A/N: this was for an Unusual Pairing challenge on HPFF and for the fifty shades of Hermione challenge.
Hermione sat on the edge of her favourite chair in the living room feeling nervous. Today she would be asking Charlie to define what they were.
Charlie had moved back to England just over a year ago and even though Molly had told him that he was always welcome to live at The Burrow, he had declined the offer in favour of staying at Hermione's.
"You know what she's like Hermione. She will start on when am I going to find a nice girl to settle down with. I don't want that yet," he said.
"She just wants what's best for you," Hermione replied. She knew that Molly was ecstatic to have her son home, but also knew her desire for him to marry and have children of his own. It was an issue which could drive them apart. Although, Molly was already doing that by demanding to know why e had moved home in the first place.
It had been quite easy for the two of them to settle into a routine, and Hermione was glad that Charlie wasn't as much as a slob as Ron was. He did quite a few of the chores when he knew she was working late, and he even made sure that she had something to eat when she came in. The only thing he didn't do was her washing. Hermione thought that it was out of embarrassment of having to see her dirty underwear, but she had never asked.
Over the next few months things slowly began to change between them. They would kiss each other goodbye in the morning, usually on the cheek, but sometimes it was on the lips and lasted longer than was appropriate for friends. He started to wash her dirty clothes and commented on how her underwear was 'nothing but scraps of lace'.
It wasn't until the Christmas party that there was a definite shift in their relationship.
Hermione and Charlie had been invited to Neville and Hannah's annual Christmas party held at The Leaky Cauldron, and they were both excited to go. December had been a very busy time at work for the both of them and they wanted to catch up with their friends.
From the moment they arrived they were beckoned over by their friends.
"So what's going on with you and Charlie?" Hannah asked uncharacteristically blunt.
Ginny choked on her drink, "What are you on about, Hannah? There is nothing going on between Hermione and Charlie. There isn't is there?" she said turning to her friend.
"No, there isn't. Sorry to disappoint you, Hannah, but Charlie is only my friend," Hermione replied shaking her head.
"That's a shame. I think that you would make a great couple, and I'm not the only one," Hannah said almost as dreamy as Luna.
"Erm, thank you, Hannah. Maybe you should tell that to Charlie," Hermione said imagining Charlie's face when Hannah told him.
"Oh, I won't have to, Neville is going to," she commented matter-of-factly.
Hermione choked on her drink.
It was unusual for her friends to take such an interest in her love life, but Hermione thought that they were only doing it because they cared. That, and anything they said tonight could be blamed on the amount of alcohol they had consumed.
A little while later, Hermione and Charlie were stood talking to each other when they notice that the enchanted mistletoe was above them.
"Well, at least Hannah will get part of her wish," Charlie said, his eyes twinkling.
Leaning down, he kissed her full on the mouth. It was like nothing Hermione had ever felt before. The myriad of emotions ranged from burning passion to feeling complete and it was over far too soon.
When Charlie pulled back, Hermione could see desire and longing in his eyes. It was enough to pull him in for another kiss.
"Oi, get a room you two," someone shouted in the background.
The pair didn't notice and carried on until they needed air.
"Take me home, Charlie," Hermione said breathlessly.
It was from that night six months ago that they had begun sharing a bed, and acting like any other couple would. The only thing was they had never talked about what they were, and that was what Hermione was going to try and do today.
Hermione heard the sound of his heavy boots on the gravel before Charlie even walked through the door. It was part of his routine; take off his boots at the back door, make himself a cup of tea, and sit on the sofa to chill out for ten minutes whilst he drinks it. After a few minutes he, predictably, came through the door with a cup of tea.
"Hi, Hermione. I didn't know you would be back from work this early today," he said sitting on the sofa opposite her.
"I decided to work from home this afternoon, but I didn't really get much done," she confessed.
"That's not like you. Is everything alright?" he asked looking concerned.
"I don't know. It depends on how you answer my question," Hermione responded looking into his eyes.
"What do you mean? What question?" he asked, his brow furrowing as he obviously tried to figure out what she meant.
"What are we, Charlie?"
"We're friends, Hermione," he answered automatically.
"Just friends? Nothing more?" she asked, feeling her stomach drop.
"I don't know what you mean, Hermione." Charlie admitted.
"Friends don't share each other's beds the way we do, nor do they act like a couple when they're not. I guess that's what I've really been trying to ask, are we a couple or not?" Hermione said desperately trying to keep her emotions under control.
"Hermione, is that what you want? For us to 'officially' be a couple?" he asked sounding upset and angry at the same time.
"If you want that too then yes, I would love not to able to hide what we share, but if it's not what you want then I will let it go," Hermione replied calmly even though inside she was hysterical.
Charlie sighed and hung his head a little.
"And you, Charlie, what do you want?" Hermione enquired.
"I don't know, Hermione. Do you know the reason why I came back?"
Hermione shook her head.
"It was because I was in love with someone, and I was about to ask them to marry when I walked in to her hut one night and found her with someone else. I know you would never do that to me, but I'm not ready for things to be official. I didn't even want to get into a relationship so soon after, but being around you is as easy as breathing. Please, Hermione, stay with me." Charlie pleaded looking into her eyes.
As she moved to kneel in front of him, Hermione took his hands in hers and said, "I'm not going anywhere. Whoever she was, she was a fool to let you go. I won't press for anything more. Just tell me when you're ready, and I will there."
Charlie nodded and said, "Thank you."
It was only a few months later after Charlie had had a run in with his ex-girlfriend that they had confirmed their relationship to their family and friends. It had taken seeing her to realise that there was nothing between them, and that Hermione was the only witch for him.