Burn
Ginny and Charlie
Ginny is ten years old when she decides she's had enough, and four hours later she's in Romania knocking on her brother's door.
"Ginny?" Charlie says when she shows up on his doorstep. "What are you doing here?"
She pushes past him into his apartment. "Moving in."
"Why?"
"Why?" She whips around to face him. "Because everyone else is gone. I'm the only one left at home, and it's terrible. I can't take another year of it. So I ran away. Where's your spare room?"
Charlie leans against the door jamb and grins. "I haven't got one. This place is only big enough for one. Ginny, does Mum know you're here?"
"No."
"How did you even get here?"
"Knight Bus." Ginny begins to unpack her things. "Just let me stay, Charlie. One year, that's all I need, then I'm old enough for Hogwarts and I'll be out of your hair."
Charlie sighs. "I can't - look, I love you, Ginny, but I can't babysit. I've got work to do."
"I know, with all the dragons." Ginny stands. "I can help."
Charlie laughs, and Ginny feels herself flush.
"I can," she says.
"I believe you," he says. "And I'd love to let you, but Mum'll have my hide if I let you get burned to death by a dragon."
"I won't get burned. I'm quick."
Charlie crosses to the couch and sits. "Ever tried to dodge confringo?" he asks, patting the seat next to him.
She sits down. "What's confringo do?"
He takes out his wand and points it at his coffee table. "Confringo!"
The entire table - and a good chunk of the rug beneath it - explodes into flame.
Ginny screams.
"Yeah." Charlie douses the flames in water and repairs the damage with a flick of his wand. "Dragons can do more than that in their sleep. Baby ones can do more than that in their sleep. I don't care how quick you are, Gin, you'll get hurt."
She doesn't give up. "I could stay in the apartment, then. Safe."
"And what, be alone all day? Isn't that what you've got at home?"
Ginny opens her mouth, then closes it.
Charlie pats her shoulder. "Come on," he says, standing up. "Pack your suitcase again. I'll Floo Mum to tell her you're coming home. But Ginny?"
She looks up at him sullenly.
"It was good to see you." He offers her a grin. "I'm a little lonely too."
And she still looks angry.
(But she hugs him anyway.)
[Connect the Weasleys Challenge: burn - Ginny/Charlie]
[Monthly Drabble a Thon: Confringo]
[Twelve Days of Christmas Style Challenge: Seven Weasley fics (1/7)]
[Globetrotter Competition: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States – Write about someone small but tough, or Ginny Weasley]
