Thank you for everyone who has followed and favorited this story. This chapter is a long one! I hope you enjoy!
Second, third and fourth year of Hogwarts passed by with little change in the life of Charlie and his three best friends lives. Dev continued to excel in Potions and was scraping Accetable's in Transfiguration with the help of Ophelia by the time they started their fifth year. Amory was still part of the gobstone club and had begun dating a rather nice boy from Hufflepuff called Norvel Bonham in the middle of their fourth year of Hogwarts. Ophelia had secured her place in the Gryffindor Quidditch team at the end of second year and had managed to retain it ever since. Ophelia, Charlie and the rest of the team had won the Quidditch Cup in second year and secured the cup every subsequent year.
When Charlie was in fourth year his brother Percy had started at Hogwarts. Percy took school very seriously and had amassed a group of studious friends, largely from Ravenclaw house. With his glasses and his hand me down clothes Percy was ripe for bullies but managed avoid teasing from all but the Slytherins. Having Bill Weasley, the coolest student in Hogwarts, and to a lesser extent Charlie Weasley, the Quidditch hero as brothers probably helped his cause considerably.
Charlie had been asked to be Quidditch Captain at the start of his fifth year, becoming the youngest Quidditch captain in almost thirty years. Mrs Weasley had been so proud that she had gushed about to everyone she talked to over the summer. Although she had not been quite as gushing about the appointment as she had been about Bill being made a prefect. Charlie didn't let that bother him as he felt no need to compete with Bill. Charlie enjoyed Quidditch and there had been some talk from Madam Hooch of introducing the young seeker to some of the scouts for professional teams. Charlie thought that this was unlikely to come to fruition but it was not immune to the compliment.
Another passion Charlie had found was the class Care for Magical Creatures. He had begun it in third year of Hogwarts and had instantly fallen in love with the subject. Professor Kettleburn was an enthusiastic teacher who welcomed Charlie's keen interest in the subject and encouraged him greatly. At the end of his fourth year Professor Kettleburn had introduced him to Newt Scamander. Newt was one of Charlie's heroes and Newt had instantly took a liking to the laid back young student. After a few weeks of correspondence Charlie had been invited to spend two weeks in Dorset with Newt and his wife Tina studying Thunderbirds. It had been the highlight of his summer.
Fifth year started like every other, with his friends in the last carriage of the Hogwarts Express. The four of them sat together eating caldron cakes, playing the Magical Symbols Game and discussing their summers. Dev had spent the summer in Spain with his grandparents who had retired to live there the year before and had met a nice Spanish girl who whom he was in regular correspondence. He had not told her he was a wizard and she had been impressed by his ability to train owls to deliver letters to her. Amory had spent two weeks of the summer with Norvel's family in Wales and two weeks in Canada with her dad. Charlie was fascinated by muggle airplanes so asked loads of questions to Dev and Amory about them. He found the information they gave him fascinating and made a mental note while he listened to write to his dad to tell them about the tray tables, food trolleys and safety demonstrations ("Hang on, the plane staff stand at the front of the plane and blow into a plastic wallet that would keep you afloat if you crashed into the sea?"). Ophelia had spent a month of the summer with Amory. The other month had been spent at home with her family and had not been particularly pleasant.
Though Ophelia had not mentioned it in any of her correspondence Charlie knew that her brother had been sent to prison for attacking a muggle. His father had shown him the article in the newspaper in an attempt to dissuade him from being too friendly with Ophelia. It had caused a scandal, though her father's career seemed to be weathering it well. Her letters hinted at her mother's distress and father's anger at Thorfinn's arrest. She had spent the last few weeks of her summer with Amory in Shetland. She had grown out her fringe over the summer. Sitting across from her on the train Charlie thought she looked pretty. The thought surprised him though he could not deny the truth of it.
The feast that night was enjoyable. It seemed like the Hogwarts house elves were striving to outdo themselves with the first feast of the year. Charlie sat sandwiched between Ophelia and Dev. Conversation flowed between them at Bill, who was sitting across from Charlie with his friends Louis and Boston.
Dev told them about his summer in Spain and described different kinds of Spanish food that he tried. Bill wondered if the House elves would whip him up some Paella sometime. Before they had time to move on from their conversation about Spain a large dish of Paella appeared before them. They all tucked in with enthusiasm and their conversation moved to one of Charlie's favourite topics; Quidditch. It had been another bad year for the Cannons and in the International League England had not performed well. "Don't remind me." Ophelia and Charlie said in unison when Dev brought up England's defeat by Azerbaijan just a week earlier. Both were excited for the new school year and Ophelia was confident that with Charlie on the team her spot would be safe. She had no reason to fear regardless of who the captain was as she could outfly everyone in Gryffindor House save Charlie.
