Chapter fourteen

Two weeks later, Harry was sitting at the table reading a letter from Hermione when Charlie walked out and sat down. Harry kissed Charlie and handed him the letter to read.

'So Hermione and Ron are already reading the new revised Hogwarts, a history book. So their reading about you and themselves, along with what happened on the night Voldemort died.'

'Yeah and as you just read, they were shocked when they read their names in the book.' Harry smiled at Charlie.

'I meant to ask you. Did Minerva give Hermione and Ron permission to come here on the Friday night before the wedding? You never said.'

'Yeah, she did. I had a feeling she would allow it. So at least they might be able to keep me calm and also from missing you so much. Do you realise it's one week, and I'm already starting to get nervous?'

'Same here love. But are you nervous about the wedding, getting married or the surprise we're planning?' Charlie grinned.

'All three,' Harry laughed. 'I can't wait to marry you babe, it's just I don't like people staring at me. And now it's only going to get worse, especially since the seventh years are reading a lot about me.'

'I know and I can't wait to marry you either. But with the surprise, we will be looking at each other remember, and it's good Harry, really good. Better than I thought actually. You really surprised me.'

'I surprised myself. I knew you were good, but when you asked me to do it, I didn't even know I could.'

'Well, you can and are more than good, you are great and everyone is going to be surprised. Now, since we've bought a table and chairs for down at the lake, let's go sit and eat breakfast down there as it's such a nice day. Because soon, the weather will change and it will be too cold.'

'Good idea, Kreacher could you bring breakfast down to the lake for us place?' Harry asked the elf and he bowed.

'Of course Master Harry.'

Harry and Charlie put their arms around each other and followed their new path down through the trees, to the lake. They sat down and not long after Kreacher arrived with their breakfast, so they started eating while they were looking over the water.

'I still can't believe that this belongs to us babe.' Harry said looking over the lake.

'I know, but it means if we want to go skinny dipping, we can.' Charlie grinned. 'Harry, I do want to ask you something else about your life. I know you've told me a lot, but one thing that keeps popping into my mind and it's never been mentioned.'

'What's that love?'

'Well, you're first year at Hogwarts. I heard you almost died and ended up in the hospital wing, something to do with Quirrell and Voldemort.'

Even though Harry didn't like talking about all this, he would never hold anything from Charlie. He began at the beginning, when he first got pain in his scar at the welcoming feast, until Quirrell died and Voldemort vanished.

'So almost every year at Hogwarts, you could have died?'

'Pretty much,' Harry said shrugging. 'Well, not my sixth year. I could have though if Malfoy aimed better.' Harry said and saw the puzzled look on his face. 'Remember when I told you about the potions book of Snapes.'

'Yeah, I remember love.'

'Well, I told you I found a spell writing in it. Anyway, I worked out that Malfoy had used a cursed necklace to curse Katie Bell, he was trying to kill Dumbledore on Voldemorts orders. Then Ron got poisoned from some meade that Professor Slughorn had given us. That Malfoy had imperiused Madame Rosmerta into adding poison to. I confronted Malfoy in the bathroom, when I first walked in, he was crying. Then we dueled, he had tried to use the cruciatus curse on me, which pissed me off, but and I hate this, but almost killed him with the spell from the book. I didn't know what the spell did, it just had written next to it, for enemies. Snape came in and did some spells over his body. He could have died and I would have killed him. Snape saved him and because Dumbledore had told him what I had to do, the prophecy, they told no one. I ended up in detention every Saturday for the rest of the year. I was quidditch captain and I couldn't play in the final game. I was so angry at Snape for that.' Harry grinned at Charlie.

'So what happened in the game if you didn't play? From what Ron said, you were a brilliant seeker.'

'Well, the year before, when Umbridge band me, Fred and George from ever playing again, Angelina had gotten some new players. Ginny ended up playing seeker and she was really good. She prefered chaser though. So that day I told Ginny to play seeker and brought in one of the reserves to play chaser. She won the game for us. I didn't know until a lot later. After I left Snape's office I went straight back to Gryffindor tower and heard the excited noise from there. Ron was yelling that we won the house cup…' Harry hesitated, not knowing if he should tell Charlie what happened next.

'Okay Harry, I can tell there's something else you're not saying. Spit it out and just tell me.' Charlie said.

'Alright, after Ron yelled about winning the cup, I spotted Ginny and we both walked towards each other and snogged. It was the first time I'd kissed her.' Harry said looking over at Charlie and saw he was uncomfortable. 'Sorry love, but you did ask.'

