Charlie woke up to the smell of his mother's cooking

Charlie woke up to the smell of his mother's cooking. Grinning, he sat up and pulled on a t-shirt and slipped on his shoes, "Morning, Mum, Dad," he greeted as he sat down at the kitchen table.

Mrs. Weasley seemed pleasantly surprised, "Charlie! I didn't expect you up so early!"

Mrs. Weasley smiled, pouring him a glass of pumpkin juice, "Do you have plans for tomorrow?"

"It's my holiday, Mum, I don't even have plans for today."

"Wonderful! You can help with my Christmas shopping tomorrow!"

Mr. Weasley's eyes seemed to smile above his paper at Charlie, "You mind helping me with some yard work this morning?"

"Sure, Dad."

Mr. Weasley grinned and set his paper down, "I boughta used and very cheap Quidditch hoop and I want to set it up and than make it invisible so no one can see until Christmas."

"Dad, that's great."

He nodded, "I figured you kids and eventually the grandkids could use it, start sharpening their Quidditch skills early."

After the war, Mr. Weasley had been promoted to one of the Minister's, Kingsley's that is, advisors, but had refused to leave his former position. This extra money, plus the money Hermione, Ron and Harry had earned from their various awards had allowed Molly and Arthur to update and renovate their home and to buy more gifts. (After trying to refuse their money on various occasions, Molly and Arthur accepted it, putting it into a separate vault for the grandkids they knew they'd one day have).

Charlie helped his dad set up the hoop all morning and after making it invisible, came in for lunch to find Bill and Fleur sitting down to eat as well.

"Charlie, m'boy, how were drinks?"

Charlie smiled, "Fun of course, a very surreal experience," he smiled, thinking about Hermione and Ginny and briefly Leah.

The five adults chatted during lunch, Mrs. Weasley and Fleur about the baby and how the room decorating was going. "Charlie, Fleur and I have an appointment with the Healer in a little while, want to come with us?"

Charlie nodded, "As godfather, I would feel privileged," he paused, "and as Ginny's big brother, I have to see her at least once in her place of work."

--

Charlie hadn't been to St. Mungo's since the War - but he shook his head; that was over with and here he was in St. Mungo's not worried or frightened or in pain - he didn't see any blood. Charlie followed his brother and sister-in-law to a room and was introduced to an older woman, Healer Sanchez. She ran what Charlie assumed were a few tests since he knew nothing of pregnancy Healing, and said that the baby (Fleur refused to know the sex) was healthy and doing fine. The couple grinned and the three Weasleys left the room to head back to the front desk.

"All-in-all, painless."

Fleur smiled, "Are you going to visit Ginny, Mira and Leah now?"

Charlie smiled, "As long as they aren't too busy - care to join?"

Fleur shook his head, "I need to go start dinner - you're coming, aren't you?"

Charlie grinned, "And miss a quiet dinner with my favorite older brother and favorite older sister-in-law? Never!"

Fleur and Bill smiled and said good-bye as Charlie replied, "I'll be over soon!" He stopped at the front desk to see where Ginny would be.

"Ah, she's on rounds now with her mentor, Healer Cooper, you can check her office…" she gave directions and Charlie nodded his thanks. He approached another wing, this one for Leah's Non-Magical Persons and Other Magical Beings Department and Magical Bugs department, and another desk. "Hi, I'm looking for Ginny Weasley and Healer Cooper."

"Name, please?"

"Charlie Weasley."

"Is Healer Cooper expecting you?"

"No, she's not."

The witch nodded and looking away from Charlie, pressed her finger to her ear and said crisply, "Healer Cooper?" Charlie waited to hear Leah's voice and was surprised the witch continued, "A Charlie Weasley is here to see you - should I send him in?" The witch nodded and taking her finger away from her ear turned back to Charlie, "Last door on your left."

