AN: First I would like to start off by saying thank you for all the kind thoughts and messages when I wrote you all a letter to explain my delay.
I originally had this as the full moon, and 3 chapters long. I was going to publish it all together however I had a brain fart moment and forgot I killed off Arthur Weasley and he had a huge block of story in this. So I was just about to upload it and remembered in time. That meant a ton of editing and reworking. The Arthur stuff was so funny too so I'm saving it for a different story and using it then. Now, my next choice was just a humongous story sized chapter that was beyond 10,000 words. Once I edited Arthur though I found a nice place to split the chapters so the final decision is this chapter which goes up to the full moon, and next chapter will be THE full moon where stuff will happen.
One more thing and the babbling will end! After the response, or more to the point the lack of response, and some advice I have decided to not include anymore of Remus's journal. My original intent was to include him in the story as a sort of mentor to Charlie as he gets used to a new life but it apparently was not enjoyed as much as I had hoped. So as I strive to be a writer who includes readers in the story I will scrap that part of my idea. Thanks to all reviews and ideas that you've left me. Enjoy
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Hermione sat back on her towel grateful she had sunglasses so dark that nobody would know how she couldn't take her eyes off a shirtless Charlie as he laughed on the dock after throwing Bill in the water.
The whole family was having a day off from all the stress. She among others were starting to snap under the pressure of wartime restrictions after having a taste of freedom when the war ended. She also felt guilty about it because it was her the sender of the letters was after.
Not just that, her parents were in danger because of her. If she'd just left them be in Australia they would be free even though they told her they would prefer to be right where they were with her.
She thought back to how this day had come to happen.
Flashback
Hermione and Harry started to come up with ideas to lift the spirits of everyone, they decided to treat everyone to a Muggle cookout. They approached her parents first to make sure they were good with the idea as they would be doing most of the work and teaching Molly at the same time so she could continue to host barbeques afterwards.
Emma and Dan were excited and agreed immediately that it was just what the doctors ordered. Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes as Harry laughed at the terrible joke.
"Mum you and dad use that joke all the time and it isn't even funny!" She whined.
"Brat don't you sass me!" Emma laughed as she smacked her daughters rump before she could get away. Hermione laughed as she ran away and Dan and Harry just smiled as they watched the two chase after each other.
"It's nice to see her smile and laugh again. She didn't do it much while you and Emma were gone. I know it was war but she just had this light missing in her eyes, she suffered with the separation." Harry said.
"Emma and I have already decided that we won't let anything like that happen again, we love her too much. Incidentally we've also decided, if you're agreeable, when this mess is over and we go home we would like to adopt you into our family. Of course you are already of age in this world and almost there in ours so we can't legally do that but we thought we would have a celebration and informally have a ceremony for us so we all feel like family." Dan told Harry whose eyes were prickling with tears.
Emma and Hermione had returned to their sides and both wrapped their arms around the guys and they had a family group hug.
"It's only right that if you are this one's brother that you're our son too." Emma said as she ran her hand through his hair as he collected himself.
"I think I would really like that." He whispered to them. The Weasley's were family to him too but it was nice to have a family in both worlds he had lived in.
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That night after dinner the family gathered together in the living room and Dan cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Today Harry and Hermione decided that they wanted to surprise all of you and have a day of play. So they came to us with an idea that we loved and decided to help with. This Saturday afternoon everyone here is going to have a Muggle style cookout and Barbecue!" Dan announced.
He'd expected excitement for the treat but as he looked around at the blank faces and confused eyes he figured out that they didn't know what that meant.
Hermione squeezed Charlie's hand and decided to help her dad out. "What that means is on Saturday Harry, Dad, Mum, and I are giving a sort of party for all of us. We had intended to do this Sunday but weather forecast calls for rain that day. Saturday will be unseasonably hot and sunny so the perfect weather."
She took a breath and continued. "So what that means is probably three of you will go shopping with Mum and Dad since it's safest if Harry and I don't leave the wards. They are going to buy all that we need, gifts will be involved, no arguments! We also need clothes sizes from all of you before bed tonight." She gave Molly a stern look as she started to argue.
"No exceptions!" She laughed. "You will all have a blast."
Harry decided to pipe in. "We will have so much food that not even Weasley's could eat it all. Come to think of it, cousin Dudley might be able to but not you lot." The twins started laughing at his joke having met the boy in the past.
"Anyways, food, games, gifts. We will have so much fun boggarts wouldn't stand a chance here. Let's see, some Muggle sports like kickball, volleyball, footie. We will do water games and hiding games plus swimming and we will get a rope swing for the lake. 'Mione, do think there is a way to charm the volleyball net for some water volleyball too? That would be tons of fun." He asked as the idea occurred to him.
"I'm not sure, maybe a hovering charm might work. I will look into it when the others are shopping." She answered.
