Chapter eleven
The next morning Charlie woke with an unexpected bounce in his step. He raced out of his bedroom at the burrow, flew down the stairs, and grabbed a piece of toast on the way out to the house's boarder.
Apparating straight to Bill's house on the coast.
The loud 'crack' alerted the elder Weasley that someone had arrived. He slowly opened the door to his younger brother standing there eating his half cooked piece of toast.
"Well, brother. Would you like to explain why you're ripping me away from my beautiful wife at six thirty in the morning?" Bill stood clad only in a pair of sleeping boxer shorts. His hand hung heavily on the front door. His other arm blocked the door way.
Charlie pushed passed his brother and into the kitchen where he found Louis mashing a banana into his glass of milk.
"Hey buddy." Charlie ruffled his nephew's hair, flicking his wrist to work his wandless magic, turning the banana and milk into a banana milkshake. "I have good news Bill."
Bill smiled. He hadn't seen his brother this happy since Charlie found out he had been given the job at the reserve. This must be big!
"I've heard. You got your job back." Bill smiled holding up the daily newspaper. That must be what this is about? Bill thought to himself.
"Oh, yeah. I got my job back." Charlie frowned slightly, indicating that Bill had been wrong in his assumption.
"That wasn't your news?"
Charlie smiled and shook his head. "No." he paused for dramatic effect. "I'm going to be a dad."
Fleur dropped the mug she was holding. Shattering it into a million tiny fragments on the floor. Bill stood frozen in shock.
"Chuck. I thought you told me you couldn't have children?" Bill closed the door to his house now thoroughly confused. "And, how? What about Adam?"
Charlie held up a handful of papers. Handing them over to Bill, who began reading through the paperwork out loud.
"Upon the signature of one_, who accepts the legal act of adoption under the Minister of Magic 2015, _ will be appointed full parental custody in the eyes of both muggle and magical law…"
Charlie smile boarded. "I now just have to ask!" He almost squealed.
Bill sifted through the remaining of the files hoping that he wouldn't find a discrepancy or something that sounded fraudulent. He stopped after a moment noticing that there was a complete double of each form. "Are you adopting twins? There is literally a double of each paper?"
Charlie nodded. "Yes, two twin girls."
Fleur clapped her hands in excitement. "Two new nieces Bill, that's just wonderful." Bill nodded slowly in hesitant agreement.
"What time did you organise to meet with the ministry? And the girls?" Bill asked looking toward the clock on the wall.
"Well I know they are going to be there around seven." He stated checking his watch. "Crap I'm going to be late. Alright see you later."
Charlie flung himself through Bill's floo network and appeared right in the old crew room. Charlie noticed an eerie silence that hadn't occupied the orphanage before. The small chatter that usually occupied the halls was replaced with a heavy echo of Charlie's footfalls.
Charlie slowly made his way through the halls, listening for any semblance of life. "eureka." He smiled when he heard the two delicate voices he recognised as Anna and Grace.
As he entered the foyer, he came face to face with the two girls. Both girls had their heads hung low and a deep frown plastered onto their once seemingly delicate faces.
"What's the matter?" Charlie asked worriedly.
The two girls sprung from their previous positions and flung themselves at the red headed man.
"Don't let them take us Chawee. Tell them we belong here." Anna cried.
"Please?" They both begged tears streaming off their little red faces.
"What are you talking about?" Charlie asked, Anna pointed down the hall toward a large bold man who Charlie knew to be the Minister of Magic.
"They are taking us to a new orphanage." Anna whined.
Charlie stopped them quickly with a finger to his lips. "Girls I would love to have an interview with you, if you'll have me?" he sat in front of the pair, legs crossed and his arms hugging a small buddle of papers.
The girls looked between themselves confused. "But we know you already."
"Well." Charlie started. "My name is Charlie Weasley. I am forty-four years old and I work with dragons in Romania." He continued anyway.
"We know this already Charlie. What are you…." Grace started to mumble, until realisation took hold of her. "Anna, look." she interrupted, pulling the paperwork from Charlie's hands.
"Do you know these papers?" she asked her sister in a squeal.
Anna took the papers from her sister and stared at them for a moment. Clearly analysing them thoroughly.
"Charlie." She started. "Is this... Do you want to be our Dad?" her smile broadened and a slight squeal escaped from her tiny form.
