Disclaimer: I still don't own anything. If I did do you really think I would write it for free on the Internet?

Author's Note: Now, I bet you weren't expecting that. And if you were, I'm a really bad writer, so just pretend you weren't. Thank you.

Chapter Five- You What?

Hermione ran down those stairs that it was a miracle that she didn't trip and break her neck. At the bottom she saw Olette, Nancee, and Luna, all of whom seemed to be talking as they drank tea. Nance was the first to notice the brown-haired witch and said, "Hello, Hermione. Mrs. Weasley told us about your plans for the wedding, they sound wonderful. Wait, are you all right, you look a bit pale."

Yes, I'm all right, I only just told my future husband that I love him. You know, with any other person that sentence would make absolutely no sense, yet for me, it works. Hermione didn't say this out loud though, instead, she replied, "Yes, I'm fine. Do you know where Ginny is?"

"Wasn't she just with you?" Luna answered.

"Yes, but then she left and I just really need to find her right now."

"Ginny, Ginny, Ginny. Oh yes, I think she just went into the back yard," Olette replied.

Hermione nodded her thanks and rushed out the back door. There she found Ginny sitting by the pond, sun bathing. The first words out of Ginny's mouth where, "What is wrong now Hermione? And please don't tell me that you feel too strange marrying a stalker, because Bill did the same thing to Fleur and look at them now."

"No, actually, I told Charlie something."

"Hermione don't tell me that you told him that we were going through his things, because Charlie is a very private person."

Hermione shook her head and sat down next to the younger girl. "No, actually I told him that I love him."

Ginny shot right up at that statement. "You what? You told my brother that you love him? Why?"

Hermione replied without thinking, "Because I do. He's nice and he's sweet, and intelligent. Granted, not as intelligent as Bill or the twins, but he's still ahead of Ron."

Ginny snorted, "Hermione, a rock is more intelligent than Ron. But you've only known him a few days, before it was simply a marriage of convenience."

"Ginny, are you telling me that you're upset that I'm willing going to marry Charlie. Because there are worse things than loving your husband."

Ginny shook her head. "No, it just seems like everything is moving so fast. Before it was the law and now you love him?"

"Ginny, I know everything is going fast, I'm the one stuck in the middle of it remember. It's just like when you take an indoor flower and plant it outside."

"Okay, I don't get that expression," Ginny replied with a bemused expression.

Hermione laughed and explained, "You see, now I'm the flower and Charlie's the outside. Now, since I've just been planted outside, I can either try to remember my days as a house plant and whither or I can accept the love of the sun and flourish outside."

Ginny nodded her head slowly. "Well, I'm not entirely sure I get it, but let's go with that. What are you going to do now?"

Hermione shrugged and plucked at the grass. "I've made my move, now its Charlie's turn."

"Well, let's just not sit here waiting for it, let's go shopping or at least get our hair done, since you already have enough clothing from my lovesick brother."

The two girls stood and raced backed to the house to grab, in Ginny's case, more appropriate clothing, and their bags.

At dinner that night, everything was quiet, which was an oddity in the Weasley household, though perhaps that could be credited with the twins being held upstairs in their room from when they blew up Mrs. Weasley's favorite, though ugly, bowl.

Charlie hadn't said anything to Hermione about what had happened before, though she took notice of how his endearments changed from 'dear', 'sweetheart', and 'love' to 'my dear', 'my sweetheart', and 'my love'. But still she wished he would make things more clear, for Hermione was starting to get a headache from all the thinking she was doing on the matter.

Finally, it came when Mr. Weasley asked, "So how go the wedding plans?"

Before Hermione had the chance to say anything, Charlie replied, "Actually, I was thinking of changing the wedding date."

Everyone looked interested at that, though it was Bill that asked, "Oh, to when?"

"Next week."

Unfortunately, Hermione spit out the chicken and mashed potatoes that had been in her mouth as soon as those words left his mouth. Even worse was that they ended up all over Ron, who commented, "Thank you, Hermione, but I do have a plate of my own food."

Mrs. Weasley asked, "Charlie, dear, did you even talk with Hermione about this move?"

"Of course, I did. I spoke with her after I got out of the shower. She and Ginny were in the attic, but then Ginny left, so Hermione and I had a nice little chat."

Ginny slapped her head. "Thank you, Charlie, I was hoping to get rid of that picture of you in a towel, but you just brought it right back."

"You're welcome, little sis."

"Charlie, don't you think that a longer engagement might be more appropriate?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Charlie heard the meaning behind those words though; Don't you think that it would be better to have a long engagement so people don't think you're marrying Hermione because of the law?

Charlie gave a cheeky grin and replied, "Not at all."

Just as Hermione was taking a sip of water to rid herself of the aftertaste of her meal, Nancee chose to ask, "Hermione, you aren't pregnant are you? You can tell us if you were, we would really happy."

Once again the contents of Hermione's mouth were spilled all over Ron. "Hermione, if you're trying to imply that I smell, I've got the hint and I'll take a shower as soon as we finish eating," Ron replied.

"Actually, as it's been stated before, I am not pregnant, Nancee," Hermione answered.

Mrs. Weasley continued, "Charlie, don't you think this is a bit early? I mean, we don't want to pressure anyone. And you must also think of all the work that must be done so quickly." By this she meant, Charlie, if you get married next week, that means that the marriage is going to have to consummated that night, don't you think that's a little early for Hermione? And besides, we've already filed all the paperwork stating your marriage in three months.

Charlie retorted, "Actually, I think we would be perfectly ready for a wedding next week. And any work already done and can just be redone. But why don't we ask Hermione?" Charlie turned to face his bride-to-be, who sat at his left. "I think we are absolutely ready to get married next week, my love, but what do you think?"

