The next week proved to be one of the most difficult weeks of Charley's life. It all started the day after they got back from the Quidditch World Cup. Charley had come clean to the entire Weasley family, to her surprise and gratitude they all stood by her. Even Fred seemed to hate her less.
The day had started out as normal as any other. Charley spent most of it outside, watching with Hermione as Ron, Harry, Ginny, Bill, and Charlie played quidditch. Fred and George eventually came outside, and sat near Hermione and Charley, but were too busy scheming something up to play. And so the day went on, they stopped once for lunch and a second time for a swim. Finally, when it began to get dark, they all went inside for dinner. That's when things took a sharp turn.
Mr. Weasley entered the house looking tired and worn, Percy followed behind him looking much the same. They all ate supper, listening to Mr. Weasley and Percy talk about the chaos that had ensued that day at the ministry. After dinner Percy went up to his room to finish a report he had been working on, Fred and George disappeared before their mother could stop them, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione had retreated upstairs to Ron's room, and Bill, Charlie, and Charley went to sit around the fire in the sitting room.
"Charley, I need to discuss something with you." Mr. Weasley said coming into the sitting room after a few minutes.
Charley looked up at him, her heart racing. She couldn't imagine what he wanted to talk to her about.
"Of course, what is it?" she said, her voice wavering.
Mr. Weasley glanced at Bill and Charlie, who both stood. Charley grabbed Charlie's hand and looked up at him, pleading him to stay. By the grim look on Mr. Weasley's face, she knew she was going to need someone beside her. He sat without hesitation, Bill continued out of the sitting room into the kitchen.
"As you know, I went to search your home today any dark items." Mr. Weasley began. Charley nodded, he had asked her the previous night if this was alright with her and she had agreed.
"Well, when we found your mother, she was passed out, and in serious need of attention. We've taken her to St. Mungo's, where she will be treated and kept until she's fit to be released."
Charley sighed heavily. It was only a matter of time before they took her away. She knew her mother would never leave St. Mungo's, now she had two parents locked up.
"I understand." Charley nodded, biting back tears. She was homeless, an orphan.
"Now Charley, you're of course welcome here, always. You'll stay here until you go back to Hogwarts, and you can come here after term is over." Mr. Weasley said.
"I couldn't ask you to do that." Charley whispered.
Mr. Weasley smiled.
"Charley, it's no imposition at all, you're part of us now." said Mr. Weasley.
"Yeah Chuck." Charlie smiled putting his arm around her shoulders and squeezing her.
"But there is one thing we have to be clear on. I just need you to understand that being a part of this family means supporting Harry, and let me tell you, where Harry goes, so does trouble. Should anything happen, and I'm not saying it will, but should anything happen, I need to know you're on our side."
"Dad, you can't honestly think-" Charlie started angrily.
"No, Charlie, I understand." Charley nodded, "You need to know that if my father ever breaks out of Azkaban or something of the sort happens, that I won't go to him."
"I don't believe you would, but I need your word." Mr. Weasley said.
Charley sighed heavily. He was in a sticky position, risking his family to allow Charley to be a part of it. He had every right to ask her to make a choice. A choice between her own blood and between this family who had so quickly accepted her as one of their own. The choice was simple.
"Mr. Weasley, your family, in such a short time, has taken me in and welcomed me, despite everything. I can't begin to express my gratitude. I would never do anything to put your family or Harry in danger. You have my word." she replied firmly.
"I'm sorry that you had to make this decision." Mr. Weasley said patting her knee, "You truly are part of our family."
He smiled sadly, than got up and left the room. Mrs. Weasley came in shortly afterwards, and fussed over Charley, offering her a cup of tea, which she accepted gratefully. Then Mrs. Weasley grabbed Charley into a hug and kissed the top of her head. She dabbed her eyes smiled at Charley, then left the room.
"You alright Chuck?" Charlie asked after a moment.
She hadn't noticed she'd begun crying, until Charlie spoke.
"I never knew my father, he was in Azkaban before I was three. He means nothing to me." Charley replied wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, "And my mother, well she's been quite absent, as you know."
"I know." Charlie whispered, rubbing Charley's arm softly.
