A/N - Look at THIS! Just a bit over a week! How cool are we?? :) And if
it's a bit short... well... Jenni's got a rough week ahead of her and we
decided that it was better to stop and polish what we HAD than to let it
linger untouched all week. Hope you all enjoy!
(side note... in case you didn't know, ff.net got overhauled in the last few days... one side effect I've noticed is that the anonymous reviews aren't showing right... the names show up as xing@fanfiction.net. Blech. So, unless they fix this soon, maybe when you review you should include your name in the text of your review, if you're doing the anonymous thing)
Jessica - I'm so proud. And of course you wouldn't be reading this when you're supposed to be earning that paycheck. To pay for that apartment that that roommate is welching out of... oh wait. This is not the place. ;) BUT - shhhhh. You know me awfully well.
Christine - YAY! Another tough critic bites the dust. MWA HA HA. It's our evil plot. Seriously. Why doesn't anyone ever BELIEVE that?? *sigh*
Goodshiplollypop - is this better? :)
Ayesha97 - Hello! A new reader! :) More chapters? We're working on it... ;) and we're both rather fond of our Weasleys as well...
Louisa - Hee hee. You know you'll make it in here as soon as I get the chance. And yes... *swoon* for overprotective Weasleys! *angelic look* Leave what where? Hmm? LOOK - there's Harry in a towel! *runs away*
Margaret - Owe us what? An ice cream sundae? ;) Nah, we'll update anyway. Just keep reading!!
Anaxandra - Uh oh. You want an "at rest" mind? Hmmm... dunno if we're there quite yet. ;) But I DO think we've worked through that writers block!!
Ronsspawn - EEEK! I do believe you just said that!! *blush* (hmm, wonder which author is writing THIS thank you...)
Gohansfollower - Yes, Bill has his moments, doesn't he? I think it's the long hair... pulls on the brain, you know, random spurts of evilness... OW! Jenni! Don't HIT me! And... why am I upset? Hmmm, read on, my friend... ;)
El - Questions, questions. And you can't beat me up from way over there. ;)
Little Wolf - Thanks for reading! As for Bill and Charlie being allowed to stay.well, I guess you'll have to read and find out!!! (although, just in case you missed it... Charlie's staying... it's in one of the previous chapters. I just can't remember which one!)
Lily - Scandalous!! Yes... I told Nancy that very same thing... but you know how she can be! *Jenni grins innocently as Nancy glares at her!* OOOPS!! I didn't say that out loud... did I?
Joanna - A new reader! I must say we love new readers. And I for one totally agree that revenge on those twins would be well deserved! Any suggestions? *Jenni smiles innocently*
Heather - Ok... rule number 1... you can't cry if Bill and Charlie leave because I make it a rule that no one cries alone. (well, I didn't make that rule... that's just how I am. If someone cries... so do I. Pathetic isn't it?) Any way, glad you enjoyed the chapter and I for one am always keeping an eye out for a "Bill" of my own!
Empress Genevieve - Guess what? We've got the next chapter!! A lot sooner than expected too, I might add!
Psiana - I say it every time, but your reviews just crack me up! I love all of your encouraging comments. As far as the competition thing... um, well it's never been brought up. But who knows. We're always looking for plot twists! Keep reading to find out what happens next!
Zoe - I'll IM you chapters anytime you want! And I hate to ruin it for you... but there's more mention of Snape in this chapter. Hope you can handle all of that! I guess we should try to incorporate more mention of Percy as well, and then you would be totally puddled!!
OK, guys... ENJOY!!
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There was a moment of silence as Jenni's eyes darted from Nancy to Charlie and back again, and Charlie's face reddened defensively under Nancy's glare.
Jenni decided that she'd better clear up any misunderstanding quickly, before her friend's slow-burning but volatile temper got the best of her. "Nancy... I really think-"
"That we should get started? I quite agree. If you'll excuse us, Mr. Weasley, we have work to do." Sweeping by the still silent Charlie in her best imitation of Snape in one of his more dour moods, Nancy didn't even pause when one of her notebooks fell to the floor at his feet. She was honestly afraid that she might start crying, and she'd be damned if he was going to see how hurt she was.
Charlie instinctively reached out and caught the falling book, but Nancy either didn't notice or did a good job of pretending that she hadn't. He watched her make her way into the bedroom and dump all the papers on the bed as Jenni tried to figure out where the best place to hide was - she didn't feel like jumping into the middle of what looked to be a major blowup. Nancy stood with her back to the both of them for a moment, trying to control her emotions and keep the tears from showing in her eyes. Charlie still hadn't said a thing.
When she turned around, Charlie was struck with the full force of her anger before she shifted her gaze to Jenni. He honestly couldn't believe that she was this upset over the thought of him leaving for Romania... but what had he done otherwise? He felt trapped, stuck in slow motion as she marched out to the couch and reached for Jenni's hand.
"Coming?"
Jenni sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. She recognized that look on Nancy's face. It was the look she wore when she was dying inside and way too proud to show it. Nothing good would come of forcing her to talk to Charlie now. She'd probably just push away and really confuse the heck out of him.
"Yes, I'm coming."
Nancy nodded then, hiding her relief carefully. She'd been worried that Jenni would refuse to come, and she really didn't want to be alone right now. That would give her way too much time to analyze why she was reacting so violently to hearing Charlie nonchalantly mention his impending transfer.
