A/N - Well, THIS one went MUCH faster. Hmmm. Wonder why. Something
about... ah well, you'll all figure it out, I'm sure.
And guess what? EVERYONE who reviewed 8 AND 9 gets mentioned at the bottom! So, Happy Reading! (and we do not own anything except the people you've never met in JKR's books... of course)
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When he apparated into Hogsmeade, Charlie felt nostalgia hit him hard in the gut. 'Must be all the worry,' he thought idly as he started off for Hogwarts, 'it's leaving me open to all sorts of emotions.'
It was odd to see the school so empty. He skirted the still unpleasant prospect of being escorted by Filch by ducking into another corridor just before Mrs. Norris turned the corner. Footsteps echoing in the hallways, he followed a path to the grounds that his feet seemed to have memorized, despite that he hadn't walked it in eight years or so. Within minutes, he found himself looking out at the lake, the whomping willow (which seemed a bit larger and more menacing than it had when he was in school) and... Hagrid's hut.
Charlie felt a grin form as he approached his old friend's home. He and Hagrid had always shared a passion, the huge gamekeeper being the only one who had understood his fascination with the most dangerous creatures in the wizarding world. He'd have to make sure to stop by after he found Nancy for a real chat.
To his surprise, the door opened as he approached and the familiar bushy head stuck itself out. "Well, if it ain't Charlie Weasley! Quite a day we're 'aving, eh? I don't suppose yer 'ere about... oh, well, I wasn't s'posed to say, now was I?"
Charlie closed the distance and gave the large man a quick hug. "I suppose she told you that you couldn't tell anyone with red hair where she'd gone?"
Hagrid shot him an intrigued look. "Summat like that, yes."
"Well..." Charlie paused for a minute, before breaking into a grin. "I'll be right back, then."
Hagrid looked confused as Charlie ducked outside the cabin. He murmured a quick "Brunendium" and walked back in. Hagrid started chuckling.
"Now I have brown hair, so quick, tell me, before it turns back. You know the Weasley hair... doesn't much take to any changes."
Hagrid was about two minutes into his explanations as to where Nancy would be when Charlie caught a word he had NOT expected.
"A WHOMPING willow?" He ran a hand through his hair, which was turning into a very autumny blend of red and brown. "Hagrid... and you KNEW about this?"
Hagrid had the grace to look a bit ashamed. "Well, yeh know... at first, it was so little... and she cried and cried, I mean, what was I s'posed ter do?"
Charlie swallowed all of his answers to that question, knowing that Hagrid was entirely outside reason when it came to pets of any sort. "Yes but... it's got to be... I mean, how big?"
"No more'n ten, twelve feet, I'd expect." Hagrid measured out to about his neck, and Charlie groaned. He was NOT the tallest of the Weasleys, and if Nancy decided... better not to think about it right now.
"All right, well I've got to go and get her. So, I head east after I see the..."
He and Hagrid went over the directions one last time and Charlie set off.
"Good luck!" Hagrid called after him, and then the big man winked. "And congrats to yeh! Always did like that Nancy Gwin!"
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Jenni winced at the coldness in Bill's voice as she turned to watch him leave. She threw a glare after him, still blaming Nancy for everything that was going wrong. Not knowing what to do or where to go Jenni sat down in the open field and pulled her knees up under her chin. She was angrily pulling up grass when she heard footsteps approaching.
"Go away." Her voice was low but the anger was still there.
Bill sighed. He was going to have his work cut out for him if he wanted to get a civilized conversation started. "Jenni, will you at least talk to me?"
"I don't want to talk. I want to be left alone. I'm sorry if you don't understand that Billy Boy." The sarcasm was dripping from Jenni's voice and that last comment sent Bill over the edge.
"Look, I've had just about enough of your attitude lately! I don't know why you insist on being so harsh to Nancy, but don't take out your anger on me." Bill's voice had a menacing tone to it that only angered Jenni more.
"Don't you DARE lecture me about my attitude!" Jenni stood suddenly, coming toe to toe with the much taller Bill. "You have NO idea what I have been through the past two weeks. I constantly worried and fretted over Nancy, wondering what she was hiding!"
Bill watched Jenni as all the anger she had been harboring slowly melted away and tears began to form in her eyes.
Jenni was oblivious to the tears flowing freely down her face as she let out what had really been nagging at her since she realized Nancy had seriously been hurt. "You have know idea how hard it is to find out your best friend has been lying to you. I have NEVER lied to her once! And she repays me like this? What if..." Jenni's voice broke as she fought to control her sobs.
In one quick motion Bill's arms were wrapped around her.
"Let go of me!" Jenni fought to push away from him, punching furiously and trying to back off only to be held tighter. Finally unable to fight any longer, Jenni gave in. She clung to Bill soaking his shirt with her tears.
"Why... why didn't she let me... help her?" Jenni managed to choke out between sobs.
"I don't know, Jenni." Bill spoke softly. "I don't know." He felt a knot growing in the pit of his stomach as he held Jenni, listening to the hurt in her voice as she spoke. It didn't help that her heart wrenching sobs had caught him off guard. He released her slowly as he felt her shoulders stop shaking and she drew a deep, shaky breath. Stepping back, he placed his hands on Jenni's shoulders. "Are you alright?"
Jenni nodded slowly, dropping her gaze. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Bill gently cupped Jenni's face with his hands and wiped away a tear with his thumb.
She continued talking. "I don't know what came over me. I've just been so worried lately and I just got so angry, and I said all of those things about Nancy, and Charlie... and..." Jenni stopped short and stared. She put a hand to her mouth as she realized just how badly she reacted. "You must... I mean... after what I said..." Jenni turned away, ashamed of her actions from earlier.
Bill reached forward to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Why don't we talk inside?" She nodded and followed him back to the house.
Bill glanced over his shoulder at the small woman behind him. She looked more like a little girl at that moment with her head bent forward as she trudged across the lawn. There had been an expressionless look on her face for the last couple of minutes that worried Bill. He held the door open and watched as Jenni sat on the edge of the couch facing the fireplace.
