B-Mal gave me the main idea for this chappie, so thanks Brit! Italicized means thoughts. -Sloane
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize…or the song.
Chapter 9:
Kit prided herself on being a strong individual. It was hard for her to feel so helpless. All she really wanted to do was sit down and cry, that fact pissed her off more than anything. She ran all the way back to the Burrow without stopping once. Molly and Fleur gave her a concerned look when she burst into the kitchen but she smiled weakly and managed to shrug them off before fleeing to Ginny's room just as she had several days before.
As soon as the door was shut, she fell onto the bed crying fiercely.
She sat up and wiped her tears. This is stupid. Why am I crying?
Because you just saw the man you love leave a bar with a curvaceous blonde.
Shut up. Its not like we have a claim over him or anything…you did say you only loved him as a friend…
Yeah, but its totally not true! Whose side are you on anyways?
Kit's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of the gate opening and closing outside the house. She looked out the window and almost laughed. Almost.
There was Charlie, covered in mud being half drug to the door by Hermione and Ginny. Hermione was scowling and Ginny looked ready to use the bat-bogey hex she was so well known for.
He totally deserves it.
Moments later she heard Molly start up. "HE DID WHAT?! CHARLES TIMOTHY! YOUR FATHER AND I RAISED YOU BETTER THAN THAT! WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?!"
Kit had to strain her ears to hear his reply. "I-I dunno, Mum…I was angry, and, well, where is Kit?"
"YOU LEAVE THAT POOR GIRL ALONE! SHE CAME IN HERE LOOKING LIKE SHE WAS GOING TO CRY HER EYES OUT, AND NOW I FIND OUT THAT YOU JUST…AUGH!"
Kit's eavesdropping was cut short when the door opened and Hermione, Ginny and Fleur entered. Kit tried to look as if she hadn't been crying, but the three saw through her feeble attempts instantly.
Hermione shuffled forward. "Kit? Are you all right?
Fleur answered for her. "But of course, shee iis not 'all right'! What Charlie has done, c'est horrible!" She turned to Kit. "Do not worriee, I shall give Bill a very stern talking to."
Kit sighed. "Its okay Fleur, really. Its not Bill's fault. Besides," she smiled, "Molly seems to be taking care of the situation quite nicely." They paused the conversation to listen and sure enough, Molly Weasley was not yet finished berating her son. Ginny suddenly bounded across the room and hugged Kit.
"Please don't go before the wedding."
Kit grinned and hugged her back. "Don't worry Ginny. I came here to see a wizarding wedding, and a wizarding wedding I shall see."
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When Charlie awoke the next morning his head was throbbing. His mother, however, was of the opinion (along with everyone else at the Burrow) that splitting headaches were not worth their sympathy. Actually, they figured that he deserved even more chores than usual and surprisingly he was ok with that. The work kept him outside and away from the looks of his family members that ranged from utter disgust to pity to anger and back again.
The twins, surprisingly, were of the few who took pity on him. They came out to the garden to see him after lunch.
"Charles, my man, we have an interesting proposition for you."
"No George. I'm not testing anymore of your new products."
"What if we told you it could get Kit talking to you again?" Fred chimed in.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. So, You in?"
"I don't know..." He eyed them suspiciously, sometimes they reminded him too much of David and Monica.
Fred put on a mock offended look. "George, can you believe it? Our own brother doubting our abilities!"
George shook his head. "What I'm more sad about is the fact that he was sorted into Gryffindor when he is so obviously a coward."
"I'm NOT a coward!" Charlie argued fiercely.
"Well then, do you want to hear the plan or not?"
He sighed. "Yes."
"Splendid! And since your family, we won't charge you at all!"
"At all?"
"Come on, Fred, it's the least we could do."
"All right…"
"So are you gonna tell me the plan or not?"
"Right you are dear brother. Fred?"
"Well you know how they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"
"Seriously, true story."
"Anyways, George and I—"
"Through extensive research—"
"Have found that—"
"The way to a woman's heart is though her heart." They finished in unison, and for a moment Charlie stared blankly at their grinning faces.
He snorted. "Thanks guys, I'll keep that in mind."
"Sarcasm does not suit you dear brother. We weren't finished."
"We have deduced that all girls like all the icky romantic stuff—"
"And so, here's the best part, you will appeal to Kit's romantic side—"
"And woo her back into your arms!"
Charlie shook his head. "I can't do that! The only way someone would find me romantic was if they had taken a love potion…or were extremely drunk." He added.
"We at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes happen to have thought of that!"
"And we have everything you'll need to successfully serenade Kit."
"Gr— Wait! Serenade? As in singing?" The twins had already left.
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Dinner was quieter than usual. Harry was discussing something or another with Ron and Hermione, she was pretty sure Bill and Fleur were playing footsies, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were reminiscing, Fred, George, and Ginny were whispering mutinously, heads bent in the corner, and Kit was avoiding Charlie's gaze. The food was delicious, as always, but Kit couldn't wait for dinner to be over. She helped with the dishes and general clean up, but bolted when Charlie headed over looking to apologize.
