Chains That Bind

“Oi, Iris!” Tulip hollered walking in the front door. “Did you know half your guests are drunk?”

“HALF THE GUESTS!?” Percy shrieked.

“Charlie, drink this.” Iris shoved a vial in his hand. “Percy, we're going to make sure that nothing happens to the Burrow.”

“yeah, we aren't reckless strangers. We're all your friends.” Tulip offered, looking at the vials on the table. “Charles, you're gonna need this one too.” She popped the lip off and handed it to him.

“Yeah, you should come have some fun with us.” Iris tried to get Percy to calm down. “It's the reason I invited you, you are our friend, and you deserve to have fun too.”
“I just don't want to get in trouble with Mother and Father.”

“You won't be responsible, Percy. I promise.”

“Well, at least with you on my side they'll know the truth.” He huffed. “The party can continue, but oif anyone sills one more drop of butterbeer, you will meet my broom bristles!” He warned. Before anything else could happen, there was a slight sizzling in the air.

“What's that noise?” Iris asked, and Tulip looked pale.

“Dungbomb!”

“NOOOOOOOO!” Percy's shrill cry carried through the house. “The smell! It's rancid! It's getting all over Mother's upholstery!”

“Out! Out! Everyone out!” Iris shouted, throwing her arms under Charlie's and pulling him to his feet. Percy and Tulip ran out the door and Iris and Charlie managed to hobble out. It seemed that the potions were helping, as Charlie had better footing then he had before.

Green ooze smoked from the windows and the door, as they all looked at the disaster. Guests outside the house were even gagging.

“Well, Iris, this was a disaster, as I predicted.” Percy scolded.

“Not so loud Percy.” Charlie mumbled, rubbing his forehead.

“Look on the bright side, Percy... At least the party's over.” Iris snickered.

“Not funny, Iris!”

“The pigs are riled up.” Charlie pointed out. Iris tetatively removed her arms from Charlie, where she had been helping him keep his balance, and walked over to the pig pen.

“Tulip... Why are you hiding with the pigs?” She asked, unamused.

“Don't mind me... Just, partying with the pigs.” The redhead swore, but one look Iris was able to get her to confess. “Alright, it was me... But it was an accident! You were there! I didn't mean for it to go off.”

“What were you doing even bringing a dungbomb to the party?” Iris questioned her.

“I always carry them with me.” Tulip said simply. Iris took in a deep breath and let it out.

“You know what... It's all right, I know it wasn't intentional.”

“I can't believe you're going to forgive her, just like that!” Percy howled at Iris.

“Back off Percy.” Charlie put his hand on Percy's shoulder, keeping him at arms length from Iris in a protective way.

“This is exactly why I didn't want a party in the first place!”

“I'm sorry, Percy, I didn't want the party to end. It must have just been a faulty bomb.” Tulip swore.

“The whole party was ready to see you cut loose.” Iris smiled, trying to get Percy to lighten up.

“I can't believe this!” A voice carried from behind them and, and both Charlie and Percy's color drained from their faces.

“Bill!” Iris shouted, both excited to see him, and wishing he would have stayed at work a little longer. “You're back.”

“I can't believe you threw a party.” He shook his head at the three of them, before he gave them a smirk. “Without me!” He laughed, and Iris saw the fear disappear from Charlie and Percy's faces. “Though, judging by the smell of things, I'm glad I wasn't here.”

“Things got a little out of control.” Iris nodded.

“I should say, you should have seen what Iris and Char- YAOWWWWW!” Percy was cut off by Iris jamming her finger painfully into his ribs.

“I'd say things got a lot out of control.” Bill laughed. “So, you threw a epic party. I hope you're readey for epic consequences.”

“Molly said everyone will be responsible no matter what, so we're in it together.” Iris told him. “Except for Percy, I know you wanted nothing to do with this from the start.”

“Make sure mother hears you say that.” He told her.

“Why don't we go inside and assess the damage.” Iris nodded, and the three Weasley's lead the way, but Charlie lagged behind with Iris.

“I feel like I got ran over by a Horntail.”

“Not a Horntail, just Irish Firewhiskey.” Iris joked. “You look a little rough.” She flicked some of his hair out of his face and tried her best to smooth it out... And wipe her lipstick off his chin.

“How out of it was I?” He asked when Bill and Percy were out of earshot. “I mean, I was watching the weird sisters, having a butterbeer with Jae, and then I remember the rancid smell of a dungbomb.” The look that washed over Iris's face must have been extremely evident, because Charlie saw it and asked, “woah, you ok? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“You don't remember... Anything?”

