Chapter 12

Hermione woke, not really realizing she had even fallen asleep. It was still dark, so she wasn't late for work yet. She sighed and rubbed her face, not wanting to face Charlie, or anyone else, at work tomorrow.

If she was honest with herself, she was in over her head. Her thoughts were too divided to make any sort of decision. On one hand, after examining the last few weeks with Charlie, she realized that they had indeed grown close. From their late night talks, to the lighthearted banter at work, he was always there lately.

But she wasn't sure what it was that she felt for him. He wasn't a brother to her, not like Harry or Ron, he wasn't a confidant like Ginny was. He was a source of comfort, but the feelings behind that comfort she had chalked up to his easy going demeanor and the jokes he always seemed to have ready.

She had the feeling it could definitely be more for her at least, if she wanted it to be. He would be easy to love even. He was charming, funny, strong, and handsome. What she didn't know is what she was to him. Was this just because of their proximity lately? Tension built from being together so often due to work and living arrangements? When he left for Romania, would it be the same the next time she saw him? Is that why he wanted her to come with him, to extend what was to him just a passing fling?

Hermione groaned as she heard her alarm start to blare, switching it off and covering her head with a pillow. Today was going to be a long day. But she had at least come to one decision in the last few hours. She couldn't go to Romania. Not now, when everything was so fragile and new. Even if whatever was between them was something to encourage, it was too soon. She couldn't leave George either, not when she had just hit her stride and so had he. There were too many unknowns and too many responsibilities to consider.

She finally got out of bed when George peaked in a few minutes later to make sure she was awake. She took her time getting dressed, hoping he and Charlie would be gone by the time she made it downstairs.

There was no such luck to be had though so when she saw them both eating in the kitchen she quickly grabbed some toast and hurried through the floo muttering about wanting to get the shop ready even though she knew there wasn't much to do there. The two men stared at her as she left then followed behind her through the fire.

Thankfully, Charlie seemed to take the hint that she didn't want to discuss what had occurred the night before. He let her have space throughout the day, but she felt his gaze on her more than once. The day seemed to crawl by as now that school was back in session, there was much less traffic through the store.

By lunch she was feeling a bit better despite the lack of sleep and decided to take advantage of the slow afternoon and head to the back room to brew up some stock for the shop. She was confident enough now to brew most of them on her own, using her notes from a few weeks before as a guide.

George poked in about an hour later and quietly helped her bottle and label the products. When they were nearly done he finally broke their silent work.

"Everything alright Granger?" he asked, "Been quiet today around here."
Hermione sighed, she'd hoped to avoid talking to anyone about her dilemma so she opted for a vague answer instead.

"Yeah, I just have a lot on my mind lately with Ginny, Harry, and Ron gone away." It was true enough, but was only the tip of the iceberg in reality.

"What am I? Troll dung?" came his joking response and she chuckled.

"You certainly smell like it" she said smiling at his mock horror.

"I'll have you know I showered just last week" he said with a wink and nudge and she truly laughed at him this time. She could feel the tension leaving her as she nudged him back.

"Thanks George" Hermione said softly as she finished up her own bottles. She sighed and attempted to wrangle her riotous curls into somewhat of a bun as she looked around for another project to start on.

As she reached towards a shelf of ingredients George reached out and grabbed her elbow, stopping her from going further.

"Hermione, let me help, please." his voice was strained and filled with concern.

She turned to face him feeling bad for worrying him. It wasn't like anything was truly wrong with her, she was just caught up in her own thoughts. Lately with all her friends away Charlie and George had become her lifelines. She couldn't exactly talk to either of them about this though, not when Charlie was the source of her unease.

"Honestly, George, I just need out of my own head for a few hours. Usually I have Ron and Harry and Ginny to distract me or to at least tell me when I'm being overcritical. I need a distraction. So I figured I might as well be helpful and put myself to good use back here." She gestured around the room as she spoke.

George seemed to relax as he heard her explanation, it's not like she was lying to him. She was in her own head too much today, and in general, she just wasn't revealing the source to him. And she was in desperate need of an escape from her own thoughts.

It seemed George had relaxed a bit though as he eyed her a bit too thoroughly and his next words shocked her.

"Well Granger, if you need a distraction I think of much better ways to put you to good use." His eyebrows waggled at her and his eyes sparkled with mischief.

"George Weasley! You swine! Wipe that smirk off your face and go help customers! Out! Now!" She shouted after him as he ran from her swats, thankful her wand wasn't in hand.

Just as Hermione was starting to laugh he poked his head back through the door.

"That wasn't a no Granger."

She threw an empty bottle at the door but his quidditch reflexes proved better than her aim and he dodged it easily.

"Still not a no Granger."

"NO GEORGE" She yelled, grabbing her wand and flicking it towards the door, magically closing and locking it.

She laughed in earnest now, a few years ago she might have been angry but now she knew that George meant none of it. He knew she needed to laugh and that was his gift. She could easily tell when he was serious, as he had been when he asked her to let him help her. He might not know exactly how to help, but he could make her laugh and forget her worries for a while, even if it was short.

She emerged from the stockroom a short while later feeling much better. George shot her a knowing look and a goofy grin and she could only roll her eyes in return. He seemed way too pleased with himself.

Just as she was turning to walk towards the counter he called out to her from across the shop.

"No way Granger, go home. You too Charlie. We're too slow. I can't afford you."

Hermione stiffened a bit, pleading with him silently but he had already turned away from her and was waving her good bye.