Charlie walked down the long hall slowly, looking at the plaques next to the doors - there were some offices with small name plates and some with larger, and some of the rooms were patient rooms. Yet no one in the hall had as large a plaque as Leah did. Charlie stopped for a second to read the whole thing. Her full name was there, Leah Evelyn Cooper, and the year she got her license, four years ago. But there was something else on her plaque that Charlie hadn't heard at dinner, "Co-Founder and Strong Supporter of the Equality Act: To Enforce Equal Healing Practices on All Patients, Admitted to St. Mungo's".

He knocked on the open door and waltzed in, grabbing Ginny into a hug. "Look at you, you little Healing Protégé!" He turned to Leah who had stood up from behind her desk, her hair pinned back was smiling, her Healer robes opened slightly at the top. "And Leah, you failed to mention you co-founded a Healing Act!"

Leah smiled and waved her hand, "Oh, it was nothing, there were three Co-founders, and the other two are much more prominent."

Charlie rolled his eyes and smiled, "Hope I wasn't interrupting, but I was just at Bill and Fleur's appointment and figured I'd pop in and say hello."

Ginny grinned, "Just some mentoring stuff! I'm on training break."

"Training on a Sunday?"

"Trying to get in as much as possible before the holidays."

Charlie nodded and looked at Mira, "Do Head Healers get holidays off?"

She smiled, sifting through some papers on her desk. "I get off earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, but I have to come in for a few hours on Christmas," she sighed and smiled.

Charlie smiled back, "I would feel bad, but you love it, don't you?"

Leah flashed a quick smile, "It's not all bad being in charge."

Ginny, feeling like the third wheel, but pleased none the less, stood up, "I should probably head back - thanks again, Leah. I'll see you tomorrow."

Leah grinned, ""Oh, no, holiday shopping!"

Ginny laughed and gave her big brother a hug and kiss on the cheek, "Bye!"

Leah turned back to her papers, biting her lip as she became absorbed in what she was reading. Charlie coughed, smiling, trying to get her attention. Leah looked up, surprised and laughing said, "Sorry Charlie, I just got so caught up in this file," she looked down at it again and waved her hand at him, "please, please, sit down!"

He let her read the file for a few more minutes, watching her brow crease, her eyes darting along the page before flipping it over. She was biting her lip again, Charlie noticed, and he wondered if he would be able to kiss those soft, pink lips again. Sober this time. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts and said, "Interesting case?"

Leah nodded, not looking up. "I shouldn't really tell you, Healer-Patient Confidentiality, but Merlin. This wizard came to my department because he's a werewolf, but he really should be in Magical Creatures and Bugs and maybe even plants, we're not sure yet," she frowned, "he would be in one of those departments if he weren't a werewolf." She looked up at Charlie, her brown eyes meeting his light blue ones and he was surprised at how hard and intense they were. "As much as I love my department, I can't help but hate it. Werewolves, goblins and squibs rarely have separate ailments or treatments - not enough to warrant their own department." She sighed, "Thankfully I'm also in the Bugs and Plants departments, but I'll have to grab someone from Creatures -"

"They must be okay with werewolves."

"Usually not actual werewolves, but with bites or scratches," she trailed off, "Merlin," she grimaced as she continued reading the file, "this wizard must have had an awful full moon to have run in to all these things."

"How did he make it here?"

"Thankfully someone found him and Apparated her to let someone know - they wouldn't touch the poor guy of course."

Charlie tried to smile, "You really love helping people don't you? All kinds of people."

Leah smiled wryly and Charlie, cocking his head to the side and smiled, continuing, "It's refreshing."

Leah became slightly sarcastic, "Because I work nonstop to help people?"

"Because you're obviously not doing it for the money. Or for the recognition," he paused, "you always wanted to be a Healer?"

"Even before I knew I was a witch, I wanted to be a doctor." She looked at her watch and cursed softly, "I have rounds," she paused and looked at Charlie, her eyes sparkling, "you have time?"

Charlie looked skeptical, "Depends…"

"Grab that robe," she commanded and picked up her wand and a few files, "you're my new intern if anyone asks."