"So now, make your way to one of three stations. Molly stay here and do measurements for clothing, Harry and Hermione in the dining room will be making lists of who gets to do what as far as set up and clean up so make a stop with them, Dan and I will be by the front door figuring out volunteers for shopping." Emma clapped her hands and everyone went to their stations as the Weasleys began making the rounds.
The next day Dan, Emma, Molly, Charlie and Bill all went shopping with their lists. Harry and Hermione had put their foot down and it took threatening to go themselves and leaving safety to get Dan and Emma to agree to the two of them paying for the whole thing. It was also a gift to their Muggle parents after all.
Bill took Harry and Hermione quickly and quietly through the floo directly to his office at Gringotts and was a little taken aback at the sheer amount of galleons they traded over to Muggle money. It had to be nearly 10,000 galleons he saw them hand over although he didn't know for sure because they made him stay across the lobby as it was a gift they didn't want him to know what they were spending.
They left the same way they arrived 15 minutes later and were once again safely ensconced in the Burrow as the shopping group headed out with the money they handed over to Dan and Emma.
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Hermione was sitting under a tree in the garden with her eyes closed just enjoying the lovely day when she heard a twig and the scuff of a shoe on dirt and rock and looked up. She smiled when she saw Fleur nervously approaching.
"Hello Fleur. Just enjoying a calm and peaceful day and thinking through some things, have a seat." She smiled.
"Thanks 'Ermione. You have always been so nice to me and accepted me, even when the rest of them didn't. Bill and I were talking the other night and we realized there might be a bit of a problem and well, it's of a sensitive nature. Bill was going to talk to you but I asked him to let me, since it's going to be easier as women." She started.
"Okay. What is the problem." Hermione asked with furrowed brows and tucking her hair up into a messy bun.
"Well you've probably noticed an antsy feeling by now, nervous like you can't sit still a lot of the time?" Fleur asked.
Hermione drew in a sharp breath. "How did you know that? I was enjoying the peaceful feeling I have for the first time in days and days!"
"It's because Charlie left. That's why Bill talked him into shopping with them so I could talk to you without the feeling. I get it too with Bill about a week before the full moon. There are…..other things that happen too." She said reluctantly.
"I don't know what all is covered at Hogwarts about magical creatures and such. But typically when a magical creature or half creature half wizard has a mate they tend to be sexual beings, highly sexual." Fleur smiled when Hermione made a squeaky sound.
"I know it's not an easy thing to talk about but I know things you need to know before the moon. Charlie is already having pain as he holds back with you but he won't ever tell you this. By next moon he won't be able to hold back anymore and remain in your presence, he will go somewhere instead of pressuring you and he will hurt himself as the pain begins."
"What?" Hermione gasped as her heart hitched at the information. "I'm already decided that I will accept him Fleur, I just haven't had the time to tell him. Hell I'm already half in love with the bloke and that's in less than two months of being around him. He's perfect." She blushed as she said this.
"Sweet, I must ask before we decide what to do, are you erm...innocent still? Virgin?" She decided to face it head on.
"Yes, does that matter" Hermione asked.
"For you yes, it matters a lot. During normal times with a werewolf or hybrid like my Bill it would be perfectly fine. You will always find satisfaction with your mate because being what they are the more you enjoy yourself the more willing you are for loving. The problem is that we are only a few days away from the moon and you're already having the flashes as well. That means sex is really close and being a virgin this close to the moon is bad. It will hurt you because it's rougher than other times, and much much longer."
At Hermione's nod she continued. "Bill and I think we came up with a spell to help you, well two of them. Bill remembered a spell for pain which means you won't hurt the first time but the side effect of that is you won't feel the first time either. This is good though because when that wears off you don't have to worry about pain especially with the spell I am going to teach you."
"I don't think that sounds good, if I'm wanting to be with Charlie, I want to participate and have that bond with him." Hermione decided she wouldn't use Bill's spell unless absolutely necessary.
"Well we are going to teach you in case you change your mind. My spell is trickier though. You have to make sure today that Charlie knows you're a virgin, he can confirm that and then you and I can walk away for a few minutes and perform the spell and come back so he can tell it's happened but you haven't been with someone else. We will tell him beforehand what we are doing." She said.
"Which is what?" Hermione asked getting nervous again.
"I will teach you to use a spell on yourself that breaks through your hymen. That way you have a day or two beforehand to feel better and it will hurt much less. It may still burn a little bit, I won't lie, but it will help the situation greatly. Especially Charlie as he won't stress out about it as much, he won't feel he's hurting his mate." Fleur finished.
"I actually like the idea. Let's talk to the boys when they get back and can we do that tonight?" She asked and Fleur smiled in return and nodded.
The talk turned to other things and they just sat and spent the afternoon talking and laughing.
