Chapter two

Even though it was the first day at the Burrow, Charlie started to work with Harry on how to read lips. Charlie noticed that Harry seemed hesitant but kept glancing at Hermione, Ron and Ginny who were sitting in the living room watching them. So Charlie wrote a note for just Harry then waited until he left before he turned to his sister, brother and his girlfriend.

'I know you're anxious to help, but you can't and having you watch him all the time is making it hard for him to concentrate, I also think he's embarrassed. So from now on, while I'm working with Harry, we're going to do it in my room, alone and with the door shut. If we are down here or outside, don't come over, okay.'

'Oh, we wondered why he kept looking at us, sorry Charlie,' Ron said, 'You go, we'll stay down here just let us know how he is.'

'I will, but he'll get there, it just takes time,' Charlie stood and made his way up to his room and found Harry sitting on the floor in the corner with his head in on his pulled up knees. He touched Harry's head, then flicked his wand so the words appeared, 'It's fine, they understand and we'll stay either in here, or if we're downstairs, they won't watch, okay.'

'Thanks Charlie, it was like they were waiting for me to get it straight away.'

'I know, now come on, up you get,' Charlie grabbed Harry's hands and pulled him to his feet then patted the end of the bed while he went and sat up against the bed head.

Over the next few weeks, Charlie worked with Harry three times a day, now he was able to read basic words and as long as whoever is talking speaks slowly and precisely, he got it easily. Harry wanted to go shopping but needed money out of his vault. Charlie explained that reading goblins is very difficult, so Charlie will have to write to Harry and let him know what they have said. Harry was nervous and didn't want anyone to know he couldn't hear, but he was also confident that he could read the lips of what people would say. Hermione and Ron had decided to go with Charlie and Harry, so they could keep him in the centre in case people came up to him as they knew they would.

After a few hours with only a few glitches, Harry got everything he needed but felt good about himself that he only made a couple of mistakes. Hermione would quickly speak up saying Harry was just tired, he'd been overdoing it and the shop keepers or people thanking him seemed to accept that excuse for Harry answering them which didn't made sense to the question they had asked.

The moment they stepped in, Molly touched Harry's shoulder so he would looked at her while she spoke.

'How did it go?' she asked slowly.

'Good, only a couple of mistakes, so it's getting there.'

'Good, rest up until lunch.'

'I got this for you, for everyone,' Harry handed Mrs. Weasley a small pouch.

She looked puzzled, but opened the bag and pulled out a small piece of parchment and a key. She read the parchment then her eyes went wide but she shook her head.

'No, Harry, we don't want this.'

Harry realised that Mrs. Weasley spoke quickly because it shocked her, 'It will help everyone and you've looked after me for years, now I want to help. Beside, compared to what I've got, that's nothing.'

'Molly, what is it?' Arthur asked seeing how surprised he's wife was.

'Harry set us up a vault, with a hundred thousand galleons in it.'

Arthur touched Harry's shoulder so he would turn, 'We don't need it Harry, we're fine, struggling, but fine. We don't want to take your money.'

'You and Mrs. Weasley said you think of me as a son, so can't a son help out his parents, because that is how I think of you. I know who my parents are, but I never knew them, I knew you. So please, let me help for a change, especially with something that is so simple for me to help with. Between Sirius and my parents, they left me very well off.'

Arthur and Molly looked at each other then saw Ron nod and they knew he would only do that because he knew how much this meant to Harry. So Molly hugged Harry again then Arthur did before they both stood in front of him.

'Okay, thank you and it will help, just know though, we do think of you as our son, just with black hair instead of red.'

Harry laughed, 'Good, a black haired Weasley, hey, I could be Weasley Potter,' Harry laughed again which made everyone else laugh with him, 'I'll go put my stuff away.'

Everyone waited until Harry left before Arthur turned to Ron, 'Can he really afford this Ron?'

'Um yeah, he can dad. His parents left him a few million and he also has the Black fortune, he didn't really want to look at that though. It still hurts him to think of Sirius.'

'So Harry is pretty rich, okay, well that makes me feel better in accepting this even if I wish I didn't have to.'

'We know Arthur, but until we get on our feet, we are struggling, now we won't. So I think for dinner tonight, I'll do all Harry's favourites.'

'I'll give you a hand mum,' Ginny said, 'I've enjoyed learning to cook.'

'It is a necessary skill Ginny,' Molly smiled at her daughter but she also knew she wanted to help with the meals Harry liked. She knew her daughter had liked Harry for years, but even after these last few weeks, Harry hasn't said anything to her. In fact he's treated her just like anyone else in the family, or like Hermione. Molly wondered if Harry just didn't see her daughter like that or if it might be because of his deafness. Maybe when Harry had learned to live with it and learned to lip read properly, then he might take an interest, she would just have to wait and see what happened.

Harry unpacked his clothes, changed and threw out his old stuff before he walked toward Charlie's room. The door was ajar and he saw Charlie pulling on his jeans, Harry also saw Charlie's naked backside and couldn't believe how that sight made Harry react. He knew he was gay, he'd worked it out when he was away with Hermione and Ron, but he didn't think he'd be attracted to Charlie, who happened to be straight. How many times had Harry heard Mrs. Weasley going on about all Charlie's girlfriends.

Harry had never told anyone he was gay, not even Hermione and Ron, he had been expecting Ginny to talk to him and thought he might have to say something if she didn't just accept him saying he wasn't interested that he just didn't see her like that, not anymore. Harry figured it was because of his deafness and that was why she hadn't spoken to him and she would eventually. But Harry wished he had someone to talk to about that and he did think of talking to Charlie, they were close now, since they have been spending so much time alone. But Harry wondered how he will take the news, all Harry could do was say something and find out. Then Harry thought maybe he wasn't actually attracted to Charlie, it was just seeing him naked, so Harry had a quick look again and it was instant, the feeling deep inside, he was attracted to Charlie, he was certain of it

Harry took a couple of steps back and knocked on the door to Charlie's room and waited.