In the first week of fifth year they were offered careers classes by their head of house and much of the conversation revolved around people's intentions for leaving Hogwarts. It was important as at the end of the year they would have to pick their NEWT classes. Dev wanted to become a potioneer and was confident that it was within his reach, he was top of their year and was doing potions that seventh years would struggle with. Amory had no clue what she wanted to do. Ophelia wanted to become healer and Charlie had already begun looking into research positions for magical animals.
The whole topic of conversation caused a lot of stress for everyone which was accelerated by the fact it was their OWL year and the workload seemed to have doubled. Each class they were participating in seemed more intense that the year before. The spells were more complicated, the essays were longer and the tasks they were asked to undertake were more time consuming. The four friends committed early in the first month of term to help each other as much as they could. Dev took on the role of proof reading everyone's Potions and Muggle Studies essays, Charlie did the same with Magical Creatures class and defence against the dark arts, Amory Herbology and Ophelia transfiguration and Charms. The systems worked well and all four were getting exceeding expectations in most of their subjects by Christmas. Ophelia was getting outstandings in most of her clases. Charlie teased that she was a being a show off.
The other priority for Charlie was the Quidditch team. Ophelia made it back onto the team with ease as one of the best fliers in Hogwarts. Charlie reckoned she was even better than he was. The other two Gryffindor chasers were new, a third year called Avery Mantowack and a fourth year called Deia Ivanova who showed some substantial promise. Charlie left the training of the new chasers to Ophelia who took to it with ease. The two seventh year beaters remained on the team for their final year even in the face of NEWTs and the Keeper was also new to the team. He was a second year called Oliver Wood and was a natural on a broom, although he was a bit intense.
The Gryffindor team practiced three times a week. Once on a Tuesday morning before breakfast and on a Wednesday and Thursday night. With three new people on the team and as this was his first year as a captain Charlie felt the pressure of motivating his team. He tried to give them encouraging talks after each practice and got mixed reactions. Oliver Wood would nod enthusiastically, the seventh year beaters would normally leave before he could begin and Ophelia would sit there and laugh hysterically at his words. Deia and Avery seemed to sit there patiently and rather disinterestedly.
The team managed to pull together well and they won their first match against Slytherin with a substantial margin putting them at the top of the league table, while a lot could change between now and the summer term Charlie was confident that they were in a good position to make the final. Shortly after their win over Slytherin they had another practice. It had been a wet and mesierable one but everyone had worked hard so Charlie let them go earlier than normal. Charlie stood outside the changing room waiting for Ophelia when Deia approached him.
"Hey Charlie." She said with a small smile, "practice was good tonight."
"Yeah," He replied nodding his head at the tiny dark haired girl in front of him, "thanks for working so hard."
"Oh no problem! You are a great coach you know." Charlie furrowed his brow, slightly confused by the sudden compliment. He was about to open his mouth to thank her when Ophelia appeared from the changing room door.
"Isn't he though?" Ophelia asked, linking her arm with his.
Charlie was confused by Ophelia's action, she never linked arms with him but he obediently said goodbye to a disappointed looking Deia and made his way up to the castle with Ophelia. Charlie thought no more of the incident as Ophelia started discussing the wronki feint he had been practicing that evening.
At Halloween Charlie, Dev, Ophelia and Amory took the day off studying and Quidditch to go to Hogsmeade. The four of them started their day in Scrivenshaft's Quill shop as Ophelia needed a new Quill. They made their way to Gladrags to get Dev a new hat and then went to Zonkos so that Charlie could pick up a birthday present for Fred and George.
After their shopping was done they made their way to the Three Broomsticks bought themselves butterbeers and settled into a booth. The conversation flowed from the latest gossip from the gobstones club, to the upcoming Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin to the newest news in the daily prophet. The day was as enjoyable as any day Charlie could remember. Following their butterbeers by the warm fires in the Three Broomsticks they went to the Hogwarts feast in which the house elves seemed to outdo their own exemplary standards.
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Gryffindor Quidditch team were the favourite to win by Christmas. Having destroyed Slytherin's defence and won Four hundred and eighty to twenty at the first match of the season. One hundred and fifty of those points had been scored by Ophelia and Charlie had won the game for them by catching the snitch from literally under the broom of the Slytherin Seeker. With the atmosphere in Hogwarts being so jubilant Bill had planned an end of term party the night before everyone left for the Christmas holidays. Charlie and Dev had been keen to assist with his plan and determined that they would organise the food if Bill and his friends sorted invites (albeit an easy task), decorations or entertainment.
