Hermione woke a few hours later and knew she had to hurry back to school. Charlie was in the same position he was in when Hermione had laid down, still breathing deeply and seeming to be at peace. Hermione wanted to know how he was but she also had responsibilities. She refused to risk waking him to assess how he was so she quickly made the bed disappear and made her way to a floo. She stepped out of McGonagall's fire, moments later, and quietly made for the door.
"How is he?" the Headmistress asked.
"I'm not sure, he was asleep when I got in and still is, I didn't want to risk waking him to find out and since we aren't related, I know the healers couldn't tell me." Hermione had her hand to her heart, she hadn't expected the headmistress. McGonagall nodded and Hermione left to get ready for the day. It only took her about 10 minutes to get ready, thanks to magic, and she was soon leaving for breakfast. She was glad today wasn't going to be too stressful and she was teaching the 4th years and sitting in on the 5th years. If all went well, she may be able to leave to visit Charlie at lunch or after her classes were over. She didn't feel like eating but knew she had to keep her energy up or she would become useless at helping Charlie. After eggs, bacon, toast, and some fruit; Hermione headed to her classroom.
She loved that her schedule was so simple, she wouldn't even have her 7th and 8th years until the end of the week. The downside was that they were back-to-back days. Having almost a week in between each lesson could lead to them slacking off or it could mean they would work really hard for two days with extra time to practice before the next lesson if they didn't get the concept.
"We Have a lot to cover, this year, and we have O.W.L's next year, which means we need to be caught up and prepared, I have your placement tests from last week and will be reviewing them through the week to find out what we need to fill in. For now, I think the best thing to start with where we should be, however, if there are questions about something that you don't understand or haven't gone over, we will pause to go over it. I don't want anyone falling behind over something that just needs to be explained in a different way. We all learn differently and there is no reason that I can not come up with another way to explain something for you, to go into the theory a bit more in-depth, or whatever else you may need. I am very aware that the professors you have had over the last three years have been the biggest challenge you could face. I will make sure that every one of you is where you need to be by the time we take your O.W.L.'s. If you are willing to apply yourselves then there is no reason that any one of you will fail your exams." They started in Chapter 1 of their new books and it quickly became evident that the students were going to have a lot of work ahead of them.
Hermione sat in on her first 5th-year class and instead of taking lunch, she met with Headmistress McGonagall.
"I think we are going to need remediation for the older years. What do you think about me reinstating Dumbledor's Army once or twice a week?"
"I honestly think that would be a good idea if you are up for it but we may need to see if some of the other Professors would be willing to help stand in and teach with you. I really wish I had more Professors hired so that I could make sure everyone had more support." The Headmistress told her.
"If the students are this far behind in Defense, how are they with all their other classes?" Hermione wondered, worriedly.
"Thankfully everyone is doing pretty well in their other classes. Defense was the worst with Delores and the Carrow twins. Severus did actually teach when he was here but he couldn't make up for the other two years." McGonagall told her.
"I'm glad to hear that. I will see who all is interested in extra sessions and then go from there. If there is enough interest I may have to split the groups up and do like 3rd, 4th, and 5th years and then 6th and 7th or something." Hermione started trying to make plans, already.
"You may also consider the first and second years, they may want to join in. Obviously with everything that just transpired we need to make sure defense is taught to anyone that wants to know it." McGonagall said glumly.
"I will see what all I can come up with. We will make sure that everyone is covered." Hermione stated confidently.
"Since you already sat in on the first group of 5th years why don't you go ahead and head out for the day? Go see what you can find out about Mr. Weasley and make sure to let me know how he is. I am going to try to get a few more letters out for recruiting, if you can think of anyone that may want to teach pass the name to me and I will contact them."
"I definitely will. We need a permanent Transfiguration teacher, and then either Potions or defense?" She double-checked.
"Yes, Pomina will be retiring in a few years, as well, but we have time for her."
"You may contact Neville about that, he is amazing with Herbology." Hermione suggested and when McGonagall nodded and bid her goodbye she headed out to her dormitory. She was going to get some comfy clothes and head back to St. Mungo's. "Fruitful." She stated without thought and stepped through the portrait hole. Hermione went upstairs to her room and was halfway to her Chester drawers before she noticed the figure lounging on her bed. "Charlie!" She startled "What are you doing out of the hospital?" She was half panicking and half hopeful that that meant he was ok.
