TW: Brief references to miscarriage.

"Huh," Charlie says, licking maple syrup off his fingers. "Well, this is way better than I expected."

I'm a little distracted by the syrup drip on his bottom lip. "What?" I say, snapping out of it.

"Chicken and waffles," he says, grinning. "To be honest, when you said it at first, I thought I was going to be sick."

"Everyone underestimates the deliciousness of salty and sweet," I respond.

He eyes me for a moment, then asks, "Did Sirius give you a goodbye kiss?"

"No," I say. "Maybe I should've demanded one, though." Sirius is a really good kisser. Not as good as Charlie, though, which honestly, is such a waste of kissing abilities. I'd never tell him this, of course, so I instead ask, "How long does it take to catch a Death Eater again? Do you think he'll be back before the end of the week?"

There's an absurd knocking at the door before he can respond.

"That doesn't sound good," Charlie says, standing.

As soon as he unlocks the door, it flies open, revealing a livid Rune. Like, smoke ought to be coming out of her ears. When she sees me behind him, she looks as though she might spit fire all over us.

"Where the fuck have you been, Charlie?" she begins, her voice about as soft as rocks.

"Here."

"You know what I meant. Haven't been in the field in what, a week? That's a bloody record for you, even during the fucking holidays."

"Is it?"

"Yes, it bloody is. What's going on?"

"I took a leave of absence."

She's marching in, hands on her hips. "Why? And what's she doing here?"

I sigh and sit back down, serving Viggo some more chicken.

Charlie sighs. "I never took time off after what happened with the Spices, Rune. So I am now. And Greta's… well, she's-"

"His special friend," I say, smiling sweetly, joining them. It's been clear for a long time that Rune thinks she's got some hold on Charlie, so I get a particular thrill from telling her this. After all, she did announce that I couldn't wash my hands in front of the whole cafeteria.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she growls.

I stand, approaching her. "It means we engage with one another. Coitally. Orally. Even anally."

Charlie's burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" I ask, pretending to be wounded.

"Your candor. Let's just say that."

I smile back at him. "Thanks."

"Oh, you're quite welcome. Lover." He wags his eyebrows and winks.

This time I snort. I glance back at Rune, who's now shaking with anger.

"I don't trust you." Her finger points my way. "There's more fucking Aurors than Keepers on the Reserve. We're now being forced to check in when doing our bloody rounds off-hours. And everyone's whispering of some sort of long-lost Death Eater treasure being kept right here. And all this shite started when you arrived, Riverstone."

"Mama?" Viggo calls from the kitchen. "Mo chicken nanas."

"Look, that's a great theory you've got there," I say to Rune, walking towards the kitchen. "Be sure to let one of those Aurors know that a single mother Squib is the treasure they're all looking for."

From the kitchen, I hear Charlie say, "You heard her, Rune. Now if you don't mind. We're trying to have dinner."

She slams the door so hard, the pomegranate jelly on the table jiggles.

"What's with you and her?" I ask as soon as he sits.

"Used to go out." He shoves a whole waffle in his mouth.

"For how long."

He holds up two fingers.

"Two days? Weeks? Months? Years?" He nods at the last one, finally.

"What happened?"

"She got pregnant."

I gape. "And you left her?"

"I know you think I'm despicable, Greta, but no. I didn't leave her. I just didn't want to be a dad."

"Oh. I see."

"I was twenty years old. Only been working here for two years. But she wanted the whole shebang. Family. Grandchildren. We had a big fight. She lost the baby that night. To this day, she blames me for it." He's drizzling syrup on another chicken strip.

"That's not your fault," I say. "That was just really shitty timing."

He takes an enormous bite of chicken.

"She still loves you."

"Rune? Nah."

I nod. "Why do you think she's completely obsessed with you? Sure, she acts like she can't stand you, but she checks in. Cock-blocks you. She doesn't like me because you showed interest in me. When we first met."

