Chapter Four
Hermione appeared in Charlie's living room, and stumbled slightly as she stepped out. Silently she took note of the slightly elevated step from the fireplace.
"Welcome," Charlie poked his head around the corner with a cheesy grin. He jerked his head in a follow me motion, amusing Hermione with his slightly childish behavior which seemed so out of place for someone with his work background. Then she remembered he was a Weasley boy. Enough said.
Smiling in spite of herself, she followed as his head retracted back around the corner. She walked down the hall and turned when she caught sight of a flash of red. Charlie clicked on several lights to illuminate the spacious room decorated with a soft turquoise theme that had tons of space her all of her clothing and belongings, a full length mirror, and spacious desk set off to the side. The entire room was centered around the biggest, fluffiest bed she had ever seen in her 22 years of life, covered in what was undoubtedly silk of the highest quality.
"I hope you like it… of course your more than welcome to change it around and redecorate however you please." Charlie spoke softly, hesitation adding a pleasant lilt to his already appealing deep voice. Hermione gaped at him, still astounded at the room much less the very thought that she would be anything less than incandescently thrilled with it.
Just as she had begun to gather her wits enough to begin to formulate a response, Charlie snapped his fingers with a grunt of realization, freezing her thought process once again. Rather suddenly, he pulled out his wand and muttered several incantations that caused the far wall to ripple and shift until it formed into bookshelves spanning from one end of the wall to the other, from floor to ceiling. Inconspicuously, a stepping stool now stood in the corner, the perfect height for her to comfortable step on and off of with several books and still be able to rest the top shelves.
"In some of her letters Ginny mentioned how you hated having to pack away your books or get rid of them because you didn't have space for them." He said by explanation to her wide-eyed stare, blushing from the base of his neck to the tips of his ears, hoping that the knowledge didn't make him seem creepy or overbearing. Belated he wondered if he should have offered before altering half her new room.
Hermione was shocked at the consideration he showed her, as well as the fact that he bothered to remember such a trivial fact about someone he barely knew. Even after ten years of friendship, and more than one complaint about the way she hoarded books, she doubted either Ron or Harry would have thought to indulge her bibliophilic if for no other reason than not wanting to encourage the habits.
Filled with the impulsivity of overjoyed gratitude, she launched herself airborne, into Charlie's chest, and wrapped her arms around her neck with a soft squeal. Surprised, Charlie grunted softly and was knocked back a step. His reflexes kicked in allowing him to catch the young woman and hold her aloft before his mind recovered from the sudden attack. A few second later, his mind caught up and realized what had transpired, and processed the thrilled chorus of "thank you" Hermione was now squealing insistently.
Warmth spread throughout his body at the close contact. Combined with the sudden masculine pride and joy he felt at making Hermione so happy, Charlie couldn't help the rich flow of chuckles that where emitted from deep within his chest, or the slight tightening or his arms around her petite frame, still suspended mid-air against his own.