July 1997

"I'll stay. I can get my shifts switched around somehow. Use me instead of one of the others, instead of Ron, or Hermione, or Fleur."

The angry faces of Hermione, Fleur and his brother all glared at him.

"We're going, Charlie. Harry's our friend, we need to be there."

"I'll go instead of Dad then. Please, let me do something. I hate that I'm leaving you to face this; it's one of the most important missions we've had and now that Dumbledore's-"

"We've got it covered Charlie, it' fine. Just be ready to head back at short notice, if we need you." Dora said forcedly, glaring at him, before flicking her eyes to his mother.

Charlie turned to look at Molly's anguished face. She was nodding in agreement, trying to hide her relief that at least one of her sons was being spared. He could tell that she had spent the meeting trying to hold things together, but with most of her family involved in the mission she was struggling. Since the attacks on his father and Bill, she had become even more protective of them all, at a time when they had never been in more danger. She had been unusually quiet during the meeting, too preoccupied by worry he imagined.

Absentmindedly, Charlie started to run his fingers along the fresh scar on the underside of his arm. He was quickly greeted by a kick under the table from Dora. He gave her a look of thanks. Better not draw his mother's attention to the fact that he was hardly any safer in Romania.

...

"I'll see you at the wedding then," Dora grinned at him.

Charlie failed to smile back. "I still think you should let me trade places with someone. I feel so...useless...over there."

"You can't, Charlie. Look at what happened last time you faced a dragon straight after coming off an Order mission. Besides, your mum needs to think that at least one of her sons is safe."

"I know, I just feeling like I'm not pulling my weight."

Dora rolled her eyes. "You know that's not true, Charlie. I wasn't going to tell you this, because I didn't want to face Molly's wrath if it interfered with your plans for getting back for the big day, but if you're so keen to do something, we've had some reports of a small circle of Death Eaters congregating in Budapest. You could go and see if you can find anything out."

Charlie couldn't help but feel a small tingle of excitement.

"Only go if you think it's safe though, and don't you dare get yourself injured before the wedding, else my life won't be worth living!"

"Of course!"

At least now he could be doing something, not just waiting around for news, which to be frank, was rarely good these days.

"Right, I'd better be off. I told Remus I'd only be a couple of minutes behind him. Be safe, Charlie. Don't do anything stupid."

"You too. Good luck with getting Harry."

He faltered for a second, thinking about how she would be partnered up with his youngest brother, on a mission that, if discovered, could be catastrophic. Still, he had learnt by now it was better not to dwell on these things.

They grinned at each other and made light of it, because that was all they could do. But as he hugged her, Charlie couldn't help but think of the days ahead and hoped against hope, as he had found himself doing on every one of their meetings, that this wouldn't be the last time.

A/N: I am really sorry for disappearing for so long, real life just got really big on me. I'll try and be better over the next few months although I can't promise anything.