Green flames filled her vision as the familiar room spun into focus. She stepped slowly out of the grate as her senses became overpowered by the familiarity of the burrow. The warmth, the smell of Molly's cooking, the comforting noises of the voices of people she loved.
She dropped her trunk down by her feet and stood alone in the kitchen for a few seconds just taking in the surroundings.
"Arabelle!" Molly cried and she was engulfed by red hair and homemade knitted cardigan as Molly wrapped her arms around her.
"Just in time for breakfast, come on sit, sit. Ill get Ron to take you're trunk upstairs. RON!" She cried up the stairs. "Come and take Arabelle's bag upstairs!"
"You and Charlie will have your old room back, it's still the way you last had it..." Molly faltered as she saw the uncomfortable look on Arabelle's face. "That's okay isn't it...?"
"Oh uhh...yeah totally fine" she said forcing cheer into her voice. She didn't want to cause Molly any trouble, Charlie would just have to make do with sleeping on the floor.
As if he had heard her thinking his name he strolled in through the garden door, his plaid shirt rolled up at the sleeves, tight around his sculpted arms, a light sweat beaded on his forehead. His face lit up at the sight of Arabelle. A wave of heat rose over her mixing longing with a nervous sickness. They hadn't been alone together since Bill had left the tent the night of the quidditch world cup last week, and even though she had thought of nothing else since being back at Beauxbatons she still didn't know how she felt. Part of her wanted to be wrapped in his warm, strong, familiar arms and part of her wanted to run away. She knew she loved him. That would always be true but she also knew that she would have to leave again soon for France and the idea of tearing her self away from him made her hands shake.
"Arabelle" he said picking her up and engulfing her in his embrace, his scent made her muscles relax and her legs go weak.
As they pulled apart Arabelle caught a dewy eyed look on Molly's face. That was another reason they couldn't be together for the few days they were back home. Molly still didn't understand why they had drifted apart over the years.
"I was just telling Arabelle about the room, it's all ready to go for you both." Molly smiled brightly and walked towards the stairs, "where has your brother got to, RON!"
"About that" Charlie whispered in her ear, throwing his arm over her shoulders casually "I tried to tell her maybe I should bunk with Bill but she wasn't having any of it. Told me not to be so ridiculous. Sorry"
Arabelle smiled awkwardly "no it's fine, we can sort something out I'm sure." She pulled away and moved back to pick up her bags.
Charlie smiled at her "ill get those" he said "I'm going to go shower anyway so i can take them up." He moved towards her and hesitated a moment before kissing her lightly on the forehead "thanks for coming" he whispered. Then picked up her bags and moved towards the stairs.
"Dont worry mum I've got them." He said lifting the bags to show her. "I've finished cutting the Apple tree like you wanted ill be down for breakfast in 15." Then he disappeared up the stairs.
Arabelle sank down onto the table bench. She had never been so confused. It was going to be a difficult few days.
A few minutes later she heard the bathroom door click shut and ran to the room while Charlie wasn't there. She barely remembered the last time she had been there she had been in such a hurry to escape. She stood for a few minutes in silence.
She moved to her bag and fumbled for a lipstick tube hoping to tidy herself up before breakfast, but her hands closed around something else. She grasped it tight in her hand and pulled it out. A ring. The small pearl as beautiful as ever on the thin silver band. Her throat closed as she thought of the pain the night Charlie left for Romania. How he abandoned her. How she had done the same to him running away without any real explanation. They had both hurt each other. In some ways what she had done was worse...maybe they were on even ground now. Maybe they should move on together. She slipped the ring onto her finger again and admired its beauty. She held it up to the light as the door swung open.
She flew around hiding her hand in the back pocket of her jeans. Charlie, towel clad and hair dripping stood in the doorway.
Arabelle's face flushed.
"You mind if I come in?" He asked.
"Nope" she shook her head a pulled the ring off her finger with her other hand and held on to it tight.
He walked slowly in looking around the room. "We had to mend a bunch of stuff"
"What?" She asked confused.
"When you left, a load of stuff was broken, the mirror was smashed I fixed it best I could but It's still a bit battered around the edges but it's almost the same as it used to be."
Arabelle walked towards the window. Guilt covered her face. "Oh."
"Kind of like us" He said shutting the door.
"...is it?" She said closing her eyes, not really in the mood for a guilt trip.
"Once broken but almost back to the way it used to be."
Arabelle turned and looked deep into his eyes trying to find any emotion, anger, hurt.
But all she could see was the vulnerable Charlie Weasley she remembered from that night they had told each other they were in love all those years ago. And just like that night Arabelle didn't care about anyone else or the consequences of her actions all she knew is that she needed him more than anything in this world.
She tried to move towards him. The look on his face longed for her, she could see it. But her feet faltered. She wasn't 15 anymore, and she knew you had to pay for your actions.
"...You should get dressed." Her voice dry and raspy. "Breakfast is almost ready." She turned back to the window. She was right about one thing. They should move on, but it couldn't be together. She had chosen her path and he had chosen his.
"Arabelle" he said his voice piercing the silent room.
She squeezed the ring tightly in her hand blinking back tears and turned. The look on his face pierced her heart like a knife. All these years of uncertain feelings for each other had been hard but they had a safety net of hope. A chance they might one day be together again. But Arabelle was now ripping it down. Charlie knew it. They were falling about to hit the cold hard ground.
"This is yours, I shouldn't have taken it, I'm sorry." She held out her hand with the ring, waiting for him to take it.
"It's yours, I gave it to you. Keep it" he whispered.
"I can't." Her voice cracking as she delivered the blow. She felt the heavy drop as they hit the ground. It was their fate. Inevitable...
"I don't want it."
She pushed it into his hand and swept coldly out of the room.