Word Count: 529
Easter Egg: Watercolour Egg, Day: 29. Love Triangle
Three's A Crowd
"Why are you doing this?" Harry asked, leaning back against the wall. "Charlie, we can't do this."
"Are you back together yet?" Charlie asked, the same way he did every time he found Harry late at night.
Harry shook his head and sighed. "No. No, we're not, but she wants it."
"But do you? Because the way you kiss me back when I kiss you tell me that you don't. The way you moan under my hands tells me that you know that she isn't for you."
"That's your sister," Harry growled, scowling at Charlie. "Show a little respect, would you?"
"And you love her like she's yours," Charlie replied, smirking. "So how about you fix that, and then come and find me."
He walked away, leaving Harry against the wall of the Burrow, watching him go.
…
Harry didn't know how things had started with Charlie. There had been alcohol involved the first time, and it was hazy even now, but it had carried on beyond that, and now he didn't have the excuse of alcohol. Now he had to admit, if only to himself, that he craved Charlie's touch far more than Ginny's.
It made him feel guilty, of course. He was disgusted with himself; he and Ginny may no longer be together, but that was her brother.
And it didn't help that she'd taken to cornering him whenever they were helping with the same section of the Hogwarts rebuild, asking him if and when they were getting back together.
He didn't know how to tell her that he didn't think they were.
He didn't know how to tell her that he craved larger hands, chapped lips, strong arms over her lithe, soft figure.
He didn't know how to break her heart.
…
"Ginny?"
She smiled at him, brown eyes glowing warmly as she patted the sofa beside her.
Harry shook his head and sat in the armchair beside the sofa instead, perching with his elbows on his knees, hands clenching together.
"Harry?"
"I can't do this anymore," he said softly. "I don't know how to—we're not getting back together, Gin. I love you but… I don't love you the way I think I'm supposed to love you."
She stared at him for a long moment. "It's Charlie, isn't it?"
"What?"
"I've seen him watching you, and I've seen the way you look at him when you think nobody is looking. Are you gay?"
"I don't… know?" He shook his head. "I don't know anything right now. But I'm not going to get with him, either."
"I don't understand," she admitted. "If he'll make you happy…" she sighed. "Harry, don't ruin your happiness for me. I'll be okay. I was half expecting it."
"I think I'm going to go away for a while," he said, looking at the ground. "I think I need some time to sort myself out, before I can be with anyone else. But I need you to know that I never wanted to hurt you, Gin. I love you, I really do."
"Just not in the right way," she finished for him. "I love you too, Harry. It's okay. Everything will be okay."