"You... you dropped this..." Nancy was helping Jenni get up when Charlie tentatively held out the notebook. Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she fumed at the confusion she saw there. As if he didn't know what was wrong with her, she thought derisively, firmly ignoring the little part inside that automatically melted at the gentle gesture.
Breaking eye contact, she snatched the pad out of his hand and dragged Jenni into the bedroom. It wasn't until the door was firmly shut and locked that she allowed her shoulders to slump even a little bit.
"NANCY GWIN! What on earth is your PROBLEM? I hope you have a very good reason for going off like this, because I certainly don't understand..."
"Stop, Jenni." Nancy looked over at her best friend, sitting on the bed now, instinctively sorting through the files and notes she'd dumped there. Jenni almost gasped out loud at the intensity of the emotions she saw in her friend's brown eyes. "I have a perfectly good reason. And I want to get to work."
And she did have good reason - Charlie Weasley was way out of line if he thought he could waltz into her life, weasel his way under her skin and then run for Romania whenever he wanted to. And she certainly would let him know that, if she ever spoke to him again.
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Charlie watched the door swing shut with a firm click, the same stricken expression on his face. What the devil had he DONE? He stood up, starting towards the just closed door, when the memory of her blazingly angry eyes stopped him in his tracks. There wasn't much he could do at the moment, if memory of his mother and past female entanglements had any value. And Nancy certainly didn't strike him as the type to be very reasonable while she was in the throes of temper.
Sighing, he stalked back over to the table, grabbing the latest copy of the Daily Prophet as he sat down. He flipped through, looking for the quidditch articles, when a small headline caught his attention.
"Former Head Girl Missing"
He scanned the article quickly. The woman had been a few years under Bill, maybe a year or two above himself. A Hufflepuff, if he remembered correctly. She'd been working as a liaison between the Ministry and the Muggle community, the article said, and was noticed missing when she didn't attend the funeral of a close relative two weeks ago.
"We entreat Miss Overfield to contact her family if she sees this article and put our minds at rest."
Charlie laid the paper down on the table and stared at the wall without really seeing it. The events of the last few days had really driven home to him just how strong his parents had been, to not run and hide or crumble and beg for protection from You-Know-Who in his prime. What was it his father had said one time? It had been back when he was still in school... "It started out by people going missing - sudden vacations, no word left - just gone. We usually found their bodies within the month."
Resting his head on his hands, Charlie massaged his temples, trying to tamp down the unrealistic worries that sprang to mind. What if being associated with the Weasleys was endangering Nancy and Jenni? What if there was some sort of plot against those top Hogwarts students? Would they kill them or just...
"STOP it, Charlie!"
His frustrated exclamation rang out in the silence, and for a moment he listened, worried that they might have heard it in the other room. When no one came bursting through the door, demanding to know why he was yelling at himself, he relaxed slightly.
Really, he was overreacting. It had only been a month or two since Harry Potter had won the Tri-Wizard tournament and all hell had quietly broken loose. There hadn't been enough TIME to hatch some devilish plot. No, he was linking things together just based on a really bad feeling.
Resolutely trying to banish his panicked thoughts from his mind, Charlie picked up the paper again, and this time opened it to the sports page. He couldn't focus on the league statistics, however, and soon enough, he was back to staring at the wall.
Even if there was no big conspiracy stemming from You-Know-Who, Nancy was in definite danger. His mind flashed back to that night at the party - she had been so sick anyway, but most of the fear in her eyes had been caused by whoever was in the woods with her. And then... Charlie raised his head and looked around the room he was seated in, remembering the terror that had seized him when he'd walked in and seen the destruction, and no one but Jenni sitting on the couch. He'd almost collapsed with relief when Nancy had come out of the bathroom all in one piece.
Giving up on the paper, he rose and started slowly pacing the room, counting out his steps.
One, two, three, four...
She can take care of herself.
Five, six, seven, eight...
Two serious attacks in two weeks?
Nine, ten, eleven, twelve...
She made it to the Daily Prophet and back just fine.
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen... "Ow."
Charlie looked down at the couch he'd run into and slumped into it. "Dammit, how do you protect someone who doesn't admit the danger?" And there was danger, of this he was sure. Something was wrong, and somehow Nancy had been involved.
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Bill walked towards Nancy's apartment with the conversation from his interview replaying in his mind. There was no immediate decision on whether or not he would be allowed to stay on in England or be sent back to Egypt, but he had decided to tell Jenni everything. It certainly wouldn't help him gain her trust and confidence if he waited until the last minute to tell her. especially if the decision was to send him away.
Taking a deep breath, he turned the doorknob and walked into the apartment. He glanced around. There was no sign of Nancy or Jenni, and Charlie was sitting on the couch with a very worried expression. Bill's first thought was that something had gone wrong and he immediately felt the panic starting to surface.
"Charlie. Where's Jenni?" Bill was fighting hard to keep the worry out of his voice.
Charlie looked up, finally acknowledging Bill's presence. "They're in the back working on some article for The Daily Prophet."
With a sigh of relief, Bill headed to the bedroom door that Charlie had nodded towards. He needed to talk to Jenni NOW. He would worry about his brother's odd behavior later. He reached the room and entered without knocking, effortlessly disarming a rather weak locking spell. He was greeted by two different reactions, a menacing look from Nancy and a grin from Jenni.
"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He noticed papers strewn across the bed haphazardly, several crumpled pieces of parchment tossed on the floor, and several pages with carefully written notes, and Jenni and Nancy sitting in the middle of everything.
