A lot of things happened in the following years. Charlie and Arabelle both became prefects. Percy was sorted into Gryffindor. Charlie was made captain of the quidditch team. Arabelle got 8 "outstandings" in her OWLs (including care of magical creatures thanks to Charlie). Bill finished his 7th year and moved to Egypt the following year. The twins came to Hogwarts, and in Charlie and Arabelle's final year Gryffindor won the quidditch cup for the fourth year in a row and both left with 6 NEWTs each.

But throughout all the ups and downs their lives brought them they stayed together more happy than ever. When they left Hogwarts they both went out into the world to get jobs and eventually find a home of their own. For the mean time though Molly was more than happy to have them living at the burrow all year round again. One sunny August morning the whole family, minus Bill who was now working in Egypt, were having breakfast at the table when Errol, the family barn owl flew in through the window knocking over the teapot as he landed with the post in his beak.

"Oh Arabelle there's a letter for you here." Arthur said handing her the letter from the pile he was flicking through.

Arabelle tore open the letter fast, scanned the page and jumped up from her seat screaming.

"I got in, I can't believe I got in!" She cried.

"Got in to what dear?" Molly asked moping up the split tea.

"To the training course at St. Mungos! They only select three graduates and I got in!"

Everyone clapped and cheered at this news, Charlie got up from his seat and spun her around laughing. "I told you getting that herbology NEWT would make a difference" he said.

He was genuinely happy for her but he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that he hadn't heard back from any of the jobs he'd applied for, despite applying to every application available at the ministry's department for the regulation and control of magical creatures. He had also applied to a small Dragon sanctuary up in Scotland which he was praying he got. It was his dream to work with dragons even if he had to spend his days cleaning up dung while trying to climb up the career ladder. He didn't care he'd do whatever it took to work there. But the weeks dragged on and he had no reply. Arabelle had started her training course and was now working at least 12 hour days, so he barely saw her unless she was falling into bed at night, forcing herself up in the mornings or sleeping in the afternoons when working night shifts. As much as Charlie liked being home with his mum and Ron and Ginny he was starting to go a little stir crazy. He had begun to look for flats and houses for him and Arabelle but he didn't feel right without her being there. Yet she was so busy at the hospital she never had any time for things like that. Their relationship was starting to strain with her never being around and Charlie being frustrated with not having a job. When they did have time together the would argue and snap at each other over silly things. It wasn't the same since they'd left school. Real life was taking its toll on them both.

He missed Hogwarts already, being able to fly and play quidditch, socializing with his friends and having his meals in the great hall. No matter how much he helped his mum around the house he was starting to feel useless. He had even applied in the run up to christmas to Dragon sanctuaries out of the country although he didn't feel as if he'd have much luck with those. As expected Christmas came and went and he heard nothing. He eventually got a job in his father's department at the ministry. He hated it, it was a sole destroying office job, filing stapling and making tea and coffee all day long but at least he was making some money to take home to Molly. Spring came and went and summer started all too soon. Before long he was standing on platform 9 & 3/4 watching the train pull in with his younger brothers on board. It had been a whole year and Charlie had achieved nothing with his life.

It was a sunny afternoon in the beginning of July and everyone but Arabelle and Arthur, who were both at work, was in the garden lazing around or flying their brooms in the heat of the sunshine. Bill had come home for month of holiday and was about to give Charlie a rude awakening.

"I mean I get that you haven't got your dream job yet but what good is being miserable about it?" Bill asked resting his head back onto his arms closing his eyes to the warmth.

"Easy for you to say you're off working in Egypt breaking curses for a living" scoffed Charlie.

"Haha that is true I love my job. Speaking of jobs what's up with Arabelle at the moment anyway? She looks like she's about to drop dead with exhaustion" Bill laughed.

"Shes working crazy hours at the hospital. Sometimes I think she forgets she has a life outside of work sometimes." Charlie sighed. "We don't get on like we used to, things are changing between us."

"Hmm maybe its time to make her remember she has a life with you in the real world."

"What do you mean?"

"You two used to have your lives planed! You were going to leave school work for a year or so, get married and travel the world." Bill cried.

"Yeah we were kids then man, this is the real world" Charlie sighed again.

"Yeah and the Charlie I knew never would have accepted that an office job at the ministry and living at home with mum while Arabelle worked every hour of the day forgetting about you was his fate. You make your own destiny mate! Go out there and start living your life!"

It was Charlie's turn to laugh this time.

"I'm being serious!" Bill raised his voice "you love Arabelle right?"

"Of course I do"

"Then marry her before it's too late. Go and travel the world with her like you dreamed, before she marries herself to her damn career. She's got the rest of her life to become a healer but if you don't leave now while you're young you never will."

"You think I should ask her to marry me?! You're insane we're 19!" Charlie laughed but he couldn't help feeling as if Bill was right that he and Arabelle had to make their own destiny and how they were living right now was not it.

"Well you're 20 this year actually. But I'm not saying you have to marry right away. Just propose and make her remember the reason you two love each other so much. Trust me I've never seen a relationship like yours before. You can do anything with your lives because you know you'd both do anything for each other. We'll throw a big engagement party, she'll love it. You know she loves dancing. She finishes her training in a few months so you can take a year out and travel the world" Bill jumped to his feet with enthusiasm "we need to get her back to real life even if we drag her kicking and screaming from that hospital. Come on man what do you say? It's now or never." He said holding his hand out to his brother.

Charlie hesitated for a minute this was a big change he was going to make.

"I say I've got a girlfriend to propose to" he laughed grabbing Bill's hand pulling himself off the ground.

"Yes! Let's do this" Bill cried out.

Charlie smiled like he used to at the thought of his future with Arabelle. Bill's words echoing in his brain "if you don't leave now you never will."

How little he knew at that moment that those words would haunt him once that summer had faded into memories.