September 28, 1999
When they came through at the Burrow, there were several shouts of indignation at being kept waiting. The twins yelling the loudest of all.
"Where the bloody hell have you two been?" Fred started.
"We put in all this work- "
"Slaved to put up all these bloody decorations- "
"And you don't have the decency to show your faces before noon!"
Hermione just laughed and kissed them both on their cheeks. Charlie watched as she made her rounds with everyone else, hugging, laughing, and kissing. Her smile lit up the room, and when she looked at him, Charlie's heart squeezed. It hit him like a thunderbolt. He didn't just love her, he worshipped her. He was her world and the only thing that mattered. Bill walked up to Charlie and laughed.
"You're going to give it away if you keep looking at her like that."
"Give what away? And looking at her like what?" Charlie asked, confused.
"You're going to ask her to marry you." Bill said with a shrug of his shoulders. "And you're looking at her like she's Merlin himself."
Charlie shook his head, saying nothing. Bill laughed again and walked away.
After the party ended, Charlie took Hermione back to his cabin where he sat her down on the balcony outside.
"I forgot to give you your birthday present, but I've also got another gift for you, so I'll just give you both at the same time." He said nervously before asking her to close her eyes.
"This is your birthday gift."
He quietly pulled out a guitar and took a deep breath before he began playing for her. She gasped when she heard the guitar and opened her eyes as he began singing.
"I find myself in a strange situation
And I don't know how
What seemed to be an infatuation
Is so different now
I can't get by if we're not together
Oh, can't you see
Girl, I want you now and forever
Close to me
I'm longing for the time
I'm longing for the day
Hoping that you will promise to be mine
And never go away
I don't want to live without you
I don't want to live without you
I could never live without you
Live without your love
I ask myself but there's no explanation
For the way I feel
I know I've reached the right destination
And I know it's real
I'm longing for the time
I'm longing for the day
When I'll be giving you this heart of mine
Believe me when I say
I don't want to live without you
I don't want to live without you
I could never live without you
Live without your love
Now I don't want to live without you
I don't want to live without you
I could never be without you
Be without your love
I don't want to live without you
Live without your love
Live without your love
You see I'm lost without your love"
Hermione's eyes watered as Charlie set down the guitar and knelt on one knee in front of her, taking her hands in his.
"Hermione, I know you have had a rough go of it these past few months and my only intention was to be a friend to you and help you get through it. Never would I have imagined that our roles would change and that I would end up needing you. But I do, Hermione. I need you more than I need air. Although it's incredibly cheesy, that song is incredibly accurate. I know that I've reached the right destination. My place in this world is with you and I'm hoping you will promise to be mine. Will you marry me?" He let go of her hands and pulled out a small blue box. He opened it, holding it up to her for her to see. She ignored the ring as she threw her arms around his neck.
"Yes, Charlie. I'll marry you." She whispered in his ear.
"Thank Merlin." Charlie said with a gasp. He pulled away from her and took the ring out of the box. She held out her hand and watched as he slid it into place. She gasped softly as the beauty of the ring. It was a simple silver ring but upon closer inspection, the band was made of two dragons twisted around each other. The gemstone was a blue, but she had never seen it before. She looked up at Charlie questioning him.
"I was able to get the goblins to mix a sapphire with a blue topaz. That's why when you move it around," He paused as he gently moved the ring on her finger. "It sparkles in both colors, like the ocean."
Hermione teared up at his comparison and looked into Charlies eyes.
"Favorite Weasley?" He asked, blinking back the water that had formed in the corner of his eyes.
"You." She answered, covering his lips with hers.