"No." "Yes."
Nancy glared at Bill. "We're working in here, if you don't mind."
Jenni rolled her eyes. "We've been at it for two hours. I need a break."
Nancy's glare softened as she turned to Jenni. "Fine, you can take a break." Her voice was rough with the anger she still harbored.
Jenni stood up and headed towards Bill anxious for a chance to leave the tension filled room, but feeling guilty at abandoning Nancy. It didn't help any that Nancy had refused to talk to her or even tell her what was wrong, and she couldn't help but feel that if she stayed she might eventually get Nancy to talk things out with her. Still, maybe the time alone would give her a chance to cool off.
"Actually," Bill began rather quietly, "I was hoping I could talk with Jenni... alone."
Jenni turned slowly. She waited for the outburst from Nancy but all the small firebrand did was shove her work into a rough pile at the end of the bed and stand up, glowering. Jenni couldn't believe her eyes when Nancy headed towards the door with obvious dislike for being kicked out of her own room. Nancy wasn't very good at taking orders in ANY mood... never mind while in the depths of anger.
Bill managed to maneuver his way behind Jenni as Nancy walked by. The look the younger woman shot him made it clear that she was not happy, but she restrained herself to muttering mutinously.
"Other rooms..bloody bathroom has a door.MY apartment, MY room." Nancy's hand reached for the doorknob and she stopped. She turned to face Bill once again, her face full of anger.
"You didn't knock! And I put a really difficult locking spell on this door. HOW DID YOU BREAK INTO MY ROOM?"
Bill grinned broadly, obviously very pleased with himself. "I'm a curse breaker. It's my job."
Instead of smiling back, Nancy went off in another muttering frenzy about irresponsibility and lack of privacy before slamming the door on her way out.
Jenni stood where she was for several minutes, staring worriedly at the door that Nancy had left through. It was only when she felt Bill reach for hand and lead her to the bed that she realized he had been speaking to her. She sat down, noticing that the parchments containing the interview with Professor Snape had been neatly put aside, and the bed totally cleared away.
Bill sat next to Jenni, still holding her hands as he waited for her response. He had just carefully told her about the possibility of him being transferred back to Egypt. He had been expecting some sort of... reaction... but had received none. There was a distant look in her eyes and he wondered if perhaps she was angry at him for not telling her sooner. He shifted nervously. "Jenni?"
Jenni lifted her eyes and studied Bill's face. He was obviously waiting for her to answer him and she had no clue as to what he had just told her. "I'm sorry Bill, I was worried about Nancy and I wasn't paying attention to what you said."
Bill held in his sigh of relief. Well, he thought, she's not angry. Yet. Taking a deep breath he let go of Jenni's hands, walked towards the door and muttered a sound proofing charm just in case things got a bit loud. Jenni eyed him curiously but said nothing, so he began again. "I was trying... I wanted to tell you about the interview I had today. The job I'm on is ending soon and I was hoping that there would be a chance that I would be staying on with Gringotts here in London."
Jenni felt her stomach tighten. That heavy feeling she had been fighting since Charlie explained to her about Bill's interview was returning, only this time it was worse. He was going to tell her that he was being sent back to Egypt. "Oh." Jenni's voice had grown quiet. "I heard about your interview..." Forcing a smile she looked up. "What did they tell you?"
"Well, they told me... wait a minute! How did you hear about this?" Bill had a puzzled look on his face.
Jenni launched into an explanation of the conversation she had with Charlie while waiting for Nancy to return with the notes they needed for the profile piece they were writing. As she talked, Bill watched Jenni's face trying to read her expression. Usually her eyes held so much emotion that he could tell what she was feeling at just a glance. Now, however, they were void of any emotions. "So," she finally said. "Are you going to tell me what the final decision was or not?"
Bill watched as Jenni pushed a piece of hair from her face. "Are you mad at me?" He asked quietly.
"Mad at you? Why on earth do you think I'm mad at you?" His question had caught her completely off guard.
"I just thought that maybe because I didn't tell you about this sooner that you might be upset with me."
"Bill, this is your job. Why would it matter what I think?" Jenni's heart was pounding. Why in Merlin's name would he care what she thought if he was going back to Egypt? It was bad enough that she had started to let her defenses go when he was around, but damned if she would let herself get thrown into an emotional debate on whether or not he cared about her.
"It matters, because if I leave I don't want to leave knowing that you're mad at me." Bill stayed fixed, resisting the urge to push back the stubborn lock that had fallen in Jenni's face once again.
"If you leave? You mean you don't know for sure?" She felt her stomach flutter and inwardly cursed herself about getting her hopes up only to have them trampled down as was always the case.
Bill shook his head. "I'll find out within the next week."
Jenni felt her insides lurch. A week. That wasn't much time. And even though there was a possibility he wouldn't be sent back to Egypt, there were other places he could be sent to. She turned away and stood up. Ignoring the aching muscles in her body and the dull throbbing in her head, Jenni walked slowly away from Bill not wanting him to see the tears that had started to burn the back of her eyes. Here she was, doing the one thing she had promised herself she would never do again, letting her emotions get the best of her. She was allowing herself to be worked up over a man. She had been hurt once, and that had been one time to many.
"You never did answer my question." Bill's soft voice broke into Jenni's thoughts. She jumped as she realized he had made his way from the bed and was standing directly behind her.
Jenni struggled to regain her composure before turning around. "What question?"