“I remember little bits and pieces, like you, and Percy screeching-”

“THE CLOOOOOOCK!”

“Like that.” Charlie said, after Percy stopped screaming.

“Let's put a pin in this conversation, cause we need to talk, ok?” Iris assured him as she hurried in the house.

“It's shattered.” Charlie said sadly when he saw the family clock in pieces. Before anyone could register it, Percy's eyes rolled back and he toppled over onto the floor. Bill, Charlie, and Iris looked down at him.

“Hmmm. Well, Mum will notice that.” Bill said simply.

“Can a spell put it back together?” Iris asked.

“Oh, brilliant, let's try it.” Bill nodded as he pulled out his wand. Charlie bent down and picked Percy up as best he could and drug him over to the loveseat and all but plopped him into it. “Reparo.”

Magic was magical most of the time, and watching the broken and shattered pieces float and meld back together was something to be seen. Iris let out a happy sigh.

“It's back in one piece.” Charlie checked.

“However...” Bill tutted, taking a closer look. “The hands aren't moving.”

“So it fixed everything but the machinery.” Iris surmised.

“The inner workings of a clock are extremely complex.” Bill noted as Charlie delicately began to remove the face and inner working of the clock from the large frame. “This will take either a professional clock keeper or a talented wizard.”

“We could ask Dumbledore.” Iris offered. “He's the most talented wizard I know.”

“Going all the way to the top, eh? Bold move Iris.” Bill laughed. Charlie looked between the two of them, a flame of jealousy sparking in his chest at the banter Bill and Iris had. “Just be careful what you say, he wouldn't be thrilled to hear of a party at the Burrow.”

“Let me see it Charlie.” Iris held out her hands and Charlie delicately placed it in her open palms, their hands touching briefly, and Charlie swore he felt a shock. “If you guys can get this cleaned up, I'll make sure this gets fixed.” She swore.

“We can handle that.” Bill nodded, turning to open some windows.

“Are you sure you don't need me?” Charlie asked her quietly.

“Yeah, I don't want him to get suspicious if we're both acting jittery.” She assured him. “I'll be back soon.” She smiled, and headed towards the fireplace.

~*~

“Charlie!” Iris's voice called when she floo'd back to the Burrow. “Dumbledore fixed the clock!” The redhead appeared from around the corner and smiled bright as she held the mechanics out towards him.

“Fantastic! I hope he didn't suspect anything.” He told her, taking it to return to the clock.

“He always suspects something.” Iris laughed, “especially where I'm concerned.”

“Let's just hope it works once it's in the clock.” Charlie told her as he went to repair it. Bill appeared with a broom and Percy looked glum as ever as they all watched as Charlie put the face of the clock back into place. “It's working! You're brilliant, Iris!” He praised her, and she beamed up at him, then turned her eyes to the clock.

“Hang on a second...”

“Mum and Dad's clock hands are moving! They're heading home!” Charlie shouted.

“Clean like my life depends on it!” Percy shouted, waving his wand around, cleaning up the last bit of the mess. “Who's going to scrub the rug?”

“No one os scrubbing the rug.” Iris mentioned, casting surgify. Charlie wiped down all traces of residue from the fireplace mantle and the shelving, while Bill worked on sweeping the floor. In just a few minutes, everything looked sparkling.

“We did it!” Charlie all but collapsed in one of the chairs. The door opened and Molly's voice carried through the house.

“Hello children!” She greeted as she walked in, and saw her oldest boys and Iris. “That includes you dear.” She assured Iris, patting the girls cheek.

“Welcome home,” Charlie pulled himself up from the chair to stand between Bill and Iris.

“It's nice to see you, Mr and Mrs. Weasley.” Iris smiled.

“Hmmm....” Molly hummed. “Why are you all standing around like that?”

“Like... What?” Charlie asked sincerely.

“Like you're guilty of something.” Molly tutted.

“The only thing we're guilty of is cleaning the burrow for you, and degnoming the garden.” Charlie smiled, best he could to play it cool.

“We finished just as you got home.” Iris added.

“Yes, it is quite clean... Cleaner than the burrow's ever been, in fact... Too clean.” Molly narrowed her eyes at the four of them. Iris did her best to keep composure, she was used to lying to adults but Molly was practically her mother, and lying to her mother she was not used to. “I suspect foul play! Fess up, the lot of you, and I'll go easy on you.” The boys remained quiet, and Charlie leaned into Iris, in a way that covered her arm and shoulder, so that he could grab her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. “All right. Iris. You're our peacemaker, did something happen?”

