Charlie
She went up to Ginny’s old room. I stayed by the windowsill watching her go up. I turned back to look at the stars, wishing for the same thing that I had been hoping for the last three years for. Her.
I made my way to my bedroom. Looking at the walls that had remained the same since I left for Romania at the age of 18. It had been a welcomed break from the hectic family life, but as the years went on it got too quiet for me. I missed so many family gatherings and important milestones.
After the war I visited more often, I made sure to come for holidays and birthdays. Since there was plenty, I was here almost once a month. Percy had to pull some strings to get me the ability to floo home on those occasions.
This week was an exception, I came in secret, I wanted to surprise everyone and needed a week break from the reserve. I had come back in hopes of finally asking out Hermione.
Over the last few years, I started to see her as a woman, instead of my little brother’s best friend. I never wanted to cross that barrier, there were too many complications if she had said no, or if she said yes and things ended badly.
Instead, I came home and found out that she was coming to Romania. Joy shot through me until I realized she didn’t even know what the job entailed. Hermione was never one to agree to something without knowing all the details, she was too practical for that. Then she invited me to walk in the orchards, I could see that look on her face. I knew something was wrong then.
When she told me what had happened with Malfoy, I wanted to find him right there and then. I managed to keep my feet on the ground. To let her finish telling me the story. Then she said she was pregnant. Thinking back on it I was probably too shocked to give her complete answers.
All I could think was it’s over for me, it’s selfish, but I felt a little piece of my heart break. I was too late to tell her my feelings. By the time she finished talking I was almost composed because she was a wreck. I let her cry into my shoulder, if nothing else I could be the person who helps to keep her whole. Even if it meant breaking a little piece of me.
I had spent the next few days bent on that information, teasing her, acting like everything was normal. I stopped by on Wednesday because I wanted an excuse to see her. Telling mum that I wanted to help her wasn’t a lie, I did want to help. I volunteered myself for manual labor because it meant that we would spend the day together, just the two of us.
Then Malfoy just had to show up. I heard her yelling and ran down the hall to see what was happening. I saw him and I saw red. I don’t remember what happened up until Hermione told us to stop. But I got out what I needed; his face was bad. Bloody idiot only got one hit in on me. I was satisfied until I saw Hermione crying again. Then I couldn’t say I was sorry enough.
When I accompanied her to the doctor today, I was nervous. I held down my facial expressions, I feared that I would make her uncomfortable. Then the Healer’s wand showed the blue and pink colors, and I was confused, having never been to one of these appointments. Then she said twins and my face grew into a grin, but Hermione’s stayed with shock.
I knew we had to leave the Healers as soon as possible. I thanked the Healer and gathered the paperwork from her. As soon as we made it back to Grimmauld, I realized Hermione was not okay. She told me to send the Patronus and I did, my voice was shacky.
I told Ginny, Somethings wrong with Hermione, come quickly, bring Mum.
I knew that it would be okay after mum calmed her. And it was, Hermione looked better. She spent most of the time in the burrow next to me, hugging me. In fact, the last couple of days she spent sitting next to me or being next to me in some capacity. I felt a great sense of pride, that it was me who gave her that sense of security. She was relying on me instead of one of my siblings.
I fell asleep with a smile on my face. Knowing that I was going to talk with my brothers tomorrow, and we can plot our revenge.
. . . . . ..
Mum made us breakfast and then requested our help in the garden. I told her that I told the twin’s that I would help them with something in the shop. I had a feeling she knew what we were up to, because of the nod she gave to me. Hermione asked to tag along but mum told her that she needed some help with garden, and it was just some light things, until I got back.
“You could use some sun light dear, the ministry kept you inside all of the time.” Mum told her.
Hermione looked between the two of us. “Okay, I could use a break from the real world, and now that I know I look pregnant, best to avoid Diagon.”
She went upstairs to change into something else. Mum stopped me before I walked into the fireplace to floo. “Charlie, nothing too drastic. Enough to hurt him, but nothing to tie us directly. You understand?”
“Yes mum.” I gave her a kiss on the forehead and left the burrow.
