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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This is a little smutty… you have been warned. Also use of a couple of not nice words towards the end. Sorry, Percy got out of control…again you have been warned.

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Charlie was exhausted. In the course of one day he had faced evil then only to turned right around and face love. He was drained and not looking forward to another sleepless night on the sofa. This was way more emotion than he was use to, dragons were much simpler. Hermione was still in the kitchen while he was having trouble keeping his eyes open on the sofa. Neither had much of an appetite so the skipped dinner.

Charlie's head was about to hit the cushion when he felt her hand in his. She was pulling him up. Charlie's eyes opened wider she was wearing her favorite of his old T-shirts; he never did get around to finding her a pair of boxers. As he stood she was so close her head rested on his bare chest.

"Hermione?" Charlie could barely speak.

"Please don't sleep out here tonight." Hermione's eyes were searching his face. "I can't…you know, but I want to hold you. Please sleep with me."

Charlie smiled a soft gentle smile as he slipped one of his arms around her neck and the other scooped up under her knees. He carried his featherweight girl into the bedroom. Lowering her on the sheets Charlie sat down next to her.

"You need to know that I don' expect anything from you. This has all been a lot to deal with and I can only imagine how confused you must be. Just know that I will never hurt you." Charlie was stroking her arm as he spoke to her.

Hermione sighed, his concern touched her heart. "I've done a lot of thinking. When I agreed to marry…him, Percy it was because it seemed the logical thing to do. I was lonely, he was attentive. My mind said 'Yes' but my heart said 'run'. Somewhere in my soul I knew it was a mistake but, I didn't listen to my heart."

Charlie was focusing his attention on a loose thread at the bottom of her shirt; he did not look her in the eye when he asked, "What is your heart saying now?"

Hermione put her hands on his face lifting it to meet her eyes. "It is saying run…but straight into your arms Charlie Weasley."

His mouth crushed her lips; his kiss was not gentle as soft s the one they shared before. This one conveyed all of his desire and passion. It made Hermione feel beautiful.

She pulled away. "I don't know if I will ever be able to physically love you. The pain may never totally go away, but I want you to know someday I hope too."

Charlie stretched out next to her so that his body snuggled up against hers. "I adore you, Hermione."

She pressed her back into his chest, molding herself to fit him. "Thank you, Charlie."

Charlie did not sleep much. He most of the night watching Hermione sleep. Her bravery astounded him. How did he get so lucky? She loved him and she was in his arms. He did not care if they never made love he just wanted to hold her.

Monica's owl arrived at lunchtime, just as Hermione and Charlie had emerged for the shower.

It had been Hermione's idea and Charlie felt as a gracious host that he couldn't say no. Hermione had got up with an overwhelming desire to explore their possibilities. She had spent the early morning feeling him in the small of her back and had been intrigued. She wanted to satisfy him.

She convinced him that she needed a shower and it would be safer if he was there with her. Charlie readily agreed as he pointed out with a grin sacrifices had to be made. Hermione playfully slapped his arm as he helped her in to the shower. He was caught off guard when she pulled him in under the water with her. He yelped as his clothes were soaked.

"I thought I was going to watch you!" Charlie laughed as he pulled off his shirt and pants.

Hermione had grabbed the bar of soap and began to scrub his chest. Her hands found their way down to his boxers and Charlie moaned as she slipped them off. He did not have the strength to stop her and she continued exploring his body. Charlie's deep groan as she used the soap made Hermione smile. Despite her attempts to be calm and cool about all of this, when he exploded in her hand she actually giggled.

Charlie leaned back against the shower wall trying to recover. Hermione couldn't contain her curiosity she had to ask. "Is it always that powerful? It was amazing."

Charlie looked at the intense look on her face. "Have you ever been with a man before?"

Hermione cleared her throat and swallowed hard, when she looked up at Charlie he saw the tears in her eyes. "No."

Charlie pulled her to him, wrapping his arms tight around her. Hermione rubbed her face in the crook of his neck while he rubbed her back. "Shhh it is okay. We will work all of this out together okay?"

Hermione nodded.

"Where did the shampoo go?" Charlie was looking for it as Hermione turned around to get it for him. Charlie poured some into his palm and then proceeded to wash her hair. Charlie worked the shampoo through her hair and rubbed her scalp he noticed that the bruises had faded and the cuts were healed. Only the gash above her eye was still evident and it had turned into a thin red line. Charlie smile to himself as she moaned as he began to rinse the soap out of her hair. She turned around to face him as he used the soap the scrub her shoulders and neck. She only shivered when his fingers softly traced her ribcage and breasts. Charlie hands rubbed the soap over her back and dipped down over her bottom. Hermione's hands wrapped around his neck as he gently kneaded the backs of her upper thighs. Her face was next to his jaw and he could feel her hot, short breaths on his neck as one of his hands began to massage her abdomen, grazing the tops of her thighs.

