Memory
Charlie stared up at the ceiling, feeling still as a board. Iris was sound asleep next to him, her back facing him, and he counted that as a win. If she felt comfortable enough to fall asleep in his presence, that was a good sign she at least trusted him not to kill her in her sleep. He though, had never shared a bed with anyone, where as Iris shared a bed with Ben for seven years of marriage, and maybe even some time before that if they were sneaking around at Hogwarts.
He looked over at her, Iris was not a elegant sleeper. One foot hung out the side of the bed, she was half on her belly half on her side, both arms wrapped around her pillow, snoring lightly, with her long hair in a braid laying across the bedspread next to her. He rolled over onto his side, and faced her back, he wasn't sure what she would think if she woke up and found him sleeping in her direction, but it was how he slept.
He tried counting sheep, but that didn't work. Instead his mind played memories.
Such as the one time... He almost kissed Iris.
Iris had agreed to come to the burrow for Christmas, and most of the students had already went home for the Holidays. The Weasley's had been out of the country, visiting a sick relative, and so Charlie, Iris, and Percy had agreed to leave school via the floo a few days after everyone else.
Charlie had decided to help Hagrid put up an extra tree, and when he was putting the star on, he had fallen off the ladder. He had been in the bed a lot longer then he thought was necessary, but Iris had went above and beyond to make sure he had a good Christmas. She had bought his last minute gifts, written to the Weasley's that they would have to come and get Charlie because Snape wasn't going to let him leave, and even got him a Christmas present.
When he had learned all that from his Mum, he had asked for her to help him make something for Iris and he had quickly knitted her a pair of pink socks. He knew she was one of the most feminine girls at school, but she also wore lots of rain boots, and wanted to make sure these would be tall enough for her to wear with her wellies.
While his parents talked with Snape, he and Iris sat in the hospital wing exchanging their gifts early.
“I think I'm feeling better just being out of bed.” He told her honestly, perched up on one of the tables.
“I'm glad, I wish you could have seen Hogsmead though, it was beautiful all covered in snow.” Iris told him, playing with one of the long curly bows on top of the gift.
“I'm impressed with your gift wrapping skills,” he joked, seeing how pretty hers were wrapped.
“Hey now, at least they don't look like an owl tried to get a mouse out of them!” She laughed loudly, pointing out is harshly wrapped present. “I don't suppose you've seen Hagrid? I have a gift for him too.”
“Sorry, I haven't.” He looked over at Iris, “do you feel like opening them earl-”
“Yes!” She answered excitedly, holding her present out to him. He smiled and took the gift, carefully unwrapping it. “There's three small things in there.”
“Three?” He asked.
“Yes, but one is from Bilton.” She explained. He pulled out the lightweight first gift and saw his and hers favorite sweet treat.
“Sugar quills! Those are great, I always have a sweet tooth in my afternoon class. Thank you.” He then dug out the second, “a dung bomb... Bilton has a cruel sense of humor.” He smiled though, “perhaps I'll regift it to Tulip.”
“She'll enjoy it if you don't.”
“And... A golden snitch?” He asked, pulling out the leather box with a brand new snitch inside.
“Yeah, I thought you'd need one to practice with if you're going to be the best chaser Hogwarts has ever seen.” She smiled at him. Charlie opened the box and saw the little snitch expand it's wings, trying to fly away, but was still strapped into the box. He had never had a new piece of Quidditch equipment, and he had only told a few people that he was going to try out for the newly opened Seeker position. Iris looked at him with a glance filled with hope, and he knew that he had to make her proud. People seemed to always have a way of letting Iris down, and while he never heard her complain he knew it must have hurt her, and he vowed he wouldn't do it to her.
“Thank you, Iris... This is one of the best presents I've ever received.” He told her honestly.