She took a deep, ragged breath and stared at the floor. In the silence the words she had yelled at Nancy came back to her. She could never remember saying anything like that to Nancy, ever. No matter what crazy stunt Nancy had pulled she had always been able to laugh it off. She remembered the hurt look Nancy had given her as she accused her of not wanting her for a friend anymore. Placing her head in her hands, Jenni felt the tears forming again. Just as the sobs were taking over for more than the first time, she felt Bill sit down next to her, his arms wrapping around her once again. Unable to control her emotions, Jenni let the flood of tears escape as Bill held her, resting his cheek against the top of her head.
As he cradled her, Bill came to realize that her anger had only been to mask just how hurt she had actually been at finding out that her best friend had lied to her and refused her help. After a few minutes, he pulled away slowly and whispered, "Jenni, look at me."
Jenni lifted her eyes which were now very red and puffy. Not trusting herself to speak she waited for Bill to continue, trying to choke back her sobs.
"I want you to stop crying. Please."
Jenni closed her eyes as Bill's fingertips brushed away the remaining tears on her cheeks. When she opened them again he was smiling warmly. "Isn't that better?" He asked softly.
Jenni nodded her head slightly, her lower lip trembling. "I've acted terribly. I should have never brought Charlie and Harry's name into that... conversation I had with Nancy. It was so wrong."
Jenni waited for Bill's reply. She was sure that a large part of Bill's anger was directed at that comment. A good part of her remorse was. "Well," he started slowly. "We can't go back and change the past."
"I was wrong. I should apologize to Charlie and Harry."
"You need to talk to Nancy as well."
Jenni sighed. "I know. But I also know that she won't talk to me. And I can't say that I blame her."
"You know this isn't your fault."
"My fault or not, doesn't make what I did right. I'm old enough to know that harsh accusations won't solve anything." Jenni paused. "I also know that Nancy can be stubborn when she's angry. She won't forgive me so easily." Jenni shook her head slowly. "We've never had a fight before. I mean we argue a bit here and there, but never like this. Never accused the other of not wanting to be friends."
Bill pulled Jenni back into his arms. "I'm sure every thing will work out between you two."
The two of them were sitting quietly, their thoughts their own, when footsteps were heard coming down the steps. Jenni promptly buried her face in Bill's shirt. Whoever it was, she didn't want them to see her tear streaked face and puffy eyes.
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Charlie approached at a run, worry making him slightly breathless. There it was, a whomping willow that was only about twice his height, just like Hagrid had promised. But where was she?
"Nancy!" He tried to get closer, only to have the willow awaken with an angry start. Dodging its lethal branches, he wove in and out, trying to get past.
"Nancy, are you here?" Suddenly the tree went still. Charlie froze, gripping his wand, uncertain as to what was happening.
"What do YOU want?"
He searched the area for the source of her voice, his heart lifting to know that he was that close, and that she was all right. "Where are you?"
"You don't have to tell me she's right. I know she's right. That's not the point." Her voice wavered as though she was in pain, and his heart stopped, only to start again as he spotted the small feet dangling down through the branches.
"You're sitting ON TOP of a whomping willow?" The feet retracted out of sight.
"Dammit. You had to be a bloody seeker, didn't you."
He shot his most innocent grin up towards the top of the willow and stepped forward, determined to bring her down and make her see reason, only to find himself facing a threatening wall of clenched branches.
"I wouldn't come any closer if I were you, she's very protective of me."
"Obviously, all your friends are," he muttered, taking a few steps back before asking the obvious question. "How on earth did you manage to befriend a bloody whomping willow?"
"I planted her." Charlie could practically see her mischievous grin. There was obviously a story behind this. Might as well settle in and find out what it was, he thought with a smile. She seemed safe enough for now.
"I was under the impression that not even Hogwarts was crazy enough to let students plant highly dangerous life-forms in the middle of the Forbidden Forest and then visit them..." he made his voice deliberately mocking, in the hopes of getting a rise out of her.
"Oh, HOGWARTS had no IDEA!" There was a pause, and he rolled his eyes, knowing that quite well. "Well, I bet Dumbledore did, he always seems to know it all. But it was just Hagrid."
"You know, I was quite the chum of Hagrid myself, and this doesn't really feel like something he'd do..." Charlie added conversationally.
Nancy peered down from where she was curled up in a nest of branches near the top of the tree. He was still there, still talking to her too. She sighed, scowled, and thought about punching something, before realizing that her tree would most LIKELY punch back.
"Oh come on, if you know Hagrid, then you know what a sucker he is for sob stories involving non-human loved ones." She heard a snort below her and looked over the edge of the branches. How could he be so CHEERFUL after... her mind wandered back to the fight she'd run away from and she sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"Nancy? Are you ok? Come down and talk to me."
"I'm FINE." She wiped her face quickly and put a smile on her face, which was completely illogical as she KNEW he couldn't see her. She heard him sigh deeply and cringed. At least he'd cared enough to follow her. Wait... how HAD he found her?
"Damn Hagrid. Should have known he couldn't keep a secret," she muttered. Charlie let out a laugh.
"Oh, he stuck to the letter of his promise. You did specify redheads, right?" She didn't answer, embarrassed at being so predictable, but he kept going. "Well, when he told me where you were - let's just say, I did NOT have red hair."
Despite herself, Nancy giggled. Picturing ANY of the Weasleys without their signature red hair was downright impossible. "How'd you manage THAT?" she asked, before realizing that he'd wrung a response and a smile out of her without her catching on. "Oh bloody hell. Why can't you leave me alone to mope?"
His voice was unexpectedly serious. "Because, Nancy, I get this funny pain in my chest any time I picture you moping."
'Oh my...' Nancy couldn't breathe. That had to be the most wonderful thing anyone had ever...
"And I used the brunendium charm, only lasts a couple of minutes but it did the trick." The pride in his voice made her giggle, which turned quickly and hopelessly to crying, until the only thing she wanted to do was bury her head in his shirt and sob.
"Let me down," she whispered to the branches wrapped around her. Scrambling down the trunk, trying to see through her wet eyes, she almost cried out in relief when she felt his strong arms pull her close. And then she did sob.
"Sh... she must really hate me!" she gasped out as her tears flowed fast and hot into his shirt. His arms tightened and one hand went up to her hair, stroking it softly.
