We sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers intertwined with mine and the cabin far warmer than it had been an hour ago. His fingers trailed over my fingers, like satin compared to his. The difference between our two lifestyles became very apparent lying there. The sheets I had been sleeping beneath the last few night were rich cotton, treated with a sleeping draft to ensure a good night's sleep to whoever was to lie beneath them. Charlie's on the other hand, were somewhat scratchy in comparison. The fabric felt coarse without the additional enchantments attached.
So far, Charlie had only witnessed the darker side of our world. There was so much beauty in it that he had yet to see. The idea of showing him my world oddly excited me. Would he even allow me to show him? It wouldn't be hard to understand why, after the introduction he has had to the world, if he wanted nothing more to do with the wizarding world. What would I do? When forced to choose between my magic and a man I barely know?
The answer should be obvious really. Only a fool would choose a stranger above everything else. I had been a Ravenclaw at Hogwarts, and had always prided myself upon being of sensible and sound mind. Intellect, logic and common sense have always lead my decisions. Yet, since arriving upon the ship I had made a number of stupid decisions. Maybe I had always been a fool.
His fingers trailed over the backs of my hands, forming little loops and swirls. I sat watching him content with the silence that had fallen between us both. I watched his face, the occasional twitch of his eyebrow, and I wondered what he was thinking about.
When the door opened, we both shot up and almost leapt apart from each other. I don't know who I expected to see but it was not the tall figure that emerged. He had thick hair that sprawled across his head in a mess of curls and warm doe like eyes. He looked at us both and smirked slightly cocking his head slightly into my direction and asking Charlie "This the girl?"
Charlie flared a vibrant shade of scarlet and looked as if he wanted the world to open up beneath his feet and swallow him whole. The new arrival turn to face me before offering out one of his huge meaty hands to me. "My names James"
"Adeline" Cautiously taking his hand I shook it "A friend of Charlie's?"
"Yes ma'am, I think you'll find that dinner the other night was thanks to me" he said glowing with pride "Lover boy here wasn't sure what you liked, so I cooked you my specialty. Handy being on the ocean when your signature dish is fish"
Charlie was still looked like a strawberry. I stretched my arm across the space we had forged between us and locked my fingers between his again. He offered me a shy smile, like a little boy taking his first dance.
"Well I was coming back for a nap but clearly the cabin is occupado" he said winking at Charlie "So I'll be off…"
"No! Don't be daft, I and Charlie were about to head out anyway"
"We were?" Charlie asked, his embarrassment momentarily placed on hold for confusion.
"I have things I would like to show you concerning my…err, family" Charlie nodded in understanding and we both manoeuvred around James and into the corridor "Enjoy your rest James, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance"
We circled around the decks, cautious to make sure Victor or my parents were not about. By some stroke of luck the coast was clear. I brought him to the large mirror at the top of the grand staircase and watched as he looked at his reflection, completely unaware of what lay on the other side. I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Just act natural okay? I can't be caught sneaking you inside"
He looked terrified but he told me he understood. One last squeeze of reassurance before I stepped through the mirror, pulling him along beside me. His face did very little to hide the astonishment he felt but as no one was paying us any attention we were able to get away with it rather smoothly. I continued to lead him through the ships wizarding society, through tables of exploding snaps and bottles of fire whiskey. Through the corridors until coming to my bed chambers, or rather mine and Dorothea's bed chambers.
Inside, she sat at the dressing table, nose deep in a book. When we entered, she closed the cover over and smiled towards us both "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you" he said, his voice coming out shaky "I…I just walked through a mirror"
Both I and my sister struggled to keep a straight face as he continued to list the sights he had witnessed in the small moments he had spent passing through our world.
"There was cards that exploded! And a woman had the strangest creature as a pet and there were owls sitting on the mantel piece" he looked like a madman with his broad, glowing grin. He ran his fingers through his hair but each time his hair would jump straight back up again in crimson defiance. "I saw a man having a conversation with a plant!"
"Is my world…okay?" I asked a little nervously, biting my lower lip.
"Your world is amazing" he almost shouted "It's like being a kid again and Santa is real and the tooth fairy is beautiful and just…just brilliant. I don't know if I could show you anything that could top that, my world is grey in comparison to this technicolour but…if you let me I will share everything with you"
Dorothea seeming to take this as her cue, moved across the room and left us together. I was overwhelmed for a moment, struggling for words like a drowning man searching for breath.
"Your world is not grey" I said trying to choose my words carefully "We are just two sides of the same coin. We aren't so different, not really"
"Really?" he said looking incredulous "Because I have never sat down to a game of cards that comes with burn warnings"
"I mean" I said rolling my eyes "That my world has the same concerns as yours. My society still only cares about class and elitism, who has the most wealth or power. It's all ridiculous to be honest and I don't want any part of it anymore"
"You don't?" He said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth "What do you want?"
I swallowed down the fear, bracing myself for what I was about to confess "I just want you. No matter what that means I have to sacrifice"
"You'd give this all up for me?" he pushed a loose curl behind my ear "You barely know me"
"I want to know you" The words rushed out of me "And I'm terrified that I won't get the chance. My parents, Victor…no one wants us to be together. When I get off this ship I am running with you and never looking back again"
"Wow" he chuckled "I guess I can't say no to an offer like that"
The warm feeling in my chest swelled and I tangled my arms around his neck pulling him into a deep and hot kiss.