A/N: I'm currently having a lot of trouble with my computer. It says that Microsoft Word isn't installed...even though it was running normally until a few days ago. This means that all the chapters that I wrote, I can't access on here anymore. Thankfully, I saved them on a googledoc but I can't upload from there onto fanfiction...which is an issue. I'll do my best to deal with this and figure out what's going on, but in the meantime, please just bear with me. Also, I have finals next week so I'm going to by studying like a madwoman. That being said, please forgive me/don't be too mad if I can't get another chapter up for a little while. The end of the schoolyear is always hectic and crazy. I do promise that I'll do my best to make it happen though.
Anyway, again, I want to thank all my lovely readers.
A special thanks goes out to anyone who favorited/subscribed/reviewed; it means a lot to me to know that you like my story. Like I said before, I never really thought my writing was all that good, but you guys are giving me a major confidance boost :)
This chapter is dedicated to my best friend Katie, who always makes me smile with her comments about my story. She's my inspiration...and the fact that we are already planning our college dorm/lives when we haven't even graduated high school. And she totally gets my obsession with Harry Potter (among various other things)...and then there's the fact that we have the same name and could basically be the same person :) So, yeah...Katie, if you're reading this, this chapter is dedicated to you
Summary: Though Charlie Weasley enjoys his job in Romania, he cannot help but feel alone. It has been years since he had seen his best friend, Katrina. Little does he know, things have changed greatly since then. Katrina has lost her sight in a horrible accident caused by Death Eaters. She had closed herself off from the rest of the world, never leaving her house, refusing to see anyone. Can Charlie save her from herself before it is too late?
True Love is Blind Chapter 7
Charlie and I sat together in the room which suddenly seemed much more friendly and open. Neither one of us spoke, but we didn't have to; I was content just being with him. We were entangled in each other's arms, simply enjoying each other's presence as we had not had a chance to do for the longest time. After all the years I had known him, I still found myself awed by how relaxed I felt around him.
Being with him was easy, it felt natural; it felt right. I could simply be myself without having to worry about being judged or misunderstood. We completely and totally understood each other on a level that other people may not have completely been able to comprehend.
"Charlie?" I asked, breaking the silence.
I was nervous. In the time that we hadn't spoken, I had done a lot of thinking. My only previous relationship had ended in disaster, which in turn ended up costing me a massive loss of self-esteem. I did not quite know how to continue. What Charlie and I had as friends was amazing. Was I willing to risk it on a relationship that could very possibly end in chaos? And what exactly did that kiss mean? Were we still just friends? Were we more than friends?
"Yes, love?" he asked, shifting me in his arms. I assumed it was so that he could get a better look at me.
"Well…what exactly would you…call us?"
I needed to know what exactly we were to one another. I couldn't afford to have this become a misconception between the two of us. I needed to get this out in the open. It had taken so much strength to even let him in my room. Maybe the suddenly favorable turn of events had made me brash, but at that moment I could not have cared any less. I was high on life and happiness.
"What d'you mean?" he asked. I had to fight back laughter. He always had been a bit thick when it came to girls and their subtlety, but I loved him all the same. I sighed. Love. Such a strong and powerful word. Love. It could give you wings, send you soaring with your head in the clouds, or it could tear your heart to itty-bitty shreds. I had found it with the man I had always thought I could never had. Before this, it had seemed silly that one little word could heal a broken heart of send you into despair, but I now realized just how significant that "little" word was.
I now understood what people meant when they said that there was a thrilling, almost giddy, sense of euphoria that came with having what was seemingly unattainable. I wasn't shallow, though. I loved Charlie. He wasn't just a conquest to me. He was so much more. He was my best friend. My savior. My guiding light. And now possibly my boyfriend. I grimaced at the thought of that. Boyfriend did not seem like quite the right word. Boyfriend implied something more experimental, a curiosity to be explored. With Charlie, things were different; they did not feel experimental, they were solid, more finite. It was more of an affirmation of something we both knew was there, but had never directly addressed or expressed to one another.
"Well, I mean, you and me… us. Is there an 'us'? I mean are we exclusive? That's what I mean. What are 'we,' the entity? Are 'we' an 'entity'? I'm just trying to figure out what exactly all of this," I gestured to us, me in his arms, "means." I whispered this. Even though I was amazed that I had even said it, I could not bring myself to speak any louder, as if I said it softly enough, the awkwardness I felt would just disappear. So much for the so-called "bravery" I had felt when beginning to speak.
