Charlie's Romania

Chapter 2

By Ceeje

The sun was streaming in through his bedroom window, striking Charlie squarely in the face. He raised his left hand to shield his eyes, but stopped at the first jolt of pain. This time, instead, he raised his right hand to his face this time, and opened his eyes. He realized that he was not in his room back at the Burrow, as he had been dreaming. It was a clean, pleasant-smelling room, but one he had never seen before. Charlie instinctively reached for his wand, but noticed that his cloak and shirt had been removed. His side had been re-bandaged. He quickly spotted his clothes on a chair across the room. Before he could even begin to contemplate how to get himself across the room to it, the bedroom door opened.

"Oh, you're awake. I didn't know if you would wake up this morning or not."

Charlie immediately recognized the woman from last night and just as immediately remembered his bare chest. He glanced down. A blanket covered his lower half. Charlie found himself in the unusual position of being embarrassed. Growing up in a house full of kids, he was immune to most methods of embarrassment, having perfected most of them himself. But now, he could feel his cheeks growing pink, a color that didn't go well with his hair.

"Umm…how long have I been asleep?" Charlie asked, almost dreading the answer.

"Oh, just over night," she answered, setting down the tray she had been carrying. She saw him looking at his clothes across the room and blushed too. "I…um…had to remove your cloak and shirt so that I could clean your wound."

Charlie didn't know what to say, so he said nothing.

"I am very good at taking care of the sick. I have done it many times," she added, turning redder and redder with each syllable.

"Thank you. I already feel better," Charlie said, attempting to get up.

"No, you must lie down," she said, hurrying to his side. She placed a hand on his right shoulder and gently pushed him back onto the bed. "I've never seen an infection like that. Where did you get it?"

"I had the misfortune to come across some D--…um…men who were…uh…dangerous," Charlie answered, vaguely. He was sure that this Muggle did not know what a 'Death Eater' was, but the phrase alone was sure to scare her.

"Did they try to rob you?"

"Well...I think they were just looking for trouble." Charlie had just finished the sentence when his stomach made its own statement in the form of a loud growl.

"Oh, I guessed you might be hungry," she said, bringing the tray over to his bed. "Umm…I guess it might be kind of difficult to eat lying down. Hmmm…perhaps I could help you sit up. If we work together, it might not hurt so bad. Alright?"

Charlie didn't quite know what to say, so he just said, "Okay."

She wrapped her arms around him, under his arm, but above the wound. "You just hold on to me and push with your feet okay?"

"You can't lift me up," Charlie protested, feeling his cheeks grow warm again. She smelled like lavender and summer rain.

"Don't worry. I am stronger than I look," she smiled. "Okay?"

Charlie nodded, because he wasn't sure he could speak anymore.

"Okay. On the count of three. One…two…three!"

Charlie held is breath as she pulled and he pushed. He heard her whisper something, but couldn't understand the words. He released his breath in a rush and realized that it hadn't hurt as much as he had expected.

"Thank you…umm…I don't know your name…" Charlie began.

"Adrianna," she smiled again, and this time Charlie noticed the dimples that appeared in each cheek.

"My name is—"

"Charlie. I know. I remember." The dimples appeared again.

Charlie realized that he still had his arms around her, but he didn't want to let go. She seemed to notice their close proximity too, and quickly stood up. She picked up some nearby pillows and fluffed them. Then, she propped the now-fluffed pillows behind him and set the tray on his lap. She did all this without looking directly at him.

"Thanks," Charlie said, wanting to end the awkward moment that was developing. "For the food and the doctoring."

She finally looked at him and smiled again. "You're welcome."

Charlie watched her leave the room. By the time he remembered that there was food in front of him, it was cold. But, he was so hungry that he didn't care. The sausages and toast felt good on his empty stomach.

He pushed the tray away and looked around the room. It was small, but tidy. There was barely enough room for the bed, a wardrobe, a small bedside table, and the small chair his clothes were on. The crisp curtains on the window didn't block out the sunlight, but they did make the room feel comfortable. Charlie suddenly realized that this was a very feminine room: the lilac-colored blanket, the frilly curtains.

Adrianna entered the room with brisk efficiency. "Have you finished?" she asked, indicating his now empty plate.

"Yes, it was great."

Adrianna picked up the tray and turned to go.

"Wait!" Charlie said, startling himself and her.

Adrianna turned back toward Charlie and looked expectantly at him.

"I…um…uhhh…whose room is this?" he managed to finish lamely.

"It's mine," Adrianna replied.

Charlie swallowed the lump that formed in his throat. The room seemed a lot warmer too now. "This is…your room…your bed?" he managed to finally say.

"Yes, but it's okay. I can sleep in the girls' room," Adrianna said, dimpling again.

Charlie started to argue, "I really—"

"No, really. It is okay," she interrupted. "I'll be back in a little while to change your bandages and apply more ointment."

Charlie watched her leave the room, pulling the door to, but not closing it all the way. He could hear some children playing in other parts of the house. He remembered the man mentioned last night, but he thought she had said that she didn't have a husband. Well, Charlie reasoned, you don't have to be married to have children. He felt a little disappointed, but he didn't know why.