Chapter 8: Confessions

Hermione's mouth instantly dried and she had to blink a few times to let her mind catch up to his words.

"Swim?" She squeaked.

Charlie sat up with a grin, the muscles of his torso flexing slightly. He gestured to the lake and Hermione let her eyes trail down the strong expanse of his arm.

Stop it, Hermione, you ginger-crazed witch. She snapped her ogling eyes from his muscles and back to his face as he looked up at the waterfall.

"Well, we could go for a dive from the top of that waterfall..." His grin turned devilish as he looked back at her. "That is, if you're brave enough."

He was trying to goad her, that much was clear. Charlie knew she didn't willingly participate in dangerous activities but she allowed herself to take the bait and carefully slid from the top of the boulder back to the ground.

She looked over her shoulder at him with a smirk. "I most certainly will not be jumping from that waterfall... but I'll put my feet in the river."

Charlie let out a soft chuckle and jumped down from the boulder while Hermione took off her boots and rolled up the cuffs of her jeans. She then removed her jumper, leaving her in only her short-sleeved green t-shirt.

"Well, I think I'll be going for a swim," Charlie said as he shucked off his trousers, leaving him in only a pair of tight, dark blue boxers. Hermione's eyes widened and she turned around as heat rose to cover her neck and cheeks.

She heard a splash behind her and a light spray of water coated the side of her face as she turned to where Charlie jumped in. He broke the surface of the water a few seconds later gasping for breath and smiling wide.

Hermione grinned at him and sat at the edge of the lake to dip her feet into the cool water. Charlie floated on the surface with his eyes closed and Hermione could see the red of his hair spread in the water beneath him. He must have lost the thong of leather that usually held it in a bun, either that or he took it out before jumping in. Regardless, Hermione admired how it seemed to have a mind of its own as it curled and twisted in the small current.

Suddenly Charlie righted himself and dove back under the surface, instantly lost to the reflection of the sun against the water. Hermione tried to look for him but couldn't see anything past the black depth. She was sure a minute had passed already and she started to become worried, sitting up more to search.

Hermione was about to grab her wand to cast a Bubble-head charm to go in after him, when a freckled hand broke the surface of the water in front of her. It gripped her ankle and yanked her into the cold lake. She let out a squeal before some primal part of her brain reminded her to hold her breath and she grasped her hand over her nose as she was pulled under the surface.

The grip on her ankle loosened and she came back up for air instantly, shoving her wet curls out of her face and rubbing the water from her eyes. Charlie emerged directly in front of her and looked at her with a wild grin. She gave him her best scathing look and he started to laugh.

"You looked hot, thought you might want to come in and get a little wet."

Hermione pushed the naughty thought that popped into her head away as she pumped her arms and legs to keep her above the surface. "Charlie Weasley! I cannot believe you pulled me into the lake!"

Charlie swam a little bit closer and his knee bumped into her thigh as they bobbed in the water. Suddenly the grin fell from his face and his gaze flickered between her eyes and her lips. Hermione's heart was pounding in her chest as he swam closer still and their chests brushed against each other in the water. The lake was frigid but suddenly Hermione felt like she was swimming in a hot spring.

Charlie's voice came out in a husky whisper as he stared at her lips, "Do you feel it too, Hermione?"

She swallowed the lump in her throat and his sapphire blue eyes met hers in a heated gaze. Her mouth was dry but she still managed to croak out, "Feel what?"

Charlie's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in so their bodies melted together. His face was only a few inches from her own and she sucked in a gasp as he leant down. His breath tickled her face in a rush of spearmint as he spoke. "Something is pulling us together. I can't stop thinking about you. I want to be near you all the time..."

He trailed off, his lips hovered just above hers and Hermione glanced up to find his eyes watching her hopefully. She inched her face closer until their lips were only a breath apart when a sudden roar from Lumi had them jolting away from each other.

Lumi was in a defensive stance eyeing the treeline, puffs of smoke escaping her mouth. Charlie swam to the edge of the lake to pull himself out and Hermione quickly followed. He ran over to her, still only in his boxers, dripping wet. He grabbed his wand, holding it at the ready as he stepped into the treeline. He was only gone for a moment before he re-emerged. He said something to Lumi and she took off to the skies.

Hermione wrapped her arms around herself to shield against the chilled air as Charlie jogged back over to her. He looked pale as he grabbed his trousers, quickly yanking them on. He threw her jumper to her as he snatched his shirt that was on the ground next to it, "Poachers. We've got to go."

He slipped his shirt on as Hermione shoved her feet into her boots and slipped her arms into her jumper.

