A/N: I'm sorry for the late update. Life gets crazy. Basically, for a while, I lost my desire to write due to my fun mental health issues. So that was cute. And then I bought a house, which is a level of adulating I really never want to reach again. Glad I did it, never want to have to again. I swear, I will die in this house. But I'm doing better, I've got my mojo back, and I'm ready to roll!
Also, I still do not own Harry Potter, the world, the characters, anything in relation to. Nor do I profit off this in any monetary way.
Enjoy!
Hermione woke up the next day ravenous. The pang she felt in her stomach was nauseating. She stood up, dizzy. She guessed skipping dinner hadn't been a wise decision. She hadn't meant to skip dinner, of course, but she and Charlie had been so engrossed in their conversation. They discussed Hogwarts, Charlie's job, and Hermione's future. That was the hardest part of the conversation. Hermione didn't know what her future held, just that if she survived, and that was a big if, maybe she could do something worthwhile.
She groaned at the thought of getting out of bed, but she knew if she didn't, she'd just feel more ill. Then came a knock at her door. She stood up, holding her stomach and hobbled to the door. She opened it up to see Charlie, grinning, with a tray of food in his hands.
"Bless you," she said, letting him in the room.
"I figured you were just as hungry as I was, and wouldn't be able to move, so I came to you."
She smiled at him.
"It's like you can read my mind."
He sat down on the floor and started parceling out food onto the plates. Hermione sat down next to him. He handed her a plate filled with the usual: eggs, bacon, and sausage. Hermione wasted no time in eating. Charlie, who'd already had one plate, ate at a slower pace, talking to her about work.
"I'd love to visit Romania with you," said Hermione cheerfully. She then frowned at her words. She'd most likely never get the chance to go to Romania. Hermione didn't have any grand delusions of surviving the war. She was a mudblood. Her best friend was the bad guy's main target, and her other best friend was a blood traitor. There was no way she'd make it out alive. Mostly because she knew that when it came down to it, if it was to be her or Harry or Ron, she would give up her life gladly, willingly for them. But no one needed to know that.
"Hermione," said Charlie, gazing at her intently, "what are you thinking?"
"Nothing, it doesn't matter."
He gave her a disapproving look. She felt ashamed for lying to him, but she couldn't tell him the truth. He would try to stop her.
"So, what are you going to do here?" she asked, changing the topic in hopes that he'd go for it.
"Don't change the subject, Hermione. I know you're planning something and I know you were thinking about something related to it."
"I just want you to know that whatever happens, you'll be okay."
"Hermione…"
"Please, Charlie, can we talk about something else?"
Charlie looked at her, his brow furrowed.
Hermione looked down, avoiding his accusatory stare.
"Fine. I won't bring it up again. I've been sent here to work with the Ministry for a bit. I don't fancy it, I'd much rather be in Romania, but with all that's going on, my boss figured I'd be needed more here. He said that we'll all end up in this war one way or another, and I might as well be with my family, in case things go sour."
Hermione nodded knowingly.
"Don't worry, Charlie. Everything will be okay."
"I'm sure it will, sweetie. If you have anything to do with it, I'm not worried."
Hermione felt her cheeks burn and knew that her cheeks were turning pink, making her freckles pop.
"Thanks, Charlie. I guess we should head down now," she said, looking at the empty platter in front of them.
Charlie nodded and stood up. Hermione followed. Together they went down to the kitchen where the rest of the house was eating their breakfast.
"Good morning you two, you're late getting your breakfast," said Fred, his voice insinuating.
"We already ate," said Hermione. "We stayed out talking and missed dinner. Charlie here was sweet enough to bring me breakfast since I didn't have the strength to make it down here on my own."
Hermione's innocent explanation did nothing to discourage Fred's grin. In fact, it made his grin bigger and his eyebrows rise.
"Well, how sweet of him," said Fred.
Charlie shot him a nasty look.
"Zip it, twin."
Fred laughed, mischief dancing in his eyes.
Molly came into the kitchen, having woken up the rest of the house that didn't make it down on their own.
"Good morning, you two. Glad to see you up and about."
"Morning mum. We're going out for a walk. Do you need anything from the village?"
"No, but thank you, Charlie. Don't stay out too long, mind. It's not safe out there."
"Mum, no one's going to get us."
"Just keep safe, the both of you."
They nodded and headed out.
"Does it bother you that Fred made fun of us?" Hermione asked, as they walked along the trail leading away from the Burrow.
"No, why should it?"
Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know. I guess I just don't want them getting the wrong idea, or something."
"And what idea would that be?"
Hermione unconsciously rubbed her left arm with her right hand, pulling her right arm tight across her chest.
Charlie stopped walking and grabbed her by the shoulder. He tilted her chin up.
