Yeah Mum, we will be there Sunday I guess.
Charlie
“I don’t understand why you won’t bring him. Are you embarrassed by our family? It is my birthday! Plus, you have spent little time with Lola. She needs Uncle Charlie's time!” Charlie’s mum said unhappily.
“Mum, we haven’t been dating that long. Know if he would be ready to meet all of you. It has always just been him and his dad. Putting him in a house with 14 Weasleys. I don’t want to scare him off.” It wasn't because he didn't want to bring Harry home. Or that he didn’t think Harry wouldn’t want to come. It would actually be the opposite. He knows Harry would jump at the chance to meet his family.
“14 Weasleys that will love him!” Charlie was about to cut her off when he heard his door open. The scratch of nails tapped on his floor. Then he hears the voice. Harry is there with Fang.
“Bear, are you home? I didn’t see you at dads!” Charlie turned around and tried to hide his mum’s face in the fire. “There you are!” Harry walked up to him and leaned down and kissed him. Maybe he won’t notice his mum in the background.
“Who is it, dear?” His mum’s voice made the younger wizard break away from the kiss.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” Harry jumped back. “I didn’t know you were on a call! Should I go?” There was that blush that he loved so much. The blush that he knew covered the smaller man’s body. Charlie has had the pleasure now to see how low that blush could go. It’s been almost 2 months since Harry’s birthday and they have only grown closer since that night.
“Is it Harry? Harry dear, can you hear me?” Charlie watched as his boyfriend looked behind him and grinned. Charlie wanted to groan when his boyfriend sat down next to him.
“Yes, it is me, Mrs. Weasley! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.” Harry’s cheeks burned red, and Charlie couldn’t help but wrap his arm around him and kiss his temple.
His mum, even through the fire, had a knowing smile on her lips. “No, dear, it’s okay! I was just telling Charlie that you two need to come Sunday for dinner! It’s my birthday. I want you two to come. Plus, the new baby will be there! Do you think you can make it, dear?” His mother turned on her sweetest motherly voice. Charlie wanted to roll his eyes. She was good.
Charlie opened his mouth to scold his mum, but of course, his boyfriend answered happily.
“Of course! We would love to come to dinner! It’s your birthday! That means we have to go shopping! Plus, Charlie has shown me all the pictures of the baby! I would love to meet her in person!” Harry looked up at him with the biggest smile and Charlie just nodded. He wanted to say no to his little pixy, but he couldn’t.
“Yeah Mum, we will be there Sunday I guess,” Charlie grunted out it earned him a kiss on the cheek.
“Okay boys, I’ll see you then. Have a good night!” His mother said sing-song.
Harry stood up and held out his hands to him. Charlie has gotten better allowing his boyfriend to help. He could stand up on his own, but when he got to his feet. Harry would kiss him and he would not miss those kisses. Charlie felt himself slowly turning back into the man he used to be. It worried him a bit, but that shouldn’t be scary.
“I’m sorry about my mum. If you don’t want to go to her birthday dinner. We don’t have to. I’m sure I can tell Mum that you are busy. I know she can be pushy.” Charlie watched as Harry furrowed his eyebrows.
“Do..do you not want me to come? Is it too much too soon? I know that most times you bring your boyfriend home so quickly. I mean, we love each other right, so it’s not that big of a deal if you don’t want me to come. I know that you still love me… You still love me, right? I know we went to my dad’s and Barnaby’s, but he is your boss. So he knows you! You can tell her I am busy if you don’t want me to go. I understand…”
Charlie hated the look of hurt that flashed in those emerald eyes. So he did the only thing he knew that would quiet his boyfriend up. Charlie's lips covered the smaller man’s. Harry’s body melted into his. After a few soft kisses, Charlie pulled away and looked into his eyes.
“Of course, I love you, Harry, and I want you to come! I was just afraid that my family would be too much. They are too much for me and they are my family. It has nothing to do with me not wanting you to be there, Harry. Maybe I’m not showing you enough of how much I like you. I will do better.”
“You mean it, Bear?” Harry asked with his biggest puppy dog eyes.
“Of course I mean it. I’d never lie to you, Harry.” Charlie wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and rubbed his back.
“Okay! Dad and Barnaby wanted us to come over for dinner. Are you up for it? After we can come back, take a shower, and then fall asleep watching a movie?” He smiled that perfect smile.
“Whatever you want, pixy.” It's true Charlie would do whatever his raven-haired man wanted.
“Do you mind helping me finish the feedings?” Harry pushed out his bottom lip. He didn’t have to. Charlie was going to help, anyway.
“Sure, I was just taking a quick break.” The sores on his legs were not getting any better. He still tried to do the ointments and potions, but nothing seemed to work.