--

Charlie followed Leah around for an hour and was amazed, but not really surprised, to see how compassionate she was with each of her patients, no matter their age, ailment, intelligence, wealth, or whether they were squib, goblin or vampire. After visiting a few patients who had ingested or been bit by rare and odd magical bugs, Leah looked at her watch, "I have to go and check on my research team and than check on the Wolfsbane Potion," she shrugged at Charlie's unspoken question, "it's my department, and I like to make it," she whispered, "and than that way no one notices when I make extra fro Remus."

Charlie laughed and thanked Leah for the tour and made to hand her the robe back. "Keep it," she smiled, "to come visit again. And I can show you things for those unwanted scars." She winked, her heels clicking on the floor tiles as she walked down another hall. Charlie sighed and ruffled his hair, she really was doing something to him. He made his way out of St. Mungo's, still thinking about Leah and only barely remembering to go to Bill's and Fleur's.

"That was a long visit," Bill chuckled when Charlie walked through the front door.

"Leah took me around St. Mungo's with her," he paused to pour himself some water, "Merlin, did you know she always wanted to help people? And she makes the Wolfsbane Potion herself, probably a huge amount of it every time. She's so compassionate too with her patients, and she's not doing it for the money."

Bill tried to hide his smile, "Not all Healers are money-hungry."

"No, but not all Healers work in the Non-Magical and Other Magical Beings Department."

Bill nodded, "Sounds like you two had fun…" he trailed off, watching Charlie stare out the window, slowly drinking his water, "I never asked you exactly how last night was."

"It was fine, Leah wanted to hear all about the dragons," he paused, "she even said that when she used to read about stories of dragons when she was a child, she never thought dragons were evil, just misunderstood."

Bill laughed, "Seems like you guys got along."

Charlie turned around to face his brother, "Bill, I don't know why - well, I mean I do know why, but Merlin, I think I really liker her. I mean, I've only known her a few days, but I mean, we both understand that we love to work."

"And she appreciates your work and your odd love of dragons."

Charlie ignored his brother's underhand comment and continued, "I - I don't know, I don't want to get too carried away, since I'm only here for a month anyway," he shook his head and turned around, "Where's Fleur? How can I help with dinner?"

And Bill knew that was the end of the conversation on the subject of Leah.

--

Leah slipped off her heels when she finally arrived, exhausted, back at her flat that night. She dropped her take-out food on the counter, and went to change into her pajamas. Before she could start to eat her lo mien, there was a knock at the door.

"Brought a DVD!"

"Come in, Mira, better be a Cary Grant film."

"Long day?"

Leah sighed and plopping down on her couch, taking a huge bite of her food as Mira slipped off her own shoes and sat down next to Leah, holding up 3 DVDs. "Ok, we got Breakfast at Tiffany's," Leah made a face - "You know how I feel about that movie!" Mira laughed, "Is it the racism or that one quote, today?" Leah stuck out her tongue and Mira continued, "Philadelphia Story, or His Girl Friday".

Leah grinned and ate a huge forkful of her Chinese. Mira laughed, "His Girl Friday it is, but only after you tell me about your day."

Leah sighed, "It wasn't bad, just draining," she took a sip of her Muggle soda, "and Charlie visited."

Mira was terribly confused, "Oh?"

"No, no, that wasn't bad, that was fun I guess, but," she groaned, "we kissed."

"What?" Mira hissed, "and you didn't tell me? When?"

"When he was walking me home after drinks," she shook her head at Mira's unspoken question, "it was just a kiss, and we were both drunk. I'm sure he barely remembers."

"And neither of you said anything to each other?"

Leah smiled, "Oh, Mira, you naïve little child, we're both adults, we don't need to make it awkward by talking about it."

Mira grimaced, "Funny. But you guys were fine today?"

Leah smiled, "Yea! It was fun - I showed him around and he seemed to have fun and it wasn't awkward at all."

Mira shook her head, "You're unbelievable."

"What?"

"You're an adult, I thought you'd understand!"

"Mira, what?"

"You totally like him!"

Leah sighed, "Well, yea, I guess I do - Merlin, here's everyone trying to set us up and I set out to just be his friend, and now look, I like him. Merlin, can't I be friends with guys anymore?"

