Chains That Bind

Charlie and Iris returned to Hogwarts just to grab Iris's packages, and grab their overnight bags. Charlie was expecting a couple things, but was shocked to see Iris had four rather large boxes delivered to her. She had lit up at the sight, and explained one was a large seed order, and the other three was Dahlia tubers, daffodil bulbs, and tulip bulbs.

He helped take the boxes to the Herbology greenhouse that Iris had her experimental beds in, and then they quickly fetched their bags, met up with Andre, and headed to the Burrow.

By the time that had returned, the butterbeer had been delivered, along with all the sweets that Iris had ordered from Honeydukes.

“I mean, we should test some of the sweets, just to make sure we know the guests would like them.” Iris said to Andre and Charlie, who agreed and shared a couple desserts between them as they decorated the Burrow late into the night.

Around two a.m. They stepped back and looked at their work.

“Oh wow! It looks amazing!” Iris smiled.

“It does, doesn't it?”

“It does, I just wish there was something... More.” Andre said, stepping back and looking at the decorations.

“Well, why don't we sleep on it, and look at it with fresh eyes in the morning?” Iris suggested. “I'm so tired, and my eyes are burning.” Charlie looked over at her and noticed that her bright blue eyes were bloodshot.

“Yeah, I agree. I'm beat.” He nodded.

“Oh! Before we go to sleep, I have this!” Andre dug inside his bag and pulled out a green tube, “this is a clarifying mask! We all need to look our best for the party of the year.”

“We?” Charlie hesitated when he saw what Andre was holding.

Yes, Andre meant we, because he smeared that green clay mask all over his own face, Iris's and Charlie's. The three of them chatted, lounging in front of the fire in the living room, until Iris fell sleep on the couch. Andre and Charlie were still mildly awake as the fire flickered. Charlie looked over to Iris, and then heard Andre ask.

“So... Do you like her, or are you already head over heels for her.”

“I don't know, Andre.” Charlie admitted quickly. “I can't stop thinking about her, but at the same time Bill was like... In love with her, and Ben is too, and he's one of my best mates. What kind of friend and brother would I be if I... Well...”

“You'd be human.” Andre told him, “ we can't help who our hearts fall for. Straight up, I wish I could make myself fall in love with her, I can tell you I think she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, but that spark that's needed for romance, just isn't there. Falling for Iris would be so much easier then falling for a bloke, but here I am. Even being a interracial couple would be easier then being a gay man now. I can't waste my life on wishing and miss out on what can be. We like who we like, and if given the time and energy that turns into love.” Charlie had always had his suspicions about Andre's sexual preferences, but for him to speak so freely about it with him made Charlie feel good that his friend felt that level of comfort with him. That he knew Charlie well enough to know that he was safe giving him that information.

“Thank you, Andre. That makes a lot of sense.”

“I know it does.” He laughed. “It sucks, and it's a hard spot to be in, but you can't move forward with or without Iris until you actually ask her how she feels. Ben and Bill can be in love with her all they want, but if her affection lies with you, then it don't matter.”

“Do you by any chance know how she feels?”

“Girl is hard to read when it comes to her love life.” He shrugged. “With that said, I never seen her mack someone like she did you-”

“Don't put it that way!” Charlie squirmed. “It makes it sound like we mauled each other in public!” Andre laughed loudly.

“I think you two would have if the Professor's hadn't crashed the party. Have you ever talked about it with her?”

“No. I've thought about it, but never had the nerve to.”

“You want to work with Dragons for the rest of your life and you're afraid of asking Iris if she fancies you?” Andre asked him.

“In my defense, Iris is more terrifying then a dragon.” Charlie tutted, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I'll give you that.” Andre nodded with a chuckle. “Honestly, mate, you should talk with her. This whole party is to try and romance her, you need to talk.”

“I know. I just...”

“Your a Gryffindor, mate, be a Gryffindor. You are the house of the brave.” Andre encouraged him, and Charlie nodded.

“Thank you, Andre. I will, tomorrow I'll figure out where she stands.”

~*~

Charlie woke up before Andre but after Iris, who was vigorously scrubbing her face.

“This won't come off!” Iris shouted, talking about the green mask that Andre had put on them the night before. Charlie pulled out his wand and cast scurgify, watching the green clay disappear from his face. He had to admit... He did feel like he looked pretty good.

“Here,” he pointed his wand at Iris who had water and opaque green smudges on her face from trying to get it off. He cast it again, and watched as it disappeared from her face.

