CHAPTER 10 – Charlie's Birthday

Two weeks later Charlie was back at the airport anxiously waiting for Rebecca. He had missed her without a doubt. Even though she had written him letters every day and sent him some souvenirs from Egypt, he felt as though he wasn't getting the whole story of what was happening in Egypt. He hadn't been that paranoid about Rebecca hiding something from him until a week ago when he was at the Patterson's ice cream parlor. He was flipping through the Daily Prophet and he saw a picture of a couple dancing that looked like Rebecca and Bill. Though he didn't think anything of it at first it, when he read the caption, 'Paris isn't the only city of Love,' he started to get a sinking feeling that he was losing his girl to his brother.
The next couple of days were filled with rereading Rebecca's letters and staring at the picture. He hated seeing Bill pick up Rebecca to spin her around, twirl her, or dip her. There was a point when he swore they were dancing a lot closer than they had started out when he first saw it. With the help of James, Charlie realized that his paranoia was running rampant. Now he was waiting for Rebecca so that he would have confirmation that he was indeed paranoid for no reason.
"Charlie!"
He looked up to see Rebecca running from the gate to him. She didn't disappoint him with her greeting. Rebecca practically jumped into his arms giving him the tightest hug. After a quick kiss, she grabbed his hand and led him to baggage claim. She kept saying over and over that she had missed him as they walked. Once they got the suitcase they headed straight for Rebecca's house.
"Do you think your mum would mind if I came over for dinner?" Rebecca asked when they were in her house.
"Don't see why not," Charlie responded happy that she wanted to go back over to the burrow. "Great. Just let me put these in the laundry room really quick and we can go."
Charlie nodded his head as he followed her down the hall. Once Rebecca dropped her bags off and talked with her servants they were back to the Burrow. Once there, Mrs. Weasley got dinner together. Rebecca insisted on helping clean up after dinner. Charlie felt that he needed to help, but Rebecca practically pushed him out of the kitchen. He came back a half an hour later to find his mother and girlfriend giggling and whispering to each other.
"What's going on?" he asked causing the two to go immediately silent and look at him slightly guilty.
"Nothing," Rebecca responded trying hard to look innocent, but her smile told Charlie differently.
"Liar," he stated and then started chasing her around the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley laughed at the two and let them go for little bit.
"Charlie, go check on the twins for me."
Charlie stopped and sulked out. Rebecca came out of the kitchen a bit later announcing that she needed to get going.
"Um, okay," Charlie reluctantly said thinking of the possibility of Ben waiting for Rebecca at her house.
"I'll be at Sara's tonight and most of tomorrow."
Charlie felt a wave of relief rush over him as he responded, "Cool… Maybe Greg and I will meet up with you two tomorrow night." "That would be great. Maybe for dinner?"
"Sure."
"Wonderful. See you tomorrow." Rebecca gave him a sweet smile, a quick kiss, and headed to the fire place. When she was gone, Charlie sat back and watched the fire die down. He was about to go out and play with his siblings when it hit him that he had some interrogating to do.
"Oi, Mum!"
"Yes, Charlie, dear."
"What were you and Becca talking about?"
Mrs. Weasley gave him a smile that let him know that he wasn't going to get a word out of her. He let out a sigh and headed outside to distract himself.

Rebecca tumbled out of fireplace and picked herself up. She hesitantly looked around to see if there were signs of anyone. She didn't and so she headed to her room where after a good search for signs of Ben, she started packing to go over to Sara's. Rebecca was almost done when an owl flew into the window

Dear Becky,
I must apologize for the night of your birthday. I never meant to scare you. I just wanted to tell you that I love you. Unfortunately, Kevin and I had a few too many drinks that I lost control. I fear I may have alienated you by my miscalculation of how many drinks would give me the courage to tell you. Please forgive me. I promise to never touch another drop of liquor. I can't live without you. Please don't hold that horrid night against your ever faithful admirer. I know that you aren't at home anymore so please let me know where you are so that I can come see you and apologize in person.
Love,
Ben
P.S. Kevin used a potion to make it so that no one could smell the whiskey on our breath. It also makes it so you don't realize how drunk you are. I knew you would be curious about why you couldn't tell I had been drink. See how well I know you?

Rebecca shuttered as she threw the letter into the trash can. She then picked up her over night back and then went to get her car keys. She couldn't wait to get to Sara's. She need some girl friend time, which was much over due.

