Chapter 4
June/July
June 18, 1999
Hermione,
I know you must be crazy bored at the Burrow, so I thought you'd enjoy this book. It's about dragons and their creature types, breeds, etc. I don't know if you're interested in it, but I figure it's got to be more entertaining than listening to mum's Celestina Warbeck records.
Hope you're doing alright.
Charlie
June 21, 1999
Charlie,
Thank you for the new dragon book. I've just finished and I really enjoyed it! Do you have any more you could send? The Burrow is severely limited on non-quidditch reading material.
Hermione
June 25, 1999
Hermione,
I've sent along two more books on dragons. Try to make them last longer or before too long, you'll have read every dragon book ever written!
I know you hate the question, but I feel obligated to ask: How are you?
Charlie
P.s. Am I your favorite Weasley yet?
June 28, 1999
Charlie,
Well, we wouldn't want that, now would we? (That was sarcasm, by the way. We do want that.)
I'm curious to know what it's like there. No one knows yet, but I decided that I'm not going back to the Ministry to work. I quit my job. I don't know what I want to do yet, but I know it's not there. I'm researching the options I have. Any suggestions?
I'm okay. The thoughts are still there, but they're so quiet now that I forget about them. Your mum has been a great help and so have Ginny and Lavender.
How are you? Staying safe, I hope. I don't fancy my newest friend being burnt to a crisp.
Hermione
P.s. Nice try.
July 1, 1999
Hermione,
Those are the last dragon books I have. After those, I'm afraid you'll have to use another man for his book connections. Of course, you want to read every dragon book ever written. I'm a dolt for thinking otherwise.
It's brilliant. (Not unlike yourself.) The weather never dips below 0 or above 30. Honestly, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. We're hidden deep in the summit of Obcina Feredeului where the dragons have space to spread their wings. We're away from muggles but not so far that you'd feel out of place. It's only a short broom ride to any one of the nearby towns/cities. There's even a beach close enough to fly to. Have I convinced you to move here yet?
As for the occupation suggestions, I suppose that depends on what you want to do and/or where you want to be. I would start with one of these questions:
If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If you could spend all day doing any task, what would it be?
I couldn't be better, love. Especially with the Golden Girl as my newest (best?) friend.
I hope you're still doing well.
Charlie
P.s. Even after all the books I've sent?!
July 3, 1999
Charlie,
I think I'll be able to manage that, after all, I have no shortage of suitors.
You're just as brilliant, I promise.
Romania truly sounds lovely. I'd love to come for a visit!
If I could be anywhere in the world, I don't know where I'd want to be.
I do know that if I could spend all day doing anything, I would read.
I suppose I could be your best friend...but what's in it for me?
Also, I'm not the "Golden Girl," and I've done nothing to deserve that title. I only did what anyone else in my position would have done.
Hermione
P.s. That might have moved you up just a tick.
July 4, 1999
Hermione,
What do you want in return?
Charlie
P.s. I knew you were soft on me.
Hermione laughed softly as she finished reading Charlie's short letter. She folded it back up and set it on the desk, not bothering to reply as he would be there for dinner that evening. Checking the time, she realized she had time to have a quick shower before everyone started arriving and rushed into the bathroom.
Charlie was the first to arrive and was disappointed that he didn't immediately see Hermione. After saying hello to his mother and father, he leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms.
"So, uh. Where's Granger?" He asked, trying to sound casual.
"Having a shower. She should be done in a bit. Why don't you have a seat in the living room? Everyone else will be here soon." Molly suggested, eyeing him while she stirred the sauce on the stove.
"Sure, mum." He said. He turned around and went to the living room. Instead of taking a seat on the couch, he wandered about the room restlessly. Suddenly, he heard a noise and froze, listening intently. He heard it again and realized it was singing. Hermione was singing. As if he was imperioused, he followed the noise up the steps until he ended up outside the bathroom.
"In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life."
Charlie sat down outside the bathroom door, leaning back against the wall, as he listened to her sweet voice sing an unfamiliar song.
"I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me"
His heart clenched as he listened to her. The water turned off, but he stayed there.
"I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
And it looks like love has finally found me- "
The door opened and Hermione stopped as she saw Charlie sitting there. He turned to look up at her with no shame that he had been caught listening to her.
"What was that you were singing?" He asked, as though he were completely oblivious that she was standing in front of him, dripping wet, in nothing but a fluffy green towel.
Hermione blushed and tightened her hold on her towel. "Um, just a song by my favorite muggle band."
"You have a gorgeous voice, Hermione." He praised, standing and brushing invisible dirt off his pants before looking at her again. It was at that point that he realized she was only wearing a towel. His throat went dry and caught her eyes. Neither of them said anything as he stared. The trance was only broken when they heard the arrival of Bill, Fleur, and Victoire downstairs. "I'll, um, let you get dressed now." Charlie stuttered, motioning to her towel, pointedly ignoring the drops of water on her chest.
"Thanks." She murmured, crossing the hall to her room.
He watched as she shut the door before hurrying downstairs.
When she finally made it downstairs, she had trouble looking Charlie in the eye. She didn't mind singing in front of people but singing in front of Charlie was different. Especially since she had been thinking of him when she chose that song. It also didn't help that she couldn't stop thinking about the hungry look in his eyes when he saw her in the towel.
Everyone sat at the table when dinner was announced and Charlie took his usual spot next to her, throwing her a wink. She blushed but said nothing.
Dinner seemed to drag on forever and Hermione was acutely aware of Charlie's presence next to her the whole time. She couldn't even taste the food in front of her. Eventually, she could take it no more, and excused herself.
She went out to the garden, leaning over the back wall, staring out at the orchard. It was fairly obvious to her that she was attracted to Charlie. Her concern was whether she was only attracted to him because he was always there. It wouldn't be fair to him to start up a relationship only to find that she only liked him because he was the one who pulled her from the water. She was pulled from her thoughts as she heard someone call her name from behind her.
"Hi, Charlie." She said, without turning around.
"Hey. You okay?" He asked softly, leaning against the wall facing her.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"Thinking about your favorite Weasley?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering if Ron would ever stop eating." Hermione told him without hesitation.
"You wound me, you cheeky witch." He laughed, grasping at his chest. She gave him a smirk and went back to looking at the orchard. Fireflies were starting to show up and they glittered as they fluttered around. Charlie watched her as the breeze came and ruffled her still slightly damp hair. He caught a whiff of her green apple shampoo and resisted the urge to move forward and sniff her. As if feeling his gaze, she looked over at him.
"What? Do I have something stuck in my hair again?" She asked, reaching for her hair.
"No. I was just…" he trailed off, looking away for a moment. She watched as he took a deep breath before looking at her again. "Would you like to come back to Romania with me?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Tomorrow night we're having our bonfire and I think you'd enjoy it. I've got an extra room in my cabin that you can stay in, and even if you don't want to go to the bonfire, you can just stay in and read."
"Okay, I'll come with you." She agreed, nodding her head. His face lit up with a smile, and she couldn't help but smile back.
"Brilliant. I'll go let mum know while you pack a bag and we'll head out." Hermione nodded and bit her lip as she followed him back into the house.