AN: Time for chapter 2. Now, just so everyone understands, this is AU. I would think a Charlie/Hermione romance would be obvious that it's not canon but apparently I was wrong. As such, some people who lived in canon don't in this story and some that died in canon live because that's just how this story has to roll. Enjoy!

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Hermione groaned as she began waking up and realizing the massive pain she had in her shoulders and head. She tried to remember where she was.

She was very warm, felt a bit crowded which was confusing. She opened her eyes and moaned in pain which caused her bed to start moving. Why would my bed move?

"Hermione, sweetheart, are you alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked reaching in to gently tuck her hair behind her ear and fuss over the witch she loved dearly. She was as good as a daughter to Molly as if she'd been born to her.

"Happened?" she asked the older witch scratchily right as Madame Pomfrey reached her side and gave her water and a few potions.

Hermione tried to scoot up in her hospital bed only to be hauled up against someone's chest. That was why she was so warm and snuggled somebody was in the bed with her.

She peaked over her shoulder and sucked in a gasping breath. "Charlie!" Then her brow furrowed and she turned back to Molly. "What am I missing here?"

"Oh Hermione, we have a lot to discuss. Poppy said once you woke up and took your potions she would let you leave, you had a torn rotator cuff and a concussion. I promise we will tell you all we know but I hope you will be patient enough to wait until we go to the Burrow. Everyone who made it went back this morning to shower, rest, eat and just be in the privacy of home for a bit. I promised to stay with you, so did Charlie and we would bring you home."

Hermione nodded her head in agreement and once again tried to get up and once again failed.

"Charlie, let the poor girl go!" Molly scolded as she wacked him on his chest. Charlie awoke with a startle and sat up apologizing to Hermione.

Madame Pomfrey gave nourishment and pain potions for Hermione to Mrs. Weasley who added them to her bag and listened to the final instructions and warnings for Hermione's care as Hermione dressed behind a curtain in privacy.

Once everything was settled the three people used the floo connection in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts to return home to the Burrow.

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Hermione exited the floo at the Burrow and looked at all the family gathered in the living room looking worn and haggard. She noticed some of the family wasn't present but assumed they were napping, or getting rest.

Hermione barely had time to register the two people flying her way until she was having the life squeezed out of her. She gave a little giggle, "I'm ok you scamps! Now let me breathe please."

She was returning Harry and Ron's hugs when Charlie came through and growled at them. She turned his way with a stunned look on her face.

Charlie was the most laid back and quiet Weasley, he was always intense but rarely spoke. He'd always been a mystery to Hermione and one day she'd get around to solving it but just now his attitude was seriously pissing her off.

"Just what the bloody fuck is your problem Charlie Weasley? You have been acting strangely since I woke up." She demanded and he looked stunned.

Suddenly a fearful idea popped in her brain and she immediately pulled her wand on him.

"Hermione no! Wait until we explain please." Harry begged.

"No Harry, you don't understand. He's not acting like Charlie, we need to make sure."

"What did you help Ron, Harry, Hagrid and me do first year? Including both pet names." Hermione asked Charlie.

Everyone gathered winced at her reaction because it wasn't promising to the news she would be given shortly.

Charlie sighed and rubbed his hand down his face frustratingly. "I received a letter from my baby brother for help relocating a baby dragon. The original name Hagrid picked was Norbert but that was changed to Norberta when we discovered she was in fact not a male dragon."

Hermione lowered her wand. "Sorry, I had to check. War instincts I guess."

Molly Weasley arrived into the tense atmosphere and Bill and Fleur hurried to her side to hold her and help guide her to her regular chair where her knitting sat waiting for her.

"We may as well bring Hermione up to date with all that has happened since she was injured." Molly said tiredly.

Everyone gathered close and instead of spreading around the room they gathered like young children on the floor around her chair to lend her strength.

Hermione was very confused at this point but joined them, sitting next to Ginny and Charlie sat next to her making her wonder once again about his oddness today.

"Dear first thing is I want you to know how much I am indebted to you for saving Charlie from death. That wolf wasn't aiming for biting he went for the kill and nobody could get there in time. Then your incredibly, beautiful wolf appeared out of nowhere and my boy was saved." She reached out and squeezed Hermione's hand in her own.

"Now, as you can see we are down a couple of family members. That is because Percy and Ar, Arth, Arthur didn't survive. Percy was killed in the castle when he pushed Freddie out of the way when a wall exploded behind them. Arthur was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange who then tried to kill Ginny an hour later. She is dead now instead of Ginny. I owed that bitch a lesson." Molly cried.

Hermione whimpered in grief and unknowingly leaned into Charlie when he heard and wrapped his arms around her for comfort.

"She was the one who hurt me not too long ago." Hermione said softly. "Thank you for me not having to fear her anymore."

"There is something else we need to talk with you about as a family 'Mione." Harry said seriously, scooting over and taking her hand to soothe her.

"Did someone else die, what happened? Harry did we get him this time?" She wanted to know.

"Well after we split up Ron and I found the missing diadem of Ravenclaw, and it was destroyed by fire when Crabbe lost control of his spell. We saved Malfoy, Zabini, Goyle, and Nott. Threw Nott an extra broom and he grabbed Goyle but I still don't know how, he's a gorilla if you catch my meaning. Anyway, Malfoy jumped on mine and Ron took Zabini and we escaped. Crabbe didn't make it."

"At that point all that was left was the snake and Tom and we saw the explosion in the hallway. We thought it was both Percy and Fred but luckily we found Fred was alive just suffering a head wound and a couple broken bones. So we moved him to a safe place out of the line of fire and headed for the chamber of secrets for a few weapons." He said while looking at her so she knew not to give away what they would want there.

At Hermione's discreet nod, "Anyway, I looked for Tom in my head and found him so we went to see if we could get at Nagini but instead we watched him kill Snape using the snake. He gave me some memories before he died on Dumbledore's orders. I had to go face Tom alone and die which I did. I will explain in more detail later after we recover a bit but in the end I came back and dueled him and he was killed by his own curse rebounding on him. He's gone, truly gone forever now." Harry finished.

Hermione looked at Ron and he nodded his head in confirmation and Hermione threw herself in Harry's arms again. "I'm so, so proud of you Harry. I know the Marauders and your Mum are as well." She kissed his cheek and laid her head on his shoulder as he squeezed her close.

She turned her head and furrowed her brows at a snarl next to her.

"Get used to it Charlie, she's my sister." Harry said, completely unimpressed.

"Alright, that is it! What the Hell am I missing here?" She demanded of Charlie.

However her answer came from Bill. "We aren't completely sure how big the problem is Hermione. When you saved Charlie he was already mauled by the werewolf. So like myself there is sure to be contamination." Hermione gasped at this news and reached her hand to squeeze Charlie's in apology.

He just held onto it finding solace and comfort in the show of affection.

"The issue is that those wolves were turned by a future full moon and not a current one. We don't know if that will mean he's a full wolf or a watered down version like a few of us are now thanks to Fenrir liking to bite no matter what phase he was in." Bill said before he sighed knowing the hard part for her was about to be told.

"Hermione, when you were injured, Charlie regained consciousness and carried you to safety despite the fact it shouldn't have been possible in his state. The only explanation for that and his currently extreme possessiveness where you are concerned, and aggressiveness is that he is probably going to be a full wolf." Harry told her.

She nodded her understanding.

"Hermione, if that is the case his behavior means just one thing…" Ron spoke up but hesitated.

"What?" She asked confusedly.

"You are my mate."