Chapter two

In a frightening instant, Charlie began packing his belongings into the trunks he had taken to Hogwarts all those years ago. As he packed, his neighbours silently helped where they could lending bags and containers for all the items that couldn't fit into his now overflowing trunk.

Charlie risked a look at the wall and sobbed as he began pulling photographs from the unpainted walls. Placing them neatly into an envelope Grahan had handed to him. Once he'd finished packing everything he owned into three full trunks, he realised how little he had to his name. Without the dragons, he lived an overly underwhelming life. Without his dragons he was just another Weasley. Which would have been fine, if he could live the mundane lifestyles of his siblings, who were all starting families with spouses and fancy jobs. But he just couldn't see it happening. There was no adventure, no fright and so much responsibility without many benefits. Charlie loved his siblings, nieces and nephews, but he just couldn't see that kind of life style working for him.

A glance down at his two faced watch told him that his whole family would be awake in less than an hour. On one face it told him the time wherever he was and the other told him the time in England.

It had only just hit seven o'clock in the morning in England and he could remember his mother raising the household at around seven thirty. So he sent a deceptive message to his mother asking if he could stay with her for a few months while he worked off some 'overdue paid leave', hoping she would buy it and answer him by the time he'd had something to eat and said his goodbyes to the remaining dragons.

He had hoped right in no less than an hour Molly's reply reached him, telling him that she would be grateful to see his face again and she would appreciate the extra set of hands around the house now that the rest of the kids had moved out.

He made his way slowly back to his room and flooed to his mother's now empty house. As the flames died around his feet Molly engulfed her second eldest son into the most bone crushing hug he'd ever experienced.

"It's been way too long Charlie, much to long indeed." His arms slowly returned the hug almost awkwardly at first until the idea settled in his brain and he hugged her as deeply as she was.

Charlie noticed how his mother's body had aged in the time he'd been away. Her arms, while still strong, had gained a sense of fragility and her face had far more lines than he was accustomed to. His mother had always remained timeless to him. Yet, here she was, visibly aging and reminding him of the mortality he himself possessed.

Charlie's father soon swung the back door open, he too had aged considerably in the last three years, and he held another one of his many Muggle gadgets.

"Ahh my boy, it sure has been a while since you've shown your face around here. What do we owe the pleasure?"

Charlie just smiled and hugged his father, ignoring the question completely hoping to keep his Job's state unknown to his family for a while. It wasn't like they would read it in the paper either, as Romania tended not to broadcast their news to the rest of the wizarding world. Blame that on the war and all the paranoid officials that came from the post war effects. Everything he did in Romania tended to stay in Romania.

"Anyway, Charlie your room might not look exactly the way you left it, as the grandkids have been staying over more recently and your room seems to be their favourite." Molly smiled as she levitated Charlie's trunks up one flight of stairs and through the second door on the left.

"That's alright mum, I'm sure it's because I'm the favourite Uncle." He said with a smirk.

As Charlie entered the room he remembered all the times he and Bill had shared, and all the great adventures that had finished with him collapsing into this bed. It was then that he realised how quiet the house was. It was peaceful, but horribly cold from the lack of people living in it. Charlie realised just how much his family had grown without him, and it saddened him to think that they did not really need him anymore. They had all moved out, had families, partners and stable jobs. Whereas Charlie had none of those things, his job was the most likely to kill him or work him into an early retirement due to extreme injuries, he couldn't keep a partner for more than a few weeks and he had discovered he didn't have the ability to create a family of his own. Charlie felt almost jealous of his siblings' lives. Not that he had found someone he would want to settle down with though, the idea just sounded odd, but nice in his head.

"Alright love I'll let you settle in. How long are you staying for anyway?" Molly inquired noticing her son's face lost in thought.

"Well if it's not too much trouble, I could stay until after Christmas?"

With this as her answer Molly's smile broadened, clapping her hands together as she almost skipped out of the room to inform Arthur that their son would be spending a few months with them.