It instantly became soaked but she was at least a little bit warmer, "There are poachers? All the way out here?"

Charlie only nodded grimly as he pulled his broom from his pocket and cast an Engorgement Charm to bring it back to its original size. He mounted and Hermione quickly followed, gripping his arms as he took off at lightning speed. He cast another Disillusionment charm on them once in the sky, though they were going so fast she doubted a Muggle would be able to tell what they were anyways.

He didn't say anything while they flew and Hermione could feel the tension radiating from his body. She began to shiver as the muggle village passed under them in a blur and they quickly popped through the Sanctuaries wards. Hermione felt Charlie relax slightly behind her and she gave his forearms a squeeze for reassurance. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer to his chest and her stomach flipped as he fit his body around hers. A warmth settled over her mostly from desire but also the safety his arms offered her and it instantly stopped her shivering.

Charlie dipped low once they reached their cabins and when Hermione got off, he stayed mounted.

"I have to go report to Rollands that there are poachers nearby." He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek, gently running his rough thumb against her soft skin. "When I get back... Can we talk?"

His thumb left a trail of fire on her cheek and Hermione weakly nodded, trying to keep her knees from giving out under her. The smile he gave her when she agreed made a feeling that she couldn't name swell in her chest. He dropped his hand back to his broom handle and Hermione stopped herself before she let out a sigh at the loss of contact.

She watched as Charlie sped off back to the Commons and took a few deep breaths to still her racing heart. Once she had calmed, she was able to move her leaden legs to walk to her cabin. The mailbox at her door had its small flag raised and Hermione quickly rushed towards it. She opened the top and grabbed out three letters, one from Effie, one from Harry and one from Luna.

Her heart thumped hard against her chest as she rushed inside and kicked the door closed. She paid no mind to her soaking clothes as she tore open Luna's letter, leaving the others momentarily discarded on the kitchen counter.

Hello Hermione!

It was so lovely to hear from you but your handwriting was so scribbled I worried about deciphering it. Are you quite well?

Ron told me you were going to Romania, please watch for Blibbering Humdingers. It's their mating season and they can cause one to see everything upside down if they sneeze on you. Make sure to carry a bouquet of sweetpeas and orange blossoms, they hate sweet scents.

To answer your questions, I did feel a connection to Ron when we first met but it did take some time until it intensified. (Ron commented that he wondered if it had anything to do with his school crush on you, that maybe it had repressed his feelings for me. I personally think Wrackspurts were at play, his head was always full of them.)

My father told me when you meet your soulmate, it was like feeling close to a fire but once you accept the bond, it would feel as if you're standing directly in the blaze. I have to agree with his depiction. (He and my mother were soulmates, you see.) And no, I had no positive way of knowing until we matched our birthmarks, aside from the attraction we felt.

I hope I was able to answer your questions. (Though I do wonder about the need for them. Did you perhaps meet someone in Romania?)

Luna

P.S. I forgot to mention the bouquet should be kept inside your shirt or jacket pocket so it makes your clothes smell like the flowers. Otherwise, the Blibbering Humdingers will climb into your bed at night to sneeze on your face.

Hermione blew out a breath as she set the letter down. Her feelings were an odd mixture of disappointment and yearning as she opened Harry's, a quick note that they were happy to take care of Crookshanks and hoped she was having a good time in Romania.

Effie's letter only mentioned for her to get specific measurements of the dragon and a few other minor requests before signing her name on the bottom.

Hermione tossed Effie's letter onto the pile on the counter and sighed as she climbed the ladder to go upstairs. She peeled her clothes off of her as she thought about what Luna had written. She had said she could feel the connection with Ron. Did it feel like what she had with Charlie? And good Godric, she wouldn't even know for certain until she matched the birthmarks?

Hermione quickly changed into a pair of warm leggings and a thick fuzzy sweater to combat the cold that had seeped into her bones. She was just putting on another pair of Molly's knitted socks when a knock sounded at her door. Her heart sped up as she raced down the ladder, her mind racing with only one thought.

Charlie.

She padded to the door and pulled it open. He stood there, his hair whipping wildly in the cool breeze and his clothes still slightly damp. He was wringing his hands together and staring at the ground but flicked his molten gaze to hers when she opened the door. Hermione held her breath as Charlie strode past her, bringing in the scent of cut grass with him.

She blinked as she thought back to the Amortentia potion from sixth year. A bloody love potion had told her what her soulmate would smell like! Only a moment passed before she resolved herself - she would tell him, she had to.

His presence instantly filled the room and Hermione gently shut the door behind her, pressing her back against the rough wood. He spun towards her, his eyes wild and stuttered out his confession at the same moment she stuttered out hers.