"Only if you will have me." He stated calmly.
Both girls squealed in unison, taking a pen from their belongings and scribbling their names and signatures in the correct places. The girls were quite familiar with this process as they had helped a number of other people fill in the same documents and like before, when the girls finished signing their names and Charlie signed his, it disappeared with a 'crack'.
Both girls squealed again jumping from their seats into the arms of their new Daddy.
Adam's plan for today was to find this Claudine Walton and to see if she indeed knew anything about his lost sister. He'd worked out that if he got to her house and went straight back to Draco he would still make it back in time to help Charlie move into his new home with the girls.
Adam looked down to the map on his mobile. If he turned down the next street he should reach Claudine's residence. London was cold this time of year, not as cold as Romania but still cold enough to make him wish he'd brought a proper coat.
After what seemed like hours Adam finally found his way to her address. "This can't be right." He stared at his phone in disbelief. "A god damned brothel? Great." He stated unimpressed.
As he reached the door, his knuckles didn't need to touch the wooden door for it to swing open. A scantily dressed girl, no older than sixteen answered him. "Welcome to The Cave, do you have a booking or are you a drop in?"
She swung a leather rope flirtatiously in her hand, blowing bubbles with a shade of bubble gum Adam couldn't correctly identify.
"I'm looking for someone." He stated nervously. "A Claudine Walton. Know her?"
She took his hand in hers and pulled him through to another room. "We don't use full names here, but she'll be through shortly."
Adam twirled his thumbs. This didn't feel right. He only hoped that no one had seen him enter the establishment. His job, family and overall good reputation was on the line. Merlin, what if a Weasley had seen him enter. Merlin only knew what Charlie would have to say about it. Let's just hope that's not something we have to deal with.
"A young man for me?" Claudine confirmed with the receptionist. "And what's his name girl?"
Adam heard the two bicker about something and then a loud slap could be heard from where he was sitting.
"Sorry about her, Mr?"
"Mead,"
"Yes, sorry about her Mr. Mead, you have to train them young or they'll never learn you see,"
Adam was more than horrified at the woman in front of him. What kind of woman slaps a young girl?
"So I hear, you asked for me by name? I must admit, I haven't been requested by name in many years." She smirked.
"Actually, I just wanted to know if you knew anything about your daughter's whereabouts?"
"Oh my dear." She waltzed up to Adam running a finger down his chest. "I have a few of those, you might want to be more specific." She laughed.
Adam was shocked. When he thought about it, it wasn't overly surprising, the woman did perform a specific trade that made that kind of statement possible.
"Alicia Marie Malfoy?" he stated calmly, trying not to let off any vibe of disgust.
"Oh she married did she? And a Malfoy, she must be happy living in the lap of luxury?"
"Has three children with him too. He's quite worried."
"Oh, so that's not you dear? You're not the Husband?"
"I'm the brother." Adam shifted uncomfortably. "Her half-brother, Adam Mead."
"Mead? Oh, I know that name… Oh Harrold. What a dear. What's he up to now?" she smirked at the memory.
"He died." Adam stated shortly, growing tied of this woman's company.
"Such a shame. Oh well. What is it you wanted to know about your sister?"
"If you knew anything that would help me find her?"
"Oh my dear, she is a mercenary. If she doesn't want to be found, she won't be."
"I beg your pardon?" Adam Choked. "A Mercenary?"
"Pay her enough and she will do anything you desire big brother. Sex, trafficking, tax evasion, assassinations, sex."
Adam ignored that she'd said sex twice, he assumed she was just trying to rile him up.
"You're joking with me?"
"Why would I joke?" she stated seriously. "She is the only daughter, I actually couldn't tame. She just works in mysterious ways. Good luck finding her my dear. Do tell her to bring her children to see their gramma won't you?"
"Don't count on it," Adam stated, rudely leaving the establishment with a huff.
As he exited the building he made his way down the street and into a hidden alley. Apparating instantly to the Malfoy manner, where he knew Draco and the kids would be.
As he reached the manor gates he noticed the heavy protection charms that laced the grounds. Slowly he whispered an emergency healer spell that quickly disarmed any enchanted gate, door or lock. He marched through the gates and up the windy path listening to the ghastly alarms he had just set off at each end of the property. The screech echoed in his ears.
