Games Are Afoot Chapter 46

Stalemate

Disclaimer: JKR wrote it, I am just playing in her world. Italics are direct lines from Book 7.

The soft old couch enveloped him like an old friend as he sat exhaustedly down after a very long day. He had been home for only a few minutes and was trying to decide if food or sleep was more of a priority. Charlie started violently when the hearth flared green unexpectedly. Bill's pinched looking face was staring back at him. "What's wrong?" Charlie whispered. The adrenaline pouring through him was erasing the tiredness.

Bill cleared his throat several times. "Bill, you're killing me here. What is it? Is it Hermione?"

Bill shook his head and cleared his throat again. "We ran into some trouble getting Harry tonight. Hermione is fine, but Moody is...Moody is...gone."

"What?!"

"Mundungus ditched him and he was hit. We haven't been able to find his body. But..."

"Who else?" Charlie asked stoically. Bill's face shifted into a slight grimace that made Charlie's stomach tighten uncomfortably.

"No one else died, but...George was injured." Bill said soberly. The brothers shared a knowing look.

"How bad?"

"He's awake and making jokes but let's just say we can tell the twins apart now." Bill quipped feebly.

"Tell me what happened." Charlie demanded as he moved to kneel before the fireplace.

"The death eaters ambushed us. They were waiting. They couldn't have known we were coming, but they were staking out the area or something. So as soon as we took off they were there. Swarming us like flies. Oh and did I mention, they can fly. Without brooms. I don't think the curse was actually meant for George, but it found him nonetheless. Severed his ear right off."

"Ear? That's awfully close to his head or neck. Are you sure he's ok?"

"Yeah, mum got the bleeding to stop finally, but the ear is gone for good. He is making bad jokes, but he's weak. We all gave mum a right scare because the plans got changed and we were all missing our portkeys. But, we finally made it back."

Charlie sat back on his haunches and ran his fingers through his hair. He sighed heavily. "Thanks for the update Bill. I guess I will see you in a few days."

Bill smiled hugely at that. "Yep. Stag Night!"

"I thought we couldn't go out to have one. Security and all that."

"The twins have...improvised." Bill chuckled weakly. "See you there?"

"Wouldn't miss it. Bye." Charlie stood up and stretched. One week and he would be home. One week and he would be with Hermione. He sighed happily as he made his way to bed.

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Charlie's homecoming was not as pleasant as he had envisioned. Immediately upon arrival his mother shoved him into a chair and while chopping his hair, gave him an update on the difficulties she was having with his brother, his girlfriend, and even the great Harry Potter. There were times he was worried for his own ears as she slashed her wand ferociously to illustrate a particularly frustrating point. Then, when it was over, she put him to work and he hadn't even seen Hermione yet.

As he tossed the last gnome from the garden, he turned and wiped the sweat off his brow with the shirt he had removed.

"I don't care how sexy you are, you better clean up before the party."

Charlie turned and smirked. "Think I'm sexy do you?"

"You know you are. No need to pretend."

Charlie barked a loud laugh as Fred came toward him. "Mum figured you might need something to drink."

"Guilt. She has shorn my locks and made me a slave and I haven't even put my duffel in my room yet."

It was Fred's turn to laugh. "Be patient. Tonight we will help you relax. Seen Hermione yet?"

A dark scowl flitted across Charlie's face. "Nope. Mum is keeping everyone separated it seems."

"I know. George is sitting on the couch with his feet up 'recuperating' while she has me waiting on him hand and foot." Fred looked around cautiously. "It's not all bad. She won't get mad at George for anything right now, so we are playing that angle to our advantage for the party tonight."

Charlie patted him on the back as he handed him the glass back. "Thanks. You are a real Florence Nightingale." Fred looked like he was gagging.

"I don't have the legs for it. By the way party is in your room tonight so I will make sure your luggage arrives without mum getting the wiser."

"What have you done to my room?"

"Just a little redecorating." Fred called over his shoulder as he headed toward the house.

Charlie followed slowly glancing around hoping to catch a glimpse of brown curly hair. No luck. He trudged up to the shower before his mum could find another task for him.

While he was lingering under the hot water he could hear feet running up and down the stairs, doors banging, voices yelling through the house. It was good to be home.

