Many thanks to;

SaruDM,
Myweakness,
Shivvv,
Weasley-Is-Our-King26,
dirty-little,
echizenochi,
LeeArt,
NickelRamaMetalHydride,

For such lovely reviews and also to all those who have alerted and favourited.

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CHAPTER 36.

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Hermione was just finishing off sorting some papers that her last class had written on how muggles combat the climatic changes with their inventions, when Charlie popped into her classroom.

She wasn't expecting him for another 10 minutes, so when she heard his crack of apparition, she was startled and a few papers went flying.

Charlie flicked his wand towards the papers and they neatly arranged themselves in the pile Hermione had generated.

"Jumpy, aren't we, today?" Charlie said chuckling as he saw Hermione with a hand on her chest, trying to calm herself down.

He kissed her on the cheek, with an arm around her waist that lingered there for a little while longer than normal greetings lasted and that caused Hermione's heart to beat faster than it had when he had just popped in.

She was otherwise very comfortable with Charlie, and he wasn't a shy person so he displayed affection frequently. But this was slightly more than sisterly affection that he usually showed, and it unnerved her. Big time.

Especially after Fred had told her how Mrs. Weasley had tried to get them together, she was even more wary of his excessive friendliness.

She could imagine Mrs. Weasley being disillusioned with the idea of her second eldest son and her, but she had thought that at least Charlie would be sane enough. But today he seemed to be obeying Mrs. Weasley.

"Well, I was expecting you in another 10 minutes, so the sudden entry startled me." Hermione defended herself.

"No worries." Charlie said cheerily, seating himself on one of the benches meant for the children. "If you have to finish off any work, I'll wait!"

"Oh it's done." Hermione said, "I was just about to place these in the cupboard when you came." She said, pointing at the papers.

She levitated the stack and placed it in the open cupboard behind her. With another flick, the door shut and locked itself.

She took a deep, steadying breath and prayed that the day would not get more uncomfortable than it already had.

She had told Fred about their lunch, last night after dinner when he had come over to her flat.

Fred laughed and said that Charlie was probably trying to get out of the burrow so he could enjoy the day without mum constantly fussing over him.

Well, I hope you're right Fred. She thought as Charlie took her hand and she started the tour of her school.

"So what made you start this Mione?" Charlie asked, clearly impressed by the size of the playing ground behind the school.

"Well.. I had never thought I'd have something of my own, you know! I had always envisaged myself working in the ministry or something. But it was so dissatisfying. I felt it to be too commercial and besides there was no challenge. So I invested the money we had been given after the war into this place and decided to do this. I've had practice in teaching, you know. Had to practically force tutor your brother and Harry in school." She said smiling, fondly remembering her Hogwarts days.

"This really seems to be the perfect project for you." Charlie said.

"Yeah. It was scary at first, you know. Wondering whether the wizarding population would accept the idea of a nursery and primary education that was predominantly muggle. And when I started, I had no Weasley children also. Now I'm guessing soon a big population will be Weasley's, what with Vic joining next year and Audrey pregnant now." She said.

Charlie laughed.

"Yeah. You'll have the Weasley children advertise for you plenty. Though you don't need it now, do you?" He asked.

Hermione laughed. "No, I suppose not. First few months I had the kids come over to my flat while the school was being built. Then slowly, word spread and more kids started coming in and eventually I had to hire more staff too."

"Wow. You're quite the entrepreneur, Hermione." Charlie said, looking thoroughly impressed.

Hermione blushed under his praise and he held his gaze a while longer and she finally lowered her eyes, tensing up.

Charlie came a bit closer and whispered, "beautiful."

She whipped her head up and saw him innocently look around the Arts room and examining the paintings her students had made and hung.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She was sure he was looking at her when he said that, but was relieved to see him gazing at the paintings.

She shook herself mentally, damn you Fred. I wish you hadn't told me about Charlie. Now all I can think is how this meeting of ours means something else to him than what it really is.

"So, that's it. Just 3 storeys. But it's enough. I'm planning on starting field trips now for the kids. Into muggle London, so that they aren't at a loss when they are around muggles or in a muggle area." Hermione said.

"It's impressive Hermione. For something that started out from a flat to a building, it's great. And all your vision." Charlie said, holding her hand.

"You really are an incredible woman, Mione." He said softly.

Hermione was forced to look at him when he said that and she realised how similar Fred's eyes were to Charlie's.

Charlie's were slightly greener but still they had a brilliant blue in them that Fred had. She was immediately reminded of Fred and she wished he were here.

Since Charlie was Fred's brother, he would know better if this was normal Charlie behaviour or he was trying to flirt.
Because, she kept getting mixed signals.

Boy! Talk about awkward. I'd relive the table incident at the wedding any day compared to this. I hope lunch is not so awkward. Hermione thought.

She showed him around a bit more and he seemed tobe thoroughly amused by the "coffee machine" that Hermione had installed in the staff room and also had charmed it to generate pumpkin juice and butterbeer. He had never seen anything like it, neither had he had coffee ever.

So when she offered him coffee, he just said he wasnt sure if he would like the taste or not, so he swiftly took her mug and sipped it, nodding his head, indicating that it was not too bad.

Hermione was a bit taken aback by his utter ease in just sipping from her personal mug, but she recovered soon and went around locking up the place after the tour was over.

"So? where are we going?", she asked him.

"Why dont u just hold my arm and ill side along apparate you to the restaurant?", Charlie said.

And so they popped out of the school and landed on a busy street.

That's when Hermione realised that, when Charlie said 'dress nice', he meant "dress nice".

Hermione had thought that her black knee length skirt and navy shirt would suffice as something 'nice' as well as normal school attire.

But when she reached the restaurant, she realised with eyes wide open, that anything she would have done, would not have prepared her enough for lunch at "La beau Monde" on the 54th floor, a table that overlooked the Eiffel Tower.

She didn't need Fred to tell her that, this, certainly was not 'just' a friendly lunch.

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Oh Charles!

I bet Nikita must be one happy girlfriend!

I can practically hear Hermione's heart pounding. Can you?

And we thought only Ginny could be manipulative!

Charlie is going to try everything to make Hermione confess!

How long can she hold onto it?

Did you like it?

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Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Besides, I get excited every time I get a review alert!

You'll have all been such wonderful readers, thank you so much for reading!

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