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, I'm not mad. It's just," Jenni gave a frustrated sigh. "Egypt is so far away, and even if they send you some where's else, it's not like if you would be working here in London. I'll never see you and a week isn't that long. And I would miss not having you around." Jenni put a hand to her mouth as she realized she had just voiced her worries out loud. Now Bill would know exactly what kind of an idiot she was.
This time Bill reached forward and gently pushed the hair from Jenni's face and allowed his thumb to wipe away the single tear that had found its way down her cheek. "You would miss me?"
"Well, I mean... maybe a little." Jenni stumbled over the words she wanted to say as Bill leaned forward to kiss the top of her forehead.
"Only a little?" His voice had dropped to little more than a whisper as he leaned further in and lightly brushed his lips against Jenni's.
"Maybe a bit more than just a little." Jenni was sure her weak knees had nothing to do with the events from yesterday as she felt Bill's arms wrap around her waist.
"I think you would miss me a whole lot more."
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Nancy slammed the door behind her with a satisfying BANG, not even glancing at the shadowed figure slumped on her couch as she stomped to the bathroom. Charlie watched her go, waiting for Jenni to open the door and yell after her or Bill to come out and apologize, but it seemed that those two had things of their own to discuss.
"Now or never," he muttered nervously as he raised himself up off of the couch and padded over to the bathroom door. As he stood there waiting, he heard a muffled scream, and the sound of something shattering against the wall.
Worry giving him courage, he knocked softly. "Nancy? Are you ok?"
Nancy stared down at the soap dish she'd hurled against the wall. What was her problem? She wasn't usually this touchy about things... Ignoring Charlie's question, she paced back and forth, avoiding the shards of pottery all over the floor by blasting them silently out of her way with her wand.
Really, it was all his fault. Before Charlie Weasley had swooped into her life and flown her to safety, she'd always felt able to handle whatever was thrown her way. Now she was constantly fighting the urge to run to him with her problems and her stupid fears...
"Nancy! If you don't respond to me in the next two seconds, I'm coming in there... we need to talk." Charlie was pacing back and forth in front of the door now; her prolonged silence had given his fears time to rise to the surface, and his head was swimming with visions of her lying on the bathroom floor, a dark figure standing over her, unconscious or even...
"WHAT?!?" The door swung open, and a rigidly angry Nancy stood in the doorway glowering at him. Rigidly angry, but apparently unhurt, he thought with relief, forgetting to answer her question.
"I'm sorry... am I not being FULLY HONEST with you? Is that what we need to talk about?" Nancy's voice was hard and cutting as she stalked over to the kitchen.
"Or... I know... I never sent you a thank you card for preventing my thorough SQUASHING by your dragon?" The sarcasm in her voice paralyzed him. He couldn't respond without making it worse, and yet his lack of response was obviously not helping.
"WAIT - It must be that the Charlie Weasley groupies are in town, and you wanted to invite me along to the party? Well, I apologize... I have a LIFE to deal with right now!"
"What the hell?" Charlie stared at her, trying to figure out this hellion side that was showing its teeth. "Is this all about Romania? Because..."
"NO, dammit, I don't CARE whether or not you're going back to bloody Romania!" Hearing him say the words had put a panic down in her gut, and Nancy rushed to cut him off. Again, he was jerking her around, messing with her emotions. She might care more than even she realized, but she'd be DAMNED if he would know that!
"Well then why are you screaming at me across the bloody kitchen?" Charlie's voice was rising slightly, egged on by the sharp stab of pain he'd felt at her instant denial.
"Why do you CARE? Is this some Weasley code of slumming?! Distract the roommate while your brother moves in for the finish?" Nancy could feel her temper slipping out of her control, and wasn't even sure what the words coming out of her mouth were.
Charlie heard them loud and clear, however. He felt like he'd been slapped across the face. "DAMN it, Nancy, what is your problem? I've been sitting out here worrying myself SICK over you... and you have the nerve to accuse me, and BILL, of USING you?"
"Oh save the dramatics! What, were you WORRIED that I didn't know how to get to work and back? Bloody hell, how often do I have to prove that I'm an ADULT?"
"Do you have NO ability to trust whatsoever?" Charlie was furious. Furious with himself for losing control, furious with Nancy for being so irrational, furious with the world for getting in the way of this thing that had been progressing so nicely. "Just because you CAN get to work and back alone, doesn't mean that you SHOULD! Or did you miss the fact that YOU'RE BEING HUNTED by a psychopathic maniac's followers?"
"Oh, and I suppose YOU'RE better equipped to handle them?" Nancy spat the words out, ready to defend her position to the last. "Just being a man doesn't make you an automatic HERO!"
They were standing almost toe to toe, still shouting, both of them wound so tightly that the slightest move might cause them to explode. Neither one broke eye contact as Charlie slowly growled out, "I have only EVER tried to help..."
Suddenly unable to take anymore, Nancy spun around, bracing her hands on the counter and turning her back to him. Her voice was low and harsh. "Well I don't need your help. Feel free to leave any time you're able."
There was a long silence, as she waited for him to answer her. Charlie stood frozen, hot anger and searing pain vying for attention as his blood pounded through his veins. It was the Weasley pride that got the upper hand after a moment or two, saving him from breaking down on the spot. If she didn't want him, he would damn well go lick his wounds elsewhere.
"Tell Bill I've gone home," was all he could manage to say without his voice cracking. When Nancy gave no indication that she'd heard him, he turned away and walked swiftly to the door, never looking back. If he had, he would have seen the first tears rolling down her face.
