Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns it all. I just enjoy getting to play a little.

Thanks again for the reviews. I'm fond of this pairing and enjoyed writing it. One more chapter after this one. It's done, just needs tweaking, so it will be done soon.

Chapter 4

The next few days passed quickly with Hermione spending her days reading, exploring and helping Mrs. Weasley. Molly seemed to find several errands for Hermione to run and she always seemed to manage to get Charlie to help her. Hermione didn't mind at all but she was a little worried that Molly's not-so-subtle hints would soon cause Charlie to feel uncomfortable. They spent their evenings playing cards so he hadn't been scared off yet.

George was working another angle entirely. He had recently been to a wizarding town to check out a storefront that was available. He was considering expanding if he could find the right location. While there, he had lunch at a restaurant and started talking with the owner. Through their conversation he discovered that the owner used to work at the reserve in Romania and knew Charlie. He decided to see if his new friend could help him out a bit.

George sent an owl to Mr. Franklin asking him to invite Charlie to dinner at his restaurant, right away. He explained what he was trying to do and he hoped that Mr. Franklin was open to it. Fortunately he was and he reported back to George that he had issued an invitation. If Charlie came in, he would give them the best table.

Charlie received the owl on Wednesday morning but didn't know what to do with it. He thought it would be nice to get out but he wasn't exactly anxious to go to the restaurant alone. Of course, he wanted to ask Hermione but he was worried that all of Molly's pushing might have scared her away. He finally got up the courage on Thursday afternoon. He found Hermione sitting at the table with a large book in front of her.

"Have you ever been to Hearthshore?" Charlie asked.

"Hearthshore? I've heard of it but never been. It's a wizarding town right?"

"Right. It's in Wales, along the west coast. They have a restaurant there that is owned by a former dragon handler. I worked with him for the first year I was at the reserve. Turns out his passion was food and he opened up Dragon's Kiss Restaurant a few years ago. I've never been but heard good things."

"Interesting name."

"Yes, it's a reserve joke. Whenever we have burns, we joke that it's just a kiss from a dragon." Charlie explained.

"Very romantic." Hermione giggled.

"Isn't it?" Charlie laughed in return. "I was thinking of going to Dragon's Kiss for dinner tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come and check it out with me. That is if you don't have other plans."

"Oh, well, that sounds good. I'd love to see another wizarding town." Hermione wasn't sure what to think. Was this a date? Most likely he had nobody else to go with him but still, dinner in Hearthshore? It could be considered a date. Inside she was jumping for joy.

"Great! Um, I mean, good, I'd like the company. Do you want to go early to explore?"

"Sure! I would just need to change my clothes. I can leave anytime."

"Should we leave in an hour then?"

"Perfect! I'll go get ready."

An hour later, Hermione, dressed in a long skirt with a warm sweater and boots met Charlie outside to apparate.

"Is apparition the best way? I've never been there, I'm not sure if I can get there in one piece."

"Don't worry, I've been to Hearthshore so we'll do side-by-side apparition. Here, take my arm." Hermione wrapped her arm around Charlie's and with a turn they were gone. Upon their arrival, Hermione looked around with wonder. It was a cross between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. It was busy like Diagon Alley but quaint like Hogsmeade. It was special though as it was on the shore. The ocean was right there at the end of the street. Boats came in and out of the little harbor.

"Where are the boats going?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I imagine some are going fishing but some of the larger ones, the ferries, go north to Scotland where they dock at Gnomeshire, another wizarding village. Some of the ferries also go all the way to Ireland, to Fairiana."

"I had no idea there was such a transportation system. Why don't people just apparate or floo?"

"I'm not sure to all the reasons, but I know that it is used mostly by tourists these days. Witches and Wizards who want to get away for a while can enjoy the ferry ride and see the scenery. It's sort of like taking the Hogwart's Express. Sure, you could floo into Hogsmeade and walk to Hogwarts, but the train is so much more fun."

"That makes sense. Oh, Charlie, it's so beautiful! I don't know where to start." Hermione was smiling wide and Charlie loved the way her eyes brightened.

"Well, I want to go over to the restaurant to make sure they got the owl with our reservations. Why don't you go into that bookstore you are drooling over and I'll meet you there in a few minutes."

"Thanks, see you in a bit." Hermione rushed off towards the bookstore, anxious to see if they had any books on the history of the village. She had a new topic to study up on, wizarding villages around the world. She was quickly lost in thought and wonder as she scanned the titles. Most of the books were familiar but there were a few she didn't have. She found herself gravitating toward the books on dragons. She wanted to know more about Charlie and his job. That's where Charlie found her. She had a stack of books on the floor and was scanning one on Hungarian Horntails.

"They have quite good tail action." Charlie said softly in her ear. Hermione reacted with a jump and almost dropped the book.

