Hermione was nervously pacing around her flat. This was so unlike her. She was normally the calm and composed one, not the nervous and the palm sweating type. It was almost 8 o'clock and Charlie was due to be there at any time.

Since she had gotten Charlie's reply accepting her invitation this afternoon, Hermione had thrown herself into a frenzy. She showered and made her way to her closet. After throwing her hands up in despair, she decided to go shopping in Diagon Alley for a new outfit. By the time Hermione had found the perfect outfit (not too casual, but yet not too dressy) she realized that most of the day was now gone and she only had a few hours left till he arrived. She apparated back to her flat and after setting her back bags down realized she had left her place in a complete mess. Hermione performed a quick cleaning spell, and retreated into her bedroom to finish getting ready.

At exactly 8 o'clock, Hermione heard a knock at her door. Opening it, she saw Charlie standing there with a smile on his face and roses in his hand. Hermione smiled back.

"Come on in." she said as she ushered him in.

"I thought you might like these" he smiled extending her the flowers.

"Thank you. They're beautiful."

"They are, but not as beautiful as you. Hermione, you look amazing."

She blushed.

"You look pretty great tonight yourself Charlie."

"Thanks."

"Do you want something to drink? Butterbeer?"

"No thanks, I'm fine."

"Do you want to sit down?"

"Yeah."

Charlie sat on one end of the sofa, while Hermione sat at the other. A moment of awkward silence passed between them before Charlie laughed.

"This is ridiculous. We've never been shy around each other before. That shouldn't change now."

Hermione let out a sigh of relief.

"You're right. I guess I'm just nervous."

"I know, I am too, a bit. We're adult though, so we should be able to do this."

"Absolutely."

"Charlie..."

"Hermione…"

They both had started talking at the same time.

"You go first Charlie."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Alright. Well I guess I should start with last night, when we were in the garden. I had a great time talking to you. To be truthful, up until then, I've always thought about you like you were a sister. But then, when we were talking, I felt like I had been hit over the head and those brother/ sister feelings were knocked out of me and let's just say that I wasn't thinking about you as my little sis anymore."

Hermione let out a small chuckle. Charlie grinned and continued.

"I've always known how intelligent you were and with being around the family for as long as you have, I've also gotten to see how kind, caring, loyal, and brave you are. And I may have been thinking about you as a sister, but I'm not blind. I've always noticed how beautiful you are."

"Charlie, I'm not…" Hermione started to argue.

"Yes you are!" Charlie interrupted her. "Don't ever think that you're not beautiful! You are Hermione."

She blushed again.

"As I was saying, " Charlie smirked, "Last night, it's like I finally woke up and saw what had been in front of me this whole time."

"I know exactly what you mean Charlie. I kept telling myself that my feelings for you weren't right. That you were like this big brother to me and I shouldn't be thinking of wanting you like I was."

Charlie raised his eyebrows.

"Wanting me?"

Hermione blushed.

"You know what I mean." Hermione chided him.

Charlie just smile and nodded. He would let it drop for now, but this was something he was definitely going to come back to.

"Anyway, after we came back inside, you were all I could think about. And then after you came to my flat last night and you kissed me, I realized I couldn't just think like that anymore."

"But you still had some doubts didn't you?"

"How did you know?"

"I had a couple of visitors this afternoon. Ron and Harry came by."

Hermione was so embarrassed. She couldn't believe they did that! She was going to have to have a little talk with her two best friends.

Charlie could see her plotting her revenge. He laughed.

"Don't be mad at them. They were just concerned. They just wanted to know what my intentions were."

"I can't believe them! The nerve!"

"Forget about them for a second. One thing they did say was that you were worried that I maybe wasn't sincere?"

"Not that really Charlie. It's just I didn't know if maybe you were trying to make me feel better and not so alone. I didn't want your pity."

"Hermione…" Charlie started "Pity?"

"I know. You wouldn't do that. Ron actually was very reassuring. He told me you would never do that."

"He's right! I would never play you like that. You mean too much to me."

"I know. This is just new for me Charlie. You asked me to think about it and I did. I've never felt about anyone the way I'm feeling for you. I'm a little scared actually."

Charlie got up and stood in front of Hermione. He took her by the hands and pulled Hermione up in front of him. He gently rubbed his thumbs over the top of her hands.

He spoke in a soft whisper.

"I'm scared too Hermione. No other woman has ever made me feel the way that you are making me feel right now. But it's a good kind of scared. You are very special to me. You are one of my dearest friends. I really feel that we could make us work as more than friends. I would like to try."

Hermione brought her hand up to caress the side of his face.

"So would I Charlie."

He leaned forward and captured Hermione's lips with his. It wasn't hurried and rushed. It started out gentle. Charlie's lips were soft and full. He pulled back a little and looked Hermione in the eyes. He couldn't believe he was going to say this, but it was the truth and he needed to tell her.

"I love you" he whispered.

Hermione searched his eyes and saw the honesty and sincerity in them. She smiled.

"I love you too."

She kissed him again, this time with more passion than before. Charlie's arms encircled her waist and he pulled her close so their bodies were completely touching. He teased her lips with his tongue, urging her to open her mouth and let him in. She consented and their tongues intertwined with one another.

Hermione finally pulled back. They were both breathing hard. She saw a look of love and lust in Charlie's eyes. She was sure hers were conveying the same to him.

"Maybe we should stop for now" he said. "If we don't, I don't know if I will be able to stop at all tonight."

"I agree. As much as I want to be with you Charlie, I don't think tonight is that time."

He nodded.

"And when that time does come, I promise that it will be the most special and exciting time you have ever had."

"As long as I am with you, Charlie, I know it will be."

Hermione leaned up and softly kissed him again.

"I had better go then. I would like to take you out tomorrow night if I might."

"Of course, but don't you have to help patrol at the school?"

"No, it's not my weekend. So I am all yours."

"That sounds perfect. If you want to, come in the morning and we can spend the whole day together?"

"That sounds even better. Goodnight luv."

"Goodnight Charlie."

A/N: thanks for your reviews and I am so glad that you like the story. Keep reading and let me know what you think.