"Huh." He wipes his mouth with a napkin. "Well, I better be getting to bed."

"What? It's seven o'clock."

"I need a long bath."

I roll my eyes. "That's what I need, actually." But he's already gone.

x

The next day, I'm in the middle of making sandwiches for lunch when I check my phone for the time on the fries. My eyes land immediately on the date. September twenty-fourth.

I drop my spoon and it clatters to the floor.

It's a stupid reaction, really. Not like I've done anything at all for my birthday for the last couple of years. It just seem absurd that I missed it entirely. My own birthday. Granted, being stuck in a stupidly long fanfic seems like as good an excuse as any.

So I'm thirty-one now. Have been for a whole week, even. La-di-fucking-da.

I barely speak to Charlie all day. He keeps asking what's the matter. Finally, I bark, "Viggo and I have been stuck inside this cabin for days. We have literal cabin-fever. Can't we, like, take a fucking walk or something?"

"Well, Snape wanted you in one spot for a bit. But, yeah, why don't you let me check-"

I'm about to scream when a wild, black-eyed owl swoops in through the kitchen window. "Boot!" Viggo squeals.

"I don't think that's Boot, sweetie." The bird drops a package at my feet and promptly flies away.

It has my name scrawled on it. I look up at Charlie. "Who's it from?" he asks.

"I don't know." I shake it and several objects thrum inside. "Do you suppose it's from Sirius?" I ask, my eyes lighting up. Charlie frowns immediately. "Sirius did mention he'd owl while he was away," I add, almost defensively. I open the package and stare.

Fingers. The package contains human fingers.

I put my hand over my mouth, placing it back on the floor.

"What is it, Greta?" Charlie rushes over, picking it up. "Jesus Christ," he says. He holds out his wand, muttering something. A mist flies out of it, forming a tall, fogged moose. "We got trouble," he says to it. The moose gallops away.

x

The door to my bedroom opens with a creak. "Greta?"

Charlie drops to his knees. "Hey, you still under there?"

"Ob-vious-ly." I do my best Snape impression to cover the tremble in my voice.

"You don't have to be afraid, you know. Everyone's here. Snape, Tash. You're entirely protected."

"Fuck you and your protection, Charlie. Tell everyone I said that, too."

He sighs. "I don't see how hiding under a bed is going to help. Death Eaters, they're-"

"I don't need you to explain it to me, Charlie."

He lies down so he can see me better. "I know no one likes to receive… body parts… by owl, but what is it? There's something else you're not telling."

I glare at him, but finally turn, looking up. "My husband was missing his fingers. When I found him after… after he was killed."

"Really." Charlie wrinkles his brow. "Shite. But Sirius, he dug a lot of that stuff up, investigating you. That would've been on some report."

"It wasn't."

"What?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Charlie. I looked at the police report afterwards. To see if…" I sighed. "Anyway, they neglected the missing finger part. When I asked them about it, everyone acted like I was insane."

Charlie puts his hands in the fine whiskers of his scruff. "Christ."

"Do you suppose Sirius will come back?"

He shakes his head. "He and Harry caught that Death Eater in Bulgaria. They're going to interrogate 'im."

"Is it Crouch?"

"No. One of his cronies, apparently." He reaches out. "We're going to get to the bottom of this, Greta. I promise."

I stare at his hand and turn away.

x

After my arms stop shaking, I join the others in the living room. "Greta!" Annette says. She's holding Viggo in her lap.

"Thanks for watching him," I mumble.

"Oh, it's no problem at all, dear. He's a doll."

Snape's sitting on the sofa, still as a statue. Finally, he looks up at me. "Nice of you to finally join us, Ms. Riverstone."

I roll my eyes as Annette smack's Snape's shoulder. He gives her a half-smile which almost makes my jaw drop. Guess dinner went well.

"Black has done a very thorough investigation of your person," Snape says to me.

"I know."