Charlie looked at his belongings and groaned at the thought of having to find homes for everything again after only just settling into his apartment in Romania.

Weeks had passed with Charlie slowly organising his room into a suitable fashion, many magical photos lined his walls, some including friends he'd made in Romania, his Hogwarts friends and of his now deceased dragon. Molly had been pleased with her son as he had matured greatly from when he last visited. He picked up after himself, degnomed the garden without being asked and even got the old muggle car to work after all these years of sitting idle. Charlie, however, was increasingly bored with this new living situation. There was no fight or adventure, just sluggish chores waiting to be completed by someone still able. His mother had commented on a few occasions if he had found a 'lovely lass' to settle down with. She had stated that she thought that Tonks and Charlie would've ended up together. However, she knew how happy she was with Remus before their untimely death.

It was in this time of lounging on his bed that Charlie received an owl carrying numerous letters from friends and colleagues.

Most of his colleges stated how very sorry they were that he was no longer working with them and that they hoped he would be back 'bullying them into work' soon. One colleague boasted of a rumour that Charlie had been promoted, Charlie smiled at the thought. Another was from Victoire reminding him that her father's Birthday dinner was on tonight and that he had better be there 'Or else'.

The last letter however, was from an unknown sender, it read:

Dear Mr. C. Weasley,

I'm writing to inform you of how you could rebuild your image and build a stronger connection with the people within Romania. I am Adam Mead, I believe we attended Hogwarts together many years ago now, I am the head of the temporary orphanage set up in Deva for the muggle and magical children affected. The children are yet to be separated into muggle and magical as we cannot see any differences between them at this point, as many of them are too young, shocked or unable to remember certain details of their parents' lives. As they are all orphans the ministry doesn't wish to waste resources figuring it out!

Regardless of this matter, I would like to meet with you to discuss how you would like to show your 'compassion' towards the affected children and show that it was indeed an accident on your behalf.

Sincerely

Dr. A. Mead

Head of Children's Healing:

- St Mungo's Hospital

Charlie scribbled his reply accepting to meet the man in a few days, explaining that he had plans for tonight and would ask that Dr. Mead pick the most suitable time for him. He then remembered Victoire's letter and quickly began to choose his nicest clothes and shoes. Which consisted of muggle jeans, a green V-neck shirt and a black button down coat. He swept his greying shoulder length hair out of his eyes and magically gelled it in place. He'd always wondered about his hair. It differed so much from his siblings. His hair had always been a lighter, almost a strawberry blonde rather than the signature red that the rest of his family possessed and his skin seemed much more tanned than theirs, he wondered if this had anything to do with his outside lifestyle or if it was actually his genetics.

"Mum when are we leaving?" he asked, sliding his calloused feet into a pair of dress shoes his father had bought him a few years prior.

"In ten minutes are you dressed?" she replied frantically obviously scrambling around the house trying to tie up any lose ends.

Charlie called his confirmation and returned to his room to conceal his wand within his jacket, a piece of parchment in his pocket just in case he got an owl and a small gift he had found for Bill whilst in town a few days ago.

He then raced down the stairs and magically cleaned up the kitchen and lounge room before pouring a mug off coffee for himself. Just as he finished his cup Molly and Arthur joined him by the fireplace. "Ready?" the two men nodded in response as they grabbed a handful of floo powder each and disappeared into the flames.

Forty-two birthdays equal. Twenty-eight years of perverted happenings. Twenty-six years of alcoholism. Twenty-five years of hard work. Seventeen years of missing her. Forty-two birthdays means nothing when the small things you dreamed of as a child have never, and will never, occur. Some say that when life shuts a door it opens a window. In Charlie's experience when life shuts a door it throws you out the nearest window, unwillingly flying headfirst into a literal dragon's den of emotions, situations and sometimes unimaginable shenanigans.