"Don't even try Hermione, go home, it's nearly closing time anyway."

She sighed in defeat. He probably though he was doing her a favor she thought dismally as she turned towards the floo. Charlie was there already, pinch of powder ready as ever for her to leave first.

Why does he have to be such a gentleman she asked herself as she nodded to him, careful to keep her face devoid of the turmoil she felt looking at him.

As she stepped into The Burrow she could hear Molly busy in the kitchen preparing dinner. It wouldn't be ready for another couple of hours but it already smelled delicious. She groaned as her stomach protested waiting any longer.

Charlie stepped through a moment later, looking around and apparently coming to the same conclusion about waiting for dinner. Hermione watched as he crept into the kitchen pantry, grabbing some bread and cheese before sneaking back out and motioning for her to follow him out the front door. She only hesitated for a moment before following him.

They walked in silence until they reached the nearby pond. Charlie sat down under a massive old tree nearby and motioned for Hermione to join him in his pilfered feast. She watched him as he sliced up the cheese and bread without magic, it was somehow comforting in a world that was still somewhat foreign to her even after all these years. Especially now without her parents that were her link back to the muggle world.

Her thoughts were broken when he offered her some bread and cheese along with a cloth napkin. It was simple but it tasted utterly divine after the long night and day she'd had. Looking over at Charlie she noticed he looked as exhausted as she felt. She realized he must not have slept much either.

That's when the guilt really hit her. It wasn't a silly kiss that was bothering him. It was leaving. He was worried about how to tell George, how to tell his mother. Even about how she was reacting. Suddenly she felt awful about avoiding him all day. She'd let her own issues drown out the larger ones. But she had a chance to fix it. Whatever had happened, he was her friend first.

"Have you decided how to tell them?" she asked cautiously, trying to gauge his willingness to talk to her after she had given him the cold shoulder.

If Charlie was upset he didn't show it at all. Instead he just nodded his head and swallowed his food before answering.

"I'm going to let them all know at dinner but I've told George already. I didn't want to surprise him in front of anyone."

"How did he take it?" she asked, wondering when he'd told George. He certainly hadn't seemed upset today at least.

"Not long before he went to help you with the stock" Charlie answered, looking at her with those intense blue eyes again.

"Did you ask him to check on me Charlie?" Hermione asked, afraid again that her own needs had trodden over even George's in that moment.

"No, I didn't, but he knew my leaving would upset you with everyone else already gone." he said gently.

Hermione was touched that even though George must be hurting too that he still found time for her. It only cemented further in her mind that she had to stay and continue to help him at least for the time being. She decided to take the conversation a different direction and see if she couldn't do the cheering up for once.

"Are you excited?" she asked quirking an eyebrow at him playfully.

He looked at her cautiously for a moment before catching on. He let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

"There's a new brood of eggs about to hatch that was found in Sweden. Mother was killed by poachers so they shipped them to us. That's why I have to leave."

His face lit up as he talked about the possibility of new life coming into the reserve. Hermione still knew so little about him, even after all the time they spent together.

"Will you get much time with the new ones then?" Hermione asked, encouraging him to continue.

"Much time?" he laughed "I forget sometimes that I haven't told you much about the reserve. The hatchlings are my specialty. That's why I was sent for Norberta back in your first year. They're very fragile and require special handling. It's very intense for the first few weeks and each brood requires a dedicated caregiver team. Since there are only a handful on the reserve we're almost always all hands on deck with new hatches."

Hermione thought back to all the trouble one baby dragon had caused them and could only imagine an entire brood. Charlie seemed to enjoy the work though, and was practically gushing over them.

"What do you do when you have too many broods and not enough caretakers?" Hermione asked, genuinely concerned knowing how endangered most dragon breeds were.

"Thankfully that doesn't happen often, but there are a few other reserves with active hatcheries. If none are available we also have a few females who have adopted broods in the past, though it's a last ditch effort as if they are not keen on adopting they will smash the eggs so we try not to rely on it much." Charlie looked as though he disliked the idea of leaving the fate of an entire brood to a moody dragon so she decided not to ask further.

She looked across the pond as she imagined what life must be like for Charlie on the reserve tending to babies whose lives hung in the balance. She realized very quickly she didn't know nearly enough about him or his work to accurately even begin to understand it let alone decide if it was what she wanted for herself. Just another reason she couldn't possibly say yes to him.

Turning back to him she found his eyes already focused on hers, as if he knew where the conversation was heading.

"Charlie..." she started.

"It's okay Hermione" he said before she even started.

"But I didn't even say anything." she said.

"You don't have to, I can see it on your face, and it's okay. I knew the moment I asked that it was wrong of me to even put you in the position to have to say no, and for that I'm sorry."

Hermione thought for a moment, she wanted him to know she wasn't saying no because she didn't want to. It was tempting to run away, but that just wasn't her. She wanted to finish what she had started with George at least until he was fully on his feet. And she still had to decide what she was going to do herself. She just didn't know how to say it so she decided to just let it go.

"When will I see you again?" she asked instead.

"I'll be back for Christmas barring any extenuating circumstances" Charlie replied, his eyes never leaving hers.

She nodded. A little over three months then, and then everyone would be back. Maybe she would have it all figured out by then even. A glance at the pink streaked sky told her it was getting later. Dinner would be ready soon and she wanted to be there for Charlie when he told the rest of the family about his imminent departure. She got up to her feet and brushed off her clothes, then extended her hand to him to help him up as well.

"Shall we then?"