Charley Rook stared out her window to the field that lay out below her. She longed to be out in that field, walking barefoot in the tall grass. Charley liked spending as much time out of her house as possible. With her mother constantly drinking and her father, well, gone, Charley's home was sad and depressing.
Her mother was on one of her "family time" kicks. Every couple of years she would wake and decide it was time to sober up, and that she and Charley should spend more time together. It usually lasted about a week. Once it lasted long enough that Charley let herself believe it would be different, she never made that mistake again.
This time had only lasted four days before Charley's mother popped open another bottle of fire whiskey and was once again lost to the world. Charley had "upset" he mother by coming home late one night from the Weasley's, surely the only way to calm down was to drink herself into oblivion. Not before grounding Charley of course. What Charley's mother didn't know was that every night Charley would sneak out of the house and walk over to George's. And when Charley didn't think she could risk sneaking out, George would climb through her window late at night and the two would talk about absolutely nothing for hours.
Charley checked the clock hanging on her bedroom wall. It told her it was a quarter till five. Mrs. Weasley would be getting dinner ready, an event Charley had become a regular to. Charley opened her window and flung her legs over the ledge. She climbed down the hedges slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. She gently pushed off once she was close enough, landing as gracefully as possible.
Once Charley reached the Burrow she stopped and looked up at the room that George shared with Fred. Sometimes Charley didn't feel like talking much, yet she still wanted the company of others, on these days she would climb into the boys' room and lay on George's bed while they worked. No one but George and Fred knew she was there, and they knew to let her alone when she was in her mood. Sometimes George would lay with her. She knew they were okay with it. Fred seemed to like Charley better when she wasn't talking anyways.
Charley sighed, she wanted to see all the Weasley's, but definitely did not feel like chatting. Being trapped inside all day had brought her mood down exceptionally. So she began the climb into the room, thinking that it would be nice to just lie quietly next to George, listening to him breathe or occasionally crack a joke. She pushed the window open, once she reached the room, and let herself topple onto their floor.
"Who the devil are you?" came a voice from above Charley.
She froze immediately, silently praying she had not climbed into the house of a stranger, although she wasn't sure how she could've mistaken any other house for the Burrow. She looked up slowly, and breathed a sigh of relief at the redhead in front of her.
He was built like George and Fred, short and stocky, but with muscular arms and longer hair. He was also covered and freckles, and much to Charley's dismay, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Oh God I'm sorry!" Charley said looking away quickly. He chuckled, making her blush even more.
"You can turn around now." he said after a moment. He was still shirtless, but at least he had pants on. He was drying his hair with the towel.
"I-I'm so sorry about that, I was actually looking for George." Charley stuttered.
"Ah, Charley Rook?" he asked. Charley nodded. "Mum's mentioned you a few times, she reckons you and George are soul mates." he said beaming.
"Does she now?" Charley asked trying to her hide her surprise.
"Oh yeah." Charlie Weasley nodded grinning, "So may I ask why you climbed through the window? We do have a front door you know?" He pulled a dark green shirt over his head.
"Yes, thank you, I'm aware of it." Charley replied with a slight smile. "I kind of wanted to just see George."
"Ah, I see." Charlie nodded, "Well, unfortunately for you, George is gone for the day."
"Oh, um, is Ginny home then?" Charley asked.
"She is, she's entertaining Ron's friend Hermione at the moment though."
"Great," Charley sighed looking up at Charlie Weasley uneasily, "Uh, do you mind if I just sit here and wait until George gets back? I just really don't want to be home right now."
"Would you rather talk about why you climbed through a window to get out of your house?" Charlie Weasley asked sitting on Fred's bed.
Charley hesitated. She didn't quite know what to say. Charlie Weasley seemed like a nice guy, but Charley didn't talk about things. None of her friends back in Salem knew anything about her family other than the fact that she lived with her mother. Whenever they asked about her home life, she would make some general statement, then casually changed the subject. Her mother being a drunk wasn't something she wanted to broadcast.
