1989

Chapter 45

Although she hadn't reached that part of her story with him yet, it seemed Harry already knew what must have happened between her and Charlie while she'd been in that past. Their conversation had changed to Ron now that they were on their way to find him, and include him in on what had happened to her.

"I'm not saying don't tell him ever obviously." Harry looked at her pleadingly. "But can you at least wait until after we've defeated You-Know-Who to break his heart? You know how he reacts to this sort of thing."

Hermione was just about to both agree with his assessment, but not with his suggestion, when Charlie suddenly interrupted them.

"Hey! Do either of you smell smoke?"

Both Harry and Hermione paused mid step in order to sniff the air a few times, their noses wrinkling in discomfort as they did. Something close by was definitely on fire. Charlie's arm suddenly retracted itself from around her as he raced forward to look down the next aisle over.

"Ron!" Harry shouted as loud as he could into the smokey air.

Everyone listened closely as they heard a weak but returned call for help in the distance.

Before they had so much as moved an inch, the wall next to them began to totter, and then the top third crumbled into the aisle, just where they were sure Ron's voice had come from. They could hear innumerable objects crashing to the floor on the other side of the teetering wall. Thinking on his feet, Charlie cast a quick stabilizing charm.

As the shifting stopped, all three of them seemed to move at once, taking off in the direction of not only the sound of their friend and brother, but also in the direction of billowing flames that were growing by the second. Harry called out for his best friend again, and they all heard the return call of "Harry, Help!" from somewhere close and to the left.

Charlie turned down the nearest fork, and laying just up ahead under a smoking pile of junk was Ron, covered from the waist down in rubble, his wand just out of reach. It seemed he was stuck, and although the flames hadn't reached him yet, they were growing closer by the second.

Without a moment to lose, it seemed all three of them had the same idea at once. "Wingardium Leviosa" Harry, Hermione, and Charlie all chanted within a few seconds of each other.

One by one, the heavy pieces atop Ron lifted into the air, and were then set far to the side while Harry rushed forward to help him up. He appeared unscathed once they had patted out the simmering edges of his coat, but his old leg injury from 3rd year seemed to have flared up and he stepped forward with a slight limp.

"Ron what happened?" Hermione asked him as she looked him over for further injury.

"Crabbe." He rasped out with a slight cough. "He found me and immediately sent whatever kind of fire that was at me." He placed his arm around Hermione for stability as they began to journey toward the exit. "But I don't think that is normal fire. Aguemente doesn't work on it."

"Yeah, well it's getting closer, so we should probably get out of here." Hermione tilted her head behind them, noticing how the flames began to fester and rage even closer and faster toward them.

Though Charlie was looking rather grumpily toward the too close proximity of his brother to his girl, the words spoken between them registered something more important. It seemed his job of helping them wasn't quite over yet.

"Wait. No need." Charlie suddenly pivoted to turn back toward the growing flames steadily approaching them. "I got this." He said confidently and held his hand out toward Hermione, palm up. "Diadem please?"

Though Ron looked confused as to when exactly Charlie had joined them, or how he knew about the diadem, Hermione did not hesitate as she quickly untangled herself from under Ron's shoulder to fish the tiara back out of her bag. Her trust in him unwavering as she placed it into his waiting hand.

A big burst of flame that seemed to have a mind of its own barreled toward them, in the shape of a serpent, sentient and intent on killing them. And while the trio looked on with worry, Charlie only smiled and stepped forward. He knew just what needed to be done.

With reflexes that had only quickened over the years, he threw the diadem forward, causing Harry to jolt forward to try and catch it out of his own. As much as Hermione trusted Charlie's judgment and knowledge, Harry still barely knew him, and did not quite trust anyone else with the fragment of Voldemort's soul. But it was too late, the crown was already flying fast in the opposite direction; as if in slow motion, turning and glittering in the light of the flames.

The moment the diadem of Ravenclaw touched the scorching flames it began to vibrate violently, then break apart as a black tarry substance leaked from the cracks. And as it did so, they all could have sworn they heard a faint scream of pain, echoing not from somewhere deep in the room, but from the thing that had just split inside the serpent's mouth.