Charlie opened his door, 'Hi,' he smiled.

'Hi, are you okay to keep going or do you want a break?'

'No, I'm good, but we might head outside for a while. It's a great day,' Charlie said all the words slowly and clearly then waited.

'Sounds good and it is a nice day outside.'

'You are doing really well Harry,' Charlie smiled, 'Come on,' they walked downstairs together, 'Mum, we'll be outside working, it's too nice to stay in.'

'Okay, I'll call you when lunch is ready,' Molly smiled at Harry who nodded making Charlie smile then they headed outside but kept going until they were down near the pond.

'Okay, I'm going to speak easy word but a little faster, see if you can read them. If you get stuck, tell me?'

'Before we start Charlie, there's something I need to talk about, it's personal so can you keep it to yourself?'

'Of course I will but I thought you always spoke to Hermione and Ron about personal stuff.'

'I do normally, but I'm not sure of Ron's reaction and I need advice as well, not from a girl, so Hermione's out as well.'

Charlie leant back against the tree, 'Okay, I'll see if I can help, so shoot.'

Harry smiled, 'Um, you know how my life has been, it's been full of danger and I've always been tense and stressed, never had much time to think of anything really. But when I was away with Hermione and Ron, there were times we just couldn't keep working, we needed to clear our thoughts. So I'd either lie on my bunk or go for a walk around whatever forest we were staying at. I finally realised something about myself, something that was unexpected. I still wasn't sure until recently.'

'Okay, even though I'm not sure what you're talking about but yes, I do know you're life has been hectic and full of danger. So go on, tell me the rest.'

'I think, no, I know I'm gay,' Harry chewed on his lip before he looked up at Charlie who didn't look shocked or surprised.

'Are you worried that Ron and Hermione won't accept that you're gay?'

'Ron, yeah, Hermione, no, she'll be fine no matter what. But you seem fine Charlie, I wasn't sure. But since you've been teaching me to read lips, we've gotten close and you don't seem to be a hothead like Ron.'

Charlie laughed, 'No, I'm very easy going. But let me say this and it's not something I kept hidden, it was just personal. Mum and dad know and that's why mum goes on about how many girlfriends I have, she does it to wind me up, but I'm gay. I've known since I was twelve years old. I deliberately spoke a little faster, so did you get all that?'

Harry nodded, 'Yeah I did, so Ron has no idea?'

'No, I've never told them and since I used to live overseas, I decided it wasn't something anyone needed to know. I did tell Bill, before the wedding though. Fleur wanted to set me up with one of her cousins, I said only if it was male.'

Harry laughed, 'Yeah that would be the only way it would work.'

'You said you needed advice, is it about being gay, or sex, something like that?'

'I haven't thought of sex, had too much on my mind. But did you know I dated Ginny, it was before Dumbledore died?'

'I did hear about it, from Fred. I know Ginny likes you, has for years. So have you told her you're gay?'

'No, I might have to, but you see, I figured she would have come and asked me about us and she hasn't, that's the only reason I haven't told her. Maybe she finally likes someone else, well, I can hope that's the case so I won't get bat bogey's.'

Charlie laughed, 'Oh she will definitely do that when you tell her. You said before you thought you knew, but you definitely knew recently, why, tell me what happened to make you positive you were gay?'

'Why did you have to ask that,' Harry lowered his head so he was looking at his hands, 'I saw you getting changed and well, you know,' Harry blushed brightly but never lifted his head.

Charlie stared at Harry's lower head and realised that he saw him naked and it gave him a hard on.

He put his hand under Harry's chin and lifted his head, 'You got turned on seeing my naked backside?'

Harry blushed, 'Charlie,' he nodded and tried to look down again but Charlie's finger tightened, 'Yes, I did, that basically confirmed it.'

'Yes, that would do it alright. So are you attracted to me or was it just seeing my butt?'

Harry could see the humour on Charlie's face, but he thought he saw something in Charlie's eyes and wasn't sure what it meant.

'I like you, I seem to like red heads, like my father. Sirius told me that, all the Potter men end up with red heads. I thought you had a cute butt as well.'

Charlie laughed, then quickly moved in and captured Harry's lips then his tongue was tasting the inside of Harry's mouth. He heard a groan from Harry making him smile but never released his lips until they were lying down with Charlie on top of Harry, then he rolled until Harry was on top of him, then he finally realised his lips.

'Wow,' Harry panted, 'I've never been kissed like that.'

'I'm glad you liked it. But I take it you've never had sex?'

'Um, no, bit hard with my life Charlie. It's getting easier to read your lips, but sometimes I want to look at your eyes and not your lips when you talk. Now though, you're lips look good,' Harry smiled then lowered his head until he captured Charlie's lips but this time he used his tongue just like Charlie did. He felt Charlie growing under him and he was sure the red head could feel him and without Harry even realising it, he was grinding his hips against Charlie while they snogged.

Ginny was watching from behind a tree, she had listened to their conversation and felt her stomach sink and her heart break. She wanted to be angry, but knew there was no use, if Harry was gay, then there was nothing she could do except learn to live with the fact that her dream of marrying Harry Potter will never come true. All she could hope for was that Harry could make Charlie happy, maybe help him settle down. Since Charlie was staying but also helping Harry, they just might work it out, together. She sniffed then slowly walked back to the house and thought she wasn't going to let on she knew. But she decided it was time to speak with Harry, just not the conversation she had expected or Harry expected. She sighed then headed inside but went straight up to her room to think, think about her life now and what she wanted to do now she knew Harry was out of her reach, for good.