He finished his shower and wrapped a towel loosely around his hips. Running his fingers through his now short hair, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway where he promptly collided with someone.

"Charlie!"

"Hi Gin!"

"When did you get home?"

"A couple of hours ago but mum put me right to work."

"Looks like she mowed your head first."

"Thanks a lot. Apparently the Delacours impending arrival means that I need to look proper."

Ginny snorted indelicately. "Mum is obsessed with propriety this week. She won't let Harry and I alone for a minute. Not that he wants to be with me anyhow..." She looked away sadly.

"Come on Gin. You know why he did what he did." He turned her shoulders so she would look at him.

"Knowing doesn't make it any easier. They're leaving soon. Did you know?"

"What do you mean leaving?"

"They aren't going back to Hogwarts."

"Where--"

"GINNY!" Molly's voice carried up the stairs. "Ginny?"

"Coming." She called back. "Charlie?"

"Yeah?"

"Hide." Ginny whispered as she began to stomp back down the stairs.

Charlie chuckled as he hurried to his room and opened the door. When he stepped in, he wasn't sure if he was in the right place. It looked...different. Instead of dragons and quidditch paraphernalia littering the walls, it looked like a dimly lit den. Deep plush chairs were spread around the room. The bed was gone. Wall sconces with dimly lit candles were spread subtly around creating a nightclub atmosphere. There was a table with assorted food and drinks and in the center of the room was a dark colored coffee table with a white, marble looking feather lying in the middle.

Charlie tried to find the closet door and his clothes and finally discovered both behind one of the curtains draping the wall. As he dressed he let his mind think about what Ginny had told him. By them he assumed she meant Ron, Harry and Hermione. The question was where they were going. He couldn't believe Hermione would skip out on school. There had to be a catch. He shook his head. He wouldn't get any answers standing in his room by himself.

He crept up the stairs keeping his eyes and ears out for his mother. He crept up to the top floor intending to look for the trio in Ron's room when he heard footsteps approaching. He ducked behind the tapestry that hid the window where he and Hermione had hidden years ago during a game. He leaned against the window and listened to the whispered conversation in the hallway.

"We have to make sure mum isn't close." Ron whispered.

"I think she's in the kitchen working on the food for the Delacours arrival." Hermione whispered back.

Charlie heard the door to Ron's room open and shut quietly. He stayed where he was for a moment trying to hear but they were talking quietly. Just as he was about to go to the room, he again heard footsteps. He held very still as he heard the person approach, knock quietly and enter Ron's room. Mum was right. They were plotting something. Where were the extendable ears when you needed them?

Charlie heard several thumps and then the voices got a bit louder. They were arguing but he couldn't tell about what. He was leaning toward the tapestry when he heard the door flung open and he held his breath, hoping they wouldn't hear him trying to eavesdrop.

"Descendo," he heard Ron mutter.

Charlie listened intently as the ladder to the attic was lowered. Why on earth were they going up there? He could hear the ghoul moaning and knew it was only a matter of time before the smell hit.

"That's your ghoul isn't it?" Harry's voice rumbled into the quiet.

"Yeah it is. Come and have a look at him." Ron could be heard as he traipsed up the ladder.

"But it…it looks…do ghouls usually wear pajama?" Charlie heard Harry ask.

"No. Nor have they usually got red hair or that number of pustules." He heard Ron reply. Why was the ghoul wearing pajamas? What red hair? Did the thing even have hair?

"He's me, see? Ron asked.

"No I don't." Charlie heard Harry reply, but he got it. Ron made the ghoul look like him to cover for him. But why?

The two boys moved back into Ron's room and Charlie could no longer hear their conversation. He was confused and suspicious. What were these three up to?

Charlie could hear movement coming up the stairs. He didn't want to be discovered so he held himself as still as stone. Closer and closer the footsteps came as one door after another was opened and shut. If Charlie knew his mum, she was searching for her workers. He quietly placed a silencing charm on his little nook of safety as he heard her reach the little landing. He could hear her burst into Ron's room.

