"Rachael I think he'll be ok," everyone turned to Molly in complete surprise.
"You're not serious," Rachael said in shock.
"They've got to be let alone some day. Plus today is the safest the burrow will ever be seeing as You Know Who will have all of his forces up at the school," Mrs. Weasley continued. Rachael paused. This was a very good point. Certainly with Voldemort concentrating all his forces on the school none of the rotten Death Eaters could get Ben here at the burrow.
"We need skills like yours on our side," Arthur insisted.
"Ok fine!" Rachael exclaimed quickly before she had a chance to change her mind. She knelt down next to her son and gave him a hug. "Mommy loves you Ben…remember that. If you need me…you know what to do." Ben nodded and waved them out the door.
"I hope to Merlin above I did not just make a very big mistake," Rachael sighed nervously to Charlie.
"Don't worry he's going to be ok," Charlie assured her.
"Yes I know he'll be safe…I just don't want to think about what would happen if he doesn't have a family come home to him," Rachael explained. She wasn't as worried about Ben's safety anymore. She was scared that Ben might not have a family come home to him. Rachael knew she shouldn't think like that. She had to stay positive.
"We'll get through this," Charlie said firmly grabbing her hand as they apparated into Hogsmeade and prepared to enter the castle.
Rachael followed Charlie and the Weasleys through the Hogs Head and into Hogwarts. Rachael felt her jaw quite literally drop when she observed the setting of the room they were in. It seemed that the students had formed their own sort of resistance group. Eventually all the Weasleys save for Ron were gathered in a cluster. They were talking about Harry and Ron or something like that when Rachael noticed one of the twins was staring at her.
"Who's your friend?" either Fred or George asked. Rachael felt herself blush. She looked at the twin who'd spoken and noticed he had both ears, so it was Fred.
"Rachael Serino. My um…" Charlie started to say. He paused for a second and sent a questioning look at Rachael. He looked cautious.
"Girlfriend," Rachael supplied with a hint of a smile. The entirely Weasley clan looked over at Rachael with shock etched all over their faces.
"Well it's about time," George muttered.
"You don't think you could have mentioned this before?" Mrs. Weasley asked sternly putting her hands on her hips clearly insulted that neither Rachael nor Charlie had bothered to tell her.
"It's a recent development," Charlie shrugged his shoulders.
"It was a long time coming," Bill said smirking at the pair of them. Rachael wanted to smack that stupid little grin off his face. He was clearly enjoying their discomfort.
"What?!" exclaimed the twins in unison.
"As much as I would love to sit down and recount the seventeen years Charlie and I have known each other it's a rather long story," Rachael began. She really didn't like all the attention she was getting.
"Seventeen years?" Ginny spoke up.
"Pretty much yeah. I don't see what the big deal is?" Charlie laughed.
"Well it's not like we didn't see it coming," Percy sighed looking bored with the conversation already. "Who doesn't remember your fifth year at Hogwarts?" Rachael was surprised that Percy was the one to bring that up.
"Me I don't!" Ginny complained.
"Was that year important I can't remember," Bill asked curiously.
"That's when you guys all were at school for Christmas," Rachael reminded him knowing full well what Percy had meant.
"Oh yeah," Bill remembered. He then remembered bewitching the mistletoe to appear over their heads and he smirked devilishly at the now very embarrassed Charlie and Rachael. "I remember that now."
"I want to know what happened at Christmas!" Fred, George, and Ginny all said.
"When you've all got twelve hours of free time I'll tell you," Charlie interjected.
Suddenly Professor McGonagall appeared and she started organizing everyone and telling them where to be stationed to be ready when the fighting broke out. The Weasley family all exchanged nervous looks. Molly and Arthur pulled their children towards them for one last hug. Rachael and Fleur hung back before Mrs. Weasley seized them by their clothes and practically screeched.
"Don't be stupid! This may as well be the last family hug! You two count just as much!" Fleur looked as if she wanted to cry. Rachael loved the Weasley family. She and Fleur were about to leave for their station at the Great Hall when Charlie pulled Rachael aside. He looked nervous.
"Be careful Charlie," Rachael warned.
"I always am," he laughed. Rachael just frowned. Charlie had a tendency to act on impulse. Although she did owe him and his impulsiveness for saving Ben she didn't want him to do anything that could get him killed.