"You drove!" Sara excitedly greeted her.
"Yeah, I said I was," Rebecca responded as she gave her friend a hug.
"So how was Egypt?"
"Fun. It went by so fast... I have to admit though I am glad to be back." Sara smiled and showed her into the house.
"You remember my parents?"
"Yes… How do you do, Mrs. Davis? Mr. Davis?"
"Very well dear," Mrs. Davis replied giving Rebecca a hug. Mr. Davis shook patted her on the shoulder and then stopped his wife from inquiring about Egypt too much so to the girls could go up to Sara's room.
"So what happened after you left Charlie's tonight?"
"How did you know?"
"Charlie told me and Greg and about your incident with Ben. He then owled me to say that you had left his place… So was Ben there?"
Rebecca took a deep breath and let it out before she explained that her house was empty, but she got the letter from Ben.
"Oh, Becca," Sara whispered.
"Yeah, well at least he doesn't think that I will be back at my house for the rest of the summer."
"Yeah."
"Anyways, I doubt that I have a lot to do and little time to really worry about him before school starts."
"Really what are you doing beside hanging out with me."
"Well I have a party to plan." Rebecca gave Sara a smile and the two started talking about Rebecca's party.
"We'll go shopping tomorrow for the party," Sara stated. "Greg already told me that we were going out on a double date with you and Charlie tomorrow night. So we'll have to have it done before that… Also, I talked with Stacy at the end of your party and she wanted us to get together with her, Kalie, and Kerry tomorrow for lunch. Is that okay with you?" Rebecca just grinned to show her approval of the lunch.

The rest of the night was spent getting caught up on what was going on each other's life. Even though they stayed up late they got up and went shopping. At a quarter to noon they walked to a quaint café to meet up with Stacy, Kerry, and Kalie.
The others girls hadn't arrived yet, so Sara took the opportunity to get some more information about Rebecca's friends from Beauxbatons.
"Well Stacy and I met the first day that we were there. We knew a little French, but not a lot. It made us outcasts. We helped each other learn and to fit in." Sara smiled and nodded amused that Rebecca felt out of place at her old school. She remembered Rebecca making a similar contact when she first got to Hogwarts. Rebecca never seemed to be out of place for too long. "It was us just us two for until Christmas holiday even though we knew Scott, Gwen, and Colleen were from the UK as well. Ben, I talked to but he really didn't talk to Stacy. After the holiday, we all ended up in the same carriage and I started the group talking. From that point on we were all friends… Of course when I left, Stacy got into a bit of hard luck with the group… But it was really everyone's true colors coming out. You can't expect people to be friends just because you're from the same country. Personalities do play a part."
"Yep, it sure does. We had a lot of girls try to join our group, mostly because they wanted to be Charlie's girl. No one quite fit and then you came here. And the group was completed." Rebecca just smiled and trued hard not to blush. Sara noticed and decided to get back on to the Beauxbatons topic. "So why did some many went to Beauxbatons instead of to Hogwarts?" she asked realizing she had never asked Rebecca what she was at Beauxbatons for the first four years of her schooling.
Rebecca took the opportunity to pause a moment and think. Finally, she said, "Well, Stacy was there, because her aunt on her dad's side is a professor there. I'm not sure why Kalie and Kerry were there. Scott's mother went there. Colleen went because she had a cousin there that insisted it was better. Gwen's parents had looked at the different schools and decided to send her there. Scott's parents knew the head mistress. Um, Ben was there because his grandmother had gone there and requested that he go there."
"Interesting… That girl that Ben was dating… The one that didn't care for you and Ben being friends…"
"Sydeny?"
"Yeah. Wasn't she from the England?"
"Yeah, she grew up with Ben and when it was announced he was going to Beauxbatons, she got her parents to agree to send her there too."
Sara nodded and then asked, "So what about you? Do you know why you went there instead of to Hogwarts straight off or was it just part of the will and you don't have a reason?"
"Part of the will. I think eventually I might get to know why, but for know I…"
"Becca! Sara!
Sara and Rebecca turned to see Stacy, Kalie, and Kerry walking into the café all with bright smiles. After friendly greetings were exchanged, the girls settled down for lunch and a goof talk. Rebecca was having a wonderful time and didn't notice a familiar face pass the window they were sitting by.

"Hey Becky," Ben said as he walked through the door of the café with a huge smile on his face. Rebecca looked up and tried hard not to gasp. "Do you have any gum on you?"
After a moment, Rebecca started digging through her bag. It would keep her mind off of how Ben was acting like nothing happened. She started to throw her books and notebooks out onto the table. Ben watched slightly amused that his friend's habits hadn't changed that much. He walked closer to her and looked at her not taking too much notice of what she was taking out of her bag until a tattered book came out. Rebecca looked at it for a second and a smile formed on her face as she carefully placed it to the side.
"What is this?" Ben muttered picking it up and flipping through it.
"Quidditch through the Ages," Rebecca responded continuing to dig through her bag. She didn't notice that Ben had opened the cover to find Charlie's message:

Becca
Hope this helps in your understanding of the game. I'm glad you will be around for more quidditch seasons.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Charlie

