A/N: I hope you like this chapter, a lot happens. As always, JKR owns HP. Enjoy! -Bookworm
Confessions
Charlie had sat on the couch for a moment, in shock at what he had just heard, before standing and making his way up the stairs. He came to the room that Hermione was in, and he knocked on the door.
"Hermione… Can we talk?" He asked, he had no idea what he wanted to say, but he needed to know that he hadn't upset her by pushing her to tell him what had been going on.
"Charlie… I'm tired… Can we wait to talk?" He heard, the voice muffled. At those words, he felt an ache in his chest. He laid his forehead on the door, and let out a sigh.
"Of course… Sleep well Hermione. Sweet dreams." He muttered, before walking to his own room. He kicked off his pants and pulled off his shirt, leaving only his boxers, before laying down in his bed. He let out a frustrated sigh, why didn't she want to talk to him?
He knew that they had gotten close over these last couple months, they worked together after all. He knew that he had taken chances, placing his hand on her back, her leg. He couldn't help it though, he just wanted contact with her. Charlie had realized he had feelings for her a bit ago, after he had come back from The Burrow last time. He had been so relieved that she had stayed in Romania. He had wanted her to stay, to be with him in Romania. And now, he knew that she had stayed for him. He felt like an idiot, how many times had he woken up in the middle of the night and gone to make sure that she was still there, how many times had he reached for her hand when they were sitting, only to pull it back? And now he ruined everything.
Hermione was laying in her bed, all her Gryffindor courage spent. She couldn't bare to face Charlie after that, she needed to speak to Ginny. Ginny would be able to give her some advice, she was sure of it. She just wished that she was here now.
She hadn't been able to sleep very much last night, and now the sun was shining through the window in her room. Charlie had come again, maybe an hour ago to tell her that his parents had just left and would she like some breakfast? She had stayed silent, she didn't feel up to facing Charlie until she had the chance to speak with Ginny. She still had a few hours until the graduate got home, so Hermione pulled out a book to pass the time. It was actually a book that she had pulled from Charlie's shelves, the spine had the title "Flying with Dragons". She opened it, but only found that the book was a fake. It held a smaller book inside, and she gingerly pulled it out. She opened up to the first page and quickly discovered that it was Charlie's journal. She quickly placed it back inside the larger book and put it back into her bag, pulling out a different book instead. She laid it on her lap and began to read. A while later, she heard voices downstairs, multiple voices. She opened her door a little and heard Ginny's voice.
"Oh my god Charlie?!" She heard, and she heard something being said, but couldn't quite understand what it was.
"Percy's room? Why would you have left something in Percy's room?" Hermione heard, the voice was getting closer, Ginny was coming up the stairs. Hermione clicked the door shut and sat back down on the bed. She grinned as Ginny entered the room and saw her. The younger girl's mouth fell open and she tackled Hermione.
"Oh my god I'm so glad you're here, we have so much to talk about. How's work? You make loads of friends? Hook up with anyone? Have you told Charlie? Speaking of, why are you up here and not down with him?" Ginny asked, she stayed silent after the last question, and Hermione laughed.
"Okay, one at a time. Work is good, I love it. Yeah, I have some friends. And no I haven't hooked up with anyone." Hermione said, choosing to not answer the last two questions. Ginny glared at her.
"Spill." Was all she said, and Hermione sighed.
"I kinda told him last night maybe. We were talking, and I was in a mood because earlier your mum had misunderstood and thought that we were, you know, together together. I couldn't get her reaction out of my head, it wasn't great Gin, not great at all. Well he and I were talking last night and I told him that I chose Romania for him." Hermione finished, and Ginny continued to look at her.
"So… Why aren't you downstairs?" Ginny asked. "I mean, you guys talked about it after, right?" She said, and Hermione gave her a guilty look. "Oh god, you didn't?"
"I kind of just came up here and told him I didn't want to talk." Hermione said, and Ginny smacked herself on the forehead.
"Hermione…" Ginny sighed, and Hermione nodded.