Mira laughed, "Oh, come on, course you can. It's just that it's different with Charlie. You're both workaholics, but you both understand why you are, better than anyone else."

"And he's genuinely interested in my work."

"And he's gorgeous -"

Leah laughed and threw a pillow at her best friend, "An added bonus."

Mira laughed, "So?"

Leah frowned, knowing what Mira meant. "I can't - and no not because I'm scared, but because, well, he'll be going back to Romania in less than a month."

Mira nodded, understanding, "And a fling would prove disastrous -"

"Only because I know the entire family."

"And nothing would be kept a secret."

"And poor Mrs. Weasley." Leah sighed, "So, Charlie and I will just be good friends. I mean, we'll be the only two single people at Christmas, so we'll be thrown together a lot."

"Just don't get drunk," Mira said as she slipped in the DVD.

--

Ginny walked into her flat that night to the smell of spaghetti, "Hermione! You're cooking!"

Hermione laughed from the kitchen, "I got home early and I figured since you had a hard day of training."

Ginny gave her a hug, "Hermione! You're too sweet!" She laughed, "And I'm guessing your day was good?"

Hermione nodded and seeing Ginny's grin, "And how was yours?"

Ginny set the table, "Charlie visited." Hermione cocked an eyebrow. "He visited Leah."

"Oh…" she saw Ginny's face and shook her head, "no, no, not you too! Why can't you all leave them alone?"

Ginny smiled innocently, "Whatever do you mean?"

"Ginny…" Hermione warned.

Ginny put up her hands, "I haven't done anything and I won't I barely need to - they barely noticed I was there. They obviously like each other -"

Hermione dished out the pasta, "And he's leaving in a month, so just leave it. They might get more hurt if they start anything."

Ginny nodded, slightly defeated, "I know, I know, I just want them to be happy!" She sighed, "I'm going shopping with her in Muggle London tomorrow, so we'll see."

Hermione frowned, "You know how she gets."

"I know, I know."

--

Leah left at the crack of dawn for St. Mungo's the next morning to get some things done before she and Ginny went shopping. Mira was going later that day with Fred to help him pick out something for Hermione and to help her with presents for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. She got a few hours of work done when Ginny bounded in. "Ready?"

Leah smiled, "Actually, yea." Ginny was shocked. "I haven't gone shopping in Muggle London in a while."

Ginny grinned, "Me neither," she paused, "you don't mind stopping at some lingerie and dress stores?"

"Why?"

"Well, I want some new lingerie and I want to get Hermione some for Christmas," she laughed, "and I need a dress for Christmas."

Leah frowned, "Oh, no, we're wearing dresses?"

"No one told you?" she sighed, "Merlin forbid George tell you and Mira. Yea, we're having a little party Christmas Eve - dressing up and all."

Leah sighed, "I'll need a dress too."

They walked around Muggle London, going in and out of different shops. Leah thought that she was pretty terrible at buying gifts; she had no idea what to get anyone. Hermione didn't need any more books, Harry had enough Quidditch things and she had no idea what to get Ron.

She had at least decided on a large Muggle cookbook for Mrs. Weasley and an assortment of small Muggle gadgets for Mr. Weasley, all of which Ginny assured her he didn't yet have. She found Luna some bright and odd Muggle jewelry to add to her collection, and a small French perfume for Fleur.

They passed a baby store and Leah pulled Ginny in, "For Teddy! And I'm sure there must be something for Tonks too." They walked out a few minutes later with toys for Teddy and a cute and fashionable "baby-carrier-strap" as Ginny liked to refer to it, for Tonks.

They entered a bookstore next, and Leah grinned, heading to the fantasy section, pulling out a large book on dragons. "He doesn't have something like this, does he?"

Ginny tried hard not to grin, "You just met him, you don't have to get him anything."

Leah waved her hand, "It's on sale, I'll have to get him something else too," she bit her lip and walked away from Ginny, lost in thought. Ginny couldn't help now but grin.

Leah came back a few minutes later with the dragon book and a book about magic, which she knew Fred would enjoy. "What does Harry want, you think?"