"Katrina, of course there is an us," he reached up to touch my face, cupping it in his hand, kissing my lips lightly, "You know I don't date many girls, especially not snog them in bedrooms when my family could walk in at any time… You're mine, if you'd like to be, my girl, that is, but only if you want to, I don't want to pressure you into doing anything you're not alright with…" he started rambling. It was adorable. I hadn't ever seen, or rather heard, him this flustered.
I shushed him, smiling. "There's nothing I'd like more than to be 'your girl'. You've no idea how long I've wanted to hear you say that."
He let out a contented laugh, tightening his arms around my waist, though in a way that was extremely comforting. I relaxed against him, loving the feeling of his toned arms holding me tight against his body, radiating heat. I laid my head contentedly on his chest, listening to his heart beating, full of life. Thump. Thump. Thump. The heart that I had somehow, by some stroke of incredible luck, managed to win. However, I was sure that the battle was far from over. Relationships were never easy, and with mine and Charlie's stubbornness combined, our relationship would certainly never be boring. I laughed, imagining what our children would be like, if we ever had any. They would surely be a handful.
"Really? Because you've no idea how long I've waited for you to say that you wanted to be my girl," he whispered, making me shiver. I smiled.
"Charlie…would you mind terribly if I did something?" I asked.
"No, I wouldn't mind, but what are you thinking, Kat? You're awfully quiet," he commented.
"Well…I was wondering if you'd let me feel your face," I said. It was an odd request to say the least, but I was beginning to forget what he looked like and that scared me. Since I couldn't see, I figured that tracing the outline of his face, that strong face that I loved so well, would help to refresh my memory.
"You don't have to be embarrassed. It's a valid request. You don't even have to ask, Kat, not with me. Here," he took my hand in his, guiding it to his face.
I played with his hair, the color of which I could remember perfectly-after all, who could forget an entire family of redheads?- running my fingers through it a few times. From there, I traced over his broad, proud forehead, smoothing my thumb over his eyebrows, tracing gently over his closed eyes, down the sculpted nose, over his slightly chapped lips, finally stopping at his strong jaw, tracing its outline softly.
I could feel his breathing quickening against my fingers, his heart racing under my hand that lay on his sculpted chest. I did not need to be able to see to know that he was staring straight into my eyes.
I drew in a sharp breath as he moved his hands up my arms, sending shivers coursing down my spine. He then claimed my lips with his own, moving them roughly against mine. I gasped and he took that chance to explore my mouth with his tongue. I had never kissed, or been kissed, like that. But instead of clenching up, I released the tension in my muscles and let instinct take over.
I pulled away, gasping for breath, but grinning like a madwoman, probably blushing a deep shade of tomato-red. "I'm sorry if I wasn't very good. I've never-"
"Don't you even worry about not being good. Kat, you're perfect. Absolutely perfect."
Before I had time to respond, he kissed me again, and I brought my arms up, massaging his shoulders that I knew were perpetually tense. He groaned and brought a hand up to cup the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.
Just then, the door flew open. "Harry's been cleared!" George's voice rang out into the room.
"Whoa there! Trying to blind us? Couldn't you suck her face off elsewhere, Charlie," Fred interjected.
"Somewhere more private, perhaps?" George said. I could hear the grin in his voice. I wasn't surprised, though. After all, they did know how I felt about Charlie after our conversation.
"It was private until you two barged in," I noted. Charlie grunted in affirmation. The twins chuckled at our responses.
"We'll let it slide this time, but only because we haven't seen Katrina look this happy since...well...since ever," George said.
"But what about the scarring image that will be ingrained in my mind forever? You can't just let them get away with that," Fred interjected, playfully whining.
George must have smacked him upside the head, as I heard a dull thwack, before Fred yelped, "Oi! What was that for?"
"I figured if I hit you hard enough, it'd erase the 'scarring image,'" George grinned.
"Smartass," Fred grumbled.
Just then, more footsteps echoed up the stairs. I tried to move, as my face was still only about two inches away from Charlie's, but the damage had already been done. Everyone in the house had seen us, I was sure.
"Oh! This is wonderful! Such a wonderful day! First Harry's clearing, and now this! Oh, I'm so happy for you two," Mrs. Weasley gushed, rushing over to us and enveloping the two of us in a gigantic embrace. She was probably the only woman who could come into a room, see her son and a girl so close that their lips were almost touching, and gush about how wonderful it was.