It didn't escape Hermione's notice that when the heavy said words were placed in a sentence of their own, they had a very special meaning. She grinned, "I think next week would be absolutely fine. Besides, it was going to be an intimate affair, so it doesn't really make a difference how much time is given. Most of the people attending are in this very room."

Ginny and Mrs. Weasley looked shocked but didn't say anything else about it. The dinner fell silent again, that is until there was a loud bang from the upstairs, to which Mrs. Weasley replied, "What in Merlin's name have they done now?"

"Hermione, can I ask you a question?" Ginny questioned as the pair lay on her bed again, this time flipping through a set of magazines as their toe nails dried.

"Go ahead."

"Why do you love, Charlie?"

Hermione smiled and replied, "Because he's kind…"

"So is an old lady."

"and sweet…"

"Candy is sweet too."

"loyal…"

"Isn't loyalty what Ron is for? I mean that's all he's good at, being loyal."

"cute…"

"So's a puppy."

"intelligent…"

"Not really."

"and he loves me."

"You said he was on the borderline of stalker, what's to say he won't change once you're married?"

Feigning innocence, Hermione asked, "Do you hate me, Ginny?"

"No, why?"

"Then why is it that you won't allow me to marry your brother? For every reason I have for liking Charlie, you have something to say. Can't you just be happy for me?"

Ginny's face was flushing and her temper was growing. "Not when I don't know what's going on! Hermione, you can't blame me for being curious, he's been my brother longer than he's known you. And I just don't think this is a very good match."

Hermione stood up, completely forgetting about her feet. "Ginny, what is wrong with you? You were perfectly fine with all this before, you were helping me, but now you're acting as if this is the worst thing in the world."

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Yes, and you want to know why? Charlie told me something while you were off talking with those two airheads, Olette and Nancee. He told me that earlier today he'd sent a letter to his boss, asking for a desk position. Charlie asked for the opportunity to sit at a desk and read papers all day, that doesn't make any sense. Then when I told him that, he said that he didn't want anything to worry you and that it wasn't just him anymore, now he was going to have a family to worry about. As if I wasn't his family. He never took a desk position for me, but yet he's taking one for you, you're his family, while I'm not."

"Well, if this how you act when he makes a decision, I'm not surprised that he doesn't consider you family. You're acting like a jealous baby, always wanting another's lollipop."

"If you think I'm such a baby, Hermione, why don't you just leave? Go and hang on to your husband while you can, because I can guarantee you that this marriage is not going to last more than a month, and then you're going to be stuck with each other for ten miserable years."

Hermione couldn't stop herself, she struck out and slapped Ginny across the cheek and then leaving the room afterwards, still wearing the toe separators. Hermione marched down the stairs to the living room to see everyone still and quiet, apparently they had heard the yelling and decided to play that old game of it you don't mention it, neither will I. Everyone excluding Hermione and Ginny was in the living room, though her eyes were only focused on her fiancé. Gravely, she asked, "Charlie, can I please speak to you alone?"

Charlie looked frightened for a moment but then stood up and followed Hermione outside. "Is something the matter, my love?"

"Yes, something is the matter. Why didn't you tell me? I should have been the first to know, not Ginny."

Charlie reached out for Hermione, but she backed away as if he was a snake. Trying to hide his hurt, Charlie replied, "I didn't think that it would matter so much. Besides I wanted to surprise you, to let you know that I loved you too."

"But why me? Why not Ginny? Or Fred or George or Bill even? Why not your mother or father? Why some girl like me?"

Charlie shook his head. "Love, what are you talking about?"

Hermione swiped at the tears that were freely running down her face. "Ginny told me that you'd asked to take a desk position."

"Is that what this is about? I thought you were upset about moving the wedding date up. Why did I do it? Because I love you and I realized that I can't just go off risking my neck. I'm going to have a family now."

"Charlie, you already have a family. You've had one for the last twenty-four years. You never once thought of giving up your job for them, but yet you don't even think twice about giving it up for me. What about the rest of your family? How come you never offered to give it up for Ginny? Or the twins or Bill? How come you never offered to take a desk position for your mother, Charlie? Why?"

Charlie just stood there for a moment, thinking over what Hermione had just asked him. Finally, he replied, "Because I guess they weren't important enough for me."

"But I am? A girl who you almost never talked to? Of course there's always your little obsession, but still Charlie!"

"Obsession? What are you talking about Hermione, you aren't making any sense."

Hermione looked up at him defiantly, though the effect was somewhat ruined by her tears. "I found that box under your bed, Charlie. The one with all those pictures of me. What are you, some kind of pervert?"

Charlie's face went from impassive to angry in a split second. "You went through my things? Is that what you two were doing in the attic when I walked in yesterday? How could you, that box is apart of my personal belongings. What did you think you were doing?"

"I was trying to figure out why the perfect Charlie Weasley would marry the know-it-all Hermione Granger."

"Is everything you tell me a lie, Hermione? Has this all been a part of some act on your part? Because believe it or not, I actually believed you when you told me that you loved me."

"Well, if you don't believe anything I say, then why are you still here? Why don't you just leave? If it's because of me, you can just forget your promise, I don't need you. I can find someone else to marry before the time's over."

Charlie's nostrils flared and his face was the same color of his hair. Slowly, he stated, "Fine, you don't need me? Then I guess I'll just leave, after all, there's no reason to stay here. Not there was in the first place." Then with a loud pop, he was gone.

Hermione screamed, "I hate you Charles Weasley," before she sank to her knees and let loose her sobs.