Harry
Harry was nervous. Of course, he told Charlie’s mum that he would love to meet them. He wanted to meet Charlie’s family, but what if they didn’t like him? Harry knew who people thought he was. This whole boy-who-saved the wizarding world. He shook his head. He was a baby. What happened was just dumb luck. He didn’t die. It wasn’t like he fought the dark lord.
All he had to do was just be himself. That is all he could do. His dad told him that the Weasleys were good people, and they had to be with how wonderful their son is. He was a very likable person, but most people in America didn’t know what role he played in the war in Britain all those years ago.
He couldn’t even talk to Fang because Barnaby and his dad took him on a picnic.
Harry was so in his head he didn’t hear his door open. He jumped when he felt strong arms around him.
“Hi.” Charlie's breath danced on his neck before he felt the red-head's lips on his skin. His body melted into his boyfriend's body.
“Hi. Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. Are we ready to go?” Harry turned in his boyfriend's arms.
“Yep, we could still back out?” Charlie stroked his back. Harry loved how tactile his Grumpy Bear was becoming.
“Nope! I’m ready to meet your family! It’s going to be great! It’s your mom's birthday and we get to see a baby, Charlie!” Charlie chuckled at him and he pulled him into another kiss before he stepped through the floo.
Harry tried not to tumble out of the fireplace, but his foot was caught on a rug. He waited for a thud, but he was caught in someone’s arms. He looked up into light blue eyes.
“Hello, Harry.” His rescuer’s dreamy voice said. “Floo travel can be tricky for everyone.”
Harry righted himself and held out his hand. “Thanks.. er, you have me at an advantage.”
“Oh right, I’m Luna. I’m Freddie’s wife, he is the tall one with red hair. He has a twin. Everyone can’t tell them apart, but they look completely different to me.” Harry smiled at the strange witch. Charlie has talked about Luna. She was even better than Charlie said.
“Of course I am Luna-loo. I’m the best-looking Weasley around.” Harry assumed was Fred walked up to the blond and kissed her forehead. Fred held out his hand, but his eyes went wide.
“Merlin! Georgie! Come look at Charlie’s boyfriend.” Harry backed up with those words. This might not have been a good idea. They were going to act strange because of who he was. Harry bumped into Charlie, who wrapped his arms around him and it calmed him instantly.
“Oh, wow brother of mine, he is beautiful. Too beautiful for our Charlie.” George, Harry guessed, said. He was holding a sweet bundle in his hands. Dark red curls haloed around the doll-like face.
“Who is too beautiful for our Charlie?” another redhead asked. This one must be Bill, he could tell because he was almost as tall as Charlie, but his hair was long and he had a bad-boy vibe. Even though he carried a baby as well, this one had bright red hair.
“Gods, yes, he is beautiful, and he is all mine. You vultures need to back up. Can we not even get in the house before you ambush us?” Charlie grumbled out, he glared at his family.
Harry squeezed onto his boyfriend's arm in thanks.
“Plus, Charlie is beautiful too.” Harry blurted out. “Sorry Fred, he is the best-looking Weasley.” Harry teased before Charlie pushed him through the first sea of redheads.
They walked further into the house. Soon they were in the kitchen. There stood another sea of redheads. Two of them were older, and Harry assumed they were Charlie’s parents.
“Charlie!” The older woman ran up to his boyfriend and pulled him into a hug. “I’m so glad that you could make it, dear!” She pulled away from her son and looked over at Harry with a smile.
“Harry! I’m so glad you are here as well! I don’t know why Charlie has been hiding you from us. It's as if he is embarrassed by us.” Charlie’s mom wrapped him in the biggest hug. How could that woman be so strong? His dad didn’t even hug him this tight, and he was a half-giant.
“Not you Mum, the twins maybe, but not you.” Charlie huffed playfully. “He needs to breathe Mum.” Harry thanked him with his eyes.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” She pulled away and looked into his eyes.
“It’s okay Mrs. Weasley. I’m happy to be here! Happy Birthday!” Charlie reached for him and Harry moved back towards him. It’s like his boyfriend knew he needed him.
“Oh, call me Molly. Mrs. Weasley is my mother-in-law. Harry, this is my husband Arthur, my son Percy, Ron, and my daughter Ginny.” Arthur’s smile was contagious. He looked a lot like Charlie. They had the same eyes, nose, and lips. Percy looked wound up tight. Charlie told him that his younger brother was very put together. Well, he didn’t say it that nicely. Ron was tall! Gods, was he tall! He had shaggy red hair, and he was freckled. Then Ginny, whose red hair was pulled up in a messy ponytail, looked just like her mother.