'I know, I just wasn't expecting to hear about you kissing my sister or a girl. It's fine Harry, really. I knew you dated, so I know you would have snogged her and from what I picked up from Ron, you did a lot.'

'I can tell you why I think I did a lot but first I should tell you that it was Ginny that snogged me first, and she always initiated it. Anyway, because of everything going on around me, Voldemort, death eaters, Dumbledore was showing me the memories and he wanted me to get the memory from Slughorn. When I was kissing Ginny, it made me forget all that for a while. Like I told you Charlie, I did care about her and she was really good company, and she made me forget all that shit, at least for a while.'

'I know you did Harry. It's just hard imagining seeing you do that. I don't want to think of you kissing anyone but me.'

'You're the only person I am going to kiss. From the moment we got together, it's only been you Charlie. So please just forget the past. I try not to think of you with other men, and that's hard. I get these thoughts sometimes of you making love to another man. Before I would have gotten angry, now I just get upset.'

'I get it, it's the past. We've both had relationships in the past. Let's both of us forget all that, okay?'

'Good, okay,' Harry said and kissed Charlie fiercely. 'So we've got one more week of doing nothing, then the wedding, then the honeymoon. Are you sure you're happy with us just saying here for that? We could have gone somewhere, anywhere really.'

'As long as we don't get disturbed, then I'm more than happy staying here with you.'

'That's good, because as long as we're together that's all I care about. Oh, I did forget to tell you about what Hermione wrote in her last letter. I forgot to show it to you. Minerva said that since all the Professors, staff and so forth were going to be at the wedding, Ginny has to be there as well. But Minerva has given permission for her to sit with your parents now their going. Ron and Hermione are going to sit with Bill, Fleur, George and Angelina instead of with the students. They have been getting some snide remarks from the Slytherins about us, well more me really.'

'Well, as for Ginny, I just hope she stays quiet and doesn't say anything during the ceremony. As for the Slytherins, I would expect that from them. So with all our guests, the professors and students, there are going to be over five hundred people there, you do realise that, don't you love?'

'Yes, why do you think I'm so nervous? First doing that surprise, then having them all staring at us. I sometimes think it might have been less nerve wracking to just have a small ceremony here with a few friends.' Harry said grimacing.

'You'll be fine harry. You don't worry about everyone staring anymore when we go out. But if you feel like you're nerves are getting to you, just look at me, or think of what we will be doing that night.' Charlie grinned.

'Now, that might work.' Harry laughed.

'I had a thought about that actually. With only one week to do, what would you say about us not making love until the wedding night?'

'Are you serious? I'm finely able to take you hard now and you want to stop.'

'Yeah, I do. It will make our wedding night so much better if we haven't done anything for a week.'

'I don't know Charlie. I don't know if I could handle not having you touch me for a whole week.' Harry said dropping his lip and Charlie laughed.

'It's only a week love. I've gone months without doing anything.'

'I haven't. Since we've been together, we've only not made love the odd night.'

'This might be a good chance for you to get use to it.' Charlie said.

'What do you mean by that?' Harry asked stiffly.

'Don't get you're wand in a knot love. I didn't mean anything by it. Just that when I go back to work, sometimes I'm just too exhausted to do anything and when you figure out what you want to do, you might find yourself to buggered to do anything as well.'

'Oh, sorry,' Harry said leaning over and kissing Charlie. 'I get that. I've seen how buggered you've been after work. Well, alright then. We'll go a week without touching each other. Now I just have to make sure I don't race you off during the reception. Hey, we could sneak away and go to the quidditch changing rooms or a deserted classroom.' Harry said laughing.

'No, we won't. We'll wait until we get home Harry. I know I will be anxious as well, but we'll just have to control ourselves until later.'

'Okay, okay. We'll wait until we get home. Just make sure it doesn't go to long then.' Harry smiled.

They both sat there talking for hours about what their life would be like after they were officially married and what Harry might decide to do as a career. They never left the spot near the lake until lunch time, when they went back inside to practice their surprise.

The day before the wedding, Harry woke and saw Charlie asleep on his stomach. He was so turned on, and because they haven't touched each other in a week, he was just getting worse. He leaned over and kissed Charlie's back but couldn't help kissing further down.

'Don't think about it Harry. We said we wouldn't and if you keep going, you're going to drive me crazy with wanting you.' Charlie said as he turned over, looking up at Harry. 'We've got one more day, then tomorrow we'll be married.'

