I hope some of you are still here! I apologize for the delay! I took inspiration from this chapter from some of your previous reviews. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas with me! Enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen

"I'm sorry I'm late!" Adair called as she entered her flat. Heavenly aromas surrounded her almost immediately.

She popped her head into her kitchen to see Charlie, Harry, and Ginny all leaning against the counter, chatting happily.

"I'm going to change and I'll be right back."

"Take your time," Charlie said with a gentle smile as he approached her with a glass of red wine and a kiss on her cheek.

Adair gave a quick wave to the other couple and then hurried down the corridor to her bedroom to take a shower after a brutal practice. She took a few deep drinks from the wine glass as her practice bag unpacked itself and the shower heated up.

She sighed as the hot water hit her sore body. Wishing she could linger, but knowing her guests were waiting on her she washed quickly and then dried off, leaving her hair piled on top of her head and putting on jeans and a jumper. She came back out to the kitchen and gestured for Charlie to refill her glass.

Ginny gave her a quick hug. "Now that you smell better," she laughed.

Adair gave Harry a quick squeeze and then settled next to Charlie.

"You didn't offer your sister a glass of wine?" Adair asked, eying Ginny's hand.

Everyone around her went silent; Harry looked down at his shoes.

Adair's brow furrowed and then realization dawned. "Why didn't you tell me as soon as I got home?" she demanded.

She reached for Ginny once more and squeezed her tight. The happiness she felt was genuine. She had felt so close to Ginny since they spoke openly after Charlie's recovery and she hated to think that her friend hadn't wanted to share her exciting news with her.

"Congratulations!" she exclaimed, holding her friend at arm's length. "When are you due?"

"July," Ginny replied, smiling at Adair, still hesitantly.

"Does James know?"

"Well we've told him. I don't think much gets through to him," Harry laughed. "It will be an interesting surprise this summer."

Adair laughed. "He'll be thrilled, I'm sure."

They all lapsed into silence once more, but Charlie began bustling around, pulling dishes out of the oven and guiding several serving platters and bowls into Adair's mostly unused dining room. "Dinner is served," he said as they all followed him and took their seats.

"You've outdone yourself, Charlie," Harry said, looking over the beef Wellington, salad, mashed potatoes, rolls, green beans, and stewed carrots.

"I had some time on my hands. My last class was before lunch today," Charlie said.

"Are you still enjoying teaching?" Ginny asked.

"I think I'm finding my stride," Charlie replied with a chuckle. "The first month or so was pretty rough."

"I can't imagine," Harry said.

"I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the first and second years. I see them in the castle and they're impossibly small and squirrely."

Everyone laughed.

Charlie had taken the job after some consideration, but Adair had never brought up him moving into her flat again and so he had taken a room at the school. It was better than living with his parents, but not what he had hoped for.

"I'm chaperoning the first Hogsmeade visit of the year next weekend," Charlie said ruefully. "McGonagall just gave me that assignment."

"I loved Hogsmeade weekends," Ginny sighed.

"Honeydukes," Harry agreed. "I could've spent hours in there. Probably still could."

"What was your favorite shop?" Charlie asked, looking across the table at Adair.

"Hmm?" Adair asked, looking up from her plate where she had been pushing her potatoes around. "Oh. I never went actually."

Harry and Ginny of course knew that Adair had always been busy with training, but Charlie looked quite taken aback.

"Never went? In all of your seven years you never went to Hogsmeade? Why not?"

Adair gave a shrug. "I was always training."

"Training? Gryffindor never used to practice on Hogsmeade weekends when I was Captain."

Adair gave an uncomfortable chuckle. "We don't have to talk about it now. It's rather boring."

Charlie continued to stare at her, but he let the subject lie.

Talk eventually turned to Harry's work as an Auror, what was going on in the Weasley family, and Adair's Quidditch season which was just getting started again.

After dessert, a sticky toffee pudding, Charlie and Adair saw Ginny and Harry to the door.

"Kiss James for me," Adair said, hugging her friend once more.

"We'll have to do this again soon. You can come over to ours," Harry suggested.

"That sounds great," Charlie agreed, shaking his brother-in-law's hand and then closing the door behind them, making sure the door was locked.

Adair was already on her way to the kitchen. With a few waves of her wand, the dishes were washing and putting themselves away, leftovers were zooming into the fridge, and the wine bottle poured her another generous glass.

"I'm sorry, Adair," Charlie said, leaning against the white marble kitchen counter. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Adair shook her head. "You didn't. Ginny and Harry know I never went." She gave a forced laugh. "It was years ago. It hardly matters now."

"Of course it does," he said. "Why couldn't you go?"

She sighed. "I had private training sessions. My parents never thought I was good enough so if I wasn't practicing with the House team then they sent trainers to work with me privately."

