Chapter fourteen

Harry avoided going to the Burrow, he only did when he was told Ginny would not be there. Even though the Weasley family were fine with him and his relationship with Charlie, Ginny was still upset and quiet, but Harry didn't want her to feel uncomfortable in her own home. When she moved into her own flat and she did that because she didn't want to see Charlie even if she thought Harry would never turn up, she didn't want to take the chance. Ron had explained to Ginny what Harry said, about how he expected to die, how he thought Ginny could have some nice memories of their times together. Harry cared about Ginny but that was all he could give her, some good times and some nice memories. So Harry did go with Charlie to the Burrow more often after Ginny moved out and always had a great time now he wasn't hiding himself and he was slowly putting Sirius to rest. Sometimes that made Harry feel guilty, but he knew Sirius wouldn't want him to dwell on the past and stop living, he would be happy for Harry.

Six months after Harry and Charlie started to see each other, Charlie moved into Harry's house and they were both extremely happy with their life. When they had been together for a year, Charlie had planned a special night for them. He'd come home early from work so he could organise everything.

Harry stepped inside and stopped at the sight before him. Soft candlelight was everywhere, Harry figured there must be at least a hundred candles flickering and floating all over the living room. He slowly pulled off his robes, hung them up before heading to the kitchen and again saw more candles and he could tell Charlie had set up a romantic dinner for them.

'Um, Charlie, what's going on?'

Charlie spun around, 'I have some plans, a nice dinner just the two of us.'

'Yeah, got the dinner part, but all the candles, it's very romantic and I love it, but why?'

'Later, why don't you go freshen up then we can eat.'

'Okay,' Harry's forehead furrowed wondering what Charlie was up to. Then he slowly walked upstairs to his room. He showered, changed, then headed back down to join Charlie who was just putting food on the table but also pouring them some wine. Then he pulled Harry's seat out so he could sit down, 'Um, okay,' Harry said but he was starting to worry, but he sat then Charlie did and held his glass up, so Harry clinked their glasses then both took a sip, 'Charlie, what's going on here because I'm getting very nervous?'

'Soon babe, let's eat,' Charlie gave a smile then turned to his food, 'Come on Harry, eat.'

'Yeah, alright,' Harry kept staring at Charlie for a few minutes then slowly started eating, 'Hmmm, good.'

'I'm glad you like it. Mum taught most of us how to cook, I never bothered on this much preparation when I lived alone in Romania, but I wanted a special night.'

'Yeah, I get that, I don't do a lot when it was just me,' Harry waved his hand at all the candles, 'I never bothered going into too much preparation for myself either,' Harry stared at Charlie again and thought he looked nervous, then Harry dropped his fork with a loud clatter, 'You're not doing anything dangerous with a horntail or something are you Charlie?'

'No, not horntails, no dangerous dragons, we breed them, that's all. I don't have a lot of actually contact with the dragons anymore, just watch them to make sure they don't hurt each other. I told you all this Harry, so relax.'

'Relax, trying,' Harry started eating again and when they finished Charlie cleared their plates and brought desert, 'Blimey, my favourite, I never knew you could make treacle tart.'

'I never have before, but Hermione told me it was your favourite so I had mum show me how to make them. So taste it, tell me if it's as good as mum's.'

Harry took a bite and grinned at Charlie, 'As good if not better, you put your love into it.'

Charlie laughed, 'That I did my love, now eat, this night is not over yet.'

'Yeah, that's why I'm worried,' Harry shook his head before eating his tart. Again when he finished, Charlie cleared the plates, then took Harry's hand and let him into the living room and they sat down, 'Okay, it's been a very nice dinner, now what, are you going to tie me to the bed again or something just as good or maybe something kinky?'

'No, no kinky, I'm hoping for some love making, but not yet. I just want to sit with you for a while. We both get so busy sometimes, it's nice to just sit here together.'

Harry relaxed against Charlie, 'Yes it is babe, this is nice and it's a nice gesture, dinner, a romantic one at that, candles and us.'

Charlie kept his arm around Harry and the two of them were content just to hold each other, but Charlie knew it was time.

Charlie sat up and turned to face Harry, 'I want to ask you something.'

'Anything, you know that Charlie.'

'Yeah,' Charlie chewed his lip as his hand slipped into his pocket, then slowly held out his hand, it was clamped shut, 'In my hand goes with what I want to ask.'

Harry stared down at Charlie's hand, then his words sank in, 'Oh, Charlie.'

