Chapter 23

Charlies POV

I didn't say anything. I just sat there stupidly. Looking at her in shock. Her tears were flowing thick and fast and I couldn't think of a single thing to say.

"Well that went well," she muttered, grabbing her wand and standing. "Say bye to everyone for me."

"What?"

"I'm going. Tell everyone I said bye."

"Lexy no. Sit down and just let me talk to you."

"It's okay, I understand Charlie."

"No you don't, you really don't. Lexy I l…"

"Don't say it Charlie. I don't need to hear it. You don't need to try and fix it. It's not your fault. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm just gunna go."

"For how long?"

"Ever," she said as she disapparated.

I punched the wall in frustration and sank down into the chair Alexis had just vacated. The portrait hole opened and I turned, half hoping to see Alexis, instead I saw Fred and George and sighed, turning back to the fire.

"Hey Charlie. Where's Alexis?" Fred asked.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? She was with you."

"She left George. She disapparated. I fucked up and she left. She said to say goodbye."

"What did you do?"

"Long story short we had an argument, she told me she loved me and I didn't say anything."

"She told you?" they exclaimed in unison.

"And then she said to say goodbye and I tried to explain but she wouldn't let me and she left," I got up and punched the wall again. "She's gone and it's my fault, I should have said something. Why couldn't I have just told her? I had so many chances and just kept making excuses and now she's gone."

"What were you going to say?" Fred asked.

"That I love her," I mumbled.

"Only the words that she's been wanting to hear for years, nothing important," George commented sarcastically.

"How long?" I asked.

"Since before Romania, Charlie. Long before," Fred answered.

"Fuck."

"She'll be back, just tell her when she comes back," George suggested.

"She won't come back. She said I probably wouldn't see her again," I told them as I sat on the floor and cried.

Fred's POV

Charlie was sitting on the floor crying. Actually, balling his eyes out would be a more accurate description. George and I exchanged a look, both of us having no idea what to say. We had barely seen Charlie angry or upset at all, let alone to this extent.

"Maybe she'll be at her parents place," George suggested timidly.

"Apparate me there?" he asked.

I nodded, taking his arm and apparating him to Alexis's parents place. George appeared a few feet behind us and the three of us headed to the door. Charlie rang the doorbell and Alexis's mother soon answered.

"Fred, George, good to see you again," she smiled at us before turning to Charlie, "And you must be Charlie, I've heard a lot about you."

"And I've heard a lot about you Mrs Fuller."

"Please, call me Mary-Anne. Now, what can I do for you boys today?"

"We were just wondering if Alexis was here," Charlie said immediately.

"Sorry you just missed her actually. I'll tell her you stopped by."

"Do you know where she was going? It's kind of important," George asked.

"She didn't say anything to me. Maybe she told Jonathon. Jonathon!" she called.

Alexis's father soon stood in the doorway and greeted George and I warmly.

"Jonathon, this is Charlie. Charlie, this is Alexis's father Jonathon."

"Nice to finally meet you sir," Charlie said, offering his hand.

Alexis's father didn't shake Charlie's hand.

"We were wondering if you know where Alexis went," I interjected.

"No idea sorry, she didn't say," Jonathon replied, without a glance at Charlie.

"I really need to see her," Charlie said.

"Charlie Weasley, you are the last person I would want around my daughter. You have caused more than your share of trouble. I suggest you leave her alone."

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't think you understand. I don't think Alexis does either. I just need to explain things to her."

"Why don't you explain them to me and I will tell her next time I see her."

"I'd rather tell her myself."

"I'd rather you were not anywhere near my daughter ever again. You have messed with her life enough. First by taking her to see those damn dragons and getting her all scarred. Then by making her think that you like her again and again and again. And then when she tells you that she likes you, you don't acknowledge her at all. Are you happy that you finally made her tell you, she finally played into your trap and now you've come to laugh at her and humiliate her even more? I don't think so. You will never see her again."

Mary-Anne put a hand on his arm, "Jonathon, calm down. Charlie I will tell her you called."

"Thank-you Mary-Anne," George said, as he took Charlie's arm, "We'll head back to Hogwarts now."

George apparated Charlie back to Hogwarts and I followed a second behind.

"That went well," I commented lamely.

"Is her dad always like that?"

"No mate, must just be you," George responded.

"He has no idea."

"All he knows is that you've upset his little princess and that's all that matters to him," I told him gently.

The portrait hole opened and Charlie spun, hoping to see Alexis, instead it was mum.

"Boys, there you are. We are going to stay here for a few days so Bill can be monitored by Madame Pomfrey. Have you seen Alexis?"

George and I glanced at each other and then at Charlie who answered.

"She's gone mum. She's not coming back. I screwed up again and she left."

"Where did she go?"

"Do you think if I knew that I'd still be here?" he responded angrily.

"What did you do?" Katie asked, coming down the girls' staircase.

"Said some stuff that she wasn't really meant to hear and then she disappeared. I found her, she was being stubborn, she said some horrible things, I said some worse things. She slapped me, which I deserved. I followed her back here, we argued a little then she said she loved me."

"She what?" Katie exclaimed.

"Yeah she finally told him," I said.

"What happened? What did you say Charlie? Why is she gone?" Katie asked.

"I didn't say anything. She shocked me. I didn't think I'd ever hear her say that and then she said she was going and I tried to explain but she wouldn't listen and she left."

"She's not coming back," Katie said sadly.

Charlie shook his head.

"She'll come back," Mum assured us.

"No she won't. Not if she can help it. She always told me that if Charlie broke her heart she wasn't coming back. She's gone. Nice one Charlie, as if every other time you hurt her wasn't enough."

"Because I did it intentionally Katie. Like I really wanted the girl I'm in love with to leave forever."

"Well it certainly seems that way. If you love her why haven't you said anything before? You've been messing with her for years instead of telling her how you feel and now she's gone."

"Because I wasn't brave enough to tell her. I was scared she wouldn't feel the same way."

"It was pretty obvious that she liked you Charlie," I told him.

"I screwed up, I know. I get it. We can all see that. Now can we just move onto finding her?"

"We won't find her Charlie, not if she doesn't want to be found," Katie said, bursting into tears.