Chapter Five – Hell.
Things seemed to mellow out around the house. Bill wasn't around as much anymore and I'd gone back to being bitter. I finally started coming out of Ginny's room. Molly had to go do Order things so it was me and Charlie holding down the fort until she came back. We didn't talk much… I knew he was upset with me and Bill for being children…
I mean if we could just get over what happened so many years ago but… I suppose, he'll never trust me again and he's put me through pain I mean, he just let me go. I didn't want to leave but I was scared. Anyone I ever loved has been taken from me so I couldn't let that happen to him but… He never once tried to come and find me. I mean, he could've written letters to me… but nothing. I wonder what happened to the letters…?
I moped around the house and headed outside to lie in the sun. I was wearing my favorite dark washed bell bottom jeans and a white beater under a sweat shirt with a great muggle band on it. I stared up into the seemingly endless skies and wondered if Charlie hated me for the troubling I'm causing. I heard voices coming closer. I didn't bother to look up. I honestly didn't care who was coming.
"Oh, Bill I'm so glad to be back!" Fleur said as she kissed him. I stayed there knowing they'd go inside soon.
"Oh, 'ello Kat!" Fleur smiled.
"Hi Fleur." I muttered. "Charlie's inside." I said. They just kept walking. I figured Bill would act this way… Ever since I yelled at him we hadn't been speaking. I felt like I was just screwing up this family.
"Kat…" Charlie said as he sat down next to me. "Where's your head at?" He asked.
"I'm messing everything up… I came back here and I was just going to let all that stuff that happened go… I mean… I suppose, that's what I'll have to do from now on… but… I wish I just would have been able to earlier…" I said as I finally sat up…
"You are a strong kid Katherine James… you can do this… I will help." Charlie whispered. I looked up at him and he pulled me in for a hug.
"I love you Charlie." I whispered.
"I know Kat…" He whispered. I started crying. He pulled back and smiled slightly.
"Don't cry…" He whispered as he wiped my eyes and helped me up.
"I'm such a baby…" I laughed. Charlie wrapped his arm around my shoulder and mine went around his waist and we walked back up towards the house. We got inside to a snog-fest. I smiled at Charlie and pulled him into the kitchen.
"Leave 'em alone mate…" I said as I started making dinner.
"Kat… you cannot cook…" Charlie said.
"And why is that?" I asked.
"Because you'll give everyone food poisoning!" he roared with laughter. I shook my head. Bill and Fleur pulled apart. Fleur floated towards the kitchen.
"I can cook…" She said with her ghastly French accent.
"Um… that's okay Fleur I've got it…" I muttered. I summoned four steaks and made Charlie peal potatoes.
"Well, can we help?" She tried again. I knew it'd kill her if I said no.
"Sure, set the table." I said as I chopped up the meat. I stuck it on the stove and started cooking. After Charlie put out the fire and told me to sit down he finished cooking and only let me tell him if the steaks were done. I rolled my eyes.
"Quick pull off these two…!" I nearly shouted he wouldn't allow me to touch anything.
"They're barely cooked…!" Fleur said looking slightly disgusted.
"That's how we eat 'em…" I smiled at her as I grabbed the Firewhiskey.
"Well, that isn't how we ate them… right Bill?" Fleur asked. I cocked at eyebrow at Bill.
"Well actually… one of those is for Bill…" I said and poured myself a glass of Firewhiskey. The rest of the meal was done and we sat down. And ate and talked.
"Oh my god… this is amazing… thank god I can cook!" I smiled at Charlie who sat next to me.
"Yes… thank god for that." He muttered. I kicked him under the table. He laughed at me. Bill however wouldn't look at me. I ate rather quickly.
"Kat since ou two cooked, we'll clean." Fleur said. I nodded; I needed to get away from Bill. I slipped into the living room heading for the door when someone grabbed my hand.
I was pulled into a massive chest.
"You are stronger than this Kat."
"Charlie, I'm not running…" I said.
"No, you are hiding." He whispered. I broke away from him and headed towards the couch.
I put on the radio and flipped stations until I found something I liked.
"Why do you insist on listening to that muggle music?" Charlie asked. I didn't answer but screamed.
"Oh my god I love this song!" I shouted. "It's that Paul Simon song… 50 ways to leave your lover!" I shouted and started yelling the lyrics. Charlie laughed at me while Fleur found me amusing.
"Charlie dance with me." I laughed. He rolled his eyes and we danced around the living room.
"Just slip out the back Jack… Just make a new plan Stan!" I smiled as we danced. Finally we plopped down on the couch.
"Man… I haven't danced in years." I said. We sat and talked and just listened to music.
"I like this radio station." I muttered. They always seemed to have a good mix of music. Charlie lit a fire as we sat on the couch and talked. Bill and Fleur came over and hung around with us. I summoned the Firewhiskey with my wand.
"Let's party." I smiled.
"Like our last year in Hogwarts." Charlie smiled I rolled my eyes and nudged him.
"Why? What happened?" Fleur asked. I sighed.
"There was a lot of Firewhiskey at the party…" I said hoping it'd soften the blow.
"And…?" She was still clueless. I put my head in my hands.
"And… she was totally snogging Charlie…" Bill said. I looked up and rolled my eyes. I swear I saw Bill smirking.
"Lots of Firewhiskey." I whispered shaking my head. I started clapping my hands with the song. It was late as we sat around and talked. Bill and Fleur were cozy on the love seat and Charlie and I sat on the big couch and his arm around was around my shoulder and I was leaning against him.
"Alright… we're calling it a night…" Bill said.
"'Night guys." I said as they headed upstairs. Charlie looked at me.
"There, that wasn't so hard. Baby steps Kat." Charlie reminded me. I nodded and laid there. I finally caved to the heavy eye lids.
I woke up before the sun. I slipped off the couch and smiled at Charlie. I covered him with a blanket and headed upstairs to shower. I quietly made my way when I got there I saw someone. I got there and they were about to shower.
"Oh… you can shower first…"
"Um, no it's cool…" I said and turned around.
"Kat…"
"Bill…" I said. "Everything's fine. They call it the past for a reason, right?" I asked him. He nodded. "Then it's settled, you'll shower first." I said as I slowly made my way down stairs. I set my clothes on the back of the couch and headed outside. I looked around and decided to watch the sunrise in the field. I headed down there and sat down and watched.
"Mind if I join you?" I froze for a moment; we hadn't been alone since we yelled at each other…
"Of course." I said coolly. We sat in silence for a long minute.
"Kat, I'm sorry about what I said." He whispered after a long minute.
"Bill forget it… it's in the past." I whispered.
"You're happy aren't you?" He asked after a minute. I looked at him and his emerald eyes were big.
"What'd you mean?" I asked him trying to avoid the question.
"I just mean… you are happy right?" He asked.
"Of course." Lie. I looked back towards the sun. I finally caved and went into Bill's head. I saw memories from our past.
"Somethings are meant to stay in the past Bill." I whispered and patted his shoulder as I headed up towards the house to take a shower.