Chapter 7

Charlie looked out of the window of his old room at the burrow. There had been a thunderstorm earlier and rain was still coming down in buckets. He'd had to give up his room at the order for other members who were staying there during their various missions and so he had slept in what was now the twin's room for the past week or so. His mum was preparing dinner in the kitchen and his dad was still at work. Charlie felt quite useless. He'd originally planned to go back to Rumania after Christmas but after his dad's attack he did not want to leave his family whilst you know who was still out there. Dumbledore was not quite sure yet how to use him so he'd been mainly running errands for his mum. Although his mum had not been happy when he returned without the ingredients for the strengthening solution back in January. He'd had to go back the very next day and as much as he looked, he had not run into Holly again. Charlie was completely at loss when it came to her. When they were pretending to be boyfriend and girlfriend back in August he could have sworn that Holly had started to like him. But then she had been so cold towards him after what happened in the cellar - thinking of that still made Charlie blush - and seemed almost happy to be able to leave. Charlie had given her a whole month to get in touch before he told everyone that they'd broken up. He had thought of writing her himself but was worried that it'd endanger her mission. Everyone was sympathetic and Charlie was surprised when Ginny wrote him from Hogwarts, demanding to know how he had messed it up.

When he ran into Holly in Diagon Alley he had been really angry. Somehow he had gotten it in his head that surely Holly would know all of you know who's plans but did not think his family important enough to warn them about the impending attack. He knew it wasn't fair but he couldn't help how he felt. And then when he actually heard her talk and how sorry she was to hear his dad had been attacked all his anger had evaporated and all he wanted was to kiss her again. Holly was an accomplished liar but he had not believed her one bit when she said that nothing that had happened during the summer mattered to her. And when he did eventually kiss her, it only confirmed it. But still she didn't write to him or tried to contact him through the order. And Charlie did not know how he should get in touch with her. He had even asked Dumbledore the last time he saw him, how Holly was doing and Dumbledore had only told him that she send him regular updates but that he hadn't seen her for a while. And now it had been another two months since he had last seen her.

There was a flash of lightning and Charlie froze. For a moment he thought he'd seen someone in the garden. Thinking that maybe whatever had attacked his dad had come back to finish the job, Charlie grabbed his wand and hurried down the stairs. He cast an impervious charm on himself and the rain pearled of his robes. He could hardly see more than two feet in front of him but he felt like there was someone else in the garden.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" He shouted into the rain. Charlie waited and was just about to cast another charm that would alert him to the presence of other humans around him, when a soaked through Holly appeared in front of him. She was wearing a light blue summer dress and sandals. Her arms were wrapped around her waist and her hair was hanging down her face. Her wand hang limply from her right hand.

"Holly, what are you doing here? Are you okay?"

He lowered his wand. Holly just shook her head. Charlie put his arm around her shoulder and gently lead her towards the house. His mum was still pottering about so Charlie managed to lead Holly up the stairs without her noticing. He opened the door to his old room, put Holly down on one of the two twin beds and quickly grabbed a big towel from the upstairs bathroom. Charlie threw it over Holly and waited for the young witch to speak. Holly looked up at him. Charlie thought she looked broken.

"It's happened." She said quietly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Charlie looked at her confused. Before he could ask for clarification she showed him her left arm. Charlie's eyes widened when he saw the dark mark, still red around the edges. She must have gotten it just hours ago. And then he saw the engagement ring on her finger and Charlie felt something break inside him. He knew that the dark mark was so much worse but the diamond ring seemed to top even that. Holly was still staring at him, obviously willing him to say something, anything. Charlie knelt down in front of her and gently grabbed her left hand with both of his.

"We should go to Dumbledore. He'll be able to do something." He said, the desperation clearly carrying in his voice.

"There is nothing to do about it." Holly whispered.

Charlie grabbed her hand harder, the ring harshly pressing against the palm of his hand. He lifted it and kissed her fingers, before pressing them against his forehead. He heard Holly sob. Charlie had never seen her this emotional and it made him almost feel ashamed watching her cry. He sat down next to her and wrapped her in his arms. Holly pressed herself against him and cried even harder. After a while her sobs became quieter.