"Shhhhhh. No one hates you."
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"Oh! Terribly sorry. I didn't realize anyone was down here." Jenni recognized the voice as one of the twins, and she listened as Bill talked to him.
"That's all right." Bill paused. "But, just what exactly are you up to?" The suspicion in his voice caused Jenni to grin slightly. Remembering how Nancy talked about them, Bill had every right to be suspicious.
"Oh, um.well.nothing. I just need to... I'll be back. Later."
Jenni felt Bill pull away from her and walked toward his younger brother. She wiped her eyes quickly, but realized it was pointless as George had his entire focus on Bill. He was trying to edge towards the door and keep whatever was in his hands behind his back hidden.
"George. What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything. I've just got to.I've got to go." Jenni watched as he swung his arms around and turned to run out the door. However, he wasn't quick enough and Bill snatched what looked like a folded piece of paper from his hands.
"Hey! Give that back!" George bellowed. "That's not something."
Bill's eyes were sparkling and his face broke out into a wide grin as he unfolded the paper. He looked at Jenni with a wink and began reading.
Despite the horrible mood she had been in, Jenni found herself giggling as she watched Bill trying to read while holding off his younger brother. The paper had turned out to be a letter and Bill was having a great time reading it out loud to Jenni.
"Deeeeeear Geeeeeeorge" Bill dragged out each word with exaggerated feeling.
"I'm REALLY sorry I missed the party last night."
Bill grinned at George. "Why didn't you tell me you had a lady friend you were interested in?"
George glared back, turning a brilliant shade of red and renewed his efforts to get the letter as Bill continued reading.
"I was looking forward to spending the evening with YOU and your family." Bill had overemphasized the word 'you' and had to duck as George swung at him.
Jenni watched in amusement as Bill, still reading the letter, ran around the room trying to keep out of reach of his furious younger brother. "I'm REALLY pleased that you invited me. However, we had a family emergency, and I was just unable to attend. Please accept my apology for not being able to owl you SOONER. Sincerely YOURS, Lily."
Bill had ended up standing on the coffee table, an outstretched hand on George's head (who was still standing on the floor) to hold him back, the other hand holding the letter just out of reach. "Lily! That's a cute name. Is her full name Lillian?"
George scowled. "Her name is Lily. Now can I have my letter back?"
"Not yet!" Bill was holding George's letter just out of arm's reach. "I need to know a few things about this lady friend of yours! Like, what's her last name? How did you meet her? Where is."
Bill's interrogation was interrupted by a burst of green flames coming from the fireplace and a very angry Mrs. Weasley appearing. "WILLIAM NATHAN WEASLEY! What are you doing standing on my furniture?"
George shrank back from Bill and his mother. Jenni covered her mouth in shock. And Bill just stood there grinning. "Did you know that George fancies a girl named Lily?"
"I do not fancy her. She's." Realizing he was in a no win situation, George changed the direction of the conversation. "Mum, he's got my letter!"
Mrs. Weasley sighed, "Bill, give whatever you have back to your brother. And for Merlin's sake get off the furniture."
Jenni giggled as Bill stepped off the table still waving the letter just out of George's reach. Just as George reached out to grab the letter, Bill climbed around the table and jumped over the couch, George close behind. Just as Bill rounded the couch and headed towards the stairs, Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out. "Accio Parchment!"
The letter flew out of Bill's hand and into his mothers. "I thought I told you to quit antagonizing your brothers while you were... George... well, I never... I mean..."
Jenni watched as Mrs. Weasley's face changed as she read the parchment she held in her hand. Bill was grinning wickedly, and George had gone completely red again.
Bill walked back to the couch as George followed his mom to the kitchen pleading for his letter the entire time. He felt a warm sensation in his stomach as he watched Jenni laughing. She turned to Bill, "You really shouldn't have embarrassed your brother like that."
He shrugged, a careless grin on his face. "I'll just have to watch my back for the next few days."
Just as Bill sat down Fred came running down the stairs. "Either of you seen George? He was supposed to be gone for only a minute. Stupid git. Must have gotten lost."
Jenni held a hand over her mouth trying to suppress her laughter. However, within seconds her giggles had erupted into a full fit of laughter.
Fred cast a curious glance at Bill, "She all right?"
Bill nodded, fighting the urge to laugh as well. "Yeah, she's fine. Oh, and George is in the kitchen with mum."
"Thanks!" Fred headed off to the kitchen still eyeing Jenni suspiciously.
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Charlie's heart was breaking. He'd given up trying to figure out what it was about this girl that caught and held him like she did, but she was very much under his skin. And to watch her cry like this felt like torture.
She shifted, whimpering, and he sat down slowly, drawing her down onto his lap. Her sobs just kept coming, and he could feel her body heaving with the force of them.
"Nancy... Nancy, calm down. Shhhhhh. I know you're scared, but no one hates you. Jenni doesn't hate you."
He kept talking, just murmuring meaningless words as he rocked her back and forth. He felt the moment her hysterical crying stopped, and she began to slowly quiet, her sobs coming less frequently. She had been holding his shirt in her fisted hands, and her face was buried in his shoulder. Charlie had to admit that he liked having her head there, and with a sigh decided to make sure the experience was repeated without the tears someday.
"Charlie?" Nancy's voice was a whisper, and a scratchy one from the strain of all the tears.
"What, sweetheart?" His hand was stroking her hair again, and he felt her relax into him.
"Why did you come after me?"
The soft question startled him. His first instinct was that she was upset that Jenni hadn't been the one to follow.
"Jenni would have, I'm sure, once she'd calmed down..."
"No. I don't mean..." she lifted her head and met his eyes for the first time since he'd been at her side after the fall from Harry's broom. "What I mean is, why did YOU... I'm trying to say... why are you so worried about me that you'd come and find me?"
Charlie opened his mouth and couldn't find anything to say. He didn't know WHY... he just WAS. It wasn't like he'd thought about it one way or another. It had never crossed his mind to stay at the Burrow and wait for her to show up. He was about to open his mouth again, and probably make a bloody fool of himself trying to explain, when Nancy giggled.