“Ahhhh.” Iris said as she ran her fingers over her face. “Oh wow... It does feel nice, doesn't it?”

“You know, I thought so, but I wasn't sure if it was just like Stockholm syndrome.”

“Stockholm syndrome is when you have feelings for something holding you hostage, Charlie.”

“I know what I said.” He told her, causing Iris to laugh happily. The front door opened, and Myron stepped in.

“Oio, Charlie. Where do you want us to set up?”

“You're here bright and early.” Charlie said going to meet him.

“Oio, you look different mate.” Myron said inspecting Charlie. “Did you do something to your hair?” Iris chuckled.

“Something like that.” She said, flipping some of Charlie's hair out with her hand. It had come undone in the middle of the night and he hadn't bothered tethering it back yet.

“I'll show you where I was thinking you'd be able to set up. I'll see you in a bit Iris.”

“Have fun, Charlie.” She waved him off as he went to the Orchard with the weird sisters.

“You look like you're glowing.” Andre yawned as he stretched his arms over his head.

“Thanks to you.” She smiled. “All right, Charlie is helping the weird sisters set up in the orchard as we speak!”

“And I'm almost finished decorating. You were right with the red. These decorations are going to have the party rocking. You always provide me brilliant inspiration.”

“Thank you, Andre. I just hope we can keep this party under control.” Iris told him a bit hesitantly. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, you can ask me anything.” Andre told her honestly.

“Does this all seem... Weird for Charlie?” She asked. Andre was glad she wasn't looking at him because he knew he shot up straight and was not succeeding in keeping his composure. “I mean... It's not like him to want to go to a big party, let alone throw a huge party.” Andre nodded.

“I get where you're coming from, but also keep in mind he's not living in Bill's shadow now, he's able to spread his wings and watch his own popularity grow. Maybe too, he just wants to have some fun.” He assured her. “Don't overthink it, yeah? Just have fun him.” Iris nodded.

“I suppose you're right. This is going to be a fun party.”

“It's going to be an epic party!” He laughed, finishing a balloon arrangement.

“This is going to be a disaster!” A squeaky voice hollered, steps thudding behind the two of them. “I see no one tried to shut this party down! Well, I officially and emphatically RSVP no!”

“Percy.” Iris tried not to roll her eyes, “word spread like fiendfyre. There was nothing we could do to stop it unless we hurt a lot of peoples feelings.” He huffed and marched over to the clock and pointed.

“You see this clock? It shows the whereabouts of the entire family at all times.”

“I know, Percy. My face is on it.” Iris reminded him gently.

“At any moment, Mum and dad's clock hands could move towards home! If that happens during Charlie's ridiculous party, it will be the end of the Weasley family line! Mum will see to it!”

“Percy-” But he cut her off.

“And it'll be the end of you too, Iris!” He almost sounded pleading. “Aren't you worried about getting caught?”

“Of course I am, Percy. I don't want any of us to get in trouble, but I do honestly feel like we have this under control. We can have the party, and clean up the evidence.”

“Don't expect me to help clean too.” He tutted and crossed his arms, raising his nose in the air. “If anything happens, I'll never become head boy.” Iris rubbed her head, feeling a headache. “I want nothing to do with any of you! I'm going upstairs and NEVER coming back down!” He howled and marched towards the stairs, taking them loudly. Andre slowly turned towards Iris.

“I wonder if Percy has ever experienced fun.” It made Iris laugh.

“I understand where he's coming from, but we can pull this off. And your decorations look perfect, Andre.”

“Well, thank you. I can't explain why though, but it still feels like something is missing.” He huffed, then looked at the empty table. “Didn't we have sweets on the table?” Andre asked and Iris gasped, seeing the table empty.

“I definitely filled that bowl with sweets from Honeydukes! And that platter had pumpkin pasties! And where did the cake go!” Iris shouted in a panic. “That was the one thing Charlie absolutely wanted at this party!”

“Iris, look!” Andre pointed to a crumb trail, leading from the table out the backdoor.

“Crumbs!”

“It appears we have a sweet thief in our midst.”

“I'll follow the trail and see where it leads, hopefully theres some left we can replicate.” Iris told him, leaving out the back door. As she shut the door-

“Everything ok, Iris?”

“CHARLIE!” She shouted, out of terror and surprise.

“Yeah...”

“Charlie, I'm so sorry, but something stole the sweets right off the table! And the cake!” She explained to him sadly, “Andre and I were finishing up the decorations and when we checked the table they were gone! There was a crumb trail leading out the back door though.” Charlie looked down and saw under his feet was a faint crumb trail.

