Chapter 6
Howlers and Diagon Alley
Kate continued to suffer from her nightmares for the weeks that followed and Charlie slept by her side for the duration. Now they only had a couple of weeks until they went back to Hogwarts and today they were going on the annual trip to Diagon Alley to collect their books, robes and other school stuff.
Kate was searching for her red blouse and was struggling to find it. So she walked down the stairs to the kitchen, in her jeans, knee high boots and her bra to ask Charlie. The Weasley's were at breakfast and Bill, Percy and the Twins jaws dropped as Kate emerged and leant against the beam at the bottom of the stairs.
"Charlie?" Kate asked and was pleased when Charlie's eyes widened and he blinked to focus on her face.
"Yes, dear?" He teased.
"Have you seen my red blouse? The one I wore to Ottery's church fete?" Kate asked, still secretly smiling at Charlie's amazement.
"Have you tried, my... Our room?" Charlie corrected, Molly still wasn't too happy about that arrangement but knew that Kate needed Charlie to sleep soundly at night.
"Yes. Anywhere else I could try?" Kate asked
"Trunks?" Charlie suggested. Kate nodded.
"Good idea, thanks Charlie." She smiled and kissed his cheek before disappearing back up the stairs, Charlie stared after her, craning his neck round the stairs to watch her go. Bill slapped him on the back of the head, jerking Charlie out of his daydreaming about Kate and the feel of her beneath his fingers.
"Oi, loverboy. Wake up." Bill mocked. He wasn't returning to Hogwarts as he'd already left, but he was coming with them to gather his things for his new job as a curse breaker in Egypt for Gringotts bank. He was going there when Charlie and Kate returned with the older Weasley children to school.
Charlie scowled at his elder brother and returned to his breakfast. Moments later Kate returned to the kitchen, now fully dressed. She took her seat next to Charlie.
"Found it then?" Charlie teased, hugging her to him, her silk blouse, soft under his fingers.
"Yes. It was in your trunk, Charlie." Kate whispered and Charlie blushed, redder than his hair. Out of the window an owl approached and tumbled onto the table. "Errol?" The Weasley's owl stood up again and dropped a red letter on the table in front of Kate who grimaced and picked Errol up to move him nearer Tonks and Finn who had stayed with the Weasley's too, since their unexpected arrival. The letter exploded and the shouting voice of Ms Carroway filled the kitchen.
"KATHERINE DRACONIA CARROWAY! HOW DARE YOU NOT CALL ME WHEN YOUR NIGHTMARES STARTED AGAIN! I COULD HAVE HELPED YOU, BUT NO YOU LEAVE IT TO MOLLY WEASLEY TO TELL ME BECAUSE SHE'S WORRIED FOR YOU TOO! YOUNG LADY I AM NOT IMPRESSED," the voice then lowered and became relaxed again. "But well done on getting head girl, I am so proud of you." The letter stuck out its tongue and exploded sending bits of paper all over the kitchen.
"Sorry everyone." She said to the gathered family and friends around the table. Kate got up and left the table, not even touching her breakfast. She headed outside and Charlie was quick to follow her after shooting an unimpressed look at his mother.
Kate had asked her not to call her mother because she was fine and she knew how to cope with them and didn't need the help, not to mention her mother was probably very busy with the work she was doing for the ministry with 'Mad Eye' Alastor Moody. Charlie found Kate sat outside on a bench, tears staining her cheeks.
"Kate?" He asked as he sat beside her. She flung herself in his arms, her arms going around his neck and pressing herself close to him. He didn't need to say anything to ask any questions because they'd already discussed all that preceded this bout of tears. Minutes passed and as her tears ceased Charlie suggested going back inside and heading off to Diagon Alley.
"How's some shopping sound? We could look at the new brooms?" Charlie suggested and Kate smiled and nodded getting up from her seat. "I love this blouse by the way." His hands stroked her waist through the silk fabric.
"I know, that's why I'm wearing it, Mr Weasley." Kate teased, her hands on his chest.
"Good. I love you out of it as well." Charlie murmured kissing her tenderly.
"I noticed that too." She smiled and bumped her hip, gently against the front of his trousers and Charlie growled before she slipped out of his embrace and he chased her back to the house.
When they arrived in Diagon alley the family and its guests split up in search of the required books and equipment the children would need. Tonks, Finn, Charlie and Kate headed off to Eyelops owl emporium for owl treats and things for Finn, Tonks and Charlie's owls and also for Cobweb, Kate's cat and then on to Madame Malkin's robe emporium where they were met by someone Charlie had never met and Kate did not want to see.