"What?" He looked down at her, hope shining is his eyes, and saw that she was looking... at his hair?
"It's all striped! Brown and red... you really DID change the color for Hagrid?" She was wiping her eyes, and the watery giggles were making them sparkle.
"Well I couldn't make the man go back on his word, now could I?" His grin was wide, and full of the relief of seeing her happy again. And just a little at being able to dodge that rather sticky question.
"Oh, he did anyway. I told him you, specifically." She grinned at his stunned expression. "What? It wasn't like your brothers had any vested interest in running out here looking for me!"
"They better not!" he growled, suddenly agitated. "I'll make them wish they didn't!"
Nancy blinked at him in confusion, and he had the presence of mind to flush. "I mean... er... Hagrid really promised not to tell me?"
She shrugged. "I don't really remember what I said. I was a little upset." His arms tightened around her as she sighed and leaned her head back against his chest.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked carefully, not wanting to push, but letting her know that she could tell him.
This time her sigh was deeper and more sad. He dropped a kiss on her head and felt her shiver. "Never mind, we should probably head out. I don't really think the best place for either of us is sitting in the middle of the Forbidden Forest."
"I don't mind it so much."
He could feel the flush that rushed to her cheeks after this soft announcement, it was burning through where she was hiding in his shirt. Letting a devilish grin settle onto his face, he tapped her cheek, making her look up at him.
"I never said I wasn't quite happy where I am." Nancy nearly melted into her shoes. How could such dark eyes give off so much HEAT she wondered a bit breathlessly, even as his grin widened. "I'm pretty sure what I said was more along the lines of - my mum will skin me alive if I don't bring you back in one piece and soon."
She couldn't help but smile back. "Have I met your mum?" she whispered a bit squeakily, suddenly VERY aware that they were the only two people in a very large forest, and that she was seated quite snugly in his lap. Her cheeks had to be really pink at this point she thought a bit nervously as she waited for him to answer.
Charlie, quite honestly, hadn't heard the question. He was getting a taste of what this girl was going to put him through, as he was quite literally lost in her wide brown eyes, with no idea as to how to get out. The fact that she had that sweet smile on her face, and was slowly turning pinker and pinker was NOT helping. He blinked once, and saw that she was looking at him with a question in her eyes. Having no idea what it was or how to answer her, he sighed and did the only thing he could think of. He leaned in and kissed her.
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Bill let out a soft chuckle as he watched Fred's retreating form. He turned to Jenni who was trying to control her giggles, "So, how are you feeling?"
Jenni looked up catching Bill's eyes. "I'm much better now. Thank you."
Bill felt something stir inside of him as Jenni smiled at him. He reached forward and ran his thumb gently down the side of her face and rested his hand on her cheek.
Jenni felt her face flush as Bill's hand lingered. She looked down, trying hard to avoid those eyes that made her forget to breath, and cause her heart to beat incredibly fast. Willing herself not to think about what she was feeling at this particular moment, Jenni forced her thoughts back to Nancy and let out a deep sigh.
Bill's voice broke through her thoughts and his hand moved from her cheek to grasp her hand. "How are you really feeling?" he asked.
"I just." Jenni paused looking out of an opened window. "I just hope Charlie finds Nancy, so that I can apologize to her." She didn't resist when he pulled her into his arms. Leaning against his chest she listened to the rumble of his voice as he spoke.
"If I know my brother, he won't come back until he finds her." He held Jenni, letting a hand run through her hair. She had seemed to accept his statement, and he inwardly hoped his brother wouldn't prove him wrong. "But you do realize, Nancy is a grown woman and able to take care of herself don't you?"
Jenni sat up. "Take care of herself? Bill, look at."
Bill stopped her by putting a finger to her mouth. "Jenni, listen to me. What is the one thing that Nancy hates the most? I can tell you what it is just from hearing the two of you arguing earlier."
Jenni sighed. "She hates being treated like a child. But I never.."
"Never INTENTIONALLY treated her like a child." Bill's voice was soft as he continued her sentence. "Jenni, I know you care about Nancy, but maybe what she needed was a friend and not another mum."
Jenni's shoulders dropped, "You're right."
Bill moved his finger away from her mouth and grinned. "Of course I'm right."
Jenni looked up as the brush of his fingers moving from her mouth to her cheek caused her to blush. His grin faded as he stared into her eyes. She caught herself wondering whether he was aware of the loud beating of her heart, as Bill's face was only inches away from hers. His voice was barely a whisper, "Weasleys are always right."
Before Jenni had a chance to respond to THAT, Bill's lips were against hers and her indignant thoughts were forgotten in the heat of his kiss.
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A/N - AAAAAAAND CUT! Hee hee. Gotta save something for chapter 11!
Blue eyes - Ah, the bickering. Unfortunately, as some really famous guy once said in this really great play... the course of true love ne'er did run smooth. ;) Well, as I'm about to assure a few other people, and as I hope you noticed in this chapter, we WILL be seeing a bit less sniping soon.
Cake Twins - FANKS! Hee hee. And you both know that I will be checking for moooooore! Fred and Oliver ROCK!
Louisa - our ever faithful reader!
Jetstream -- YES! Older Weasleys!! :) Yes we thought they were quite worthy of their own story!
Joyce - We post em as we write em! And lately, that's been quickly! Glad you're enjoying!
LittleWolf - Hello! Nice to see someone who appreciates a woman with spirit! :) And we're both quite fond of our Bill and Charlie... and both of us appreciate the vote of confidence!
Fracindy - As requested, Chapter 10!!! :) Write faster? Well, we're trying but as you know, a good story takes time to develop the right plot. Thanks for all the compliments! Glad you liked it! Hope you swooned lots and lots this time!
Karen - distractions are what we do best!