"Don't do that! You are lucky I didn't hex you!" Hermione caught her breath and put the book back on the shelf.

"Sorry. Are you interested in dragons?"

"Well, I've been fascinated ever since we watched Norbert hatch. Then of course there was the research when Harry was in the tri-wizard tournament. I guess I just want to know more about what you do too."

"Really? Well then, don't bother getting any of those books, I have most of them at home and I can loan them to you. Plus, I can take you to the reserve if you'd like. You could get a hands on education."

"Let me just get these books on local history and we can discuss visiting dragons later." After Hermione purchased her books and had them shrunk and owled back to the Burrow, she and Charlie walked out of the store and toward the waterfront. They were quite comfortable with each other at this point and were just enjoying each other's company, not really talking but still communicating. They popped into a few stores as they walked toward the restaurant and Hermione purchased a few gifts for birthdays that were coming up. After arriving at the restaurant, they were ushered to a table near the fireplace. Charlie ordered a bottle of wine and they settled in to enjoy their dinner.

"So, tell me about visiting the reserve. Is it safe for just anybody to come and see the dragons?"

"No actually. It's not normally safe but every other month we have a family day where we can invite friends and family to join us. They have activities for the children and a picnic lunch. The most dangerous dragons are led farther away from the activities and only the most gentle are brought out. There's one in a few weeks that you could come to. I could show you some of the dragons I work with. You'd be protected."

"That would be great!" Hermione couldn't hide her enthusiasm. She'd always wanted to visit the reserve. "Why hasn't anybody mentioned visiting you there?"

"When I first started working there, I invited the whole family but Mum freaked out. Dad and Bill came but Mum wouldn't allow anyone else. I haven't invited anyone since."

"Why not?"

"Well, I knew Mum would still have a fit about anyone going for one thing. Now I figure everyone is caught up in their own lives and nobody has shown an interest. Plus, can you imagine Ron and George at the reserve? They'd probably destroy the place." He laughed and she smiled back.

"True! I'm honored that you are inviting me then."

"Well, you should be honored. Honored to just be in my presence." Charlie joked with a grin.

"Of course, Prince Charlie. I'll curtsy later. I'm too comfortable right now." Hermione joked back. "Do you really want me to come?" She asked with a serious voice.

"I do want you to come. The guys will all be impressed that I actually managed to get a pretty girl to the reserve. You'll be the topic of hot gossip between all the wives though."

"I can handle gossip. It's my life story. According to some of the magazines and newspapers, I've been secretly married to Harry for years, and pregnant with Snape's love child before he died. Not to mention the affairs with Draco, several pro-Quidditch players, and I apparently was personally responsible for breaking up Bill and Fleur. No one seems to care that they are still happily married."

"You've been busy then. I'm a little concerned about your marriage to Harry. Does Luna know?"

"Ha! Very funny. You know perfectly well it's Hagrid I've been secretly married to all these years."

"Right. Forgot." He shuddered just then.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"It's just you are less than half of Hagrid's size and I was just thinking. . . if you were married. . . you'd have sex. . . you'd never survive." Charlie couldn't contain his laughter at that point and was getting a few stares from other diners. Hermione's reaction was an open mouth stare until finally it turned into laughter as well.

"Get that image out of your head!" She gasped between chuckles.

"I'm sorry. Really. Oh it is funny though."

Their banter and laughter continued through the meal and Hermione knew that she had fallen hard for the man in front of her. She also had a slight glimmer of hope that maybe, someday, he might feel something for her. She was unaware that he had fallen just as hard.

After dinner was over and their coffee cups had been cleared, Charlie and Hermione slowly walked back to the apparition point. The stores were closed but a few pubs were open. Music spilled out of several doorways and down the side streets, wizarding families were getting ready for bed in the quaint little houses.

As they arrived at the edge of town, Charlie took Hermione's hand in his and apparated them back to the Burrow. The house was quiet but there were lights on to welcome them. They stood outside for a moment, hands still clasped, neither wanting to say goodnight but neither wanting to be too forward.

"Tomorrow is Valentine's Day." Charlie said, his face pointed out toward the yard.

"Yes. It is." Hermione muttered.

"I'm going to help George in the shop tomorrow. He think's he'll be busy."

"Probably. It's nice that you are helping. Maybe I'll stop by to see if he needs me as well."

"Well then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Right. Goodnight." Hermione didn't let go of his hand and Charlie held on tighter. Finally, just as he was starting to lean in for the kiss there was a noise inside the house and Hermione stepped back.

"Thanks for dinner, Charlie. Goodnight." Hermione said as she dropped his hand and headed in the door.

"You are very welcome." answered Charlie. He watched her walk away and decided to stand in the cold for a little while longer while he got his emotions in check. Just holding her hand for that short time had caused quite the reaction. He knew that he either needed to make a move or move away because he was going crazy.