(side note... in case you didn't know, ff.net got overhauled in the last few days... one side effect I've noticed is that the anonymous reviews aren't showing right... the names show up as xing@fanfiction.net. Blech. So, unless they fix this soon, maybe when you review you should include your name in the text of your review, if you're doing the anonymous thing)
Jessica - I'm so proud. And of course you wouldn't be reading this when you're supposed to be earning that paycheck. To pay for that apartment that that roommate is welching out of... oh wait. This is not the place. ;) BUT - shhhhh. You know me awfully well.
Christine - YAY! Another tough critic bites the dust. MWA HA HA. It's our evil plot. Seriously. Why doesn't anyone ever BELIEVE that?? *sigh*
Goodshiplollypop - is this better? :)
Ayesha97 - Hello! A new reader! :) More chapters? We're working on it... ;) and we're both rather fond of our Weasleys as well...
Louisa - Hee hee. You know you'll make it in here as soon as I get the chance. And yes... *swoon* for overprotective Weasleys! *angelic look* Leave what where? Hmm? LOOK - there's Harry in a towel! *runs away*
Margaret - Owe us what? An ice cream sundae? ;) Nah, we'll update anyway. Just keep reading!!
Anaxandra - Uh oh. You want an "at rest" mind? Hmmm... dunno if we're there quite yet. ;) But I DO think we've worked through that writers block!!
Ronsspawn - EEEK! I do believe you just said that!! *blush* (hmm, wonder which author is writing THIS thank you...)
Gohansfollower - Yes, Bill has his moments, doesn't he? I think it's the long hair... pulls on the brain, you know, random spurts of evilness... OW! Jenni! Don't HIT me! And... why am I upset? Hmmm, read on, my friend... ;)
El - Questions, questions. And you can't beat me up from way over there. ;)
Little Wolf - Thanks for reading! As for Bill and Charlie being allowed to stay.well, I guess you'll have to read and find out!!! (although, just in case you missed it... Charlie's staying... it's in one of the previous chapters. I just can't remember which one!)
Lily - Scandalous!! Yes... I told Nancy that very same thing... but you know how she can be! *Jenni grins innocently as Nancy glares at her!* OOOPS!! I didn't say that out loud... did I?
Joanna - A new reader! I must say we love new readers. And I for one totally agree that revenge on those twins would be well deserved! Any suggestions? *Jenni smiles innocently*
Heather - Ok... rule number 1... you can't cry if Bill and Charlie leave because I make it a rule that no one cries alone. (well, I didn't make that rule... that's just how I am. If someone cries... so do I. Pathetic isn't it?) Any way, glad you enjoyed the chapter and I for one am always keeping an eye out for a "Bill" of my own!
Empress Genevieve - Guess what? We've got the next chapter!! A lot sooner than expected too, I might add!
Psiana - I say it every time, but your reviews just crack me up! I love all of your encouraging comments. As far as the competition thing... um, well it's never been brought up. But who knows. We're always looking for plot twists! Keep reading to find out what happens next!
Zoe - I'll IM you chapters anytime you want! And I hate to ruin it for you... but there's more mention of Snape in this chapter. Hope you can handle all of that! I guess we should try to incorporate more mention of Percy as well, and then you would be totally puddled!!
OK, guys... ENJOY!!
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There was a moment of silence as Jenni's eyes darted from Nancy to Charlie and back again, and Charlie's face reddened defensively under Nancy's glare.
Jenni decided that she'd better clear up any misunderstanding quickly, before her friend's slow-burning but volatile temper got the best of her. "Nancy... I really think-"
"That we should get started? I quite agree. If you'll excuse us, Mr. Weasley, we have work to do." Sweeping by the still silent Charlie in her best imitation of Snape in one of his more dour moods, Nancy didn't even pause when one of her notebooks fell to the floor at his feet. She was honestly afraid that she might start crying, and she'd be damned if he was going to see how hurt she was.
Charlie instinctively reached out and caught the falling book, but Nancy either didn't notice or did a good job of pretending that she hadn't. He watched her make her way into the bedroom and dump all the papers on the bed as Jenni tried to figure out where the best place to hide was - she didn't feel like jumping into the middle of what looked to be a major blowup. Nancy stood with her back to the both of them for a moment, trying to control her emotions and keep the tears from showing in her eyes. Charlie still hadn't said a thing.
When she turned around, Charlie was struck with the full force of her anger before she shifted her gaze to Jenni. He honestly couldn't believe that she was this upset over the thought of him leaving for Romania... but what had he done otherwise? He felt trapped, stuck in slow motion as she marched out to the couch and reached for Jenni's hand.
"Coming?"
Jenni sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. She recognized that look on Nancy's face. It was the look she wore when she was dying inside and way too proud to show it. Nothing good would come of forcing her to talk to Charlie now. She'd probably just push away and really confuse the heck out of him.
"Yes, I'm coming."
Nancy nodded then, hiding her relief carefully. She'd been worried that Jenni would refuse to come, and she really didn't want to be alone right now. That would give her way too much time to analyze why she was reacting so violently to hearing Charlie nonchalantly mention his impending transfer.
"You... you dropped this..." Nancy was helping Jenni get up when Charlie tentatively held out the notebook. Forcing herself to meet his eyes, she fumed at the confusion she saw there. As if he didn't know what was wrong with her, she thought derisively, firmly ignoring the little part inside that automatically melted at the gentle gesture.
