A/N: I watched the JKR doc on ITV and was rather suprised when JKR did the Weasley family tree and said Charlie never married or had children, so harsh! Even more reason to continue with my sweet little romance fic!

Chapter Ten - And We'll Run For Our Lives

"Louder, louder,
and we'll run for our lives...
Have heart my dear,
We're bound to be afraid..."

- 'Run' by Snow Patrol

The weeks Charlie and Adele spent in Romania were extremely pleasant over all, even Cassie couldn't ruin their time together. Charlie spent his mornings helping out with the Dragon Pox epidemic while Adele took herself on sight seeing tours into the villages and mountains that surrounded Charlie's house. The village below Charlie's house was Christian so it was beautifully decorated for Christmas and the markets were packed with delicious foods and gifts. Charlie returned for the afternoons and evenings and they spent time doing more sight seeing or simply just hanging out in bars or curled up in front of the fire at home.

The only thing that cut their break short was a quick, abrupt letter from Mr Weasley on the day before they were supposed to return to England. It was addressed to Charlie but really only concerned Adele. It brought news of the Muggleborn Registration Commission that Dolores Umbridge of the Ministry of Magic had set up and it required all Muggleborn's to present themselves in front of a council and be registered so the Ministry could know their whereabouts. It stressed that Charlie return home with Adele immediately as her hearing was on December seventeenth, two days from now and if she didn't attend, it was punishable by Azkaban.

"This is bloody ridiculous, it's an insult to wizarding culture!" Charlie raged loudly but Mr Weasley gave him a hard look and Charlie huffed loudly instead.

Adele was gulping like a goldfish in a bid to ease her tight, dry throat or settle her stomach that was writhing like a bag of snakes with nerves as she, Charlie, Bill and their father entered the Ministry of Magic at twenty to eleven on the seventeenth of December as her letter had demanded.

"This is though Dad, we're supposed to be moving forwards not backwards. Muggles aren't dangerous, far from it! So why are their children being treated like criminals?" Bill argued diplomatically as the foursome entered a great glass elevator that began moving south at once.

"I feel sick," Adele whispered and Charlie took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm panicking."

"They just want to scare you," Charlie comforted.

"It's working," Adele replied slightly sarcastically. "I don't know about this, it seems wrong."

The elevator was suddenly shrouded with bleak iciness and Adele hung onto Charlie, remembering this kind of chill from the night of the wedding.

"Dementors?" Bill questioned his father with knotted eyebrows. "You're kidding me."

"Not so," Arthur replied with a sad sigh and retrieved his wand. Charlie was already doing the same and as soon as the doors opened and revealed the dank passageway, he shot his Patronus to the left. Adele watched wide-eyed as his bright as day Dragon Patronus filled the passageway and the patrolling Dementors fled from sight and mind.

"I was thinking of you," Charlie said softly and Adele felt herself strengthen with pride. The foursome shuffled down the passageway in a close group with the only noise of Adele's heavy breathing. Soon, they approached the waiting area where the other Muggleborn's were waiting for their hearings. They all looked deeply morose and the atmosphere was terrible.

"Was that your Patronus Arthur?" One man asked as Adele and Bill sat down next to him.

"No, that was my boy's," Arthur replied, nudging Charlie proudly. The man was suitably impressed but said no more. Charlie, who was standing in front of Adele, squeezed her shoulder reassuringly but she didn't respond as she knew it was almost time for her hearing.

"Miller, Adele," A wizard called, poking his head through the heavy looking oak door. Panic shot through Adele as Charlie helped her up. Her legs weren't quite working and her heart was pounding.

"Can't I come in with her?" Charlie asked the wizard who shook his head at once.

"Certainly not," He replied coldly. "I said now, Mudblood."

It was only the three Weasley's that shot the wizard filthy looks as the other Muggleborn's just shifted further into their seats with their heads down as the Dementors were inching closer once again.

"There really is no need for that," Arthur retorted coldly but turned and sat down so the wizard couldn't reply. Charlie was leading Adele toward the wizard with extreme apprehension.

"Go on, you'll be fine," Charlie whispered and kissed her cheek. Adele shot him a look of pure desperation and went through the door, which slammed loudly behind her. Charlie turned away from the door and felt awful. He looked at his father who was summoning another Patronus and went over to sit in Adele's vacated seat next to Bill.

"I haven't seen anyone come back out yet," the man who had spoke about the Patronus said slowly.

"Great," Charlie replied and felt his heart begin to pound double time.

Adele was led to a dock once she was inside. She was sat in an uncomfortable seat and managed to count ten Dementors circling above her. She had no chance in hell. Opposite her was a long panel filled with harsh looking witches and wizards who were all looking at her like she was some kind of deadly disease about to infect them all.

Adele's throat was dry like sandpaper and for the life of her, she could not summon a happy thought. All she could think of was her parents death, the Deatheater Dolohov, her aunt holed up in some cellar and being treated awfully and Charlie, with Cassie or finding out about Adele's planned betrayal and losing him forever. That was the hardest thing to swallow and it seemed to be the most realistic horror her mind could focus on.