Draco met him half way down the path, obviously being informed of the intruder.
"Adam, how the hell did you get past that gate? Did you find something on Al…."
Adam's rage passed his ability to control himself. "You fucking scum" he growled grabbing Draco by his collar and slamming him into the nearest wall. "How could you?"
Draco looked thoroughly confused and enraged by the display of aggression that he couldn't escape.
As proud as Malfoys were, he would have to admit that he was unable to escape the man's grasp. He was terrified of this man's capabilities.
Almost as terrified as the time Hermione held him in this exact pose.
Draco was still weak from the transformations just a night and a half ago and was at a significant physical disadvantage. Not that he thought he stood a chance, regardless of his condition.
"What are you talking about Mead?" Draco growled, through strangled breaths.
"She's a mercenary. A fucking mercenary." Adam pounded the wall with his fist, just behind Draco's head. "And you let her." He said now sounding defeated. "How the fuck do you plan on finding her? She's fucking gone."
Adam released the man at the sound of a small cough behind him.
"Are you alright dear?" Narcissa Malfoy called to her son. Adam could see Aquila hidden behind her grandmother's legs.
Adam glared holes into the blonde man, ignoring the presence of the woman and child.
"How did he get in here?" Narcissa asked nervously.
"He's a healer." Stated Draco, calmly. "He probably has an emergency code."
Aquila slowly broke her silence from behind her grandmother. "Uncle Adam?" she asked curiously. "Why are you so angry with daddy?"
Adam sighed at her sweet voice. Her innocence bringing him out of his rage.
"Uncle?" Narcissa questioned.
"Mother." Draco started, rubbing his now released throat. "This is Alicia's older brother, Adam Mead."
Narcissa stiffened at the name. "I didn't know Alicia was a Mead?" She stated, obviously conflicted with something.
"She's not really." Adam stated. "We have different mothers. Anyway, not the point. Have you figured out where she could be?" Adam snapped at Draco.
"She was last seen in a muggle night club. I was on my way to get security tapes as you came in."
"Draco." Narcissa questioned suddenly. "What's happened to Alicia?" her anxiety was evident on her face. As much as Adam had doubted her acceptance of Alicia, Narcissa seemed to be genuinely concerned for her daughter in law.
"She's been classified M.I.A."
Adam hadn't made it back to Charlie last night. The trio had spent the night watching movies in hope that they would stay up late enough to see him. Unfortunately, Charlie awoke in his new house for the first time without Adam, one arm hung off the edge of the couch, the other held a small child from cascading onto the floor. As he looked around Charlie noticed the Cobwebs that clung to the corners of each wall, the small cracks that appeared in the paint and the floorboards that needed to be repolished.
A slight shift behind him, notified him of the two small children waking from their slumber. One automatically pounced on him, the other tried to cuddle further into his chest. Charlie flung both girls over his shoulders and stood from the old couch.
"Has anyone seen Anna and Grace?" he called, the girls both laughed uncontrollably. "If I can't find them I guess I'll have to eat all their chocolate cereal. That stuff was pricey, can't let that go to waste."
They both squealed in excitement, "UP HERE." The yelled.
Charlie spun around, "Did you hear them?" he joked as they called again and he spun back in the other direction making their limbs fly in all directions.
"Alright fun's over," he laughed placing both girls onto the cold floor. "Breakfast?"
Both girls smiled excitedly and galloped into the kitchen.
The bungalow had turned out to be much larger than Charlie expected. It had a master bedroom, two large single bedrooms and an office. Which he guessed could be turned into a bedroom. Considering he didn't own a computer or all that many books. The three sat down to breakfast eating their 'highly nutritional' chocolate cereal.
"So what day is it today Anna? I can't remember." He smiled, hoping that she would look at his watch resting beside her.
"Your clock says." She smiled at his proud gaze. "Twenty fifth of the twelve."
"December." He corrected smiling.
"It is five oh four in England, and seven oh four in Romania. Where are we?"
"Romania, Anna."
"Why do you have an England one?"
"That's where my Mum lives." He smiled.
"Can we see your mum? Does she have red hair too?" she giggled running her hands through his now below shoulder length hair. "Red is so pretty."
"All of my family has red hair." He smiled, swatting her hands away from his head. "And Brunette is just as pretty." He smiled mockingly running his hands through her hair.