When the shopping party returned bogged down with supplies they dragged Bill and Charlie out to the same spot they had spent the afternoon. Once all agreed Hermione and Fleur walked far enough away that Charlie wouldn't hear any sound of discomfort and Hermione pulled her wand out.
She held it in the way Fleur taught her and said softly, "Leniter Conterum." She reached out and squeezed Fleur's hand so she could remain silent. When the flash of pinching was over they walked back to Charlie and he relaxed knowing it was safer now.
"Charlie," she held him back as Fleur dragged Bill back inside as planned. "I want to tell you something alone."
Charlie took a deep breath and braced for the worst. If she was accepting wouldn't she do that with them here?
"I am your mate and am happy about it. I accept you Charlie and I'm falling in love with you." She smiled, confident in his feelings for her.
Charlie smiled so brightly she laughed and then she jumped in his arms and kissed him with everything she had.
When the couple made it back inside to share the news with the family they were more than a little rumpled looking and both smiling widely.
End Flashback
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So now Hermione sat back and watched her Mate of one whole day as he played in the lake with his brothers. He especially loved the rope she and Harry had hung up and then shown them how to swing out into the water and drop in.
She just couldn't get enough of watching him move around. The Weasley boys tended to be tall and wiry as a rule. Charlie was the only exception as he was 3 or 4 inches shorter than his brothers. He still was around 6 foot and she had to stop herself from jumping in his arms and rubbing all those chest and arm muscles. He was just as perfect from behind she was happy to admit.
He turned and winked at her suddenly as if he knew exactly what she was doing and thinking. She blushed and looked away, reaching to add more sunblock.
Next thing she knew she was shrieking as she was swung up in Charlie's arms as he ran to the dock and jumped in the water with her.
She came up coughing water and smacked his shoulder as he laughed at her.
He pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her waist as hers went around his neck. "So beautiful my Mia. Thank you for accepting me." He kissed her as he pulled her completely against his own body.
Hermione moaned into the kiss as Charlie moved them to a more private area of the lake where there were taller strands of grasses and shading from the trees.
Her hand tugged slightly on his hair and she deepened the kiss. Their tongues tangled and danced as they let their hands learn each other's bodies.
She discovered a spot on Charlie's side that covered with goosebumps every time she ran her fingers over it. Charlie discovered he loved her breasts, they responded so lovely to his touch and she moaned in such a delicious way each time he touched her.
They broke apart for breath and just held each other as they floated together foreheads touching, staring into each other's eyes as if they held the secret to the world. They exchanged many kisses in the water as she was wrapped around his waist and neck and he held her up by her arse.
"Charlie?" She whispered into his ear making him shiver.
"Mmmm." He murmured as he gently nipped her where her neck and shoulder met.
"Tonight, while everyone else is playing Ghost in the Graveyard. We can tell Bill and Fleur ahead of time and then I want to be with you, finish our bond before the moon tomorrow." She told him hoping he wouldn't say no.
He looked up at her searching her eyes for any hint of anything but all he saw was excitement, desire for him, and a bit of nervousness. Being her first time he understood the nerves and smiled a megawatt smile and answered her with another mind melting kiss.
"Your wish is my command my Mia." He kissed her again and whispered all the things he wanted to do to her tonight into her ear as her face lit up with a blush brighter than a sunburn.
Their quiet time together was interrupted quite abruptly at that point by twin terrors cannonballing over their heads to splash water all over them. That of course began a splash war that somehow turned into boys versus the girls who were totally outnumbered as there were only 3 of them.
Nevertheless Ginny, Fleur, and Hermione held their own for a little bit before being completely overwhelmed by boys and losing epicly.
The water wars were halted when Molly hollered out that it was time to eat and the group headed over to the shaded area the grill and food table was set up in. They couldn't believe the sheer amount of food sitting there waiting.
There were grilled burgers which Hermione and Harry both said they would love, grilled seafood Charlie loved the shrimp especially. Sausages were also grilled along with corn cobs, potatoes, and peppers.
There were loads and loads of sides like potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, green beans, peas, asparagus, crisps of all kinds, buns for different grilled meats. Salads filled with garden veggies, cut veggies and dips.
Then desserts including puddings, cakes, brownies, biscuits. The food was endless and they began to understand what Harry meant the other night about the amount of food.
Everyone sat around in the clothes that were bought, swimsuits, bikini covers, flip flops, sunglasses. They were in the lawn chairs bought for the occasion sat around a fire pit that was set up for later tonight and ate and talked about anything and everything.
At one point it got uncomfortable when Molly starting pressuring Hermione and Charlie about getting married.
"I'm just saying you've already made a commitment for life, a wedding is just the proper thing to have." Molly insisted.
"Mum, she agreed yesterday! Let us have a chance to build the relationship." Charlie growled.
