Disclaimer: Yet again, I own nothing but the plot.

Chapter Three- A Very Special Book

The next day at breakfast, Charlie Weasley walked down the stairs carrying a red book titles, Quittich Through the Ages.

Upon seeing Hermione sitting at the table, picking at a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast, he said, "Honey, can I talk to you for a moment in the garden?"

For a moment, Hermione didn't move, but then seeming to realize that he was talking to her, she nodded and stood up, then followed him out the back door into the garden.

They were silent for a while before Charlie finally said; "I had a little talk with my baby sister yesterday."

Hermione cursed under her breath. "I told her not to say anything. I swear, sometimes that girl is as deaf as a ninety year-old man."

Charlie laughed. "Never trust anything that Ginerva Molly Weasley says she won't do."

Hermione flushed slightly. "Listen, I'm sorry I know you must think I'm horribly ungrateful."

Charlie laughed and shook his head. "No, actually, I think anyone might be a bit suspicious if someone agreed to marry someone so willingly, especially when they didn't know that people that well."

"Well…"

"Let me explain. You remember I mentioned my best mate, Keith?"

"Yes."

"Well, we've always been that way, ever since I arrived in Romania. Well, now I've been replaced."

"I'm sure that's not true," Hermione commented.

"Oh yes, it is. And her name is Mrs. Angela Rose, and she's his wife."

"I'm thinking that you don't like her that much?"

"Hah, I like Bill's wife more than her and that is saying something."

"I didn't think it was possible for anyone to hate someone's wife more than that little French poodle," Hermione said.

"Trust me, it's possible. Anyway, Angela cannot cook, clean, or shut up for more than five seconds. She hates dragons and loves to point out how stupid we must all be for 'being in love with a bunch of overgrown lizards'. And yet, you just see Keith walking around with this huge grin plastered on his face, singing a merry little tune to himself."

"Well, that is disturbing."

"Wait until you've actually seen it," Charlie retorted.

"All right. So let me guess, you're jealous of Keith?"

"Maybe a little bit. Or a lot."

Hermione smiled and replied, "It's all right, everyone gets lonely. I am most of the time."

"That's hard to imagine," Charlie supplied, but before Hermione should answer, he continued, "Oh, yeah. I got you something." And then he handed her the book.

She perked up but tried to hide her disappointment at discovering the volume's title. "Oh, thank you, Charlie, that was very kind of you."

Charlie laughed, for he could hear the force behind the compliment. "Look inside the book sweetheart."

Hermione noticed for the first time the use of an endearment from Charlie. She kept her mouth shut though as she opened the book. The first thing she noticed was the large oval hole going through most of the pages, and the second thing was the emerald ring in the center of the oval.

For a minute she didn't say anything, then when she finally did find her voice again, it was to ask, "Is this for me?"

"No, actually it's for Ron. Of course it's for you, love. Every soon-to-be bride needs a ring for her finger."

Hermione shook her head. "Charlie, you didn't have to buy a ring. If anything, I should have gotten you something for saving my neck."

"I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. Besides, we have to look convincing. Come on, put it one, and see how it looks," he replied. Then he added, "And the book is for you too. We can always repair the hole in it though if you want to read it."

"Never," she answered as she slipped the beautiful ring on. "It's lovely, Charlie, thank you." Hesitantly, she kissed him on the lips, leaving her lips to linger for just an extra moment.

Charlie smiled. "Well, you're welcome, Mrs. Weasley."

Hermione looked bemused for a moment but then it was replaced with a look of realization. Softly, she said, "I'm going to be a Mrs. Weasley."

Charlie laughed again, and Hermione took a moment from her thoughts to decide that his laugh was a great sound. He replied, "Yes, you are. Mrs. Hermione Weasley. Or—Mrs. Charlie Weasley. I happen to like the second one better."

Hermione smiled and slapped him slightly on the arm. "Well of course you like the second one, it mentions you."

"Of course, you are going to be my wife."

Hermione shook her head. "What kind of man am I marrying?"

Charlie slapped his knee, obviously just remembering something. "That's what I need to talk with you about."

"What?"

"Well, I feel that since we are going to be married, and since it has to look as though we were dating for a while, that we get to know a bit about each other and about us."

