Chapter Three:
"What is it, Mav? We've been walking forever, and lunch is soon, and I'm hungry!" Hermione complained as she followed her boyfriend farther.
"This should be far enough." Maverick turned around, the dangerous glare back in his eyes.
Her eyes widened in terror. "Mav, what did I do wrong?"
"You were looking at Charlie-he was looking at you. How many times have I told you, stay away from Weasel?"
Hermione stepped away fearfully. "Mav, look…"
"No, I won't rationalize your bad. Come here."
She trembled.
"Mione, love, it's for the best," he spoke in that sickeningly loving way, staring at her with those stunning dark eyes.
He raised his arm and smacked her cheek. She screamed and stepped back. Maverick hissed with anger and struck her again across the chest. Hermione yelped and fell against the nearest tree.
"Now, I hope you learned something, love." He came forward with gentility and stroked her shoulders and cheek where she had tears. "Time to go back and eat lunch."
She tried to walk ahead of him and to stay silent, but she was having difficulty breathing, so she ended up walking behind him. When they at last reached Hogwarts, Maverick patted her arm consolingly and walked to his Hufflepuff friends.
"Mione, I thought you'd eat with me again," said a voice.
She was so used to hearing that voice that she could put the name to it.
"Hey, Charlie," she replied, looking down, "I'm not hungry. I went to the library."
He sounded confused, "No, you just passed Hagrid's house with your boyfriend-Maverick."
"Ch-Charlie, y-you must b-be mistaken. I-I went to the library with Maverick," she stuttered.
"Mione, are you alright? Why aren't you looking at me? What happened to your face? Your cheek is bruising up." He tilted her face up to see her better.
"Charlie, stop." She couldn't keep the whimper or the threat of tears out of her voice.
"Hermione, you tell me what's wrong, right now!" he pleaded, "You're hurt. Is he hurting you?"
"How dare you make that accusation, Charlie!" she exclaimed, a little too quickly, "Of course he isn't hurting me! I-I-I-I'm fine!"
She walked out of the Great Hall, the first to leave lunch. Charlie followed her quickly to the Gryffindor commons. Soon, her chest was throbbing again and her breathing labored. Quietly, she slumped into a soft couch. Charlie sat next to her. She breathed hard and loudly until she finally caught her breath, but the pain from Maverick's hard strike still ached.
"May I ask," Charlie said, "Why you are breathing so hard after such a simple walk?"
"My chest hurts," she mumbled breathlessly.
To her surprise, shock, anger, and relief all mixed into one, he rested his warm hands around her ribs and her sides and scooted closer to her. The pain subsided as the heat from his hands circled her ribs. She watched his face silently as he caressed her chest. It sent a strange heat around her ribs, but she-to her utmost horror and delight-liked it. He kept his eyes on his hands, with a small smile on his lips.
"I think you broke a rib here…Oh, and here too. What did you do?"
"I-I-I-" she had to think quickly. For some reason, she could not. How could she not answer him? He looked up in slight worry, but she just became more distracted. His eyes were quite dazzling-Wait. His eyes?
No, I didn't! Hermione thought desperately, I didn't just think that! I didn't just think his eyes were…dazzling?
"Hermione," he murmured gently, "Are you okay?"
When she continued to stare at him with a slightly gushy expression, he smiled and took out his wand, mending her bones and pain with a quiet incantation.
"Is that better?" he asked, resting an arm around her and pulling her closer.
"It's amazing," she whispered, closing her eyes and leaning against him.
Charlie played with her hair quietly, with a smile in his eyes as he continued to caress her forehead and hair. With a small moan of delight, she relaxed. Maybe she relaxed a little too much, for five minutes later, Charlie heard a soft mumble from her. She had fallen asleep.
"She talks in her sleep," Charlie mused aloud.
"Charlie…Mav…he….hurt….me….angry….at….you….looking….at…me…" she moaned, "Charlie…no…stay away from him…He's gonna hurt you…like he did me. Charlie….NO!" she cried out, and Charlie tried to calm her, but she was still asleep. She fell back to a contented whisper every once in a while. She murmured, "I…love…you….Charlie…"
Charlie smiled and leaned back against the soft couch.
"Charlie-boy!" exclaimed a familiar voice.
"Quiet, Fred," yawned Charlie.
George gaped at him. "Charlie-boy," he whispered, "What are you doing with a sleeping Hermione? What is going on here?"
Fred stared.
"She's not feeling well," Charlie said softly, "I'm very worried about her. She was murmuring in her sleep earlier. Mostly about her boyfriend…Something about him hurting her. I'm worried, guys."
"Charlie-boy," Fred said in a tone almost like his mother's, "I think you have a soft spot for little Hermione here."