Back in Ginny's room, Kit cracked open the window. It was way too hot in this room.
She sighed. At least it couldn't get any worse. She watched Crookshanks chasing the gnomes, and thought back to when she first arrived here…
Ginny came in. "Hey, do you want to come outside for some ice cream? Everyone's out there."
"Everyone?"
"Yes. But comon' Kit! Pretty Please?"
Kit sighed and looked out the window again…it did look inviting, and who was she to turn down ice cream?
It was well worth the risk of having to talk to Charlie. The ice cream was delicious and she got to meet more of the order. Tonks was great, and Remus seemed nice too, albeit a little quiet. She spent the evening chatting amicably with everyone and watching the sunset. Actually, she was kind of surprised that Charlie hadn't shown up begging for forgiveness…She was the slightest bit uneasy that she hadn't seen him or either of the twins since supper, but decided not to dwell on it, she was to content to think unhappy thoughts. The fireflies were out know and she closed her eyes, wondering at how this moment could be so calm and beautiful when they were in the middle of a war. The talking of the others ceased and she turned abruptly, wondering what had caused the sudden change.
Charlie was so nervous he was practically shaking. Fred and George had assured him that this was foolproof, but then again they were the twins and if anybody was going to make him look like a fool it would be them. But it was too late to back out now. He had spent the better part of the day planning and making sure that everything went accordingly. He stepped into the garden and immediately there was a hush. He could feel Fred and George moving behind him and the eyes of all the others on him, but he was looking for her and only for her. In a whirl of brown hair she was facing him, and he knew that if he didn't do this now he would probably end up regretting it. He nodded to Fred. The music started.
"So
she said what's the problem baby
What's the problem I don't know
Well maybe I'm in love"
Fred
and George chimed in with an echo "Love"
"Think about it
every time
I think about it
Can't stop thinking 'bout it"
He looked directly at Kit and was pleased to see that she was blushing almost as much as he was.
How much longer will it take to cure
this
Just to cure it cause I can't ignore it if it's love"
"Love"
"Makes me wanna turn around and face me but I don't know
nothing 'bout love"
It was obvious that he had no idea about love. Hell, until yesterday he hadn't known he was in love!
"Come on, come on
Turn a
little faster
Come on, come on
The world will follow
after
Come on, come on
Cause everybody's after love"
Molly was beaming. Arthur was beaming. Tonks was beaming. Fleur was giggling and Bill was beaming. Most importantly Kit was beaming.
"So I said I'm a snowball running
Running
down into the spring that's coming all this love
Melting under
blue skies
Belting out sunlight
Shimmering love"
Kit was amazed. Charlie really was good, not to mention he had actually remembered this was one of her favorite songs. Just the fact that he had done this for her made her want to run and kiss him. Too bad that would ruin the song…
"Well baby I surrender
To the
strawberry ice cream
Never ever end of all this love
Well I
didn't mean to do it
But there's no escaping your love"
These
lines of lightning
Mean we're never alone,
Never alone, no,
no
Fred and George grinned. This was going much better than they'd hoped for; Charlie was sooo going to owe them.
"Come on, Come
on
Move a little closer
Come on, Come on
I want to hear you
whisper
Come on, Come on
Settle down inside my love"
He almost laughed when he realized that the gnomes had come up from their burrows to listen, it reminded him of the de-gnoming process.
"Come
on, come on
Jump a little higher
Come on, come on
If you
feel a little lighter
Come on, come on
We were once
Upon a
time in love"
He started his journey across the garden to where she stood watching him intently with that sweet little half-smile on her mouth and that becoming read tinge on her cheeks. She really was perfect. If my family could hear what I was saying they'd never let me forget it.
"We're
accidentally in love
Accidentally in love
Accidentally
I'm In Love, I'm in Love,
I'm in Love, I'm in Love,
I'm
in Love, I'm in Love,
Accidentally, accidentally"
Charlie grabbed Kit's hand and spun her around. They danced crazily through the garden, not realizing, or caring, that every eye was on them. Charlie continued his song.
"Come on, come on
Spin a
little tighter"
He pulled Kit closer.
"Come
on, come on
And the world's a little brighter
Come on, come on
Just get yourself inside her
Love ...I'm in love"
Kit kissed him. Fred, George, Ron, Harry, and Hermione cheered. Ginny wolf-whistled. Molly and Arthur smiled. Fleur awwwwed, and Bill laughed. Tonks grinned and Remus chuckled good-naturedly. Charlie and Kit were oblivious to it all. He lifted her into the air and swung her around, perhaps it was a little dramatic, but hey, he was her fake boyfriend, best friend and he had just sang her favorite song AND pretty much declared his love for her for all the world to see. He was allowed to be dramatic.
A/N: Ok. Tell me now, honestly, who didn't go awww at least once during this chapter? Am I right? Right. You know what is fun? REVIEWING! YAY REVIEWING! (Just in case you didn't get the hint please review!)
-Sloane