"Uh," Ben scoffed causing Rebecca to look up at him as he muttered, "You think he would have least gotten a new one."
"It was new when I got it," Rebecca defensively stated.
"Then why does it look like this?" Ben held the book up by its cover showing how tattered and torn it was along with how the spine was broken.
Rebecca snatched back her book as she said, "It's well loved."
Ben stood up a little straighter and looked at his friend questioningly.
"You don't say that word," he started.
"What?"
"You don't say the word love. You've never said that word as long as I have known you."
"I've said it," Rebecca started sitting back down with her book.
"When?"
"Just now and last year when Charlie gave me this book… It was the prefect gift for him to give me."
"Why?"
"Well, I barely knew anything about quidditch and look at me now. I play…"
"So say it now," Ben demanded knowing that if he didn't Rebecca would try to skirt around the whole issue and if he didn't push her.
"It."
"You smart-mouthed…" started Ben as he gave Rebecca such a look that let her know she was about to push him over the edge.
"Look," Rebecca interjected so that Ben didn't have a chance to finish his sentence. "You said, and I quote, 'So say it now,' and I said IT. I don't know why you are so mad when I actually did what you wanted."
Ben inhaled deeply and looked like his head was about to explode. Rebecca was sure she was about to get yelled at, but Ben didn't. Instead he exhaled slowly like he was counting to ten and then through gritted teeth said, "Good day, Becky."
Ben turned and started to walk away when Rebecca said, "Bye."
"Bloody smart-mouthed…" Ben started and trailed off into incoherent mumbling as he stalked away. Rebecca just rolled her eyes and looked at Stacy. There was no doubt in either of their minds that Rebecca had just been called something awful.

"That was Ben?" Sara asked looking quiet shocked at how Rebecca handled him.
"Yep," was all Rebecca could respond.
"You know," Stacy slowly started causing everyone to look at her. "I know the way you two were around each other at school and I know I would have never said this then. But the way he was acting just then along with his behavior last year, I would swear that he has a crush on you."
"Huh," Rebecca laughed as if Stacy just said the most absurd thing possible. She was trying hard not to think about the night of her birthday.
"You know he is right you use to never say 'love' under any circumstance," Stacy stated trying to change the conversation subtly.
"Well, obviously I can now."
"Have you said it to Charlie?" Kerry asked eagerly.
"No," Rebecca stated as she felt herself go red.
"Do you?" Kalie inquired. Stacy looked at Rebecca curious on the response.
"I don't know…" Rebecca whispered. "Can you actually feel something you've never known?"
"What?" Sara asked so quietly Rebecca didn't hear her. She did however notice Stacy's disapproving face and stated, "I know… I'm hiding behind my parent's death."
Sara was about to ask for more of an explanation when Rebecca got distracted by someone else coming into the door.
"Hey, Becca," Angel Dark, who was better known as A.J., said as he approached Rebecca. She smiled up at the Gryffindor Beater as he apologized for not being able to make it to her birthday party. "I had to work that night. Anna was disappointed she couldn't make it either… You wouldn't believe how much she wouldn't be there."
"Well you know there are ways to make up for that," Rebecca slyly said.
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Well, can you tell me as I go get something to eat? I have to get back or else I would ask to join your lovely group." A.J. looked around and gave all the girls a polite hello smile. He paused at Sara and said, "Hello, Sara. How are you doing?"
"Just fine A.J. Tell Anna hi for me when you see her."
"Will do. Do the same to Greg for me?" Sara nodded and smiled at him. "Well Becca, shall we?" A.J. offered Rebecca his hand to help her up. As they walked off he inquired back to what Rebecca had been hinting at.
While Rebecca and A.J. were up at the counter, Sara seized the opportunity to do alittle friendly interrogation of her own. "What did Becca mean when she said that she was 'hiding behind' her parent's death."
"Well," Stacy started turning towards Sara. "Rebecca's parents died before she had a chance to remember them and how they interacted with each other… to see how they loved each other… to know what it felt like to be loved by them… Don't get me wrong, Wadsworth loved her to death. I am sure of it… It's just that he didn't really hug her or kiss her on top of the head or anything that parents do. I never once heard him say that he loved her."
"What?"
"He always said that he was proud of her and might add in that if he had a daughter he hoped that girl would be very much like Becca, but the word love never came out of his mouth. From what I gather from our dear friend, he never said it about anything… She grew up in a house where love seemed to never exist because it was never categorized."
"So she doesn't know how strong of an emotion it is?" Sara was trying hard to understand.
"Kind of… It like she doesn't know when like becomes love… I think that she might be confused, because she doesn't have any references in her life that she can liken what she feels to… Example, she never saw how her parents interacted with each other, so she doesn't know that she is in love with Charlie."
"You think she is?" Sara asked hopefully.
"Without a doubt… She just doesn't realize it is love yet." Sara sat back with a smile on her face satisfied with Stacy's answer.

