'It hurts when you have someone in your heart but you can't have them in your arms'

Charlie stalked past Bill and flopped down onto his bed, feeling rather rejected after his talk with Hermione. He covered his face with his pillow and began to wallow in his own self pity, of course he felt like he didn't really have the right to considering Hermione didn't know how felt and he didn't know if he could tell her after everything that happened with Ron.

"Charlie? You okay?" Bill frowned, leaning against the wall and staring at his younger brother. Charlie muttered a reply through the reply and Bill shook his head.

"Could you repeat that? I couldn't quite hear you through the pillow"

Charlie groaned and took the pillow off his face, "I told Hermione that I was leaving"

Bill nodded in understanding, "And?"

Charlie glowered at him, "And? She doesn't care! She doesn't care that I have to leave for work. She just said 'Congratulations Charlie! That's wonderful and that was it. She told me that I was going to do a wonderful job and that Mum was still going to be pleased that I'll not be leaving the country again"

Bill had to fight the urge not to smile at his love sick brother. "Well Charlie, firstly Hermione doesn't know how you feel and you don't know how she feels about you either. So her response is completely justified and you know, she could be genuinely happy for you being able to stay here and still get to see everyone"

Charlie sighed, he always hated when Bill was right.

"And secondly, as you so pointed out, you're staying in the country. You'll still be able to come over here every other day to see her. You're not moving away so stop wallowing in your own self pity, if you do decide to tell Hermione how you feel then you have plenty of time. She's still here isn't she?"

Charlie let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding and nodded at Bill, "I suppose you're right as always. It's...hard. I don't know how she feels and even if she does feel the same way then I don't know if we would ever pursue things after how everything went with Ron. I don't want to seem like the big brother who stole away his girlfriend. It was because of me that they broke up in the first place"

Bill placed a hand on Charlie's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze and giving his brother a reassuring smile. "Believe me Char, their break up was in the making for a long time. Personally, to me, they weren't suited for each other. Hermione is the brightest witch of her age, and no offence to our dear brother but he's got a few tools missing from the tool box if you know what I mean"

Charlie had to bite back laughter at that, they weren't trying to be mean about Ron of course, but he hasn't had the best track record with relationships. Bill was right though as long as Hermione was at the burrow he could always come and visit, spend more time with her and get to know her more, maybe once he got to spend more time with her he'd be able to gauge how she felt towards him.

"Okay Bill, we'll take it one step at a time. I'll not tell her how I feel and I'll wait. As you said, it's not like she'll be leaving or anything"

"That's the spirit Charlie!"

The next day was a tense affair as it was the day Charlie had to leave for his new job, and even though he wasn't going back to Romania his Mother still made him a leaving breakfast, made up of all of his favourite things. Hermione had sat beside him during breakfast and they talked amicably about various subjects, mostly about his job though and what it would entail. Hermione had asked Charlie if he would try to get a picture of one of the dragon's for her if the opportunity arose and Charlie promised he would try. It was always tough to get pictures of dragon's but he would try anything for her. He just hoped he wasn't making a mistake by not telling her how he felt.

After breakfast he helped his Mother clean up, said his goodbyes to his family and got his things ready to go. As he was standing on front of the floo, ready to go, Hermione appeared behind him, a sad smile on her face and a letter in her hand

"I hope you have a wonderful time Charlie. Don't get too many burns this time!"

Charlie chuckled, "I'll try not too. Can't promise anything though, the dragons can be fiesty ones"

Hermione nodded, chewing the bottom of her lip and squeezing the letter tightly in her hands. Charlie didn't miss a beat

"Are you okay Hermione?"

She nodded but didn't say anything for a moment or two, she sighed and leaned against the wall. Handing the letter over to him and letting him read it quickly. "I've been owling with Professor McGonagall, for a while actually. You know after the War we didn't go back to Hogwarts to finish our 8th year. I've always regretted that, Hogwarts was always my second home and I miss it terribly. Well anyway, McGonagall owled me to let me know that a few of the students from my year, who also didn't return after the War, were returning this year to finish off their studies. None of them chose to go down the Auror route that was pretty much fed to us on a silver spoon" Hermione sighed bitterly, when they had gotten offered Auror jobs straight after Voldemort was defeated she hadn't taken too well to it, although she knew it came from a good place, she felt like the Ministry just wanted to have the Golden Trio in their ranks for good publicity. And she felt like she hadn't truly earned the right to become an Auror, firstly you had to go through a rigorous training program before starting at the bottom of the program, it would take you a few years to work up the ladder and even get a Field Auror position, so she had felt like that had been a slap in the face to the people who had gone through that training and earned their position. She hadn't.

And she wanted to earn herself a job, one where she knows she would be happy and would exceed herself. And truth be told, Hermione didn't want to catch any more dark Wizards. She had enough of that after being on the run for months during their Horcrux hunt.

Charlie re-read the letter again, his mind going fuzzy at the information she was giving him. His heart clenching at the realisation that she wouldn't be here, and he wouldn't be able to visit her as often as he would like. But there was always a chance that Hermione could have said no to McGonagall's request to return, but he knew that was a long shot.

"So?"

"So" Hermione gave him another sad smile. "McGonagall has offered me to return too. But for me as I didn't even complete my seventh year, I would be completing both seventh and eighth year along with a few other who are either repeating because they would like too or they want to spend another two years at Hogwarts. So for two years I'll be back at Hogwarts"

Charlie nodded, feeling a lump in the back of his throat which he had to push away, it wasn't like she was going away forever. She would be back for the Holidays and if they got their Hogsmeade weekends he could always try to meet her during the weekend. Everything could work out.

"That sounds wonderful Hermione" Charlie smiled, flashing his teeth at her in a genuine and affectionate way. "I always knew you missed school too much" He chuckled, dodging her playful swat to his arm.

"Thank you Charlie, I haven't told anyone else. I wanted to tell you first before you went to the reserve" She smiled, taking back the letter from him. "Oh! And McGonagall has offered me the position of Head Girl. I thought she would have chosen one of the prefects from the new students but I'm not going to lie, I'm thrilled to be Head Girl"

"I'm sure you are" Charlie grinned and enveloped her in a tight embrace, he enjoyed how she felt in his arms, how she fit into his arms like a puzzle piece and he suddenly felt whole again. He didn't want that feeling to end. Hermione hugged him tightly back, the two falling into a nice silence before they broke apart.

"I also wanted to know if you would write to me Charlie? If it's not too much to ask" Hermione blushed, expecting him to say no, why would he want to write to his little brother's ex-girlfriend? But they had been getting along over the past few weeks after everything that had happened and if there was no one she would really get along with back at Hogwarts at least she knew she always had him to write to.

"Of course I will Hermione" Charlie smiled and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. "I'll even send you my first letter this evening once I get to the reserve and get settled in. But I really must be going now. When do you leave for Hogwarts?"

Hermione smirked and shook her head, "Charlie, do you really have to ask that question? It's September 1st as always. Two weeks from today so I'll be needing to go to Diagon Alley shortly to get my supplies and such"

"Sorry, it's been that long such I went to Hogwarts. I couldn't remember" Charlie laughed in embarrassment but picked up his rucksack from the floor and swung it over his shoulders. "I'll write to you Hermione, this isn't goodbye. Only a see you soon"

Hermione smiled, her heart warming at his words. "See you soon Charlie"

"See you soon Hermione"

With that, Charlie stepped through the green flames and disappeared into fireplace. Hermione watched as the flames settled down and she smiled, she had been so embarrassed to ask him to write to her, but now she glad she had. She just hoped that he would keep to his word otherwise she wouldn't know what to do.