"I know." She said softly.
"You need to talk to him." Her friend said gently, placing a hand on Hermione's knee.
"But Ginny… What if he doesn't feel like I do at all?" Hermione asked, and Ginny shrugged.
"At least then you would know, you wouldn't have to keep torturing yourself." Ginny said, and Hermione nodded slowly. "And you need to do it now." Ginny said with finality, and Hermione groaned.
"Do I really have to?" She asked, and Ginny stood, pulling her off of the bed.
"Hermione. Yes. You do. Right now." With the last words, Ginny gave Hermione a small push out of the room. They walked down to the living room together, where the other Weasley's were sitting. Hermione stood awkwardly, before catching Charlie's eye.
"Can I talkt to you?" She asked, and he nodded.
"Is everything alright dear?" Molly asked, watching Hermione.
"Oh yeah, it's just something about work." Hermione said, and Charlie led the way to the back yard.
"What is it?" He asked unenthusiastically.
"Not right here, mind if we walk a little?" Hermione asked, worried that someone would be able to overhear them. Charlie nodded and gestured for her to lead the way. It only took a couple minutes for them to reach the creek, where Hermione kicked off her shoes and let her feet in the water.
"So, what is it Hermione?" Charlie repeated himself, and Hermione turned to face him.
"I'm sorry about last night. You wanted to talk about it, and I didn't." She said, and he nodded, his features relaxing a bit. "I want to talk now." She said, and Charlie let out a breath and pulled his hands out of his pockets.
"Really?" He asked, and it was her turn to nod. "Well alright… Why did you say that you stayed because of me?" He asked, and she turned a bit red.
"Charlie, I see the way you work with our dragons, you are so passionate. I wanted to work with you because I know you, because we have gotten so close over these last few months. Because you make me so happy." She said, its not exactly how she felt about him, but she knew she needed to ease into that.
"Hermione, I'm so glad you chose Romania. For all of those same reasons, but you look like you aren't saying something that you need to." He said, he knew he was pushing her a little, but he needed to know where she stood with him.
"Charlie…" She started, she shut her eyes and let out a breath. "I'm scared." She said softly, and she was. She heard a small splash and opened her eyes, Charlie had joined her in the water.
"Hermione, you never have to be scared to tell me anything." He said, and she nodded, entranced by the fierceness and softness of his eyes in that moment.
"Okay.. Yesterday… when your mum thought that we were together?" She asked, and he nodded. She could feel her heart start to race. "Her reaction… It bothered me." She said, and he tilted his head.
"Why?" He asked gently, he could feel his heart pumping, he felt like his stomach was in his throat.
"I want something with you Charlie." Hermione finally said, and then there was silence. She was focused on Charlie, how his mouth opened slightly. She could see him take a swift breath, his chest rise and fall rapidly. It was as though the world around them had stopped.
"You do?" She heard him finally say, and the world suddenly started again, the creek on their feet trickling by, the wind brushing the trees.
"Yeah, I do Charlie, I just needed you to know where I stood, and if you don't feel the same, that's fine. And you don't even have to say anything." She said, but she hoped that he would.
"Hermione…" He wanted to tell her that he wanted- needed something with her. He wanted to tell her that he felt things for her that he hadn't felt for anyone before. But suddenly, the picture of his mother yesterday was in his head, her shock and worry about the pair of them. "I'm so sorry Hermione, I think I need some time to think this over." He said.
"Of course." Hermione said softly, turning on her heel and walking up the path back to the house. Her eyes were filled with tears. She knew that she should have just let it be. She entered the kitchen and grabbed a glass for some water.
"Hermione?" She heard a soft voice say from behind her, Ginny.
"He said he needed time to think." Hermione said, turning to face her best friend, who looked pained.
"Git." She said sympathetically. Hermione laughed and shook her head.
"No, he just needs some time." She said, and Ginny shrugged.
"You going to be alright?" Ginny asked, and Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." She said, and the pair walked back into the sitting room.