"Just don't do anything," she began to say.
"Rash," Charlie finished for her. Rachael and much to her chagrin she felt her eyes tearing up. "You be careful too ok? I can't lose you now when I've just got you back." Charlie said to her. Rachael almost laughed. The idea of Charlie telling her to be careful was quite comical. She looked up at him and took a deep breath. This could be the last time they would see each other.
"I love you Charlie!" she said earnestly. "Always have always will." She gave him a shy smile.
"Well that's good here I was thinking you only hung around me because you liked Percy," he replied laughing. Rachael half laughed half cried. "Stop worrying we'll see each other in a few hours ok?" he attempted to reassure her. Rachael just nodded. A couple months ago Rachael would have laughed at anyone who would have told her she'd be standing here with Charlie again. Now she couldn't imagine being apart from him. She attempted to smile but the thought of losing each other was just too much. Charlie grinned at her and took her shaking hands with his own trembling ones. He kissed her for the first time in ten years…it was nothing short of brilliant. Rachael felt reassured and managed to get her hands to stop shaking. "I love you too." Charlie told her and after she hugged him one more time they parted for their separate stations.
Rachael ran to catch up with Fleur who was saying a teary goodbye to Bill. She walked over to them hesitantly. Bill looked over and caught her eye. He grinned at her.
"So…how bout that Charlie kid huh?" he asked with a smirk.
"Shut up," Rachael said blushing.
"Well it's about damn time," he said still teasing her. Rachael just shook her head. "Both of you be careful ok?" Bill said to the two girls. Rachael gave Bill and quick hug and Fleur kissed him again.
"We should get going," Bill reminded them. Fleur and Rachael took off for the Great Hall together. The castle seemed to be in a state of eerie calm. This was not a good sign. Rachael knew from working at St. Mungo's that anything starting with an eerie calm would not end so well.
"This quiet is very strange," Fleur observed. Rachael nodded her head in agreement. They joined the group stationed in the middle of the Great Hall.
The Battle was mostly a blur. Rachael remembered fighting alongside both grown adults and students. She could remember throwing hexes and jinxes and every other curse more often then she cast shield charms. Rachael remembered when Fleur saved one of the students by tackling her to the ground. Rachael could also remember the feeling of complete panic when they all thought that Harry Potter was dead. Somehow he'd tricked them all and come back and finished off Voldemort for good. It all seemed completely surreal. The only thing Rachael could recall word for word was what happened afterwards. Molly had come rushing over to Rachael in a blind panic.
"What what is it?" Rachael asked terrfied.
"It's Fred! Please you have to come look you have to see if theres—if there's anything you can do," Molly pleaded through tears. Rachael allowed herself to be dragged over to a small huddle of Weasleys. Lying on the ground in the middle was Fred. She took one look at the boy and could tell he was already gone.
"I'm sorry Molly but it's too late," Rachael said gently. Molly burst into a fresh wave of tears and even Arthur couldn't hide his crying. Rachael felt so helpless. She hated the feeling of it being too late. It wasn't her fault but she absolutely hated that there was nothing she could do. This was the one family that deserved all the happiness in the world and yet—Rachael couldn't help but cry a little bit herself. The family was joined by the youngest Weasley, Ginny, and Charlie. As soon as they spotted their brother Ginny burst into tears and Charlie sunk down the ground.
"No," he moaned sinking to his knees next to Ron. It broke her heart.
"I'm so sorry," Rachael said to him.
The next few weeks were rough. Molly had insisted Rachael and Ben stay with them until they could get another house. Rachael had protested at first but the Weasley's needed the distraction. Percy liked to lecture Ben on what Hogwarts was going to be like. Molly enjoyed having another mouth to feed. Arthur often enlisted Ben's help in his muggle experiments. Rachael was thankful for St. Mungo's. It took up most of her time. She didn't see much of Charlie but that was a good thing. He was taking Fred's death extremely hard and Rachael didn't want to interfere with his process of mourning.
Rachael was extremely relieved when Ron's birthday finally came. The entire family threw themselves into celebrating. Rachael hadn't seen all of them so happy in the longest time. When she left for work that morning the entire family was in high spirits. Rachael took that as a good sign. When she came back from work that evening the entire family was even happier.
