Chapter 4

Merlin's Beard

Harry could hear something moving in the distance. A faint cloroseptic smell wafting in his nose made him try to open his eyes only to groan at the sudden brightest of the white room he was in. Covering his eyes with his hand he peeked a bit through his fingers.

"Merlin's beard Mr. Potter. Not a scant day and you have found yourself already in your personal bed here in the infirmary." Madam Pomfrey clucked as she scurried around the room collecting different potions.

He made to sit up only to have a slight weight on his shoulder pushing him back down. He looked to his left and found Charlie looking at him sheepishly. "I am so sorry Harry! I didn't know you were hiding behind the door. Are you alright? How does your head feel?" If it wouldn't hurt his head to laugh he would have. Charlie was wringing his hands and pulling at his hair fretting on him of all people.

"Oy I reckon I'm okay then. My head is pretty hard. Don't worry, I'll be up and walking in a flash."

"Oh no you will not Mr. Potter! Not until I have given you a proper once over! Have you been eating correctly? Have you been taking your vitamins? "

Harry grimaced; he knew he wasn't getting out of here easily.

"I didn't think so. Here, take this, and this, this one here you will take with you, two teaspoons a day with food at dinnertime, and this one every morning for a week and we will re-examine you. You're not looking healthy Mr. Potter. You need to be up on your game. What with all the students arriving soon. You don't want to make a fool of yourself in front of them."

He downed the potions quickly as possible so he could make his escape. "Yes, yes, I will be sure to take them. A week you say? I'll see you then Madam. "One of the potions must have been a pain potion for his concussed head because he was seeing clearly now. He grabbed hold of Charlie's sleeve and made a dash for the door.

Looking at the time he figured he had missed the evening meal. "I guess I'll have to nip something from the house elves in the kitchen. I can't believe I was out for so long."

"Oh don't worry about food Harry. As Professors we have the ability to order to our rooms. That way if you're on patrol during meal times you don't miss out. We can get you settled back in and call an elf. And I'm sorry for making you miss the meal. I shouldn't have swung the door so fast. "

"It's nothing Charlie ol' boy. I've been hit by much worse you know. But I say we'll probably have to put off that Quidditch game until the old bag says I'm okay or McGonagall will probably have my head. You know they love to transpire against me like an old wives club. After the war, Mrs. Weasley and them sent me care packages all the time. I didn't have to cook or go out of my home for weeks before I told them I was okay and could fend for myself. That and I put up wards to detour the owls. "

Charlie snickered, "That's my Mum for you. You're one of the family Harry. And you know how she is about family." He laid an arm around Harry and gave a squeeze. "If she had her way you would have been married off to Ginny by now and really a part of the clan."

They arrived at Harry's room, stated his password to a sleepy looking Dobby and sat down at the round table. Charlie walked to the floo and called the elves for food and then settled across from Harry.

"Well as much as she would have liked me to marry Ginny, it seems your sister had other plans in mind. Some days I still can't believe what sort of mess I made with that situation. I sometimes think I should have had her come with us instead of leaving her here. We grew apart so quickly after the battle. She wanted to go out to all the celebrations, and weddings, and balls. I wanted to just curl up peacefully at home and forget it ever happened. I still find it a shock that she left me for Viktor though. I had thought he was still holding a flame for Hermione at that. "

The meal popped onto the table and Harry took a bite of his Parmesan chicken.

"My sister has always dreamed of fame and fortune Harry. I just didn't think she would be so calloused to simply do you in like that. I left the Burrow as soon as I was old enough. I never got to know her as well as I should have I suppose. Mum was heartbroken when Ginny told her that she had eloped with the big lug. She had been planning her wedding since before she was born and for her to take that away from her…." Charlie sighed, "Enough of all this morose chatter then. It will upset our stomachs."

Harry chuckled and they continued their meal and chatting about non- consequential things until Harry yawned and Charlie saw the time. "Madam Pomfrey is going to have my head that she is. I've kept you up late. I think it's time we retired don't you think?" He made move to go to the main door. "Charlie you might as well use the bath door. No need to wake up the portraits that way. "

Charlie grinned, "Oh that's true, but I also didn't want to ruin your reputation so early Harry."

Harry's brow furrowed, "What do you mean by that?"

Charlie looked surprised at his quizzical expression. "Didn't you know Harry? I came out last year. And so it wouldn't look proper for me not to be seen coming out of your rooms. The portraits and Professors would surely talk. "

"Came out? Came out of what Charlie? What are you on about?"

Charlie forgot that Harry had led a sheltered life and probably didn't know his social background. He rubbed the back of his head and decided to simply be blunt with him. "Well Harry…you see… um… do you remember when I came to Hermione and Neville's wedding? And I had brought my 'co-worker' Greg with me? Well he wasn't just a co-worker Harry. At the time he was my boyfriend. I'm… I'm gay Harry. I hope that doesn't bother you." He shuffled his feet and cast his face downward like a sad puppy.

Harry had never really heard much of muggles being openly gay in his home area, and absolutely never heard of any gay witches or wizards, but either way he didn't have any issues with it. He walked to Charlie and rested his hand on his shoulder causing Charlie to look up startled.

"Now why would I be bothered? With as many times as I have been labeled as a freak, or a miscreant, etc. I hold no judgment against things as little as sexuality. "Harry blushed a bit at this, for he wasn't use to even talking about sex of any kind. "I'll just remember to wear a bathing suit into the bath now is all." He said with a grin to let him know he was joking.

Charlie laughed and poked him in the ribs. "Aye but you know I'm a wizard Harry, I'll pretend I'm your muggle superhero ...what was his name…ah Superman! I'll use the twin's x-ray vision glasses and take a peek anyways."

"Well then I guess you will be getting an eye full one day now won't you. " He stretched his hands apart in mock exaggeration of his length. He almost fell to the floor it a fit of giggles at Charlie's face. Obviously his implying of his large manhood had made the man blush scarlet to match his hair.

"I…I…oh you're horrible Harry!" He rolled his eyes and walked to the bath door. "For that I will go ahead and happily tarnish your reputation and see myself to bed. Goodnight Harry."

"Goodnight Charlie." Harry vanished the food things from the table and then got into his night wear. As he started to drift off his thoughts were of Charlie dressed in a Superman costume.

Author's Note:

I have from this point now gone back and corrected grammar, spelling, and dates to the best of my ability without a beta. I don't use a beta due to the fact I usually have difference of opinions then they do when it comes to stories. So as I fend for myself please be kind lol. Also, I like to inform you that I no longer update the site The Hideaway. My children have gotten quite time consuming as they grown older and the fiance demands his "me" time as well. So please be patient with me. Again, I do not have this story written, each chapter comes whenever I am in the mood to write. Ideas are always welcome. (Updated 7/18/2012)