Note: This one's a bit shorter, but there will be much longer chapters ahead to make up for it. Enjoy.

Chapter Three

Hermione knew the chance of her running into Charlie again, two weeks later, at Arthur's birthday party (hosted, where else, but the Burrow?), was rather nonexistent, but she couldn't stop feeling giddy as she got ready.

Charlie had moved to be near his parents after the war for nearly a year, but for the better part of that year, she'd been avoiding Ron and had thereby seen Charlie perhaps once. After he returned to Romania, it took two years to run into him again, even though she spent so much time at his parents' home she was certain Molly would scarcely notice if she secretly moved in.

It was absurd to expect she'd see him twice in a month. She told herself this as she pulled on a matching red lace bra and knickers. She reminded herself again as she pulled out her other wrap dress from her wardrobe, a burgundy number with the most cleavage she could wear to a Weasley gathering without garnering double-takes. And she reminded herself once more of the fact that Charlie would probably, in fact, not be present tonight as she rubbed a perfume oil into her pulse points, a new purchase called "Bed of Roses," infused with key potion ingredients that "artfully and subtly enhanced a witch's desirability."

It was Ginny who first noticed Hermione's efforts. "Damn, woman," she said, looking at her up and down. She reached and took Hermione's wrist to her face. "What is this? Smells so sexy!"

"Oh, just this number I found from Malfoy's Apothecary."

"Oh, what's it called? I'm going to have to get a bottle."

Hermione felt her face warm slightly, but she willed the blush away. "Oh, I forgot the name in its entirety. Something to do with roses."

"He's really done well for himself, hasn't he? Malfoy, that is. I was reluctant to try his stuff, but his Elderwonder Cough Syrup works miracles on the boys when they're down and out."

"Oh, I know! If he weren't still so bloody arrogant, I might even feel proud of him, with all the muggle charity causes he donates to."

Molly had been circling them like a shark by then, and Hermione smiled. "Hi, Molly."

"Oh, Hermione!" Molly pounced and clung to her just as tightly as when she and Ron had announced their engagement over three years prior. When she pulled back, Hermione could see tears running down Molly's cheeks.

"Oh my goodness, Molly, what's the matter?"

"Oh," Molly pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed at her eyes. "I just spoke with Charlie for a long while after Albus's birthday. And he said how he'd been feeling about Fred and how you helped him with his grief."

"Oh...?" Hermione couldn't help but need elaboration. Surely he didn't tell her about that.

"Yes, you wonderful woman. Charlie and Bill, they haven't been able to be as open with their emotions and I'm just so glad you were there with Charlie needed to talk, just like Bill has Fleur."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Just like Bill and Fleur?"

"Oh, you know what I mean. Good friends. I'm so glad you're here; Charlie's going to be thrilled to see you."

"Oh," Hermione said, plucking a piece of lint off her shoulder. "Charlie's coming, is he?"

"Oh, yes, wasn't planning on it for some dragon emergency or another but soon as he found out you were coming, Hermione, he said he'd be here. I think he may need someone to talk to again, later, privately." Molly had lowered her voice to a conspirator's whisper. She turned and saw George and Angelica popping through the floo in the adjacent room. "Oh, you two! Look at you!" She promptly left Hermione alone with Ginny, whose eyebrow was now nearly touching her hairline.

"I knew it!" Ginny looked victorious.

"Knew what?" Hermione asked, horrified.

"Charlie has a thing for you!"

"Oh." Hermione couldn't help the relief that flooded her. "I don't know…"

"Come on, Hermione. You should've seen the way he looked at you! Like he wanted to pour firewhisky all over your body and drink you up! Like you were one of his bloody dragons."

"Are you suggesting your brother is into bestiality?"

"In an alternate universe where such things were accepted, yes. I would put down a thousand galleons for Charlie shagging dragons."

"Say what, sis?"

Ginny turned around to catch Charlie wrapping his arms around her. "I was just telling Hermione how you're really into your dragons."

"Oh?" He straightened and looked at Hermione with a wicked grin and wink. Hermione could feel her knickers dampen at the sight. "Nice to see you again, Hermione." He leaned over and hugged her, but Hermione noted that there was nothing chaste about the gesture, with his hand so low on her back he could probably feel the lining of the lace underneath.

"Nice to see you, too, Charlie," Hemione smiled and took a quick step back, not wanting anyone to witness his near-fondle of her.

"Hey, I need to check on Harry and the kids. See you guys in a few." Ginny nodded at Hermione with a very knowing look and disappeared into the thick of people behind her.

Charlie ignored Ginny by gazing hungrily at Hermione, from her hair to her toes and back up again. "Wow, you look bloody good, Hermione."

Hermione briefly wondered if he'd ever said that to any of his dragons and giggled. "Uh, thanks, Charlie." She put her hands on her hips. "Now, what, exactly, did you tell your mother about me comforting you?"

"Oh, that. Just told her how you cheered me up is all." He smiled.

"You told her how." Hermione said, incredulous.

"Well, I left out some things. The more naughty bits." He waggled his eyebrows and cracked his knuckles while Hermione tried to look anywhere but the tense cuts of his arm muscles through his thin, long-sleeved shirt. "Why, did she say something to you?"

"Just thanked me for tending to your grief."

"Yeah, I did tell her I was upset about Fred, that seeing you made me feel much, much," he took two steps forward, so close now that her nipples practically grazed his upper abdominals. "Much better."

Hermione swallowed. "Oh."

"What do you say we take this conversation upstairs? I think I need some more cheer." He eyed her cleavage, then looked up and winked.

"How are we going to sneak away without anyone noticing?" Hermione hissed, warning him to quiet down with a finger to her lips.

"Let's not sneak away then, as you so raunchily put it." He gave her that delicious grin of his and she felt the beginnings of a warm throb between her legs. He turned and said, "Mum?"

Molly popped out of seemingly nowhere. "Yes, dear?"

"Remember how I needed some of my old dragon toys for that tot class? Forgot to get 'em last time, as I was rather—" he glanced at Hermione with a twinkle in his eye—"distracted."

"Oh, yes, Charlie. I actually put them all in a box in your old room. Go ahead, you're welcome to them." She paused. "Say, why don't you take Hermione with you? You two could have a long chat while you're up there, yeah?" She smiled knowingly at Hermione, who wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor.

Charlie turned to Hermione with a look of false wonder. "Great idea, Mum! Hermione and I will have a nice, long chat." He offered his arm. "Shall we?"

The last thing Hermione caught before ascending the stairs was Ginny's face as she mouthed, Told you so.