“Oh, Charlie, that's really sweet. I'm glad you like them.” She smiled in such a content way that he felt a pulse in his heart. He handed her the gift he had for her, and watched as she turned her head down to open the gift, noting the red ribbon in her hair. The red really made her hair look white in color, and he noted that her hair was actually straight, void of any curl or wave. “Oh Charlie! Did you make these?” She asked, pulling out the pink socks.
“I did, Mum helped coach me, but yeah.” He nodded.
“These are wonderful, they're tall too, I'll be able to wear them with my wellies.” She noted, standing up. “Thank you.” She held her arms out and they hugged one another. Iris pulled away first, and Charlie found himself holding onto her still. This caused them both to look at one another for a moment, and Charlie found himself staring at Iris's lips, red with her Christmas lipstick.
He actually found himself leaning in, fully intending on kissing her if she would let him, and he thought for sure she leaned in herself. Hell, he could feel her breath on his face they were so close-
“I do not think I need to warn you about the rules of school to the two of you.” They heard Snape's voice, and quickly pulled apart from one another quickly. “Twenty points from Gryffindor.” He then skulked away in his typical behavior.
Mood ruined. Yet Iris still made him Holiday Blancmange. That still baffled him to this day. He had never wanted to clobber someone so bad in his life.
And the one time, he did kiss Iris.
It was such a long locked away memory that he had tried to forget. Why his tired brain was forcing him to remember these memories was beyond him.
Sixth year, one of the seventh years had managed to find the room of requirement and had been able to get it to play host to one of the craziest parties Hogwarts had ever seen. There was loud music thanks to the weird sisters, lights flashing and people dancing and singing.
He had been roped into going by Jae, Murphy, and Orion. He truthfully had no interest in going and would have rather stayed in the vacated Gryffindor dorm reading.
“I've seen the outfits the girls are wearing, trust me, it's worth going.” Jae had told him. How Jae had already seen the girls was not something he wanted to dwell on. They were almost at the room of requirement when the four boys heard giggling.
Penny, Chiara, and Iris, Hogwarts's blonde bombshells. It was hard to focus on anything besides the three girls together as they walked down the hall towards the guys.
“Ladies, there is a 100% chance you are going to be the prettiest ones at this party!” Murphy announced happily when the trio was within a few feet.
“Oh stop!” Penny giggled.
“No, no, go on, I like this.” Iris joked.
Charlie swallowed hard, understanding why Jae had said trust him when it came to how the girls were dressed. All were wearing dresses that were so different from what they typically wore.
Penny had on a yellow crop top and matching skirt, with knee high white gogo boots that made her look straight from the 60's, with her hair teased and curled away from her face with a matching yellow headband.
Chiara had on a simple short black dress with long sleeves, her signature necklace, and her shoulder length grey hair had been curled into loose waves.
As with most of the Weasley boys, Charlie's eyes fixated on Iris. Her hair seemed to defy gravity, her hip length white blonde hair had been pulled up into a high ponytail that trailed along her back, just the bottoms in her signature curls and waves. She was wearing thigh high boots and a pale pink, short, dress that had the thinest straps he had ever seen, showing off the skin around her shoulders, chest, collarbones and neck. It was a new sight seeing that much skin on Iris, even when she wore formal dresses and such, her hair was usually always done up and covered her shoulders.
“May I have the honor, my lady?” Murphy smiled, holding his arm out to Penny. She giggled and wrapped her hand around his arm,
“You may,” she said with a smile, walking with him to the room of requirement.
“I shall offer you the same, Chiara Lobosca.” Orion offered his hand to Chiara, who turned pink in the cheeks. Iris elbowed her good naturedly and watched as her shy friend took Orion's hand. Iris eyed between Charlie and Jae,
“I didn't think you'd come.” Iris said simply to Charlie, “this... doesn't seem like your kinda thing.”
“It isn't. I was dragged against my will.” He told her honestly.
“Well, I'm glad you came.” In a moment that was entirely Iris, she held her arm out to Charlie, “may I escort you, good sir, to your first Hogwarts party?” He laughed loudly at her before he took her arm, letting her lead him to the door.
