The Irreplaceable Charlie Weasley

Chapter 8 - A Very Nova Idea

Bill

A knock on my dormitory door woke me up. I groaned as I looked at my roommate who was still sleeping. I swear there's not a noise in the world that could wake him up.

I yawned and went to open the door.

"Charlie? Are you okay, why are you knocking on my door this early in the morning?" I yawned again.

"It's a beautiful Saturday and Nova and I were talking and you seem to be inside your room quite a lot lately, so we decided to take you down to the Lake." He beamed at me. "Or drag you, you know, in case you wouldn't want to come willingly."

I was surprised that my little brother noticed anything unusual about my routine when all he could talk about were dragons and his Care of Magical Creatures class. However, I must admit I was rather touched that they were worried about me.

They were right about me being inside a lot. These days it seemed that the only time I left my room or the Library was for food or classes. O.W.L.s were approaching fast and I was getting more nervous by the minute! And as if that wasn't enough I had my Career Advice Meeting this Monday and I can't tell you how many nights I didn't sleep because of that and if I did manage to fall asleep I was dreaming that professor McGonagall told me I would never be a Curse Breaker and that there's an open position as Filch's assistant and that I might get that job.

I would rather admit to my mother that I had a crush on Emily Tyler than be Filch's assistant.

"Hello! Bill, did you fall back asleep?" Charlie snapped me out of it.

"Huh, yes! I will go with you. Some air will do me good. Let me just grab my books." I was ready to turn around and go to my desk when Charlie stopped me.

"No, books. You need a break, mate." He grabbed my hand and dragged me down to the Common Room and through the Portrait Hole where Nova was waiting for us.

"Good morning, Bill!" She was wide awake and grinning.

"Hi, Nova. How are you?" I smiled back, though not as enthusiastically as her.

"The question is, Bill," she grabbed my other hand, and together with Charlie they started pushing me down the stairs and through the corridor, "how are you?"

"I...I'm fine." I was beginning to get confused as to why they cared so much about my well-being all of a sudden.

"Oh, really?" Nova narrowed her eyes. "Did you know that I said hello to you yesterday at the Library and I didn't get as much as a sound back?"

"You did?" I couldn't recall that happening.

"Uh-huh. Do you know what that means?" Charlie spoke now even though I think he didn't have anything to do with the Library scene at all.

"That I was too deep in my studying to say hello?" I guessed.

"Yes, and it also means you need a break from it and stop obsessing over your Career Advice Meeting," Nova added.

"Why do you care so much?" We suddenly stopped and they both turned to me.

"Because you're my brother and believe it or not, I do care about you." Charlie frowned at me as if he couldn't believe I was questioning their motive.

"And you're my friend," Nova spoke now, "you helped me with my Quidditch situation with Charlie and you have such dark circles under your eyes that even Tonks noticed and you know she's oblivious to these things."

They didn't let go of me until we got down to the Lake. They placed a blanket on the ground and made me sit. Nova sat on my right and Charlie sat on my left side, making sure I wouldn't escape.