Zoe - Dear dear zoe. Jenni and I would like to offer our deepest condolences for any undue worry chapter nine left you with. And we both hope that the payoff in this was worth the fight. We think it was. ;)
Heather - Hello! Nice to meet you! Thanks for reading! And I'm sure Mrs. Snape will be quite glad to hear that she was a favorite part! :)
Now... to all you people who are reading and NOT leaving little notes, just click that button and type BOO. We'd appreciate it. ;)
And guess what? EVERYONE who reviewed 8 AND 9 gets mentioned at the bottom! So, Happy Reading! (and we do not own anything except the people you've never met in JKR's books... of course)
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When he apparated into Hogsmeade, Charlie felt nostalgia hit him hard in the gut. 'Must be all the worry,' he thought idly as he started off for Hogwarts, 'it's leaving me open to all sorts of emotions.'
It was odd to see the school so empty. He skirted the still unpleasant prospect of being escorted by Filch by ducking into another corridor just before Mrs. Norris turned the corner. Footsteps echoing in the hallways, he followed a path to the grounds that his feet seemed to have memorized, despite that he hadn't walked it in eight years or so. Within minutes, he found himself looking out at the lake, the whomping willow (which seemed a bit larger and more menacing than it had when he was in school) and... Hagrid's hut.
Charlie felt a grin form as he approached his old friend's home. He and Hagrid had always shared a passion, the huge gamekeeper being the only one who had understood his fascination with the most dangerous creatures in the wizarding world. He'd have to make sure to stop by after he found Nancy for a real chat.
To his surprise, the door opened as he approached and the familiar bushy head stuck itself out. "Well, if it ain't Charlie Weasley! Quite a day we're 'aving, eh? I don't suppose yer 'ere about... oh, well, I wasn't s'posed to say, now was I?"
Charlie closed the distance and gave the large man a quick hug. "I suppose she told you that you couldn't tell anyone with red hair where she'd gone?"
Hagrid shot him an intrigued look. "Summat like that, yes."
"Well..." Charlie paused for a minute, before breaking into a grin. "I'll be right back, then."
Hagrid looked confused as Charlie ducked outside the cabin. He murmured a quick "Brunendium" and walked back in. Hagrid started chuckling.
"Now I have brown hair, so quick, tell me, before it turns back. You know the Weasley hair... doesn't much take to any changes."
Hagrid was about two minutes into his explanations as to where Nancy would be when Charlie caught a word he had NOT expected.
"A WHOMPING willow?" He ran a hand through his hair, which was turning into a very autumny blend of red and brown. "Hagrid... and you KNEW about this?"
Hagrid had the grace to look a bit ashamed. "Well, yeh know... at first, it was so little... and she cried and cried, I mean, what was I s'posed ter do?"
Charlie swallowed all of his answers to that question, knowing that Hagrid was entirely outside reason when it came to pets of any sort. "Yes but... it's got to be... I mean, how big?"
"No more'n ten, twelve feet, I'd expect." Hagrid measured out to about his neck, and Charlie groaned. He was NOT the tallest of the Weasleys, and if Nancy decided... better not to think about it right now.
"All right, well I've got to go and get her. So, I head east after I see the..."
He and Hagrid went over the directions one last time and Charlie set off.
"Good luck!" Hagrid called after him, and then the big man winked. "And congrats to yeh! Always did like that Nancy Gwin!"
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Jenni winced at the coldness in Bill's voice as she turned to watch him leave. She threw a glare after him, still blaming Nancy for everything that was going wrong. Not knowing what to do or where to go Jenni sat down in the open field and pulled her knees up under her chin. She was angrily pulling up grass when she heard footsteps approaching.
"Go away." Her voice was low but the anger was still there.
Bill sighed. He was going to have his work cut out for him if he wanted to get a civilized conversation started. "Jenni, will you at least talk to me?"
"I don't want to talk. I want to be left alone. I'm sorry if you don't understand that Billy Boy." The sarcasm was dripping from Jenni's voice and that last comment sent Bill over the edge.
"Look, I've had just about enough of your attitude lately! I don't know why you insist on being so harsh to Nancy, but don't take out your anger on me." Bill's voice had a menacing tone to it that only angered Jenni more.
"Don't you DARE lecture me about my attitude!" Jenni stood suddenly, coming toe to toe with the much taller Bill. "You have NO idea what I have been through the past two weeks. I constantly worried and fretted over Nancy, wondering what she was hiding!"
Bill watched Jenni as all the anger she had been harboring slowly melted away and tears began to form in her eyes.
Jenni was oblivious to the tears flowing freely down her face as she let out what had really been nagging at her since she realized Nancy had seriously been hurt. "You have know idea how hard it is to find out your best friend has been lying to you. I have NEVER lied to her once! And she repays me like this? What if..." Jenni's voice broke as she fought to control her sobs.
In one quick motion Bill's arms were wrapped around her.
"Let go of me!" Jenni fought to push away from him, punching furiously and trying to back off only to be held tighter. Finally unable to fight any longer, Jenni gave in. She clung to Bill soaking his shirt with her tears.
"Why... why didn't she let me... help her?" Jenni managed to choke out between sobs.
"I don't know, Jenni." Bill spoke softly. "I don't know." He felt a knot growing in the pit of his stomach as he held Jenni, listening to the hurt in her voice as she spoke. It didn't help that her heart wrenching sobs had caught him off guard. He released her slowly as he felt her shoulders stop shaking and she drew a deep, shaky breath. Stepping back, he placed his hands on Jenni's shoulders. "Are you alright?"
Jenni nodded slowly, dropping her gaze. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Bill gently cupped Jenni's face with his hands and wiped away a tear with his thumb.
She continued talking. "I don't know what came over me. I've just been so worried lately and I just got so angry, and I said all of those things about Nancy, and Charlie... and..." Jenni stopped short and stared. She put a hand to her mouth as she realized just how badly she reacted. "You must... I mean... after what I said..." Jenni turned away, ashamed of her actions from earlier.
Bill reached forward to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Why don't we talk inside?" She nodded and followed him back to the house.
Bill glanced over his shoulder at the small woman behind him. She looked more like a little girl at that moment with her head bent forward as she trudged across the lawn. There had been an expressionless look on her face for the last couple of minutes that worried Bill. He held the door open and watched as Jenni sat on the edge of the couch facing the fireplace.