Breaking eye contact, she snatched the pad out of his hand and dragged Jenni into the bedroom. It wasn't until the door was firmly shut and locked that she allowed her shoulders to slump even a little bit.
"NANCY GWIN! What on earth is your PROBLEM? I hope you have a very good reason for going off like this, because I certainly don't understand..."
"Stop, Jenni." Nancy looked over at her best friend, sitting on the bed now, instinctively sorting through the files and notes she'd dumped there. Jenni almost gasped out loud at the intensity of the emotions she saw in her friend's brown eyes. "I have a perfectly good reason. And I want to get to work."
And she did have good reason - Charlie Weasley was way out of line if he thought he could waltz into her life, weasel his way under her skin and then run for Romania whenever he wanted to. And she certainly would let him know that, if she ever spoke to him again.
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Charlie watched the door swing shut with a firm click, the same stricken expression on his face. What the devil had he DONE? He stood up, starting towards the just closed door, when the memory of her blazingly angry eyes stopped him in his tracks. There wasn't much he could do at the moment, if memory of his mother and past female entanglements had any value. And Nancy certainly didn't strike him as the type to be very reasonable while she was in the throes of temper.
Sighing, he stalked back over to the table, grabbing the latest copy of the Daily Prophet as he sat down. He flipped through, looking for the quidditch articles, when a small headline caught his attention.
"Former Head Girl Missing"
He scanned the article quickly. The woman had been a few years under Bill, maybe a year or two above himself. A Hufflepuff, if he remembered correctly. She'd been working as a liaison between the Ministry and the Muggle community, the article said, and was noticed missing when she didn't attend the funeral of a close relative two weeks ago.
"We entreat Miss Overfield to contact her family if she sees this article and put our minds at rest."
Charlie laid the paper down on the table and stared at the wall without really seeing it. The events of the last few days had really driven home to him just how strong his parents had been, to not run and hide or crumble and beg for protection from You-Know-Who in his prime. What was it his father had said one time? It had been back when he was still in school... "It started out by people going missing - sudden vacations, no word left - just gone. We usually found their bodies within the month."
Resting his head on his hands, Charlie massaged his temples, trying to tamp down the unrealistic worries that sprang to mind. What if being associated with the Weasleys was endangering Nancy and Jenni? What if there was some sort of plot against those top Hogwarts students? Would they kill them or just...
"STOP it, Charlie!"
His frustrated exclamation rang out in the silence, and for a moment he listened, worried that they might have heard it in the other room. When no one came bursting through the door, demanding to know why he was yelling at himself, he relaxed slightly.
Really, he was overreacting. It had only been a month or two since Harry Potter had won the Tri-Wizard tournament and all hell had quietly broken loose. There hadn't been enough TIME to hatch some devilish plot. No, he was linking things together just based on a really bad feeling.
Resolutely trying to banish his panicked thoughts from his mind, Charlie picked up the paper again, and this time opened it to the sports page. He couldn't focus on the league statistics, however, and soon enough, he was back to staring at the wall.
Even if there was no big conspiracy stemming from You-Know-Who, Nancy was in definite danger. His mind flashed back to that night at the party - she had been so sick anyway, but most of the fear in her eyes had been caused by whoever was in the woods with her. And then... Charlie raised his head and looked around the room he was seated in, remembering the terror that had seized him when he'd walked in and seen the destruction, and no one but Jenni sitting on the couch. He'd almost collapsed with relief when Nancy had come out of the bathroom all in one piece.
Giving up on the paper, he rose and started slowly pacing the room, counting out his steps.
One, two, three, four...
She can take care of herself.
Five, six, seven, eight...
Two serious attacks in two weeks?
Nine, ten, eleven, twelve...
She made it to the Daily Prophet and back just fine.
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen... "Ow."
Charlie looked down at the couch he'd run into and slumped into it. "Dammit, how do you protect someone who doesn't admit the danger?" And there was danger, of this he was sure. Something was wrong, and somehow Nancy had been involved.
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Bill walked towards Nancy's apartment with the conversation from his interview replaying in his mind. There was no immediate decision on whether or not he would be allowed to stay on in England or be sent back to Egypt, but he had decided to tell Jenni everything. It certainly wouldn't help him gain her trust and confidence if he waited until the last minute to tell her. especially if the decision was to send him away.
Taking a deep breath, he turned the doorknob and walked into the apartment. He glanced around. There was no sign of Nancy or Jenni, and Charlie was sitting on the couch with a very worried expression. Bill's first thought was that something had gone wrong and he immediately felt the panic starting to surface.
"Charlie. Where's Jenni?" Bill was fighting hard to keep the worry out of his voice.
Charlie looked up, finally acknowledging Bill's presence. "They're in the back working on some article for The Daily Prophet."
With a sigh of relief, Bill headed to the bedroom door that Charlie had nodded towards. He needed to talk to Jenni NOW. He would worry about his brother's odd behavior later. He reached the room and entered without knocking, effortlessly disarming a rather weak locking spell. He was greeted by two different reactions, a menacing look from Nancy and a grin from Jenni.
"I'm sorry. Am I interrupting something?" He noticed papers strewn across the bed haphazardly, several crumpled pieces of parchment tossed on the floor, and several pages with carefully written notes, and Jenni and Nancy sitting in the middle of everything.
"No." "Yes."
Nancy glared at Bill. "We're working in here, if you don't mind."
