Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the affiliated characters. Joanne K. Rowling is kind enough to allow me to use her characters to place in my own plot and ridiculous situations. Thank you, JKR, for your kindness.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

"What is it love?" His voice was soft, as he sat next to her on her bed, rubbing her back in small circles.

"I-I. . ." She trailed off, stiffened her resolve and plunged in. "I went to Madame Pomfrey today, because I wasn't feeling quite up to par."

"Is everything alright?" He stiffened suddenly, thinking that Voldemort had implanted an incurable disease in her.

"Yes, and no. I don't know, really. I mean, I don't feel too well, but. . . it's not exactly a bad thing." Elizabeth whispered, half afraid.

"Then, what's wrong, love?"

"Charlie, I-I'm. . . what I mean to say is. . ." Elizabeth took a deep breath, "I'm pregnant Charlie. Almost three months pregnant, that is."

Charlie sat there, a smile itching its way across his face, his eyes dreamy and distant. He was going to have a baby. A child. He was going to have a child. HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A CHILD.

"Are you. . .sure?"

"Yes." Elizabeth replied bitterly. She knew he'd hate her, if only. . .

Charlie jumped off the bed, whooping and jumping around. "I'M GONNA BE A DADDY!" He yelled, looking for all the world as if he had just won the lottery, excitement brightened his features, the worry of a few moments before melting off of him. He looked at Elizabeth, grinning. "You. . .we. . .created life!" He stopped mid-jump, his eyes burning brightly, he grabbed Elizabeth, jerking her up, not roughly, and hugged her to him tightly. "We're going to have a baby." He whispered against her lips, "I think this calls for celebration."

Elizabeth blinked. And then Charlie was off, dragging her down the hallway towards the Great Hall, careening at a speed that was almost dangerous.

*~*~*~*

Charlie burst through the door, right in the middle of the Great Hall, whooping with joy. Most of the students stopped mid-bite, watching the 'Eccentric Weasley' with more than a little trepidation. Anyone who voluntarily played with Dragons had to be a bit on the mad side.

He made straight for the Head Table, his smile bright and huge.

"Charlie?" Bill was looking at his brother as if he wasn't sure what to make of him. He then turned his attention to Elizabeth's crimson face, but bright smile. * What in the world?* He thought, shaking his head.

Charlie ignored his brother, stepping onto the dais that supported the Head Table, turning to face the entire hall. "I have an announcement to make." His smile was infectious as he pulled Elizabeth up to join him. "Elizabeth and I. . .we're. . .well, we're going to have a child!"

Silence reigned for a moment, then chaos erupted in the form of deafening cheers from a multitude at the Gryffindor Table. Bill, Raya, Skylar, and Danielle were looking at the two with a mixture of pride and worry.

"THAT'S NOT ALL!" Charlie yelled over the noise, and was gratified to see silence return. He turned to Elizabeth, who was looking at him quizzically.

Charlie smiled, then sank down to one knee. "Elizabeth, I've known that ever since I laid eyes on you, you were to be mine, and mine only." He almost whispered. "I think I loved you from the moment you saved my life, from the moment you looked into my eyes and told me your name. I couldn't imagine living my life without you. I. . .I tried. I couldn't forget you, nor did I want to. I spent the most miserable year of my life trying. But. . .now, now that I have a chance to right that particular wrong, I'm going to. . ." He took a deep breath, looking straight into Elizabeth's eyes. "Elizabeth Renee Trenton, will you marry me?"

A collective gasp came from all the females in the Great Hall.

Elizabeth blinked away the tears of joy that clouded her vision. "I-I." She stuttered, then just barely whispered, "Yes."

Charlie smiled, stood, and pulled her into an earth-shattering kiss. Elizabeth melted into his embrace, her happiness palpable.

*~*~*~*

Hermione grinned, flopping onto one of the red couches nearest the fire. "That was so. . ."

"Romantic?" Pansy supplied, flopping on another. She eyed the crimson room. "Why red and gold?" She muttered.

"Yes, romantic!" Hermione sighed. "I can't believe it, my cousin is pregnant and engaged. Wow."

"Wow's right." George laughed, "Wait till he tells Mum."

Fred made the sound of an axe falling, then a morbid expression crossed his face. "Here lies Charles Damien Weasley, beloved fiancé, son, and brother. May he Rest In Peace, and let all other Weasley boys take heed of his mistake."

"Fred!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing a pillow at the offending Weasley Twin. "Your Mum is going to be so excited!"

"I wish something like that would happen to me." Ginny sighed wistfully. As one, all Weasley boys in the room eyed Harry.

"On second thought Ginny, marriage is such a huge step." Harry stated, stepping behind Ginny.

"Are you saying, Potter, that you would not marry our sister if you so foolishly got her pregnant?" George asked, threateningly.

"Uh, no? Yes? Maybe?" Ginny turned to glare at Harry. "Er. . .definitely no."

"Potter, a word." Ginny stood, grabbing hold of Harry's tie and leading him from the room.

George grinned infectiously, "He is so whipped."

"And you aren't?" Draco questioned, glancing at the possessive hand Hermione had laid on the Twin's arm.

"No." He stated, smirking, "Because she doesn't have to whip me into submission, unless I ask for it."

"GEORGE!" Hermione shrieked, glaring at him.

"Kinky. . ." Fred grinned.

"Man, kinky doesn't begin to describe my Mya." George stated, dodging a swat aimed at his head. "She is so. . ."

"So what?" Seamus glanced over at the little group suspiciously.

"So very studious, my dear Finnegan." George replied, winking at his Twin.

"Oh." Seamus replied, disappointed, and turned back to his chat with Dean and Parvati.

*~*~*~*

"What are you going to tell Mum?" Bill glanced at his younger brother in worried interest.

"The truth?" Charlie replied, too ensconced with enveloping his arms about his bride-to-be, than thinking about the Weasley Matriarch's rather volatile temper.

"Ah yes, just tell Mum, she'll understand."

"What? That I'm marrying the girl of my dreams, and that we are going to give her the first grandchild?"

"What about you?" Danielle regarded her youngest sister pointedly. "What will you tell Mom and Dad?"

"That I've captured Charlie again." Elizabeth replied, melting into her fiancé's embrace willingly. "And that he's asked me to marry him. Finally."

"Finally?" Bill raised an eyebrow. "Just how serious were you two in the States?"

"Serious." Both Charlie and Elizabeth sighed. "Very serious."

"We were going to get married before." Elizabeth whispered. "But. . . I just couldn't up and leave like that. I couldn't bring myself to break away."

"And now?" Raya prodded.

"And now. . .now I know something I didn't then. I know how hard it is to love and lose, and that you shouldn't let the opportunity slip by you again."

Charlie placed a gentle kiss on Elizabeth's head, breathing in her sweet scent of summertime dew. His left hand strayed down to her still flat stomach, caressing it slowly, as if assuring himself that there was indeed a tiny life-form living in there.

"But, won't this make you both susceptible to Voldemort?" Skylar questioned, her face growing grave.

"Not if he believes the child I carry is the spawn that he implanted in me." Elizabeth replied, letting out a soft sigh as Charlie's feather-soft touch glided across her clothing.

*~*~*~* A/N: I decided to end it there because, hey, that's what author's do. . .Ah well, do me a favor and RR. Okay? Okay.

Love,

~Me~