"He discovered no magical blood on your mother's side, despite the presence of... singing talent."

"Okay. I could've told y'all that, but-"

"After he's finished in Bulgaria, Black is headed to Iceland to see what he can find on your… father."

I throw my hands on my head. "Why the hell does it matter?"

"The Death Eaters are looking for a witch with a long lineage of… power. Despite my doubts that you are who they seek, your display the other… day…" He glances at my arm, though it's covered with a hoodie. "Means we need to be certain you are not the one."

"Look," I say. "My dad isn't a wizard, either. He's just an asshole who abandoned us when I was a baby."

"Regardless-"

"Regardless, you're wasting your time. But whatever. You're just going to do what you want."

"Greta," Charlie begins.

"No," I say, cutting him off. "You're not going to tell me for the hundredth time that this is all for my protection, right? 'Cause if that's the case, why are Viggo and I still here? In Romania, where Crouch knows exactly where I am?"

Tasha raises an eyebrow. "She's got a point. I've been saying the same thing-"

"Greta," Anja says, standing. I blink. Was she there the whole time? "We all know you don't even believe what's happening to you. So, to use your own words, why the hell does it matter if we keep you here or ship you to Australia?"

Well, that's a bit harsh. From the expressions on others' faces, I can see they feel the same. "I can still feel pain," I say. "And I don't want me or my baby to be tortured. No one wants to have a nightmare, Anja. Even if it's not real."

Her expression softens. "I'm sorry, Greta. I shouldn't have-"

"No, don't apologize. It's actually refreshing to hear one of you cut the bullshit."

There's silence for a bit, then finally Charlie asks, "Has anyone ID'd the fingers yet?"

"Not yet," Snape says, standing. "Ms. Doleson, a word. Now." Anja can barely look at me, but Snape does offer Annette a wink before they disappear into the floo flames. Now my jaw really does drop open.

Did you fuck him, I mouth, turning to Annette.

Her eyes twinkle. "Almost."

x

"Well, I think it's bullshit that they're keeping you here. But, honestly, Greta. You're in the best hands. They've got Aurors patrolling every inch of the reserve, you've got Charlie here-" I make a face, which Charlie smiles at. Fuck that beautiful dimple. "And," Tasha continues, "I've spoken with the Professor and he knows you're going mental all cooped up with this git and he says I can take you out this weekend." Tasha wags her eyebrows. "Girls' night."

I almost scream with joy but then I remember who all might be included with the 'girls.' "Well, only if it's just you. I don't like anyone else."

"You mean you don't like Rune."

I wince. "Yeah. She's a little-"

"Volatile," Tasha finishes.

Charlie raises his eyebrows at me. "You and Rune have a lot in common."

"Oh, shut it." Tasha tosses a gluten-free biscuit at him. "By the way, this roast is amazing, Greta."

"Thanks." I fork a piece of carrot into Viggo's mouth.

"I could've taken you out," Charlie says. "You'd only have to ask."

"I told you the other day if we spend one more moment inside, I'd light my own feet on fire. And you still didn't take the hint."

"Well, that was before I knew it was allowed-"

"Whatever. Shouldn't we go out anyway? Just so people can see we're a couple?" I make hand-quotations with couple.

"You could but you don't have to. Not for a bit.," Tasha says. "Everyone thinks you're inside by choice, shagging your brains out."

"Is that what they think?" Charlie asks, a slow grin spreading on his face.

"Well, they couldn't be anymore wrong," I announce, spreading butter on my carrots. Charlie's grin falls and Tasha's looking at the both of us very closely.

"What?" I ask.

"Mama," Viggo says, interrupting. "Boot."

"Oh!" I open the window to let her in. She lands on my shoulder, letter in hand, cooing into my ear. "Yes, love. Thank you," I say to her.

I untie the letter and open it.

Sorry this is late, dearie. Happy belated, Songbird. Sirius.

