Dont worry, Kingsley isn't as complacent as he acts... More chaos is sure to come!

xoxoxo

Charlie was drumming fingers of his good hand on the chair as the healers were taking off the cast on his arm. He was more than a little nervous about what was underneath. Scars he could handle. Even discoloration. It was that damn symbol that was making him nervous; he had to see it for himself for the first time.

"Very nice, Mr. Weasley, everything seems to have healed properly," the healer said and he lifted his hand up.

The Dragon Keeper gaped and moved his fingers, but was in disbelief; there was no symbol. "What?"

"Is something wrong?" The small healer asked and he nodded.

"I was sure I had a symbol on my hand from that spell. I was registered..." He trailed off and the healers shrugged.

"Maybe it was a mistake from the magical properties of your cast. You had plenty of damage from those dragon bites." She offered and Charlie frowned.

"Any recommendations for further care?" He asked absentmindedly as he flexed his hand.

"Don't get bit again, Mr. Weasley. Next time you may not be so lucky," the healer grumbled and handed him paperwork, "here is your medical discharge. You are free to go back to work," the small witch declared and walked away.

"I need to talk to Harry," he grumbled as he went to sloppily signing the paperwork.

He knew he couldn't speak to her about any of this. She was gone before he even woke up the next day and he felt raw about it. Hermione must have really meant it was only that one night to just disappear like that. It hurt like nothing else, so, he resorted to just staying away from her the last four days. She left him a note. A single note.

Charlie,

Thank you for the beautiful night. It won't be forgotten.

Your Book Witch

He arrived at Harry's in the evening and knocked at the door aggressively. "Who is it?" Harry asked and Charlie heard shuffling.

"Charlie, open up, you, tosser!" The Dracologist growled and Harry cleared his throat before opening the door.

The redhead came in and paced the room a moment, "She went on a date with her match tonight?" He asked and Harry nodded slowly.

Charlie let loose a guttural sound and snorted, "That is great. I am glad for her. Harry, I don't have a symbol. Why?" He spat and Harry raised his eyebrows.

"You don't?" Harry inquired and Charlie ran a hand through his hair.

"No, I do not. Tell me, would she have lied to me?" He asked and Harry scowled.

"How so?" Harry inquired and Charlie folded his arms.

"Harry, tell me the truth, she wasn't matched with me, was she?" He spat and Harry shook his head slowly.

The gangly wizard hated to lie, but he knew he had to... "Not that I know of, I saw her pairing." he fibbed and the Dracologist rubbed his face.

"Wishful thinking... Could my cast have possibly caused a malfunction with the charm? A false positive?" Charlie questioned and he looked disappointed.

"Well, yes, actually. I was against putting you in the book until we saw it ourselves. I am sure when we look in the book tomorrow you will not be in it." Harry scratched his chin and nodded.

Charlie slumped in the chair at the table, "Harry, why would she leave me after Spain?" He asked and rubbed his face.

Harry was not expecting this, "Well, did you do something to her?"

"I shagged her silly all night, Harry," Charlie confessed and Harry sat down.

"That might be some of it, Charlie. She isn't one for commitments, you know that. Did you say something to scare her?" Harry murmured and Charlie exhaled.

"Yes, I asked her if we really had to end it there. I really didn't want to. She had found a way to dig a hole under my ribs." Charlie muttered and patted his chest.

Harry gave him a sympathetic look, "Charlie, you won't change your life for her, she knows that."

"I suppose not, she wouldn't for me either. It would be selfish to ask for something I cannot have," he sighed and drummed his fingers on the table. "She wouldn't let me change my life for her. She hardly agreed to it when I thought I was going to have to have a kid. I am a bit disappointed. I almost looked forward to seeing what my kid was going to be like," the Dragon Keeper sighed heavily and lounged in the chair.

"I thought you didn't want kids, Charlie," Harry declared and he nodded.

"I didn't- or I thought I didn't. I don't know, I am confused. Maybe I am just shell shocked that I don't have a symbol. I spent days worrying about it that now... well, I don't have to worry about it. I was accepting that my life was going to change and now it doesn't have to. I should be relieved." He mumbled and Harry nodded and stood up.

"Ginny isn't feeling well tonight, let me check and make sure she is okay. I will be back with a bottle and we can drink a bit."

Harry popped into the bedroom and Charlie crumpled on the chair. He should be happy. He should be ecstatic that his life isn't going to change. He wasn't and it hurt like hell. The Weasley was on the verge of finding where she was tonight and telling her how much she hurt him leaving like that.

"Charlie?" Ginny's voice came into the room.

He gazed up at her and his eyes glinted, "Gin, I don't know what to think." He grumbled and she sighed and hugged him.

"You had a long day, brother, you need some rest. You will be going home this weekend," she whispered and kissed his head.

"I just didn't want her to leave like that, Ginny. She left a note. That was the last of whatever this was." He murmured and she ran fingers through his hair.

"I know, but it will be better this way. You know you wouldn't want to change your life. You love it don't you?" She asked and he nodded with a sigh.

"I do, I suppose it just was whiplash. I am not used to being left in the morning by someone I wanted to be there the next day." He grumbled and she giggled.