Rachael had barely walked through the front door when Charlie came running up to her. He was smiling like crazy; she hadn't seen him this happy in ages. He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her in front of his entire family and their guests. Rachael laughed but her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She didn't say anything however, because it was so good to have him back to normal.
"I was wondering if you were ever going to smile again," Rachael admitted.
"It did take awhile. I'm sorry about that," Charlie confessed.
"There is no need to apologize everyone deals with grief in their own way," she told him.
"I sold my flat," he told her.
"You what?!" Rachael exclaimed.
"My flat in Romania, I sold it. I'm going to buy a house here and then we won't have to live with my mum anymore," he laughed.
"Well I have to admit I'm slightly relieved about that," Rachael smiled. Molly had been desperate for good news after the death of one of her sons that she constantly hounded with Rachael with questions about her and Charlie's relationship. "Where's Ben?" Rachael asked. This seemed as perfect of a time as any to tell them the results of the paternity test. She had just gotten them back at work.
"In the kitchen," Charlie said as they walked that way. Rachael grabbed her son's hand and led both Charlie and Ben back outside.
"What's this about?" Ben asked looking very confused.
"I have something to tell you both," Rachael said biting her lip nervously.
"Okay," Charlie said.
"Ben. I know who your father is and I think it's about time you did too," Rachael began. Ben looked very excited at this news.
"Really?" he asked not daring to believe it.
"Charlie I don't know if this changes anything…I sure hope it doesn't," Rachael began. Charlie and Rachael had told Ben that they were together. It was one of the only times they had talked in the past few weeks. Rachael wondered how he was going to take the news. She observed their faces. Ben was grinning with excitement and Charlie looked extremely nervous. "Ben, Charlie is your father." She blurted out.
"Of course this doesn't change anything," Charlie laughed as Ben grinned. Rachael smiled happily. Deep down she'd always hoped it was him.
True to his word Charlie started a house search in England. However it made Rachael a little uneasy. She couldn't help but feel like Charlie was giving up something he really loved to be with her and Ben. Stupid dragons. The more she thought about it the more she felt guilty.
"So there was this one in Surrey…it seemed kinda nice but I dunno about it," Charlie was talking to her about houses again. Rachael couldn't take it any longer.
"Charlie I don't know if you should buy a house," Rachael said.
"What?" he asked looking incredibly confused.
"It's just that I don't know if this is such a good idea. You love Romania," she told him.
"I know but I love you more," Charlie replied. Rachael smiled at this but still wasn't sure.
"I love you too but I don't like the fact that I'm the one keeping you away from something you love so much," she tried to explain. "You love those stupid dragons and you love adventure." Charlie laughed.
"I will admit. I do have a soft spot for those stupid dragons," he joked. "But Rach," he started turning serious, "that part of my life is over. You and Ben, you're my family and to me that's just as much of an adventure." Charlie had a way of assuring her and Rachael dropped her protests.
Charlie eventually found a house he liked in the next town over. Rachael and Ben moved in and helped him set everything up. After all, it was going to be their house too. The three of them were just about settled in when Ben received his Hogwarts letter.
He practically danced around the house for days he was so excited. It wasn't as if there was ever a doubt in any of their minds that he would get his letter but the very fact of his finally having it in his hands made Ben very happy.
"He's so excited you would think he thought he was a squib until now," Charlie observed. Rachael laughed and nodded her head in agreement.
"He's only been dreaming about this day for eleven years or so," she said.
"I hate that I missed out on stuff like this," Charlie sighed.
"What do you mean?" Rachael asked him although she was pretty sure she knew what he was talking about. He'd missed out on a lot of Ben's childhood.
"It would have been nice to see him grow up," Charlie said looking a bit sad. Rachael felt a little guilty for not having found out who Ben's father was earlier. "It would have been cool to hear his first words or see his first sign of magic."
"Dragon," Rachael blurted out.
"What?" Charlie asked clearly confused. Rachael laughed.
"His first word was dragon. Bill bought him a stupid stuffed animal dragon that the kid carried around everywhere he went for at least four years," Rachael informed Charlie. Charlie grinned at this.
