Chapter thirteen

There was only another two weeks left before the students returned to Hogwarts. The castle was finally repaired and all the extra equipment had been delivered. Harry was nervous but he found to his surprised that he wasn't as nervous as he thought he would be. He decided since he had some time to himself he would go into Hogsmeade and have a drink at the Three Broomsticks.

Harry was sitting in a booth trying to ignore all the stares when a familiar face walked in then sat opposite making Harry chuckle.

'I didn't expect to see you Charlie; I thought you were heading home.'

'Decided to stay, at least for a while. I'm helping George out, for now.'

'I haven't seen your family in a while, how are they?'

'Coping, but getting there and why is it you haven't visited?'

'I've just been too busy but Hogwarts is finally finished. I wasn't going to stop until it was completely repaired and all the dark magic removed. Today is the first day I've had off, so I decided I'd come here for a drink and relax. Did Ron and Hermione get the letters from the minister?'

'Yes, Hermione was thrilled, Ron wasn't, he realised now he would need to return to Hogwarts for one more year. Why did Kingsley change his mind?'

'They spoke with a lot of the ones my age and some wanted to do one year at Hogwarts without having Voldemort's presence always out there, I get that because that's what I want. Some healers thought it would be the best for those students who lost someone, confront the place where it happened then learn to live with their loss. Poppy explained that if they didn't, then their grief could bottle up then it could turn into anger. Anyway, if you're helping George then why are you in Hogsmeade?'

'He asked me to check out the shop here. He would like it ready for the first Hogsmeade weekend. It needs a lot of work but thankfully I'm good with my hands.'

'I'm sure you are,' Harry sipped his drink.

'Let me ask you something, because Ginny never stops going on about you two, how you belong together. Tell me why is it that no one knows you're gay?'

'Why do you think I'm gay?'

'It takes one to know one, so explain.'

'I explain to your sister that I just didn't think of her that way, that we are not suited and we're not. Your sister wants the whole marriage thing, kids, the family life. I've known for years that I will never marry and because of who I am I decided I will not have kids either. So even though I'm gay Charlie, I wouldn't adopt, my kids would be in more danger because of how I'm thought of. I would not do that. So how come I never heard about you because I heard you had lots of girlfriends?'

'I only told my parent's a year ago, not long after Bills wedding. Things have been tense since then, only from mum though.'

'Ah, so she doesn't approve. I wonder if she knew Dumbledore was gay since she did respect him. Saying that, I doubt she knew.'

'They think that's Skeeter lying, but I knew he was, so did many others. He was the one I spoke to at Hogwarts. Poppy gives all students a basic sex education but it's mainly for straight couples. Dumbledore decided to speak with anyone that he believed would end up in a gay relationship. He was good at working out who would end in a same sex relationship. But you never answered my question Harry. Why doesn't anyone know?'

'It's no one's business Charlie. I'm sure you know how often I'm written about. It's hard to keep anything about my life quiet. I figured this was personal and no ones business, I wanted it kept that way.'

'Fair enough and I get the stories, every day there is something written about you. So are you seeing anyone?'

'Been a bit busy Charlie, first the war then rebuilding Hogwarts.'

'So you've never…?' Charlie shrugged.

'Again, never had time to think about that, so to answer your un-asked question, no, never.'

'Would you be interested in…me?'

'You,' Harry's eyes widened in surprise, but he noticed straight away that Charlie was serious, 'I thought you would want to hex me because of Ginny, not shag me.'

'You can't help who you have feelings for Harry, I happen to think your cute.'

Harry blushed, took another sip of his drink, 'I always thought you were cute, I still remember that first time I saw you, I thought you looked good. It was then that I first got confused.'

'I heard enough stories about what you went through at Hogwarts and with those muggles so it would have been hard for you work out your sexuality. So how about it, want to come back to my place for a while, no pressure to do anything.'

'Answer this first, if we did get on, but found out that we couldn't be together permanently, only able to get together occasionally, what would you say?'

'That is a strange question but I also don't understand it. Okay, yes I like you and have for a while, now why would you ask that?'