Charlie shook his head. "That's ridiculous."

"Can't change it now. And look at me!" Adair put on an affected voice. "Playing for England!"

The joke fell flat, if that's what it even was. Charlie just looked down at her.

"I don't want your pity, Charlie. I hate that more than anything." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Poor Adair, daughter of pro Quidditch players, had the best trainers money could buy, but never got to do normal kid things." She drank deeply from her wine glass. "It's all very trite."

Charlie nodded, turning to go back into the dining room to make sure it was clean. He paused in the doorway. "Adair," he said, turning to face her once more.

"Hmm?" Her back was turned as she flicked her wand to set a rag in motion wiping down the counter and stove.

"Why don't you come with me this weekend?"

"What?"

"Come to Hogsmeade this weekend."

"You'll be working," she said.

"Working," Charlie snorted. "I can't keep an eye on all of them. There's over four hundred that are eligible to go. I'm just there in case of an emergency."

Adair didn't say anything. She thought it might be fun, but also strange to go back so much later.

"Don't think about it. Just say you'll go. I'll take you to all the best spots. We'll have a great time."

"I have practice Saturday morning."

"Perfect. You can meet me at the Three Broomsticks for lunch and we'll go from there."

"You're relentless," Adair said with a small smile, secretly pleased to be invited.

Charlie disappeared into the dining room with a laugh.

ooooOoooo

Adair stood in the middle of her closet the following Saturday. She'd put some makeup on after her shower and left her long blond hair hanging around her shoulders.

"Perfect," she whispered when she found an old Gryffindor jumper she hadn't worn in ages. She pulled it on after a pair of jeans. There'd been an early autumn nip in the air during practice and she knew she'd be walking around outside at Hogsmeade.

Adair gave a final glance in her full length mirror before she left her apartment and Apparated to the point just outside of the Village from where she could walk to the main street.

As she entered the village, she took in the bustle of the students and tried to catch the names of shops and buildings.

"Bloody hell! It's Adair Wood!"

The familiar crush of bodies was upon her before she knew it. The students demanded autographs and photographs and she complied, actually laughing.

Often, it was a bother when she was overwhelmed by fans, but there was something about the students that she immediately enjoyed. They were earnest in their excitement and some were even a bit bashful whereas the adults she normally encountered were brash and entitled.

Eventually, the crowd dispersed a bit until there were only a few students remaining.

"Could one of you point me in the direction of the Three Broomsticks?" she asked.

"Just up the main road here a ways. It's the last building on the left before you hit Hogsmeade station," one young girl said helpfully.

"Thank you very much," Adair responded. "Enjoy the rest of your day!" She set off with a wave.

After the initial crowd of students, Adair tried to stay to the edges of the road and keep her face turned away so that she could avoid it again.

It was difficult to do as she was also trying to take everything in as she walked up the road.

Finally, she came upon the pub and immediately spotted the back of Charlie's red head at the bar.

"Hello," she said, sliding onto the stool next to him.

"You found it!" he exclaimed, dropping an arm onto her shoulders and kissing her cheek.

Adair blushed and looked around. Normally, she didn't mind affection in public, but there was something about doing it in front of students that made her self-conscious.

Charlie laughed. "Don't worry about it. Do you know how many couples I've caught snogging in the corridors?"

Adair joined his laughter. "Did you forget what it was like to be young and in school?"

"I didn't do a whole lot of snogging at school," Charlie returned with a grin. "Did you?"

"I didn't have time," Adair replied.

The barmaid set a mug of Butterbeer in front of Adair without her asking.

"Thanks Rosmerta," Charlie said. "I took the liberty of ordering you one."

"Thank you," Adair said.

"I like the jumper," Charlie said, glancing down at the scarlet garment with a faded lion on the front.

"It's about worn through in some spots."

Charlie filled her in on his morning while they sipped Butterbeer.

"So far, I've caught two groups trying to sneak into the Shrieking Shack. I've given up though," he laughed.

"I don't want to go there," Adair said. "I hate being scared."

"Don't worry. It wasn't on the agenda," Charlie assured her with a smile. "I've always avoided it myself."

Rosmerta came back and Charlie ordered the Yorkshire pudding for lunch. Adair ordered a bowl of corn chowder.

"Bloody hell! It's Adair Wood!"

Adair had to laugh at the refrain that was used nearly all of the time when she was spotted.

"Professor Weasley! What in the hell is she doing with you?"

"Watch your mouth, Rogers," Charlie said without any bite to it.

Adair watched the exchange with a smile.

"I have to say Miss Wood, I'm a big fan, but it is disappointing that you don't have better taste in men."

She laughed out loud.

"Rogers, shut up and get out of here," Charlie said, trying to hide a grin in his Butterbeer.