"I don't care what my baby brother, or what anyone else for that matter, thinks. You're my best friend. If they don't like the fact that I choose to spend my time with you, that's their problem. Not mine."
Hermione brightened considerably. Charlie smiled down at her, his blue eyes sparkling.
"Now," Charlie said, "tell me a secret."
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"Well, I've just realized that despite us being besties, I don't know anything about you that no one else knows. So, a secret it is. Best friends tell each other their secrets, you know."
"Well if you're so keen on sharing, why don't you start. Tell me your biggest secret."
Charlie smiled. He took off his shirt and turned so his back would face her. Hermione oogled at the bare back she was exposed to. Along his defined muscles was a tattoo. An otter moved along his back, because, as magical pictures move, so do magical tattoos. The otter seemed to be happily splashing in water. She brought her hand up, and touched the warm skin. Charlie shuddered at the touch, feeling a jolt of energy. He sucked in a breath. Hermione traced her finger along the otter and the river below him.
"It's beautiful, Charlie. Why an otter?"
"It's my patronus. It has been for a while now."
"No kidding. My patronus is an otter too," she said, smiling at him. The smile reached her eyes and he could see them illuminate at her excitement.
Charlie looked at her, his gaze intent and his brow furrowed.
"Are you okay?" she asked, not missing it.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just… nevermind. It's not important. So go on then. What's your secret?" he asked as he pulled his shirt back on.
Hermione looked at him for a beat before deciding it would be alright to tell him.
"I'm actually turning 19 this year."
Charlie looked at her, confused.
"I thought you were 17 going on 18?"
"That's why it's a secret. No one knows, except my parents, McGonagall, and a few unspeakables."
"Mind telling me how you aged a year older?"
"Remember all the time I spent in third year bombarding you with letter after letter of school work?"
Charlie nodded his head.
"Well, I wanted to take all the available courses that Hogwarts had to offer. I begged Dumbledore to no end. He finally relented, but the only way I could manage the timetable would require me to be in two places at once all throughout the day. So, they agreed to give me a timeturner."
"You're kidding, right?"
"No, I'm not kidding."
"They let a 13 year old meddle with time magic just so she could take an insane amount of courses?"
"I guess I annoyed them enough about it. But a side effect we didn't consider was that I would age. I mean, I basically had two years in one. They had to determine my age to know when to take the trace off me, but I was told to continue on as if I was underage until my 'official' 17th birthday."
"Wow."
"So, technically, we're only five years apart, not seven."
"Oh wow, that's such a difference," he joked.
"I'm just saying."
He laughed and grabbed her hand, pulling her along with him.
"Come along, mum will kill us if we linger for too long."
"Right you are, and I've got some shopping to do. I still haven't gotten Harry his birthday present yet."
They continued walking down the trail. It was a good ten miles out to the village. They decided they would rather walk than apparate, as it would give them the excuse to stay the whole day out.
They finally reached the village, after having walked three hours, all the while, happily chatting about this and that. They stopped when Hermione gasped as they entered into the village square. It was beautiful. The trees were in full bloom, flowers planted everywhere. Vendors were set up with their carts, selling necklaces, rugs, clothing, and food. The smell of warm bread was in the air. Charlie looked at Hermione, her expression one of wonder and amazement.
"It's so beautiful," she said, smiling the first genuine smile he'd seen in the short time they'd spent together.
"That it is," he said. What he didn't say was that it paled in comparison to her.
"What about this one, 'Mione?"
She walked over to where Charlie was standing. He held a beaded bag in his hand. It was small, one of those bags that could be worn across her body. She nodded at it, her face scrunched up in thought.
"Yeah, that'll be good. It's small and easily concealed. Good job, Charlie."
"I live to please," he said.
"Now, all that's left is Harry's birthday present. I've got to get him something from Ron and something from myself."
"Alright, where to?"
Hermione glanced at the stores around her, trying to decide which one would have something for him. She spotted a shop nestled between a pottery shop and a bookstore that looked promising. The shop was a muggle oddity shop.
As Charlie and Hermione stepped over the threshold, the bell rang and the store clerk looked at them with a welcoming smile.
"Hello, is there anything in particular you're needing?" he asked.
Hermione smiled and shook her head, her curls bouncing around at the movement.
"No thank you," she said. "We're just looking for now."
"Alright, let me know if you need help."
They lazily walked around the shop, their movements slow and deliberate. They knew the longer it took to get their shopping done, the longer they could spend time together without the intrusive family dissecting their relationship. Oh, they mean well, but there's a reason Hermione and Charlie kept their friendship under wraps.
As Hermione ran her hand across the counter, she saw the perfect gift for Harry. She nodded at Charlie, who came over, and gave her a grin when he saw it. They bought the present and left the store.
"Lunch?" asked Hermione.
"Lunch," said Charlie.