Chapter twelve
Harry and Charlie went straight back to Harry's flat, where he took Charlie's hand and led him up to their bedroom, they both stripped off their clothes and climbed into bed. After a few hours of exhausting each other, Harry lay his head on Charlie's chest, his hand running through the smattering of hair on Charlie's chest, Charlie running his hand up and down Harry's arm.
'What are you thinking about Harry?'
'Something that has shocked me and has taken me completely by surprise. Something I never thought would happen.'
'Do I get to know what this something is?' Charlie felt Harry stiffen slightly, 'You know I love you Harry, I haven't said it since dad told me I was pushing to fast, but I do, you know I do,' still Harry remained silent, 'You're scared because of Sirius, aren't you?'
Harry sighs then sat up facing Charlie, 'Yes, what if I say how I feel and something happens, I don't think I could live with that.'
'Even though you haven't been here, it's safe now, you know that. Ron's explained that they don't deal with a lot of dark witches and wizards anymore. So why would something happen?'
'It might not have anything to do with magic, tragedy happens to people all the time, magical and muggle.'
'There are no guarantees in life, we all know that. But it's safer now than it has been in more than fifty years, everyone feels it. Why do you think so many people are having babies, where before they didn't? A lot of that came down to what happened to you and your parents. No one wanted their child to be left alone or to lose a child like so many had lost. Now though, more babies have been born over the last four years that in the last fifteen years, because everyone knows it's safe.'
'But you work a dangerous job, I've heard the stories of dragon handlers being killed,' Harry lay back down with his head on Charlie's chest.
'So that's your main concern that I'll die at work?' Harry never answered but he did nod, 'I'll change jobs if it makes you feel better and admit how you feel about me.'
Harry bolted upright, 'Are you serious? You love dragons, you love working with them, why would you give it up?'
'For you, I would do anything for you, and do anything for us to stay together.'
Harry felt himself choke up, then he moved until he was sitting astride Charlie staring down into his eyes that showed so much love.
'No, I don't want you to give it up, I couldn't live with the knowledge you did that for me.'
'For us, so we can be together. I get your fear Harry, I might not truly understand how you feel, but I've seen it. If it means you never have to face that fear again, I'm willing.'
'No, don't do it, can you just promise me you'll be extra careful?'
'I can and I do promise, but if at any time you can't handle it, then I leave. I'd rather have a life with you then work with dragons Harry. Yes, I love dragons, but it is just a job. If I got better grades I would probably work making potions for healers to help people like the Longbottom's. I enjoyed potions as a student, but Snape, you know how he was especially with Gryffindor's. Care of magical creatures was the other subjected I excelled at, so since I couldn't get good enough results in potions, I went with creatures.'
Harry kept staring down at Charlie, 'Okay, hear me out because this might work for both of us.'
'I can see your mind spinning Potter, what are you up to?'
'Okay, Fred and George were talking about a joke product for the virtual sex right?'
'Right, but their not having any luck.'
'Well, I know I could probably do something, but not for them. What would you say to your own shop, like the apothecary, but with potions already made? Some for healing, you could study up on all that, but some like the virtual sex or a better polyjuice potion that doesn't taste as terrible and lasts longer. If you're good at potions and I'm good at magic, let's combine our talents and open our own shop. People that aren't good at potions could come in for one, let's say for pimples or hiccups. Do you realise how many times you're mum gave me potions for one thing or another, Hermione made some for me as well. I couldn't concentrate on potions because of Snape, but it's not really my thing, like Ron, he didn't like it, he only studied it because he needed it to be an auror. He told me that he's still not that good, but the others know Ron is a good strategist, so they do the potions while he works on plans. So many people out there are hopeless at potions Charlie, so they usually have to get someone to make it for them or go to St Mungo's. If we did this, then they just buy what potion they need like they would buy a quill without having to wait at St Mungo's.'
Charlie stared up at Harry, he could tell Harry was serious, 'You know Harry, and you're damn smart. But to start a shop isn't going to be easy or cheap, I don't have that much in savings.'
'Okay, listen and please think about this before you turn me down. You know I've got a lot of money, more than I'll ever need. But I also know you're like Ron, all your family is, won't take a handout even though I'm part of the family, they still don't like taking money from me. You're dad works, you're mum doesn't, but they share everything, including the money. Bill and Fleur are the same now since she doesn't work because of Victoire.'
'Okay, I get all that, but I won't take your money.'
Harry rolled his eyes, 'You won't be taking my money, you'll be using yours,' Harry chewed on his lip, 'If we were married, what I have would be yours and what you have would be mine, right?'
'Married, are you saying that just to get me to take some money off you?'
'No, I'm saying this because I realised I love you and I want us together, forever. I was scared because of your job, but I wouldn't want you to give it up just because of my fear, an irrational fear, but it's still there. I'm saying all this because I love you more than I thought possible and I want us to belong to each other, in every way possible.'
Charlie's mouth dropped open, he could see it and hear it, Harry really loves him. He had a feeling Harry felt more for them then he realised, but it wasn't that, it was his fear. If he could give Harry this guarantee of a safer life and safer job, he might finally put his past behind him, put his fear behind him. Charlie pulled Harry down and held him, held him tight. This is what Harry needed, reassurance that he was safe so taking the money to open a shop is what Charlie would do to give Harry that reassurance. Now he made his decision, he knew that Harry would be his, forever.