"I will. Just give me a minute, would ya?"

"One."

"Miss Wood," the boy began.

"Adair is fine."

"Adair then," he said. He was bold and he reminded her terribly of her brother. "I'm the Captain of the Gryffindor team this year and I'd be honored, the whole team would, if you'd come to a match this season."

"Rogers, she plays for England."

"I know. I understand you must be very busy, but if you'd spend an afternoon with Professor Weasley, maybe you'd consider coming to a match. It'll be a better time, I can promise you that."

Adair laughed again. "You make an excellent point. I'll get your schedule from Char-from Professor Weasley and see what I can do."

"Wicked!"

"Now scatter, Rogers," Charlie ordered him.

"Of course! Good luck with your season, Adair!" the boy said over his shoulder as he went excitedly back to his friends at a booth in the corner.

"They really like you," Adair said.

"I don't know about that," Charlie replied. "Besides Neville, I'm one of the youngest professors. We're just more relatable."

Their food was set down in front of them.

"Don't feel like you have to go to a Gryffindor Quidditch match," Charlie said, eyes on his plate.

"It might be fun," Adair replied.

"It might be," he agreed.

They finished their lunch in relative silence, Adair taking in the pub rather than eating much. She loved the bustle of the place; the jostling for drinks at the bar, the laughter of the students, and the smokey smell.

"Ready to move on?" Charlie asked when he'd paid the tab.

"Sure. Where to?"

"Well there's Honeydukes, Zonko's, Spintwitches, and a lot of other little shops."

"Let's do it all," Adair said. "Who knows when I'll be back."

"I'll bring you whenever you like."

Adair looped her arm through his and they set off down the main street.

She was delighted with all of the shops they went to. She bought lots of candy, planning to give most of it away to teammates and Charlie's nieces and nephews.

"This must be where Fred and George got their inspiration," she said as they entered Zonko's.

Charlie laughed. "It is. And then they took it to a whole other level."

"I love it." They browsed around and then moved onto Spintwithces Sporting Needs.

"Surely you don't need anything here," Charlie said.

"You never know," Adair smiled.

Students were milling about and Adair browsed among them. She was not nearly as worried about being spotted as she usually was.

Adair picked up a pair of goggles. "These are really nice," she said. "We just got them."

"You don't have to charm them to do anything," a ruddy man, the owner, said behind Adair. "They repel precipitation, automatically shade the eyes from bright sun, and adjust for whatever weather or climate the match is taking place in.

"I love them for when we play in the rain," Adair said, turning to face the man.

The man's jaw dropped and he gaped at her, unable to make a sound.

"I'll actually take seven pairs if you have them. Could you see that they're delivered to the Gryffindor team at the school? With a note from me?"

The man could only nod in the affirmative.

When she and Charlie met the owner at the counter, he had seemed to regain his composure as Adair scribbled a note and signed it, to be sent with the goggles as a gift to her old team.

"I'm sure you get asked this all the time and I can't imagine the bother, but would you mind taking a photo? I'd love to hang it behind the counter so all of my customers could see."

"I don't mind at all," Adair assured him.

The man handed Charlie his camera and Adair posed with the owner before paying for the goggles.

"Thank you so much. The students will appreciate them more than you know," she said with a smile as she and Charlie set off once more.

"Well that's Hogsmeade," Charlie said.

"I love it. Thank you so much for showing me around."

Charlie nodded and looked down at Adair. The sun was already beginning to set. "Do you want to come up to the castle? Maybe see my classroom and where I live?"

Adair chewed on her bottom lip, not quite ready for what he was insinuating. "I wish I could," she replied. "But the team is taking off really early in the morning for Hungary."

Charlie nodded and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "I'll be listening."

ooooOoooo

The English team started their season with a long bout of travelling throughout Europe for their first few games. They lost only once to Denmark. Oliver was already hopeful about another go at the World Cup.

Once they were settled at home for a while, Adair found herself back at Hogwarts for the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch match.

Charlie met her on the path that led to the pitch. "The students are going to lose their minds," he said by way of greeting.

"I hope not. I don't want to distract from the players."

"Adair!"

She turned around to see Professor McGonagall striding down the path toward them. She was as severe as ever and was moving with a purpose even in her advanced age.

"Professor McGonagall," she said warmly, a little surprised when the older woman hugged her.

"It's good to see you. The students will be thrilled, I'm sure."

"That's what I was saying," Charlie said.

"I never would've put you two together," Professor McGonagall said, looking between the pair. "Quite an age gap. Ah well, it can be overcome I suppose."

Charlie and Adair tried not to laugh as they followed her toward the pitch. It was clear she was never going to not share what she was thinking.

"You'll sit with me of course, Adair."