Rebecca came back with a smile on her face. She plopped down and announced that A.J. was sure that he and Anna could make it to her party. Stacy started to ask more about the party finding out it had to do with Charlie's Birthday. She, Kalie, and Kerry all seemed quiet down abit after that discovery, because they didn't think they would be invited. After all, they weren't really Charlie's friends. Rebecca did ask them to come, but other than Kalie who said she'd come if Adam was coming, they declined the offer.
The girls sat there and talked for a while until Sara and Rebecca had to get back to Sara's so they could get ready for their night out.
"What are you going to wear?" Sara asked when they were back in her room had the stuff of the party stashed in the closet.
"Don't know… Did Charlie say where we might be going?"
"Nope… Probably some place with in Diagon Alley." Sara said pulling some clothes out of her closet. "Do you want to borrow something for tonight?"
"Sure… Think the guys would be up for Karaoke?" Rebecca asked as she laid out a pair of tan cargo capris and a white tank.
"Maybe… You know where we could do that?" Sara responded as she threw red tank out on her bed and a pair of blue-jean capris.
"Yeah." Rebecca tossed a white short sleeve button up top at Sara. "It isn't that far for the Muggle entrance to the Leaky Cauldron."
As Rebecca told her about the karaoke bar, Sara pulled out a tan skirt from her closet and handed it to Rebecca. Rebecca pulled out a pair of cropped jeans with pink fringe on the legs she then found a pink spaghetti strap tank.
"You should wear that," Sara stated as she pulled out a white knee length skirt with blue fringe.
"Oh, that's adorable," Rebecca stated. "You should wear that!"
"I would, but I don't have a summer top for it…" Sara looked very disappointed as she put it back into the closet.
"Sara, I think I have a top that might work in my closet."
"Really?" Sara had a big smile on her face.
"Yeah, let's go raid my closet."
The girl ran out of the room and went to the fireplace. After getting to Rebecca's house (Rebecca falling out off course), the girls went through the closet and found a blue swirled spaghetti strap tank to go with the skirt and shoes for both girl to where. They then headed back to Sara's and had just enough time to get ready before the guys.
"Sara! Rebecca!" Mrs. Davis called up the stairs. "Greg and Charlie are here." The girls looked at each other and started towards the door with big smiles.
"There they are," Greg said as he walked to the foot of the steps when the girls appeared on the stairs.
"Hello, love." He bent down and gave Sara a kiss.
"Hello, yourself," stated Sara as she put her arms around his neck for a hug.
Rebecca smiled at the two and walked over to Charlie before she could greet him he said, "Hello, Beautiful."
"Hey, Handsome," she responded as she went up on her toes to give him a kiss.
After saying good by to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, the quartet headed out to Rebecca's car. The girls explained their idea of karaoke after dinner. The boys seemed up for it so they headed to the Leaky Cauldron and headed into Diagon Alley to eat. After laughing all through dinner, they walked back through. Tom smiled at the couples who stopped to talk to him for a second before heading out to go to the karaoke bar.

"So what are you going to sing?" Charlie asked when they were walking into bar. He was dying to hear Rebecca sing. He loved listening to her and he swore that he got a window into her emotions when she sang.
"Don't know… Have to see what songs are available. Do you know what you are going to sing?" Rebecca responded giving him a smile letting him know he couldn't get out of getting up on stage.
"Let's go get a table and then we can look at the songs." Rebecca nodded as Charlie guided her to an empty table. Sara and Greg followed them to the table.
"This is charming," Sara stated as she took her seat. Greg just nodded and looked around.
The four sat and chatted while a guy crooned the Nat King Cole's 'Unforgettable.' Charlie and Greg were coaxed up by the girls to sing the Dobby Brothers' "Bye-Bye, Love." The boys had picked the song by having Sara close her eyes and twirl her finger around before putting it on the paper that had the song numbers on it. They started laughing when they found it was what they were singing and then up on the stage they played it for laugh. The girls were laughing so hard that they had tears rolling down their face.
While the girls tried to compose themselves, a woman got up and sang Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Sara then got up and sang Alansis Morisette's 'Ironic.' A boy got up after her and sang Bryan Adam's 'Everything I Do' off key to his girlfriend.
After that, Rebecca finally got up to sing. Before she could push in her choice, a voice from the back called out, "Hey boys look! Rebecca's back!" Rebecca rolled her eyes as a round of whooping and clapping started from the back.
'The heckler's back,' she thought as she went to get her song up on the monitor.
"WAIT!"
Rebecca looked up to see what was going on. She knew it had to be the heckler in the back yelling and she should probably ignore him, but she just couldn't. She stared around the room as did her audience until she heard, "Okay sing this on!"
She looked do at the screen and there was a song's lyrics were up on the screen. Rebecca stood slightly confused as the music started. She decided to go ahead and try to sing the song just for the fun of it. She looked at Charlie gave him a smile and a wink before looking back at the monitor and started to sing:

"Na na, na na na, na na
I miss you, miss you so bad
I don't forget you, oh it's so sad
I hope you can hear me
I remember it clearly"

Rebecca almost stopped singing when she read the next line. She gripped the microphone a little tighter so she wouldn't drop it.

"The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
Ooooh
Na na la la la na na"

She wasn't sure what was going on as she sang. There were emotions stirring in her that she couldn't label. She wasn't sure she wanted to know what they were.

"I didn't get around to kiss you
Goodbye on the hand
I wish that I could see you again
I know that I can't
Oooooh
I hope you can hear me cause I remember it clearly

The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
Ooooh"

She wasn't sure why she kept sing. Rebecca could feel her emotions going haywire as she went through the verses and the chorus. She had managed to keep her emotions in check while she sang, but as she read the next line for her to sing she knew she wouldn't be able to for much longer. She gripped the microphone tighter until her knuckles were white and she then pressed on determined to ignore her emotions and finish.

