The next week inched by slowly for Charlie. He struggled to concentrate in classes without Arabelle sitting next to him. Some classes like care of magical creatures she didn't even show up to and those that she did go to she would sit so she was out of his eye line. He knew she was going out of her way to avoid him, not showing up at meal times and spending most of her time in the girls dormitory. The one place Charlie couldn't get to her and it made his chest ache. Even if they couldn't be together, couldn't they go back to being friends? He had asked Bill everyday if he had spoken or at least seen her but from the sound of it she was avoiding him too.

The following Friday was the Halloween feast in the great hall. Bill slipped out early intending to try to find Arabelle who once again wasn't present. He could tell Charlie was constantly miserable and Arabelle was beginning to look sick from missing so many meals. One thing was for sure if they went back home to the burrow looking like that Molly would kill him for not looking after them properly. It was getting out of hand now and something had to be done.

He knew he would find her down by the lake while everyone was occupied in the hall. But when he went out it was pitch black and beginning to rain, he could barely see two feet in front of him. He knew if he called her name or lit his wand up she would run before he found her so he slowly crept down to the general direction of the lake. He found her sitting on a bench with the hood of her robes up, under a large cherry blossom tree which was now leafless and twisted.

He sat down quickly and put his arm around her pulling her close before she could run. "Hey" he whispered leaning into her. They sat in silence listening to the rain pitter patter onto the lake for a minute before she spoke.

"He hates me doesn't he? I would hate me, I think I do hate me. Bill will he ever forgive me for what i did to him?" She turned her face up to his, tears were starting to trickle down her face. "I've been so stupid" she gushed.

"Hey come on now" he said calmly to her "it's Charlie, he doesn't hate you, he loves you still"

"Don't. Don't tell me that."

"What I mean is he just misses you. He misses the way things were. You can't avoid him forever."

"But he doesn't understand" she began to cry harder.

"So explain to him!" Bill laughed "and while we're here explain it to me because I know you love him"

"Don't laugh at me" she scolded, but for now the tears had stopped. "It's just after everything your family have done for me, what if something went wrong with me and Charlie? I Wouldn't just lose him I'd lose everyone!"

"Hahaha oh Arabelle" he laughed loudly and squeezed her shoulders.

"Stop laughing at me Bill!" She cried.

"I'm sorry it's just if that's the reason your scared to be with him you're crazy! That would never happen, you'll never be left by us because you're family. Families stick with each other no matter how bad it gets. Remember that time Charlie and I were fighting in the tree and he fell and broke his leg. I was so sure mum was going to kill me but she didn't! Or that time last summer when Fred cut Ginny's hair while we're were supposed to be watching them. I thought for sure one of us would be kicked out the house and be sent back to school but you know she loves each of us no matter what and that's including you. Don't forget it."

"Bill how is it you know exactly what to say to make people feel better" he laughed lightly.

"It's a gift, I know! Look, you love him and you two are supposed to be together. How can you be scared of failing when you're not even willing to give it a go?"

"You think? But oh no what will Molly say?"

"Don't even think for a second she won't be happy. Dad once told me your mum and her were planning your wedding from the first day you met as babies!" He laughed loudly.

"Oh so no pressure then!" She smiled.

"None. Just go talk to him. Come on." He kissed her on top of her head and quickly pulled her on to her feet and up towards the castle.

The students were beginning to file out of the hall, they stood there waiting for him until almost everyone had left. Just when Arabelle was about to give up and leave for the common room she saw him. He was hanging near the back, walking alone with his hands in his pockets looking so sad Arabelle would barely recognize him if it wasn't for his bright Weasley hair.

"Charlie!" She cried out and before he barely had a chance to look up she had flung herself into his arms. The smell of pine trees and fresh air flooded her senses and she fell in love with him all over again. "I'm so sorry" she cried into him "I'm an idiot, I've treated you so badly, you're my best friend I love you so much, please don't hate me!" She gushed.

Charlie just smiled into her hair and tightened his strong arms around her. She was damp and shivering from the cold. Charlie looked over to Bill who was standing smiling shaking his head at them. Charlie began to laugh loudly and spin Arabelle around.

"I love you too Arabelle, no matter what."