"I didn't have a choice." She said eventually and for a second Charlie didn't know whether she was talking about the dark mark or the ring on her finger. He didn't dare address the latter. How long had she been engaged for? he thought. And why hadn't he heard about it? Surely a family like hers would be announcing it in the golden prophet or something. Unless there hadn't been time yet.

"How did it happen?" He asked eventually and Holly told him about her dating Barnaby Lee and him giving her the ring today. And taking her straight to you know who after for the mark. She explained how you know who was keen to bind all the old pureblood families to him and how it'd would have been her dad or cousin if she hadn't agreed to do it. From what he could tell, Holly was not pleased about the engagement either. Charlie scolded himself internally, he should not be happy about that when Holly had just been brandished with the dark mark.

"So you've been seeing Barnaby Lee?" He said after Holly had finished, not being able to stop himself from asking.

Holly looked up at him, her eyes still filled with tears. For a second he thought she'd shout at him but then she said "Some people saw us talking in Diagon Alley. I was worried, so I started seeing him because it would stop any rumours. But I have only kissed him."

Holly obviously knew what he had not dared to ask straight out. Charlie did not say anything, worried he might stop her from saying something he so desperately wanted to hear.

"Charlie, ever since staying at the order in the summer and being with you, I cannot stop thinking about it. However hard I try, your face just keeps popping up in my head." She sniffed. "And I have been trying very hard. Because it's selfish. And because it would put everyone that I love in danger. It would put you in danger."

Charlie didn't dare to move or breathe, his mind racing with the implications of her words.

"But when the dark lord put his mark on me today, all that kept me from going insane was the thought of you." Holly had stopped crying, a resolute expression on her face. Clearly she had every intention to get it all out before she could change her mind. "So I had to come and see you. Because Charlie I-"

Before Holly could finish, his mum burst into the room. Charlie was glad for his hands to still be holding onto Holly or he'd have cursed his own mother.

"Dinner is- oh, Holly!" His mum looked back and forth between him and Holly, not quite sure what to make of the odd situation. "I didn't hear you arrive? Is everything okay?"

By the state Holly was in, it was quite obvious that everything was far from okay, but Charlie did not say that. In fact, he decided not to say anything until he'd trust himself enough for his first utterance not to be a curse against his mother.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Weasley, for showing up like that. I'll be going straight away." Holly said, her voice much steadier, but devoid of all its prior emotion. Charlie noticed that Holly had pulled the towel around her again, and sat in a way that would hide her left arm. His mum hadn't notice the dark mark yet, or she'd be crying.

"Oh don't be silly, love! It's only Arthur, Charlie and I for dinner tonight but I've made plenty of food. Please stay for dinner." Not giving Holly the chance to decline, his mum smiled at them one last time before going back downstairs where Charlie could hear her talking to his dad.

"I can't stay, Charlie. Can I disapparate from your room?" Holly said, her voice raw again.

"You can, because I have you invited you in. But I don't think you should. You're definitely better at apparating than I am, but it can still be dangerous if you are upset." He stood up abruptly. "Please stay for dinner." He added.

For a moment Charlie thought she'd just disapparate anyway but then Holly nodded. She stood up and Charlie averted his gaze as he only now noticed how see-through her dress was because of the rain. He heard Holly mutter a spell to dry her clothes. Charlie went to the wardrobe, which was filled with a mixture of his and the twins clothes (which were mostly his old clothes anyway) and grabbed a jumper. He almost laughed when he saw it was the maroon jumper with a big C on that Holly thought she'd ruined when she was still suffering from the exsanguine spell. Charlie passed her the jumper and Holly smiled, obviously also remembering it. She put on the jumper and rolled up the sleeves, but only to her wrists. Her hair had dried and Holly used her wand to magic it into a messy bun. She put her wand on his bedside table when Charlie caught her looking at the engagement ring on her finger. After a moment she took it off and put it next to her wand. Charlie quickly looked away when she turned around so she wouldn't feel awkward. They left his room to go to dinner.

