3 Meeting

They reached the ice-cream parlor way ahead of time. "I think that the owners were originally from Romania," Charlie told her.

Vivi studied the shop-sign and nodded. "That is certainly a Romanian name, although I've never met this name in Romania."

They sat at a table large enough for four. Viviana looked somewhat subdued, but Charlie didn't know the reason.

Daphne arrived with Freddie a minute before eleven, looking extremely elegant, although her clothes were quite casual for a young witch. Freddie didn't wait for his mother to reach the table. Once he spotted Charlie, he came running. "Will you take me on your back again?" he asked.

Charlie laughed cheerfully as he hugged the child. "Of course! Isn't that what fathers do?"

Freddie giggled happily, but stopped abruptly as he spotted the woman at his side. "Who's this?" he asked shyly.

"This is Viviana, a friend of mine from where I work, who is eager to meet you and your Mum," Charlie explained, seating the child on his lap.

"Why?"

Charlie didn't answer. He watched as the two young women were looking at each other as if measuring the opponent, although both were smiling politely. He introduced them. "Viviana, this is Daphne Greengrass, the mother of Freddie, my son. Daphne, this is Viviana Florescu, a good friend who has been working with me at the dragon reserve."

Both girls exchanged polite greetings as Daphne sat on a free chair.

"Do you really work with dragons?" Freddie asked admiringly.

"I do, although I believe they think that I and my co-workers are their servants."

The child look confused. "Why?"

Viviana answered in his stead. "Dragons are very big and powerful. We must pretend to do their bidding if we want them to behave in certain ways. Fighting them may be very unwise."

Freddie looked at her as if trying to measure relative sizes. "You work with dragons too?"

She smiled at the child. "I do, but your father is the most courageous among us."

Freddie looked up at his father and smiled in adoration.

"Now Freddie, would you like some ice-cream?" Charlie offered.

"Yea! I want strawberry and peach and..."

"Well, come with me to the counter and I'll buy you what you want."

He first asked the ladies for their wishes and then took Freddie's hand in his and walked to the counter.

"Aren't they adorable?" Viviana commented.

"They sure are. They really belong together," Daphne agreed.

"Then why don't you marry Charlie?"

Daphne looked surprised. "I hardly know him!"

"Yet you bore his child. Do you want to marry him?"

Daphne thought for a moment. "This has never been an option. I didn't even think of it. Now, seeing them together, I wish Charlie would play as big a role in Freddie's life as my father is still playing in mine."

"Would you like him to play a bigger role in your life as well?"

Daphne sighed. "I've given up the hope to find a proper mate as soon as I found I was pregnant. It would have been nice to have a real family, but this doesn't seem to be in my future."

"Why not?"

"Well, he's engaged to you, isn't he? And you seem to have been together for quite a while, so..."

Viviana changed subjects. "Why did you need him after the war?"

Daphne didn't answer immediately. She seemed to reminisce, recalling some painful memories. "My family tried to seem neutral during the war. I know my parents helped some muggle-born to leave the country or reach safe houses. I think they even financed some of the safe houses, but it was all done in round-about ways, allowing them to keep official neutrality. Some of my class mates were far from neutral, though. They were active Death Eaters and when the war came to Hogwarts, they fought against the defenders. Some, on both sides, didn't make it through. Some were caught and sentenced. The power balance in our society changed brusquely. It was all frightening and confusing. My parents decided to leave the country for a short while and see what would happen. I couldn't join them. I needed to be at some of the funerals and I wanted to witness some of the trials. Then I broke down, having nobody near me. I couldn't go anywhere in the magical world, as I would have been recognized. I went to a muggle pub. Charlie happened to go there too... "

Viviana was silent for a long moment. "You were very close to him for some time, I believe."

"As close as two drunkards can be," Daphne shrugged.

Charlie was coming back with a tray in his hands while Freddie was holding his pants firmly. Charlie set the tray on the table, helped Freddie to the vacant chair between him and Daphne and then served the ice cream.

"Try not to make a mess," he reminded Freddie, giving him some extra paper towels.

They didn't talk much while enjoying their treats. Such high quality ice-cream deserved their full attention. Viviana finished first. "It's really good. I think I should try to talk some business with the owners."

She got up from the table, leaving Freddie with his parents only.

There was an awkward silence at the table. Daphne was finishing her cone, looking furtively at Charlie, wondering if he could ever be interested in her. Charlie was doing the same, thinking how lucky he would feel if this woman was interested in him. Only Freddie was too occupied, trying to stay clean, to notice anything.

"I really like it here," Daphne said, once she finished eating.

"I don't know anybody who doesn't," Charlie chuckled.

Daphne had an idea. "You know, I've already visited your parents twice, and I've also met your fiancée. I think it's time for you to meet my parents as well. You want to know the people your son is growing with, don't you?"

"Well, of course... When do you want me to visit?"

Daphne smiled internally, although she showed no emotion. "I'll have to talk with my parents first, but I think tomorrow evening may be right. Do you mind if I Floo-call you?"

"That's alright. You should call 'the Burrow' as your destination."

"And you may call Greengrass Manor if you need to speak with me. It's faster than using owls, you know."

Freddie was finishing his portion now. Despite his efforts, his face was full of ice cream and he had some stains on his hands and on his sleeves. Charlie looked at him and noticed the boy was anticipating his remarks. "You've done very well, Freddie. You're much cleaner now than the previous time. A few more practices and you'll stay as clean as your mother!"

Freddie smiled, glad for doing well for his father. Daphne smiled as well, feeling happy for her son. Finding his father was wonderful for both father and son, she thought. 'Will it be so wonderful for me as well?' she wondered.