'I have a job that will make a relationship difficult. I could only see you one day every second weekend, then at times during Easter and Christmas. I could see you more, occasionally, but that's all.'

'Why would you want a job that restricts you?'

'I'm made for it and I found I love it. I have started, sort of, it won't be known for another two weeks thought, but I've been learning everything I need. I live where I work and it's restricted on who can get in. So you see, even if I've always had a thing for you it would be difficult to really take it further than what I already explained.'

'I would need to think about that, but we can at least go somewhere private and talk for a while, if you want to.'

'I'm thinking of you Charlie. You said you like me, but you might want more. I can't give any more even if I wish I could. I'm bound by a magical contract, but it's also what I want and I'm not going to give it up.'

'I'll take the chance for now, so yes or no?'

'Yes,' Harry finished his drink then left with Charlie who apparated him to his flat. Harry didn't know what to expect, but he was hoping he would get to snog Charlie.

On the weekend, Charlie stepped out of the fireplace into his parents, kitchen to see his family was already gathered, along with their partners. After greeting everyone Charlie sat next to Bill and began a conversation.

'Did you mention Harry?' Ginny's head whipped around until she faced her two eldest brothers.

'You should not have been listening Ginny, but yes. I was telling Bill that Harry has this job that means he will be living where he works and its restricted. If he wants to see anyone it would mean one day every two weeks but that's all.'

'Then I'll have to talk him out of this job, he has to see we are meant to be together.'

'He's signed a magical binding contract and he said he loves it and won't give it up for no one. I think you should just accept the fact that Harry doesn't have feelings for you and now he's made sure he won't be in a relationship with anyone. He also said that he will never marry, never.'

Ginny scoffed waving her hand dismissing Charlie's words who shrugged at his sister knowing she was going to be disappointed. Apart from Harry being a gay, his job would keep them apart.

Harry was sitting in his office doing some serious thinking. Over the last week Harry had seen Charlie three times, the last two times they ended up in bed. Harry decided he needed to figure something out so he grabbed a file then started reading. After finishing he left his office and went down to speak with Minerva.

'Are you nervous Harry?'

'A little, not much, I need your opinion and advice about something. It's to do with Hogwarts and it's personal.'

'Then I'm happy to help if I can,' Minerva and Harry sat on the sofa's near the fireplace even though it was unlit, 'Now tell me what this is about?'

'Okay, you said Dumbledore and his partner worked and lived together here. Sounds like I could if the person I met was able to work here, somehow.'

'Yes, she could.'

'He,' Harry shrugged.

'He, so you have met someone?'

'We've seen each other a couple of times, but I explain to him how if we dated that it would be restricted. Right now he's not working even though he could; he's helping a family member. I was going to discuss this with you but with so much going on I thought of leaving it for a year, now though it might help my situation. I haven't said anything to him; he doesn't know what my job is.'

'Keep going.'

'I checked over his school records first to see if he would be suitable and found to my surprise he is. I only knew he was interested in one thing but he ended up with O's in two subjects, E's in every other apart from an A in one. I haven't wanted to say what my job is until I decided if this could happen. Okay, I always thought Binns was terrible, he makes everyone fall to sleep. Only Hermione was ever able to stay awake in his class and he makes even the subject of giant wars sound dull. I always planned to get rid of Binns but I figured that could wait, for now. This man got an O in history of magic, I just don't know if he's suitable or even if he wants to do it.'

'Binns should be replaced, we all told Albus that, but like with some of us, he was set in his ways. Then my advice would be to speak with him straight away, find out without saying too much if he would ever consider teaching and go from there. He could be one of those people that believed he could teach, when he's older. Again as a man he will not have children unless he was to adopt, but you already said you don't want to. Do you believe Charlie Weasley could act responsibly to take the role as teacher?'

Harry laughed loudly. Minerva reminded him so much of Albus, how he always seemed to know what he was thinking or when he tried not to reveal too much. Minerva had guessed even though Harry never said a thing about Charlie.