Snogging at the Burrow

Chapter 32

She woke up in a sweat, letting out a gasp as she sat upright in the bed. She assessed her surroundings. It was dark, and quiet. Almost to quiet for a summer night.

Suddenly the door was pushed open gently, and finding the figure in the frame sent a reassuring feeling throughout her.

"Are you alright?" He asked with care, his eyebrows furrowed together visible in the light off his wand.

Hermione swallowed, before nodding. "Nightmares."

He seemed to linger for a moment, but then made to shut the door again. But before he could.

"Charlie." She whispered in a state of exhaustion.

"Hmmm?" He hummed.

"Don't go."

Tentatively, he listened to her request, and made to move over to the bed. She drew back the covers, inviting him in next to her. "Are you sure you want-"

"Get in the bed Char!" She ordered. He would have smirked at her temper, or made a joke about her forward nature if she wasn't distressed. But she was.

He shifted so he was next to her, and she rested her head on his chest as she used to. It felt so familiar, yet also so easily able to be ruined.  As if this occurrence would never happen again, as if it was only luck she was tired enough to permit him to stay.  "Are you okay?"  He asked softly. 

She was quiet at first, until her fingers clenched his shirt slightly and he felt her nod.  "Yes." 

It was good enough of an answer for him. Before he realized, her breathing steadied and she was asleep again.

The pair made it a habit over the next week. Hermione would get up in the middle of the night and sneak into his bed. He'd be waiting. Yet every morning Charlie would wake to an empty bed, and if he would see Hermione around the house, she always seemed to be reading or busying herself.

It was as though they were pretending nothing were happening. The reality of it all sat unpleasant in his chest.

One day Dean had stopped by the Burrow. Hermione glanced up from her book as Mr. Weasley had let him through the door. She looked first to Ginny. Ginny looked as though she were a deer in headlights. "Go on." Hermione offered to the redhead beside her on the sofa.

"But Harry-" Ginny answered in a whisper.

Hermione's expression grew hard. Harry. Hearing either of her two best friends names always put her into a confused emotional state that she learned to tolerate by simply ignoring all emotions. "Ginny, he broke up with you. He wouldn't mind. Besides Dean is a friend."

With those words of reassurance Ginny greeted Dean and the two exited into the kitchen.

Hermione felt awkward with just the company of Mr. Weasley, looking at her with a look of sorrow. She smiled bleakly. "I think I'll go take a nap." She uttered and then excused herself.

Nearly to her room, she stopped as Charlie exited his own. "I was just-"

"Hermione." He said with great discern.

"Charlie."

"Why cannot we be affectionate during the day?"

She faltered, instead deciding to look out the nearest window. "I don't think it's a good idea." She hesitated, defensively crossing her arms. "And before you ask why Charlie, you very well know."

"You cannot just separate yourself from everyone. You need people to rely on."

"I'm not!-". She calmed her voice, realizing she had an angry tone. "I'm not separating myself from anyone."

"Then come here."

She started to walk towards him, but instead falling into his welcoming arms, she brushed past him. "Deans here. If you want to talk to him."

"Bloody fantastic, well if Deans here than that changes everything." He mumbled to himself as she disappeared behind her door. He sucked in a breath and then made his way down the stairs.

Later in the evening Mr. And Mrs. Weasley has put on a record, the music warming the desolate house.

Charlie sat by the fire, and just had Hermione he sat with a book in hand. He looked up meeting her eyes across the room. She glanced away quickly. A slight smirk formed on his lips realizing she had been watching him.

He decided yet again to test his chances. Risky he was, being a dragon tamer and all. He stood, walked over to the witch, and outstretched his hand.

She looked to it. "You cannot be serious?-"

"May I please have the benefit of the doubt?" He said hoarsely.

He was ecstatic, yet tried to keep it hidden as she placed her own hand in his, and allowed him to guide her to the center of the room.

"Your efforts are severely wasted." She whispered in his ear.

He pulled her close, his one hand on the small of her back, and they started to sway back and forth.

"You're allowed a little fun Hermione."

She looked up to him confused. But then he twirled her around, pulled her back in, and was satisfied to see a faint smile on her features.

And then the strangest thing happened. She started to laugh.

He froze, startled by the girls actions, and starred with concern towards her. "Are you alright."

She nodded, returning to rest her head on his shoulder. "Shut up." She scorned stubbornly.

He was satisfied and simply chuckled in relief as they continued to dance.

The following morning was rather interesting as well.  Charlie fluttered his eyes open, only to squint at the sun blinding him.  But then he heard a faint noise, innocent and delicate.  He shifted his attention to realize she was still there, beside him. 

He heard a knock on the outside of his door, disturbing his small fraction of solace.  "Charlie, your father has inquired you to go to the ministry with him today and-"

His eyes widened, and he grabbed his wand from his bedside.  He locked the rusty doorknob with a quick spell. 

On the other side he heard his mother's struggle with the handle.  "Charlie are you even up yet?! For Merlin's beard it's one in the afternoon".

"I'm up mum.  Be down in a minute." 

He got out of the bed realizing he was still wearing only a pair of grey joggers. 

He tapped The witch's shoulder lightly as to shake her awake.  "Hermione." 

"Hmmm." She groaned groggily. 

"It's afternoon." 

This seemed to gain her attention, pulling her from sleep. "Wait what?"  She quickly clamored out of bed, and then made her way to the door. 

He didn't know what he was thinking, but he stopped her from rushing away, grabbed her arm gently and spun her around so her back was against the door. 

"What?"  She looked up at him with eyes awaiting an answer. 

"You're beautiful."
She smiled slightly as though his compliment were a joke.  Before she could reject it leaned down and caught her lips in his, feeling her own breath hitch.