Ginny shrugged. She was holding a book about ancient Egypt for Bill. "He's always so hard to shop for - he never wants anything," she paused, "just like you, Charlie and Hermione. But Ron, Merlin, he's pleased with anything."

Leah laughed, "Maybe I'll get Ron a few CDs and maybe a CD player," and she laughed again at Ginny's confused expression, "a music player! Clearly he doesn't have one."

Ginny laughed, "Nope."

They left the store, their bags knocking together, "Can we shrink these? Please?"

Leah nodded and headed towards a public bathroom.

Their purchases now in their pockets, they headed towards a dress shop, Leah sighing audibly and said to Ginny, "I don't care if I have no shoes that match, I refuse to go shoe shopping."

Ginny nodded, already sifting through dresses, "Fine, fine." Leah sighed again and looked through the dresses, picking a couple to try on, not really sure if they would even look good on her or not.

The two girls tried on the dresses, showing them off to one another, laughing the whole time, until they both found what Ginny called the "perfect" dresses. After purchasing their dresses, Ginny dragged Leah to the lingerie store. Leah groaned at the sight of all the frills, bows and lace that adorned almost every bra and underwear in the store. "Ginny, why?"

Ginny laughed at her older friend, "I'm not going to force you to buy anything, but it's always nice to have lingerie like this, isn't it?"

Leah's mouth hung open, "But you always have us buy something in a store like this -" she glared at Ginny, who was looking at red bras with white bows, probably for Hermione, "you want me to buy bras on my own accord and you'll pretend it was my idea," she gasped as it suddenly hit her, "so I would buy it with the intent of Charlie seeing! You evil, evil, girl!"

Ginny grimaced, "Merlin, of course not!"

Leah continued to glare, "You know I know you're lying."

Ginny sighed, "Leah, I'm not going to push you and Charlie together, come on!" And Leah knew she was serious. "And I'm done trying to get you to buy sexy lingerie, especially during Christmas," she paused, "unless I gift it to you."

Leah smiled, "I'm going to look in the sale section." She picked out a few bras and underwear, against her better judgment, that were on sale and went to pay. Ginny was already holding her bag, grinning.

--

Ginny and Leah left Muggle London a little later; Ginny was having dinner with Harry that night. Leah decided to stop at WWW before heading back to her flat. Maybe the twins or Mira wanted to get dinner.

She opened the door, the bell tinkling and was surprised to see Charlie behind the cash register, reading Quidditch Weekly. "They're already putting you to work?"

Charlie looked up and smiled when he saw Leah in her dark grey pea coat and bright blue scarf, her cheeks pink from the cold, her hands full of bags. And she was wearing that brilliant smile that Charlie was easily getting used to. "They both had dinner dates and being the charming and caring older brother that I am, offered to close up."

Leah laughed, shrinking her bags to stick in her pockets before hanging up her coat and scarf. "Good thing I'm here to help you lock up than."

Charlie moved over to let Leah lean against the counter too. "No, no, I can handle it, go do whatever you had planned."

Leah smiled, grabbing the magazine out of his hands, "You're giving yourself too much credit, and I had nothing planned," she thumbed through the magazine and Charlie looked at her for a moment. She wasn't wearing any make-up from what he could tell, but than again, unless it was dramatic, he wouldn't have been able to - but she looked beautiful. He watched her eyes quickly scanning the pages, reminding him of how fast she had read the files at St. Mungo's. He glanced down at her outfit and tried to suppress a laugh. She was wearing a white t-shirt that had a duck that looked angry and was wearing clothes and a caption that read, "One Bad Duck" in blue block letters. She was wearing a thin navy cardigan over it with jeans. Charlie looked down at her feet and grinned at her bright turquoise shoes, "Nice sneakers."

Leah looked down, "Oh, thanks! I love bright sneakers," she laughed, looking at her outfit again. "You must think I'm trying to be some punk…" she laughed, blushing slightly.

Charlie smiled, "No, it's just different I guess, but why is that duck wearing clothes?"

