Always

We were all sitting at the table, empty plates sitting in front of us. We were thoroughly stuffed. Mum made pancakes, waffles, potatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and toast. I didn’t think I could eat another bite.

“Let’s go play in the snow”, Ginny said excitedly, rushing to the door to put on her winter things.

“Yes, yes, you lot go outside, and your father and I will clean up”, Mum said, shooing us towards the door. I thought about using my magic so that she didn’t have to clean but I knew she enjoyed it, so I let her be. Mum headed to the kitchen to start the dishes, and dad started to pick up the paper and boxes from the living room, while everyone threw on their coats, hats, and gloves. I snapped my fingers, and all the boxes and paper landed in garbage bags by the door. I turned and winked at Dad before walking outside to the others. I walked over to Ron and leaned into his side.

“We were just picking sides for the snowball fight”, Ron said. “But Ginny is trying to make things uneven”, he sighed, flicking a frown in Ginny’s direction.

“Well, I want Ron, Charlie, Freddie and Harry”, I said, ushering my team closer to me. “Ginny you can have Hermione, Georgie and Bill” I finished. Ginny contemplated but nodded her head and moved across the yard with her team. Bill’s wife was not about the snowball life and chose to stay inside. Each team began to build their forts to protect themselves and make their balls of snow. I casted a weather charm so the snow wouldn’t run out during our battle.

“On the count of three!”, Ginny shouted. Before she hit three, I felt a snowball in the back of my head.

“Hey! Fred! I’m on your team ya bum”, I scolded him. I proceeded to use a non-verbal spell to block the snowballs from hitting me, I didn’t even raise my hand. Ginny’s team went all out with their fighting. We chose to send Ron, Fred, and Harry out to the frontlines while Charlie and I stayed back. We continued to make our snowball supply.

The fight seemed to go on forever. Every so often I would peek over the fort to look at Ron. Watching him laugh made my insides feel like mush. Eventually, Charlie and I went out to help the others on the field. I ran behind the fort for cover. I stood back up, ball at the ready, when one started to fly towards my face. I felt someone tackle me and land on top of me, saving me from the ball. I landed with a yelp. I looked up to see Charlie half on top of me.

“Tell me, Kat, if Ron wasn’t an option, would you really have picked me?”, Charlie asked. I immediately felt uncomfortable. Charlie had always flirted with me, and it never made me feel uncomfortable until now. The way he was looking at me had my skin itching. I rolled from under him.

“First, only Ron calls me Kat. Second, I may have had a crush on you when we were younger, but there has never been another choice for me, Charlie, it has always been Ron for me. It will always be Ron for me”, I said firmly, before turning and walking away from him. I glanced at Ginny and Hermione and headed into the house. After taking off my winter clothes, I headed upstairs to my bedroom. A few moments later, Hermione and Ginny came into the room. One glance at them and I started to cry.

“Katie, what is wrong?”, Ginny said, rushing over to my side. I leaned into her.

“I think Charlie just hit on me”, I said with a hiccup.

“Charlie always flirts, Katie, I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by it”, Hermione said. I shook my head at them.

“No. I think he did this time. I was about to be hit in the face with a snowball and Charlie pushed me out of the way. He stayed on top of me, and he said… he said… ‘Kat, if Ron wasn’t an option, would you really have picked me?’ and it was just the look on his face”, I sighed. “He has never called me Kat. Only Ron does that. It was the way he said it. It made my skin itch. Charlie has never made me uncomfortable before… I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to hide it from Ron, but also… it’s Christmas, and I don’t want to cause a rift between brothers”, I let out another hiccup.

“You definitely need to tell Ron; it will be worse if you don’t. Do you want me to go get him?”, Ginny asked. I shook my head.

“No, let him enjoy himself. He will come looking for me soon enough. I’m just going to lay down for a bit”, I said, moving to get beneath the covers. Ginny and Hermione nodded their heads, before walking out the door. I lay there for a few moments, before closing my eyes. I felt paranoid so I turned to face the door and closed my eyes again.

What felt like only a few moments later, I felt a hand snake around my waist and start to rub circles on my back. I flinched at the touch and my eyes flew open.

“Hey, it’s just me”, Ron said, pulling me into him tightly. I let out a sigh of relief. “What’s wrong? Is it the nightmare again?”, he asked, concerned. I sat up a little so that I could look at him.

“I need to tell you something…” I trailed off.

“Okay?”, Ron said.

“Charlie hit on me… like for real”, I said slowly. I retold the story to Ron that I told Ginny and Hermione. Ron was on his feet instantly. I ran to the door to stop him.

“Ron, wait, no don’t. Please. Not today. It’s Christmas”, I pleaded. Ron nodded and pulled me into his arms.

“Fine, but I’m not happy about it”, he grumbled, I laughed into his chest. A moment later, Ginny burst into the room, George and Charlie close behind. “Doesn’t anyone knock around here?”, Ron huffed. He saw Charlie and his hands balled into fists at his side. I reached for his hand and his shoulders relaxed some.

“Go ahead George, tell them what you just told us”, Ginny said angrily.

“Well… I accidentally gave Charlie here a love potion that was meant for Ron…” George said quietly.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?”, Ron shouted.

“ACCIDENTALLY?”, I shouted at the same time.

“Well… I meant to just give it to Ron as a joke. I slipped it in his tea before breakfast, but um… well it turns out, Charlie took that cup instead. And um so… well…” George was cut off.

“So, I took it and I hit on you this morning”, Charlie said angrily. “Katie, Ron, I am so sorry. I would never… I’m sorry”, he said a bit more sadly. I looked at Ron and he nodded slightly. I ran into Charlie’s arms.

“I should have known better. I’m sorry. I should have questioned it when it happened”, I said. Charlie patted my back and stepped up to Ron and held out his hand.

“I’m sorry brother. I respect your relationship. I would never try to hit on your girl”, Charlie said. Ron pulled him into a hug. We heard Mum call us downstairs for dinner. We all walked past George and smacked him against the head on our way downstairs for lunch.