“It looks like it leads out to the garden.” They followed the trail, still in their sleeping garb, neither one of them with their hair brushed, and expecting fellow students any minute. “I certainly hope Percy isn't trying to sabotage our party.” Charlie rubbed his face. “I wouldn't put it past hime with the way he's acting.”

“Before we start pointing fingers, let's find the stolen sweets.” Iris said as she opened the garden gate.

“You're right, Iris. Let's just see what we can find... The garden is sure a mess.”

“Who... Or what made all these holes?” Iris questioned, looking around the wrecked garden.

“Gnomes.” Charlie said in a grave voice that made Iris give him an odd look. “Gnomes! Oh no, one of Mum's chores was to de-gnome the garden!” He nearly growled.

“The garden is overrun with them, and they came in and stole the sweets! Little fuc-”

“I'll get the broom!” Charlie huffed over to the garden shed and grabbed a broom, and Iris smiled, reaching into the nearest hole to grab a gnome by the feet, pulling it out, and swung it over her head.

“Don't miss!” She shouted, flinging the gnome in Charlie's direction. He held the broom, and whacked the gnome over the stone garden fence with a laugh. To say that had fun was an understatement, she and Charlie laughed until their stomachs hurt, beating the gnomes over the wall in a competition that Charlie whipped her at.

“You know, for a beater you have a weak hit.” He chided with a smile.

“Oh shut up!” She laughed, pushing his shoulder lightly after they were done. “I could pop your head like a watermelon with my thighs and you know it.”

“I mean, between your thighs wouldn't be a bad thing-”

“Charles Septimus Weasley!” Iris shouted at his joke. “I can't believe you just said that!”

“I can't either.” He shook his head, chuckling. “On the upside, it looks like we got them all.” He rested his arm on the top of the broom, looking over the garden. “That was some of the fastest de-gnoming I've ever seen.”

“Well that's one problem solved. What about the sweets? Did we manage to save any?” Iris asked him, searching the garden.

“Here's a chocolate frog.” Charlie called, pulling an unopened package from the corn stalks.

“And here's a pumpkin pasty.” Iris plucked a uneaten pastry from the foxglove flowers.

“Any sign of the cake?” He asked, and Iris shook her head.

“I could look at some of your Mum's cookbooks and see if there's any recipes I could throw together really quickly.” Iris offered. “We could multiply the chocolate frogs, everyone would just get the same cards, then we could supersize the pumpkin pasty.”

“That's an idea!” He encouraged as the two of them headed to the orchard where the food would be set up. He cast the multiplying spell on the frogs while Iris cast engorgio on the pumpkin pasty, watching as it grew almost the size of the table. “That's the biggest pumpkin pasty I've ever seen.”

“Let's just hop it works.”

“It's much more memorable than a regular sized one at least.” He laughed. “Well, we've seemed to solve all the problems, the only thing left is to get dressed and greet the guests.”

“Cleaning up sounds great.” Iris showed him her dirtied arms and hands from where they had been in the garden. “And I have to put on my party outfit that Andre made.” Iris watched as Charlie seemed to turn pink across his cheeks and nose.

“Yeah, of course. You can always use Ginny's room, or mine, you know. Whichever.” He nodded.

“What's wrong?”

“Well, I may have already saw your dress.”

“Is that it?” She asked him, not wanting to press, but still wanting answers.

“Yeah, it's really pretty.” There was something in his voice that just sounded... Soft. It was a adjective that she would never use to describe Charlie. In that moment though it made her feel little butterflies in the lower pit of her stomach.

“Well, I can't wait to put it on then.” She smiled lightly. Charlie was cleaned up and dressed before Iris even started on her hair and makeup. He was out the door and helping the Weird Sisters with last minute fixes while Andre dolled her up proper.

He happened to love her in pink, so he had done a monochrome look on her face, pastel blush, pink shades on her eyes with black mascara that made her baby blue eyes look even brighter, and mauvy pink lipstick. He helped her brush her hair into a smooth ballerina bun, adorned with some flowers, and then helped zip her into his masterpiece.

Andre had made a cream colored tulle dress, full of colorful floral appliques he had created using the flowers Iris grew as a template and he wanted this party to be the red carpet for it.

To say Iris adored it was an understatement.

“Andre, you have made me some beautiful dresses, but this is my absolute favorite.” She twirled in it, feeling like a woodland pixie.

“This thus far has been my masterpiece.” He adjusted a few things, “just make sure everyone knows who created it, especially with the dance coming up.”