She took a deep, ragged breath and stared at the floor. In the silence the words she had yelled at Nancy came back to her. She could never remember saying anything like that to Nancy, ever. No matter what crazy stunt Nancy had pulled she had always been able to laugh it off. She remembered the hurt look Nancy had given her as she accused her of not wanting her for a friend anymore. Placing her head in her hands, Jenni felt the tears forming again. Just as the sobs were taking over for more than the first time, she felt Bill sit down next to her, his arms wrapping around her once again. Unable to control her emotions, Jenni let the flood of tears escape as Bill held her, resting his cheek against the top of her head.
As he cradled her, Bill came to realize that her anger had only been to mask just how hurt she had actually been at finding out that her best friend had lied to her and refused her help. After a few minutes, he pulled away slowly and whispered, "Jenni, look at me."
Jenni lifted her eyes which were now very red and puffy. Not trusting herself to speak she waited for Bill to continue, trying to choke back her sobs.
"I want you to stop crying. Please."
Jenni closed her eyes as Bill's fingertips brushed away the remaining tears on her cheeks. When she opened them again he was smiling warmly. "Isn't that better?" He asked softly.
Jenni nodded her head slightly, her lower lip trembling. "I've acted terribly. I should have never brought Charlie and Harry's name into that... conversation I had with Nancy. It was so wrong."
Jenni waited for Bill's reply. She was sure that a large part of Bill's anger was directed at that comment. A good part of her remorse was. "Well," he started slowly. "We can't go back and change the past."
"I was wrong. I should apologize to Charlie and Harry."
"You need to talk to Nancy as well."
Jenni sighed. "I know. But I also know that she won't talk to me. And I can't say that I blame her."
"You know this isn't your fault."
"My fault or not, doesn't make what I did right. I'm old enough to know that harsh accusations won't solve anything." Jenni paused. "I also know that Nancy can be stubborn when she's angry. She won't forgive me so easily." Jenni shook her head slowly. "We've never had a fight before. I mean we argue a bit here and there, but never like this. Never accused the other of not wanting to be friends."
Bill pulled Jenni back into his arms. "I'm sure every thing will work out between you two."
The two of them were sitting quietly, their thoughts their own, when footsteps were heard coming down the steps. Jenni promptly buried her face in Bill's shirt. Whoever it was, she didn't want them to see her tear streaked face and puffy eyes.
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Charlie approached at a run, worry making him slightly breathless. There it was, a whomping willow that was only about twice his height, just like Hagrid had promised. But where was she?
"Nancy!" He tried to get closer, only to have the willow awaken with an angry start. Dodging its lethal branches, he wove in and out, trying to get past.
"Nancy, are you here?" Suddenly the tree went still. Charlie froze, gripping his wand, uncertain as to what was happening.
"What do YOU want?"
He searched the area for the source of her voice, his heart lifting to know that he was that close, and that she was all right. "Where are you?"
"You don't have to tell me she's right. I know she's right. That's not the point." Her voice wavered as though she was in pain, and his heart stopped, only to start again as he spotted the small feet dangling down through the branches.
"You're sitting ON TOP of a whomping willow?" The feet retracted out of sight.
"Dammit. You had to be a bloody seeker, didn't you."
He shot his most innocent grin up towards the top of the willow and stepped forward, determined to bring her down and make her see reason, only to find himself facing a threatening wall of clenched branches.
"I wouldn't come any closer if I were you, she's very protective of me."
"Obviously, all your friends are," he muttered, taking a few steps back before asking the obvious question. "How on earth did you manage to befriend a bloody whomping willow?"
"I planted her." Charlie could practically see her mischievous grin. There was obviously a story behind this. Might as well settle in and find out what it was, he thought with a smile. She seemed safe enough for now.
"I was under the impression that not even Hogwarts was crazy enough to let students plant highly dangerous life-forms in the middle of the Forbidden Forest and then visit them..." he made his voice deliberately mocking, in the hopes of getting a rise out of her.
"Oh, HOGWARTS had no IDEA!" There was a pause, and he rolled his eyes, knowing that quite well. "Well, I bet Dumbledore did, he always seems to know it all. But it was just Hagrid."
"You know, I was quite the chum of Hagrid myself, and this doesn't really feel like something he'd do..." Charlie added conversationally.
Nancy peered down from where she was curled up in a nest of branches near the top of the tree. He was still there, still talking to her too. She sighed, scowled, and thought about punching something, before realizing that her tree would most LIKELY punch back.
"Oh come on, if you know Hagrid, then you know what a sucker he is for sob stories involving non-human loved ones." She heard a snort below her and looked over the edge of the branches. How could he be so CHEERFUL after... her mind wandered back to the fight she'd run away from and she sniffed and wiped her eyes.
"Nancy? Are you ok? Come down and talk to me."
"I'm FINE." She wiped her face quickly and put a smile on her face, which was completely illogical as she KNEW he couldn't see her. She heard him sigh deeply and cringed. At least he'd cared enough to follow her. Wait... how HAD he found her?
"Damn Hagrid. Should have known he couldn't keep a secret," she muttered. Charlie let out a laugh.
"Oh, he stuck to the letter of his promise. You did specify redheads, right?" She didn't answer, embarrassed at being so predictable, but he kept going. "Well, when he told me where you were - let's just say, I did NOT have red hair."
Despite herself, Nancy giggled. Picturing ANY of the Weasleys without their signature red hair was downright impossible. "How'd you manage THAT?" she asked, before realizing that he'd wrung a response and a smile out of her without her catching on. "Oh bloody hell. Why can't you leave me alone to mope?"
His voice was unexpectedly serious. "Because, Nancy, I get this funny pain in my chest any time I picture you moping."
'Oh my...' Nancy couldn't breathe. That had to be the most wonderful thing anyone had ever...
"And I used the brunendium charm, only lasts a couple of minutes but it did the trick." The pride in his voice made her giggle, which turned quickly and hopelessly to crying, until the only thing she wanted to do was bury her head in his shirt and sob.
"Let me down," she whispered to the branches wrapped around her. Scrambling down the trunk, trying to see through her wet eyes, she almost cried out in relief when she felt his strong arms pull her close. And then she did sob.
"Sh... she must really hate me!" she gasped out as her tears flowed fast and hot into his shirt. His arms tightened and one hand went up to her hair, stroking it softly.