"I wasn't actually ever admitted to the hospital," Charlie admitted sitting up. "I was there with one of the guys I used to work with. He didn't want me to leave his side, so I refused to. I asked them to let you know that I was okay if you showed up and to send you a message if not, but they were so busy that I think they forgot. I slept in the room with him and didn't even hear you come in or leave, this morning. I'm sorry that I worried you but I promise you that I was nowhere near the action, I stayed back and made sure all my students were safe and out of the way but that's it." Charlie was slowly walking towards Hermione as if she were a dragon and he was uncertain how she was going to react with him being near. "We did what we could as far away as possible. As soon as the situation was over I went to work trying to heal anyone I could but Ivan was bad and we had to get him out immediately. I am so sorry for worrying you, that was never what I wanted when I took this job. I wanted you never to have to worry and last night just proved that there is nothing about working with the reserve that I can do and you never have to worry. As soon as this class is over, I will be done. I don't have to work at the moment so I will take my time to find what I want to do next. I'm going to see how much of my job off the reserve, even."
"Charlie, I'm not upset with you. I was worried and definitely never want to have to worry like that again, but I know it's not your fault." Hermione drew him into a tight hug and as soon as his arms were around her she felt so much tension leave her. He really was ok and she found herself crying with relief.
"I love you, Hermione, I am never going to leave you and I promise you that if anything like that ever were to happen again, I would make for sure that you knew what was going on. You will never be uninformed like that again, I am so sorry word didn't get passed on to you."
Hermione breathed him in for a moment before suddenly jerking away.
"McGonagall!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Charlie was confused.
"We need to go see her, quickly, before you distract me," Hermione smirked at him while checking him out. "She wanted to hear how you were." In less than two minutes they were entering the classroom.
"Charlie! I'm glad to see you are well." McGonagall jumped up and came to hug him.
"I am, I wasn't actually hurt but my friend was, and I stayed the night with him. I asked the Mediwitch's to let Hermione know if she showed up or to send a letter but I think they forgot when they got busy. It isn't typically their job so I won't hold it against them."
"What does that mean for your job, now? It's my understanding it is supposed to be a short-term thing?" McGonagall asked him.
"It is. I want to finish the job because I have committed but I do wish, now, that there was somewhere else I could train them. My job is fully centered around techniques to get away, stay away, and heal yourself if needed. Also, how to have your workmate's backs if they get into a bind. It's only a two-week course but for my first week to start this way has been a bit insane." Charlie admitted.
"Would they be willing to let you train elsewhere?"
"If we had somewhere feasible I don't see why they wouldn't, it's just a matter of having space and an environment to learn. This is a new program so they don't really have anything set up at the moment, it's helter-skelter and we are using a small room that used to be a meeting room as a classroom."
"I will offer you space here, for the rest of the class if your boss is good with it. We have plenty of room here and can spare some of it. However, there is one condition." McGonagall told him. "When you are finished with the program and your students move on I would like to commandeer you for a day or two and have you speak with at least the older students about dragon taming, if not the younger students as well. I want to try to get people in to talk about careers, this year, so that students, especially muggle-borns, know some options that they have." McGonagall said persuasively.
"I can do that, if I wasn't born into a wizarding family, I probably wouldn't have known anything about it. I bet I know a few other people that I could coerce into helping with that throughout the year. I know Oliver Wood would probably be ecstatic to come to talk about quidditch and would definitely try recruiting players. Kingsley would be a great resource to get some people from different departments of the ministry. Bill will be around so he would probably pop in. Honestly, there are so many different careers that are out there that it would be impossible to have someone from all of them but it would be a good start to give students an idea and then they could go from there." Charlie was excited about the prospect.
"What about doing like a career day where a lot of people come on one or two days and talk a bit about their jobs?" Hermione interjected. "Muggles do that and it's really efficient because it's all at once. You could do a few of them throughout the year for the whole school or the lower years and this way if you rotate through careers after a few years the students will have seen a lot of options and will know what classes to pick for N.E.W.T's."
"That sounds like a plan, I knew there was a reason that I hired you." McGonagall laughed I better hurry and get something to eat but I will be in touch with your boss and will let you know what he says. If he agrees I will make sure to have a dormitory set up for you tonight and you can get back to work tomorrow."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it. Do you want me to let him know to expect a floo call?" Charlie asked her.
"Yes, I will floo after my next class is over." McGonagall dismissed them.
Hermione and Charlie made the short walk back to her common room in moments and Charlie made the call quickly. When he pulled his head back through the fire Hermione practically tackled him to the floor.
"I'm not complaining but are you a bit eager?" Charlie smirked at her.
"I really was worried that you were hurt." Hermione melted into him as he embraced her.