When I got to the shop it was closed, there was no light coming in either, they must have not wanted anyone to see us in here. I followed the sound of talking to the back room. Inside I found my brothers, Ginny, and my father.
“Pop? Didn’t expect to see you here.” I raised my eyebrow. He was never one to get into our shenanigans, but last night he did show more anger than I’ve ever seen on his face.
“I wanted to help you lot. He should get what he deserves.” Dad gruffed. “Your mother agrees.”
My siblings all agreed, “Good to know that we all are relying on our burning hatred.”
“Well, we have a few options. That we could do, one of which is leak false stories of him to the press. Give the ferret a chance to squirm for a while.” Ginny Said, sitting on a couch with Harry.
“That’s not enough, I say we just beat the shit out of him.” That came from Bill leaning against a bench. He got approval from the twins and Ron.
“That might not work anymore.” This came from Harry. “He walked into the ministry after what Charlie did to him. It was mostly healed, but people were starting to ask questions.”
I rolled my eyes at that. “I should have done more, but Hermione stopped me.”
“Yes, but ‘Mione did tell him that she would let the twins ruin him, so they’re probably our last real chance to get back at him without Malfoy causing too much of a stir.” Ron pointed out.
“Yes, my boys, what have your mischievous minds thought of today?” Dad looked to the twins who were sitting standing over a cauldron.
“We might have a plan, but it requires everyone to help, and we need to be quick.” George’s grin grew. That was how we knew that this would be good.
“We propose something simple, but it will change his public persona. Something along the lines of a truth serum. Not necessarily Veritaserum, but something that makes you tell someone their worst trait.” George started.
“So, if he went around the ministry telling that to people, word would spread pretty quickly, and he would be ruined. The part that involves all of you is to keep away the people that know Hermione, so Kingsley, Pansy, and the people from her department. So, someone would need to keep an eye on him for at least 12 hours.”
They both looked around the room, my guess was trying to figure out if we were on board. I liked the idea, it made him mess himself up, make an arse of himself. Who knows, maybe piss off the wrong person.
Fred continued. “We will need a while to get the potion correct, so we will need help, probably from you Percy. You were the best at potions along with me.”
“You guys can look through the books at Grimmauld too, there are some potion books that look really old.” Harry spoke out.
I never minded Harry, He and Ginny got married two years ago, but they sometimes feel like an old married couple, just like mum and dad.
“I like this idea. I can probably follow him, but it would have to be done under a Polyjuice, because he knows what I looks like. But I can smell him out so it would be easier for me.” Bill said.
Dad had a big grin on his face. “I can get behind this. I can have Kingsley out of the office that day, and Percy can handle keeping Hermione’s old team busy. Just tell them that they’re needed for some updated training.”
From there we started to brainstorm dates and failsafe plans in case something went wrong. Normally this is best by Hermione, but we can’t ask her to do this. This is our personal revenge on him.
“I think Hermione would be proud of our planning skills.” I told the group.
“I honestly cannot think of one good reason as to why he would do this to her. We all welcomed him into our lives after the war. Then he goes and asks her to be a mistress.” Dad said. “She’s like our daughter, especially after what happened with her parents. I want to bludgeon his bloody head in. What made him think that he could just get away with this?”
“We’ll get him pops.” I told him. “Dumb bastard has no idea what’s coming for him.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Percy stayed behind to help the twins with their potion, and the rest of us went our separate ways. Ginny pulled me aside from the rest while they walked out the front door.
“Charlie, I need you to watch out for her. I don’t mean like every four days or so. I need you to be there, she might seem alright and cheerful but she’s not. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere. Maybe convince her to move in with you. You said that she would spend most of her time on the reserve anyway, right?”
“Yes, but you know that is she feels like a burden then she won’t go for it.” I countered. “I thought about it, but she wants to have her footing.”
“I know, but just in case anything, please.” She pouted her lip, like she used to do as a kid, and we gave her everything she wanted.
I ran my hand through my hair. “Okay, you have my word.”
“Yes, you are my favorite brother!” She gave me a hug and ran to catch up to Harry.
I went to the fireplace, ready to floo back to see her.