Charlie, typically left his contribution to the organisation of food to the day before and was devastated when he found out that Ada Honeyduke was leaving Hogwarts a day early to celebrate Christmas with her extended family in Canada.
With no back up plan he turned to Ophelia for help. As true friends do in these situations she gave him a look so he knew how silly he had been to not organise himself sooner before she helped him. She led him out of the common room and down the stairs to the ground floor, then beyond to the basement. She stood in front of a painting of fruit and tickled the pear.
Charlie stood observing Ophelia with a confused look on his face. His confusion was replaced with surprise when the portrait opened. He followed Ophelia in and was greeted by the sight of house elves rushing forward to greet him and Ophelia.
"Are you hungry Miss?" One said, holding u a tray of empire biscuits. "Sir?"
"No thank you" Ophelia replied as Charlie reached for the biscuit.
"Thanks, this looks delicious." He turned to Ophelia. "What is this?"
"This is the kitchen." She said with a small grin.
Charlie had not known where the kitchen was, and while he had known that the food had been prepared and the school had been cleaned by house elves he had had no idea how many lived and worked in Hogwarts. Ophelia took the lead and asked them for the supplies they needed for the party. The house elves were happy to obliged and agreed they would provide voulevants, mini sausages, pizzas as well as cupcakes with red Griffyndor icing and red jelly.
By the time they exited the kitchen the only thing Charlie needed to get for the party was butterbeer. Ophelia was convinced they could get that too but that it would take a bit more time.
That night Ophelia appeared in his dormitory and shook him awake. He was confused and slightly disorientated when he woke up to see Ophelia hovering above him. "What are you doing?" he whispered.
"We're going to get butterbeer."He obediently got up, throwing a jumper on over his t-shirt. It looked silly with his checked pyjama bottoms but he didn't have time to think about that as he followed Ophelia down the stairs. "Ophie, wait up." He replied as he followed her out of the Gryffindor common room and up the stairs to the mirror on the fourth floor. In front of it she whispered Alohomara and stood back. Charlie, still wiping his his eyes tired found himself shaken awake by the sight of the mirror swinging open to reveal a secret passageway.
He watched as Ophelia climbed through it and with unbridled curiosity followed her. "Close the mirror behind you." She whispered to him, using her wand to light the way in front of them. Charlie whispered lumos and followed her. Ophelia's hair looked luminous in the light of his wand as she walked in front of him.
He followed her until the tunnel started to go up again and Charlie found himself following Ophelia out of a hole in a tree. "Where are we?"
"Hogsmeade."
"Where are we going?"
"The Hogs Head."
"Ophelia we are going to get in so much trouble. We aren't allowed outside the castle. Let's turn back."
Ophelia turned around and with only one look challenged him to follow her. He took a deep breath and followed her, knowing that at least if he got expelled Ophelia would be right there with him. It took them ten minutes to get to the Hogs Head. Charlie had never been in to the dodgey looking bar. It looked like it was about to close but Ophelia pushed through the door to the nearly empty pub regardless. The bar man didn't look surprised to see her.
"Ophelia Rowle." He said gruffly.
"Yes."
He nodded and disappeared through a door in the back of the room. "Ophie what are we doing here?"
"We are getting butterbeer." She turned round with a mischievous smile.
"How do we know he won't report us to Dumbledore."
She squeezed his arm reassuringly, "because the bar man is Dumbledore's brother Aberforth."
Charlie was shocked submission as he considered the information she had just given him he concluded that Ophelia was a genius. He had already known that but tonight reconfirmed it. Everyone knew that Dumbledore and his brother didn't get on and so it was unlikely Aberforth was going to send an owl up to the headmaster and snitch them up. He had heard rumors that Aberforth had owned the Hogs Head but he had not known them to be true.
Aberforth reappeared with two large boxes of butterbeer floating in front of them. Ophelia paid Aberforth and bid him a goodnight. The two walked back through Hogsmeade towards the tree that they had clambered out of. Charlie guided the butterbeer safely through the entrance of the passage and down the tunnel. They soon found themselves back in the wide passageway where they could walk side by side. Charlie was elated at their adventure. He was used to following the rules but he felt fearless after breaking them with Ophelia.
