Hermione woke to Harry's familiar voice gently pulling her out of sleep.

"Hermione, can we talk?" he asked quietly, nearly a whisper.

She nodded and sat up noticing the fading light outside the window then scooted over to lean against the head board and patted the bed next to her for him to join her.

He didn't hesitate to sit with her but seemed nervous, putting his hands awkwardly in his lap.

"I'm sorry Harry." she said when he didn't speak after a moment.

He nodded as he replied, "I'm sorry too. I know you mean the best."

She didn't answer and instead shifted over, resting her head on his shoulder and felt his arm come around her, his hand resting on her opposite arm.

They stayed that way for a while, Harry gently rubbing her arm and Hermione nestled into his side.

Their unspoken words didn't matter. She knew he loved her as much as she loved him and that nothing would break the bond that had been forged in fire since they were barely able to hold a wand properly.

It was reminiscent of the days following Ron's angry departure from their horcrux hunt last year. Just the two of them, struggling with their emotions but somehow still marching forward. Only now she didn't have the panic of a war to fight. All the same, he was here when she needed him even when she was the cause of his anger.

She placed her own arms around him and gave him a tight hug.

"We'll be okay Hermione." he said, returning the affection.

They didn't move until they heard Mrs. Weasley calling that dinner was ready. They walked down together, their earlier argument forgotten.


The days seemed to blur into each other as her life for the first time since the war slowly settled into a rhythm. It was far from a bad thing, but before she knew it Ginny was leaving for school and Harry and Ron were off to Auror training.

Within the first week of their absence she could tell it was affecting her. She noticed how much quieter the house was, especially during meals. And her room at night, Ginny's room, was too quiet without her snoring companion.

She was desperately looking forward to winter break when she would be surrounded again by obnoxiously loud Weasleys and their banter.

Tonight though, she needed out. The quiet threatened to swallow her so she grabbed her cloak and started to head down the stairs when she noticed light coming out from under the doorway into Charlie's room. Desperate for companionship, she knocked on the door and paused before opening it slightly.

Charlie looked up at he from where he lounged on the bed in a t shirt and pajama bottoms, a few rolls of parchment and letters scattered around him and one in his hand. He started to get up when he saw her at door but she waved him back as she mumbled her apology.

"I'm sorry to intrude, you look busy, I'll go." she said.

"No, you can come in, what's wrong?" he asked, getting up from the bed and moving towards her.

She hesitated, not knowing if she should bother him or just go and in that time he was there, shutting the door and pulling her arm to get her to turn around.

She sighed as she faced him, feeling childish in her moment of weakness and not able to look him in the eye. She chose instead to look down.

"It was too quiet in my - I mean, Ginny's room." she said quietly, still looking at the floor.

She felt his hand on her chin as he tipped her face upwards to look at him. She was too embarrassed to resist and instead pleaded in her head for him to not think her silly.

"It is your room too you know." he said scanning her face, slightly concerned once their eyes met.

"Oh, yes of course sorry, it's just strange without her there." she stammered, thrown off by his response. It wasn't her room, not really. Ginny had been more than accommodating but it was still Ginny's childhood bedroom.

"Would you feel better in one of the other rooms? I'm sure Ron wouldn't mind..." Charlie started before Hermione cut him off with a horrified look.

"No, no. I couldn't. That's..."

"Gross?" Charlie input with an eyebrow raised.

Hermione paused for the briefest moment before laughing.

"No, I mean yes, but no I just don't want to intrude any more than i already have. " she stated, still smiling.

"Well, I for one don't mind the intrusion at all." he said with a suggestive wink and a look back at his pile of papers.

She rolled her eyes at his jokes and followed his eyes to the bed.

"Something I can help with?" she asked, hoping for a distraction.

He sighed and walked back to the bed, gathering up the bits of paper and stacking them together.

"Not really," he said finally, "it's just work."

Hermione felt her heart drop when she realized work didn't mean the shop with George and herself, it meant Romania and dragons and leaving.

"They need you back." It wasn't a question, it was just the way it was.

He turned towards her, stack of papers still in hand and nodded slowly, seeming to not know what to say.

"When do you leave?" she asked, trying to keep the panic that was quickly rising out of her voice. Everyone was leaving her.

"Next Friday."

She nodded as she quickly did the math, ten days until he was gone and it was only her and George.

And then with that the despair crept into her chest. She fought it down as she tried to logic through the emotions hitting her. She wouldn't break down in front of him again, it was too embarrassing and she didn't know if she could bear him pitying her more or thinking any less of her than he already did.

She didn't know how long they stood there, neither moving or speaking, but it felt like an eternity. And then he moved towards her and wrapped her in his arms. She clung to him so quickly it scared her. She didn't know if it was out of fear or pain or to keep him from leaving, but she held on as he rested his cheek on top of her head.

"I'm sorry." was all that came out of his mouth.

After a few long moments she finally spoke.

"Does anyone else know?" Hermione asked.

"No." he replied with a sigh.

She realized he must be torn. His mother had practically begged for him to come home, leaving again would upset her. Not to mention George. But he loved his work, and his freedom. He must surely be suffocating here. She didn't know how to comfort him. To tell him he'd done enough here.

