The game was finally brought to an end when it became too dark to see where they were going and Mr. Weasley had called them back to the tent for tea. He wasn't staying for the whole trip, the 8 of them were old enough to look after themselves, and he was merely making sure that they had all the supplies they needed.
All through dinner Charlie couldn't take his eyes off her as she at between Ron and Harry, laughing at on of the twin's latest pranks. Ginny was lying across Harry's lap, laughing as well, though it was a sleepy laugh.
"You're doing it again Charlie." The second Weasley brother just glared at his brother tempted to throw his knife at him. "What was that thing you did earlier? Pulling her down on top of you." Charlie felt his knuckles going white as he gripped his cutlery.
"I tripped over a tree root." Bill raised an eyebrow, giving him a 'whatever' look. Charlie just sighed; he was in big trouble. He was in love with his youngest brother's best friend and romantic interest and there was nothing he could do about it.
Hours later he lay under the stars, creating shapes out of them. After years of living in Romania he found it hard to sleep in a tent. Normally he slept under the stars because it was so hot and also Bill a) wouldn't shut up talking about Hermione and how in trouble he was and b) Bill snored worse than a dragon roared.
A rustle of canvas startled him and he sat up, wand clasped in his hand.
"It's only me." He eased his grip on his wand when he recognized the voice. A slight smile crept across his face as she sat beside him, her eyes turning skyward. Never had he thought that she could look more beautiful than she did during the day, but seeing her in the starlight she looked more beautiful than he could describe, her hair reflecting the silver light of the moon and stars. She looked like an angel dropped from heaven.
Silence hung between them, like a mist across a damp field in winter. He was so captivated by her he couldn't speak nor did he want to speak, but he needed to break the silence that was slowly building up between them.
"I'm sorry about earlier." She blinked, obviously startled by the sound of his soft voice in the gloom.
"Oh, that's alright. It was my fault anyway." He smile at her, a gentle smile as he moved closer to her, so he could see her better, even though he had excellent night vision. There was just something about being close to her that he enjoyed.
"Has Ron ever told you how beautiful you are?" Slowly, she shook her head, which caused him to smile even more. "Well, you are." As if to put more emphasis on his words, he gently pushed back a stray strand of hair, tucking it behind her ear. Even in the moonlight he could see her blush. It reminded him of those muggle romance novels he'd read for Muggle Studies. The hero would say something about her beauty and the heroine would blush madly, turning away from her handsome hero before they confessed their love for each other and lived happily ever after. If only real life could be like that.
Gently, his hand found its way onto her shoulder, gliding up the side of her neck to cup her face, moving it so she was facing him, looking to his eyes. She smiled at him, a soft smile that seemed to be riddled with embarrassment, but a smile none the less. He grinned back, his other hand moving up into her hair, tangling itself in her jungle of brown curls.
As if knowing what he was thinking, she rests on of her hands on his shoulder, the other on his chest, feeling him drawing her closer to him so their foreheads were just touching, their nose tips just brushing against each other, their lips tantalisingly close.
"You are so beautiful," he murmured, gazing into her eyes, a loving smile spreading across his lips.
"So I've been told." Her voice was soft, as if they were speaking in a church.
Cautiously, he ran his fingertips over her cheek, feeling how smooth and soft it was under his hard, callously skin. Her breath caught in her chest as he finally bent his head to her, kissing her lips so lips so softly and gently it was as though he feared she would break. She couldn't believe this was happening, that Charlie Weasley was kissing her, that he had told her she was beautiful. The only thing Ron had ever said to her that was vaguely similar to what Charlie had said was that she was a girl. Although she knew that would be the only time he'd ever say anything like that, she felt guilty. She knew Ron liked her, and yet here she was, kissing his elder brother.
"Hermione," his voice was gentle, as gentle as the touch of his fingers on her skin.
"I can't, Ron." She hastily disentangled herself from his long strong arms, the only arms that she'd ever been wrapped up in and felt as though she was supposed to be there. Ron had never hugged her in a loving way, a friendly way maybe, but never as though he lover her. She knew he was shy about it, she knew that, but it seemed so pointless waiting for something that would never happen and here was Charlie ready to love her.
In the darkness Charlie found her hand, his fingers looping around hers, drawing her close again.
"We both know you don't love him, no matter how much he loves you. Ron will learn to understand, I promise you, he's just a little slow on the uptake." She looked back at him, at his serious face. She sighed, leaning her head against his chest.
"How did I get so lucky to have you notice me?" He laughed, kissing the top of her head.
"Because you are beautiful, from the very first time I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup. No matter what people said, I always thought you were beautiful." She laughed slightly, leaning up to kiss him, feeling him draw her up tightly up into his arms, kissing her back with more fire as they sat under the stars.