Harry and Charlie couldn't be happier and everyone saw it, but no one knew the exact reason. Harry and Charlie had both agreed to not tell anyone they were planning on getting married until after Hermione and Ron's wedding. They also decided not to tell anyone about the shop they were opening. Charlie had given his boss notice then the two of them started to look for a shop to lease. Harry had been surprised that Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlour had never reopened and the shop still stood empty. So word wouldn't get around, Charlie had worked on the lease because if Harry did it, everyone would know straight away. They covered the front window so no one could see what was going on inside, that way Harry and Charlie could start building shelves, setting up a room for making potions, another room for all the ingredients they would need and also all the potion books they could get would need to be shelved as well. But not in the front of the shop where people might think they were for sale, they would have other shelves for those.
Harry had started working on his virtual spell, trying to make it work with a potion. Harry and Charlie discussed this every night trying to see which ingredients they would need, but also how much magic Harry would need to cast to make it work. Combining potion and charms were not the easiest magic to do, so they knew this one might take a while. One thing they did work on which they did easily was the polyjuice potion. They were able to make different flavoured potions so now you could still change but it could taste like vanilla or chocolate depending on your preference. They also had different strengths, so from an hour up to five hours you could change into someone else.
They had started making all types of potions, ones for simple things like hiccups and pimples, but also one that Harry mentioned for girls like Hermione, girls with bushy hair, which made Harry think of his own hair. So now anyone could take a potion that would make their hair lie flat or they would never have to put up with bushy hair like Hermione had to. There was potions to make your hair grow quicker, to slow it down, some to get rid of hair for those people that had excess hair. Another potion that Charlie mentioned for girls was for all their symptoms of period pain, whether it was bloating, headaches, pimples or actual pain. They made healing spells, mainly simple things to start with, like for a cold or a headache, but Charlie was studying up on stronger and harder potions. He knew some would need healing charms with them and some might need a powerful witch or wizard to perform the charm on the potion so it would work, so again something Harry could work on beside Charlie.
Kingsley had sent word that Elijah was ready to cast the blood spell inside the house in Godric's Hollow, so Harry and Charlie met both men along with Hermione and Ron at the house.
'Okay Harry, I'll need this large vial filled with your blood, but you will need two vials of blood replenishing potion as soon as it's full.'
'Okay,' Harry took the large glass vial, then stuck his hand out to Charlie who cast a numbing spell before slicing the tips of Harry's fingers on his left hand, 'At least I can't feel it,' Harry watched his blood as it dripped into the vial.
'I think I would have knocked you unconscious if you couldn't have a numbing spell done on you. The last thing you need is more pain Potter.'
'The last thing I need it to be unconscious again Weasley, done that enough as well. But it's done now,' Harry let Charlie heal his fingers then he handed the vial to Elijah, as Elijah handed Harry the two vials of blood replenishing potion. Harry grimaces, making everyone laugh because he hadn't even drank them yet, but he finally swallowed both vials of potions, shuddering at the taste, 'So how long will it take to perform the blood spells?'
'A couple of hours as there is so many items here. Have you taken out everything you want to keep?'
'Yep, some of my parents personal letters, books, a few more pictures, things like that. But I left enough so people could see a bit of their lives. What about the walls Kingsley?'
'I've already told Elijah which parts are going to be uncovered, like the dining room, but not the kitchen. Part of the living room the other stays as it is. Going over those plans you're father had helped. There's two bathrooms, so we're leaving the master bathroom but uncovering the other. There's one thing I wanted to ask you about though, your old room should remain the same as it's where you survived the killing curse, is that alright with you?'
'Yeah, even though I don't like to think about it, it does make sense to leave it. So are you changing one of the others back to its original room?'
'Yes, the spare room, not your parents, everyone agreed that should be left. But going on the plans, the room that you're parents turned into a library was Godric's bedroom. So again if it's alright, that will be changed back to show their bedroom?'
'That's good, it'll show two different generations of people.'
'Do you know if Sirius knew about Gryffindor?' Ron asked.
'No idea, he never said anything to me, neither did Remus. So maybe my parents never told them.'
'But your dad and Sirius were close, you'd think he would have,' Hermione said as she watched Elijah placing Harry's blood over the different object then performing his charms.
'He might have Hermione, but he never said anything to me, so I have no idea if he knew or not. You know what it was like at Grimmauld place. Either we were shoved upstairs or talk was mainly about Voldemort. I never got to ask Sirius about my parents.'
'Have you ever looked in the vault?' Hermione raised her eyebrows.
'No, I've never been in there, I use my parent's vaults.'
'Even after all this time, it's been eight years since he died,' Ron said but noticed Harry stiffen, 'Sorry mate.'
'It's fine Ron, but I never needed to and I really don't want to step in there.'
'Because it would make it more real,' Charlie put his arm around Harry pulling him close.
Harry nodded, 'Yeah, I suppose it would, seeing anything that Sirius might have touched or even left in there for me,' Harry left the sentenced open but the others knew what he meant, it would be too hard for Harry to see all that.
'You will one day Harry, when you're ready,' Hermione said kindly.
'Yeah, one day,' Harry tightened his hold on Charlie and he knew why. Now he was confident that nothing will happen to Charlie, he can finally relax and show his love and not be scared of it anymore.
