Many thanks to;

CinziaTwut,
echizenochi,
LittleRoma,
LyndahJune,
Shivvv,
faithlace,
LeeArt,
SaruDM,
me-heart-fred,
MaronTodai,
dirty-little,
93 Diagon Alley and Weasley-Is-Our-King26

for leaving reviews and

Jenniee D - who made an account to add my story to favs! That's a great compliment and a great review! Thank you loads!

It's lovely to read all the assumptions about Ron!

After reading the reviews I kind of thought I should stray from my original reason and adopt one of the dramatic 'make Ron seem like a controlling arse' reasons but then again I think there's just been so much drama in this fic already!

Maybe I could stick to the obvious and only play on Ron's usual temperament. Also even though I'm not a major fan of Ron/Hermione, I do like the guy albeit with someone else. So I didn't want to bash him!

So after this awfully long A/N I'm sure you all want to get to the actual chapter!

Sincerely hoping you'll like this chapter!

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CHAPTER 44.

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"What were you thinking?" Ron asked turning towards Charlie, the blood vessels in his face threatening to give way.

Harry came forward to hold his arm out in front of Ron. He didnt want him to do anything stupid. "Ron just calm down. At least let him speak." Harry said.

"How can you tell me to calm down Harry? At least you should have stopped this from happening.", Ron said.

"i am still here in case you have forgotten!", Hermione said getting angry now.

"Ron... I ... It's not what it looks like." Charlie managed to say feebly.

Nikita almost snorted. If Ron had not seemed crazed and all the Weasley's were not so serious right now, she would have actually enjoyed a hearty laugh.

"Ron..." Hermione started.

"No Hermione. Stay out of this. Let me deal with Charlie." Ron bellowed.

Hermione started again as if to tell him something, she surely did not appreciate him telling her what to do and what not to. At least not when he was spewing anger. He lost all rationality then.

"How could you? It's Hermione after all. Have all the girls in Romania migrated that you've come after Hermione now? It's Hermione, Charlie! Hermione!" Ron repeated.

"Ron..", Harry warned him again. The last thing he wanted was a fight to erupt between the brothers.

"Yes Ron. I know okay. I get it. It's Hermione. Why is that so difficult for you to grasp?" Charlie lashed out, finally getting fed up of receiving Ron's anger.

Hell, he wasn't even dating Granger; he didn't deserve this shit, that too from his youngest brother. But say, hypothetically, even if he was dating Hermione, he was curious to learn as to why Ron was so opposed to the idea.

"What is wrong with me being with Hermione? Don't get all territorial Ronald; do not make me remind you in front of the entire family and your wife that you are a married man! I'm sorry Luna, I didn't want to say it this way but he is just pissing me off now." Charlie countered.

Luna looked torn but she kept quiet. She still had her steadfast sure demeanor that she had absolutely no doubts regarding Ron's love for her. So she just kept quiet and let the brothers' talk.

"This has nothing to do with me, you... You... I am not territorial and not in the jealous way in the least. I am only being protective of my best friend who is like a sister to me now. She is like Ginny is to me. And perhaps it's wise you think of her in the same context too." Ron hissed.

Fred winced. He had been merely observing the debacle till now, knowing full well that all the secrets would be out in the open soon and that he would be at the receiving end of Ron's earful instead of Charlie.

But Charlie had taken offence quickly, rightfully so and thus saved Fred from a few minutes of Ron's wrath but now that he heard Ron's reason, he couldn't help but feel that his younger brother's misdirected anger would not take long to find him.

"Are you mental Ron?" Hermione found her voice, no doubt having the same thoughts that were going through Fred's head now. "Isn't that too extreme? Just because you think of me as a sister, it most definitely does not mean that all your brothers should do the same."

"But Hermione. It's Charlie!" Ron said again.

"What about Charlie?" Charlie hollered. "What is it about me that is creating such a problem?"

Nikita was getting pretty mad at Ron too by now. Granted, she was a guest and that she was only pretending to give the cold shoulder to Charlie for being Hermione's fake boyfriend, but he was her real boyfriend and she loved him. She really did not like Ron's tone and insinuations of him being the worst boyfriend ever.