Leah laughed again and setting the magazine down, turned to Charlie, "That's Donald Duck, he's a cartoon created by an American Muggle named Walt Disney -" Charlie shook his head and Leah continued, "You ever heard of Mickey Mouse? Well, there is this bunch of cartoon characters Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto - and Donald, who has this terrible temper. Anyway, they've been around for ages and every Muggle knows who they are. And there are Disney amusement parks for not just these characters, but for the hundreds of movies the Disney Company makes. There are two in the States, one in France, one in Asia somewhere, but I plan on going to the one in Florida some day."

Charlie nodded, fascinated. "Muggles never cease to surprise me. Do you have any of those Disney movies?"

"Not of Donald Duck, but he might be on TV, but I have other animated - cartoon movies that Disney and his company made." She grinned as his face lit up. "You could come over to watch them tonight," she paused, "unless you had other plans."

Charlie smiled, "None!"

Leah grinned, "You don't mind leftovers?"

Charlie couldn't help but smile, although he was torn, "Not if you don't." Here he was, trying to not get attached to Leah, to just continue to be his friend, and here he was, going to her flat.

She smiled and looked at her watch. "We'll lock up in 20."

He nodded. There was an easy silence for a few moments before Charlie broke it; not to fill the silence, since it wasn't awkward, but to learn more about Leah. "You own a lot of bright sneakers?"

"A few," she smiled, "when I was a kid, that's all we used to wear," she laughed, "Merlin, some were so atrocious, but they were cheap. I used to wear darker, more normal colors to Hogwarts, but all the other Muggle students thought I was trying to be cool." She shrugged, "I never bothered to explain."

"And the t-shirts?"

"I only wore hand-me-down graphic t-shirts when I was younger, stuff the other neighborhood parents would give me, but that was just a few. Otherwise it was plain colored t-shirts for me. But I love graphic t-shirts now," she sighed, "it's almost become a problem, how many I own."

Charlie laughed, "How many?"

Leah blushed, "I can't even keep count." She tried to change the subject, "What did you do today?"

Charlie gave her a look but answered anyway, and Leah glanced at what he was wearing, since he had too, opted not to wear the official WWW robes. He was wearing jeans with old, brown boots, but they didn't look dirty or worn, they looked rugged. And Leah immediately slapped herself and continued to listen to what Charlie was saying, something about lunch with Harry and Oliver. "What did you do?"

"Stopped in at St. Mungo's early before Ginny took me Christmas shopping all day in Muggle London, but thankfully we were done earlier than I had even hoped for since she had a fancy dinner with Harry."

"So she ditched you, eh?" He laughed, "Finish your shopping at least?"

Leah nodded, "Just a few things I have to pick up one day in Diagon Alley."

Charlie grimaced, "I hate Christmas shoppning."

Leah laughed, "I don't enjoy it that much either. I'd love to come offer moral support, but since every Healer wants the holidays off," she sighed dramatically, "I get to live in St. Mungo's until Christmas Eve."

"Thanks for nothing," he smiled, "Fred said I could tag along with him and Mira tomorrow."

Leah looked at her watch again, "Time to close up."

--

Leah unlocked her door, flickered on the lights and went to go put her shopping bags in her bedroom, telling Charlie to make himself at home. He put his coat on the back of a large, cushion chair and walked around, examining her flat. It wasn't as big as the twins', but it was definitely big enough for just one person. The main room that he was in now had two large chairs, a couch, and a low, large table. He recognized the Muggle TV across from the couch, but it was much bigger than the other ones he had seen. He didn't recognize the other silver and black boxes, so he walked past them to the kitchen. It was small, with room for only a small table with four chairs. From the kitchen he walked to the small hallway which led to Leah's room and bathroom. He almost walked into the bookcase - it was as long as the hallway and almost as wide - he could barely stand in front of it comfortably to browse the titles.

All of her Hogwarts books were there, all sorts of Healing books and a ton of Muggle doctor books. Another shelf was full of Muggle history books and yet another shelf of smaller, paperback Muggle books. He was still browsing the large shelves when Leah found him, standing awkwardly his shoulders hunched, legs bent, and head to the side, arms bracing the shelves. "It's not as difficult for me to read the titles," she laughed.