“Of course!” She told him happily, “I'm going to go outside and see if anything needs to be done or if we can just party.”

As soon as Iris stepped out, there were tons of people already there and partying. Penny appeared out of thin air, and grabbed Iris's arm.

“Oh Iris! Look at this turnout! And your dress! You look so pretty!” Penny gushed.

“It feels like half of Hogwarts is here.” Iris exclaimed.

“I'm sorry again for inviting, y'know, all these people. I hope you and Charlie don't get in trouble.” She admitted.

“It's ok, Penny. If everyone pitches in and helps clean up we should be fine.” Iris shrugged, not worrying too much. “Right now, it's just time to have some fun and relax for once.”

~*~

“Everyone I've talked to loves the party! The butterbeer is a hit, people love the giant pumpkin pasty!”

“You and Charlie have a lot to be proud of Iris,” Penny smiled. “Oh look, the Weird Sisters are getting ready to sing!”

“Hello and welcome to the Bash at the Burrow! We are the Weird Sisters, ready to rock n' roll your soul!?” Myron hyped the crowd up and Iris and Penny moved closer. “We almost didn't accept this gig, but Iris pulled me out of the funk and inspired me to embrace the darkness once again!”

“What did you tell him?” Penny asked.

“Not a bloody clue.” Iris laughed, remembering she had juts talked about all things dark and silly in her mind.

“Iris, this song is dedicated to you!” Myron yelled over the crowd as they went crazy.

Penny was able to get her dance off, and had pulled Iris into it. It was all fun and games, and afterwards Iris needed something cool to sip on and went to the butterbeer table.

“Hey Talbott!” She greeted, seeing him pouring himself a drink.

“Iris.” He nodded.

“I'll be honest, I'm surprised your here. This doesn't seem like your kind of thing.”

“Penny drug me here. I can say the same for Charlie.” He told her as she poured herself a glass, and took a rather big gulp. “People seem to be in a good mood.”

“I'll say.” Iris people watched for a second, and something just didn't seem right. “Maybe a little too good.” He shrugged and turned to the barrel of butterbeer in the middle, filled his glass, and took a sip. The fire like burn he felt gave him the answer Iris was looking for. He tapped her on the shoulder and held his glass out wordlessly. Iris gave him a look before taking a sip, and she nearly recoiled at the taste. “Is that-?”

“Fire whiskey?” Talbott asked. “I think so.”

“Which barrel?”

“The middle.” He answered and Iris took out her wand, wordlessly shrinking it to carrying size before she tasted the other two. Neither seemed to be spiked, and she let out a sigh of relief.

“Who would-” Her mind supplied exactly who would. “JAE KIM WHERE ARE YOU!”

“I can throw this in the rubbish, since you seem to have someone you need to find.” Talbott took the barrel and let Iris go on her search. The blonde looked high and low until she spotted him near the stage and pointed her finger accusingly at him.

Jae seemed to know exactly what she was hunting him down for and immediately left the conversation he was having to start running for the trees behind the stage. Because his back was turned, he did not see Iris turn into her animagus form, a huge Harpy eagle, and fly straight for him, and using her large bird body, she was able to knock him to the ground and pin him down.

“Did you honestly spike the freaking butterbeer!” Iris shouted at him, once she had transformed back into herself. She sat on his chest, shaking his shoulders, hoping to shake sense into him.

“Look, not that I don't love being between your legs, Iris, but I would assume you would have wanted people to loose their inhibitions.” Jae put up his hands .

“Why on earth would you think that!” Iris shouted, and then saw a look cross his face before he literally shook his head to rid himself of it. “Jae, what aren't you telling me?” She asserted but he just sat up and rolled her off him.

“I said too much, but look at it this way, your guests sure are having fun.”

“Because they don't know right from left!” Iris shouted, shaking him.

“IRIS!” A loud voice called, and Iris turned over her shoulder.

“Charlie! We need to talk.” She stood up and walked over to him, “Jae spiked the butterbeer, and a bunch of our guests are-” She took in a deep sniff. “Oh no.”

“You... Might attract bees.” Charlie said, extremely slowly, pointing to the flowers in her hair.

“Oh no.” She slapped her face. Charlie was gassed. “Charlie, come on.” She gently looped her arm around his to lead him inside to find something to remedy his high alcohol content rushing through his veins. She leaned him up against the long dining table as she started to rummage in the cupboards trying to find him something that would help him get some clarity again.

“Are you enjoying the party, Iris?”

“I was.”

“Are you mad at me, Iris?”