"He was probably the smartest little kid ever," Charlie mused. Rachael nodded her head in agreement. If she was in Charlie's place she'd probably be a little angry with herself. She couldn't imagine not seeing her son grow up.
"I'm sorry," she said out loud without meaning to.
"Sorry? For what?" Charlie wanted to know.
"I'm sorry that you didn't get to see him grow up," she said sadly.
"Yeah me too. But it's my fault too," he sighed. "I have an idea." Charlie said.
"Yeah?" Rachael wondered.
"Let's do things right this time around," he suggested grinning.
"I like that idea," Rachael smiled back at him.
The summer passed in a blur. Over the weeks Ben collected all the supplies he would need for school. Rachael helped restructure St. Mungos. It had all been a little chaotic after the fall of Voldemort. The Death Eaters had been further ingrained in St. Mungos than many knew. Charlie found himself a new job. The Ministry was in pieces so it was easy to get a job there as the officials were looking for all the help they could get with starting things back up again. Charlie got a job in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It was only fitting. Their life in England was really starting to shape up.
On one rather ordinary Wednesday Rachael came home from work to find her house in a rather peculiar state. There was a large plate of strawberries sitting on the front step. Rachael picked up the plate and saw underneath it was a note.
Go upstairs.
That was all it said. Go upstairs. It's not like Rachael never goes upstairs. She usually comes home from work, makes some attempt to cook dinner that Charlie usually has to remedy later, reads the rest of the Daily Prophet, picks Ben up from his friend's house, eats dinner, and then goes upstairs. Rachael sighed; she would just have to deviate from her daily schedule for now.
She unlocked the front door and set the strawberries down on the kitchen table. She turned to head up the stairs but then turned around and grabbed two strawberries off of the plate. Rachael couldn't resist…She walked hesitantly up the stairs while enjoying her strawberry snack. On the top step a little red shaped arrow was floating, pointing in the direction of the bedroom she shared with Charlie. She touched it, out of sheer curiosity and it began to float towards the bedroom so Rachael followed it.
When she opened the door it was rather anti-climatic at first. Rachael walked in and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. She kicked off her shoes at the foot of the bed and glanced at the nightstand. There was another plate of strawberries. She smiled and helped herself to another strawberry.
"I still don't get it…your obsession with strawberries. If you ask me they're a bloody pointless fruit," Charlie said suddenly appearing next to her. Rachael almost jumped in surprise.
"And yet you filled the house with them?" she inquired. Charlie just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at her. He was up to something, she could tell.
"I love you…you know that right?" Charlie asked her still smiling. Rachael just looked at him curiously. "When we were still in school and I imagined what my future would be like you were always in it. It was pretty much always a given that I'd be spending the rest of my life with you…well to me it was at least." Charlie smirked at her and then he started bending down on one knee. Rachael's mind was about to explode. Was he really doing what she thought he was doing? Was he really reaching into his pocket for that little box?! "I mean I figure I could get used being around you…even if it means I'll always have to help cook dinner, cause you're a bloody awful cook you know? You're completely brilliant at everything else though. And I never really expected to wear socks for the rest of my life…who would have guessed you had an odd fear of feet?! And I think it would be pretty awesome if we got married…even if that means I have to put up with those bloody strawberries every day for the rest of my life. But I mean it'd all be worth it really. Cause I love you and your stupid strawberry fetish, and your odd fears of feat and complete inability to cook. I love you and everything about you. So I was thinking it only makes sense for us to get married. It's the logical solution." Rachael couldn't stop smiling even if someone had pointed a wand to her head and ordered her to. It was everything she'd ever wanted to hear from him and more. She loved him and he loved her and that's all that mattered. They would be together for the rest of their lives…it only made sense that way. "So um you wanna marry me?" he asked with a nervous smile.
"Of course I want to marry you!" Rachael exclaimed half laughing half crying of sheer happiness. Charlie grinned at her and slipped the diamond ring onto her finger. Rachael kissed him.
"Ugh you taste like strawberries," Charlie teased.
"Shut up. You love it," Rachael laughed as he kissed her again. It was the beginning of the rest of their lives together.
A/N Thanks to Romance105 and yellow 14 for their kind reviews! I hope you liked the ending!