Yours truly ; Charlie Weasley

Forty-six

Ember

I was watching Charlie as he walked around the loft, going through stuff, throwing other stuff. It looked like he was looking for something, but I had no idea what.

He was still bleeding from the back of his head and that story he told me, was not true. I knew that was a lie. He doesn't get that kind of cut from slipping. Plus, there's a spot of blood on the cabinet above the kitchen counter.

I know someone else was in here. I know someone had done something to him. Hurt him. Maybe cast a spell, maybe physically thrown him.

"Charlie, you're scaring me." I said, biting down on my thumb as I watched him. The way he was hectically throwing things that were in his way, the way he was checking the shelves, throwing books on the floor, checking the corners of the ceiling.

He was panicking. Freaking out, and then he stopped. He stood there and ran his hands into his hair, looking around in panic. He was hyperventilating, and then he started crying.

It was a forceful kind of crying, coming out through the heavy breathing. I had never seen him like this before.

"Charlie." I tried softly, approaching him carefully. He flinched, then shook his head as he looked at me.

"H-He— He's going to— he's going to h-hurt you. I can't— I c-cant breathe."

Seeing him like this, broke my heart. I had no idea what he was going through. Who had hurt him like this, and I didn't need to know right now. He needed me — needed me to be there for him. An explanation could wait.

"Baby." I whispered, carefully moving my hands up to cup his face. He immediately placed his hands on top of mine, staring at my eyes. "Whisky. You need to breathe."

"I-I can't." He panted. "Emmy, I c-cant."

"Yes you can." I assured him. "Look at me. Follow my breathing."

I took one deep breath, watching him as he tried to do the same as I. His eyes were watching my lips and after multiple deep breaths, he calmed down.

When I felt it was safe to let go of his jaw, I instead wrapped my arms around his back while his went around my shoulders.

"I'm so sorry." He cried against my hair. "It's all my fault."

I shushed him, running my hand up and down his back. He sighed, then pulled away and looked down at me, keeping his arms against my shoulders.

"Baby." He said in a whisper, tears still running but quieter. Why was he whispering? We were the only ones here. "Go in the bedroom and stay there, alright? I'm okay, I promise. I'll explain everything to you. I just need you to stay in the bedroom until it's safe."

Until what's safe?

I didn't question him. I trusted him so I simply nodded and gave him a small kiss to comfort him before I walked into the bedroom. I looked back at Charlie and he motioned for me to close the door, which I then did.

I got onto the bed, leaning back against the headboard as I pulled the duvet over my legs which I then folded underneath.

Charlie was kinda freaking me out. I knew this had something to do with what happened yesterday. How he mentioned a guy, someone who did something.

I know someone made him leave me and I know this has something to do with that.

I could hear sounds from the living room. He was throwing some stuff again while simply moving other things.

I don't know how long I sat there and waited for, but when Charlie barged into the bedroom and slammed the door behind him, I sat up straight, waiting for him to give me some type of explanation.

Then something hit me.

"It's my grandfather, isn't it?"

Charlie's head snapped in my direction and his expression softened before he slowly nodded, throwing his head back against the door.

My grandfather Edison has been to Azkaban before. He was trialed for murder and he convinced the minister that it was an accident so he got fifteen years. That was when I was five years old. He got out when I was twenty — six years ago.

He's never liked Charlie. I remember when we visited him in Azkaban and I'd tell him about him and he's get angry because I was dating someone from a less wealthy family.

I'm close with my grandfather. That may make me a bad person since I don't believe it was an accident that he murdered someone. I don't know why I love him — perhaps because he's family... blood.

"He made you leave, didn't he?" I asked, pulling the duvet up to cover my shoulders while my hand found it's way to my stomach. "What does he have on you?"

Charlie looked at me again through teary eyes before he cursed under his breath and pushed himself off of the door, heading for the bed.

He crawled over to me before throwing a leg over my body to straddle me, though he held himself up by his knees to not put his body weight on mine.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, shaking his head as he placed his hands on the headboard. "He knows I'm back and he's going to— I'm not leaving you again. I can't leave again."

"Then don't." I said softly, running my hand up his bare chest, trying to soothe him so he could calm down a bit more. "Whisky— talk to me. Tell me everything from the start."

"I don't—"

"I believe you." I said. "I believe he's been doing something, but you need to tell me what he's been doing. I won't doubt you.. I promise."

He looked down at me for a moment before he closed his eyes.

"Back in December—" he sighed. "... you were at work downstairs, I had a day off and he came in through the fireplace."

I could feel how fast my heart was beating. I was terrified of what I knew he was gonna tell me. I was terrified of it being true. That my flesh and blood hurt him.

"He started by offering me money to leave. He didn't want me dragging you through the mud because I couldn't get out of bed and you had to take care of me." He explained. "I said no. I didn't want his money and I couldn't be bought. Though I could be blackmailed. He threatened to ruin Ginny's career if I didn't leave you immediately and let you move on. I'm sorry, angel. I wish I had stayed but you know how much Quidditch means for her. You know how it helped her when—"

He inhaled sharply and looked towards the window while biting onto his lips. I ran my hands up to the sides of his neck, making him look at me again.

"I know." I whispered. "It's okay. Go on."

He gulped.

"So I left. I left and I stayed in Romania." He told me. "I wasn't supposed to come back but Bill came and found me and when I heard how badly you truly were doing, I just— I couldn't let you break because of me and I thought if I came back, I could maybe find a way to save Ginny's career. I think your grandfather has known I'm back for a while. He's been watching us, listening to us fight and tear each other's heads of. I bet he's been watching us like a fucking reality show."

He got off of me to sit next to me and I automatically grabbed his hand to lace my fingers with his.

"He's got cameras in the loft." He told me. "Said it's only kitchen and living room but I don't trust him. I don't know if there's any in here too."

I looked at him, my eyes wide before I looked around the room.

What?

"Oh my god." I muttered. I had no idea what I expected, but it wasn't that. I didn't know how to react to that. I stared right ahead, my eyes wide and my lips parted.

"He said he's been watching us talk and fight." Charlie continued. "And now he's threatening to take dad's job, take George's job and shop from him and uh—"

Charlie's body tensed up, causing me to look at him as I gave his hand a squeeze. He looked at me too, his eyes staring into mine.

"If I don't leave within the next two weeks, he'll make sure you miscarry."