"You really want me to say that out loud now?" Ron shouted back.

"Look now, this is getting out of hand. Ron I know you care about Hermione. We all do. But forcing us to think of her as a sister is a bit extreme. Of course some of us wouldn't mind. But we're married. Charlie is not. Just because you realized that she is a sister to you does not, by default make her our sister too." Bill reasoned.

"And also I will not have you degrade Charlie here. He's our brother. And if he wants to go out with Hermione and her with him then you should have no problem with it." Bill finished off.

Hermione could see Fleur and Audrey and even Angelina nodding their heads at this.

Merlin! All this support for the wrong brother. I hope you all remember these words when the truth eventually comes out, Hermione thought, sighing.

"But don't you know Charlie? Mum's been trying for so long to get him settled. But he never lasts longer than one date with any witch. He has a new witch every time. He's hardly into serious relationships. He's always boasting about his one night stands and how often does he even come here? How do you expect Hermione to have a relationship with someone in Romania let alone a serious one? And I know Hermione. She would never enter anything unless it was serious. It may be serious on Hermione's part but I'm sorry, I do not trust Charlie enough to not break her heart. He's done that to many girls in the past." Ron yelled.

Nikita was positively seeing red by now. She charged ahead to bite Ron's head off when she felt a hand on her arm trying to restrain her. She turned around to see that George had stopped her and he pleaded her to keep silent for now.

She was seething but she decided to keep still.

Ginny had noticed the shared look between George and Nikita. She had controlled herself thanks to George. It was almost as if she had met George before.

Charlie was quiet for the first time since the argument had started.

Now that he had heard Ron out, he had to agree that he had made many valid points.

Yes, he had been an incorrigible flirt. He wasn't the long term types. And Merlin knew he had dated more than his fair share of women. But he had never misled any of them. He had always made it clear that he never intended to have a relationship with them.

He did not need any emotional bondage. He was a free spirited dragon tamer and work always came first. The only living beings he loved unconditionally were his dragons.

But that was until Nikita had entered his life.

She started out as any other girl would have. Except, she laid down rules in front of Charlie before he could. And ironically, they were the same rules he would lay down before any date.

"I'm attracted to you. You're attracted to me. Simple as that. No need to complicate it. If the attraction holds longer than this date, we can think about a second date. No conditions. You're free to date other women if you want. And I certainly do not expect anything permanent. It would behoove you not to expect anything either." Nikita had said.

Charlie had gaped open mouthed at her speech. It was the first time someone was giving him a taste of his own medicine. And he had to admit, he pretty much enjoyed the taste of it.

The attraction held on for much longer and now here they were, a year later and still going strong. Even though they had declared theirs an open relationship at its best, in their own heads they were exclusive, although they would never admit it to each other, but neither of them had found any reason or excuse to look for other people outside of their relationship.

So that's why when Ron had his doubts about his seriousness regarding Hermione, he was right. He did not know that Charlie had been only with one woman since a year. He did not know that the Charlie he spoke of, was a Charlie of the past. But how could he? Charlie himself had kept this a secret. It was hardly Ron's fault that he concluded only the obvious.

"Ron. That's not fair." Hermione whispered.

Even though Charlie was not the person in question, Ron had targeted Charlie personally. And although not many refuted his reason, Hermione knew that Charlie was in a stable, loving relationship now.

The fact that Charlie himself had decided to keep it wrapped up, one couldn't blame Ron for stating the truth the way he saw it. But still, Hermione thought that Ron had been rather harsh.

"He's right Hermione. At least about me. Not about the sister crap though. I don't agree that all us Weasley's should consider you a sister just because Ron does." Charlie said, smiling warmly at Hermione, indicating for the first time that he knew about Hermione and Fred.

Ron stood smug for a moment, that he had finally shoved some sense into his brother's head. But when Charlie backed down without a fight, he felt bad and thought that perhaps he had been a bit harsh.

