Chapter 7

Charlie's POV

I did the stupidest thing I could have done. I kissed Alexis at the ball. I had sworn that I wasn't going to do anything stupid and I well and truly blew it. I kind of just wanted to leave so I wouldn't have to explain it but I couldn't until the task was over. I saw Harry after the first task to congratulate him and she was there. I couldn't look at her I didn't know if I would be able to handle the contempt that I would see in her eyes or the indifference. What type of big brotherly figure kisses their little sister's best friend? I was in way too deep. Later that night, one of the other handlers handed me a folded piece of parchment. I opened it slowly and saw her writing covering the page.

Charlie,

I really don't understand why you're pretending that I don't exist. I just want you to talk to me before you leave again. I can't forget about the kiss, it happened. It's in the past; if that's where you want it to stay it will stay there. Please just see me once more before you leave.

Love Alexis.

Xoxo

I folded the letter back up and slipped it into my pocket and set off for the edge of the campsite. I found Alexis sitting in the dirt, drawing random pictures with a stick. She smiled when she saw me. I noticed that she had her tattoo visible again.

"Hey Charlie, I didn't expect you to come."

"And leave you sitting out here all night? Not likely."

She patted the ground beside her and I sat. "Look, Lex I really am sorry about…"

I was silenced by her hand over my mouth. "Shhh. I don't want to hear it. When do you leave?" She asked.

"Tomorrow, after dinner."

"So soon? Are you going to be home for the holidays again?" She asked.

"Hopefully I will be. They usually let me leave then. Will you be over for the holidays?"

She nodded, "I don't know how long for though, mum always wants me to stay home but hopefully for at least a week or two."

"Alright then. I should see you tomorrow at dinner before I leave again. Let me walk you back to the castle."

She nodded in silent agreement and let me walk her all the way to the common room in silence. When we got there she hugged me tightly and my lips lightly brushed her hair.

"Goodnight Char."

"Goodnight Lexy," I said as she climbed in through the portrait hole. "I love you" I mumbled as it closed behind her.

Three days before the end of year.

Most of the year had gone well, with the exception of our teacher being a psychopath who tried to get Harry killed by Voldemort. He had turned the Triwizard cup into a portkey in the hopes to send Harry to where Voldemort was waiting. Unfortunately, Cedric Diggory touched the cup at the same time as Harry and Voldemort ordered him killed before he had a chance to draw his wand. Harry duelled Voldemort and managed to escape via the portkey before he got killed. Other than that, the year was pretty good. As usual, Molly Weasley sent me a letter inviting me to stay with them over the holidays.

Dear Alexis,

As I do every year, I invite you to spend the entire summer holidays at the Burrow. Let me know when you will be arriving so I can set you up a bed in Ginny's room. Bill and Charlie are already here and this year Charlie has invited a guest. He finally has a girlfriend, her name is Elizabeth and she is absolutely delightful. I can't wait for you, Ginny and Hermione to meet her as I am sure you will love her as well.

Hope to see you soon,

Molly.

I wordlessly handed the letter to Katie who was sitting beside me while I tried to process the information.

"What?" Katie exclaimed, "Charlie cannot have a girlfriend whose name is not Alexis. That is so wrong!"

"Charlie has a girlfriend?" Alicia asked, coming into the room.

I nodded as Katie passed her the letter. "It's okay Lex; the twins will get rid of her for you. They'll use some of their products and she'll leave pretty quickly."

"Katie they can't do that. Obviously he really likes her if he's invited her home for summer so that means he's happy and that's a good thing." I said.

"But by him being happy he has made our best friend miserable." Said a voice from the top of the stairs.

Fred and George appeared in the doorway with Angelina, somehow the boys had managed to make it up the stairs without being slid down.

"We like Katie's idea." Fred stated.

"Yeah, I was thinking nosebleeds… lots and lots of nosebleeds." George suggested.

"You can't. He'll kill you if he even suspected it." Ang cautioned

"That's why we can't do it. We'll make Hermione or Ginny plant them. We will supply the products and lookouts and they can do the deed. He will never suspect them." Fred explained, grinning.

"No. No one is going to do anything. We will all go to the Burrow and act as though everything is normal." I said firmly.

"How will you be able to do that when you see them kissing all the time?" George asked.

"Well if I can't handle it I'll go home. I'll fake an owl from my mother and everything will be fine. I'm sending an owl back to your mother to tell her that I will be there after a week with my parents."