Charlie and Bill sat in the common room all evening. There had been no sign of Arabelle or Luke since they had left the Three Broomsticks that afternoon. They had searched the great hall at dinner but neither of them were there.

Charlie checked his watch for what felt like the millionth time. "It's almost past curfew" he stated. Bill continued to be fixed on the door as he had all evening. Minutes dragged by Charlie checked his watch again "four minutes past eleven".

"That's it where is he. I'm going to kill him!" Bill cried standing up from his chair so quickly it crashed loudly to the floor. A group of second year girls in the far corner glanced at Bill and giggled. Charlie covered his eyes in embarrassment, he knew what was coming.

"I don't know what you're all giggling at first and second years should have been in bed an hour ago" Bill's voice boomed across the room, wiping the smiles from their faces.

Another, louder crash came from the other side again and everyone turned as the door to the common room flew open. Luke bounded through panting for breath. "according to my time it's not past curfew!" He laughed loudly.

"Yeah well according to everyone else's time you are late" Bill shouted, directing his anger towards Luke now. He glanced past him towards the door again. "Aren't you missing someone?"

Charlie realised for the first time that Arabelle wasn't behind him. Confusion and anger began to creep up over him.

"I don't know," Luke said grinning "am I missing someone?"

"You bloody well know you are where is she?!" Bill yelled even louder now making everyone in the room jump.

Luke just laughed. Charlie had never wanted to hit someone as much as this before. He closed his eyes and tried to compose himself.

"Okay guys" Luke said grinning "this whole overprotective psycho older brother thing you've got going on with her is getting old. Fast." He began to move into the room and as the fire light flickered over his face Charlie could have sworn he saw a trickle of dried blood down the side of his head. "Besides you can keep the bitch. She's a total freak just like that Daddy of hers. She fits in with you guys great."

Charlie heard Bill fly across the room towards Luke, as the sound of fist collided with flesh and Luke cry out in pain swearing. But Charlie didn't look back he was already out the door running.

It took Bill and Charlie about half and hour to find her. Their steps seemed to echo around them each step they took. They knew if they were caught out this late it would be bad, even if Bill was a prefect but they kept going anyway. After searching everywhere they could think they reluctantly headed out towards the grounds. "She won't be out there" Bill whispered.

"She might be" Charlie whispered back

The crept past the clock tower, into the courtyard, down the stairs towards the lake. It was there they found her. Still in only her thin cream jumper and jeans from earlier. They walked towards her neither knowing what to say. So they just stood awkwardly on either side of her. Charlie looked down to see specks of blood on her jumper confirming the blood on Luke's face. She didn't move, just kept staring out towards the lake. The late autumn breeze swirling coolly around them. Bill then put his arm over her clutching her shoulder reassuringly. "You alright?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten annoyed with you. You were right about him." She sighed quietly tilting her head back to rest on Bill's arm.

Bill cleared his throat. "Uh as much as I enjoy being right I wish I hadn't been. But we shouldn't have done things the way we did. You're not a little girl and we know that but it's hard to see people...well you know...especially after how they used to treat you when you first got here".

"You know sometimes I used to feel that you were smothering me, that you didn't want me to make my own decisions but now I get that we have to look out for each other."

Charlie could feel the emotion he felt for Arabelle again but this time it was stronger and came crashing down on him like a wave. He found her hand in the darkness and gripped it tightly.

"Did he hurt you?" He whispered.

She laughed lightly "nah, not as much as I hurt him I don't think. If there's one thing growing up with you boys has taught me its how to be tough." She squeezed Charlie's had tightly. "But don't worry I still love you both and I won't let any boy take me away from this...just yet" and with that she pulled them both into a hug.

When they got into the common room it was empty. The fire was burning low and there was mess everywhere. They fell into seats around the fire and Bill conjured up three mugs of tea for them. There they sat long into the night whispering and laughing about stories from back home. Soon Arabelle grew quiet, her head laying on Charlie and her hand still squeezing his lightly. He smiled and pulled her closer as she fell asleep. After a few minutes had passed Bill too closed his eyes and rest his head back against the chair.

"You know" he mumbled through a smile "I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about you, and I haven't been wrong about her yet".

Charlie just grinned resting his head on top of hers, silently promising her he was never going to let anyone hurt her as long as she lived.