"What's brunette?" she asked.
"Brown Hair." He stated. "Like you and Grace." The two girls turned to each other and smiled. Their crystal blue eyes shining in the light of the rising sun.
"Does your mum know about us?" Grace asked.
"Not yet." He frowned. "But Santa would have left all of your presents there. So I'm sure she knows you two are coming to lunch this afternoon."
"SANTA?" they both exclaimed. "I totally forgot about Christmas did Santa get lost?"
"No, Santa knows we're here." He smiled. "He just thought that your presents would get broken at the new house. Since we have nowhere to put our presents yet!"
Both girls nodded in understanding. "Can we choose a room now?" Grace asked quietly.
"Of course. The one right at the end of the hall is my one though." He smiled as they both slumped in their chairs.
Charlie smiled at this new development. The girls had easily adjusted to living with him. The minister was more than happy to approve his request. Stating that he obviously had enough funds to adequately provide for the two, and the bungalow on the reserve was quite close to a muggle school, so he knew they would get the best education possible. Considering most magical children don't attend schools they were sure to get the best of both worlds.
Charlie washed the bowls in the sink and followed the sound of echoing giggles.
"Alright have you chosen a room each yet?" he called.
Anna frowned. "Can't we share one?"
"Oh." Charlie smiled and shook his head. "Yes of course. As long as everything fits."
"If we turn the beds into bunk beds it should all fit." Suggested Grace.
"I like that idea kiddo." He high-fived the girl. "Alright stand back."
Both girls stood in the doorway as Charlie began working his wandless magic. He polished the floors, vanished the obvious dirt and dust and began clearing the cobwebs from the corners.
"What colour girls."
"Purple." Grace called
"Aqua." Anna interrupted.
"Hmmmm. How about aqua walls and purple bedspreads?" Charlie suggested gaining an excited squeal from both girls.
Charlie was surprised at the end result of the girls' bedroom. The mix of purple and aqua strangely fit the girl's personalities perfectly. Their clothes filtered in from a bag he had magically enhanced. Noticing straight away that both girls only owned a dress, a pair of jeans, a jumper and a shirt each.
I'm sure that will change by the end of the day. I'm hoping Santa just knew what they would need. He thought hopefully.
"My room now?" he smiled enthusiastically.
Charlie cleared his room, painted it white and placed his abnormally large bed at the far end.
"It's so plain, Charlie." Grace complained. "There's no colour."
"What colour do you suggest?" he asked.
Both girls replied. "RED."
Charlie laughed and agreed. "Okay," he started "The bedspread can be red," he flicked his hand towards the bed and it slowly changed from white to a deep red. "Still too plain?" the girls nodded.
Charlie began rummaging in his extended bag. Magically pulling out a large black bookcase with all of his books and photo frames still hung neatly in place.
"Better?" He smiled.
"Still plain." Grace complained. Both girls were perched happily in the middle of his bed. Anna sat excitedly on her knees while Grace sat cross legged further up on the bed.
"What about a mat? Or a chair over there?" Anna suggested.
"I have a mat..." he pulled it out and placed it with the legs of the bed resting on it. "And a chair…"
A white chair that he had inherited from his grandmother perched in the corner of the room.
"Red." Anna commanded. Charlie smiled and complied, pointing his hands in the direction of the chair and charming it to be red.
"Better?" he asked a little worn out by the wandless magic, both girls smiled and nodded.
As the trio began to walk back down the hall Grace stopped walking. "What are we going to do with the other two bedrooms?"
"We could just shut the doors for now?" Charlie suggested. "I will get some furniture for them later on. Make one a guest room?"
Both girls smiled and closed a door each. "So what now Charlie?' Anna asked.
"Well we did breakfast. We've made the rooms up. Someone is coming to set up the lounge room and dining room later today… what would you like to do? We have about an hour before we need to get ready for lunch."
"Lunch?" Anna asked.
"Don't you remember? Were gonna meet Charlie's mum." Grace chastised her sister.
"That's right." Charlie smiled.
"Do I have to look pretty to meet her?" Anna asked a little too seriously.
"You always look pretty Anna." He resorted. "Why what's wrong."
"But what if she doesn't like us? We don't have red hair."
"What does your hair colour have to do with her liking you?"
"All your family has red hair. We aren't family." She sighed.
Charlie noticed how deep his unintentional words had cut before.
