AN: still working on this as well as my Olive/ Hermione story (but this one is my baby, shhh don't tell the other story, it's just an evil plot bunny that refuses to die). Don't give up on me though please!
CH 3
Hermione sat on her blanket for a while watching the boys all play, laughing often at the twins antics in the air.
Footsteps padded through the ground behind her. She looked back for the source to find a very pregnant Ginny Potter behind her.
"Enjoying the game?" She asked conjuring a chair to sit in then lowering herself to it.
"Very much so, did you enjoy what little Harry let you play?" the brunet asked with a sly grin.
"Don't get me started on that Hermione you know better. He is driving me to murder I swear it! I mean goodness a few cushioning charms and I'm safe up there, no need to keep his eyes glued to me." She sighed stretching her legs out and leaning her head back so she could watch.
The boys soared above, Ron guarding the homemade goals on one end, Bill on the other. Charlie and harry the seekers/chasers , Fred and George were the beaters. Being on separate teams just made the twins more animated as they played. It seemed they were currently trying to see who could take out the other teams seeker first.
Hermione stretched out and closed her eyes listening to the deep laughter of the men playing Quidditch. She wondered when the last time she felt this relaxed was. Hogwarts, as much as it felt nice to be there, no longer felt like her home. She couldn't shake the memories of the things she had seen there. All the other professors seemed to be doing well, save for Malfoy, who refused to go to the astronomy tower the site of two of his worst memories. Blaise Zambini his longtime friend had been brutally killed there by his own aunt. Blaise had been a great help during the final battle. He had smuggled the younger students out through the painting in the room of requirement and apparated them group by group, with the help of Draco later on, from the hogshead to the Burrow and into the care of Fleur. Once the children were safe they returned to the battle. They were helping repair the defensive spells on the castle when attacked by Bellatrix Lestrange. Malfoy escaped with Blaise's battered body and hadn't told anyone the details of the attack. He had accepted the position of the Arithmacy professor, though not completely willingly. He was still a grouch a times, but he had calmed a lot since the war, he wasn't nearly the jerk he once was.
She sighed as she opened her eyes to watch the game again. The boys were still going strong with their game.
"LUNCH EVERYBODY! Boys get down here and wash up!" Mrs. Weasley yelled from the door.
The men's feet were on the ground before she had finished her call.
"OY I'm starved!" Ron said
"Must be because…" Fred started
"You were loosing so bad up there!" George finished with a laugh.
"Now boys" Charlie said draping his arms around the twins' necks. "Ickle Ronikins can't help that my superb skills at chaser simply are no match for his feeble attempt to guard the goal."
Charlie had to duck quickly as Ron threw the quaffle at his head. He chuckled when the ball missed its intended target only to have a look of regret once it smacked Hermione on the back of the head.
"Sorry, I was aiming for that dunderhead there." Ron shouted over his shoulder on his way to the house laughing. Ginny chuckled, standing and vanished her chair after being helped up by Harry.
"Boys." Hermione shook her head and began to gather up her things. Charlie trotted over grabbing the quaffle from the blanket where it had landed.
"Sorry Hermione, I didn't know it would hit you." He apologized
"It's fine Charlie, really, it's not YOUR fault." She huffed jerking the blanket off the ground and turning to walk to the house.
"Hermione!" Charlie called, trotting the few steps to catch up with her and placing his hand on her shoulder.
"It's fine really Charlie, I swear."
"No, something is wrong and I want to know what! If it's being hit I'm sorry, if I had known I swear I would have let it hit me instead." He said turning her to face him.
"It's not really that, ARG.. I'm just so tired of his immaturity! Not only that, he has really been nothing, but rude to me since I went to work at Hogwarts! It's like he expected me to move in with him and be some housewife! "
"Wait, what? Housewife?" Charlie asked confused.
"We kissed at the Final Battle, but it was nothing, just kind of a we might die kind of thing!" She replied exasperated
"Ah, I see and he expected things to change, right?" He said, running his hand through the shaggy red hair.
Hermione nodded while worrying her lip.