Charlie made a soft, loving murmur. "Fred, I have more than a soft spot for her. It more like-"
"-a passion?" suggested George.
"Yeah," he grumbled, "But that doesn't matter. What does, George, Fred, is the fact that her boyfriend could possibly be-"
"Abusing her," George and Fred finished together, looked at each other, and laughed for thinking alike.
"Not funny," growled Charlie through gritted teeth, "Try to look out for her."
"Are you going to let her sleep the afternoon away?" Fred asked.
George finished, "Cause she does have classes."
"Charlie," mumbled Hermione softly, shifting and resting a hand on his chest.
Ignoring the twins' snickering at Hermione's movement and mumbling, Charlie snapped, "Then why aren't you at classes?"
"Skipping potions today," replied George, "We've got some special…business to experiment and sell."
Charlie smiled. "I promise not to tell Mum. Don't tell anybody about Mione, though."
"Right," Fred smiled and left, dragging George with him.
Charlie soon fell asleep to the sound of the crackling fire.
"Sir must wake up!" squeaked a little voice, "Sir must wake up! If sir is found by other professor and student then sir and Hermione will be in trouble!"
Charlie groaned and stirred.
"Sir, sir, sir must wake up!" said the voice squeakily.
"Go away, Ginny," grumbled Charlie. He opened his eyes, "Quit bothering me!"
Suddenly, he realized he wasn't in the Gryffindor common room anymore. He was slumped in a big soft velvet armchair, with a small girl leaning against him.
"What did you do to me? Why'd you take us from the common rooms!" he outburst.
A small house-elf stood in front of him, its big warm eyes staring into his. "Sir woke at last. Sir fell asleep, with Hermione. In the common room. It would cause bad rumor. So Dobby brought sir and Hermione into kitchen."
"What time is it?" groaned Charlie groggily.
"It is almost time for dinner…7 o'clock sir."
"Did I really sleep that long? I know I stayed up late, but that's normal!" Charlie fumed at himself. Then it occurred to him-he was comfortable under beside Hermione. This thought horrified him, but he didn't deny it. "Mione, wake up." He leaned forward and kissed her eyebrows.
Hermione didn't stir. She hadn't been able to sleep much all night.
"Mione, dear, it is time to wake." He stroked her cheek with a finger. "Come on, Mione. It is almost time for dinner. You missed all your afternoon classes-Potions, Herbology, and Arithmancy. Come on, Hermione, dear. I'm sure you're hungry."
After a bit of gentle coxing, Hermione stirred and woke. "Charlie?" she mumbled sleepily, "Is that you?"
"Yes, you fell asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake you. You mentioned you weren't able to sleep all night."
"Time? What time is it?" she mumbled.
"Almost time for dinner."
"I missed all my afternoon classes?"
"Yep. I did too."
"Charlie, did I-?"
"Did you?"
"Talk in my sleep?" she turned pink.
"Why?"
Her flushed face turned a deeper pink color. "I…I was having a dream."
Charlie asked gently, "Was it about me, Mione? You did say my name a couple times. And you mentioned Maverick…are you alright?"
"I'm good, Charlie. Can I stay here a couple more minutes, with you?"
Charlie smiled, "Of course, Hermione."
She leaned against him with a soft "ohh", and was quiet.
Charlie gave her a sad smile. After a couple relaxing minutes, Hermione stood and walked with Charlie out the doors.
"Oh, and Dobby," Charlie hissed to the house-elf, "Tell no one that I slept with Hermione! It was…on accident!"
Dobby nodded. "Dobby promises not to tell a soul."
Hermione followed Charlie to the Great Hall and sat down next to Harry. Ron was on the other side of the table, next to Lavender(his girlfriend), and Charlie seated himself next to Hermione.
"Why weren't you at Herbology and Potions, Hermione?" asked Harry.
Hermione glanced quickly at Charlie and back at Harry. She mumbled, "I was tired. I fell asleep in an armchair in the kitchen. Charlie found me and woke me up."
Charlie nodded. "Pretty sound asleep. Said she didn't get sleep all night earlier…now I believe her."
"Mione!" Maverick smiled warmly at her, "I didn't see you all afternoon!"
"I fell asleep. I was tired," she replied, "Great to see you though!"
He smiled, "Always." And then, he leaned forward and they engaged in a passionate kiss. When he pulled away with a satisfied expression, he said, "See you after dinner, Hermione."
"See ya, Mav."
Charlie was gripping the table-hard. His eyes were wild and his ears were red, and Fred and George snickered at him. Finally, Charlie relaxed when he earned a worried gaze from Hermione and sat down to dinner.