Charlie could not believe how quickly Holly had been able to change her mood for dinner. As soon as they had entered the dining room Holly had been all smiley and greeted his dad heartily. There was no sign of her having cried just moments before in his room. It was almost scary. Now they were drinking cups of tea and his dad was telling them all about the strange enchanted muggle objects that had recently found their way into his office.

"And I still don't know why anyone would want to enchant a hair brush to heat up, but what do I know." His dad laughed and smiled at Holly. "So, Holly, to what do we owe pleasure of your company?"

His mum froze and elbowed his dad in the side. Charlie held his breath. He had no idea what to say to rescue Holly from having to answer.

"I was just in the area and thought to drop in. Your wife looked after me so well last summer and I never properly said thank you." Holly said with a smile at his mum.

Charlie was impressed with how quickly Holly answered but no one, especially not a witch of her status, was ever just in their area. Luckily his dad had realised his mistake and was not prodding further.

"But I better get going now. Thank you very much for dinner!" Holly said to his mum.

Charlie stood up when she did. Holly said goodbye to his parents and they walked to the door of the burrow.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Charlie asked, wanting to say so much more. Holly nodded. "Oh, your wand and erm, your things." He added, remembering what she had put on his bedside table.

He started to walk up the stairs and heard her following him quietly. They arrived in his old bedroom, Holly staring at the ring on his bedside table but not making any move to pick it up.

Then she turned around to face him, and Charlie thought she had put on a different kind of mask now. There was a resolute look on her face, but apart from that he couldn't tell how she was feeling at all.

"About what I said earlier. It was just all so fresh. I didn't mean it that way." Holly said with a steady voice.

"Bullshit." Charlie was pleased that this had caused at least some sort of reaction to show on her face. "You do not get to come here, spring all that on me, tell me that you are in love with me and then take it back again."

Holly flinched when he said love. Charlie wasn't completely sure that that was what she was going to say before his mum had burst into his room, but he said it anyway. He walked up to her and took her face into his hands to force her to look at him.

"Listen, Holly. I work with dragons, my life is dangerous anyway. Loving a death eater spy is not going to make it that much more dangerous." He kissed her forehead lightly. "None of us are safe nowadays. And while I don't knowingly want to put you, your family or mine into any more danger, I also don't want to not have you around."

Charlie could almost see Holly's face crack and suddenly there were tears in her eyes. "But what about my engagement?" She whispered.

"I don't think he's actually asked you outright judging by what you have told me. So I won't accept it." Holly opened her mouth, but before she could bring up any more arguments, Charlie spoke "I know it's selfish. I know it's not a good idea. But who knows how long we have they way things are going now. I do not want to spend that time without you. Even if it means just stolen hours here and there. It'll be enough for now."

Charlie kissed her and then they were on the small single bed, clinging to each other as if scared the other would disappear if they'd let go.

When Charlie woke up his first thought went to Holly. And his second to his back which was slightly cramped up from sleeping in a small bed that was never meant for two people. He looked at Holly who was sleeping peacefully next to him and for a moment he felt the happiest he'd ever been. He wanted nothing more than for Holly to sleep next to him for the rest of his life. Holly stirred and he kissed her lips slightly. She smiled at him before opening her eyes.

"Good morning." Charlie said and kissed her again.

"Morning." Holly mumbled and buried her head in the pillow. Charlie looked at the clock. It was only six in the morning but he could hear his mother pottering about in the kitchen. It was still dark outside.

"I can't believe I stayed over. My father will be worried." Holly mumbled against her pillow.

"It'll be fine. I'm sure your cousin will cover for you."Charlie said and pulled her even closer to him.

"It was still a stupid thing to do." Holly said, now mumbling against his chest. She sat up and Charlie tried not to stare at her nude body too much. When he looked up at her face and saw her grinning at him, he knew he'd done a bad job. Holly did not seem to mind.

"How can I get in touch with you?" Charlie said, he's face turning pink.

Holly considered him for a moment. "We can use Wanda, my house elf, to send messages. She belongs to me and not my family so it'd be the safest way."

Charlie did not like her claiming ownership over another living being, but did not say anything.