She glanced at Charlie Weasley, sitting on Fred's bed. He smiled at her. It had a different effect on her than George's smile. George had always made her feel welcome and wanted. Something about Charlie's smile made her feel safe, like she could tell him anything.
"I don't even know you." she laughed. She couldn't believe she was actually considering telling everything to a complete stranger.
"Some people find it easier to talk to people they've just met," Charlie shrugged, "And I've been told I'm an incredibly good listener."
It was nearly an hour later and both Charlie's were laying next to each other on Fred's bed. Charley Rook had told Charlie Weasley nearly every part of her past that she had always been to afraid to tell anyone else. He wasn't lying when he said he was a good listener.
"Well," Charley sighed after a moment, "Now that you know all my dirty little secrets..."
Charley half laughed, half groaned. She had never intended for any part of her family life to ever get out.
"Oh, I hardly think you've shared all your dirty little secrets with me." Charlie winked.
"You're very perceptive." Charley grinned. She in fact had not told him everything, for there were some things in her past so dark, she feared she'd lose everything if they ever came out.
"Yes well, it pays to be a good listener." said Charlie.
There was a knock at the door, both Charlie's sat up leaning their backs against the wall behind them.
"Yes?" Charlie called.
"Charlie mum wants you downstairs. She reckons Dad, Ron, Fred and George, will be home soon with Harry." Ginny said walking into the room. "Oh, hey Charley, when did you get here?" she asked noticing Charley on the bed next to her brother.
Charley glanced up at Charlie who was chuckling silently beside her. She grinned and shook her head.
"Well, see, I wanted to see George, so I climbed up through his window and found this instead." said Charley trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. Remembering Charlie's state when she found him, was proving this difficult. She blushed slightly despite herself.
"And believe you me, she couldn't take her eyes off of me." Charlie said with a wink.
Ginny laughed and shook her head.
"Well, both of you should come downstairs, Charley I'm sure Mum will be delighted to see you." said Ginny. "I'll meet you downstairs, Mum's enlisted the help of Hermione and me in setting up bed's for Fred and George." Ginny left the room with a roll of her eyes.
"Come Miss Rook," Charlie Weasley said standing and offering a hand to Charley.
Downstairs Charlie led Charley to the small table in the kitchen, where a young red head Charley had never met sat. She took a seat across from him and smiled, Charlie sat beside her.
"You must be Bill." said Charley.
"That I am. And you must be Charley Rook." Bill said smiling, as Charley nodded. "It's good to meet you." he said offering her his hand.
"Likewise." she said shaking it.
With every new Weasley Charley met she couldn't help falling more and more in love with the family. She had never known of family closer than the Weasley's and she was impressed by the bond they seemed to share.
"I see you've met my brother Charlie here." said Bill nodding his head in Charlie's direction.
"Yes, he's quite the charmer." Charley laughed.
"Really?" asked Bill, his eyebrows raised. "When was the last time you had a girlfriend?" Bill asked turning his attention to his brother.
"Ah Bill, trying ever so diligently to embarrass me." Charlie grinned, "Let me ask you this Charley, which sounds more appealing; An ex Head Boy turned curse breaker for Gringotts, or a Quidditch Seeker good enough to play for England, but instead chose an exciting and more fulfilling life working with dragons?" Charlie finished his question with a voice full of bravado.
"Oh please, no woman in her right mind would choose to be with a man foolish enough to play with dragons." Bill scoffed.
"Well, if you're asking me to choose a brother, I'll go with Fred." Charley said casually. She began contemplating her fingernails, waiting for Bill or Charlie to say something.
When there was no response, she looked up into two very shocked faces. Charley beamed, proud that she had stunned them into silence.
"If you must know, Fred absolutely loathes me, which makes him all the more attractive." Charley remarked.
Bill whistled, Charlie scratched his head.
"Well, I guess that settles that." Bill sighed. "The way to a woman's heart is hatred."
"What can I say, I like a challenge." Charley shrugged.
"I knew you hadn't told me all your secrets." Charlie smirked.
Alrighty, so that's chapter 3. I know it's been a while but I hope you enjoyed it. If you did please review! Thaaanks!