"Shhhhhh. No one hates you."
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"Oh! Terribly sorry. I didn't realize anyone was down here." Jenni recognized the voice as one of the twins, and she listened as Bill talked to him.
"That's all right." Bill paused. "But, just what exactly are you up to?" The suspicion in his voice caused Jenni to grin slightly. Remembering how Nancy talked about them, Bill had every right to be suspicious.
"Oh, um.well.nothing. I just need to... I'll be back. Later."
Jenni felt Bill pull away from her and walked toward his younger brother. She wiped her eyes quickly, but realized it was pointless as George had his entire focus on Bill. He was trying to edge towards the door and keep whatever was in his hands behind his back hidden.
"George. What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything. I've just got to.I've got to go." Jenni watched as he swung his arms around and turned to run out the door. However, he wasn't quick enough and Bill snatched what looked like a folded piece of paper from his hands.
"Hey! Give that back!" George bellowed. "That's not something."
Bill's eyes were sparkling and his face broke out into a wide grin as he unfolded the paper. He looked at Jenni with a wink and began reading.
Despite the horrible mood she had been in, Jenni found herself giggling as she watched Bill trying to read while holding off his younger brother. The paper had turned out to be a letter and Bill was having a great time reading it out loud to Jenni.
"Deeeeeear Geeeeeeorge" Bill dragged out each word with exaggerated feeling.
"I'm REALLY sorry I missed the party last night."
Bill grinned at George. "Why didn't you tell me you had a lady friend you were interested in?"
George glared back, turning a brilliant shade of red and renewed his efforts to get the letter as Bill continued reading.
"I was looking forward to spending the evening with YOU and your family." Bill had overemphasized the word 'you' and had to duck as George swung at him.
Jenni watched in amusement as Bill, still reading the letter, ran around the room trying to keep out of reach of his furious younger brother. "I'm REALLY pleased that you invited me. However, we had a family emergency, and I was just unable to attend. Please accept my apology for not being able to owl you SOONER. Sincerely YOURS, Lily."
Bill had ended up standing on the coffee table, an outstretched hand on George's head (who was still standing on the floor) to hold him back, the other hand holding the letter just out of reach. "Lily! That's a cute name. Is her full name Lillian?"
George scowled. "Her name is Lily. Now can I have my letter back?"
"Not yet!" Bill was holding George's letter just out of arm's reach. "I need to know a few things about this lady friend of yours! Like, what's her last name? How did you meet her? Where is."
Bill's interrogation was interrupted by a burst of green flames coming from the fireplace and a very angry Mrs. Weasley appearing. "WILLIAM NATHAN WEASLEY! What are you doing standing on my furniture?"
George shrank back from Bill and his mother. Jenni covered her mouth in shock. And Bill just stood there grinning. "Did you know that George fancies a girl named Lily?"
"I do not fancy her. She's." Realizing he was in a no win situation, George changed the direction of the conversation. "Mum, he's got my letter!"
Mrs. Weasley sighed, "Bill, give whatever you have back to your brother. And for Merlin's sake get off the furniture."
Jenni giggled as Bill stepped off the table still waving the letter just out of George's reach. Just as George reached out to grab the letter, Bill climbed around the table and jumped over the couch, George close behind. Just as Bill rounded the couch and headed towards the stairs, Mrs. Weasley's voice rang out. "Accio Parchment!"
The letter flew out of Bill's hand and into his mothers. "I thought I told you to quit antagonizing your brothers while you were... George... well, I never... I mean..."
Jenni watched as Mrs. Weasley's face changed as she read the parchment she held in her hand. Bill was grinning wickedly, and George had gone completely red again.
Bill walked back to the couch as George followed his mom to the kitchen pleading for his letter the entire time. He felt a warm sensation in his stomach as he watched Jenni laughing. She turned to Bill, "You really shouldn't have embarrassed your brother like that."
He shrugged, a careless grin on his face. "I'll just have to watch my back for the next few days."
Just as Bill sat down Fred came running down the stairs. "Either of you seen George? He was supposed to be gone for only a minute. Stupid git. Must have gotten lost."
Jenni held a hand over her mouth trying to suppress her laughter. However, within seconds her giggles had erupted into a full fit of laughter.
Fred cast a curious glance at Bill, "She all right?"
Bill nodded, fighting the urge to laugh as well. "Yeah, she's fine. Oh, and George is in the kitchen with mum."
"Thanks!" Fred headed off to the kitchen still eyeing Jenni suspiciously.
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Charlie's heart was breaking. He'd given up trying to figure out what it was about this girl that caught and held him like she did, but she was very much under his skin. And to watch her cry like this felt like torture.
She shifted, whimpering, and he sat down slowly, drawing her down onto his lap. Her sobs just kept coming, and he could feel her body heaving with the force of them.
"Nancy... Nancy, calm down. Shhhhhh. I know you're scared, but no one hates you. Jenni doesn't hate you."
He kept talking, just murmuring meaningless words as he rocked her back and forth. He felt the moment her hysterical crying stopped, and she began to slowly quiet, her sobs coming less frequently. She had been holding his shirt in her fisted hands, and her face was buried in his shoulder. Charlie had to admit that he liked having her head there, and with a sigh decided to make sure the experience was repeated without the tears someday.
"Charlie?" Nancy's voice was a whisper, and a scratchy one from the strain of all the tears.
"What, sweetheart?" His hand was stroking her hair again, and he felt her relax into him.
"Why did you come after me?"
The soft question startled him. His first instinct was that she was upset that Jenni hadn't been the one to follow.
"Jenni would have, I'm sure, once she'd calmed down..."
"No. I don't mean..." she lifted her head and met his eyes for the first time since he'd been at her side after the fall from Harry's broom. "What I mean is, why did YOU... I'm trying to say... why are you so worried about me that you'd come and find me?"
Charlie opened his mouth and couldn't find anything to say. He didn't know WHY... he just WAS. It wasn't like he'd thought about it one way or another. It had never crossed his mind to stay at the Burrow and wait for her to show up. He was about to open his mouth again, and probably make a bloody fool of himself trying to explain, when Nancy giggled.