"Us?"

"Yes, like where was out first date?"

Hermione thought for a moment before answering, "Our first date was on Valentine's Day, you can to visit me and took me out to a very nice restaurant."

"All right, and when was our first kiss?"

"Third date, we had a picnic in the park and you kissed me as we sat beneath a tree. Very sweet and very chaste."

"Where did I propose to you?"

"I don't know, why do I have to think up all the stories?" Hermione replied shaking her head.

"Fine, fine," Charlie commented. A minute later, he said, "I proposed to you after we had a nice, candle lit dinner at home. I told you that I loved you and that I would give anything in the world to make you my wife, even if it meant quitting my job and moving back to England. Thankfully, you didn't make me do any such thing."

"That sounds wonderful. But now—" Hermione didn't have a chance to finish that sentence, because suddenly Charlie kissed her, and unlike their kisses before, this one wasn't small or sweet. It was hot and passionate, and it only took one moment before Hermione was kissing him back, her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

They stayed in the position for a good while, until Charlie finally decided that the need for air was too important and pulled away. Huskily, he whispered, "I think it best that we go inside love, before our family begins to think up ideas of why we've been gone so long."

Hermione opened her eyes, and followed Charlie back into the house, too confused about what had just happened to say anything. They were greeted with stares and open mouths as they entered the house; obviously, everyone had been watching the couple in the garden. Charlie asked, "Is something wrong?"

Fred was the first to say anything, though it was not in response to Charlie's question. Instead, he looked to Hermione and asked, "Hermione, could you please come here?"

Hermione thought about refusing, but then Fred didn't seem to have any product from his gift shop on him, and she was curious about what he wanted, so she carefully walked over to stand next to Fred. Suddenly, she was swung up and placed on his shoulder. She screamed, "Fredrick Weasley, what do you think you're doing?"

Fred laughed and tried to keep her from squirming. "I think I'm trying to welcome you to the family, you see, after Bill got married, we came up with a little idea for every future bride to some into the Weasley family. Now quit wiggling or else you're going to fall, and I think that might hurt."

Hermione held still and waited for the worst. Fred ordered, "All right brothers, let's get ready. Everyone in his position? Good."

Then there was a sudden pain on Hermione's rear, as if someone had just hit her. She yelled, "Fred!"

"Be quiet, Hermione. Now, we…"

She was suddenly passed onto George's shoulder, who also spanked her before saying, "would..."

Then it was to Bill, who continued, "just…"

Ron, who could actually hold her securely on his shoulder, added, "like…"

Finally, there was Charlie, who spanked her as well, without any reserves. "to…"

Back to Fred again. "welcome…"

George. "you…"

Then to the eldest Wealsey. "to…"

Ron again, who seemed to show no remorse for hitting his supposed best friend on the arse. "the…"

Charlie again, Hermione hopped he wouldn't hit his future wife; her rear was starting to get numb. He did though. "family."

Hermione thought that would be the end of it, but no, she was once again passed to Fred, who said, "Hermione…"

Then to his twin. "we…"

Bill then placed her on his shoulder. "love…"

Ron. "you…"

Charlie continued, "and…"

"we…" Fred continued.

Then to George, "know…"

Once again to Charlie's only older brother. "Charlie…"

"does too," Ron finished.

But instead of being put down, she was once again passed to Charlie, who put her feet on the ground again. Hermione was angry about being passed around and slapped like a doll, and she was just about to yell at her fiancé when he kissed her much like he had done outside in the garden.

When Hermione pulled away, everyone was clapping and laughing. She smiled despite what she had just been through and said, "You do know that I'm not going to be able to sit for hours thanks to you and your brothers."

George replied, "Herms, I don't think Charlie really cares whether you can sit or not as long as you can lie down."

Nancee hit George on the back of his head. "George Weasley, control that mouth of yours."

Hermione blushed though Charlie laughed and replied, "Actually, for once my brother is right."

Hermione hit Charlie in the chest playfully. "Charles Weasley, don't be saying such things to your family."

"You know you love me," Charlie grinned before giving a large, exaggerated kiss on the cheek.

Hermione thought, Yes, I think I do.