She was firm, determined and unrelenting. The trio hustled out the door and down one flight of stairs to Arthur and Molly's room where she loudly explained what to do before returning to the kitchen. Charlie crept out of his nook and toward the stairs. As he neared the banister he could see a head bobbing toward him with curly brown hair. She was looking over her shoulder at the door to the bedroom and not toward the top of the stairs. Charlie stood quietly at the top waiting for her to notice him.

Suddenly, she turned two steps from the top and stopped in mid step. The smile that lit her face made Charlie forget that anything was wrong in the world. He backed up a couple of steps as she advanced and reached a hand out for hers. She cast another glance over her shoulder and nodded at him as they slipped behind the tapestry together.

"Hi there." Hermione said flirtatiously.

"Hi yourself Bookworm." Charlie replied as he pulled her into his arms. She couldn't respond for several minutes as her lips were otherwise occupied.

As they pulled apart to catch their breath, Charlie left his hands on her hips. "So."

"So," Hermione smiled, "Does that mean you missed me?"

Charlie nearly laughed aloud but caught himself in time. He did not want to be discovered. "Of course I missed you. Royce says I have been about as much fun as a dragon with a sore snout since I got back from Australia." He caught the look of anguish that flitted through her eyes. "They are going to be fine."

She lifted her chin. "I know." She said confidently. "It's for the best right now. I just miss them."

"Do you miss me too?"

She kissed him tenderly. "Yes, Charlie. I miss you too."

"Then can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why aren't you going back to Hogwarts?"

Hermione looked stunned. Her body instantly tensed. "I...We...Harry..." She faded off.

"Well?" His brow furrowed. He didn't much care for her response, or lack thereof.

"Charlie, I..." She shifted from one foot to another and played with the collar of his shirt. "Charlie, before Professor Dumbledore died, he had been having private lessons with Harry." Her eyes searched his before she continued. "I can't tell you what those lessons were." She placed her finger on his lips to silence him before he could say anything.

"Harry has some things that he needs to do...er...accomplish. Ron and I are going to help him."

"And just where exactly are you going?" Charlie watched her clamp her jaw shut and look away from him. "Well then, how long are you going to be gone?" She just shook her head and refused to look at him. "I want to go too."

That got her attention and her eyes snapped back to his. They stared at each other for a few eternal moments. Tears filled her eyes.

"You won't let me come will you?"

"I can't." She whispered as he dropped his hands to his sides.

"Can't or won't?"

"Can't." She sniffled. Silence reigned once again as they were both lost to their own thoughts.

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't have any choice. I have to help him."

"But Hermione, your education is everything to you. You are telling me that you are willing to give that all up?"

He saw the pain explode across her face. "There are things more important."

"What about me? You are going to just leave me and go off to who knows where doing who knows what for who knows how long and I am just supposed to be ok with it? I mean, I know I don't see you while you are at school and it's just letters and the occasional floo call, but this just feels different. How do I know where to send the owls?"

A tear slowly trailed its way down Hermione's cheek. "Charlie. You are so important to me. I love you. But please understand that I have to do this."

"Hermione, I love you too, but this is too much. Let me help you."

"I can't." She whispered hoarsely as another tear trickled down.

"Hermione." He pulled her into his chest and just held her. "I am not sure I can accept this."

Hermione stiffened in his arms. "Can't accept what?"

"You going off on some crazy adventure without an adult.--" As soon as the word was out of his mouth he knew it was a mistake. She ripped herself out of his arms. Her eyes were blazing with anger.

"Without an adult?" She questioned rhetorically. "Without an adult?" She repeated as her voice rose to a shrill hiss.

He could only shrug. "I didn't mean it like that." He said to placate her.

"Charlie Weasley, I think that you had better go have Bill or Fred help you get your foot out of your mouth before you choke on it!" And without another word she turned and stormed down the stairs. Charlie stood there a moment longer before he let his own anger take over and he stomped furiously down the stairs to his room and slammed the door loudly and childishly. He wanted to throw something. No, he wanted to hit something. His eyes landed on the wall and before he really thought about it, he punched it as hard as he could. He felt nothing for a moment and then pain exploded down his hand and up his arm. But as intense as the pain was, it didn't numb the emotional pain like he had hoped. Cradling his hand against his stomach, he left his room to find Bill and see if he could heal it for him. He hoped to bypass his mother and her questions.