“Yes ma'am. It was my fault.” Iris began.

“Iris-”

“A friend of mine thought it would be funny to put a dungbomb in my bag, and it went off. So it stunk up the entire house.”

“Oh deary!” Molly tutted, “what kind of friend does that? Are all your cloths soiled? I can throw them in the laundry so you have clean clothing when you go back to Hogwarts.” She all but smothered Iris in affection, while the boys just looked on bewildered. “Who would do such a thing to you... Boys help your father with our bags, I need to start on Iris's dresses.”

Iris handed over her bag and Molly went immediately to work to remove any residue from Iris's things, while the boys helped Arthur with the bags.

“You didn't have to do that.” Charlie whispered, finding Iris in the kitchen.

“Well I did.It meant a lot to you, and I knew I could fess up without getting in trouble.” She winked and grinned at him.

“Well I'd rather them know about the dungbomb rather then the broken clock.” Charlie admitted.

“So was the party everything you hoped it would be?” Iris asked him, hoping for him to maybe recollect what had happened a few hours earlier.

“I know I had fun, but I don't know about anyone else.” He laughed. “The dungbomb may have put a permanent stink on the whole thing. The whole point of the party was to show people another side of me.”

“Who cares?” Iris said honestly. “You are an amazing person, Charlie, and if you have to try and be something you're notto impress them, then it's not worth it. I think being the dragon guy and the quidditch guy is impressive, and as your friend I know there's even more to you then that.”

“Thank you, Iris.” Charlie felt his heart thump against his chest, because they were standing so close to one another, and alone for the moment. There was palpable energy in the air, and Charlie felt a feeling of deja-vu.

“Oh, I have something for you.” He said suddenly, turning to grab a bag on the table. “Here.”

“You didn't have to do anything for me.”

“I wanted to, you helped pull everything off anyway, it was the least I could do.” Charlie told her while she pulled the clock out of the bag. “It's a mini version of our family clock.”

“Oh Charlie... That's so sweet.” Then Iris looked up at him with her big blue eyes, “thank you. I love it.” And his knees nearly gave out under him. Then she asked a question that changed everything.

“Charlie, is there... Anything you want to tell me? Anything at all, you know you can trust me.” Iris tried, hoping he may make the same declaration with a clear head as he did when he was drunk. Charlie looked at Iris, and he felt like she was reading his soul with her stare. Her eyes were beautiful, but they also were excellent at making someone squirm. This was his opportunity to tell her how he felt, what he thought of her, and to see what she thought of him... Of the possibility of them.

Then he thought about Bill. He could see the anger, betrayal, and hurt in his brother's face if he told him that he had pursued Iris, and that she had chosen Charlie over him. He thought about all the times Bill had confided in Charlie about how much he cared for Iris, all her attributes, and how he felt about her. Charlie, found himself admiring all those same things that Bill did. He could see a life with Iris, it was tentative, but he could see them being happy...

But he couldn't do that to Bill.

“No. I'm fine.” He gave her the best smile he could, but there was still sadness. Just like that, he watched the beginnings of his hope and dream of Iris fade into dust, and it almost made him physically ill. She wasn't even his to speak of, but letting her go was the most difficult choice he had made thus far in his seventeen years.

Iris starred at him for a few tense seconds, pursed her lips, and simply nodded.

“Ok... I guess, thats that then.”

Things between them were never quite the same after that. It wasn't like they weren't still friends, or couldn't have fun and a laugh with one another. It was just... A little more fragile then it had been before. After the Spring Holiday, Iris and Ben had returned and announced that they were officially dating, and to say it felt like a knife to the heart would be an understatement. He had went to bed early that night, cast silencio over his bunk, and wept himself to sleep.

What was worse, was a few months later when Ben had asked him to be a groomsmen in the wedding party... And Charlie had refused him. He had made up some excuse about work and that they would be receiving some orphaned dragon eggs or something, but he just couldn't do it.

Bill had went, hell his entire family had went, Ginny was even the flower girl for them. Charlie knew himself better though, he knew that had he been standing up there with Ben and his other mates, and watched as Iris came down that isle, all he would be thinking would have been it should have been me.

That wouldn't have been fair to any of the people involved. So Charlie had kept his distance.