He wasn't opposed at all to the idea but he knew it was too much pressure on his mate and he could feel her anxiety.
Tensions went really high when Dan stood up furiously. "I have been very patient about this whole situation. I may not fully understand her choice but I will always stand with my daughter. I do however refuse to allow you or anyone else to push her into a marriage and family until she says she's ready for that. AM I CLEAR?" He growled at Molly Weasley almost face to face.
Molly was no slouch however and as her face grew redder in her temper Ginny winked at Hermione and stood up, "Maybe now isn't the best of times to bring this up but since we're all gathered, Harry and I are engaged! He asked me an hour ago!"
That calmed Molly down and she burst into tears as she held Harry in a bone breaking hug.
Hermione mouthed "Thank you!" and Ginny nodded her welcome. Molly took her daughters hand and cooed over her engagement ring as the Weasley boys grabbed Harry and ran and threw him in the lake.
"Welcome to the family!" They yelled as he spluttered.
Emma grabbed Dan's hand and kissed Hermione on the cheek before taking him for a walk so he could calm down. He was quite angry at what he felt was unnecessary pressure to trap his daughter in a marriage too young. She was still his baby girl.
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After roasting marshmallows and eating smores the young adults set out to play Ghost in the Graveyard but it broke down into hide and seek and the couples in the group going off to find alone time as they hid.
Bill and Fleur made shooing movements at Charlie and Hermione and they took off running as the other couple made a loud distraction.
"Do you trust me Mia?" He asked.
"Of course!"
"Close your eyes then love." He kissed her lightly as he wrapped her in his arms and twisted into apparition.
When they landed Hermione looked around and smiled.
"This is an old treehouse Dad built for us when it was just me and Bill. We were too young to enjoy it at the time but as the other kids came we were grateful to have a place to get away from them. I set all the same wards as the burrow has except we can apparate and so can Bill and Fleur." Charlie explained.
He had come earlier and using magic he had laid out a double bed, flower petals, and candles here and there. He set a cooling charm on the place as it was too hot without it. He wanted her as comfortable as possible tonight for their first time. Tonight would also seal their bond and that meant something to him.
"You're sure you want this? There is no turning back afterwards. Being a mate means understanding the wolf is Alpha and that means being submissive to me at times, mostly around the moon when the wolf is stronger. Remus said it took time for he and Tonks to reach an understanding about that. Neither could control that instinct and I don't want that problem with us. Even though I will be aggressive, possessive, and controlling I can't imagine with how important you are to me that I would not listen when you have a problem." Charlie had sat her down to talk about this before they took the next step.
"Charlie, love, I understood what I was accepting. I was very, very close to the Lupin's before and after they were together. Hell, I saw Remus transform during full moon in my third year. I know what happens and I promise if there is a problem we will work it out together. I do have a question though."
"Go ahead." He encouraged.
"What happens after? I mean, won't it be hard to be together like this and then have to go to our separate rooms like we aren't full mates?" She asked. "I can't imagine I will want to be away from you after something this special and important."
That had been the one thing about accepting him that had continued to bother her. If they were married everyone would just accept them sharing a bed and room. She wasn't prepared to marry just yet but didn't want to have to be away either.
"Well, the way I see it we have a couple options." He answered. "We can either tell them separately, me with mum and you with your parents or we can sit them down and tell them together. If they have a problem with it, we will come here every night instead and just return in the morning. They won't have a choice then and will have no idea where we are. We are just as safe here as at home so it's not an issue."
She nodded and smiled shyly at him.
"I promise Mia they won't separate us after this." He whispered as he ran a finger down her cheek tenderly.
"I don't know what I ever did to deserve someone as beautiful and special as you Mia, but I am smart enough as a man to cherish you forever."
Hermione felt a tear escape her eye and he brushed it away as he leaned over and kissed her lips softly.
As he laid her down and kissed down her cheek to her ear he growled, "Mate do you accept me and the human."
She looked up and saw his eyes had gone orange and knew that it was the wolf inside, "I accept both my wolf and my human. I want you both."
Charlie growled and bit her neck and then his eyes turned back to his blue and her Charlie was back in control. He slowly untied the top of her bikini from around her neck as she untied the tie at her back and then tossed it aside.
When Charlie leaned down and covered her nipple with his mouth she knew she'd made the right choices for herself. Both accepting him and discarding Bill's suggested spell, she wanted to feel everything Charlie and she did tonight.
She smiled as he moved to her other breast and enjoyed everything they did that night. It was the best moment of her life and she would always remember this day as long as she lived.
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AN2: The spell Hermione used means break gently, at least according to Google. Also, I understand I am using American measurements and such, not trying to be insulting, I am an American and that's the only system I know. Sorry if anyone is insulted. Please leave me your thoughts on the story. Up next chapter Charlie's first full Moon.