"I had my wake up
Won't you wake up
I keep asking why
And I can't take it
It wasn't fake
It happened, you passed by"

Charlie tensed at hearing the emotions in Rebecca's voice. There was a mixture of sadness and frustration that he had never heard in her voice. He had noticed it getting stronger through out the song, but he doubted too many people in the audience caught it. In fact he wasn't quite sure Greg had thought anuthing about it. After the bridge though, there was no way that any one missed it, leaving Charlie with one thought, 'I think we are going to have to talk about this.'

"Now your gone, now your gone
There you go, there you go
Somewhere I can't bring you back
Now your gone, now your gone
There you go, there you go,
Somewhere your not coming back

The day you slipped away
Was the day i found it won't be the same noo..
The day you slipped away
Was the day that i found it won't be the same oooh...

Nah nah, nah nah nah, nah nah
I miss you"
(Avril Lavigne's Slipped Away)

The music stopped and Rebecca walked off the stage. She was sure she didn't want to hear anything out of the heckler after that song. Charlie got up from the table and met her at the bottom of the steps to the stage. Offering her his hand, he casually asked, "How about some fresh air?"
"That would be lovely," she replied trying to stop the pool of tears that were starting to form in her eyes. Charlie told Greg and Sara they would be back and then lead Rebecca out the door.
The door had barely shut when Charlie wrapped his arms around Rebecca's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Becca, are you okay?"
She didn't say anything, mostly because she didn't know. That song had awoken something in her. Rebecca turned and buried her head in Charlie's chest. He held her like that for a minute and then dared to ask, "Did that song make you think of someone that died? Wadsworth? Your parents?"
"I guess," Rebecca quietly said moving her head slightly so her voice wasn't muffled by Charlie's shirt. "I just don't know which."
"What?"
Before Rebecca could answer, Sara came out the door with Greg. She went straight to Rebecca and asked, "Hey you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Rebecca lied and she could tell from Sara's face that her friend didn't believe her. Of course, Sara didn't push her to talk about it.
"Um, how about we take off from here?" Greg suggested putting his arm around Sara.
"Fine by me," Rebecca stated turning to face the direction of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Let's go," Charlie agreed secretly relieved that Rebecca didn't want to go back int. That heckler had rubbed him the wrong way. Staying away from the mystery guy seemed necessary.

"Charlie, did not like that guy in the back," Sara stated as she and Rebecca got ready for bed that night.
Rebecca looked up from her bedding she was arranging on the floor and said, "Good I don't like him either… He was there the night Russel took me there, but I didn't think that he was a staple at the place."
"Do you think he might be a worker or something?"
"Might be… I mean how else would he have been able to get that song up on me…" Rebecca stopped and thought about feelings that she felt during that song. She still couldn't pin point who she was thinking of when she was singing.
"Speaking of that song… Were you really okay after it? It looked like you were having a flood of memories coming back at you."
"Actually that's the weird part… My mind was blank… No memories what so ever… just feelings I couldn't quite place."
"Huh? That's interesting…" Sara stated as she crawled in to bed.
"You're telling me… You know the more I think about it the more I wonder if maybe it was feeling I had when my parents died," Rebecca said as she slipped into her slipping bag.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I was so young that I don't remember them at all… I don't have memories from back then so that would explain why I only had feelings and that's it."
"Makes sense I guess," Sara yawned. She was ready to drift off, but she wanted to know something else. "Hey Becca, where did you and Greg disappear to in the Diagon Alley after karaoke?"
"Oh, we just took off to the quidditch shop to get that surprise for Charlie I was telling you about this morning. Why?"
"Charlie noticed that you two were gone and didn't seem to like it when you guys came back laughing. Good thing you went straight to him when you saw him."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Sara yawned again before she said, "Good night, Becca."
"Night, Sara."

'Charlie was jealous,' Rebecca thought as she drifted off to sleep with a smirk on her face. She really couldn't help it. She couldn't figure out what he was jealous about. She was the lucky one, especially for the fact that he put up with all of her problems and didn't run when she tried to push him away.
Rebecca woke up with a smile still on her face. She was still reveling in the idea that Charlie could possible be jealous. She laid in her sleeping bag and thought about it some more. When Sara woke up the girls got up and finished up getting things planned for the party.
By the afternoon, Rebecca was over at the Weasley's conspiring with Mrs. Weasley to get Charlie to the party. She stayed until Charlie got back from work and then headed back to her house. Charlie promised to be over in a half an hour after he got a shower.
"Mum, I'm going over to Becca's!" Charlie called as he walked into down the stairs and towards the fire place. Before he made there, he caught sight of Ryan standing at their kitchen door looking disgusted at where he was at. "What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
"I'm trying to locate Rebecca."
"Why?" Charlie looked at him suspiciously.
"I saw this." Ryan showed a Daily Prophet from a week or so back in which the headline read, 'Nightingale Serenades Egyptian City with Roof Top Love Song.' "I was wondering if it was her. I went to her house and she wasn't there. I saw thing that said Egypt on it… The picture sort of looks like her and you up on baloncy, but obviously you're here so its not you."
"Obviously," Charlie said as he studied the picture closer. The heads were pretty small, but he recognized enough features that he knew it had to be Rebecca and Bill. He scanned down and found that in the article it was stated 'mystery female enchanted not only lover on balcony, but all who heard her below.'
Charlie was ready to read the whole think when Ryan broke his concentration by saying, "So since it isn't you, that means its not Rebecca, right?"
Charlie looked at Ryan. The Slytherin looked a little smug, almost as if he was daring Charlie to say that it was Rebecca and that she was sing a love song to someone other than him. He just kept his mouth shut and let Ryan keep going.
"Anyways, I haven't seen Rebecca since the night she left my house and I need to see her before school starts."
"Why?"
"Are you her keeper?" Ryan indigently asked straightening up.
"I'm her boyfriend and since you are asking me to find her, I think I have a right to know why you need to talk to her when she hasn't made herself available to you."
"Fine, it has to do with that creep, Ben," Ryan muttered. Those were the key words to get Charlie.
"She's at her house…" Ryan whipped around and ran out the door before Charlie could say anything else.
Charlie watched Ryan hop on his broom and disappear into the woods. He headed to the floo powder muttering, "I better get over to Rebecca's so she doesn't get into any trouble with him."

