CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
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May 26th 2006
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Because Hermione, tired out after an afternoon of wandering around the museum's of muggle London with Arty and her pregnancy, had fallen asleep remarkably early the night before, it wasn't until the next morning that Charlie found a moment of quiet to discuss his plans with her. They both woke usually woke up quite early and this morning was no different, as Charlie woke up at 5:30 to find Hermione already awake, sitting up in bed and reading a pregnancy book by wandlight. He snorted, causing her to jump and look around at him.
"You would think that you knew what to expect, considering you've done this before," he chuckled, tugging her top up to kiss her belly good morning, as had become his routine, "what are you reading about this morning?"
"You don't want to know." She muttered, frowning deeply at the book and Charlie frowned himself as he pulled the book from her hands and gagged as he read the title of the page.
"Who the bloody hell eats a placenta!" He gasped, shuddering as he handed her the book back, "I sincerely hope you're not planning on even trying to convince me that's a good idea."
"Oh god no!" She gasped, laughing, "it is interesting though. Terribly gross, yes, but interesting nonetheless."
"I don't even want to think about it any more," Charlie shuddered again, pushing up to sit next to her and kissing her gently, "morning, my love."
"Good morning," she grinned, bookmarking the page and putting her book down, turning to him, "I'm sorry I fell asleep really early last night."
"I think I can forgive you," he smiled, resting his hand on her stomach, "you are, after all, growing my child. I did need to talk to you about something, though."
"I'm listening." She smiled and Charlie took a deep breath.
"I'm quitting keeping." He blurted and Hermione gasped, her eyes widening.
"What? Why? Charlie you love keeping!" She exclaimed and Charlie nodded, sighing.
"I do," he admitted, running his fingertips over her stomach, "but I love you, Arty and this little one more. I can't risk my life the way I always have, not now that I've got you three to think about."
"Oh Charlie," Hermione sighed, brushing her fingers through the light hair on his chest, "I can't ask you to do that for us."
"You've never asked this of me," he said seriously, "in fact, I can't remember the last time you ever did ask anything of me. I want to do this."
"But what will you do instead?" She asked, frowning and Charlie grinned, leaning over and pulling the pile of parchment from his bedside drawer, handing it to her and waiting as she skimmed through it, "would you be happy with this, Charlie? Really happy, I mean?"
"As long as I get to come home to you and Arty, in a few months you, Arty and this one," he said, gently poking her belly, "then that's all I need to be happy."
"You know I can't let you do this if it will make you miserable, right?" She asked, her eyebrow raised as she looked up from the parchment with a sigh, "I can't let you give up what you love doing just for our sake."
He looked at her, so wonderful and understanding, completely supportive in every way and willing to worry about him just for the sake of him doing the job he loved, and Charlie fell in love with Hermione all over again in that moment. She didn't even know how amazing she was.
"I'm doing this for us," he smiled, cupping her cheek as she sighed, nodding and looking back down at the parchment, "it's ideal. I still get to do what I love, but the majority of the time will be spent at the Ministry, liasing with reserves that are all over the world. 9-5 mostly, one weekend out of four. It makes so much sense."
"This is a big pay cut," she gasped, her eyes widening as she looked up at him, "can we afford this? With the baby coming, I can't go back to work at the moment, plus it would mean-"
"Stop!" He chuckled, grinning, "if that's all that you're worried about, then there's no need. Kingsley has already offered to match the salary I earned as head keeper."
"Really?" She gasped, frowning, "he really offered that?"
"He did," Charlie nodded, "I know, I was as shocked as you are."
"You're positive that this is what you want to do?" She asked one more time and Charlie nodded, absolutely certain, "then I'm behind you, whatever you want to do."
"I know you are," he smiled, pulling her to rest on his chest, "it's one of the many, many reasons that I love you."
"Thank you," she sighed, looking up at him and Charlie frowned, "for doing this for us, for doing everything that you do for us, really."
"There is absolutely no need to thank me for that," he smiled, kissing her forehead and frowning at the door as it slowly creaked open, revealing Arty in the doorway, carrying his stuffed dragon and rubbing his eyes, "you ok buddy?"
"I had a bad dream," Arty sniffled and Charlie sighed, pulling away from Hermione and gesturing for Arty to climb in with them, "I dreamed that you never woke up, daddy."
"Oh Arty," Charlie groaned, his heart breaking a little at the tears in his son's eyes as he climbed between his parents in their bed, "what if I told you that daddy is going to be doing a different job from now on, one that is much less dangerous?"
"No dragons?!" Arty gasped disbelievingly and Hermione snorted.
"Daddy will still work with dragons, my little love." She reassured, wincing as Charlie dug his elbow into her belly and Charlie discreetly moved him when he noticed.
"In fact, I'll be seeing lots more different dragons, as I'll have to travel all over the world to make sure they're being looked after," he said quietly and Arty nodded, though he frowned, "but most of the time, I'll be at the Ministry, just like Uncle Harry."
"You're going to be an auror?" Arty asked confusedly and Charlie chuckled, shaking his head.
"No, buddy," he laughed, ruffling Arty's hair, "I'm going to be the Ministry Expert on care and behaviour in dragons."
"What does that mean?"
"Well, like daddy said," Hermione sighed, "he will travel to different reserves, making sure that all the dragons are healthy and well looked after."
"So you won't be here all the time?" Arty asked sadly and Charlie sighed.
"I'll only be away for one night a month, at the most," Charlie said quietly, smiling, "how about we make a deal?"
"What deal?" Arty asked, frowning.
"Everywhere I visit, I bring you a present back," Charlie said and Arty's eyes lit up, making Hermione smile as she watched father and son, "and, if you're a really amazing super good boy, I'll see about taking you and mummy away with me sometimes."
"Really?!" Arty shrieked and both of his parents laughed as Charlie nodded.
"Wow!" Arty grinned, "ok."
"Good boy," Hermione grinned, hugging him tightly, "do you think you can go back to bed and sleep now?"
"Can I go and play?" Arty asked, looking up at her and Hermione nodded, watching him jump from the bed and out of the room before she turned to Charlie and frowned, sighing.
"We need to tell him about the baby, soon." She muttered and Charlie nodded, hugging her and pulling her to lay down.
"After the first scan," he said through a yawn, stroking her hair, "so that we have something to show him."
"Good idea," she said, closing her eyes as the movement of his fingers through her hair made her drowsy and she yawned, "you're sending me to sleep."
"You creating a life, you need the extra sleep." Charlie chuckled.