"You are required to hand over your wand until questioning is over," a clipped voice demanded and it took all the strength Adele had to look at her. She recognised her from the Daily Prophet after her turn as Hogwart's headmistress. Adele knew it wouldn't be a good idea to give away her wand to these people and she desperately made herself think of Charlie and the time they spent at the beach or the wedding when they were so unsure of each other.

"No," Adele replied quietly as a heavy looking wizard approached her ready to receive her wand. "No."

"Excuse me? You do not tell us what you will and won't do," Umbridge shrieked from her platform, clearly outraged at Adele's audacity.

Adele stood up shakily, much like a new born giraffe and remembered the door was just behind her and just behind the door was Charlie. She urged herself to fight the Dementors, just for a few moments so she could reach the door. It was taking all her strength just to stand so Adele didn't even bother with trying to summon her Patronus, something she hadn't had to do since her seventh year at Hogwart's. She almost smiled when she remembered back then, at seventeen and all those years ago, it had been Charlie she used for her happy thoughts.

It all seemed to happen in a matter of seconds but Adele felt it took her a lifetime to turn from the commission and step down from where she stood. She heard the uproar and the scraping of chairs but he threw herself forwards and opened the door which thankfully wasn't locked.

"Adele?" Charlie stood at once, surprise all over his face. "Are you OK?"

"I, we need to go," Adele said breathlessly, glancing over her shoulder. Charlie didn't hesitate, he firmly took her hand and dragged her toward the elevator, ignoring shouts from Bill and his father.

There was a shout from an unknown voice and a curse flew right past Charlie's ear, almost taking it clean off. Another followed, coloured green and this time, flew past Adele's thigh and singed the corner of her coat. Charlie smacked the button on the elevator with his palm and the doors opened immediately. He bundled Adele inside and she quickly pressed the button to the ground floor.

"What was that? They were shooting to kill," Charlie panted as he lent against the metal wall of the elevator. Adele had her head in her hands and was trying to get her breath back.

"They wanted my wand, I looked at their faces and knew it wasn't right. I'd have gone to Azkaban, I know it," Adele explained rather tearfully as she rubbed her eyes with her fists. "What now?"

"We Apparate straight back to Shell Cottage, Bill made it a safe house," Charlie explained. "We'll talk when we get back about what's next," He finished quickly as the elevator was coming to a stop. "Come here."

Adele stepped toward him and he held her to him tightly as the doors opened and their feet touched the marble of main lobby. From here they could Apparate and they did exactly that.

It was a quick and desperate journey and Adele did not enjoy the sensation one bit. They landed in the living room with such force Adele's knees buckled and she and Charlie ended up in a heap on top of Fleur's new coffee table.

"What in Merlin's name...!" Fleur exclaimed shrilly as she came running into the living room with her wand pointed warningly. "Oh, eets you!"

"Sorry Fleur," Charlie muttered as he untangled himself from Adele and helped her up. "We had a quick exit."

"What 'appened?" Fleur demanded, looking very worried. "Where iz Bill?

"I don't know, he's OK! He'll follow," Charlie explained.

"I couldn't do it," Adele added to ease Fleur's questions. "I went in there and they had Dementors, around ten or so and I just knew they'd send me to Azkaban and I couldn't do it." Adele had to finish there as she could feel herself about to cry over the overwhelming situation that had all occurred in about ten minutes.

"OK, eet iz OK. You are safe 'ere," Fleur said compassionately and gathered Adele into her arms. "Come 'ere Charlie."

They all had a rather awkward hug in the small living room for a few moments until the arrival of Bill and Arthur disrupted them.

"Oh Bill!" Fleur said rather dramatically and threw herself at her husband, holding him tightly until Bill was able to prise her off him so he could take a breath.

"I'm so sorry, it was stupid I know and I put you in danger, I know but you weren't in there with them and they wanted my wand and I knew that meant Azkaban and I couldn't do it!" Adele said very quickly as she walked straight up to Arthur. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise, that whole ordeal was monstrous and if that's how the Ministry is conducting itself then I'm not sure I want to be a part of it any more," Arthur said very seriously, raking his face with his hand warily. "You need to stay inside, out of sight. You are classed as a fugitive of the law now and trust me, they'll want you back for daring to defy them. It will be death in Azkaban should they ever find you."

"You can stay 'ere, of course," Fleur said, her face creased with alarm. "Bill 'as already cast a Fidelius Charm on Shell Cottage. You will be safe."

"You must stay here, inside at all times," Arthur warned Adele but he looked at each of them in turn. "It would be best if you all stayed inside from now on. The Ministry knew who Adele was with and they won't blink at capturing any of you and throwing you in Azkaban."

"What about you Dad? You were there," Bill asked his father and everyone looked at him.

"I think it's time I left my post until this ridiculous behaviour has stopped," Arthur replied grimly. Adele swallowed and felt rather light headed. So much had happened in so little time. "Look, I need to get back and speak with your mother but I will be back soon. Remember what I said about staying inside, this is very serious. Stay in here and Charlie, do not go abroad for any reason. Just stay here."

With that, Arthur Apparated out of Shell Cottage and left the four staring at the space he had been standing in while they contemplated what the next few months would mean for them.