive clothes off of her long tan legs.

Taking the moment, Hermione stood and started walking towards the stair case leaving a trail of clothes in her wake. Reaching the top of the stairs Charlie picked her up and continued towards the bedroom where he laid her on the bed and started kissing down her body; her perky and firm breasts, toned abdomen, and her hips.

There was something about the morning sun that made it always land right on your face. Hermione stirred under the blankets, her body was sore in ways it hadn't been for a long time. The warmth of Charlie's arm draped over her midsection caused Hermione to open her eyes and try to remember what had happened, her early morning stupor made her shocked to see the stoned chest of Charlie in bed next to her.

"Morning," He mumbled pulling her body close to his.

"Good morning, do you want to skip the run today?"

"I would much rather spend the morning in bed with you."

And so they did just that, staying in bed reading and shagging a couple more times until they decided it would be a good idea to get out of the house for a little bit.

A/N: Not super in love with the way this chapter ended, but I want to start what I have next in a new chapter. Sorry every one.