Chapter Eight: Love Will Find a Way
Rain. That was all it seemed to do anymore. Rain and rain some more. Katharine sat by a tall window in her third-floor library, staring blankly out onto the bleak countryside. All around her were the books of her childhood, the stories she used to love. Knights in shining armor on horseback galloped across the yellowing pages, rescuing their beautiful princesses from the clutches of evil. Now the books sat there, collecting dust, for it had been ages since they had been taken down from their shelves. Katharine leaned her head against the windowpane and closed her tired eyes, letting out a deep sigh. She had tried her best to live by her mother's advice, but no longer could she hold her head up. She had never been a strong person and had only been made weaker by recent events.
Ever since that Christmas, Charlie's letters began to get shorter. Katharine wrote him constantly, only to receive a few lines in reply. She had told him about Harry and Ginny's engagement, Arthur's first word ('money'), and, most recently, Hermione's first pregnancy. His last letter to her came in April. It was early July, now. Katharine continued to write him faithfully but did not receive anything in return. She had always made excuses for him, saying that "he probably had a good reason for it," or that "dragons take up a lot of his time." But now she couldn't do it anymore. No more excuses, no more kidding herself.
She barely slept anymore, nor did she care much about her appearance. Dark circles under her sad blue eyes became a regular feature of hers. Her long glossy curls seemed to have lost their bounce, and now hung lifelessly about her pale face. Since she didn't feel like eating much nowadays, she had lost a fairly large amount of weight; her once pleasantly plump figure now was unhealthily thin and frail. Many of her friends had tried to convince her to eat or to join them in going out someplace, but she was never hungry and always tired. It was devastating what heartbreak could do to people.
Katharine basically only left her house to go to work. And after her shift was over, she wouldn't linger about the Hogsmeade shops like she used to; she would go directly home. So many people were worried about her, but Tonks, who knew her the best, persuaded everyone that she needed to be alone. Katharine was grateful to her for that; she really did not feel like seeing anyone and she was glad that Tonks understood.
She could not get mad at Charlie, though, not matter how hard she tried. She was disappointed in him, of course, but never mad. Mrs. Weasley, on the other hand, was furious at her son. She loved Katharine like she was her own daughter and could not stand to see her so depressed. Most people were more surprised at Charlie than anything. He was always the gentleman on the Weasley family. Everyone had been charmed by him ever since he was a young boy, so something like this was strange for Charlie. He had never acted like this in his entire life.
As the rain poured down from the heavens onto the grass, Katharine's eyes were neither focused on what was going on outside nor on the window itself. She sat there, thinking about how life used to be, how simple it was, how joyful it was. Her reverie was broken as the sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the house. Slowly getting up from the window seat, she walked leisurely down the long spiral staircase, not even bothering to check a mirror on her way down.
The doorbell rang again. "I'm coming," Katharine shouted, her voice weak with weariness. She finally made it to the front door, and placing her delicate hand on the golden doorknob, she opened the door.
And there, on her front step in the torrential rain, stood a drenched Charlie Weasley.
Katharine's eyes widened at the sight of the man she hadn't seen in almost a year. Before she could shut the door in his face, he hurried inside.
Charlie spoke first, placing his large hands firmly on her fragile shoulders. "Listen to me, Kate," he implored. "I know you must me furious at me, but you have to let me explain myself first."
Katharine, still in shock, nodded mutely, allowing him to continue. "When I told you that I was planning on coming home for Christmas, I sincerely meant it. On Christmas Eve, however, my plans were tossed out the window when one of the female dragons' eggs hatched. Nobody was allowed to leave for any reason because everyone was needed to help take care of the baby dragons. I was devastated when I found out because I had already missed Ron and Hermione's wedding and I would have to miss Christmas, too." He paused. "Your letters were the only things that have kept me sane over the past several months. I always looked forward to the next one and I felt awful when I couldn't reply. My job has been taking up all of my time, which I shouldn't let happen." His voice lowered and he looked directly into Katharine's wide blue eyes. "I've been miserable without you, Kate. I can't sleep anymore when I do get the chance to, and I just feel horrible when I'm not around you. I can't stop thinking about you no matter how hard I've tried. I just can't do it."
Katharine's lower lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears. Charlie put his hands on each side of her face, bending his head down toward hers. "Months ago," he whispered, "I promised that I would always be here for you. I intend to keep that promise." And with all the love in the world, he kissed her. Katharine's arms wound their way around Charlie's neck and her slender white fingers ran through his damp red hair. Never in her life had she loved a man as she did now. They both broke away, their faces only inches away from each other. Katharine laid her head on Charlie's chest and he held her in his arms.
"I love you," he said quietly, kissing the top of her head.
"I love you too, Charlie," she replied, looking back up into his eyes.
"I can't live without you, Kate," Charlie said, gently wiping away the tears from her eyes. "That's why I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Marry me?"
Katharine smiled for the first time in months and reached up to touch Charlie's face. "Of course," she said, feeling his rugged stubble under her soft fingertips.
Charlie took her left hand in his, and slid a simple diamond ring with a silver band onto her finger.
"It's beautiful," Katharine breathed.
"I tried," Charlie said with a smile, drawing his new fiancée in for another kiss.
As the storm raged on outside Dearborn Manor, the two lovers inside were oblivious to everything going on around them. They had eyes only for each other, loving their partner with everything they had. Katharine could not have been more happy than she was in this moment, for her handsome prince had finally come to rescue her.