“Nice to meet you all. I’ve heard so much about you! Being an only child, it’s nice to hear about a big family!” Harry waved to all of them with a big smile. Arthur smiled, and Ginny winked at him. Ron smiled with a mouth full of food. Charlie said he loved to eat. Though Percy looked at him as if he was a potion trying to figure him out.
“So as I heard the twins say, you are The Harry Potter?” Percy questioned with his eyebrow raised. He heard Charlie huff and pulled him closer.
“Yeah, I guess I am sorry.” Harry shrugged. He felt as if Percy wasn’t impressed, and why should he? Harry is just a person.
“Mate, why are you sorry? You killed you-know-who.” Ron asked he looked at him as if he were crazy.
“I didn’t kill anyone. I was lucky. I’m not sure what happened that night, but I know it was a senseless war where many people died because of a prophecy. I was just a baby, and now I am just a man who runs a magical zoo with my dad.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Harry. I work at the ministry, and I know a lot about you. Like how you are one of the richest wizards in the world. Yet he is with a Weasley, not even the most successful Weasley. I also heard that you were top of your class for your year. You could have been anything, and you got a mastery in magical creatures. Such a waste, I say.” Harry wanted to like all of Charlie’s family, but he was having trouble liking Percy.
“Shut up, Percy!” Charlie growled out beside him. Molly clicked her tongue. Harry felt his temper rise. He would not let Percy talk about Charlie like that. He didn’t care what he said about him. “Sounds like you are jealous. What is your boss not fucking you anymore? Does he have a new secretary or something?” The taller redhead barked out.
“I have done nothing with my boss and why would I be jealous of someone who doesn’t know how important he is? What he could do for the wizarding community. He spends his time with creatures! Actually, I can see why he is with you. You are as bad a creature.” Harry's magic wanted to leash out if this was what it was like to have a sibling. He didn’t want one. Why would his brother say things about him like that?
“I can show you how much I am like a dangerous creature. Why don’t we go outside?” Charlie growled. Harry squeezed his hand. This is not what he wanted when meeting Charlie’s family for the first time.
“Boys! That is enough. Everyone comes to the table. It's dinnertime.” Molly placed her hands on her hips and glared at her children.
“And you told us to be on our best behavior,” Fred said behind him.
“Looks like you should have said something to perfect, Percy.” George followed close behind.
Luna grabbed him and pulled him away from Charlie. “I want you to sit by me. There is so much that I want to talk to you about! Is it true that you have demiguise?” Harry looked at Charlie. He looked upset still but smiled at him.
Charlie
After what happened in the kitchen, dinner was uneventful. What was Percy’s problem? He was going to have to talk to him. The night was almost over. They had their cake and opened all the presents. He knew his siblings had spoiled their mother. The woman deserved everything, even though she drove them crazy.
Harry sat beside him with his head on his shoulder. He kissed his boyfriend's raven-colored hair. Charlie was about to make an excuse and leave whenFred stood up clicking his glass.
“Mum, I for one want to say happy birthday again. I know since you had the best gifts ever, me and Georgie. Though your last gift is going to be a little late.” Fred looked over at Luna, who stood up with her dreamy smile. Fred wrapped an arm around her and placed a hand on her stomach.
“Luna is pregnant, you are to be a Nan again!” The entire room cheered and congratulated the happy couple. Charlie was excited to be an uncle again. Though he wonders when it will be his turn. Not that he was rushing it. He knew it would happen. He was scared that it would happen, but also excited.
Later that night, Charlie held Harry in bed. His fingers played with his boyfriend's hair. It was the best way to fall asleep. Charlie loved to play with Harry’s hair and it always made him fall asleep quickly. He also had fewer nightmares since he didn’t sleep alone anymore.
“Is your brother always like that?” Harry asked as he snuggled closer to him.
“Percy, yeah, he is always like that. We have always fought. He just thinks he is better than everyone, and I can’t stand that.” Charlie pulled Harry’s hair so their eyes could meet. “I’m sorry that he said all of those things about you.”
“You believe nothing he said, right? About you?” Harry nuzzled their noses together. “You are wonderful Charlie, you are sweet, protective, smart and yes, you may be grumpy but you love me and I can feel that love.”
Charlie wanted to argue with the smaller man, but he didn’t. He leaned down and brought their lips together. Harry kissed him one more time before he cuddled back into his chest.
Charlie was almost asleep when Harry asked him a question. “Do you think you ever want kids?” The smaller man whispered quietly. He knew he didn’t have to answer. He could pretend he didn’t hear.
“Yes, Harry. I want kids. Go to sleep, little pixy.” Charlie felt a smile on the smaller man's lips on his chest. He smiled back as his fingers continued to play with Harry’s hair until Charlie fell asleep.