Charlie instantly knew Harry had worked it out, 'Marry me.'

Harry felt himself choke up, but he slowly looked up into Charlie's eyes and saw the anxiety on his face.

He nodded, 'Yes, yes, I want us to get married so of course I will Charlie.'

Charlie blew out a huge breathe then wrapped his arms around Harry, 'I was so nervous, I wasn't sure what you were going to say. I was told you always said you didn't want to get married, so I really wasn't sure.'

Harry tightened his hold, 'I love you, so of course I would.'

'I was hoping, but we'd never said anything about marriage.'

Harry slowly sat back, 'No, but we did commit to each other, that's why we live together. I wasn't sure if you were the type to want marriage.'

'I am, I was waiting for you,' Charlie grinned, 'Okay, now the two small boxes in my hand are empty, I wanted us to go together to buy our rings.'

Harry grinned, 'I like that Charlie, so we buy the same type or different types?'

'I'm leaning towards the same, but we won't know until we look. We do have a lot of things we like that are the same, but we also have things we don't like about each other.'

'That's true, so we look and go from there. I suppose next is when are we going to do this and where?'

'When, I'd like it as soon as we can plan it.'

'Sounds good, I want it fast, I'm excited about it now. So we'll work on that first then.'

'Yep, now where, I thought of two places. I did think of here, but it's not really big enough to accommodate everyone even if this place is big, just not big enough.'

'Even though I don't want a huge wedding Charlie, with family and friends, it will have a lot of people invited. So the Burrow would have to be the place.'

'Maybe, I admit the Burrow would be good and it does have good protection, not to mention a lot of room. But there's one more place I thought of that you might like and if you do, know I would like it as well for a lot of the same reasons.'

'Okay, you've lost me, just tell me Charlie.'

'Just in case, I spoke to someone first to find out if it was possible, she said it was and only because it was you. It has nothing to do with Harry Potter, hero and saviour, it's because she cares a lot for you.'

'Okay, so are you going to tell me because I have no idea?'

'Alright, I'm thinking about Hogwarts, on the grounds of Hogwarts.'

'Oh Charlie,' Harry sat there staring up at Charlie, 'Hogwarts, oh, that never occurred to me, I never figured it would be allowed.'

'Minerva said she will allow it if we want. She knows what Hogwarts means to you, she also know that Albus Dumbledore meant a lot to you. He's portrait could be present at the ceremony, she mentioned that as well.'

'Yeah, being headmistress she can move his portrait, even take it outside if she wants. Alright, you know I love Hogwarts, always did, but this is about us, what do you want?'

'I just want to marry you, I don't really care about where Harry as long as it's at somewhere I like as well. I love Hogwarts and the Burrow, so either place would be good. I've got great memories of both places.'

'If we think of Hogwarts, it will have to be during the holidays.'

'Yes, which if you think about it, that's only three months away.'

Harry laughed, then pushed Charlie back, then climbed over him until he was sitting astride Charlie. Their lips joined in a hot, searing and very passionate kiss. Harry found the man he would spend the rest of his life with, Charlie also found the man he would spend the rest of his life with, but he knew now that Harry said yes, that he has but his past behind him, Harry had finally put Sirius to rest.

On the weekend Harry did go alone to his parents graves and spoke to Sirius, he wanted to know that Sirius approved that he was finally moving on. Even though he loved Charlie sometimes he still felt like he was cheating on Sirius and couldn't put that to rest, he needed something, some sign that it was okay to have a life with Charlie. As he sat there staring at his parent's names, he felt it, a calmness went right through him and Harry knew it was Sirius telling him to be happy with Charlie. But Harry also got a flash in his mind, the picture that he found of Sirius on the bed. It was Sirius' way of telling Harry to put him to rest and move on with Charlie. Harry had no idea how Sirius did this but he wasn't going to question it anymore, stranger things had happened in his life, things he would never have believed if he didn't see it for himself. Sometimes you just had to trust what your heart was trying to tell you and Harry got his answer and he knew this is what Sirius wanted for him.

'I will always love you Sirius, Charlie knows that and he's fine. But I do love him Sirius and I know we can have a good life together. I just needed to know you were okay with this and you are,' Harry sighed, wiped the tears from his face then kissed his parent's names, 'You will always have a place in my heart, that will never change,' Harry stood, smiled then walked away, away from his old life and memories and walked towards his new life, his life with Charlie.