Arriving by floo at Bill's place was almost the easiest way to steal the limelight from Bill's birthday. Charlie hadn't seen his family in three years and owls tended to get lost on the way to Romania, so contact had been difficult.

However, Charlie had to admit that he hadn't put a great deal into keeping connected. As much as he loved his family, he hated how nosey they became. It always started off as friendly questioning, until it turned into detailed prying. Charlie didn't think he'd done anything worth hiding, but sometimes the complete truth didn't need to be voiced.

A loud excited scream erupted from his family as each Weasley took turns showering him in kisses and bone crushing hugs. After each family member finished hugging and kissing their second eldest sibling the family settled down for Bill's dinner.

Ginny was the first to speak, "So Charlie, how long have you been in England? And why weren't any of us informed?"

Her voice was riddled with hurt and what Charlie guessed was mild anger. Ginny was the only Weasley who rivalled Charlie with their bad temper. Each of the boys had fallen prey to one of Ginny's angry hexes or one of Charlie's irritated jinxes. As much as he loved his baby sister he always felt she babied him. In some weird reversal of roles, she always tried to act as the older sibling. And it irked Charlie to no end.

"Um, well it was quite a spontaneous visit, I came down about two weeks ago. Been living with Mum, just trying to relax a bit." His response seemed adequate for everyone, everyone apart from Ginny who then continued.

"So why haven't you contacted us in the two weeks? We haven't seen you in years!"

Ginny fought the 'be reasonable' part of her brain. She hadn't seen or heard from her second eldest brother in over three years. Her numerous attempts at contact had always failed and left her with a harsh feeling of resentment for him. He hadn't attended any Quidditch games of hers or Teddy's, even though he stated he was a proud brother and uncle.

Molly saw the desperation in her son's face, and the struggle to come up with a suitable excuse. Ginny really wasn't making this easy for him.

"Oh he came down to help me with the house work," she paused for emphasis. "Such a good boy. You know it's been really hard to keep the place tidy when you play babysitter every week." Molly added ingeniously.

The blame was then quickly shifted from Charlie as each family member had a wave of guilt wash over them. A silent thank you was whispered to his mother. Charlie had always had mixed emotions about his mother. One moment she would nag him about getting a wife and the next she would save him from his baby sister. He never knew what to expect from the older, yet still cunning woman.

Bill then re-entered the conversation with an unopened bottle of fire whisky and what Charlie knew to be muggle Vodka.

Molly quickly ushered the younger children into another room where they could talk, watch muggle movies and muck around with the absence of alcohol. Which was vitally important to Molly, as she believed children needed to grow up in a innocent and 'good' way of life.

Victoire had convinced her father and grandmother that she was old enough to stay, especially if Teddy was staying.

If rumours were true Charlie knew Victoire had been caught by one of her siblings kissing Teddy. Which would be quite scandalous if either Bill or Molly found out given their age difference and Bill's protective nature over his daughter. Charlie made a mental note to question her about it later. After all, what good was being the favourite uncle if you didn't get any gossip out of it?

After a few rounds of shots and a bottle of fire whiskey later the Weasleys were revealing secrets and asking each other to reveal theirs. It had become an old tradition that the Weasleys and Potters shared. As each generation got older the game got filled with new and more interesting gossip that the other family members had missed during their time away.

"So Bill," Ginny started, "Was Fleur the first girl you've been with?"

A simultaneous giggle erupted from all the girls at the table.

Bill chuckled loudly causing Fleur to blush. The Weasleys silently concluded it had been a topic they'd discussed in private, possibly with an unpleasing answer for Fleur.

"No," he replied confidently. "There were a couple of girls at Hogwarts I had flings with, however I'm not going to go into detail as mum and 'kido' are within ear shot."

Molly looked horrified and tried to cover Victoire's ears to which she giggled and pushed her grandmother away.

"I didn't believe he was a prude gramma!" Victoire giggled.

Now it was Bill's turn to ask a question. "Well, since everyone knows about Ginny's boyfriends" an exaggerated wink was added just to horrify Molly.

