September 27, 1999

Molly and Arthur came to see Hermione first. Arthur put his hand on Charlie's shoulder and tried to get him to take a break while they watched Hermione. When Charlie snapped at him, Arthur changed tactics and comforted him while Molly changed Hermione's blanket and pillows. Once they left, Ginny and Lavender came in. Charlie ignored their presence entirely as Ginny brushed Hermione's hair and braided it. She did it the muggle way because she knew that's what Hermione preferred. Lavender, being the spiritual person she was, simply stood by Hermione's other side and held her hand, trying to radiate as many positive and healing thoughts as she could.

The twins refused to come in because they knew Hermione wouldn't want to be seen like that. Instead, they promised to throw her a party once she was awake.

Lastly, was Bill and Fleur. Bill's bad feeling had died down quite a bit after Hermione had been taken to the hospital. He reasoned it must have been because Charlie had finally bonded to Hermione and the curses had successfully been stripped from both homes.

"I'm not leaving. I don't care what dad told you to tell me." Charlie sniped as soon as they entered.

Bill went over to talk to Charlie and set a bag of food and a cup of tea on the tray next to him. Fleur fussed about Hermione, casting a cleaning spell on her and gently washing her face.

"Charlie, you should take a minute. You need to eat and drink something and get some rest. Hermione wouldn't want you hurting yourself."

"I can't leave her, Bill. I told her I would be here, and I will."

"As hard as it is to hear, she's not going to wake up in the 15 minutes it'll take for you to use the loo and eat the food I brought."

Charlie said nothing as he gently rubbed at Hermione's hand. After a few moments passed, he finally relented.

"Yeah, alright." He agreed, standing and reluctantly placing Hermione's hand back on the bed. Charlie quickly used the restroom and came back out to see Bill sitting at the foot of the bed, one leg strewn over the other as he read to Hermione from the muggle fairytale book she had gotten them when they had Victoire.

Charlie sat back down in the chair and pulled the tray towards him. While he ate, he listened to the story Bill read:

"Once upon a time in a faraway land, a beautiful baby girl was born to a king and queen. They invited everyone all over the land to celebrate her birth. While she received many gifts, six fairies offered her the most special ones: the gift of reason, beauty, grace, music, and dance. Before the sixth one could offer her gift, an evil fairy arrived and cursed her with an evil gift: On her sixteenth birthday, she would prick her finger on a spindle and die.

After the evil fairy left, the sixth fairy came forward, to hear her gift. Instead of the princess dying when she pricked her finger, she would sleep for 100 years, until she experienced true love's kiss. The king and queen ordered all of the spindles to be burned and hid their daughter away, protected by guards.

It was on her sixteenth birthday when she was playing hide-and-seek that she came across an old woman in the highest room on the tallest tower. The old woman was working on a spinning wheel and told the princess that she would teach her how to use it. When she did, she pricked her finger and fell into a deep sleep. The guards found her and carried her to her room, and soon after, everyone else in the kingdom also fell into a deep sleep.

100 years later, a handsome young prince came across the overgrown grounds of the castle where he found everyone lying on the ground, asleep. It was as if nothing had changed. The fires were still burning and the food still warm. The prince searched the castle and at last came to the room where the beautiful princess slept. He knelt down beside her and picked up her hand before kissing it gently. The princess awoke immediately and asked who he was.

'Your husband to be, I hope.' He told her. They wed the very next week and lived happily ever after. The end."

"If only it were that easy." Charlie grumbled, as he finished eating. He vanished the food and slid his chair back up to Hermione's bed. He reached for her hand, picking it up again. As soon as he made contact, there was a spark of blue light and Hermione's fingers twitched. Bill's eyes widened and Fleur ran out of the room to get a healer.

When the healer came in, Fleur following behind, the boys stepped back from the bed. The healer began running diagnostic spells and found nothing new.

"Her vital signs are better, but there isn't anything new. You said she moved?" He questioned Fleur.

"Yes. Charlie picked up 'er 'and, zer was a spark, and 'er 'and moved."

"Really? What color was the spark?" He asked, turning to Charlie.

"Light blue, why?"

"Pick up her hand again, please."

Charlie sighed heavily and picked up her hand. There was another spark and her hand twitched again.

"Merlin." The healer gasped, looking between Charlie and Hermione.

"What is it?" Charlie demanded, beginning to panic as the healer began running diagnostic spells on him.

"Your magic is combined." The healer said. "This is old magic. It's not even supposed to exist. You're sharing your magical core with her." He explained, turning his attention back to Hermione and checked her magical core, which was fully restored. He slowly took her bandage off her left wrist and gasped. The slice mark was now a small silvery scar. The healer took the bandage off of her other wrist which was also healed.

Charlie stared at the scars in disbelief while Bill spoke to the healer.

"How did this happen?"

"Well, the thing is, we don't really know. This hasn't happened in hundreds of years. The closest case to it is when Lily Potter died to save her son. It takes fierce love to do something like this. Essentially, Mr. Weasley was willing to take Miss Granger's place and unintentionally bonded himself to her to keep her alive."

"What does it mean for her, though? Will she be okay?"

"She's of perfect health. In fact, if she were awake right now, she would be heading home. I'll just go get an awakening potion and well see how she does." He said before leaving the room.

Charlie's eyes watered in relief as he knelt beside the bed, holding Hermione's hand. Bill came over and squeezed his shoulder as they waited for the healer to come back.

"I never got to give her her birthday present." Charlie told Bill quietly, as he watched Hermione's face.

"And now, you'll be able to." Bill replied. "Not that she'd care. You know she's not one for presents."

"I don't care. I'm going to give her the world."

"That's a good start, mate, but I think that'll be a bit difficult." Bill said with a chuckle, eliciting a grunt from Charlie.

"We'll see." Charlie grumbled as the healer walked in the room with the potion. He stood and sat on the bed, facing Hermione as the healer administered the potion.

"Now, it might take a bit for her to wake up, or it could be instantaneous. She'll be groggy, and possibly confused. It'll wear off an hour or so after she wakes." The healer told them. "Try not to bombard her. It'll be tough for her since the last thing he remembers was so traumatic. I'll go make rounds then be back in a bit. Send for me if she wakes before then, please."

"We'll go to the Burrow and let them know. Maybe see if we can hold them off for a bit." Bill told him, as the healer walked out. With one last squeeze to Hermione's foot, he and Fleur left him alone with her.

About ten minutes passed, when Charlie noticed her breathing speed up. He stared at her for a moment before leaning forward and gently caressing her cheek. He jumped when her eyes flew open and she sat up gasping for air.