"Hey, there you are!" Rebecca said as she walked into the parlor to see Charlie come out of the fire place. She was cheerful and he could tell in her eyes that she was safe while she was there alone. She grabbed his hand and started to pull him towards the kitchen as she walked backwards and asked, "What took you so long?"
Charlie told her about Malfoy's visit and when the subject of Ben looking for her came up she got wide eyed for a second and then she shrug it off and stated, "I'll just stay with Sara, if Ben tries showing up again." She didn't look that happy about it. "Don't liked to be run out of your house do you?"
"Nope," she responded and then gave him a smile. She started to pull at him again. "Come on let's go out to the backyard."
"Okay, sweetheart," Charlie said as he took a couple steps to get them walking side by side with his arm around her shoulder. Rebecca smiled up at him as the when through the kitchen and opened the back door to let them both out.
Charlie let Rebecca out first even though she seemed to be trying to let him get out the door first. He couldn't help but wonder what was up between that and the fact that she walked quickly out the door and then stepped to her right so she was out of line sight of the door. Of course he didn't have to ponder anything for too long.
He was one foot out of the door when he heard, "SURPRISSE!!!!!!!!!!!!" and saw all of his friends coming from behind things to greet him with birthday wishes.
To say he was shocked was an understatement. Charlie turned towards Rebecca who had a huge smile on her face.
"Happy Birthday!" was all she said, but he swore her eyes said 'I love you.'
He walked over and gave her a hug and whispered in her ear, "Thank you, love."
Rebecca hugged him back and then took his hand and led him down to where through the crowd to a table with food and a birthday cake with a magical candy dragon that was breathing fire on the sixteen candles on the cake.
"Did my mum make all of this?" Charlie asked as he started to make his plate.
"Yeah, I was asking her a recipe and she sort of took over," Rebecca laughed. He started to laugh and the walked to sit at picnic table closest to the food table so he could talk to all of the guest as they went through the line. Rebecca joined him as did Greg, Sara, James, Jacquelyn, Colin and Cathrine.
Charlie had to admit he was impressed how many of his school chums came. Of course when his brother, Bill, walked up to him he was surprised. Not so much for the fact that Bill was there, but for the fact that after extending his birthday wishes to Charlie, Bill greeted Rebecca a kiss on her cheek. Charlie had to stop himself from asking what was going on since Bill had left and walked over to talk to Anna and A.J. along with other Gryffindor students and alumni.
"You doing okay?" Rebecca asked as she gave him a sweet smile.
"Yeah," Charlie quickly said showing that he thought he was caught while he was jealous. "Why?"
"Because there's more to do and I just wanted to make sure it was okay to move to the next thing."
"Next thing? What's the next thing?"
"Gifts… Wait here."
Charlie shook his head as Rebecca left with the other girls and turned to talk with Greg who started their conversation by saying, "Becca is awesome."
"Thanks for stating the obvious there mate."
"I know… I guess if I said you better keep a hold of her it would be useless, huh?"
"Yeah, because I have no intentions of letting her go."
"Good, because I don't think this group would function right without you two together."
Charlie looked at him funny and then asked, "Why do you say that? The group was fine before Becca came into the picture."
"Yeah, we were… But Becca came we adapted… We can't go back to who we were… Becca's part of our lives now… No one can replace her in the group… Just like you can't get replaced, or James, or…"
"But you said that we needed to stay together for the group to be okay."
Greg scratched his head and wished he hadn't said anything at all. But he had so he must continue. "What I meant is that Becca and you are the ring leaders of this group…"
"What? No."
"Yes you are and you know it… I'm second in command of course." Charlie laughed at him. "If the leaders were to split and they don't want to be around each other because of awkwardness, then this group of ours is going to go."