Resulting in a loud slap connecting with his arm from his baby sister, although, it wasn't hard enough to actually hurt him. Not that he'd tell her that.

"And we all know how much time Harry had to get with other girls." He stated sarcastically,

"I'd like to ask Mum who her first kiss was?"

All eyes landed on Molly Weasley and for once a big honest grin fell upon her face. "Your father" she stated proudly. "And I'm proud of that, thank you very much."

The group groaned, a few 'boring's could be heard from their muttering.

"So it's my turn now right?" Molly asked, gaining a group nod, they had already explained to her how the game was played but she insisted on clarifying each round.

"Charlie, my dear boy, when are you going to settle down with a nice girl? Maybe have a few grandkids for me?" And there it was, Charlie thought.

He groaned and took a large swig of his fire whisky entertaining the inner alcoholic he had successfully hidden from his family. Charlie wasn't at all surprised by his mother's question, but it did annoy him that she never seemed to stray from it.

"We will see Mum." He answered tiredly already growing tired of this game.

George jokingly added "Are you even into girls?" Ginny laughed loudly and Fleur struggled not to choke on her glass of Muggle vodka and squash.

A cheeky remark erupted from within Charlie in response to George. "Oh I'm into girls." He wiggled his eyebrows causing Victoire and Teddy to chuckle, it had been a while since they had experienced their uncle's wild sense of humour.

"If you know what I mean." A throaty laugh echoed from his father and a significant blush rose on his mother's cheeks.

"Charles. That's enough." Molly replied, now regretting asking the question.

"So how many girls have you been with?" It was Teddy's turn to voice his interest, obviously they had stopped abiding by the 'game's' rules.

All eyes settled intently on Charlie, who covered his mother's ears and drunkenly whispered "I'm not sure, fifteen maybe? No, Sixteen, because of…" A proud smirk graced his features at the shocked looks on his siblings' faces.

"SIXTEEN?" Teddy questioned, amazed by Charlie's response.

"When was your first?" It was like a tennis match between the two men, everyone looked at Teddy then Charlie as if they literally threw questions and replies.

"Umm, I think the first was in my fifth year at Hogwarts, to be honest." He stated taking another swig of his drink.

"Fifth year? You were my age!" Chimed in Victoire sounding like something had just been confirmed within her head. Something possibly her father and mother had been arguing with her about.

"DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT IT YOUNG LADY!" Roared Bill standing from his seat, hands in fists on the table in front of him.

A hushed "Sit down." From Fleur made him regain his composure and reclaim his seat.

"Who was it with?" Ron asked inquisitively, quietly looking at both his eldest and second eldest brothers to make sure he was out of arms reach if this caused another angry stir.

Charlie however didn't answer Ron's question and announced "Isn't it my turn now?" the group of Weasleys looked thoroughly disappointed.

"Charlie, we live in each other's pockets every day, it's you we're interested in." chimed in Hermione. "I can't even remember the last time we all saw you."

Don't let her emotional blackmail work Charlie, stay strong. Anyways, a gentleman never kisses and tells. He thought, again taking a large gulp out of his heavily alcoholic drink and stating to the group what he'd just decided within himself.

"A gentleman never kisses and tells."

A small smirk rested on his chin, gaining a loud groan from the other party guests.

"Lame." Called Ginny. "Prude." Laughed George, and his mother mumbled something he didn't quite hear. He suspected it was along the lines of 'Gentlman? Humph.."

"It is, however, my turn." Charles stated plainly. "I would like to ask…" he appeared to be playing a game of 'enie meanie mionie moe'

"Hermione!" He pointed directly at his younger brother's wife making her shift uncomfortably in her seat.

"Is it true, that the Malfoy boy asked you out once?" the room gasped "I mean it could have just been a rumour, but if it travelled all the way to Romania there must be some truth to it?" Charlie was rambling now. Trying to keep the attention away from him and his first time for as long as humanly possible.