"I know, I don't plan for you to ever have to worry like that, again." Charlie put his chin on the top of Her head and cuddled her into him.
"Good, I can't live like that anymore." She squeezed him tighter before leaning back to give him a slow kiss. Hermione found herself letting go and pulling him up to stand before tip toeing to kiss him again. "I need a shower but then I need you." Hermione was no longer the shy little girl she used to be.
"I need a shower and I need you, I don't think I am going to wait for you to be out first," Charlie said wickedly. "I may wait for you to be first though," He growled into her ear while pulling her close and nibbling where her neck met her shoulder.
"I guess you better find some extra clothes if you are going to join me, then," Hermione said with as much dignity as she could after a shudder had gone through her at his words.
"I shouldn't have to, I know for a fact that some of my clothes made their way into your trunk."
"I unpacked with magic so you will actually have to find them," Hermione laughed. "If I had known that you had put some of your clothes in I would have separated them but I haven't really looked through anything."
"Are you forgetting something?" He waved his wand and a pair of sweats and an old comfy shirt came flying right at him, making Hermione roll her eyes with a grin. "Are you being facetious?" Charlie bent his knees in a predatory manner and Hermione took off like a shot. She couldn't help the squeal or the giggle that escaped while she ran up the stairs to the bath. She grabbed the doorframe to swing herself around so that she didn't have to slow down until she was at the shower. "Nowhere else left to go," he murmured when he caught up to her.
Charlie grabbed her and spun her around for a hungry kiss while he turned the water on. He bit her lip while he pulled his shirt up. As soon as his was off he made Hermione's disappear just as quickly and continued kissing her and trying to melt into her. Their pants vanished just as quickly as their shirts had. Hermione performed the charm, laid her wand on the sink, and unstrapped her bra flinging it to the floor in an attempt to get Charlie's hands back on her as quickly as possible. Her panties and his boxer briefs were last to go. Charlie grabbed her up in his arms and Hermione's legs wrapped around his waist as he stepped them into the shower. Hermione was thankful it was large and had water coming from more than one showerhead so that they wouldn't get cold. Even with her legs wrapped around his waist, Hermione's face was just below level with Charlie's. She grabbed both sides of his face and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging him in closer. He broke the kiss off to nibble her jaw and down her neck to her shoulder and then her collarbone. Her hands tightened and she gasped as he sucked on her sensitive skin. She arched into his mouth and enjoyed every sensation that was washing through her. Charlie turned and pushed her against the wall of the shower she stiffened momentarily and hissed out a breath when the cold shot through her back. Goosebumps erupted on her skin and her nipples hardened more than they already were. He gathered her hands into his and held them up above her head with his left while his right held firmly under her thigh to help hold her up. Charlie ground his hips against hers, bringing a moan from both of them, he dropped his forehead against Hermione's and softly slid his tongue against her lips before gaining entrance and kissing her tenderly. Charlie rotated his hips against her, again, letting his erection rub against her slit, teasing her. He took his time slowly working his way inside her and making sure that he bumped against her clit with every movement he could. Hermione kept her legs wrapped around his waist and used them to pull him closer when he allowed, he was much stronger than her, after all. She tried to reach for Charlie but he still had her hands above her head. Charlie ran his hand up her side and applied pressure to her throat, just enough to hinder her breathing slightly, for a few moments. He could feel her muscles shaking and reached his hand down between them to run circles around her clit. In no time Hermione screamed his name and he leaned in to kiss her quiet, while she shook uncontrollably. Charlie didn't need any more coaxing and came while she did. He slowed his rhythm and let them both fall gradually from the euphoria of the moment, letting go of Hermione's hands he wrapped her in a hug and held her tightly for a few minutes before they finished their shower and got ready for a nap that they both needed.
IMPORTANT AN: I want to let you know that I will be finishing this story even if it is slow. Second, if you have stuck it out this long, whether you have been here since the very beginning, the middle, or are completely new, here, I want to say thank you. I do feel that it is coming to the point where I will be able to wrap it up and then update with random one-shots here and there as they strike my fancy. We have been going through a lot between our foster journey and our bio kids having some medical issues but I am determined to write as consistently as I can. You can definitely feel free to thank my best friends A and Jfer for making sure I get my butt out of the house to write at least once a week, now! Since that has started just a few weeks ago I have posted a new story, Draco's Redemption, and updated this one. I plan to also update twisted fate and get back on That Witch we Call a Doe, as well. My goals are to get His Dragon wrapped up by the end of June and then focus on Twisted Fate and Draco's redemption. Let me know if y'all have one you want to see focused on first once this one is complete.