Jenni rolled her eyes. "We've been at it for two hours. I need a break."
Nancy's glare softened as she turned to Jenni. "Fine, you can take a break." Her voice was rough with the anger she still harbored.
Jenni stood up and headed towards Bill anxious for a chance to leave the tension filled room, but feeling guilty at abandoning Nancy. It didn't help any that Nancy had refused to talk to her or even tell her what was wrong, and she couldn't help but feel that if she stayed she might eventually get Nancy to talk things out with her. Still, maybe the time alone would give her a chance to cool off.
"Actually," Bill began rather quietly, "I was hoping I could talk with Jenni... alone."
Jenni turned slowly. She waited for the outburst from Nancy but all the small firebrand did was shove her work into a rough pile at the end of the bed and stand up, glowering. Jenni couldn't believe her eyes when Nancy headed towards the door with obvious dislike for being kicked out of her own room. Nancy wasn't very good at taking orders in ANY mood... never mind while in the depths of anger.
Bill managed to maneuver his way behind Jenni as Nancy walked by. The look the younger woman shot him made it clear that she was not happy, but she restrained herself to muttering mutinously.
"Other rooms..bloody bathroom has a door.MY apartment, MY room." Nancy's hand reached for the doorknob and she stopped. She turned to face Bill once again, her face full of anger.
"You didn't knock! And I put a really difficult locking spell on this door. HOW DID YOU BREAK INTO MY ROOM?"
Bill grinned broadly, obviously very pleased with himself. "I'm a curse breaker. It's my job."
Instead of smiling back, Nancy went off in another muttering frenzy about irresponsibility and lack of privacy before slamming the door on her way out.
Jenni stood where she was for several minutes, staring worriedly at the door that Nancy had left through. It was only when she felt Bill reach for hand and lead her to the bed that she realized he had been speaking to her. She sat down, noticing that the parchments containing the interview with Professor Snape had been neatly put aside, and the bed totally cleared away.
Bill sat next to Jenni, still holding her hands as he waited for her response. He had just carefully told her about the possibility of him being transferred back to Egypt. He had been expecting some sort of... reaction... but had received none. There was a distant look in her eyes and he wondered if perhaps she was angry at him for not telling her sooner. He shifted nervously. "Jenni?"
Jenni lifted her eyes and studied Bill's face. He was obviously waiting for her to answer him and she had no clue as to what he had just told her. "I'm sorry Bill, I was worried about Nancy and I wasn't paying attention to what you said."
Bill held in his sigh of relief. Well, he thought, she's not angry. Yet. Taking a deep breath he let go of Jenni's hands, walked towards the door and muttered a sound proofing charm just in case things got a bit loud. Jenni eyed him curiously but said nothing, so he began again. "I was trying... I wanted to tell you about the interview I had today. The job I'm on is ending soon and I was hoping that there would be a chance that I would be staying on with Gringotts here in London."
Jenni felt her stomach tighten. That heavy feeling she had been fighting since Charlie explained to her about Bill's interview was returning, only this time it was worse. He was going to tell her that he was being sent back to Egypt. "Oh." Jenni's voice had grown quiet. "I heard about your interview..." Forcing a smile she looked up. "What did they tell you?"
"Well, they told me... wait a minute! How did you hear about this?" Bill had a puzzled look on his face.
Jenni launched into an explanation of the conversation she had with Charlie while waiting for Nancy to return with the notes they needed for the profile piece they were writing. As she talked, Bill watched Jenni's face trying to read her expression. Usually her eyes held so much emotion that he could tell what she was feeling at just a glance. Now, however, they were void of any emotions. "So," she finally said. "Are you going to tell me what the final decision was or not?"
Bill watched as Jenni pushed a piece of hair from her face. "Are you mad at me?" He asked quietly.
"Mad at you? Why on earth do you think I'm mad at you?" His question had caught her completely off guard.
"I just thought that maybe because I didn't tell you about this sooner that you might be upset with me."
"Bill, this is your job. Why would it matter what I think?" Jenni's heart was pounding. Why in Merlin's name would he care what she thought if he was going back to Egypt? It was bad enough that she had started to let her defenses go when he was around, but damned if she would let herself get thrown into an emotional debate on whether or not he cared about her.
"It matters, because if I leave I don't want to leave knowing that you're mad at me." Bill stayed fixed, resisting the urge to push back the stubborn lock that had fallen in Jenni's face once again.
"If you leave? You mean you don't know for sure?" She felt her stomach flutter and inwardly cursed herself about getting her hopes up only to have them trampled down as was always the case.
Bill shook his head. "I'll find out within the next week."
Jenni felt her insides lurch. A week. That wasn't much time. And even though there was a possibility he wouldn't be sent back to Egypt, there were other places he could be sent to. She turned away and stood up. Ignoring the aching muscles in her body and the dull throbbing in her head, Jenni walked slowly away from Bill not wanting him to see the tears that had started to burn the back of her eyes. Here she was, doing the one thing she had promised herself she would never do again, letting her emotions get the best of her. She was allowing herself to be worked up over a man. She had been hurt once, and that had been one time to many.
"You never did answer my question." Bill's soft voice broke into Jenni's thoughts. She jumped as she realized he had made his way from the bed and was standing directly behind her.
Jenni struggled to regain her composure before turning around. "What question?"
"Are you mad at me?"