"Yes." Was Hermione's simple reply. "He did."

Ron, who was sitting beside her gasped. "You never told me this!" his mouth hung open in astonished anger.

Hermione shrugged, "It wasn't really that important. He just felt grateful for us saving him I think." She paused.

"I said no." she continued trying to reassure her now enraged husband and highly intrigued family members.

"Bloody oath you said no. You were with me!" Ronald wailed angrily.

"Ronald" chastised his mother, "watch your tongue."

"I can't believe that bloody buffoon had the guts to ask you out." He stated still quite enraged.

Harry interrupted "To be honest mate we can't really believe you had the guts either."

This caused the Weasleys to erupt into a cheerful laughter, which sprung an argument about the couple and whether Ron really asked Hermione out or if she had to ask him.

"Isn't he married to a cousin of yours Harry?" Percy asked.

"I wouldn't know." Harry answered truthfully.

"I was looking at his file the other day, and if I remember correctly he had married a distant cousin of your father's, and had three children?" he asked. "I could be wrong. I didn't pay all that much attention to that specific detail."

"And what detail were you paying attention to?" asked Arthur.

"Oh just a rumour about him being a werewolf. It all seems to be a farce though."

Hermione slowly became uncomfortable with the current debate about her arch enemy's life and interrupted asking Teddy the next question.

"Teddy." She cleared her throat gaining the attention of the group. "A safer question for you I think since we got you kids out of school for the night. How's seventh year treating you?"

"Honestly? Or what I should say because my god father is listening?" A cheeky smirk resided on his face as Harry glared at him.

"What would you say If I wasn't here?" Harry questioned curiously.

"Umm." Teddy started nervously, "good… ish."

"Ish?" Harry pried, asking Teddy to explain himself.

"Well, I guess you're going to see the report anyway… right?" Harry nodded, parenthood worked for the man. Charlie noticed how Harry had perfected the parental glare Arthur had given him as a boy. I wonder how long that took him to achieve without laughing. Pondered Charlie, momentarily distracted from the sobering questions being asked.

"Well I'm failing… pretty much everything actually. Even failed the apparition classes so far." He winced as Harry deepened his glare. "Except Muggle studies and transfiguration." Teddy added quietly, now ashamed of having to answer this in front of his whole family. His embarrassment was on display for the family as his hair turned an unsettling shade of red.

Charlie quickly intervened. "What subjects are you doing? Apart from, I'm assuming, Advanced Transfiguration and Muggle Studies?" The younger man nodded.

"I'm doing Potions, Dada and Care of Magical Creatures." Teddy answered now becoming quite shy because of Harry's constant piercing glare. Charlie could see Victoire's comforting hand resting on the younger man's knee just out of view of the others, she was obviously trying to calm him down as the family scrutinised him.

"Well I did really well in Care of magical creatures and Defence, If you'd like my notes I'm sure I can find them at home somewhere." Teddy slowly nodded. "I mean they might be out of date but they will give you a kick in the right direction? Especially in the assessments."

"Yeah, thanks. That could help." He replied quietly now hiding most of his face within his hands.

"Although, I can't help you with apparating." The group laughed. "I'm still surprisingly shocking at it."

"Yeah, apparated five miles south of his target." George laughed hysterically, "Landed on some muggle lady."

The night progressed into meaningful chatter about raising Teddy's grades and trying to understand why he didn't ask for help earlier. Hermione eventually offered her textbooks and her personal assistance in writing his next assignments. Harry eventually apologised for making Teddy uncomfortable and promised not to be so judging next time he asked for help. Especially because Harry didn't even end up taking his NEWTS, which was cleverly pointed out by his Wife Ginny.

"And you still managed to be successful." She'd stated.

After Bill cleared the table from their dinner and began handing out what he called "last roun's of dinks". Percy decided to bring up the dreaded conversation from earlier that night.

