The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

Okay it might be time get out the tissues.

Hermione persisted, "Charlie, please don't say that. You saved my life, you gave me my

life…I wouldn't trade it for anything. I know you don't understand."

Bill Weasley was very uncomfortable and wanted to leave. This situation was getting too personal and intense for an onlooker. He was beginning to slowly back up and head toward the door when Hermione turned to him pleading.

"Bill, please, help me make him understand. He needs to understand!"

Bill stopped and looked at his horrified brother.

Charlie sank into a chair and wiped his hand over his face. "He knows? You told him that I raped you?" Charlie kept his eyes on the floor as he spoke; he was too ashamed to look up.

Hermione knelt down in front of the broken man and gently lifted his face with her hands, forcing Charlie to look into her eyes. "Have you spent the last three years thinking you had raped me?"

Charlie did not answer but closed his eyes in shame.

Hermione's left hand softly brushed a few stray hairs from his forehead. "I tried to talk to you right after, but you were gone. We should have discussed this then instead of having to deal with everything now."

Hermione sighed as a small smile played across her mouth. "Charlie Weasley you did not rape me. You saved my life. I would not have survived if it hadn't been for you and the sacrifice you made. We were victims and because of you I am here. I will always be grateful to you for so much in my life."

Hermione grabbed the arms of the chair Charlie was sitting in to help push her up off the floor. With a laugh she looked down at Charlie and added, "I would have preferred dinner and show first, but at least it was memorable."

Bill snorted and turned away from his brother.

Charlie still did not move as Hermione began to walk toward the corridor. Once she realized he wasn't following her she turned around and called to him.

"Charlie, I know I am asking a great deal, but I truly need you to come with me. It is important, I need you." Hermione's eyes were shining with tears.

Charlie looked up and realizing he truly didn't have a choice he stood and followed her.

Bill was a couple of steps behind the two as they navigated the maze of hallways. Bill stumbled slightly when he realized that Hermione had stopped in front of the pediatric ward's entrance.

Taking Charlie's hand in hers, Hermione spoke in a soft whisper. "I need you to know that I never meant to keep this from you. I must have sent hundreds of owls, but they all came back as undeliverable."

Charlie didn't say anything; he was just as lost as he had been when Bill had brought him here.

Hermione's face was contoured with emotion and that added to Charlie's confusion. He nodded and followed Hermione through the doors and past beds filled with sleeping children.

Bill's heart was pounding in his chest. He understood what was about to happen and he was did not know how Charlie was going to react.

Pushing through the partition, Hermione pulled Charlie along. She did not speak, seeing the even rising of Lottie's chest reassured her that her little girl was just asleep.

Charlie still did not understand, he turned between his brother and Hermione trying to figure out what was going on and who was this child.

Hermione griped Charlie's hand tightly and took a deep breath. "Charlie, I hope you will understand," she pulled him to the right side of the bed to stand closer; "this is our daughter, Lottie."

Charlie pulled away and looked at his brother who was nodding in agreement with Hermione. Then he faced Hermione, tears covered her cheeks and she had her hand over her mouth stifling a sob.

Charlie tore his eyes away from Hermione's and looked back down at the hospital bed. Lost in the sea of white bed linens was the face of a young child. Gauging from the halo of curls, Charlie gathered it was a girl. Studying the sleeping face Charlie slowly began to recognize himself, the brush of freckles across the bridge of her nose, the strawberry blonde fringe of eyelashes, and the full bottom lip. All of these traits stared back at him every morning from the mirror.

Charlie noticed differences; the shape of her face was the same as Hermione's. The abundance of curls was a Granger trait and the line of her eyebrows mimicked her mother's. She was the perfect combination of her parents and Charlie knew without a doubt that Lottie was his daughter.

Charlie took a deep breath and looked at Hermione; she let out a sigh as he gave her a weak smile.

"She is almost three, her birthday is next month…I had been planning a big party but now…" Hermione could not finish her thought.

Charlie slowly tried to grasp a thought that was flitting just out of reach in his mind. Looking back down at the bed he studied the child again. She appeared to be feverish; the ringlets around her face were damp with perspiration. Dark circles under her eyes stood out in comparison to the paleness of her complexion. She was lying in a hospital bed next to a table covered in potion bottles. Charlie realized his daughter was very ill.

Charlie sat down in the chair closest to him. He was too stunned to speak. His child, his daughter, that alone was enough to make his head spin, but add to that the fact that she was obviously very sick made his soul and heart sick.

"What is wrong with her?" His voice was a rough whisper.

"I don't know. We were living in Hong Kong when she first became ill. The healers there were stumped and had the nerve to tell me to prepare for the worst. I was able to get an emergency medical portkey to St. Mungo's and we have been here for two days."

Charlie could hear the pain, anger, and terror in Hermione's voice. "I stumbled across Bill in the hallway and for the first time I had hope of finding you in time." The end was garbled by a small sob.

"Momma? Momma?" a tiny voice caught everyone's attention.

"Yes, sweetie." Hermione sat down on the bed and gathered Lottie in her arms.

"I was dreaming about Puffy." The child's voice was thick with sleep.

Hermione gave a small laugh when she looked up and saw Charlie & Bill's faces. "Puffy is her stuff dragon. He goes everywhere with us. Most little girls like stuffed teddy bears or baby dolls. No, not our daughter; she had to have a dragon. I know where she got that from."

Lottie turned her head to look at whom her mother was speaking. "You look like Uncle Bill." She was very matter of fact and spoke well for one so young. Charlie was startled out of his thoughts and smiled at his daughter.

"I do? Maybe that is because he is my older brother." Charlie couldn't help but smile at the serious little face.

Lottie studied him closely then asked, "You like dragons?"

Charlie grinned, "Yes, very much."

"My daddy is very brave and fights dragons; momma says he is the bravest wizard in the world." Lottie was beaming with pride as she spoke about her father. "Uncle Bill went to find him 'cause he got lost didn't you Uncle Bill."

"Yes, Lottie I did." Bill made his presence know by answering his niece.

Charlie sat forward in his chair so that he could reach Lottie's hand. "You are right, I was lost and Uncle Bill did find me."

Lottie pushed her stuffed animal toward Charlie, "Do you want to hold Puffy? It might make you feel better daddy."

Charlie stood and sat down on the opposite side of the bed from Hermione and took the offering. "Thank you, I would like that very much." His arms gently took the dragon and Lottie into his arms.

Hermione hiccupped a sob and shifted to put her arms around both of them.

Lottie yawned and groggily laid her head against Charlie shoulder, "Don't get lost again daddy, okay?"

Charlie whispered, "I won't."

…..

I get so discouraged when summer ends. The oldest is off to grad school and the youngest started high school. Where does the time go?

I know I am not a second older!