Chapter 9
The next morning, Catherine awoke feeling a little bit better. The smell of pancakes was floating throughout Grimmauld Place, Cate pushed herself out of the bed, rapped her robed around her and headed down to the kitchen.
"Morning." She greeted quietly, smiling.
"Morning." Charlie walked over to her, placing his soft hands around her waist and kissing her gently. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A bit." She smiled, sitting down.
"Good to hear." The young man replied, serving up two plates of pancakes with sliced oranges. The couple ate in silence, when they were finished, Catherine went back up to her room to lie down again. She had only been there a few minutes when she felt Charlie's arms wrap around her. He kissed the back of her head. "Go back to sleep." He whispered softly. Cate snugged into him, and fell fast asleep again.
Throughout the day, Catherine woke up a few times, and still fund Charlie's arms wrapped protectively around her. By six, she had been woken up by her stomach growling. The young woman inched out of the bed, trying not to wake Charlie.
"Cate?" He mumbled, rolling over, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." She sat back down, "I was just getting up to get some food, and to spend some time awake. I want to be able to sleep tonight."
"Ah." Charlie sat up beside her, "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all." Cate smiled softly as he took her hand in his. As he did this, the young man noticed that her skin was still pale, and freezing cold. Though her condition had improved.
The couple had only sandwiches for dinner, as neither of them were up to making something extravagant.
"Are you sure it's okay for you to be here during the week, to miss all that school?" Charlie asked as he sat beside Catherine on the couch.
"I'm pretty sure. I mean, Tonks did suggest it."
"True." The young man replied, pulling Cate toward him.
"I'll be fine with school work, someone's bound to bring it by sometime. Besides, I need a break." Carefully, the young woman lay down on the couch, pulling Charlie with her. She kissed his lips gently.
"Either way, I'm glad you're here with me." They both smiled, Catherine moved herself closer to her boyfriend for warmth. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head softly.
"I love you." Was the small whisper that came from Cate's lips.
"What?" Charlie questioned, looking down at her.
"I said, I love you." The eighteen-year-old looked up into Charlie's eyes, they held the gaze for a short while, then he responded.
"I love you too." He moved close to her, kissing her gently. Catherine then snuggled herself up against him and soon, had fallen asleep.
As she lay there in his arms, Charlie noticed how cold she still was. Cate had warmed up a considerable amount since she had first arrived, but was not yet better. He gently eased himself out of her arms went to the kitchen fireplace. Tossing a handful of floo powder into it, he stuck his head in.
"The Burrow." A moment later, he was facing his father. "Dad?" Mr Weasley looked up.
"Charlie? What do you need?"
"Cate came back here after the dementor attack on Sunday, and she's still in pretty bad shape."
"Has shge had any chocolate?"
"Yes."
"Then it's fine." Arthur sighed, "She'll be okay. From what I've heard, she was over working while under sleeping and eating. Just let her rest."
"All right. Thanks Dad."
"No problem." He replied as Charlie's face vanished from the fire.