Charlie felt her stiffen when his fingertips began to slip further. "Do you want to stop?"

Hermione seemed frozen, she was terrified of pain but she wanted to keep feeling as wonderful as Charlie was making her. "I trust you will never hurt me." She whispered as she widened her stance slightly.

Charlie barely touched her skin and she relaxed against him. He breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried about her reaction. He held her close to his chest as she kissed his neck and he helped her experience his touch.

The hot water ran out and forced them back to reality. Hermione wrapped herself in Charlie's old bathrobe and she watched him get dressed. Monica's note had been read and as she watched Charlie slip into his jeans Hermione gasped.

"Charlie, I can't go anywhere! I don't have any clothes!" She had been living with him for weeks and the thought had never occurred to either of them.

"Right." Charlie buttoned his jeans and grabbing a comb from the bathroom he sat down behind her on the bed and began to comb her wet tangled curls. "After lunch we get you into a pair of my old jeans and a shirt then we go shopping."

Hermione purred, "Shopping!"

Charlie gave her hair a tug and he combed. "I am not made of gold you know. We can't but out the store."

Hermione yipped when he found a pretty nasty tangle. "I will pay you back when I get a job. That will have to wait until after I destroy Percy and we come back here. I am sure I can find some kind of…why did you stop combing?"

Charlie's hand had dropped to his lap and he was staring at her when she turned around to look at him.

"What?" She was puzzled.

"You said you wanted to come back here with me." Charlie was staring at her.

Hermione was confused. "Of course I do where else would we go?"

Charlie could feel his heart pounding in head. ""We?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes my love, we. I want to be with you, the shower showed me that just how wonderful it could possibly be. I want to come back here and live with you."

Charlie was silent; the joy he was experiencing made speaking impossible.

Charlie could see Hermione shrink back into herself. Her voice quavered, "I thought that was what you would want too Charlie. Did I miss understand? Am I wrong?" She began to back way from him, her hands shaking as she clutched the robe around her. Charlie knew she was second guessing herself.

Charlie reached for her hands and drew her in. "No, you are correct, there is nothing I would like more than to spend my life with you, I just want you to be sure." Charlie felt tears falling on his cheeks. He wasn't sure if they belonged to Hermione or him. Hermione kissed the tears from his cheeks. "I love you, Charlie Weasley, I am sure."

The rough texture of the jeans was abrasive on her healing skin, but Hermione was brave. Hand in hand they walked through the city enjoying the fresh air and being together. Charlie had done his best trying to resize his clothes to fit her but they both agreed she needed clothes. Charlie had found an old pair of flip-flops in the back of his closet to complete Hermione's look. She laughed when she saw herself in the mirror. She looked pathetic. New clothes were a necessity.

The local dress shop was extremely small so Charlie offered to wait outside. Hermione's appearance made the proprietor tut with disapproval. Within a blink of an eye Hermione was ensconced in the only dressing room with six different dresses to try. Hermione sighed; it would be work to narrow down the selection.

Charlie stood outside leaning against the wall waiting. The warmth of the masonry felt good against his back as he closed eyes and began to daydream about a picnic at the lake. Lost in his thoughts Charlie was completely surprised when his brother strode up to him.

"Percy!" Charlie was immediately on guard, "what are you doing here?"

"I finally got to finish the meeting with Solomon. Why are you waiting outside of a dress shop? Oh…is 'she' in there?" Percy was looking over Charlie's shoulder trying to see inside of the shop.

"Getting her a little thank you for services rendered? You know mate, it has been my experience that they like it if you treat them a little rough; you know make sure they know who the master is, make them beg." Percy was laughing and did not see Charlie draw his wand.

"I should kill you right now." Charlie growled.

Hermione walked out of the dress shop in a beautiful summer dress. "I still need knickers Charlie, unless you would rather I didn't …" She was laughing until she saw Percy.

Charlie waited for her to scream or faint but Hermione simply looked at her monster husband. She watched the shock register on his face.

"You!" He screamed.

Hermione smiled the kind of smile that people in polite society use for scum, "Percy."

The rage was contorting Percy's face as he looked at his wife holding Charlie's arm. "You whore! You filthy c...!"

Hermione interrupted his tirade but continued to smile. "Percy…language." She leaned slightly closer to the monster. "Just remember if I am a whore then I am your brother, Charlie's whore and by the way…" She was smiling when she got right in his face and whispered, "He likes my cunt." With that she walked away.

Charlie was grinning like a mad man. "See ya' Percy…man she's got a great ass!"

"Hermione! Hermione wait up!" Charlie was sprinting to catch up with her. She was sobbing.

"You were absolutely brilliant!" She was shaking.

"I was wasn't I" Hermione had calmed down. "I saw him through the window so I had a moment to prepare." She was reaching for Charlie's hand.

"That felt great; truly, wonderfully great!"

Charlie hugged her fiercely. "You are amazing!" Then he kissed her. Hermione felt free.