"What?" He looked down at her, hope shining is his eyes, and saw that she was looking... at his hair?
"It's all striped! Brown and red... you really DID change the color for Hagrid?" She was wiping her eyes, and the watery giggles were making them sparkle.
"Well I couldn't make the man go back on his word, now could I?" His grin was wide, and full of the relief of seeing her happy again. And just a little at being able to dodge that rather sticky question.
"Oh, he did anyway. I told him you, specifically." She grinned at his stunned expression. "What? It wasn't like your brothers had any vested interest in running out here looking for me!"
"They better not!" he growled, suddenly agitated. "I'll make them wish they didn't!"
Nancy blinked at him in confusion, and he had the presence of mind to flush. "I mean... er... Hagrid really promised not to tell me?"
She shrugged. "I don't really remember what I said. I was a little upset." His arms tightened around her as she sighed and leaned her head back against his chest.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked carefully, not wanting to push, but letting her know that she could tell him.
This time her sigh was deeper and more sad. He dropped a kiss on her head and felt her shiver. "Never mind, we should probably head out. I don't really think the best place for either of us is sitting in the middle of the Forbidden Forest."
"I don't mind it so much."
He could feel the flush that rushed to her cheeks after this soft announcement, it was burning through where she was hiding in his shirt. Letting a devilish grin settle onto his face, he tapped her cheek, making her look up at him.
"I never said I wasn't quite happy where I am." Nancy nearly melted into her shoes. How could such dark eyes give off so much HEAT she wondered a bit breathlessly, even as his grin widened. "I'm pretty sure what I said was more along the lines of - my mum will skin me alive if I don't bring you back in one piece and soon."
She couldn't help but smile back. "Have I met your mum?" she whispered a bit squeakily, suddenly VERY aware that they were the only two people in a very large forest, and that she was seated quite snugly in his lap. Her cheeks had to be really pink at this point she thought a bit nervously as she waited for him to answer.
Charlie, quite honestly, hadn't heard the question. He was getting a taste of what this girl was going to put him through, as he was quite literally lost in her wide brown eyes, with no idea as to how to get out. The fact that she had that sweet smile on her face, and was slowly turning pinker and pinker was NOT helping. He blinked once, and saw that she was looking at him with a question in her eyes. Having no idea what it was or how to answer her, he sighed and did the only thing he could think of. He leaned in and kissed her.
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Bill let out a soft chuckle as he watched Fred's retreating form. He turned to Jenni who was trying to control her giggles, "So, how are you feeling?"
Jenni looked up catching Bill's eyes. "I'm much better now. Thank you."
Bill felt something stir inside of him as Jenni smiled at him. He reached forward and ran his thumb gently down the side of her face and rested his hand on her cheek.
Jenni felt her face flush as Bill's hand lingered. She looked down, trying hard to avoid those eyes that made her forget to breath, and cause her heart to beat incredibly fast. Willing herself not to think about what she was feeling at this particular moment, Jenni forced her thoughts back to Nancy and let out a deep sigh.
Bill's voice broke through her thoughts and his hand moved from her cheek to grasp her hand. "How are you really feeling?" he asked.
"I just." Jenni paused looking out of an opened window. "I just hope Charlie finds Nancy, so that I can apologize to her." She didn't resist when he pulled her into his arms. Leaning against his chest she listened to the rumble of his voice as he spoke.
"If I know my brother, he won't come back until he finds her." He held Jenni, letting a hand run through her hair. She had seemed to accept his statement, and he inwardly hoped his brother wouldn't prove him wrong. "But you do realize, Nancy is a grown woman and able to take care of herself don't you?"
Jenni sat up. "Take care of herself? Bill, look at."
Bill stopped her by putting a finger to her mouth. "Jenni, listen to me. What is the one thing that Nancy hates the most? I can tell you what it is just from hearing the two of you arguing earlier."
Jenni sighed. "She hates being treated like a child. But I never.."
"Never INTENTIONALLY treated her like a child." Bill's voice was soft as he continued her sentence. "Jenni, I know you care about Nancy, but maybe what she needed was a friend and not another mum."
Jenni's shoulders dropped, "You're right."
Bill moved his finger away from her mouth and grinned. "Of course I'm right."
Jenni looked up as the brush of his fingers moving from her mouth to her cheek caused her to blush. His grin faded as he stared into her eyes. She caught herself wondering whether he was aware of the loud beating of her heart, as Bill's face was only inches away from hers. His voice was barely a whisper, "Weasleys are always right."
Before Jenni had a chance to respond to THAT, Bill's lips were against hers and her indignant thoughts were forgotten in the heat of his kiss.
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A/N - AAAAAAAND CUT! Hee hee. Gotta save something for chapter 11!
Blue eyes - Ah, the bickering. Unfortunately, as some really famous guy once said in this really great play... the course of true love ne'er did run smooth. ;) Well, as I'm about to assure a few other people, and as I hope you noticed in this chapter, we WILL be seeing a bit less sniping soon.
Cake Twins - FANKS! Hee hee. And you both know that I will be checking for moooooore! Fred and Oliver ROCK!
Louisa - our ever faithful reader!
Jetstream -- YES! Older Weasleys!! :) Yes we thought they were quite worthy of their own story!
Joyce - We post em as we write em! And lately, that's been quickly! Glad you're enjoying!
LittleWolf - Hello! Nice to see someone who appreciates a woman with spirit! :) And we're both quite fond of our Bill and Charlie... and both of us appreciate the vote of confidence!
Fracindy - As requested, Chapter 10!!! :) Write faster? Well, we're trying but as you know, a good story takes time to develop the right plot. Thanks for all the compliments! Glad you liked it! Hope you swooned lots and lots this time!
Karen - distractions are what we do best!
Zoe - Dear dear zoe. Jenni and I would like to offer our deepest condolences for any undue worry chapter nine left you with. And we both hope that the payoff in this was worth the fight. We think it was. ;)
Heather - Hello! Nice to meet you! Thanks for reading! And I'm sure Mrs. Snape will be quite glad to hear that she was a favorite part! :)
Now... to all you people who are reading and NOT leaving little notes, just click that button and type BOO. We'd appreciate it. ;)