Charlie found Bill in the lounge by George playing wizard's chess. Bill looked up as Charlie entered and glanced at his hand before smirking and sending his rook to take George's bishop. "How does the other guy look?"

"Fred will have to repair a hole before the--"

"SHHHHHH!!!!!" George hissed.

"Mum is just in the next room," Bill smirked. George moved a pawn and Bill finished him. "Checkmate."

"Aw Charlie!" George moaned. "Did you have to distract me?"

Bill laughed. "I don't think he was the reason you lost."

"You think you'd give a one-eared man a break." George muttered.

"I am not mum." Bill answered standing up. "I think my job here is to keep you humble, and, I have made a marvelous attempt." George scowled.

"How about a rematch?"

"Not just now, I think Charlie here needs some assistance."

George looked over his shoulder to see Charlie's bruised and swollen knuckles. "Granger has a way of making you just want to hit something doesn't she?" He quipped.

"I don't want to talk about it."

Bill gestured for Charlie to lead the way back upstairs and followed him after patting George demeaningly on the head. "Thanks Bill."

"Anytime little brother."

They arrived back in Charlie's room silently. Bill pulled out his wand and brightened a candle to study the damage. He turned Charlie's hand over and felt along each knuckle. "I think it's broken."

"Really? I'd worked out that much for myself."

"Then why don't you heal it yourself?"

"Bill."

"Charlie."

Charlie slumped into a chair. "I really mucked up."

"You don't say." Bill answered as he moved a chair to sit across from Charlie. He pulled the bruised flesh toward him and opened the door with his wand. "Accio Skele-Gro."

"You keep it in stock?"

"Occupational hazards. It's easier to be prepared." Charlie nodded as a small jar came soaring into the room. He reached out his left hand and caught it before handing it to Bill. The door shut with a soft click.

"It's a nasty tasting thing."

"I remember."

The two brothers cracked up thinking about all the broken bones they had accumulated over the years.

After they calmed down, Bill measured some out for him and Charlie dutifully swallowed, grimacing quietly.

"Yuck. Got any firewhiskey in here to kill the taste?"

Bill walked to the table with the refreshments and poured some brown liquid into a cup. "Here you go. Now, you gonna tell me why you picked a fight with a wall bigger than you?"

"Do I have to?"

"Of course not. I could go get mum...."

Charlie shot him a glare that could melt and iceberg.

"You are so transparent, Char. It's obvious you had a fight with Hermione. My guess is you probably said something stupid."

"Why assume it was my fault?" Charlie said scathingly.

"Because blokes don't punch walls when they are right."

Charlie nodded. They sat in silence for a while.

"Bill, she's leaving. I don't know where. I don't know why. I don't even know for how long."

"I know."

"You do?"

"Yeah, Dad, the twins and I have been helping them get ready. Got them a tent, taught Hermione a charm to make a bag to carry all the things they will need. Got the ghoul ready."

"Do you know--"

"No. But I trust them. They have survived a lot the last six years and if they say they have to do this, well, then I will support them."

"She won't let me go with her."

"She can't. Harry said Dumbledore told him to only tell Ron and Hermione. If it will help bring you-know-who down, then whatever they need, I will do."

"It's not that easy for me."

"I am sure it would be much harder if it were Fleur going. Nonetheless, you'll survive and she will come back and you'll live happily ever after."

Charlie looked toward the window for a long time. "Will she? Will she come back? Are they going to live through whatever danger they find next? She's had so many near misses. It was just a little over a year ago that she almost died."

Bill stood behind Charlie's chair and rested his hand on his shoulder. "I don't have all the answers, Charlie. But I know she loves you. She hasn't once asked you to give up your dragons and you put your life on the line everytime you enter an enclosure with them. I think that you like that she can face danger without flinching. You just need to trust her."

"Thanks Bill."

Bill clapped his hands together. "Well, I say we start the party."

"What about the others?"

"They'll be along as they get out from under mum, but I think we should warm things up. More fire whiskey?"

Charlie held his cup up and nodded. At least if Hermione was angry with him, he wouldn't have to feel guilty about spending the evening with his brothers.