"Come sit with me for a while, I'll let Mum know we will grab lunch in Diagon Alley a bit later, unless you are hungry now." He said gesturing to the bench next to the shed.
"Sure"
"Alright I'll go tell Mum and be right back." With that he trotted in the direction of the hose to find his mother.
As he opened the half door he could hear the ruckus of his family before he even reached for the knob.
"Mum." He called out.
He heard her footsteps coming through the den.
"Charlie, whatever took you so long, no matter, lunch is on the table. Have you seen Hermione? Probably upstairs brewing a potion, will you go get her?" the Matriarch said in a rush.
"She is outside Mum, We are going to head to Diagon Alley for lunch."
"OH! Of course! You two have fun! Don't you keep her out too late Charlie Weasley!" She replied flapping her apron at him.
"Mum, no, don't even start thinking like that, she just needs a friend, since my youngest brother seems to want to be a part instead of filling that role."
"Charlie!"
"Well it's true Mum! If Ron, or Harry even for that matter, would take two seconds to really look at her he would see something is wrong!" He replied gritting his teeth at the excuses his mother made.
He marched back out the door away from his mother and back toward Hermione.
"So Fred changed all of Percy's socks with one's Bill had charmed to make his feet stink and itch. He was only 6 and already pranking." Charlie told her laughing
He had found them a table at Café Marie in muggle London instead. It was a small place but very nice and quiet. Charlie was currently trying his best to cheer Hermione up every way he knew how so far he was failing miserably. They had just finished their meal and he was waiting for the waitress so he could pay her.
"Yeah those boys were born for trouble" Hermione replied with a slight smile.
Charlie flagged the waitress down and gave her the money.
"Ready to go? I have a stop I need to make before we head home. That ok?" Charlie asked
Herminie nodded and they made their way to the apperation point. From there they landed in front of the Diagon ally public Floo center. Charlie guided Hermione to the closest fireplace and grabbed a handful of powder pushing Hermione in with one hand on her shoulder.
"The Dragon's Hut Hogwarts" He yelled throwing his power down.
They arrived in a quaint little cottage, pictures of the Weasley's lined the walls and a miniature family clock sat on the mantle.
Hermione stared at Charlie in anger.
"Why did you do this?" She asked with her hands on her hips
"Do what, I needed to feed Ming and Aurora I didn't think it would be an issue. What's wrong?"
"I….I'm not ready to see the grounds just yet…. I…. I can't" she replied
"Then just sit in here, Feed Roar for me. Can you do that? I'll take care of Ming. Ok?" He asked
"I…. I'll try" She stuttered out.
"OK then let me get her kibble, Its up in the cupboard here. Ah here it is." He said then let out a shrill whistle.
A large blue and white bulldog came bounding into the house ready for her lunch. Charlie sat down a bowl full of moist kibble beside Hermione and patted the dog on the head as she dug in.
"Ok I'll be right back, just sit tight it will take me about 5 minutes to feed Ming. Will you be ok?" He asked
She nodded her head and stroked the dogs back.
Charlie Grabbed his gloves of the table and made his way out of the cottage and over to the stone stable where Ming resided, he grabbed a large pig out of the cold house on his way, her daily meal. He opened the metal gate to the pen and walked in looking around for the little dragon.
"Ming, dinner, Here Ming"
A puff of smoke came from the stable and Charlie sat down the pig as she sauntered out. She slinked over and began eating her find as Charlie began cleaning her 12 foot tall paddock with his wand.
"All right Ming all fed up again, time for me to head back to the burrow." Charlie told the pretty little dragon as he left and reinforced the shield charms that kept her from flying from her enclosure.
He made his way back to the small cottage, stomping his muddy boots off along the way. He opened the door and spelled his boots so as not to track in extra dirt.
Hermione was sitting on the couch with small tears rolling down her face.
"Hermione, I'm finished, you ok? Ready to go?"
She nodded and he held his hand out to help her up.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you." He said looking her in the eyes.
She shook her head and walked toward the Floo, stepping in with Charlie right behind her
"The Burrow!" he shouted.
As soon as they stepped out of the fireplace Hermione bolted up to the attic, she never came down for supper. Charlie knew he had pushed too far.