Games Are Afoot Chapter 49

AUTHORS NOTE: Thank you for your patience and for the wonderful encouraging messages to keep going! I promise I will finish this story! I think I found my muse again.

Conversations and Worry

Charlie did not sleep for three days. He got burned two times by baby dragons because his mind was thirteen hundred miles away. His burns were not serious, but Charlie had never been so sloppy. Royce was annoyed.

"Yer goin barmy, mate. Go back ter yer tent and get some sleep before I haf ta report you!" He yelled to Charlie whose head was now drooping on to his chest.

Charlie's head snapped up. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, and I'm a ballerina." Royce fired back.

Charlie chuckled. "Okay. Point taken. But I can't sleep. I—"

"I—" Royce mimicked, "I am going to get myself killed because I can't pay attention."

Charlie scowled.

"Char, take a sleeping draught. Get some sleep. You ain't gonna do 'er no good if yer dead."

Charlie stared blearily at him. "I just—"

"NO MORE EXCUSES!" Royce roared. Charlie stared at him, eyes open a little wider. Royce never yelled except at stupid people and dragons. "You aren't the only one in danger here. I need to be able to trust the bloke that is watchin my back and right now I only trust that yer eyelids may fall down to yer ankles. Char, get some sleep. NOW! I"ll cover yer shift. Jest please. Get some rest."

Charlie nodded in defeat and dragged himself back to his tent. He sat on his bed unable to muster the strength to undress. The mirror was perched carefully on his night stand so that as he rested his head on his pillow, it was eye level.

He sighed wearily as he stared back at his own reflection. It was 2pm. He never slept in the afternoons. "Oh Hermione. Where did you go?" He muttered tiredly.

"Charlie?" he heard as a flash of brown shiny hair bobbed in the mirror.

"Hermione? Is it really you?"

"Charlie," Hermione whispered. "Give me a few minutes. I will be right back. Please can you wait?"

Charlie was wide awake now. "Yeah. I'll be here."

She disappeared and he waited. And waited. It was nearing thirty minutes now.

Finally, she reappeared and her smile more than made up for the worry of waiting.

"I'm back." She said happily. He noticed that it was very dark all around her.

"Where are you? How are you? What—"

She interrupted him, "We are at Grimmauld Place. We are fine. I had to find an excuse to get away from the boys so I could talk to you. I didn't think I should advertise it. Ron's…a little homesick and Harry is…well…" she hesitated.

"Ron being homesick doesn't surprise me. I bet he is clinging to you like a life preserver. What's up with Harry?"

"Well, um…Charlie, I know you are in the Order, so you know that Dumbledore wanted Harry to learn Occlumency right?"

"Yeah. Dumbledore thought it was a pretty big priority at the time."

"Harry was never very good at it. I mean putting Professor Snape in charge of teaching it to him? Anyhow, Harry's scar keeps hurting and then he disappears and starts screaming. It's really scary. But the point of it is that he thinks he knows what You Know Who is up to. He also thinks his wand acted by itself when we got him from his Aunt and Uncles. He goes on and on about it. I am really worried.

Charlie saw the worry etched on her face that was illuminated slightly from her wand. "Are you behind the tapestry?" he asked suddenly.

She smiled. "Yes."

He smiled back for a moment then got serious again. "Hermione, during one of the last Order meetings with Dumbledore, Bill told me that Dumbledore was worried about the connection between Harry and You Know Who. He didn't give any details; he just wanted to know if anything unusual happened. He wanted Dad and Mum to keep him up to date on Ron and Ginny's owls."

"Well, I don't suppose he gave any more details did he?

"No. Just to keep watch."

Hermione made an angry little grunt. "I am so frustrated!"

"Why don't you tell me what you are frustrated about?"

Hermione smiled feebly at him. "You know I can't." She whispered.

He nodded. He wouldn't press. This stolen moment with her was too valuable. He didn't know how long it would have to sustain him.

"Hang on! Why aren't you at work? It's only quarter past two where you are!" Hermione exclaimed.

Charlie could feel himself blush. He didn't want to admit why he was home in bed in the middle of the day.

Hermione's eyes searched his intently. "Charles—"

"OH please. Calling me by my first name hasn't worked since I was seven." He chuckled. She laughed too.

"Are you okay? I worry about you!"

"I'm fine. It's just…well…you disappeared so suddenly before and with the way everything is, well…I haven't been sleeping to well and Royce thinks my work isn't up to snuff."

"Oh Charlie, I am so sorry. Ron came in suddenly and I just sort of pocketed the mirror so he wouldn't know I had it. And you are right. He follows me everywhere but the loo."