'I know Charlie, but I can't help it. I want you so much. I've had so many cold showers the last few days my skin's all wrinkled.'

Charlie laughed and pulled Harry down and kissed him fiercely. 'I'm the same love, but it's one more day. So let's get out of this bed, spend some time together before Ron and Hermione turn up and I need to leave to go to Bill's.'

'Alright,' Harry said sulkily and got up and headed for the bathroom. He walked out after dressing and sat at the table with Charlie. 'So, you ready to be Mr. Charlie Potter? That sounds so strange, but I still like it.'

'I know, it sounds strange to me. I've been Charlie Weasley for twenty six years, now I'm going to be Charlie Potter.' Charlie smiled. 'But yes, I can't wait until I'm you're husband and you mine.'

'I'm the same babe. You know that today is going to go soooo slow, don't you, especially since we can't have sex.'

'I know it will. We'll just have to work out some things to do to keep us occupied. I know, hang on a minute. I got you something the other day when I was out.'

'What did you get me love?' Harry asked.

'Just hang on and I'll show you.' Charlie kissed Harry and left the table, going into the library, then came back out. 'Since we've started getting some books for the library, I thought we should have a copy of this.' Charlie handed harry the book.

'Hogwarts, A History, the new revised edition. Great, so I get to read about myself.'

'Harry, not just about you, it's all in there. The full battle, who was there fighting, my names even in there, since I lead all the shopkeepers and parents of students to the fighting.'

'Really, everything,' Harry said looking amazed and he opened the book and found three chapters on the Battle of Hogwarts. He started reading, grimacing at the one's about him and most were about him. But he smiled as he read others. 'They mentioned Ron and Hermione. How Neville cut Nagini in half, even that Luna, Seamus and Ernie helped me, Ron and Hermione when the dementors swarmed.'

'Why did you have trouble with your patronus Harry?'

'Well, Fred had just died Charlie, plus I saw Remus and Tonks' bodies. I was just so hurt and I felt guilty, blaming myself for their deaths and it just got to me. Ron was so angry he just wanted to kill Death Eaters, and Hermione was upset about Fred and Ron. When Luna spoke to me, to us, it help, so the three of us conjured our patronus' with no problem after that, then we went into the shrieking shack and saw Voldemort set Nagini on Snape. That's when I got the memory from him. After Voldemort left, taking Nagini with him, I went in and knelt beside Snape and he grasped my arm telling me to take it and see me. Those were his last words after the memory came away.'

'You never did tell me about all of the memory, just that Dumbledore told Snape to tell you that you had to die and you had to let Voldemort do it.'

'I'll show it to you one day. You know, I might get myself a pensieve. That way if you ever want to see one of my memories, you can. What do you think of that love?'

'Not a bad idea Harry. You said yourself that there's still a lot I don't know, but you could also see some of mine if you wanted to. Nothing like what you've gone through, but I've had some dangerous times with the dragons.'

'I'd like to see some of you're memories Charlie, maybe when you were at Hogwarts. Say at the age of 17 maybe.' Harry said smirking at him.

'You'd really want to see that Harry?' Charlie said looking surprised.

'Well, yeah, I would. Give me a glimpse of what you were like back then and how you looked when you did it with her. One thing I would like to know about that?'

'What's that love?'

'We're you a virgin, or had you had a man before that?'

'I had been with someone before, I guy from my year. He told me he thought he was gay, so I told him I thought I was. So we got together a few times. He used to share my dormitory, so late at night, we wait until the others were asleep, and either he would get into my bed, or I'd get into his and we'd cast a silencing charm around us and close the curtains.'

'Did…did…' Harry hesitated wondering if he really wanted to know.

'Did I what Harry, love him?' Charlie asked smiling at Harry. 'No, I didn't. We were friends, that was it and he felt the same. We just got together mainly because we were both gay and wanted to try it before we left Hogwarts.'

'That's good then. I was worried there for a minute. But have you ever loved any of the men you were with?'

'No, I never did. You were the first man I fell in love with. Now the only man I'll ever love, so you don't need to worry about any of that.'

'Alright, that makes me feel loads better. Since we've got time and need something to occupy my mind. What do you say we go get the pensieve?'

'Well, we have got time and yes, it would take both our minds off sex. So lets have breakfast and we'll go. But we have to be back so Kingsley can pick those up. He's putting them under a disillusionment charm at Hogwarts remember.'