"I knew it!" Ron yelled. "I knew this would happen, pay up, Harry."
"Wait…what?" Charlie demanded.
"Uh, right, mate. Well, we might have placed bets on when we thought you and Katrina would finally realize what everyone else already knew," Harry started.
"And I've won. I bet it would be before Christmas," Ron added.
"Harry bet that it would be before new years, and actually, Ron, I've won. I bet it would be before term started," Hermione finished.
"Really, now? Taking bets on when poor Charlie and I would finally realize our eternal, undying love for each other," I joked.
"Well, being stuck here, things can get kind of boring, and well, this was our way of…entertaining ourselves, for lack of a better word," Harry said apologetically.
"Don't worry, she was just having you on, Harry. And if it wins Hermione some spending money, well, we can't complain, can we, love?" Charlie was laughing, squeezing my shoulder.
"If I weren't so happy right now, I'd be furious, absolutely livid, but I honestly don't particularly mind," I conceded.
The group gathered at the door shared a laugh at our expense. Patting Charlie on the arm, I untangled myself from his arms, standing up.
"So Harry, you've been let off. I'm glad. Told you they couldn't find you guilty," I smiled in what I hoped was his general direction.
"Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering they all knew that I'd get off," Harry said, smile evident in his voice.
Fred, George, and Ginny then commenced to sing, and judging by the sound of their feet on the hardwood, dance in a circle, chanting, "He got off, he got off, he got off, he got off—"
"Oh, that's enough, settle down!" Mr. Weasley shouted, though I knew he was smiling and laughing along with them, "Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry—"
I drew in a sharp breath, the memories of that terrible night all those months ago came flooding back to me. Charlie, who had come up to stand beside me, put his arm around me tightly.
"He got off, he got off, he got off,"
"What," Sirius said sharply. I had, of course, told him about Lucius and all the events of the night when I had lost my sight. After all, he was my uncle, my only remaining family, and as he and the Malfoy's were also related, I felt that he should know what had happened.
"Be quiet, you three! Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on level nine, then they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."
"Absolutely," Sirius replied, "We'll tell him, don't worry."
"Well, I'd better get going, there's a vomiting toilet in Bethnal Green waiting for me. Molly, I'll be late, I'm covering for Tonks, but Kingsley might be dropping in for dinner—"
A vomiting toilet…that sounded absolutely disgusting, but I vaguely wondered how exactly that was possible. I knew better than to ask Mr. Weasley about it, though. Surely, he would go on a rant about it, often asking Harry to make sure his facts were correct. I had made the mistake of asking him something once before and I would never make that mistake again.
"He got off, he got off, he got off,"
"That's enough—Fred—George—Ginny!" said Mrs. Weasley, as Mr. Weasley trudged down the stairs towards the exit. "Harry dear, come downstairs to the kitchen, have some lunch, you hardly ate breakfast. Charlie, Katrina, you come too. We'll need to discuss some things."
Ahhh. Here came the lecture. I had hoped we would get off without one, but of course, Mrs. Weasley would want to talk to us about our relationship.
We all went downstairs together, sitting in the kitchen. Charlie and I sat down together, right next to Harry. Ron and Hermione sat themselves down opposite us. The house that had once been so dreary and downcast suddenly seemed full of life and vigor.
"'Course once Dumbledore turned up on your side, there was no way they were going to convict you," Ron said happily, serving mounds of steaming, buttery mashed potatoes onto all our plates.
"Yeah, he swung it for me," Harry replied, "I wish he'd talked to me more, though. Or even looked at me."
"What's up?" Hermione said to Harry, sounding alarmed.
"Scar," Harry replied, mumbling, "but it's nothing….it happens all the time now…"
No one else seemed to notice anything, but I certainly had. I listened intently, trying to hear what they were now whispering to one another. Even with my increased ability to hear, I could not discern what they were saying over the din of everyone else's voices, especially with Fred and George still singing that obnoxious chant.
"I bet Dumbledore turns up this evening to celebrate with us, you know." Ron said happily through a mouthful of food.
"I don't think he'll be able to Ron," Said Mrs. Weasley, setting something that smelled like roast chicken on the table in front of us, "He's really very busy at the moment. Oh, that reminds me, Katrina, we need to talk about something."
"HE GOT OFF! HE GOT OFF; HE GOT OFF—"
"SHUT UP!" Mrs. Weasley roared. "That's better. Katrina, now there is something serious we need to discuss."