Charlie exploded with laughter. "He used to do that with mum when he was little and not feeling brave. Then he followed Ginny around moping when he worried about Harry during the summers. Mum told me. How did you ditch him?"

"I told him I saw a big spider and I was going to hunt it down and kill it for him." She replied with a wicked grin.

Charlie felt such love for this brilliant woman.

"Kreacher wasn't too happy to see us here."

"I bet not. You are…let's see…how does he put it? Oh yeah, 'besmirching the home of his noble mistress.'"

Hermione laughed. Charlie had mimicked Kreacher's tone perfectly. Then her face grew serious again. "Mundungus has nicked lots of stuff from the house."

"That's nothing new. I thought Harry already caught him selling the silver."

Hermione hesitated, "I guess just being here and seeing how much is missing…it was really torn apart."

Charlie studied her face. He was sure she was trying to get him to read between the lines.

"Hermione," he began. She looked intently at him. "Do you think Mundungus is the only one who has been in the house?" She smiled slightly and shook her head. "But you can't openly talk about it?" She nodded. "So you want me to guess?" She smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I feel like we are playing flinch, except I can't sit by you."

Hermione laughed out loud and then covered her mouth. She muttered a quiet spell and then spoke out loud for the first time. "I put up a spell to give me a few minutes. I really can't tell you much, but Harry sent Kreacher to find Mundungus."

"But why would Kreacher obey Harry? He can't stand the lot of us."

"You remember that one night when we were talking about S.P.E.W.?" she asked.

Charlie remembered. It was a great night. He smiled and nodded, encouraging her silently to continue.

"Well, let's just say, Harry figured out a way to gain some favor with Kreacher."

"That's huge Hermione. I know how you feel about house elves rights, but having this one on your side isn't going to hurt."

"That's what we sort of figured too. It took Kreacher three days to find him and then he brought him back here and Mundungus wasn't happy about it. Whenever he was being rude to Harry, Kreacher would whack him over the head with a pot."

Charlie barked out laughing. Hermione started too and before they knew it they were giggling uncontrollably. He noticed tears coming out of her eyes. His stomach was so tight he couldn't breathe. It was like all the worry and stress of the last few days evaporated into happy steam.

After several minutes they managed to get themselves under control.

"Hermione, I know you don't have long. When can I talk to you again? It's two hours difference."

"Which schedule are you on right now?"

"I am on days, but in three more days I switch to nights."

"Okay. Let's see. How about this time three days from now?"

Charlie winced, "That long?"

"I don't want to arouse suspicion."

Charlie nodded even though his heart hurt at the thought of three more long days. "I love you Bookworm. Be safe."

"I love you. You be safe too."

She was gone.

Charlie took the sleeping draught and slept like he was dead for 15 solid hours. Royce's mood improved after he saw him rested. Charlie was even whistling. "Must've been some dream." He commented as he passed Charlie on the way to the training ring. Charlie just smiled and worked every minute he could to help pass the time.

Three days following, he was waiting. Truth be told he had been waiting for an hour to make sure he hadn't missed her. Finally, he saw movement in the mirror. She was here!

"Bookworm!" He called out merrily.

"Well Charlie, what a surprise." She deadpanned. "Fancy meeting you here, so unexpectedly and unplanned." Her smile was the like sun had risen. His heart felt light. He felt like he could do anything just knowing she was okay.

"So how have you been? Anything new going on? Where are you today, it looks lighter?"

"Well, let's see. I am fine. Lots new. And I am in the parlor today wishing you were sitting here next to me." Charlie grinned at her.

"I wish I were there too, it's much more fun to talk to you when you are sitting on my lap."

"Oh Charlie…" He could tell she was blushing.

"I got an owl from Jack today. He is with his family right now and checked up on your parents. They are doing well."

He didn't think it was possible, but the relief on her face made her even more beautiful.

"That's wonderful to hear." She took a deep breath and sighed happily. "At least that's one thing I don't have to worry about right now."

"Are you worrying about a lot?"

"Have you heard about the newest Ministry thing?"

"The Muggleborn Registry? Yeah, it's been in the paper. What a load of dragon dung."

"Definitely. At least I don't have to worry about it here. But Ron may need a headstone soon if he doesn't quit annoying me."

"Send any birds flying his way lately?" Charlie chuckled at his own joke, but Hermione just looked annoyed.

"It's been tempting, but I have showed great restraint."

"What has ickle Ronniekins done now?" Charlie questioned.

Hermione giggled. Did you know that Professor Dumbledore left us each something in his will?"

Charlie nodded. His parents had mentioned it in those tense hours after the wedding fiasco.

"Well, he had this thing that puts lights out. Ron calls it a put-outer, but it's really called a deluminator. I think Professor Dumbledore made it. It's a pretty neat little gadget, but Ron has taken to carrying it in his pocket and fiddling with it. Everytime I try to read and he gets bored, off go all the lights."