"I'd noticed."

"It's probably a fire hazard, but where else could I put all my books?"

"A library?" he joked and held up a Muggle book, Ella Enchanted?"

Leah blushed, "From my very early teenage years. Now come on, let's eat and watch that movie."

He nodded and followed her to the kitchen, "Do you collect books?"

"You could say that. I go to old bookstores or yard sales and buy books - only ones I'd ever want to read. I haven't read all of those yet."

"Oh? For when you have free time?" he joked, taking the Chinese cartons she handed him.

"Precisely," she smiled, "if you think my book collection is bad, you should see Hermione's. Or Mira's movie collection," she paused, "well, Mira and I have a joint movie collection," she laughed at Charlie's confused face, "long story."

Leah led him back to the couch, laying all the food out on the table. "This is all still good, I promise - there's Chinese, a little left over pasta, half of a sandwich. Eat whatever you want." She stood up again grabbing what Charlie assumed was a DVD and put it in one of the silver boxes. "Ever heard of Peter Pan?" Charlie shook his head. "Ok, well he's one of my favorite movie and book characters - but this is the Disney version - the original play and book were a little more violent and less, uh, happy."

The music started and Leah turned off the lights and grabbed some food, sitting back down on the couch. Charlie was already rapt with attention.

They watched the movie in silence for a time until Charlie asked, "So Muggles made this?"

"Yea, a Muggle wrote the original play and book at the turn of the century and than Disney made this movie in '53."

"And they didn't actually know about pixies or fairies or magic?"

"Nope."

"Amazing," and they continued to watch as Peter and the Darlings flew to Neverland. Charlie laughed at the pirates but was confused about the "Red Man", so Leah quickly explained the racism, but had to pause the movie entirely when Charlie wanted to know about these Native Americans.

Leah was amazed at how many questions Charlie asked and how intensely he was looking at her as he listened. His questions were so direct, but very profound and Leah couldn't even answer some. "Do you want to borrow some of my American History books?"

Charlie thought, "Maybe. I do have a lot of time on my hands for the next few weeks." Leah laughed and turned the movie back on.

At the end of the movie Charlie clapped enthusiastically, "That was fantastic! And Muggles draw those things and make them move - without magic?"

Leah smiled as she pushed a button the remote, turning the cable on, "Yep, it's called animation. So you liked the story?"

Charlie nodded, "I bet that would be fun, to never grow up."

Leah's smile faltered, "Yea, but, the whole point of Peter Pan and a lot of other immortality-like stories is that you have to grow up, you have to die, you have to feel the passing of time," she sighed, "Disney made a sequel a few years ago where Wendy's daughter goes to Neverland, but at the end, Peter goes to London and sees Wendy as a grown up."

"What?"

Leah nodded, "It was terrible. I bawled and I'm not afraid to say it - I knew it was coming and I just - oh, it's just terrible. I cried in a children's movie! But there was always something about Peter Pan that tugged on my heart-strings."

"That sounds awful - it is rather odd for a child's story."

Leah sighed, carrying the now-empty food containers to the garbage, "Do you want to borrow the original book of Peter Pan?"

Charlie grinned, "If you don't mind parting with it…" Leah went to the bookcase and without having to even scan the shelves, handed Charlie a worn paperback, their hands grazing.

Blushing from the accidental graze and mentally slapping herself, Leah said slyly, "I've read it a few times."

Charlie, who was also mentally kicking himself, replied, "I promise to take good care of it," and than slightly awkwardly continued, "well I should probably go, I mean, you must have to get up early."

"Oh, no," Leah found herself saying before she could think, "you don't have to go yet - I mean, it's still early," she smiled smally, "want some ice cream?"

Eyeing her carefully, Charlie smiled back, "As long as you don't mind…"

"Chocolate or cookie dough?" she laughed as she walked back into the kitchen.

"Chocolate, definitely." They sat at the kitchen table to eat their ice cream, when playing with her spoon and looking at Charlie said, "You know that all your brothers and sister say that you're their favorite." Charlie let out a disbelieving chuckle. "Even the twins - you're tied for first."