"Yes?" I asked. I was really wondering what she would say. Perhaps it was about Charlie and I, but then would she really use the word 'serious'. Yes, our relationship was sudden, but not unexpected.
"Well, Mr. Weasley has just informed me that Dumbledore spoke to him before leaving. He had a request of sorts for you."
I was intrigued now. As a student of Hogwarts, I had been a prefect, but I had never been one of Dumbledore's "favorites" so naturally, I wondered what he could possibly request of me. "Of course. Well I'd be glad to help him in any way I can."
"Katrina, you have to understand that you are under no pressure to agree to this," Mrs. Weasley started.
"Of course."
"Alright then, well, Dumbledore has specifically requested that you go to Hogwarts this year, as a…spy of sorts. You'll be aiding Hagrid with his classes, and listening in for any…suspicious activity, for lack of a better term,"
Even without my sight, I knew that Charlie was angry. His muscles were tense and I knew it was only a matter of moments before an outburst.
"Mum! That's absurd. You can't possibly support this! It's too dangerous. Look at what happened last time," Charlie bust. That stung. I knew he was worried about me, but I couldn't help the reply that slipped out.
"That's not fair, Charlie. Why can you go out and risk your life for everyone and I have to sit here, doing nothing. Mrs. Weasley, tell Dumbledore that I'll take the job. I'll be there for the start of the term," I replied angrily.
"Kat, you're being irrational. This isn't safe. Please, think about it."
"Charlie, if you can't respect my decision, then you can't respect me. I have just as much of a right to work for the Order as anyone else does, and just because I'm blind does not mean that I'm helpless," I yelled. I heard chairs scraping as the others rushed out of the room. "I can hear twice as well as you can. Plus, this is Hogwarts, Charlie, the safest place from You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters."
"Charlie, she has a valid point," Mrs. Weasley added kindly.
He sighed. "I know. I know she does, Kat, I know you do. I just worry about you. I only just found you and I don't want to lose you."
His words were touching. I knew he cared, but hearing him say it made it better. "But this is Hogwarts. With Dumbledore and all the charms on the school, I'll be fine."
Charlie grunted. "I promise," I smiled, kissing him lightly.
"Alright, but you'd better write to me, and if I so much as hear that you even got a cut, I'll be furious. I don't anything to happen to my girl," he said, whispering the last part.
"Nothing will. I'll be careful. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, but that doesn't mean that I don't want to take care of you too," Charlie nudged me lightly.
I laughed. "So then it's settled, I'll go at the start of term," I told Mrs. Weasley.
"Alright. Dumbledore'll be glad to hear it, darling. And Charlie, there's no need to worry. Professor Snape as well as your brothers, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione will be there too. Not that she'll need looking after," Mrs. Weasley patted my back lightly before walking out of the room, leaving us alone.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you," I apologized, leaning against him.
He put his arm around me, pulling me closer and kissing the top of my head. "Don't be. I was being a git…I suppose I was just scared. I thought I lost you once already. I don't know what I'd do if I actually lost you."
"Let's not worry about things that won't ever happen," I smiled at him. "Look at us. We haven't even been a couple for a day and already, we've had a row."
"Well, at least it's over with," he laughed. "Besides, we've basically been a couple since Hogwarts. Neither one of us wanted to admit it, though."
"Very true, Mr. Weasley, very true," I said, tapping the tip of his nose playfully.
"You make me sound old, love. It sounds like you're talking to my father."
"Well, would I do this," I whispered, kissing his neck, then his lips, "to your father?"
"You're a downright vixen, Katrina," Charlie growled.
"But I'm your vixen," I growled back, kissing him again.
TLIB TLIB TLIB
Fred, George, Ginny, Harry and I were sitting in an upstairs bedroom, talking about this year's term. Charlie had left a few days ago to go back to Romania, but not before giving me a goodbye kiss and making me promise to write to him every chance I got. I had told everyone of my new "job" at Hogwarts this year, and to my surprise, most of them were ecstatic. Fred and George made me promise not to report them for any pranks, but I could not guarantee that I wouldn't. However, I had promised to overlook any pranks on Slytherins, especially on Malfoy.