A few days later at the party everyone was impressed by the bottles of butterbeer Charlie had charmed to float around the room and the dishes of self-replacing canapes that moved seamlessly between the crowds. Bill was impressed by his younger brother's efforts and Ophelia encouraged Charlie to take all the credit. Deia was particularly keen to express her enthusiasm for Charlie's efforts. She clung onto his arm as she asked him to tell her how he managed to get butterbeer into the castle. He tried to brush her off, telling her that he could not reveal his tricks. Deia was persistent in her attentions to him and would not seem to take Charlie's hints that he just wanted to enjoy himself with his friends. Shortly after ten Ophelia retired to bed.
Charlie was confused as to why his best friend was suddenly overcome with exhaustion after helping to plan this party and being so excited for it. Around eleven he managed to escape Deia's grasp and headed up to his dorm room. He grabbed his broom and flew round the tower to Ophelia's window. He knocked on persistently until Ophelia opened. She was wearing a nightdress with flowers on it and her eyes looked slightly puffy.
"What do you want?" Ophelia asked with a pout.
"Do you want to go for a ride?" He asked with a grin. She looked at him and looked at his broom and then looked back at him. She reached out her hand and he grabbed it, pulling her onto his broom behind him. The old broom went slower with both their weights on it but neither of them were that bothered as they flew over the forbidden forest and across the lake. Ophelia held onto his waist tightly. Her fingers gripping onto the front of his jumper.
They looped back around and landed on the North tower. They hopped off the broom and laid down on the roof. Their conversation quickly reverted to an old favourite; would you rather. That night the game revolved around creature you would rather get eaten by.
"Manticore or Quintaped?" Ophelia asked.
"That is a hard one." Charlie replied. "Is the manticore stinging me first or will it eat me alive while signing to me?"
"Both are going to eat you alive." Ophelia replied.
"Then I have to go with the Quintaped, I don't think I like the idea of the manticore crooning over me while I am being eaten." Charlie said. "What is your stance?"
"I am not sure. I think that the manticore's crooning may be soothing."
The pair broke out into hysterical laughter which didn't subsist for several minutes.
"I think we will have missed most of the party."
"I'm not that bothered." Charlie replied.
"You seemed to be getting on well with Deia." She said quietly.
"She is ok, she was a bit clingy though."
"You are so oblivious."
"What do you mean?"
"Deia likes you?"
Charlie raised his eyebrows, "What? No she doesn't."
"Do you like her?"
Charlie paused before he replied, "no. No, I don't like her."
Charlie heard Ophelia release a breath. "We should get back." She said before he could think about what her reaction might mean.
They arrived back to find that the party had been shut down by Professor McGonagall. Charlie bid Ophelia goodnight and disappeared upstairs to the girl's dorm room and Charlie disappeared up to his own bed.
The next day everyone left to go home after breakfast. Charlie spent his breakfast with Dev discussing their homework for the Christmas period.
Bill, Percy and Charlie arrived back at the burrow around ten in the morning to the usual chaos. Fred and George had managed to set fire to the roof that morning with some experiment that they had been doing In their room. Ron and Ginny had fallen out.
Charlie and Bill volunteered to de-gnome the garden even though it was one degrees celcius. As the competitive brothers that they were they turned the game into a competition. Bill was taller but Charlie was stronger making them pretty evenly matched.
"So where did you disappear to last night."
"I went out for a flight on my broom."
"On your own?"
"No, Ophelia came."
"Things would be easier if you just asked her out you know."
"What do you mean?" Charlie replied, "why would I ask her out?"
"Because you like her and she obviously likes you."
"Don't be silly, we are just friends."
"Given the daggers she was throwing at Deia last night she definitely harbours some unfriend like feelings for you."
Charlie shrugged off his brother's words and when they had finally thrown all the gnomes from the garden he went in and retreated to Ron's room to discuss the Cannon's dismal results. When Mr Weasley arrived home from work they made their way down the kitchen to have dinner. Mr Weasley caught up with the boy's news from term. Percy was keen to expel everything he had learnt in classes while Bill and Charlie were more enthused by their social life, Quidditch and the parties.
It wasn't until Charlie got into bed that night in the room that he shared with Bill that he thought about his brother's words. He wondered if Ophelia really did like him. He didn't think it was possible that she would like him that way. She was, after all, incredibly out of his league. Ophelia was one of the smartest girls in her class and she was also the prettiest girl in Hogwarts. She was also funny and kind. She was enchanting. She was so out of his league. The thought that she liked him though made his stomach do back flips.
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