"Of course," Adair agreed.

For her age, Professor McGonagall was not deterred by the stairs they took to reach the stands.

As soon as Adair emerged into the crowd, word started to spread like a wildfire.

She gave a few short waves, not wanting to draw anymore attention away from the student players.

Immediately, Professor McGonagall was explaining the dynamics of the Gryffindor team to Adair. She had been such a huge fan of Quidditch for as long as anyone could remember and it was just about the only time she showed any animation at all.

"This will be a tough match, but I'm sure we can pull it off. They'll be playing with extra vigor once they realize you're here."

"I'm sure they have that in them all the time."

"Oh they do, they do," Professor McGonagall agreed. "Of course Rogers isn't near the Captain your brother was. He seems to be more preoccupied with the parties that follow the matches."

Adair had to smile thinking of her own days back in the Gryffindor common room after a match.

Next to her, Charlie gave her hand a squeeze as the Gryffindor team flew into the air and the Bludgers and Snitch were released; the Quaffle tossed into the air.

It had been an extraordinarily long time since Adair had watched a Quidditch match. She found herself rooting very loudly for her old team right alongside Professor McGonagall.

It was a rough match and Adair wasn't surprised to see that the Slytherin team hadn't gotten any more scrupulous in her time away.

Charlie couldn't help but laugh at her. Much like Professor McGonagall, Adair only ever showed emotion when Quidditch was involved.

In the end, Professor McGonagall was correct and Gryffindor won. The team walked off the field looking exhausted but jubilant and Adair knew the feeling intimately.

They filed down from the stands and joined the crush of students heading back to the castle.

"It was wonderful to see you, Adair," Professor McGonagall said. "Don't be a stranger."

Before Adair could reply, the older woman had sped up to scold a group of students performing minor explosions with their wands.

"Would you like to see my classroom?" Charlie asked.

"Sure," Adair agreed.

They made slow progress up the slope back to the castle as they were swarmed by students. Adair signed almost everything that was thrust at her, not wanting to let anyone down, before Charlie shooed them away.

"I'll be back," she promised as a few of them groaned and glared at Charlie. "Maybe I should hire you as a bodyguard," she smiled up at him.

"I'm not any match for excited fans," he replied, draping an arm across her shoulders.

Once again, Adair was a little self-conscious in front of the students. Gaggles of younger ones giggled as they passed the couple.

"So you actually have a classroom?" Adair asked as they entered the castle. It took her breath away. It had been over five years since she'd been inside and it was as striking as ever. "Didn't Hagrid teach all of his classes outside?"

"I do a little of both. There's some classroom work and studying that needs to be done and then we have days when we're more hands-on."

Adair nodded. "I see." She followed him into a classroom that had an office attached. "And you're liking it?"

"It's really different...obviously," Charlie replied. "But I do."

"I'm glad. I'm sure you're a wonderful teacher."

"Well maybe when I get a little more comfortable with it, you can come to a class."

Adair smiled. "That would be fun."

She looked around the classroom. There were diagrams of animals hung on the walls and empty crates and cages on the shelves. Notes on the blackboard in Charlie's messy scrawl outlined the proper way to gather the horns of a Bicorn and where to find them.

"Come on," Charlie took her hand and led her out of the classroom and back through corridors and up several sets of tricky staircases.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

They arrived in front of a non-descript door and Adair was sure she'd never been there before.

"My room," he replied. "It's very far out of the way so students can't find it."

Adair followed him, a little more hesitantly than she had into the classroom.

"This is lovely," she said.

"Much cozier than the cabin at the sanctuary," Charlie said. "Another perk I suppose."

There was a fire going in the grate and it was surrounded by what looked like very comfortable furniture. It was reminiscent of the Gryffindor common room. Adair wondered if the rooms adapted themselves to their inhabitants

Charlie turned and looked down at Adair. Without a word, he took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply. Adair let it happen, though she wasn't necessarily an active participant.

"The bedroom is through there," he murmured. "I've missed you."

She knew he only meant one thing as they had been spending quite a lot of time together otherwise.

Adair pulled away and looked down at her boots. "I can't," she said.

Charlie sighed. "Am I doing something wrong?" he asked, trying to make eye contact, but to no avail.

"I just can't be in that position again, Charlie. I can't go through all that more than once."

The thought of having to make a decision like she had at the World Cup twice was too much to bear for Adair. She carried it with her constantly. Some days were full of regret and others of acceptance and even more of fear and anxiety.

"I have to go," she said, turning quickly and leaving Charlie standing in his cozy living room.

There you go! Again, thank you so much for your patience! I appreciate it more than you know. I can't wait to hear what you think about this one! Keep sharing ideas and headcanons! They truly make my day.

Happy reading,

Avonmore