"Alright. I need to explain something to you." He started. "All of my brothers and sister have red hair, all of your cousins do not." He stopped to count. "Only five of your cousins have red hair the other seven do not. My mum loves them all the same amount. And that's lots." He exaggerated his statement by holding his arms out to the sides to show how much she would love them.
"That's a lot of cousins." Grace smiled. "Are they all our age?"
"Umm," Charlie counted in his head. "Roxanne is six, Louis, Lilly and Hugo are eight and the others are a little older."
"We has cousins." Anna squealed to Grace, who stood and started jumping in excitement.
"Alright. Would you like to get there early then? Meet everyone sooner?" Both girls smiled and nodded frantically.
About half an hour later Charlie stood in front of the triple mirrored closet doors adjusting his button down navy shirt. He'd rolled the sleaves to sit just below his elbows.
Normally he would wear them to his wrists because of the severe scaring on his arms. Dragons made devastating cuts that healers couldn't even mend. Often his family discouraged him showing them in public as it often aroused suspicion, many people asking if he had been beaten as a child.
"It'll be covered anyway." He stated to himself, pulling his knee length blue coat over his button down and dress pants. Combing his hair down he realised that this was as good as it was going to get. He thought for a moment about how much his hair made him look like Bill. The length, colour and flow of his hair resembled the messy appearance that Bill used to sport.
"Dad." Grace called from the doorway. "Can you tie this up?" Charlie froze at the name.
He hadn't expected the girls to start calling him Dad, he wasn't going to stop them he just hadn't talked with them about it yet. Shaking the feeling he moved toward the small girl. She wore a lavender coloured dress that stopped at her knees, the bow Charlie was tying wrapped around her tiny waist making the dress flare out at the bottom. Charlie noticed that she had cleverly chosen to wear a pair of purple stripped thermal tights underneath her summery dress.
"Are you going to be warm enough?" Charlie asked, tying the bow behind her.
"Yep, I have a coat." She smiled. "Are you going to be warm enough?" she mocked holding his collar in her hands. "This feels funny, why is it so hard?"
"Ahh, it's called a collar. It's firm so that the pointy bit stays pointy." He smiled at her. "And yes I will be warm enough thank you," she smiled at him and walked back into her shared room with her sister.
Anna contrasted Grace. Anna wore a pair of blue jeans with a black coat that stopped at her knees. Her hair was pulled high into a messy ponytail, whilst Grace had brushed hers so that it flowed neatly around her hips.
"Look at you two." He smiled. "So pretty."
Anna growled. "I'm not pretty." Grace simply smiled and blushed at the compliment.
"Well Anna what are you going to do if I still think you're pretty?" Charlie smiled.
She simply stuck out her tongue at the man in front of them. He pretended to be shocked by her cheekiness.
"Is Mr. Adam still coming Charlie?" Anna asked whilst fiddling with her hair in the mirror.
"I think so." Charlie blushed, "He hasn't said otherwise." Both girls cheered unknowingly.
As the trio arrived at the burrow Bill was the first to notice their arrival.
"Brother, are these my new little nieces?" he smiled crouching down to their level. "Hi, I'm Uncle Bill." He introduced himself to the girls. Grace automatically hid behind Anna.
"Hi, I'm Anna and this is Grace." She smiled.
Bill smiled at the young girl before him. "Are you hungry?"
"No, we had chocolate cereal for breakfast." Anna spoke proudly. "What happened on your face? Did a dragon get you too? Charlie's arms look just like that." She asked placing her hand to the man's scar.
"Anna." Charlie chastised.
Bill stayed calm however, "Yeah I did get attacked, too."
"Did it hurt?"
"Yeah a little bit,"
"Are you okay now?"
"Yeah." He smiled a little awkwardly.
"Well that's the main thing." She smiled proudly.
Bill laughed. "Well I'm glad you think so. Come inside out of this frost."
He directed the three into the house, he quickly showed the girls into the room with the other children in it.
"Adam's here." Bill smiled knowingly at his brother. "Everything turn out then?"
"You could say that." Charlie smiled back. He had genuinely missed the man, Adam was supposed to meet with them last night but he had stood them up. Charlie hoped there was a reason why Adam hadn't shown up last night, he just hoped it wasn't a serious reason.
~AnonymousAmature x