Ron walked into the room, tossing an envelope to everyone. "Booklists have arrived. About time, I thought they'd forgotten, they usually come much earlier than this…"
I was surprised to find that I had received a letter too. I grumbled, knowing that I would have to get someone to read it to me. I opened the envelope, pulling out the letter and unfolding it. Suddenly, a voice filled my head; Dumbledore's voice. "Dearest Katrina, I was so glad to hear that you have accepted my offer. As you might already know, you will be helping Hagrid with his classes, as I know you have always had skill with magical creatures. You'll also be acting as a higher-level Gryffindor prefect, staying in the dorms and watching out for any suspicious behavior. You'll have access to every dormitory and students will be informed of this as well. You should inform either Minerva or I of any suspicious behavior. Regards, Albus Dumbledore."
Harry's voice broke me out of my trance, "One two new ones; The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshwk and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard."
"We were just wondering who assigned the Slinkhard book," said Fred.
"Because it means that Dumbledore's found a new Defense Against eh Dark Arts teacher," said George.
"And about time too," said Fred.
"What d'you mean?" I asked.
"Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few weeks back," Fred told me, "and from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."
"Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the last four?" said George. "But then if he was looking for a new teacher, then why not hire Katrina? She's a wonderful witch and he already hired her as an assistant to Hagrid? Why not give her her own job?"
"One sacked, one dead, one's memory removed, and one locked in a trunk for nine months, it's no wonder Dumbledore didn't want to give Katrina that position. It's too much of a risk," Harry interjected.
The room went silent for a few minutes. "What's up with you, Ron?" asked Fred.
"What's the matter?" said Fred with growing impatience, moving around to stand next to Ron and peering at the paper in his hand.
Both of them fell silent and I had to ask, "Alright, what's going on?"
"Prefect?" Fred said incredulously. "Prefect?"
George then leapt up, presumably to grab the letter. "No way," he said in a hushed voice.
"There must've been a mistake. No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect…"
They then turned their attention to Harry, "We thought you were a cert!" Fred said, almost sounding as if he were suggesting that Harry was trying to trick them in some way.
"We thought Dumbledore was bound to pick you!" George exclaimed.
"Winning the Triwizard and everything!" Fred said.
"I suppose all the mad stuff must've counted against him," George said to Fred.
"Yeah," Fred replied slowly. "Yeah, you've caused him too much trouble, mate. Well, at least on of you's got their priorities right."
"Boys, you're not helping," I intervened, speaking specifically to George and his counterpart.
"Prefect…ickle Ronnie the prefect…"
"Oh, Mum's going to be revolting," groaned George, tossing the Prefect badge to Ron.
Hermione, on the other hand, was certain that it was a mistake. "Ron?" she asked, "But…are you sure? I mean—"
"It's my name on the letter," Ron said angrily.
"I…" said Hermione, clearly unable to form a coherent thought. "I…well… well… wow! Well done, Ron! That's really—"
"Unexpected," George said.
"No," said Hermione. I had a feeling that she was blushing. Hmmm… perhaps she and Ron were like Charlie and I. I grinned as she continued, validating my theory. "no, it's not…Ron's done loads of…he's really…"
The door swung open and Mrs. Weasley entered the room, with a pile of fresh-smelling laundry. I assumed that it was our robes that she had insisted on washing.
"Ginny said the booklists had come at last," she said, passing out the robes to everyone. "Oh, and Katrina, they've sent you a new pair of robes. They're quite nice, dear. If the rest of you give me the lists I'll take them over to Diagon Alley this afternoon and get your books while you're packing. Ron, I'll have to get you more pajamas, these are at least six inches too short…what color would you like? And Katrina, if you need anything at all, let me know and I'll be sure to pick it up for you."
"Get him red and gold to match his badge," George smirked.
"Match his what?" Mrs. Weasley replied absently.
"His badge," Fred said quickly, trying to get it out of the way. "His lovely shiny new prefect's badge."
Mrs. Weasley squealed. "I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!"
"What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?" George said indignantly. I choked back a laugh at his comment. Leave it to Mrs. Weasley to forget about Fred and George's apparent lack of 'success'. The family dynamics between the Weaslys never ceased to amuse me.
Mrs. Weasley continued on, "Wait until your father hears! Ron, I'm so proud of you, what wonderful news, you could end up Head Boy like Bill and Percy, it's the first step. Oh, what a thing to happen in the middle of all this worry, I'm just thrilled, oh Ronnie…" I chuckled at that. I was sure Fred and George would not let him live that down. Then again, if I were them, I probably would do tease Ron as well. I refrained from that now, though, because he and I had never been particularly close like I had been with other members of his family.
