Chapter 17

Charlie's POV

Dean is lucky I didn't kill him. I could handle Azkaban if I knew he wouldn't be able to touch her again. I headed outside to find Alexis. I was snowing heavily as I walked around the yard calling her name. She didn't reply but I heard a sniffle coming from behind a tree and found her curled up in the snow crying.

"I punched him for you."

"Who?"

"Dean."

"Why?"

I sat beside her and stroked her hair gently, "Because he's a dickhead."

"Why do you say that?" she hiccupped.

"Lexy I know what happened, he more or less told us."

"Who is us?"

"Bill and I. Bill punched him too. He's going to have a nice black eye and I think I broke his nose."

"What did he say?"

"You don't really want to know. He commented on your scars and that made me even more angry."

She sat up, "Thanks Char."

"For what?"

"Sticking up for me."

"Anytime. Especially if it means I can break Dean's nose again."

She smiled a little while shivering.

I held my arms out to her, "Come here, you're freezing."

"Not cold." She mumbled through chattering teeth.

"Alexis, you were just laying in snow, you're wearing a dress which is exposing quite a lot of you to the freezing cold and you're shivering."

"The dress doesn't expose that much." She protested.

I smiled, it showed off a lot of leg, was strapless and had a low cut back, it could have showed off more and I found myself imagining something shorter and cut lower at the front.

"The dress is beautiful, but you are freezing." I patted my lap and she crawled into it.

Her skin was ice cold and I could feel her shivering but it was amazing just how well she fit in my arms. I felt my heart beat pick up and immediately began thinking of gross things, such as parents having sex. I did not want to freak her out by having an erection. I had never really noticed how fragile she was, but holding her now and looking past the tough walls she put up I could see that she was delicate, and I'd never thought of her that way with her love of dragons and Quidditch.

"You're so warm." She mumbled into my chest.

"But I thought you weren't cold."

She giggled, "I lied. The snow is a bit cold."

"You're impossible. Did you want to go back inside? He's gone now and I'm pretty sure Katie probably misses her dancing partner."

She sighed, "I look like shit though."

"Look at me." she did as instructed and I wiped the makeup that had run down her face. "You look fine."

" But…"

"No buts. You look beautiful and that asshole is not ruining this New Years party that you were so excited about."

She tilted her head to the side, looking at me questioningly, "Did you just say I look beautiful?"

I shrugged. Not knowing if I should admit it or not.

She laughed, "Charlie you need glasses. Perhaps you could borrow Harry's."

"My vision is fine. Come on, up you get, you have dancing to do."

We both got up and headed back to the tent, she stopped outside looking nervous.

"What's wrong?"

"They probably all know now…" she said quietly, letting the thought go unfinished.

"And I will break the nose of anyone who says anything. Come on, don't let them ruin your night." I held my hand out to her and she took it timidly.

We walked back into the tent, hand in hand and I could see Bill grinning from across the room. We made a beeline for him and Alexis hugged him tightly. He whispered something to her and she shook her head.

"Hope the black eye looks good." She commented.

Bill shrugged, "He deserved it. It should be a good one, it hurt my hand."

A new song came on and Katie was squealing for Alexis from across the tent.

Alexis grinned, "This is mine and Katie's song!" she exclaimed before hugging us both and running off to dance with Katie.

"I thought you had told her for a minute when you walked in together. I was so excited for you."

"I told her she's beautiful if that's any consolation."

Bill shook his head, "You can tell her she's beautiful but you can't tell her that you love her. I don't get it."

I smiled at the sight of the two girls dancing to 'Hot Mess' and shrugged at my brother.

He looked at his watch before grinning at me, "You've still got a chance, it's five minutes til midnight and I don't believe that either of you have anyone for a midnight kiss."

"I can't just kiss her in front of everyone."

The song finished and Alexis and Katie came over to the table. Alexis headed to the fire whiskey while Katie whispered loudly to Bill and I.

"I think that one of you guys should come and dance with Lex."

Bill glanced at me, "I'm sure Charlie will, he's a better dancer than me."

"Sounds like a great idea. Come on Charlie!"

I turned to grab some liquid courage and found Alexis with five empty glasses in front of her.

"Did you just drink all of them?" I asked her.

She nodded, "You're jealous you can't drink as well as me."

"Yeah that's it. Come on, apparently I'm dancing with you, Katie said so."

"You don't have to…" she muttered into her sixth glass.

I took her hand again and lead her to the dance floor just as Katie started a slow song.

"I love this song." Alexis informed me as I held her to me.

"It is a good song." I commented as I guided her around the dance floor slowly.

"You know it?"

"Of course I do, you listen to it all the time on your muggle music thingy."

"Ipod." She supplied, smiling.

"Yeah that's the one. You play it like everyday, how can I not know it?"

She didn't respond as she put her head on my shoulder as we danced.

"The strands in your eyes that colour them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath.
And emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth.
Tell me that we belong together,
Dress it up with the trappings of love.
I'll be captivated,
I'll hang from your lips,
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above." I sang to her softly.
I looked down to see a soft smile playing on her lips and her eyes closed, "Don't stop." She whispered, barely audible.

"I can't sing Lex."

"I like it." She mumbled.

I continued singing the song to her and she joined in so softly that I could barely hear her.

The song finished and Katie magically magnified her voice, "I hope everyone has their midnight kiss recipient nearby as the countdown is on! 10, 9"

We all joined in, counting in the New Year. I stopped at 2 and looked at the girl that I still held in my arms. She was looking up at me and I realised I couldn't do it.

"Happy New Year Lex." I said as I turned to walk away.

"Char." She grabbed my arm and I turned around to face her.

Almost everyone else had started kissing and I couldn't help it. I grabbed her around the waist and my lips came crashing down on hers. I don't know how long I kissed her for but she did not resist. I could faintly hear cheering in the background but that was not important, the only thing that mattered was the girl in my arms. We broke apart for air and she looked up at me and smiled.

"Happy New Year Char."