"So Charles." No one other than Molly and Arthur called Charlie 'Charles' anymore, but Percy always insisted on 'formalities'. The prick. Charlie cursed.

"You never answered the question. Who was your first? I think you left us all a little curious. I mean did it actually happen? Or are you making it up?"

"Wow, you're a jerk." Commented George. "I mean calling him a liar, and such. Wow." George's words strung together in messy sentences, the alcohol clearly taking away his control.

"Perce, I really don't see how it has anything to do with you? Or why you would want to know?" Charlie calmly resorted to turning the question around. Hoping his brother wouldn't continue pushing the issue.

"Ahh, I see." Stated Percy, now quite visibly drunk. "It was a man, wasn't it?" An evil smirk graced his features as the other Weasleys gasped at the rudeness of their sibling. "I always knew." Hiccupped Percy as he stared expectantly at his older brother.

"Tonks." Answered Charlie quietly, almost so quietly that half the members at the table wouldn't have heard him.

"What?" Molly questioned worriedly. The Weasleys were silenced. For the first time in history, the Weasleys were speechless. Yet, still confused and worried for Charlie.

Charlie quickly finished his full glass and rose from his seat Muttering "Tonks" again under his breath and headed for the kitchen for a "glass of water" leaving the family in silent shock.

Tonks and Charlie had been very close during school. Almost inseparable up until a few years before the war when they mysteriously became distant. The Weasleys had thought that it had something to do with the physical distance between England and Romania, it was now becoming clearer that their friendship was more romantically inclined that they had first thought. Thus, their separation was twice as difficult and her death seemingly unbearable for him.

Harry thought to himself He's just like Snape with my Mother. A thought each member shared as they began to feel guilty about pressuring Charlie into reliving that part of his life.

Arthur soon followed his son into the kitchen, finding him standing against the sink staring mindlessly out the window.

Clapping him on the back with his free hand Arthur asked. "Are you alright son?"

Charlie nodded slowly.

"You know, your mum and I did suspect you two were more than friends. Could have made a happy couple." Arthur was trying to cheer his Son up but he was failing miserably.

"Nah" Charlie coughed. "You know… She always liked older men. I just never stood a chance."

A sad smile worked its way across Charlie's face.

"And I just admitted I slept with Teddy's Mum. To his face. The poor kid. Ha. I might just head home and see you all in the morning."

Arthur nodded knowingly, staring at the space his son once occupied as he successfully apparated back to the burrow.

Arthur returned to the group and an awkward silence fell upon them.

"I can't believe how young they were," commented Molly sadly. "Please tell me all of you waited a little longer?" Her sons all nodded their lie, while Ginny noticeably blushed hiding her face behind her husband to whom she shared the experience.

"He was close with my mum?" Questioned Teddy suddenly, obviously not over the topic.

"They were best friends." Answered Arthur, "She used to spend weeks with us over the holidays, even when Charlie moved to Romania they stayed in contact. She was with your father by then though." He smiled sadly, now understanding why his son always spoke ill of Remus.

"He must have, really, loved her." Commented Teddy, making the group look at him questioningly.

"I mean he must have really loved her to let her go with my father. That would have been really hard. That would have hurt him a lot, I don't think I would have been okay with that if I were him."

It was in these rare moments that Teddy showed his maturity and it honestly shocked the Weasleys. The baby they had adopted into their family sixteen years ago was no longer just a baby. He was a fully functioning seventeen year old man who understood the world in a unique way. He saw all the effects of the war and how each and every member of this dinner dealt with it. No one however had thought of him. Of how he would be dealing with not having a 'proper' family and only hearing things about his parents from people who didn't really know them.

Teddy quietly thought to himself I've got to ask Charlie about her later. I've got to know something from someone who actually knew her.

"Yeah he really did love her, Ted, so very much." Concluded Bill leaving the gawking table to check on the younger children.

~Again, nothing overly drama filled.

Hit me up with a review to let me know how to improve.

Love always, just another AnnonymousAmature.~