Once in, all it was was loud noise and a bunch of crazy lights, and bodies. So. Many. People. Iris almost immediately was pulled off in some direction and he was left to try and figure out what he was suppose to do. He found food and something to drink, and a table to sit at and people watch for a while.
A slow dance started in the air, and couples began to trickle off to dance. Charlie saw Iris out of the corner of his eye and noticed her look directly at him and give him a help me on her lips. He stood and started towards her, but before he could see what she needed help with, he saw Diego grabbing her hand and kissing it. Ah. He didn't blame her for not wanting to dance with Diego, he flirted relentlessly and it could be tiring.
“Sorry, Diego, but Iris promised me a slow dance.” Charlie said all but grabbing Iris from his grasp.
“Quick quick! Go!” Iris whispered, pulling Charlie onto the dance floor. “Thank you.” She sighed when they were with one another, mingled with the rest of the couples that had paired off.
“I get it, he cane be a bit much. He flirts with the guys as much as he does the girls.” Charlie nodded. “I have no idea what I'm doing though.” He admitted.
“Just do what everyone else is doing.” She placed her hands up on his shoulders, close to his neck, and he lightly placed his hands on her waist, starting to sway and circle in place. Charlie worried that it would be awkward, but he actually found himself enjoying it... Slightly. Iris made light conversation with him over the music and made him feel at ease about the entire thing. Until the song ended and Penny came running over.
“Hey, we're going to do spin the bottle! Come on!” To his sheer horror, Penny grabbed Iris's wrist, and his. The two were pulled into a corner with a empty fire whiskey bottle and a dozen or so of their friends sitting in a circle. Iris slipped in between Chiara and Andre. He was about to slip away when he felt a hand on his ankle.
“No way, if I have to play, so do you!” Tonks warned him, all but pulling him to the ground between her and Tulip. Alanza reached into the middle and spun the bottle hard, and Charlie watched the amber bottle spin and spin until it slowed and pointed to Tulip. To his absolute shock, Tulip and Alanza actually kissed and he nearly fell over. It wasn't anything passionate or what he expected, it was just a quick peck like the one his parents would share when his dad was running late. Jae spun it next, and by the look on his face Charlie guessed he was the one who suggested the game.
When it landed on Tonks, her face immediately turned into a fish.
“Come here baby!” She squealed and Jae laughed, actually having a sense of humor about the situation, he made fish lips himself and leaned to peck Tonks. The group laughed good heartedly at the interaction, and while Charlie relaxed, he hoped that the bottle wouldn't land on him.
Penny ended up spinning, and kissing Chiara which caused quite a ruckus from not only the circle, but the surrounding people who looked over. Then, Iris placed her hand on the bottle, giving it a good twist, and let it go. The amber spun, spun, spun... Until it slowed, and Charlie could feel his heart beating heavy in his chest as the bottle slowly made it;s way around and stopped on him.
Iris's big blue eyes met his brown ones from across the circle, and he swallowed heavily as he watched Iris lean forward, her hands on the ground to bridge the large gap between the two of them and he tried not to gape at the cleavage he saw at this particular angle. His body leaned forward on its own accord, he closed his eyes, and he felt her lips meet his in a gentle, tentative kiss.
Theirs though was not as quick as the other's, the kiss lasted longer and when Iris went to pull away he found her lips again, pressing a little firmer the second time. He felt fingertips on his jaw and for a tiny second, he felt Iris's tongue run along his bottom lip-
Charlie opened his eyes and looked at the clock. Quarter til five. Sleep would evade him no matter how much he tried.
Then, an idea hit him. Iris had wool, tons of it from the sheep. He could gather some, get his mother to help him dye it, and make her another pair of socks. It was a gesture he was sure would make her happy, perhaps even gather a smile from her. He peered over at her, still sleeping soundly, and decided to get up for the day.