Chapter 7
Days passed, and Charlie found himself unable to shake the growing weight of his unspoken feelings. He tried to immerse himself in work, spending long hours with the dragons and staying away from the Burrow as much as possible. But even the fierce creatures he adored couldn't distract him from the turmoil in his heart.
Finally, one evening, as he returned to the Burrow, Charlie was greeted by a familiar sight. Harry was sitting on the porch steps, staring at the sky. The sight of him, bathed in the soft glow of twilight, made Charlie's heart ache.
"Hey, Charlie," Harry said, looking up and smiling. "Everything okay?"
Charlie took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer. "Yeah, just a long day."
Harry patted the spot next to him, and Charlie reluctantly sat down. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the stars begin to twinkle.
"You seem... off lately," Harry said gently. "Is it that personal thing you mentioned before?"
Charlie sighed, feeling the pressure build inside him. He had to tell Harry. It was now or never. "Yeah, it is."
Harry turned to face him, concern etched in his features. "Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes getting things out in the open helps."
Charlie looked down at his hands, gathering his courage. "It's just... It's really hard to explain."
Harry waited patiently, giving Charlie the space he needed. Finally, Charlie couldn't hold back any longer. The words tumbled out before he could stop them.
"Harry, the truth is... I've fallen for someone, and it's driving me crazy because I don't know how they feel. And I'm scared it could ruin everything."
Harry's eyes softened with understanding. "Charlie, if this person is worth your feelings, they'll understand. Just tell them. You deserve to be happy."
Charlie felt a lump form in his throat. He was on the edge, teetering between fear and hope. "But what if it changes everything? What if it makes things awkward?"
Harry shook his head. "Real friends won't let that happen. They'd want you to be honest. They'd want you to be happy."
Charlie took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "Harry... It's you. I'm in love with you."
The silence that followed was deafening. Harry's eyes widened in surprise, and Charlie felt his stomach drop. He had said it. There was no going back now.
Harry blinked, processing the confession. "Me?"
Charlie nodded, his face burning with embarrassment. "Yes. And I didn't know how to tell you because I was afraid of what it would mean for our friendship."
Harry was silent for a moment, then a small smile crept onto his face. "Charlie, I had no idea. I'm... I'm really flattered."
Charlie looked up, hope flickering in his chest. "You are?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. And... I need to be honest with you too. I’ve always admired you, but I never thought you could feel the same way about me."
Charlie felt a wave of relief wash over him. "So, what does this mean?"
Harry reached out and took Charlie's hand, squeezing it gently. "It means we take things one step at a time. We see where this goes, without any pressure."
Charlie's heart swelled with hope. "I'd like that."
Harry smiled, and for the first time in weeks, Charlie felt a sense of peace. They sat together, hand in hand, watching the stars as the night settled around them. The fear and anxiety that had plagued Charlie's heart began to fade, replaced by the warmth of a new beginning.
But as they sat there, Harry’s grip on Charlie’s hand tightened slightly, and he said, “You know, this isn’t going to be easy. We’ve got a lot to figure out.”
Charlie nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “I know. But as long as we’re honest with each other, I think we can handle anything.”
Harry chuckled. “Yeah, I guess we can.”
The awkwardness of the past few weeks seemed to melt away, replaced by a comfortable, hopeful silence. They didn’t have all the answers, but for now, they had each other, and that was enough.