Several hours later, Charlie and Arabella were still sitting in the
small room, a merry fire and cozy armchairs in attendence. The comforts of
the place did not detract from their purpose, or their enthusiasm.
"Charlie, I think it might actually work!" Arabella exclaimed with a laugh. She was still getting over the shock of the idea. "This is so crazy, there's no way the Dark Lord would ever suspect it!"
"I know it will! It has to!" Charlie Weasley said cheerfully. "Especially with Harry gone," he said, with a quiet sigh. His head hung slightly. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
Just then, Arabella noticed how young he was. She was older by fifteen years, at least, than the second eldest son of the Weasleys. His bristly red hair and short, stocky build made him seem even younger.
Arabella just reached out a hand and patted his shoulder. "I know it's hard. You knew Harry, didn't you?"
He nodded. "He stayed at the Burrow last summer, went to the Quidditch World Cup with us. He was a great kid, would have been a great kid without being famous. You could tell he couldn't stand the whole thing, how much we praised him. You could tell he thought he was just an ordinary kid. I miss him."
Arabella felt helpless. This was too much. Everyone missed her godson so terribly, it was unbearable. She wished she had known him better. Hesitantly, she patted Charlie's shoulder. "It's all right. I know how you feel." She had to change the subject, this was much too much. "Who else is working with us on this?"
"I suspect Hagrid will be involved as soon as he returns," Charlie replied, a ghost of his smile returning. "And I doubt that Professor Black, Remus Lupin, or Mundungus Fletcher would ever forgive me if they found out and I didn't invite them. I just wanted to approach you first. Your specialty and mine are rather similar, as you well know."
"My hobbies of late have not been anything resembling this sort of project. I've been engaged in somewhat more mundane affairs." Arabella checked her wristwatch. "Oh gods! It's rather late. I have to go take care of something. Why don't we discuss this, say, tomorrow, about five o'clock?"
Charlie nodded swiftly. "Of course. I have to get back to the burrow, before Mum starts to worry overmuch. Thanks for your assistance, Professor." With that, they both left, going their seperate ways.
"Charlie, I think it might actually work!" Arabella exclaimed with a laugh. She was still getting over the shock of the idea. "This is so crazy, there's no way the Dark Lord would ever suspect it!"
"I know it will! It has to!" Charlie Weasley said cheerfully. "Especially with Harry gone," he said, with a quiet sigh. His head hung slightly. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
Just then, Arabella noticed how young he was. She was older by fifteen years, at least, than the second eldest son of the Weasleys. His bristly red hair and short, stocky build made him seem even younger.
Arabella just reached out a hand and patted his shoulder. "I know it's hard. You knew Harry, didn't you?"
He nodded. "He stayed at the Burrow last summer, went to the Quidditch World Cup with us. He was a great kid, would have been a great kid without being famous. You could tell he couldn't stand the whole thing, how much we praised him. You could tell he thought he was just an ordinary kid. I miss him."
Arabella felt helpless. This was too much. Everyone missed her godson so terribly, it was unbearable. She wished she had known him better. Hesitantly, she patted Charlie's shoulder. "It's all right. I know how you feel." She had to change the subject, this was much too much. "Who else is working with us on this?"
"I suspect Hagrid will be involved as soon as he returns," Charlie replied, a ghost of his smile returning. "And I doubt that Professor Black, Remus Lupin, or Mundungus Fletcher would ever forgive me if they found out and I didn't invite them. I just wanted to approach you first. Your specialty and mine are rather similar, as you well know."
"My hobbies of late have not been anything resembling this sort of project. I've been engaged in somewhat more mundane affairs." Arabella checked her wristwatch. "Oh gods! It's rather late. I have to go take care of something. Why don't we discuss this, say, tomorrow, about five o'clock?"
Charlie nodded swiftly. "Of course. I have to get back to the burrow, before Mum starts to worry overmuch. Thanks for your assistance, Professor." With that, they both left, going their seperate ways.