"So why is this so hard?" she asked breaking into sobs.
"Because she's still your mum, Chuck." Charlie said stroking her hair.
"She'll be in St. Muno's forever." Charley said.
"You don't know that, she could recover."
"No, Charlie, she won't, but it's what's best for her." Charley said with a heavy sigh.
Charlie held her as she cried. He held her until she had finally cried herself to sleep. He brushed the remaining tears from her cheek.
"You'll be alright Chuck," he whispered, "We'll take care of you…I'll take care of you."
The rest of the week went by at a colossal pace for Charley. She spent most of her time with Fred and George, listening to them discuss plans for their business. She found it hard to be around most of the others. Fred and George made jokes, while Bill, Charlie, and the others gave her sad smiles and what they believed were reassuring comments.
On the night before they left for Hogwarts, Charley came downstairs. Mrs. Weasley and Bill were arguing over his hair and his general appearance, while the rest of the room sat quietly immersed in their own projects.
Charley spotted Fred and George in the corner of their room, their heads bent together, whispering quickly to each other. She lay down on her stomach between them and let her head fall to Fred's shoulder.
"Hey Chuck," they said in unison, neither of them looking up.
"Hello boys, what are you two up to?" she asked.
"Writing out new order forms." George whispered with a grin.
"Gotta keep quiet though, we don't want these ones burned." Fred winked.
Charley laughed and sat up.
"Sorry boys, but I don't think I want to be a part of this one." she said standing.
"Suit yourself." Fred shrugged.
"But don't expect us to share our galleons with you." George smiled.
"I think I'll be alright." said Charley with a laugh.
Fred and George both winked at her, then went back to work on their order forms. Charley glanced around the room, and decided on the open seat on the sofa next to Charlie. He was darning what looked like some sort of helmet. He glanced up at her briefly as she took the seat next to him.
"Hello Chuck." he said, the corners of his mouth turned up into a slight smile.
"I didn't know you sewed. You'll make a fabulous housewife someday." Charley teased.
"Cleaver," he said blushing slightly. "While you're sitting at Hogwarts learning how to do magic, I'll be playing with real life dragons."
"Ooh testy," Charley laughed, "I was only teasing."
"I wasn't. I actually do get to play with dragons." Charlie said with a cocky smile.
"Tosser." Charley said crossing her arms.
Charlie chuckled beside her. She leaned in closer to him, studying what he was doing.
"What is that anyways?" she asked.
"It's a fireproof balaclava." he said holding it up.
Charley looked up at him with one eyebrow raised.
"It looks like a helmet to me." Charley replied.
"Alright, so it's a helmet." Charlie said laughing.
"A dragon helmet." Charley said with a smile.
"Yes, I do generally use it when I'm working with the dragons. Hence the fireproof part." he smirked.
"You sir, are incredibly snarky tonight." Charley said shaking her head.
"You darling, are snarky most nights." he said, smiling as he went back to his work.
"It's part of my charm." said Charley.
Charlie laughed, as Charley yawned, stretching her arms high above her.
"Sleepy are we?" asked Charlie.
"Oh yes, quite." Charley nodded.
Charlie smiled, wrapped his arm around Charley's shoulder and grabbed her head, pulling it gently into his lap.
"Sleep darling." he said stroking her hair softly.
Charley closed her eyes and let her thoughts wander. She tried not think about all the awful things that had happened over the past couple of weeks and instead tried to think of her new life at Hogwarts, a place far away from everything.
Fred and George had both noticed Charley asleep on their brother's lap. Both were feeling very similar emotions, but for very different reasons. George had become close to Charley over the summer. He had even come to consider her as a best friend. Then Charlie came home. Charley talked to his brother differently than she talked to George. He was jealous of the friendship they had seemed to form in such a short time.
Fred was also jealous. Jealous, but mostly annoyed. He wished he was the one Charley was asleep on. He wished Charley would laugh at his jokes the way he laughed at his brother's. He wished Charley would pay more attention to him. He wished Charlie would stop looking at her the way he was, like he fancied her. Mostly he just wished that he would stop wishing all of these stupid things, because out of all the things he wished, he wished most that the feelings he was having for Charley would go away.