The air was crisp and clear as Charlie and Arabelle strode down the main street of Hogsmeade. The balmy Autumn sun shone down on the paths giving off a pleasant warmth. In a perfect best friend fashion they had continued their day as if the strange encounter from earlier had not happened. They chatted and laughed and shopped. Not forgetting to stop off at Zonko's joke shop to get some gifts to send home for Fred and George. They also got a book for Percy and sweets for Ron and Ginny, as Arabelle stated that buying just the twins presents really wasnt fair and would cause a number of arguments between them back at the burrow.

Charlie's arms were beginning to ache from carrying all the paper bags from different shops, he suggested they go and get drinks in the three broomsticks so they could rest.
He put the bags down at a small table by the window near the back of the room, pulled out a chair for Arabelle and went off to buy their drinks. Arabelle had started to pull out her purse from her bag, but Charlie had insisted after arguing about how she had brought most of the presents and a new ink bottle for Charlie. Arabelle, having been left money from her mother after she died, and money from her father vault once he was in prison, had inherited quite a sum. Both of her parents had been pure bloods and had both come from equally wealthy backgrounds. However Arabelle was very generous with her money. It pained her to see how the Weasley's struggled for money so she made sure that every month, some was transferred into their vault from hers, to pay for her keep. She had decided this on her 10th birthday and had told Molly and Arther her plans. At first they refused, said it was their duty to look after her and she should not have to give them money. But Arabelle persisted and they eventually gave in, however they would not accept any more than 2 galleons a month. Arabelle made up for what she considered an underpayment, buy frequently buying things for the children back at the burrow and of course whatever Charlie and Bill needed whether they asked for it or not. She considered them her real family and she believed it was the least she could do for them all.

Charlie returned and they settled down, and had just started talking about Charlie's upcoming quidditch game against Hufflepuff when Bill and his friends (including Luke) walked through the door. Charlie rolled his eyes, making Arabelle turn to see what he was looking at. When she saw them she flicked her head back quickly her cheeks filling with colour.

"Can we not go one day with out seeing them" Charlie said through a gritted smile as he waved at Bill who had just shouted his name over the room.

Arabelle smiled weakly and began to shift nervously in her seat.

Charlie looked at her quizzically "What's got your wand in a knot?" he asked her.

She looked reproachfully at him "Well it's just I kind of..."

Her sentence was cut off by Bill's booming voice "Hey guys mind if we join?" Charlie didn't know why he bothered asking as his friends were already pulling a large table towards theirs as he spoke.

"Sure" Charlie said through gritted teeth. Arabelle was fidgeting so much by this point he thought she was about to fall out of her seat. She froze suddenly as Luke Regis pulled up a chair next to hers, slumped down in it and threw his arm over the back of her chair. The same feeling Charlie had felt the other night when talking to Luke ignight deep inside of him.

Luke leered at Charlie "fancy seeing you guys here" he said innocently, but Charlie knew full well he had come in here knowing he was going to find them. Arabelle continued to look uncomfortable.

There was an awkward silence as no one replied to Luke. Charlie caught Arabelle's gaze and their eye's locked, he raised his eyebrows slightly as to suggest they leave as soon as possible, she replied with just an awkward look back at him. Bill saw this secret exchange and broke the silence. "Luke go and get us some drinks" he said pushing a sickle towards him. The others followed suite and did the same. Luke reluctantly got up and made his way around the crowded room towards the bar.

"Uhh do you mind?" Charlie hissed at Bill, "we were kind of in the middle of a conversation here"

"Look im sorry okay" Bill hissed back, Arabelle leaned closer so she could hear "I only brought everyone over here because Luke has been going on about how 'the next time he sees Ari he's for sure going to ask her out'" he whispered quickly "I knew he saw you two come in here so I figured if we all came in with him he's not going to do it in front of everyone" Bill finished.

"Oh yeah" cried Charlie "Yeah I'm sure Luke wouldn't do something as pompous as that," Charlie replied sarcastically "I don't want him near her Bill."

Arabelle threw herself back to her seat. "So what if he does" She said defiantly. Both Charlie and Bill turned to her, mouths open in shock.

"You what?" Bill choked out.

"So what if he asks me out it's not really any of your business is it?" She hissed shooting dark looks at some of Bill's friends who had turned to look after Bill's outburst. They all quickly turned back to their previous conversation.

"Ari come on" Charlie said "You can't be telling us you actually like that slime ball" not bothering to hide the disbelief in his voice.

"I'm telling you that even if I did it is not, and will never be up to you two to control my life" her voice starting to shake, the sudden outburst of hers making the two brothers give each other a puzzled look before turning back to her. "I can look after myself thank you and more than that I can decide who I want to date without either of you two butting in saying who can't come near me!"

Their conversation came to an abrupt halt however as Luke returned with the drinks. He sat down and looked around at the three of them. Arabelle darkly staring at the brothers,
who both had their mouths slightly open, shock covering their faces. "Uhh...what are we all talking about" he said still looking around at them waiting for one of them to move.
Arabelle snapped her head quickly towards him. Her dark look she had been giving the boys quickly replaced by a smile, but her eyes still flashing darkly.

"I was just saying how It's so hot in here. I think I need to go for a walk to get some fresh air. Do you want to come with me?" She asked Luke, then turning towards the brothers again quickly smiling smugly at them. Their faces changed from shock to anger in the blink of an eye.

"Sure I'll come with you" Luke said eagerly, not having noticed any of the looks being shot over the table. He eagerly jumped up from his seat and pulled on his cloak.

"good" she smiled sweetly up at him. She pushed out from the table grabbed her bag, swung it over her shoulder. As Luke turned to leave Arabelle turned to face Charlie and Bill "I'll speak to you two later." She spat. They shifted in their seats, to them that sounded more like a threat than a friendly goodbye. With than Arabelle turned and walked out the door with Luke, leaving Charlie and Bill staring in disbelief after them.