Charlie was about to ask what brought this up to but Rebecca and the girls. They had between them a table with all the gifts on it. Rebecca grabbed a gift handed it to Charlie for him to open as she settled on the table top next to him.
Charlie smiled and forgot about his conversation with Greg and started to open his gifts. It took him a while to get through them all and thank the person that gave it to him. Rebecca stayed by his side the whole time.
"Well that was the last one, so I can read this," he stated when he opened a book of dragons that Bill had given.
"No sorry, hun, you're not," Rebecca said taking the book from him and setting it with his other gifts.
"What's next? There are no more gifts?"
"That's what you think. You still haven't gotten mine."
"Wasn't it the party?"
"Nope."
Rebecca got up and grabbed something from behind a tree that was close by. She hid it behind her back as she returned and only to reveal it when she was handing it to him. It was obvious from the packaging what it was.
"You got me a broom?"

Charlie stared at his new broom. It was the newest edition of the Comet line. It had to have cost Rebecca a small fortune. 'She has to love me… Why else would she spend this much?'
"You like?" Rebecca asked breaking Charlie's train of thought.
"I love it… You didn't have to get me this…"
"Yes, I did… I was on your old one when it got broke… I should have told you to keep my old one, but I really wanted to be able to get you one. Made me few special, I guess."
"Well thank you…" Charlie paused for a moment he was about to say 'I loved you,' to her and was wondering if it was a good time to say it so that she could say it back to him.
He didn't even get to figure it out because Greg said something about the broom to him. The boys then were into a quidditch conversation. Rebecca threw into her own comments and Sara just rolled her eyes.
Charlie didn't pay any real attention to what was going on around him until Bill had walked over and whispered something in Rebecca's ear. She just smiled and laughed but kept her head turned towards the conversation, so Charlie pushed away the jealous thoughts that had popped up in his head.
He draped his arm over Rebecca's shoulder as they continued to talk. She looked up and smiled at him. He was about to say something when Rebecca turned her head as some music started. She started to laugh as she saw Bill singing as he walked towards her.

The summer air was heavy and sweet
You and I on a crowded street

Bill continued to sing as he took Rebecca's hand and guided her off of the picnic table and onto the dance floor.

There was music everywhere, I can see us there
In a happy little foreign town
Where the stars hung upside down
A half a world away, far far away
I remember you were laughing

Bill pointed at Rebecca and they both started to crack up and left the band to sing the next line.

We were so in love, we were so in love

They regained some composure and then started to sing the chorus unaware as they sung and dance they were catching everyone's eyes. Of course, most just shrugged it off and went on with what they were doing. Only Charlie kept his eyes on the two. He was starting to see a bit of a red tint in everything.

And the band played songs we'd never heard
But we danced anyway
We never understood the words
We just sang oh la la la la la la la oh
And we danced anyway

Rebecca let go of Bill's hand as she spun out of his arm and didn't go back into his arms as she started to sing.

They say you can't go back, baby I don't believe that
Come along with me, come on and dance with me

She had started to walk backwards farther into the dance area crowd beckoning Bill to follow her with index finger, but stopped to wrap her arms around the red-heads neck.

Maybe if I hold you close
Baby we could just let go
Of these things that tie us down, we'll come back around
Do you remember we were laughing

Once again they started laughing to where they didn't get the next line out, leaving the band to get sing it. Only this time they didn't get composed enough to even get to sing the last. Charlie was frozen with jealousy. He didn't like what he was seeing and everything seemed to get redder as he kept his eyes locked on the two.

We were so in love, we were so in love

Rebecca and Bill tried to compose themselves so that they could sing the final chorus. They were barely able to keep dancing.

And the band played songs we'd never heard
But we danced anyway
We never understood the words
We just sang oh la la la la la la la la la oh
And we danced anyway
(Deana Carter's We Danced Anyway)

The song stopped and everyone clapped. Bill and Rebecca were still laughing causing Charlie to see more red. He was almost blinded by it. In fact, he didn't even notice that Rebecca had left his brother's side and headed to the band. She whispered something to Aaron and he just nodded and talked to the other members. With in moments they were all set and she stood up on the chair
Rebecca scanned the crowded and caught sight of Charlie with his sour looking face.
'Oh, he's probably feeling left out,' Rebecca thought as the band played her intro. Keeping her eyes on Charlie with a sweet smile on her face that melted Charlie's heart and caused him to lose his disgusted look, she began to sing:

Kiss me out of the bearded barley.
Nightly, beside the green, green grass.
Swing, swing, swing the spinning step.
You wear those shoes
and I will wear that dress

Rebecca jumped off of the chair and started to make her way to Charlie. A feat slightly complicated by the fact that she had to cross the dance area full of friends, sing, and not lose eye contact with who she was going to dance with. Charlie stood up a little straighter and restrained himself from running right to Rebecca. Obviously, she was busy creating a moment for him and her, who was he to ruin her plans. Besides, he was enjoying the fact that she was only looking at him.