Spell-o-taped inside is a silver bracelet made of ornately-carved birds. Once in every few seconds or so, they ruffle their feathers. It's so pretty, I want to cry but stop myself, thankfully.

"And who is that from?" Tasha asks, grabbing the bracelet when I hold it out.

"Take a bloody guess," Charlie says dryly.

Tasha raises an eyebrow at him. They speak a strange language with their eyes, something I have no time to decipher. "Okay," I say. I grab their plates. "Dessert?"

x

That night, I keep Viggo in bed next to me as he sleeps. I push up and stare out the window, at the Beefcakes coming in from their rounds or wherever the hell they just were, shouting and hooting like a bunch of whippersnappers.

I keep thinking of that little brown box, all wrapped up like a gift, and the fingers inside. They were tan, the nails just cut.

Fuck Death Eaters.

I take a breath, startled by how it sounds- like a shudder. God, I'm shaking. I wait a few minutes, but it doesn't stop. In fact, it gets worse.

I lift up Viggo over my shoulder, barely managing the task. I walk to the door, stopping every so often because I'm freakin' convulsing now.

I knock on Charlie's door.

"Yeah?" he calls.

I open to find him sprawled in bed. He's got on grey pajamas and those devastatingly hot glasses and a blue book in his massive hands. And he's shirtless, which I can't even believe I'm even caring about now, but Jesus, he's more beautiful than I'd even imagined- just chiselled, as though God carved his body by hand.

He's jumped up. "Fuck, what happened?" he whispers.

"I-I-" My teeth chatter.

"Did something happen to you?"

I shake my head.

"Are you cold?"

I nod, because that's part of it. Maybe.

"Here." He grabs his wand. "Warming spell."

"No," I say. He lowers his hand. "Bed," I grit.

His eyes widen. "Is there someone in your bed?"

"No, fuck." I take a few deep breaths, getting a hold of my body. "Can you please hold me?"

He stares, then blinks. Finally, he nods. "Yeah. Yeah, of course." He pulls me to the bed, helping me in. I lay Viggo down by the wall side, tucking a blanket by him so he doesn't roll and hit his head. Then I plop down and exhale, my limbs sore and still trembling.

Charlie slides in next to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. "This okay?"

I nod and close my eyes, grabbing his forearm tight. I can feel him breathing and he's warm and safe and after a few seconds, I stop shaking. "Shit," I say, looking up.

"You okay?"

"I think so."

He makes to pull back but I grab him with my other hand. "Don't. Please." The weight of his arm feels so good. I don't know why.

"I don't know what happened," I finally say. "The fingers, you know? They were so real." I turn my head to his wheat-gold eyes. "My body was just… freaking."

He nods. "Happens to a lot of us since… since the war."

He sounds so lovely and concerned and I just want to feel more of him, like he's my security blanket. So I lean toward him, placing my head on his shoulder, turning his way. He lowers his arm to my waist, his hand on the small of my back.

"I don't hate you," I say.

He smiles. "I'm glad."

"Can we sleep here tonight?"

"That's fine. I might snore, though. Or so my brothers say."

I smile. "If you snore, I'll just smother you with your pillow, okay?"

He laughs, which shakes the bed, causing Viggo to whine in this sleep. "Sorry," he whispers, but he can't hold back. Finally, I laugh, too, into his chest. He mumbles something and the lights go out and he wraps both his arms around me. I stretch my leg back until I can feel Viggo and promptly fall asleep.

Thank you to Laree for my second review! Love your hot take.

So, the holidays are upon us, I've got family coming in, and we're moving to a new home. I'll probably be slowing down the updates for this fic for a week or so. However, I am working on a difficult part in an original manuscript, which means I'll be writing fanfic like crazy to avoid it, so I imagine I'll be able to pop out a few chapters successively after this brief interlude.

As always, thanks for reading! And, if you celebrate, have a wonderful holiday season.