Patience is a Virtue

I don't own 'Harry Potter'

Warning: slight underage (kissing)

Well this was just great, wasn't it? It wasn't as if he didn't already know his family didn't want him – like all those rants didn't get the message across – now he was left with the very real knowledge that the Dursleys didn't want him at all.

Leaving him in London by himself with his trunk would do that.

He sat in the abandoned park and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. He was only thirteen for crying out loud! Why did he have to put up with this all the time?

"Hey, are you alright?"

Harry looked up to see someone who looked very similar to Ron and the twins, though much stockier than any of them. The man also had a load of burns over his bare arms, though his smile reminded Harry of Mr Weasley.

"Mr Weasley?"

The man smiled and laughed. "I think you mean my dad. 'Mr' makes me sound old, you know. I'm Charlie Weasley, and I'm guessing you know one of my brothers."

This was the brother who'd helped with the dragon in first year.

"I'm friends with Ron. You helped us with the dragon."

Charlie tilted his head. "You wouldn't happen to be Harry Potter, would you?"

Harry squirmed and waited for the usual glance to his forehead or mention of his 'fame'. "Yes?"

"That's great! I've wanted to meet one of Ron's friends for a while now."

Charlie's smile was rather nice and Harry felt himself flush. He told himself it was only because he'd found someone that treated him like a person rather than a celebrity.

"So Harry, what are you doing here with your trunk anyway?"

"My relatives left me here 'cause they don't want to look after a freak anymore."

As soon as the words slipped out he smacked a hand over his mouth with wide eyes. Why did he say that? He'd never felt so comfortable with someone that he didn't censor himself; he even held himself back with Ron and Hermione!

All of a sudden Charlie's eyes narrowed and he didn't look so friendly any more. Harry didn't feel scared though; he knew he wasn't the one Charlie was angry at.

"I think, Harry, you and I should go and visit Gringotts."

… What?

It turned out that Charlie was a lot sneakier than the average Gryffindor, and his older brother Bill – who looked really cool – worked at Gringotts, and after the two had a hushed conversation neither one was looking remotely happy.

Apparently the goblins could do a lot if you paid them, and they had enough power to get Sirius a trial, and find him somewhere to live – what the hell is 'Potter Manor'? – and help protect him from being entered into magical contracts. (Charlie and Bill knew about something happening soon that they were trying to avoid him ending up in.)

Money was something Harry had a lot of – and a lot more than he'd even realised – and soon enough the goblins had followed through on their deals.

His godfather was definitely enjoying spoiling him and they made arrangements to go to the World Cup with the Weasley family.

"Hey, Harry."

Harry turned to see Charlie grinning widely at him from the door of the tent's bedroom. He blushed, trying to ignore the squirming feeling in his stomach he got whenever the second-oldest Weasley brother smiled at him. It wasn't fair he was so attractive. He'd known he liked boys as well since his crush on Oliver, but this was different and it didn't help it was Ron's brother either.

"Hi Charlie. Weren't you going to see some school friends you saw?"

Charlie walked over and sat next to him on the bed. "It's fine, they're all drunk already and I'd rather not get stuck having to clean up puke."

He snorted and clapped a hand over his mouth, thoroughly mortified. He couldn't believe he'd made such a noise!

Charlie laughed and pulled his hand away. "Don't worry Harry, nobody's around to hear. Though I have to admit, it was a pretty funny sound."

Embarrassed didn't begin to cover what he felt, and he considered fleeing from the disastrous conversation before he felt fingers on his cheek. He looked up to see sky-blue looking strangely serious.

"I know I shouldn't but I really can't help myself. You're way too captivating to be fourteen."

Harry was about to question him before a pair of slightly chapped lips met his. They pushed gently, warming his as they lingered chastely on him for what felt like hours, though was probably only a minute.

He opened his eyes – when did he close them? - to see Charlie smiling ruefully at him. "You're only fourteen now Harry so I really can't do much. I don't want to take advantage of you before you know what you're getting into. Can you wait until you're sixteen?"

Harry nodded, probably a touch more emphatically than needed judging by Charlie's smirk.

"Charlie?"

"Yes Harry?"

"Can you kiss me again?"

Blue eyes darkened as the older man leaned in once more, silently promising to just kiss.

After all, good things come to those who wait.

A/N: Hello!

I actually meant for this to be a little sweeter, but oh well lol

Hope you enjoy it :)