"I like you-"

"-We're soulmates!

Charlie stumbled back a step as if her words had punched him in the chest. "What did you say?"

Hermione pressed her back further into the wood, her spine aching against the doorknob. Her voice came out in a strained whisper as she forced herself to say it again, "We're soulmates..."

Charlie furrowed his brow and his hands fell limply at his side, "What...? I don't understand."

She had finally told him they were soulmates, and now her words came out in a rush as she explained. She told him of her growing need to be around him - at this, he took a step towards her.

She told him how she thought him to be the most handsome man she had ever seen - another step closer.

She told him how when they flew together, she felt the safest she ever had, even though she was doing something she was terrified of - this step brought him only an arm's length away.

Finally, when she whispered out how she had accidentally seen him naked through the window and his birthmark matched hers, he closed the distance between them.

Charlie placed his hands on either side of her head, trapping her against the door. His face was only a breath away from hers as Hermione looked up at him. Her blood pounded in her ears as he gave her a small smile.

"You're my soulmate..." His breath tickled her face as she glanced to his lips. Her hands shook as she reached up, in a bout of confidence, to place them on either side of Charlie's face. She pulled him closer until their bodies pressed together and drew his head down to her.

His eyes became dark in a swirl of lust as their faces neared. His lips were hot as they landed firmly against hers and she let out a small sigh of ecstasy. This ignited something in Charlie; immediately he deepened the kiss, drinking her in. His hands dropped from the door, one twisted into her damp curls and the other settled against the side of her neck.

His fingers trailed lightly against Hermione's skin, sending jolts of electricity down her spine. He pulled her closer as their lips moved together in a heated exchange.

A ball of fire settled in the pit of her stomach as Charlie moved the hand that was tangled in her hair to trail down her spine and Hermione momentarily damned the thick sweater she was wearing. Charlie ran his tongue along hers when their lips parted for another kiss and Hermione let out a throaty groan as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She wanted him closer, needed him closer and he seemed to be thinking the same as he backed them up until they fell together on the couch.

They momentarily broke from their kiss as they got themselves situated, Hermione settling across his lap as he sat down with his head leaning on the back of the couch. From this position, she could feel his desire for her pressed into her core, causing a blush to creep its way onto her cheeks.

Merlin, she had never done this before but everything felt so... right.

Charlie was panting hard but he trailed his hands up to grip her legs and gave them a gentle squeeze as they stared into each other's lust-filled eyes. He traced up further over the swell of her hips, up the dip of her waist, brushing gently on the sides of her breasts before settling into her curls and pulling her back down to his lips. She barely noticed his still-damp clothes making her own wet as she pressed into him.

Charlie let out a guttural moan when Hermione ground against the bulge in his pants before he broke the kiss, keeping his hands tangled in her hair to hold her face close.

"Hermione... I-I've never..." He trailed off but Hermione knew what he meant and she gave him a reassuring smile.

"It's okay... I never have either." She read a few books about it, of course, not that she'd admit that to him.

Charlie looked at her quizzically, "But you and Ron..."

Hermione wrinkled her nose as she placed her hands on his shoulders. "I saw Ron naked once but we never had sex." A small flash of relief passed over Charlie's eyes and Hermione pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing. "Now please, I'd like to not be thinking of your brother right now..."

Charlie gave her a grin before pulling her face back down to his and he pressed his lips to hers hungrily. Hermione instantly opened her mouth to grant his tongue access, this time flicking out her own to meet his.

Hermione always thought herself an excellent kisser but good Godric, Charlie was phenomenal.

He dropped his hands to run up and down her thighs and it created an inferno between her legs. Charlie ran his hands up higher to cup her buttocks and gave it a gentle squeeze, causing her to let out a small squeak of surprise.

He let out a chuckle against her lips but sucked in a breath as Hermione ground against him in retaliation. This time Hermione was the one to break the kiss and she tried to steady her panting.

Hermione flicked her tongue out to run it over her swollen lips and his eyes dropped to follow the path her tongue took. Charlie ran his hands up to her hips and gripped them tightly as he pressed his hard length against her.

She took a deep breath as she built up her resolve. Merlin, she wanted him so badly and her voice came out in a strained whisper as her fingers played with the ends of his soft hair.

"Do you... do you want to come upstairs?"

Charlie's eyes closed momentarily as he took a deep breath and when he opened them, he held her gaze with so much emotion it startled her. She expected his voice to come out tense like hers but instead, it came out confident and firm. He sounded as if it was the easiest question he had ever answered.

"Yes."