"No, I'm not mad. It's just," Jenni gave a frustrated sigh. "Egypt is so far away, and even if they send you some where's else, it's not like if you would be working here in London. I'll never see you and a week isn't that long. And I would miss not having you around." Jenni put a hand to her mouth as she realized she had just voiced her worries out loud. Now Bill would know exactly what kind of an idiot she was.
This time Bill reached forward and gently pushed the hair from Jenni's face and allowed his thumb to wipe away the single tear that had found its way down her cheek. "You would miss me?"
"Well, I mean... maybe a little." Jenni stumbled over the words she wanted to say as Bill leaned forward to kiss the top of her forehead.
"Only a little?" His voice had dropped to little more than a whisper as he leaned further in and lightly brushed his lips against Jenni's.
"Maybe a bit more than just a little." Jenni was sure her weak knees had nothing to do with the events from yesterday as she felt Bill's arms wrap around her waist.
"I think you would miss me a whole lot more."
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Nancy slammed the door behind her with a satisfying BANG, not even glancing at the shadowed figure slumped on her couch as she stomped to the bathroom. Charlie watched her go, waiting for Jenni to open the door and yell after her or Bill to come out and apologize, but it seemed that those two had things of their own to discuss.
"Now or never," he muttered nervously as he raised himself up off of the couch and padded over to the bathroom door. As he stood there waiting, he heard a muffled scream, and the sound of something shattering against the wall.
Worry giving him courage, he knocked softly. "Nancy? Are you ok?"
Nancy stared down at the soap dish she'd hurled against the wall. What was her problem? She wasn't usually this touchy about things... Ignoring Charlie's question, she paced back and forth, avoiding the shards of pottery all over the floor by blasting them silently out of her way with her wand.
Really, it was all his fault. Before Charlie Weasley had swooped into her life and flown her to safety, she'd always felt able to handle whatever was thrown her way. Now she was constantly fighting the urge to run to him with her problems and her stupid fears...
"Nancy! If you don't respond to me in the next two seconds, I'm coming in there... we need to talk." Charlie was pacing back and forth in front of the door now; her prolonged silence had given his fears time to rise to the surface, and his head was swimming with visions of her lying on the bathroom floor, a dark figure standing over her, unconscious or even...
"WHAT?!?" The door swung open, and a rigidly angry Nancy stood in the doorway glowering at him. Rigidly angry, but apparently unhurt, he thought with relief, forgetting to answer her question.
"I'm sorry... am I not being FULLY HONEST with you? Is that what we need to talk about?" Nancy's voice was hard and cutting as she stalked over to the kitchen.
"Or... I know... I never sent you a thank you card for preventing my thorough SQUASHING by your dragon?" The sarcasm in her voice paralyzed him. He couldn't respond without making it worse, and yet his lack of response was obviously not helping.
"WAIT - It must be that the Charlie Weasley groupies are in town, and you wanted to invite me along to the party? Well, I apologize... I have a LIFE to deal with right now!"
"What the hell?" Charlie stared at her, trying to figure out this hellion side that was showing its teeth. "Is this all about Romania? Because..."
"NO, dammit, I don't CARE whether or not you're going back to bloody Romania!" Hearing him say the words had put a panic down in her gut, and Nancy rushed to cut him off. Again, he was jerking her around, messing with her emotions. She might care more than even she realized, but she'd be DAMNED if he would know that!
"Well then why are you screaming at me across the bloody kitchen?" Charlie's voice was rising slightly, egged on by the sharp stab of pain he'd felt at her instant denial.
"Why do you CARE? Is this some Weasley code of slumming?! Distract the roommate while your brother moves in for the finish?" Nancy could feel her temper slipping out of her control, and wasn't even sure what the words coming out of her mouth were.
Charlie heard them loud and clear, however. He felt like he'd been slapped across the face. "DAMN it, Nancy, what is your problem? I've been sitting out here worrying myself SICK over you... and you have the nerve to accuse me, and BILL, of USING you?"
"Oh save the dramatics! What, were you WORRIED that I didn't know how to get to work and back? Bloody hell, how often do I have to prove that I'm an ADULT?"
"Do you have NO ability to trust whatsoever?" Charlie was furious. Furious with himself for losing control, furious with Nancy for being so irrational, furious with the world for getting in the way of this thing that had been progressing so nicely. "Just because you CAN get to work and back alone, doesn't mean that you SHOULD! Or did you miss the fact that YOU'RE BEING HUNTED by a psychopathic maniac's followers?"
"Oh, and I suppose YOU'RE better equipped to handle them?" Nancy spat the words out, ready to defend her position to the last. "Just being a man doesn't make you an automatic HERO!"
They were standing almost toe to toe, still shouting, both of them wound so tightly that the slightest move might cause them to explode. Neither one broke eye contact as Charlie slowly growled out, "I have only EVER tried to help..."
Suddenly unable to take anymore, Nancy spun around, bracing her hands on the counter and turning her back to him. Her voice was low and harsh. "Well I don't need your help. Feel free to leave any time you're able."
There was a long silence, as she waited for him to answer her. Charlie stood frozen, hot anger and searing pain vying for attention as his blood pounded through his veins. It was the Weasley pride that got the upper hand after a moment or two, saving him from breaking down on the spot. If she didn't want him, he would damn well go lick his wounds elsewhere.
"Tell Bill I've gone home," was all he could manage to say without his voice cracking. When Nancy gave no indication that she'd heard him, he turned away and walked swiftly to the door, never looking back. If he had, he would have seen the first tears rolling down her face.