"They'll be okay you know," she said, pulling away enough to look up at him. "George has really come back to life at the shop, and he's got 3 new hires to pick up the slack. Your mom will miss you of course but she was desperate because of George. Now that he's okay, she won't begrudge you for leaving." She smiled, trying to convey that it was okay.

He looked down at her searching for something in her face and she kept her smile as sincere as she could so he would know she meant what she said.

"Go and play with your dragons if that's what makes you happy." she said, hoping it would indeed make him happy. If anyone deserved happiness, it was Charlie.

"What about you?" he asked, concern still etched into his frown.

He must really think me pathetic she thought, her smile fading though she tried to conceal her disappointment. She had never wanted to worry him.

"I'll be fine of course, I'm getting used to the quiet and the routine. I'll barely notice you gone except when you're not always hogging the shower." she joked, hoping to make him laugh for once.

He raised an eyebrow at her as a slight smile formed at the corners of his mouth.

Then his face turned serious and she was about to ask what was wrong when his question came tumbling out.

"Come with me"

She thought she misheard him at first but the look of seriousness bordering on panic on his face made her think he hadn't actually meant to ask it. But there it was, lingering between them as the seconds ticked by.

She became all too aware of being wrapped in his arms, inches from his face and her own hands twisted in the fabric of his shirt.

"What do you mean?" she finally forced out of her own mouth, her throat suddenly dry and her voice betraying her emotion.

"Don't make me ask again, please." he said, closing his eyes tightly.

She took a moment to really look at him, when those piercing blue eyes weren't focused on hers. She saw him every day now, spent nearly every waking hour with him. She had fallen into step so easily with him, working and otherwise, that it was easy to forget she barely knew him sometimes.

He was handsome, as were all the Wesley men, but in a more rugged way than Percy or George. In a more mature way than Ron. Had she been so caught up in her own self pity that she had missed something between them? Was there something between them? Was she reading this entire situation wrong? Why were they still clinging to each other if not?

The questions continued to fire off rapidly inside her brain as she attempted to search inside her own feelings. Was she projecting her own desires into him?

"Charlie..." his name came out a whisper and her throat closed, refusing to allow anything else to be spoken.

His eyes flew open to find hers still staring at him, but for once he seemed to find what he was looking for in hers. He leaned his head forward and before she knew what was happening his lips were on hers, gently, questioning. She returned the kiss without hesitation as she felt his hand move up her back to the back of her neck his fingers tangling in her curls as he pulled her to him, deepening the kiss.

Their lips started to move more franticly now, desperate and hungry and at least for Hermione, scared to stop lest it never happen again. She had never been kissed like this before. Sure she and Ron had made out, but this was different. It was passionate, uncontrolled, and wild. It was Charlie personified and it threatened to drown her completely. Her hands were on his chest, in his hair, anywhere she could reach still pinned to him as she was.

He lifted his lips from hers and placed a kiss on her jaw, her neck, and then to the spot just under her ear. She had to fight from crying out as his tongue and lips worked over the sensitive skin. He sent chills up her spine with every breath and she knew she was moments from losing control.

"Charlie" she breathed out, unable to say anything else as she tried to pull herself together.

"Charlie, we can't." she tried again as his hands roamed over her hips and she tried her best not to give in.

He stopped immediately and pulled back, looking at her with concern as she took a step back to lean against the door behind her. She closed her eyes and attempted to calm her breathing as she sorted through what just happened.

She and Charlie had kissed. They had nearly done more. She had wanted to. She still wanted to. He had asked her to leave with him. She opened her eyes to look at him and he was staring at her with the most tortured look on his face that it nearly broke her heart.

"I'm sorry." he said, reaching for her but then letting his arm fall to his side. His eyes darting back and forth between hers.

She finally found her voice and replied bewildered, "Sorry for what?"

"I thought you wanted to, I didn't mean to.." he started but was cut off by her laugh.

" I didn't know that I wanted to if I'm being honest, but I did. Don't be sorry. That was... incredible." she sighed and banged her head against the door. She should have just let him keep going.

"I was just surprised I guess." she finally said, lifting her head to look at him again.

He was calmer now, the dread gone from his face and replaced by slight amusement.

"Incredible huh?" he asked with a devious grin.

She groaned at his suggestion and instead decided to ask him a question of her own.

"What do you mean come with you. To Romania?" she asked.

He nodded and then shook his head in frustration.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I know you're finally getting settled here but it just came out. I thought maybe the change of scenery would help you. And if I'm being honest I was being selfish. I'm going to miss you. " he said, looking at her sadly.

She thought about it for a moment but knew she couldn't make a decision like that tonight. Not with her thoughts scattered and butterflies in her stomach.

"I'll think about it, if you're serious." she settled on, wondering if he would withdraw the offer.

The look of hope on his face made her want to say yes right then but she forced herself to say goodnight and head back to her own room instead. She lay down knowing she wouldn't be sleeping after all that had happened and instead decided to sort through her own jumbled thoughts before daylight spilled through the windows.