Oh, kiss me beneath the milky twilight.
Lead me out on the moonlit floor.
Lift your open hand.
Strike up the band
and make the fireflies dance,
silver moon's sparkling.
So kiss me

Charlie almost went to kiss Rebecca when she finally made it to him, but she bobbed slightly to grab his hand and lead him out on to the dance floor. He couldn't help but be impressed by Rebecca walking backwards. Not only was she not getting in anyone's way, but she was making him feel like he was the only one with her. When Rebecca stopped and walked into his arms to dance, Charlie swore that no one else was around.

Kiss me down by the broken tree house.
Swing me upon its hanging tire.
Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat.
We'll take the trail marked
on your father's map

Rebecca leaned in a little closer to Charlie and he wrapped his arms around her tighter. He was torn on whether try to kiss her while she sung or just let himself get lost in her eyes.

Oh kiss me beneath the milky twilight.
Lead me out on the moonlit floor.
Lift your open hand.
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance -
Silver moon's sparkling.
So kiss me
(Six Pence Non the Richer's Kiss Me)

The band continued to play and Charlie couldn't help himself. He stopped dancing and leaned over and kissed Rebecca with all of his might. Rebecca didn't even flinch, but kissed him back just as hard and passionately as Charlie was her. A flash of the incident with her kissing Russel came to her mind only when she thought of how different this kiss was from any other she had ever had. Charlie wasn't holding anything back and she loved it.
"Charles Weasley!"

Charlie and Rebecca parted expect Charlie keep ahold of Rebecca's hand and turned to see Mrs. Weasley, who was standing right next to the dance floor. They looked at each other and then down at their shoes slightly embarrassed that they got caught. Everyone at the party had stopped and looked between Charlie and his mother.
"Your grandparents are in the fire and want to wish you a happy birthday," Mrs. Weasley said in a normal voice.
"Here?" Charlie asked wondering if he was going to be taken home to get yelled at.
"Yes, dear… I told them about the party and they just want five minutes with you."
"Okay." Charlie squeezed Rebecca's hand and then headed into the kitchen to chat with his grandparents.
Rebecca walked back to where Bill was sitting. As she sat down, she asked, "Do you think he is getting in trouble?"
"Hard to say…. Mum didn't look too upset, but she definitely had some concern in her eyes…" Bill said looking around as another song started up. He looked like he might ask Rebecca to dance again when Cathrine came running up with Colin and whispered, "I just saw the twins."
"Where?" Rebecca asked looking around discreetly. "Never mind I spotted them."
"What's going on?" Bill asked curious on what was going to happen to his brothers. "Just a little… um…" Rebecca started to smile as she looked at Cathrine.
"You're going to prank them, aren't you?" Bill finished for her.
"I would say more of a lesson... Just making sure that they grow up to be great pranksters." Rebecca tried to look all innocent as she said this but it didn't work. She started laughing and Bill just shook his head at her. "I'll be back."
"Don't give them too hard of a time, Becca," Bill whispered as Rebecca walked towards the house.
Five minutes later Rebecca walked out with two pieces of cake that had been put back in the kitchen when the dancing started. Bill watched as she walked over to where his twin brothers were 'hiding' and gave them the plates.
The two were slightly shocked, but shook it off and joined Bill on the picnic table to eat their cake. Bill was about to ask Rebecca what was up when Charlie came up and threw his arm around Rebecca's shoulder.
"Oh, we're still allowed P.D.A.?" Rebecca asked taking a step closer to him with a big smile on her face.
"Yeah," Charlie laughed as he held her little tighter. "I really didn't get lectured after I talked to my grandparents, because before mum could say anything I sort of said everything that I thought she might say… She ended up saying something about her remember what it was like to be young and in love." Charlie couldn't help but hope that Rebecca might say something on the lines of that she thought they were in love or something to that effect, but Rebecca ended up asking, "Really?"
"Yeah, I guess she can see that I love you…" Charlie stopped himself from asking if she loved him. He may have wanted her to say it, but he wasn't about to beg. There was a need to let her to do it on her own time. He just had to keep giving her openings to say it.
Rebecca looked like she was going to say something, but Ryan came running out of the house and straight to Rebecca.
"Hey," he said slightly out of breathe. "I was going to get here sooner, but I had to get rid of Ben."
Rebecca stiffened in Charlie's arms after a moment she finally managed to whisper, "What happened?"
Ryan just told of Ben being over at his house looking Rebecca and that Ben said something about staking out Rebecca's house. He ended stating, "I don't think that you should stay here by yourself."
"I'm not I am going to be at Sara's."
"Good… I got to get going Ben will probably be back at my house tonight. That guy needs a life."
"Obviously," Charlie stated resting his head on Rebecca's as Ryan ran back into the house.
Rebecca slightly nodded in agreement. She then stepped away from Charlie who was surprised by her action, but it didn't last that long. She had gotten a hold of his hand when she moved and was dragging him out on dance floor where they spent the rest of the night, expect for when Rebecca had to go and get the antidote for the floating potion that she had laced the cake with for the twins. She only put enough on so the boys wouldn't go more than a couple feet up, but still it made the boys thing about what she could have done. Charlie just laughed with the rest of the party and then danced Rebecca away from his brothers so that the three wouldn't verbally agree to a all out prank war.