A/N: Still don't own anything…sigh…though I do have a wonderful boyfriend who inspires me to write this. Now on to the thank you's.

Bob- thanks for the comment and I do plan on making this a lengthy story.

DanCrazed- YAY someone thinks my writing is cool. Cheers.

Imaj-natif- Here you go… Charlie and Hermione interaction.

Thanks so much for the review guys, you keep me going. Anyways if you leave me a review with a description for a character I will either include it in this story or in another story that is connected to this one. I promise.

Constructive criticism is good. Flames are toasty…not really welcome…but make nice marshmallows.

Return from Exile
Chapter 3
Just a little alone time

Hermione jerked awake and looked up to the unfamiliar ceiling. The bright obnoxious orange reminded her of Ron's old room. After a few moments she realized why, it was his old room. She sighed and remembered the recent events that led her to waking up in Ron's room. After an hour of chatting and catching up Hermione was nearly falling asleep in her chair and kind Molly offered her a room for the night. Looking around the room she noticed the differences, the walls that were once covered in posters were now bare, save for one. If she remembered correctly in the summer before seventh year the twins placed an anti-moving charm on a poster and hung it up in his room as a joke. Now a grinning and winking Gildory Lockhart looked down at Hermione as she lye trying to return to the land of dreams. In the silence of the room she heard a faint clanking noise from downstairs.

At first she was startled then remembered that Molly and Arthur had placed wards around the house long ago. Knowing that she wouldn't get to sleep anytime soon Hermione stood up threw a robe on and cautiously made her way down the stairs. She crept into the door way of the kitchen and grinned at who it was. Charlie Weasley was working diligently on a cup of hot coca. He was living at the burrow for a time, as he was looking for an apartment since transferring from Romania. Smiling evilly and crept up until she was a mere foot from his form. "Cant sleep?" she asked in an easily heard whisper. He jumped a bit and leaped around want pointed strait at her. Ignoring the wand pointed between her eyes she went on "since it seems that sleep has escaped both of us why don't you make me a cup of that too."

"Hermione, you of all people should know not to surprise someone in a time of war" Charlie chastised her gently while pouring another cup of coca. He handed it to Hermione as they made their way to the front room. She chose to curl up in a squishy chair as he sprawled out on the sofa. She had to blush when his gaze drifted over to her as if waiting for her to ask a question. She suddenly remembered why she had developed the tiniest of crushes upon him after seventh year.

The entire Weasley family minus Percy was at the Burrow that summer, not only to be together but because of the war. Hermione and Harry were also staying with them, Harry for protection purposes and Hermione because she simply had no where else to go. Her parents had been killed in a raid on her house just before Christmas break. In that summer Hermione grew closer to each of the Weasley children. Fred and George both became her good friends as they asked for help on new products. When helping them she realized just how brilliant they were to make the things they did. Ginny became her classic girlfriend, staying up and chatting about various things. She had even told Ginny about her crush on her brother, and smiled at her surprise when she realized it wasn't Ron. Bill became her big brother, her rock; he helped her so much through that summer. He mostly helped her overcome the death of her parents and accept Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as something akin to parents. Ron and Harry just achieved a new level of friendship. Where as they were called the golden trio before they truly became a trio. One was never scene without the other two. Surprisingly enough she never really talked to Charlie, she just watched him from afar as he saw her as a younger sister. At least, she thought that was what he saw her as. She slowly developed an infatuation with him as she realized the intelligence and maturity behind the humor. It didn't help that he was good looking either, ok amazingly good looking but that's beside the point.

Hermione was startled out of her mental tirade by a hand waving in front of her face. "Blimey Hermione I thought I lost you there, you just started staring at the fire and haven't looked away since ten minutes ago" She looked up into his startling blue eyes and something stirred inside her. She knew exactly what it was too. The twenty two year old had feelings for the twenty eight year old Charlie Weasley. She mentally shook herself. He was six years older than her. He couldn't see her as anything other than a little sister. "Hermione," he said quietly, "Hermione" this was said in a quiet shout "I'm losing you again, maybe you should go up to bed" he said looking at her with concern written in his features. She shook her head and smiled.

"No its ok I just got lost in thought for a second, I'm fine I promise. See not tired the least bit" All of this was said in a rush as she tried to convince herself of the same thing. She looked at him again, this time seeing an odd glint in his eye, she didn't really know what it was, but decided to leave it alone for now. "So Charlie, tell me, how have things been with you?" she started pleasantly.

Ohh how he wanted to tell her that the past three years he had spent thinking about her. He knew that it was wrong; she was six years younger than him and probably involved. Not that age truly mattered, he knew that she was intelligent beyond her years, but seeing her there curled up in his favorite chair, wrapped up tightly in a robe with wisps of untamed hair escaping from her bun mad him go nuts. He wanted to tell her that that summer, oh so long ago, had mad him realize how perfect she was. Sure she couldn't fly, but that was ok, and sure, she was a horrid cook, but not everyone could be his mother. She was caring, and beautiful. Not the extravagant beauty like Fleur, whom he slightly detested, but a simply elegance that everyone but her noticed. This intelligent compassionate girl was the sole reason all of Charlie's other romances failed so horribly. Yet she knew none of it. She simply thought that he was an older brother, nothing more, and it killed him inside.

He told her about those romances, but only said that they didn't work out. He also told her that he had worked diligently and compulsively until he decided to transfer out of Romania. Sure it was a beautiful place, but he missed home. Everything was going fine until he said it. He didn't even mean to, it just slipped out.

"You really are beautiful you know that?" Hermione was stunned to say the least. She honestly couldn't believe he had said that. She was still sitting unbelieving as he muttered goodnight and swiftly retreated to his room. She silently made her way up to her own bedroom, still in minor shock at the single statement.

Wow that's a long one 1,325 words. YAY.