'Yes, I remember. But he said he wouldn't be here until lunch, so lets just eat and go.'

Harry and Charlie kept talking while they ate their breakfast, then they both walked outside and apparated to the lane near The Leaky Cauldron. They stepped into the pub, gave Tom a wave before heading for the back. Charlie tapped the bricks and they walked through the archway into Diagon Alley. They headed down until they found the store, with all the gadgets Harry used to love to look at through the window, but never knew what most of them were, until Dumbledore told him about some of them. They stepped into the shop and looked around.

'Look at this one love?' Charlie said showing Harry a beautiful old stone pensieve, sitting in its own cabinet.

'That's nice babe, and I like the cabinet.' Harry knelt down and opened the door of the cabinet and saw a couple of shelves. 'We could keep the memories in there if we don't want to put them back. I know I've got a few I'd like to take out and leave out.' Harry said as he stood up.

'So, we get this one then?' Charlie asked.

'Yeah, I think it will look nice in the library. We'll get some memory vials to go with it. Is there anything else you want to look at why where here?' Harry asked looking around.

'Not that I can think of love.' Charlie said and saw Harry looked at something. 'What's that love?'

'It's a sneak-o-scope. I got a small one that Ron gave me, but I wouldn't mind having a proper one.'

'You're still expecting something to happen, aren't you love?' Charlie asked.

'Just being cautious really, you've heard some of the things I've gone through, so you really can't blame me, can you?'

'No, I suppose not love. Get it, it'll make you feel better.' Charlie said gripping Harry's hand.

'You don't mind?' Harry asked looking at Charlie.

'No, of course not.'

Harry and Charlie bought the pensieve, the vials to go with it and the sneak-o-scope. They sent them back to the house, then put their arms around each other and walked back through the archway into The Leaky Cauldron, then out the door to the lane. They apparated back to the road outside their house. They stepped through the wards and into their house.

'Let's go put the pensieve where we want to sit it.' Harry said taking Charlie's hand and they walked into the library. 'So, where do you think babe?'

'Over here I think Harry.' Charlie said pointing to the corner of the room.

Harry concentrated and floated it to the corner. 'Perfect.' Harry grinned and took the package of vials and placed them in the cabinet. Then took the sneak-o-scope and they went back out to the living room and Harry placed it beside the fireplace. 'What do you think love?'

'Looks good Harry,' Charlie said wrapping his arms around Harry. 'But nothing's going to happen, I won't let it.' Charlie said then kissed Harry's neck.

'I know it probably won't and I like how you want to protect me. I've never had that before, well, apart from Ron and Hermione.'

'I'll always protect you love, with everything that's inside me Harry. Not that you really need it, but I will anyway.'

'I could need it sometimes love.' Harry said leaning his head back against Charlie's chest.

'You two look cosy.' Kingsley's voice came from behind them.

'Hey Kingsley,' Harry smiled at him.

'Hi Kingsley, you here to pick up part of our surprise?' Charlie grinned.

'Yes I am. I'm looking forward to that. When you told me, I was completely stunned. But I think it's going to be brilliant.'

'Thanks Kingsley, now I just have to do it.' Harry said grimacing.

'He's a little nervous.' Charlie said as he smiled at Kingsley.

'A little, more like a lot.'

'I wanted to let you know that I'm bringing a date with me tomorrow.' Kingsley smiled.

'Are you sure you want to come out Kingsley?' Charlie asked.

'Yes I am. Since Harry put that announcement in the Prophet, you wouldn't believe how much support you're both getting. Almost all the employees at the Ministry I've spoken too were surprised, but they think it's great. So I think it's time I told everyone about me.' Kingsley grinned.

'Well, if you're sure Kingsley then you know we'll support you.' Harry smiled at him.

'I know you both will, but make sure I get a dance with both of you tomorrow.'

'We'll make sure you're at the top of the list Kingsley, after we dance with each other that is,' Charlie said.

'Well, I better get going and get these to Hogwarts. I'll disillusion them now, then all you two have to do is take the charm off when you're ready and I'll be standing there waiting to perform the ceremony.'

Harry and Charlie hugged him. 'Thanks Kingsley.' Harry grinned.

'Yes, thanks for everything Kingsley.'

They watched as Kingsley put the charm on their surprise and he stepped back into the fireplace and vanished. Harry and Charlie sat on the couch, and cuddled up why they still had time. Because both of them knew that having to spend the night apart was going to be hard on both of them.