Viviana returned, looking quite pleased. "They're willing to open a branch in Bucharest if my family helps with the finance and the staffing. I'm sure this is going to turn into good business for both sides. I now want to talk with your brother about opening a branch as well. Come pick me there once you finish playing with Freddie. He's really a lovely boy!"

She said her formal goodbye to Daphne and left promptly.

"Will you carry me now?" Freddie asked.

"Where do you want me to carry you?"

"I want to see broomsticks!"

Charlie obliged. He put Freddie on his shoulders and walked to the Quality Quidditch Supplies shop, with Daphne smiling at his side.

He was surprised finding one of his school teammates working there. "Charlie! I didn't know you married, and to such a beautiful wife!"

Charlie didn't know what to say, but Freddie was already excited. "Daddy, Daddy, look at those brooms!"

His old teammate just smiled and left them alone, paying attention to some other customers, yet Charlie couldn't help thinking that he really liked the idea.

They didn't spend much time there. Freddie, like all children his age, was getting a bit sleepy. Charlie took him down of his shoulders and put him in his mother's safe embrace. They still walked together to the WWW, where Daphne asked to use the Floo, not before reminding him of his visit the next day.

Viviana was still negotiating with George and Angelina in the inner room. Lee Jordan had joined them, yet he seemed more fascinated with Viviana than with the business they were discussing.

George noticed him coming in. "Your girlfriend is a tough businesswoman, you know, but it's a pleasure doing business with her."

Charlie laughed. "You can't handle dragons if you're not tough, but she also has her soft sides, you know." He winked at George, making both burst in a new wave of laughter.

"That's quite evident," George replied, moving his eyes to the low-cut blouse Vivi was wearing under her formal robes.

George needed to check the facilities Viviana proposed for the new branch, but he didn't want to leave his wife and his son for the time needed. "I can check this for you," Lee offered. Charlie was sure Lee would check much more, yet he didn't feel jealous. This morning made it quite clear to him. He now needed to find an occupation in England to stay close to Freddie and his mother.

With two business contracts discussed in one morning, Vivi seemed satisfied. She checked her watch. "Will you take me for lunch now? Doing business makes me hungry."

Charlie suggested going to a muggle restaurant, one he had heard Hermione mention that weekend. Vivi was ready to explore some of muggle London and a muggle restaurant was fine with her. They stopped at the Leaky Cauldron only long enough to transfigure their robes into muggle cloths.

"I suppose you're going to marry her," Vivi said as they were eating their lunch.

"I don't know yet. We need to get to know each other better before I can even propose."

She put her hand on his arm comfortingly. "But you want to, don't you?"

"Well..." he wasn't sure what he could safely say.

"I think she also likes you," Vivi added.

"But... I kind of promised..."

"Charlie, you never promised to wed me. You never even said you loved me. I pushed you in that direction, hoping one day you'll really love me. It didn't work. Now I know why."

He looked at her, his face showing his confusion.

She laughed. "Oh, Charlie! You're the best when handling dragons but you're crap at understanding feelings; even your own. That young woman caught your heart back then, when you conceived your son. You may have not been aware of this, but once I saw you two side by side, it became very clear to me. Daphne also fell in love you. She wouldn't say it, of course, but why would such an attractive girl spend her life with no mate unless she couldn't be with the one her heart wants?"

"So, you think she loves me?" A new hope was evident in his voice.

"Yes, she does, although you'll have to work hard to make her reveal it. I'm sure you'll do it for Freddie's sake, if not for other reasons." She patted his arm. "Now, if you don't mind, we should go back. I need to pack if I want to be home before nightfall."

Viviana was ready about an hour later. She left a note for the elder Weasleys, who weren't home yet, thanking them for their hospitality and regretting she would not become part of their family. Charlie helped her with the international Floo connection and then she kissed him and disappeared in a swirl of green flames.

He was now sitting in the kitchen, trying to understand what he really felt. He felt relieved, for one. He had been quite afraid Vivi would make a scene after she learned about his child. He had been afraid she would humiliate him in front of Daphne and Freddie. He had thought she would hex him to oblivion for not keeping his promise, even if it wasn't really a promise. Vivi did none of these. He was actually proud of the way she had handled the very tough situation, defusing all his worries and even making some profitable business.

'Maybe Lee would prove to be a better match for her,' he thought. He would always consider Vivi a friend, and he wished her to find happiness soon.

His thoughts wandered back to Daphne. He had always known she was beautiful, even back then, when they both were drunk. Yet motherhood seemed to agree with her, making her even more beautiful than he remembered. She was also much calmer now, having the support of her sister and her parents. 'That's what family is for,' he thought, feeling warmer inside.

He was brought out of his musings by the Floo flaring, bringing in his mother. Molly looked pleased to see him there. She kissed his head and asked, "Where's Viviana?"

"She went back home. She left you a 'thank you' note," Charlie pointed at the note on the kitchen shelf.

"Oh, I thought she would stay longer. Didn't she like it here?"

"She liked it very well. She even started some businesses this morning, but she said I should marry Daphne."

Molly looked less surprised than he expected. "She's a smart girl, Vivi. She didn't want to fight a losing battle."

Charlie decided not to ask for explanations. Women had always been a mystery for him, as for most men, and no amount of explanations could change that.

He was relieved that his father arrived a few minutes later. They took a butterbeer each and sat in the garden, sipping their drinks and enjoying companionable silence.

The Floo flared soon after they sat for dinner. "May I speak with Mr. Charles Weasley?" a female voice asked.

Charlie identified the voice. "I'm here, Daphne."

"Well, as expected, my parents invite you for dinner tomorrow. Please be early and be ready to stay overnight. I'm sure Freddie will love to see you when he wakes in the morning."

"Thanks, Daphne. I'll be there."

"I'll be waiting. Bye."

There was a smile on his face when he returned to the kitchen, one which both his parents noticed, but said nothing about.

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