Charlie really tried not to laugh, but he couldn't help it. He tried to cover it with a cough, but the laugh broke free. Hermione raised an eyebrow but he saw her lips twitch. "I can see how that would be bothersome." He finally choked out.

"Obviously."

She had imitated Snape dead on. He was gone. He was laughing so hard he actually wheezed. She started to giggle too.

"It's just between following me around, and twiddling with that thing, I feel like I have to be prefect here." Charlie sniggered as she tried to keep a straight face. "I mean honestly, isn't there anything besides Quidditch he could find to amuse himself?"

"Hey now. No slamming the best sport ever." Charlie reprimanded lightly.

"I am not knocking Quidditch, it's just that he can't go play and he is stuggling to find anything else to do. He doesn't cook. He doesn't clean. He doesn't read. Thank goodness for the wizard chess set Mundungus overlooked or else…" she saw the amusement in Charlie's eyes.

"Sorry, for complaining. I guess it's the stress." She got very quiet.

"Don't stop on my account. I love to hear you talk—even if it's whining."

She glared at him but he gave her his best humble look. The look that always got him out of trouble with his mother. She finally relaxed and smiled. "Okay. I am done complaining. Tell me about you."

Charlie told her about the new babies. He told her about Royce's antics. He told her about how much Shadow had grown and the new environment she had moved to now that she was full grown. He loved watching her expressions as she absorbed it all.

After a long while they just looked at each other, knowing it was time but not wanting to part.

"How long?" He murmured.

"Tomorrow?" She suggested quietly. He nodded and kissed his fingers before touching the mirror. A tear trickled down her face as she did the same. And then she was gone.

They talked for several days in a row. Charlie wondered how she was getting away from the boys, but they each seemed to have taken up residence in separate rooms. He could tell there was a lot going on, but she kept the conversations light and short. He would take whatever time he could get with her. She told him that she slept with the mirror under her pillow because sometimes she could hear him calling out to her in his sleep, but then all she could hear was his snoring and it made her feel close to him.

One day a couple of weeks later, she seemed agitated.

"What's bothering you Hermione?"

"What? Oh. It's nothing." She waved her hand and tried to change the subject.

"Come on now, Hermione, I can see it in your eyes and the worry on your face. What happened?"

Hermione began to cry silently. He waited for her to collect herself. After a few loud sniffles, she finally began to speak.

"I said something really awful to Harry. I- It—" She stopped unable to figure out how to continue.

Charlie watched her and waited but she didn't speak again.

"Does this have to do with the conversation we had about Harry and occlumency?" He finally guessed.

Her eyes widened in surprise. He had hit the nail on the head. "How did you—"

"Our conversations are what I cling to right now. I replay them over and over in my head. I figured that there was more to that conversation and have been thinking about it."

"You are very perceptive, Mr. Weasley."

"Thank you. Now spill."

She looked defeated. She chose her words very carefully. "Harry sometimes sees things."

"Like when he saw Dad get hurt?"

She nodded.

"Go on."

"Well, he was supposed to learn to block that out. But he didn't. And…and…and I accused him of wanting to have the connection!" A fresh set of tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I mean, I know he really doesn't, but it just scares me. And it's so awful to watch. He pretends it's not happening and then he excuses himself and we can see he is in excruciating pain and then he starts screaming…" she faded off and took a deep breath.

Charlie sat there stunned. Reality was so brutal. He wished there was some way for him to help, but he knew there wasn't.

"Bookworm?" Hermione stopped sniffling but did not look up. "Bookworm, look at me." She slowly raised her eyes to his. "You knew this would be hard. You told me so. You prepared and prepared. This is just part of what's hard about it, but you are strong. You are smart. You will figure this out. The most important thing is for you to remember that Harry is going to need loyalty and support. You and Ron are it for him. He can't do it without you. No matter how hard it is for you, you have to be strong for him and keep him going."

He saw the resolution fill her eyes. "I won't let him down Charlie. No matter what."

"I know you won't, Hermione. We all know he is the chosen one. I may not know what you are supposed to help him with, but I know it's important."

She nodded.

He decided to change the subject. "So Bill tells me that Tonks is going to have a baby."

Hermione didn't look very surprised.

He looked at her questioningly.

"He came by a while ago." She said simply. Charlie could tell there was much more.

"And?"

"He wanted to go with us. Remus and Harry got in a horrible fight. Harry told Remus to stay home and take care of his kid because that is what parents are supposed to do."

