Betrayed

Written for Drabble Tag: Harry/Charlie. Prompt - Suspicious

Ginny watched Harry carefully. Ever since they had broken up, she had waited for him to return to her. With the war and then the recovery as Hogwarts was rebuilt, she never brought it up, never pushed him.

She waited, knowing that he would return to her when the time was right. Though she didn't understand why it was taking so long.

What concerned her though was how he kept disappearing. She couldn't work out a pattern, and it was clear he wasn't going to the bathroom as she had excused herself from the room and checked there a minute after he left.

She just couldn't work out what was going on.

If she had been a suspicious person, she would have thought for sure he was seeing someone. But Harry wouldn't do that to her. He'd never betray her. Harry was destined to be with her.

...oOo...

"Charlie," Ginny said, catching her older brother alone in the kitchen. He was the best choice to ask advice from. Bill was with Fleur and the twins were at the shop. Percy wasn't much use, which made the logical choice Charlie.

"Ginny?" Charlie asked, turning away from the sink, glass of water in hand. He brought it to his lips, taking a deep gulp. "What's wrong?" She wrung her hands nervously. "I just need some advice," she admitted. "It's about Harry."

Charlie's hand jerked slightly, the water splashing against the side of the glass, a few drops ending up on Charlie's shirt, though he barely noticed. "Harry? Why would you ask me? I don't know much about him."

Ginny watched her brother suspiciously. Perhaps Charlie knew what was wrong with Harry and why he was holding back and not rekindling their relationship?

"I want him back," she stated firmly. "Charlie, I've waited long enough. I love him and I want him back."

Charlie paled at the words. "You still love him? I thought... all of these months and you never said anything, and I thought..."

"You thought what?"

"I thought you were over him," Charlie muttered. He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand guiltily. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Ginny watched her brother rush from the room, baffled at what had just happened.

...oOo...

Ginny looked around the dining table, wondering why it was so silent. Both Harry and Charlie looked pale and she wondered if something was wrong. The sound of cutlery against plates echoed throughout the room and all attempts at conversation seemed to die.

Slowly, Ginny picked up on the tension, noticing that everyone seemed to be glancing her way more often than usual.

"What?" she finally asked, frowning as she looked around.

"Ginny, I think we should talk," Harry murmured, struggling to meet her gaze. Ginny wanted to get excited - she had been waiting so long for those words... but there was something about his tone that told her something was wrong.

"Let's talk here," she replied, not moving from her seat.

"I think we should talk alone—" Harry tried.

"Whatever you say to me, you can say in front of my family," Ginny insisted, watching Harry carefully. With each second that passed, she was more and more convinced that it was going to be bad news. This way, she'd at least have her family around her for it.

"Okay. Ginny, I'm sorry. It's just... I'm in love with someone else."

Ginny stared at Harry in shock, the ticking clock on the wall the only noise in the room. "You're... in love with someone else?" she repeated.

Harry nodded. "I'm sorry Ginny. After the war, there never seemed to be a good time for me and you to be together. I didn't expect this to happen. I didn't... I thought you had moved on. You never said anything, and—"

"And I was waiting for you to be ready," Ginny said, feeling the tears build in her eyes, though she forced herself to not let them fall.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," Harry said. "I care about you..."

"That isn't enough," Ginny whispered. "Who do you love?"

She looked around the table, noticing that no-one could meet her gaze, all except Charlie who looked at her as though he wanted to ask for forgiveness. It was that moment that it clicked.

Her family all knew.

Harry was in love with Charlie. Her own brother.

"If you'll all excuse me," she muttered, pushing her chair back. She rushed to the front door and outside with Charlie calling her name, shouting apologies. She didn't stop to listen.

She needed to get away.

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