"Charlie, mate. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to come out this way. But I was just so angry. And it has nothing to do with you personally. It's just that I know the kind of girl she is. And she's in it for the long haul mate. She isn't the fling types." Ron said apologetically.

"And neither is Charlie. Not anymore at least." Rang a voice loud and clear. "He hasn't been the 'fling types' as you say it Ron, for over a year now." Nikita declared.

The whole room turned to look at her, curious and surprised.

Well, everyone except Ginny, Fred, George, Harry and Hermione were surprised.

Charlie looked surprised too though not curious. He knew what she was talking about.

"Nikita..." Charlie warned.

"Enough Charlie. I know you had your reasons but they are a bit redundant now don't you think?" Nikita shut him up.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"I mean that Charlie is no longer the man you think he is. He was exactly what you described. But that was in the past. I too was just like him. Takes one to know one, right?" Nikita said.

"But you just said you were his ex-girlfriend. How can you even maintain what you're saying?" Ron asked confused.

"I lied." She shrugged. "I'm not his ex-girlfriend. I'm his fiancée."

Now even Ginny, Fred, George, Harry and Hermione looked shocked. This was news.

"What in the name of Merlin's pants is going on?" Percy almost yelled, losing his cool.

Charlie sighed. Maybe it was time he told everyone the truth.

"Nikita is not my ex girlfriend. I asked her to marry me before I came here. And so she's my fiancée now. We've been seeing each other for over a year now." Charlie said mechanically.

There was a moment of silence before Fred and George enthusiastically got up and cheered congratulations and thumped his back and hugged him, Ginny being next.

Bill could not control and soon everyone in the room was hugging and congratulating Charlie and Nikita.

"Wait a minute. Hello! Complete picture guys! I never thought I'd ever say this but you'll are missing the plot. I just blew my top and almost had an aneurism over Charlie's and Hermione's relationship and now Charlie is suddenly engaged to Nikita?" Ron asked.

"Darling, I don't think Charlie and Hermione are in a relationship. They never were." Luna said serenely, stating the obvious.

"Clearly not. Unless he led Hermione on!" Ron started ranting again, "Merlin Charlie! I swear if you're messing..." Harry had to hold him down again.

"Get a grip, Ronald! He's not messing around with me. He's not leading me along. I knew." Hermione said exasperatedly.

Charlie and Ginny both turned at her shocked and Ron looked even more confused.

"What? I'm so lost Hermione. It's not even funny. I know it doesn't take long to portkey here from Africa, but I'm tired and hungry and I'm sleepy. So if you don't start making sense I'm going to .. I don't know do what." Ron said tiredly.

"I'm not dating Charlie. He was pretending to date me and vice versa." Hermione said.

"So I got angry for nothing?" Ron said bewildered. "Why would you pretend? Although it is a relief you're not dating my brother."

Hermione winced again and Fred thought it was time he spoke up.

"Well I won't say you got angry for nothing Ronniekins. Just angry at the wrong person." Fred spoke as he came to stand next to Hermione and put his hand around her waist and pulled her closer.

Ron's eyes followed his arms and the blood that had slowly drained away from his face, returned.

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Ouch!

I bet Ron's gonna pop some vein!

Or maybe he's so spent that he'll probably just disregard Fred!

But all secrets are unraveling now!

There's only so much that lies can cover!

I hope you'll enjoyed this chapter! Even though Ron and Charlie had a spat! But it was required!

And don't hate Charlie please! He's a nice guy and is actually settling down!

Try not to hate Ron too. I know he never thinks before speaking, but he loves Hermione and is fiercely protective.

That's one of the reasons Hermione wanted to wait and keep their relationship a secret till Ron returned!

Hope Ron reacts better to the real news! What do you think?

Thank you all for reading and reviewing!

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p.s. i have crossed over 1,00,000 words in this story! and i am so excited! i never intended this fic to be so long!

thank u all for your support and encouragement and feedback! i appreciate every bit of it!

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p.p.s. i have put up a poll on my profile! please do go and vote so i know what youll think!

thank u very much!

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much love!

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