Charlie sat there stunned. Bill had mentioned that Remus was worried about passing on the gene to his child, but he didn't realize that he was freaking out enough to want to run away with Harry, Ron and Hermione. He sat and thought for a moment.

"Sounds like it got ugly."

She nodded but did not say more. She looked around suddenly as if she heard something.

"Do you have to—" She held her finger to her lips cutting him off. He listened intently and he could hear the boys calling for her.

"Charlie, we are going…we have to…well, we figured out something that we have to do. I won't be here to talk to you tomorrow, but I will be here the day after."

Charlie felt like crying, but he didn't. He nodded stoically. She sighed in relief.

"Thank you. Talking with you everyday has helped so much. I love you."

"I love you too Bookworm."

The mirror went blank but he had a bad feeling.

Charlie waited a week but she never came back. His dreams were filled with nightmares about what could've gone wrong. He finally talked to Bill and told him he knew they were at Grimmauld Place, but Bill confirmed his worst fears. The Death Eaters had somehow found it. The three of them must be on the run. The good news was that no one seemed to know where. Fred and George had started a radio program to keep people united against You Know Who. He loved their rebellious spirits that kept everyone laughing. He prayed hard. He worked hard. The other tamers learned not to cross him because he had no patience for stupidity, which is why what happened in early December ticked him off so badly.

Royce and Charlie were working with some new trainees. One was from Romania named Ivan and the other from Australia named Bobby. Both blokes had gone to Durmstrang and were not very keen on authority figures. They challenged Royce and Charlie every chance they got. One day, as they were working with one of the Hungarian Horntails in its enclosure, they were trying to determine if she was going to lay an egg. The two rookies were distracted by a strange noise.

"Charlie!" Royce yelled.

"I hear her!" Charlie yelled back. This horntail wasn't going to lay an egg…she WAS laying an egg. Fire shot out 100 feet. Charlie signaled Bobby to take flight on his broom, but he was frozen to the spot staring at the dragon.

"Move!" Charlie yelled. He saw Royce and Ivan soar into the air on their brooms, but Bobby just sat there staring at the sight before him. Charlie saw the Horntail getting agitated as she made her awful laying roar. Her tail swung up and Charlie could see where it was headed. He flew faster than he ever had in a Quidditch game and aimed his wand at Bobby. He levitated him out of reach but while he was setting him down, the tail switched directions mid swing. The last thing Charlie remembered was the spike coming. He turned and took the brunt of it in his shoulder.

Later, Royce told him that Jack had seen the commotion and distracted the new mother long enough for Royce to get him out of the enclosure. He had a hundred stitches and a concussion, but he would live. The pain was excruciating. It felt like it was burning constantly. They had had to sedate him for three days. When Charlie was finally conscious enough, Jack told him that his courage and resourcefulness had earned him leave to recuperate with his family. Bill would be there in a couple of hours to take him to Shell Cottage for the holidays. Charlie just nodded. It still hurt to move and his jaw was clenched so tightly against the pain, he didn't dare speak.

Just before he left, Bobby came to his tent, hat in hand. "Er, Charlie?"

Charlie merely nodded, wincing.

"Thanks. I owe you my life."

Charlie nodded again and he left.

Charlie had been at Bill and Fleur's for a couple of weeks. He could move his arm again and his head had finally stopped pounding. His parents had been to visit as often as they could, but they were busy with the Order. That didn't stop his mum from fussing though. She had lectured him about safety and then hugged him to death when she discovered he had been injured in a noble attempt to save someone else. Bill had to pry her off reminding her that Charlie was injured. He loved his mother and her enthusiasm.

He was sitting in the garden shivering in the cold and wondering where Hermione might be when he heard the crack of apparition. He was up with his wand drawn in seconds. The only thing that silenced the jinx on his tongue was the sight of the red hair. He ran to the figure and then stopped, staring. It was Ron. He looked around waiting for more pops, but they didn't come. Ron stared at Charlie. Charlie stared at Ron. Ron looked roughed up.

"Where? What?" Charlie stammered. His heart pounding. Ron looked upset. Bill came pounding down the path wand drawn.

"Where's Harry?" He yelled. Ron looked at him somberly.

"I left."

"What?" Bill and Charlie said in such unison they could have been the twins.

"We had uh…um…a disagreement and I, uh, left." Ron stammered feebly, wilting under the anger in his brothers' eyes.

"You had a disagreement?" Charlie said with hostility, barley keeping his fists clenched at his side.

"Yeah. I tried to go back, but they were gone. Then I ran into snatchers and barely made it here."

Bill looked worried. "Are you hurt?"

"No." Ron answered prematurely, because at that moment, Charlie's fist connected with his jaw.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" Ron yelled as Bill held Charlie back.

"YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULD TAKE CARE OF HER!"