Charlie did not take the time to celebrate the victory of its demise yet, for his job was far from over. With a quick swoop of his wand he redirected the oncoming creature's movements, turning its head and causing it to crash into its own tail. With a swirling motion upward, the fire serpent dissipated into itself, leaving only a cloud of black smoke in its wake.

Hermione acted as if she was about to step forward to ask him about his knowledge on the subject, but he motioned for her to stop. He needed to concentrate as the next sentient beast appeared, this time in the form of a chimera.

One by one he took out the pack of flaming beasts as they approached, and the inferno in the distance simmered, before fading into small manageable fires that could easily be put out by hand. He was thankful for this specific training at the reserve. Had he not been, he was sure this night would have gone much differently for his brother, Harry, and Hermione. She had been right in saying that things could change within five minutes of her return, and had he not been here, one or more of them likely would have died.

"You know how to control Feindfire?" Hermione asked in awe, as the last creature, a rather chubby dragon, finally disappeared.

Charlie grinned proudly in response as he was finally able to lower his wand arm. "Well it comes in handy from time to time at the reserve you see. Guess that's another reason for you to be glad I chose dragons over quidditch isn't it?"

Hermione returned his grin and was about to throw her arms around him when a loud noise echoed from nearby. Startled, Charlie turned again, forcing Hermione behind his back to shield her out of reflex; his wand arm back up in a defensive position, his other still on her elbow from where he'd pushed her behind him.

Three stunners left three wands, as Vincent Crabbe came into view from the shadows. Two of them hit him directly in the chest, and the other on his shoulder. He fell backwards into unconsciousness, but was otherwise unharmed.

Once he was certain the threat had passed, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief and turned back toward her, though his hand remained on her arm. The action of which did not go unnoticed by his youngest brother.

Ron eyed them oddly, as he limped over, still unaware of the situation he was about to find himself in. "Thanks for being here and saving me and all Charlie, but I've got Hermione's safety covered from here." He said in a slightly threatening tone, as he threaded his fingers through Hermione's free hand.

In the background Harry cringed and rubbed his scar again, clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah, I think I am just going to go back and get Malfoy and Goyle, so we can tie them all up outside." He commented awkwardly, and removed himself from the conversation entirely.

Once Harry was out of sight, Ron looked between the two of them and how Charlie's hand was still placed protectively on the crook of Hermione's elbow. "I have an odd feeling I am being left out on something rather important."

Slowly, Hermione slid her hand from Ron's, and just as she'd done with Harry, Hermione used it to hold up the time turner so he could see it. "It, um." She faltered for a second, nervous now that this inevitable moment was finally upon them. "So It's been a bit longer for me than it has for you since the last time we saw each other." She finally settled on. "I've been in 1989 with your brother for the past eight months."

"Oh," Ron paused for a moment, deep in thought before finally responding with a shrug, and a "Huh. Weird." Before he turned his attention to Charlie. "So she roped you into helping us then did she?"

"Volunteered actually." Charlie replied awkwardly before grimacing. "But that's not all." He added as he slid his hand down Hermione's arm until their fingers were the ones laced together.

Hermione gave his hand a squeeze as she turned to look at him. "I think I should be the one to tell him, don't you?"

Charlie flashed a sad smile. "No. I'm his brother. It should be me."

A cross of disbelief and anger flashed Ron's features. They could both tell he was starting to become aware, but would not believe what his eyes were telling him until they actually confirmed it.

"Well one of you bloody hell better." He commented as he glared daggers at their joined hands.

Hermione sighed, as Charlie swallowed deeply.

"We're together Ron." Hermione spoke softly, knowing one of her two longest friendships might truly end over this. "I'm in love with your brother."

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A/N: These sporadic updates are likely going to continue. Sorry guys. I am working 6 days a week usually. It's been hard to find time to write. Still love and appreciate all of you though!