"What about..?" He asked eventually, nodding towards his bedside table where Holly's engagement ring still lay. Although he tried, his thoughts kept turning to her kissing Barnaby Lee.

"I don't know. I can't call it off, my father would be devastated. And it would seriously harm our reputation as well as my mission for Dumbledore." Holly did not look at the ring, but at his face instead.

"But you won't…?" Charlie added, not wanting to ask her outright but still needing to know.

"I won't. I can't. The only person I want to sleep with is you." At this, Charlie felt himself blush again. "It's not uncommon for witches of my standing to wait until marriage. He'll be annoyed but he won't dare do anything about it." She bend down towards him and Charlie kissed her.

"Stay for breakfast?" He asked against her lips. Holly pulled back, looking uncomfortable.

"Your parents thought I'd left last night. Wouldn't it be erm awkward?" She said, and Charlie was pleased to see her blushing for a change.

"Maybe. But I don't want you to leave yet. They'll be fine about it."

Actually Charlie wasn't sure whether they would be but he had been honest. If Holly left now, he might not see her again for ages. He'd never actually considered how his parents would feel about it. They'd been very warm towards Holly and he was fairly sure that his mum especially liked her. But his mum was also very protective of her family and him being with Holly would definitely make her nervous. The two of them got dressed slowly, grabbed their wands and Charlie lead her down to the kitchen.

The chatter between his parents stopped abruptly when Holly and Charlie entered the kitchen. She was wearing his jumper again.

"Oh, hello Holly! Popped in again, have you?" His dad said eventually.

"Arthur!" His mother hissed at her husband.

Charlie felt uncomfortable. Maybe this had been a bad idea. He looked at Holly and she looked just as uncomfortable as he felt. He took her hand and after they'd said good morning, he lead her to the table to sit down.

"I have made toast and tea, my dears. Would you like some?" His mum fussed over them. Charlie was sure he could hear a certain strain in her voice.

"That'd be lovely, thank you, Mrs Weasley." Holly said, sounding nervous. Charlie nodded as well.

His dad sat down opposite them and pretended to read the daily prophet. It was upside down, but neither of them said anything about it, happy to evade one pair of eyes.

"Mum, do you know when Dumbledore will be at the headquarters next?" Charlie asked, whilst munching on a slice of toast his mother had put down on a plate in front of him. He was still not ready to give up on the idea that Dumbledore would be somehow able to rid Holly of her dark mark.

"I don't, my dear. He'll be at Hogwarts though if you need to speak to him." His mum said, and poured them all a cup of tea.

They ate breakfast in silence until there was a knock at the door. His mum and dad looked at each other questioningly, clearly not expecting any visitors. Holly tensed up next to him and Charlie grabbed her hand under the table. His mum grabbed her wand and went to open the door. There was hushed talking in the hallway and then his mum entered the kitchen again with a furious looking Snape in tow. Holly pulled her hand out of his, but Charlie thought it was a futile gesture.

"Miss Burr. I need you to come with me immediately." Snape said, his voice barely containing the anger the potions professor radiated. Holly had turned deathly pale.

"Of course. Thank you for breakfast." She said, and followed Snape out in the garden where they disapparated with a faint pop.

"Oh, Charlie." His mum said worryingly. He didn't look at her, busying his hands with the piece of toast that was now mainly crumbs.

"I can't say I am pleased with this, but you obviously like her." His mum continued. "And it was my doing after all, making you pretend to be in a relationship."

"Mum. It's not your fault." Charlie said, but still not looking at her.

"Charlie, under different circumstances I'd never get involved, but you must realise that this is an utterly silly idea, don't you?" His dad now chimed in.

"I know it is. She knows it is." Charlie let go of his toast and finally looked at his parents. Their faces were strained with concern. "But I am not going to stop loving her. I can't." He abruptly stood up to leave. Charlie heard his parents call after him but he ignored them and went up to his room. Holly's ring was still on his bedside table. He picked it up carefully. It must be worth more than his home, he thought. Although still agitated about his parents words, Charlie sank back onto his bed smiling at the thought of Holly willing to risk it all for him.