"I am sure she will keep when you are ready to settle down, Charlie. You and I both know you aren't. You would be destroyed if you had to have kids and be a husband right now." The little witch declared and Charlie exhaled heavily.

"It is true, I would be miserable. I would hate it. It wouldn't have been my choice." He growled and Ginny giggled and released her hold.

"If Hermione was your match you would do everything in your power for her, but it wouldn't be your first choice." Ginny declared and the realization stung.

He grimaced and gave her a nod, "I suppose not. I wouldn't have been opposed to her, however."

Ginny smirked and shook her head, "Go home and sleep it off? Maybe you will feel relieved in the morning."

He stood up and cleared his throat as Harry re-entered the room, "No to the drinks?" Harry asked holding up the bottle and Charlie shook his head.

"I would be poor company pissed now. I am not used to rejection," Charlie teased with a small smile and Harry gave him a motion of agreement.

"Alright, Charlie, we will see you tomorrow for your going away dinner," Harry murmured and the Dragon Keeper sighed and nodded.

"See you tomorrow. If you see her will you tell her I am sorry if I offended her in some way?" He asked and the Potters gave him soft smiles.

"Of course, Charlie, I love you," Ginny responded and he waved as he walked over to the fireplace.

Once he left the bedroom door opened and Ginny glared at the sobbing witch. "You are sure you want to do this?" Ginny asked and Hermione wiped her eyes.

"You heard him, Gin. It would not have been his first choice. I cannot do it," she declared and sighed. "Charlie deserves to make this choice on his own. I will be here when he is ready if he ever is."

"Why don't you tell him you love him?" Harry growled and Hermione shook her head.

"He has to decide if I am more important than dragons on his own. I am trying to be a good person and letting him go. If he comes back, we will be waiting for him with open arms." Hermione murmured and went back over to the coffee table where her juice was abandoned earlier, "to the next generation," she said with a smile and Ginny shook her head.

"You are bloody mental, Hermione," the redheaded witch grumbled and sat down on the couch. "What film are we watching on your 'date'?"

"Pick, I don't care, I just want to not think," Hermione sighed and sat down rubbing her belly. "It is going to be a long nine months..."

0o0o

Hermione didn't go to send Charlie off, she couldn't. It had been three weeks since his absence and the witch was daydreaming as she sat and tried to listen to Harry. She was thinking back to how handsome the Dragon Keeper looked at the wonderful dinner. How his smile was perfect... Harry was updating her and she should be paying attention.

"Miss Granger," Kingsley's voice came into her mind and she shook herself.

"Yes, Sir?" Hermione asked and Harry glared at her.

"Did you listen to what Mr. Potter was saying? We need an update on coupling and the rate." Kingsley said scratching his chin. "Are you having trouble focusing?"

"My apologies, I am a bit out of it today," she grumbled and rubbed her head as she dug through her papers.

Kingsley pursed his lips, "Your symbol is covered today?" He asked her and she shook her head before realizing what he was asking.

She gasped and tried to backtrack, "Oh yes, of course!" She lied and Harry growled.

"Hermione just say 'yes, Minister, I found my pairing, did what I needed to and let him leave without telling him.' See, that was easy," Harry spat and Kingsley shook his head.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry, "That was remarkably rude."

"Who was your match, Miss Granger, that wasn't down on founded matches," Kingsley said pointedly and she sighed.

"Charles Weasley, Minister Shacklebolt," Hermione sighed and the minister frowned.

"I wasn't sure until the dinner. So, you did not tell him then?" He asked and Hermione sighed and shook her head.

"You heard him at dinner, I didn't want him to feel like he had to change his life for us," she declared and handed Harry the pages he was requesting.

The minister sighed heavily, "I cannot tell you what to do, but the paperwork needs to be filed properly. You have to fill out the forms and terminate yourself as a prospect on the lists... oh, you did?" He asked as she nodded with a smile.

"Yes, Sir. I did that three weeks ago when my symbol disappeared." She murmured and he grinned at her.

"Don't you agree that Charles should be notified?" Harry asked and Hermione glared at him.

"I believe he should, but Miss Granger needs to do it herself. It was out of our hands the minute she found out. Unprofessional, but I can understand her reasoning. She loves him more than she says," Kingsley declared with folded hands and Hermione groaned.

"Merlin," she grumbled and shook her head, "I promise I will pay attention if we can just get back to work."

Harry shook his head, "she made me lie to him if he kills me when he finds out, Hermione... I am going to haunt you and make you name your kids something horrible." He grumbled and the witch laughed with a nod.

"Fair enough, Harry, now... What country am I visiting next week?" Hermione asked Kingsley who smiled.

"We are going to be visiting the states for two weeks," he told her and she nodded.

Harry sighed heavily and shook his head, "your baby isn't even born and it is going to be traveling more than me."

Hermione giggled and rubbed her stomach, "We need to have a bit of an adventure too."

The minister smiled, "we have to fly the muggle way, Hermione. No accidents for you."

She smiled and nodded, "No accidents, this one is going to be well taken care of."