“No, I'm mad at Jae.” She told him, inspecting a potion she found.

“I'm sorry, Iris.” He mumbled as she turned to the pantry, but she stopped.

“Charlie, why do keep saying my name? You've been doing it a lot the last few days.” She asked, not really sure what kind of answer she was going to get but wanted to ask anyway.

“I like your name.” He answered quickly as Iris grabbed a couple vials to bring back over to the table. “I like the sound of it. It's pretty, like the flower.” He told her as she then turned to grab a glass of water. “Like you.” That stopped her in her tracks and she turned to see if he had grown a second head.

“I think that whiskey has gone straight to your head.” Iris told him.

“But you're enjoying the party?”

“Yes, Charlie, I am.”

“Good. I hoped you would. Your opinion is the only one that matters.”

“Why is that?” She asked starting to uncork the first potion.

“This party was to impress you.” He told her truthfully, his filter completely shut off.

“Me?” Iris asked him, giving him her full attention. Then like a lightbulb, everything fit into place from the very beginning of this party nonsense. “Charlie, you wanted to throw this whole party... Just to impress me?” He nodded, his eyes still foggy from the liquor and Iris now wondered what he had told the other guys, because Jae had said something about people loosing inhibitions. Just how many people had known... And not said anything to her about it.

“I wanted you to have fun. You never get to have fun. Like the last party we went to, remember? At the lost room?” Room of Requirement, her mind supplied. “And we did spin the bottle?”

He whispered like he was keeping a secret. “Remember? We danced... And you kissed me.”

“I remember.” She nodded, feeling her heart begin to race, and the blush creeping up her cheeks. Everything seemed to suddenly go into a vacuum, and Iris could only focus on her and Charlie.... Just like at the party he was referring to.

“You looked so pretty.” He told her honestly, his voice quiet and calm as he stood from where he was sitting on the table. Iris's brain foggily told her that this situation was wrong, because he wasn't thinking clearly but- “you're all I've been able to think about since then.” It was the sweetest declaration she had heard and her heart fluttered. His hands reached up, and in the most gentle touch, he held her face in his rough hands, like he was holding something breakable. He looked at her like she was something to be admired.

“Charlie...” Iris said his name weakly, she meant it to be more of a snap out of it sort of tone, but it was more kind. Charlie wasn't much taller then her, and didn't have to do much to close the gap between them, and she didn't stop him. In fact Iris just tipped her chin up, and made it easier for him to kiss her again.

His inhibitions must have truly been gone, because the way Charlie kissed her was nothing but passionate, everything that a girl thinks a true kiss should be. He wound his arms around her, one around her middle, the other up her back and held the back of her neck as he continued to kiss her again and again. Iris dropped whatever was in her hands and wrapped them around his neck, pressing them tight against each other, both equally giving and taking.

The two of them were pressed up against each other, and Iris swore she could feel Charlie's heart thumping against her breastbone. Then it occurred to her, it was more then likely her own. She was suddenly guided to turn, and found herself being pushed up against the table. Iris twisted her hip and get herself up onto the tabletop, and Charlie took that as an open invitation because he wedged himself right between her knees. He ran one of his hands up her leg, and pulled it up over his hip as his kissing trailed down her neck. Iris would have to thank Andre for telling her to wear her hair up in a bun, because it gave Charlie easy access.

It was quite possibly what Iris would describe as the most sexy experience of her life thus far, and only getting more intense when one of Charlie's hands moved down and stroked the outside of her thigh, scooting up her skirt as he went until he almost had a handful of her bum. His broad shoulder's and muscular build felt almost protective in that moment, and he slowly pushed Iris down, pulling himself up onto the table with her, practically laying on top of her. Iris's hands ran down his sides, and up under his shirt, noting his groan when her fingers ran across the bare skin of his sides.

There was no way this could get better... And it didn't.

“CHARLIE! IRIS!” Percy shouted and Iris all but threw Charlie off of her. In his state, he actually lost his footing and fell directly onto the floor while Iris quickly fixed her skirt and smoothed her ponytail.

“DiDn'T hEaR yOu cOmE dOwN.” Iris shakily said, her voice cracking.

“Well I assumed that since you two were practically mauling each other!” He shouted as he marched down the stairs, and walked over to the two of them. Charlie was smiling to himself, hair mussed up. “Sweet Merlin, he's gassed!”

“Maybe a little.”

“I knew this was a bad idea! I told the two of you so! Mum and Dad could walk in, and see him pissed out of his mind!”

Percy... Of all the Weasley's it had to be Percy.