The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
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For the next week Charlie and Hermione went swimming every morning and between the rest, the cold water and Charlie dutifully tending to her contusions, Hermione was getting much better. As the rain fell outside, preventing them from swimming, Hermione called Charlie to the bedroom.
"Hermione! I am in the middle of cooking breakfast woman. I can't wait on you hand and foot…" Charlie was grumbling as he walked into the bedroom. When he finally looked from the dishtowel that he was wiping his hands on, he saw she was beaming. She was sitting up in the bed!
Charlie sat down next to her. The look of pride on her face made his heart swell. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a fierce hug.
"I'm of proud of you!" he said and then kissed her cheek.
Hermione rested her head against his forehead and whispered, "Only because of your help. Thank you Charlie."
Charlie was having a difficult time fighting his desire to kiss her. His eyes were drawn to the way her mouth looked soft and delectable. If he did succumb, he wasn't going to stop kissing her anytime soon and then the eggs would burn. He could always make a fresh batch of eggs.
His hand stroked her cheek and gently he turned her face up towards his, lowering his lips he felt Hermione shiver slightly. Charlie could smell the coconut and orchid shampoo that she used to tame her curls, the same curls that he was pushing away with his cheek to reach her lips.
"Charlie? Are you home?" The sound of the front door slamming close startled them and Hermione pulled away. She was frozen and her face was masked with pure terror. She recognized the voice.
"Charlie, it is Percy. Are you here?" Charlie put his hand to Hermione's lips and shook his head. He whispered, "It will be fine, I promise, stay in here," and he left closing the bedroom door behind him.
"Percy, what are you doing here?" Charlie asked much more casually that he was truly feeling. Charlie was certain that Percy could hear his heart pounding. Percy came out the kitchen and toward Charlie.
"There you are! I turned off the eggs, they were smoking. I was looking for you." Percy looked smug. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything." Percy tilted his head toward the closed bedroom door.
Charlie swallowed hard his brother was disgusting. "Yes, well actually you did so if you wouldn't mind…no offense…leaving."
Percy puffed up his chest, "Well, I could offer a few pointers you know…I was a married man."
Charlie felt his hands clenching into fists.
Percy was oblivious to Charlie's darkening expression as he walked closer to Charlie and lowering his voice he offered his advice. "I always found it much more gratifying when I made them beg." Percy winked and laughed.
Charlie saw red. He was going to kill him now. His wand was already in his hand by the time Percy calmed down from his laughing fit.
"Look, I only came because of Mr. Solomon. I came over from London to discuss the upcoming dragon exhibit and Solomon mentioned seeing you with a 'friend'. Of course, I just had to come see for myself. Who is the lucky girl? Is she in there?"
Charlie looked at his brother; he didn't recognize this person in his flat. This stranger looked like the brother Charlie grew up with but how could that monster ever have been his brother.
"This is not a good time mate, you know…" Charlie was looking at the front door; he wanted Percy out of his flat now.
Percy ignored the obvious suggestion and reached for the bedroom doorknob. "If she is sleeping, I'll just take a peek."
Charlie growled and lunged for the door, but Percy had the door open and stepped in the room. He was confused.
"Charlie, you dog, there is no one in here!"
Charlie realized the bed was empty as Percy turned back into the living room. Charlie looked around but he did not see Hermione anywhere. He closed the door behind him and followed the monster.
"Well, if you ever find her again, please feel free to ask my advice. I could always keep Hermione in line!"
Charlie grabbed Percy's collar, "Time to leave," pushing him towards the door.
Percy pulled away and straightened his rumpled robes, "Yes well, no reason to get huffy about it, I am late for a Ministry appointment."
"Can't have that," Charlie said as he pushed Percy out of the door and shut it in his brother's face.
Charlie counted to ten to make sure that the git was gone before he bolted back into the bedroom. He whispered as he walked around. "Hermione, Hermione where are you? He is gone. You are safe." He looked under the bed and in the bathroom. She was gone.
Sitting on the bed in disbelief Charlie heard a small whimper. Opening the closet door, he found her curled up in a ball in the farthest back corner.
"He is gone Hermione. He doesn't know you are here sweetheart…" Her whimpers did not stop. "Please, it is okay." Charlie was on his knees trying to comfort her. She was rocking as Charlie picked her up and carried her to the bed. As he lay next to her, holding her in his arms he knew that he had lost the internal battle he had been fighting for the past several weeks. He adored her.
She was brave and vulnerable, strong and funny, absolutely brilliant, but had a childlike innocence all at the same time. If it took a lifetime, Charlie knew he was going to help her to help herself to become a whole person again.
For Hermione it had seemed like hours had passed when she was in the closet. She did not sob or cry, she just felt hate. She hid from the monster and that made her angry with herself. She whispered into Charlie chest, "I should have killed him! I am such a coward."
Charlie stroked her hair. "Killing is too good for him. But I do think you should file charges against him."
Hermione looked up at him. "Why?"
Charlie smiled. "What is the one thing that means more to him than anything? His image, his reputation…appearances; you would destroy him if every one in the world knew what a monster he truly was."
Hermione thought for a moment before a small smile crept across her face. "I'd like that."
Charlie felt a shift in her body as he held her. She was still trembling, but her shoulders were a little straighter. She was discovering herself again.
The rest of the day was quite. Hermione spent a great deal of day staring out of the window in the living room. The window over looked the city skyline and below directly across the street was a small gated garden in full bloom of summer flowers. Charlie watched her from his seat on the sofa, she was lost in thought. His heart was so full and yet he knew she would never return any of the feelings he had, how could she after everything she had been through. Charlie realized that the best he could hope for was to enjoy the fact that she was here with him now and that would have to be enough.
The outline of the cityscape was framed in a glorious sunset when Hermione finally turned away from the window and sat down next to Charlie on the sofa.
"I think you are right. I know it would mean reliving the nightmare in front of the world." Her voice did not sound as confident as her words.
Charlie grasped her hand in his. "You wouldn't be alone. I'll be there, Ron and Monica."
Hermione sighed. "That is the only reason I think it might work. Charlie you saved me, you healed me, and you have given me strength. You are my knight in shining armor."
Hermione leaned in and gently kissed his lips. Charlie could help himself, he returned the kiss. She left him breathless. After a long silence, Hermione said, "I think we need to go to see Ron and Monica. She has the greatest legal mind; she'll know what we do next."
Charlie gave her a lopsided grin. "I'll send the owl now for them to expect us tomorrow. I think time is of the essence." Charlie reluctantly got up from the sofa.
Hermione walked into the kitchen, she felt better than she had when she heard that voice. Every nerve in her body tensed remembering the sound, but as she assessed how she felt at this minute the greatest emotion she felt was hatred. He needed to be punished.
When Charlie was holding her he made her feel safe. That in and of itself was wonderful, but at the same time she wanted to feel safe by herself. Never again did she want to lose herself. She wanted to be Hermione…Hermione with…and almost in a whisper her heart said, 'with Charlie.'
It made no sense logically, he was the monster's brother, but he was also Ron's brother. Her head was telling her it was wrong, but her heart wanted to beat next to his. Hermione walked over to the window. Her mind had convinced her to marry Percy, while her heart had screamed run; maybe that was how she ended up in hell. She hadn't listened to her heart. Now, her heart was telling her to let Charlie get close. Hermione decided to listen.