Word Count: 336
"Do not fret," Fleur says, her tone soft and light, like there is nothing so terribly wrong about this whole mess. "It is not like you 'ave 'exed your brother."
Charlie snorts. It isn't a comforting thought at all. "You think that's the only way to hurt someone?" he asks, looking up at her.
She climbs out of bed, taking her time in collecting her clothes and getting dressed again. Charlie looks away, closing his eyes. He doesn't want to think about what they've done. He's betrayed his brother, and he hates himself for it.
"I am sorry, Charlie," she tells him. "I do 'zink are very charming, and I know you feel 'ze same about me."
He wishes he didn't. Even as regret weighs down on him, making the world feel so heavy on his shoulders, he cannot deny it. There will always be a part of him that wants her, that envies Bill for what he has. That isn't what love is supposed to be.
"Charlie?"
He swallows dryly. He's half-tempted to ask her to come back to bed. Merlin knows he already misses her silky skin against his.
But he can't. On the bedside table is a photograph of him and Bill when they were kids. Once upon a time, they had been inseparable; Charlie would have never even thought about hurting his brother. What changed? When did things become so messed up?
He climbs to his feet and dresses quickly. "I can walk you outside the wards," he offers.
She shakes her head before closing the distance between them and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "I 'zink I will be okay on my own."
…
It's peaceful out here. Charlie throws himself into his work, tending to the newest dragon hatchlings. It's easy to lose himself as he throws raw meat into their enclosure or carefully cleans their scales.
But his mind still wanders, and he thinks of Fleur.
He wonders if he will ever be able to shake her.