"That's probably because they see me the most infrequently and so haven't tired of me yet."

Leah took another small spoonful, still staring at Charlie, making him squirm a little. "I don't think that it's. I think people are just naturally drawn to your personality, your charm. You support your family tremendously, no matter what - the twins told me that you were the only original supporting family member for their career choice. And you're the most understanding and you seem to have the best temper," she smiled crookedly, "or maybe have the most control over it."

Charlie laughed, "For a redhead and a Weasley, I'm the least fiery."

Leah shook her head, "No - look at the passion you have for your job, for your beliefs," she smiled, "you're fiery, just not temperamental."

Charlie eyed her again, not exactly sure what to make of her observation, but Leah laughed before he could think too long. "I'm sorry, I just tend to notice things like that - I didn't mean to get so awkward or so personal."

Charlie smiled, "You sure you're not one of those Muggle shrinks?" He laughed, "You are pretty observation - I guess I've just always been the mellow one, trying to keep the peace between the siblings - maybe that's why I like dragons so much."

Leah grinned, taking another spoonful of ice cream, "I didn't mean to judge or pry or anything."

Charlie shook his head, "Just being observant that's fine," he paused, "mind if I ask a question?"

"Only fair."

He paused, not wanting to upset her, but curious all the same. "Why are you spending Christmas with us and not your uncle or whoever? I mean, I don't mind, it's just that you're not dating any of my brothers or anything and -"

Leah nodded and frowned slightly, "Well, my uncle and I don't particularly get along," she paused and looked Charlie right in the eye, "now, if I tell you the short version of my life story, you have to promise not to say 'sorry' or give me any pity. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Leah began to tell Charlie her tale of her childhood, her formative years, of how she moved in with her aunt and uncle after her parents died in a car accident. How, even though they lived in a terrible, dingy neighborhood, they were happy: until her aunt died two years later from cancer. How her uncle became distant, cold, unloving to her and turned to alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, whatever he could get his hands on, to make him feel better, take away the pain. How her uncle refused to believe and became terribly angry over her first Hogwarts letter, until she received tons of letters everyday, forcing him to believe. How every summer she would come home, and say less than two words to her uncle, and instead would spend all of her time working or in the library. How holidays were always spent at Hogwarts, how her uncle had probably not noticed that she had graduated and left his flat. Until, of course, she had come back a few years after graduation to try to force him to get help for his addictions.

"That was a bad idea," she continued, Charlie rubbing his fingers on the back of her hand lightly, encouraging her, "he got even more angry, hated me for getting involved. Her blamed me for Aunt Rebecca's cancer, even though he was the one who smoked." She sighed, "So after that, we haven't really talked."

Charlie started to say, "I'm sorry," but he caught Leah's glare, so said instead, "So, holidays…"

"I usually work and get drunk, but last year I spent it with Mira and her dad, which was nice," she laughed, "so this will be my first Christmas spent with more than two people."

They sat for a few minutes in silence, Charlie trying to think of what to say to Leah, who although didn't look sad, looked slightly forlorn. He looked at the clock on the wall and than lightly rubbed his fingers on the back of her hand to get her attention. "Hey, I should go, let you get some sleep," he said quietly and stood up, taking her hand to pull her up. He wrapped his strong arms around her, her head against his chest. He leaned his head down and whispered, "I'm sorry I made you talk about it, but I'm glad you did," he paused, still holding her, "and I promise you this Christmas will be fun." He loosened his grip so he could look her in the eyes. Her eyes still looked too sad, missing their usual spark and intensity. "I'm really sorry - your uncle doesn't deserve you - but you're stronger now, driven. And you've got a ton of people who love you."

He kissed her on the cheek and dropped his arms completely, smiling smally, "Thanks again for the movie and the book. See you soon." He went to grab his coat and as he opened the door Leah called out softly, smiling, "Thanks, Charlie."

Charlie smiled and left, closing the door behind him, leaving Leah tired and confused: how could she not like him now?

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