LETTERS HOME [C.W.]

VIII

And just like that, Friday rolled around and it was time for dinner. Charlie had handpicked every member that was to attend the dinner, carefully. Molly, Bill, Remus James and Sirius, who simply couldn't miss her and Lily, for some normalcy, some grounding. Of course it was chaos waiting to happen.

How much should I dress up?

Just a little. Besides you look pretty in whatever you wear, but you looked the prettiest with my Quidditch sweater on ;-)

Charlie I'm nervous, this is your family!!!! What if they don't like me?

They already love you. Sirius and James r huge fan I hear, and Moony adores you.

I want them to like me for me, not because I'm somewhat known...

Charlie's heart broke a little at her last message. Much like Harry, she had to calculate every friendship just in case. She had to make sure people liked her for her. That's why she didn't have much friends, that's why Charlie felt so right to her. She didn't have to pretend, there was no dresscode, no guidelines on how to act.

Back with Leia she stood in front of the mirror yet again. She had gone with a short black sundress, tight on her body, littered with daisies and some cute black heels. She made it work, she always did. She did some light make up, something that said she cared but she didn't want to put as much make up as she wore in red carpets. Something natural with a bold lip.

Before the lipstick touched her skin, she retracted. Maybe some gloss would be better. Did she expect him to kiss her? Who knows, maybe. Numer one rule in dates, even if this was not a date, was to wear lipstick only if you knew the date was going to go nowhere. Lipstick is not cheap, don't wear it if there's going to be kissing involved. Yeah, gloss would do just fine.

I hope you are dressed, I'm downstairs angel.

"Well don't you look dashing, Mr. Weasley."

"Oh fuck you calling me Mr. Weasley like it doesn't turn you just to say it."

"What if it does? Are you going to punish me?" She half joked, rising an eyebrow at the ginger god in front of her.

"Right now? I'm taking you to dinner, later on I can punish you as much as you ask me to." Charlie laughed and scanned her body, noticing how the dress was hugging all the right parts on her. "You look... Wow."

"You're going to make me blush, Weasley."

The walk to the bookstore was filled with quiet giggles and stray glances, Charlie's hand brushing against her but him being way too shy to actually bring their fingers together.

"Ready?"

"Lead the way!"

Leia only recognized 3 of the people inside, missing the other 3. Molly rapidly went to hug her, Leia loving the motherly love she had missed so much.

"It's great to see you again Mrs. Weasley." Leia smiled sweetly.

"Molly! Call me Molly! Oh dear you look stunning! Come, come you have to meet everyone."

She then gravitated towards Bill, giving him a little hug.

"Ah, Leia, I've heard a lot about you."

"All good things I hope!"

She then looked for one of her favorite man on Earth.

"There she is!"

"Moony!" She hugged him as tight as she could and whispered in his ear. "This is really weird."

"Now let me introduce you! This is-"

"Sirius Black, and that is Prongs, I mean, James. We are huge fans of your work, you do magic!"

Everyone seemed to choke a little at his words, but Leia failed to notice that as she was busy thanking the two of them for their support.

Last but not least, she was introduced to her as Lily. The dinner went fine, great actually. Everyone loved Leia and Charlie couldn't keep his eyes off her, something Bill had noticed.

"Charlie, a word?" Bill asked, almost in a whisper.

Charlie just nodded, leading the way outside.

"Are you going to tell her?"

"She's not ready."

"She is a muggle, she'll never ready."

"So what? Now I just have to tell her that all she knows about me is a lie? That dragons and magic are real? She'd probably hate me for it..."

"She wouldn't. Think better of her."

Charlie had the nagging feeling all night that he had to tell her, but he didn't want to burst their little bubble. Not knowing, the little bubble would be burst the next morning.

"I had a lot of fun tonight, Charlie. Thank you for dinner. Your mum is lovely."

"She is isn't she?"

"She is magical, really. What a woman. Lily too!"

"So, let's just say next week the kids come back from school for a little break... Would you like to meet them?"

"Really? Are you sure? Parents are a thing but a sibbling hating you is a whole other thing..."

"Oh please! I'm more scared than you, you know?"

"Really?"

"Of course! The twins are a menace! They were at school and they still are."

"I'm sure they are lovely!"

"They are the best."

"Would you like to come in? Have a cuppa?"

"You read my mind!"

Charlie unbuttoned his shirt as she put on a big shirt and shorts, making herself comfortable as the water boiled. As she observed the little bubbles she felt a pair of arms sneaking around her torso and a chin resting on her head. She quickly turned around and hugged his torso too, nuzzling her head on his chest.

"You make me feel so normal, Charlie. Thank you."

He carefully kissed her head, earning a little smile he could feel hiding in his chest like a little girl.

"Oddly enough, you make me feel magical."

"Do I?"

Charlie slowly inched their faces close, until the kettle whistled and she turned around blushing like mad. She served the cups, mentally learning how he took his tea, and she sat down on the kitchen counter.

No one dared say a word. They were going to kiss, but maybe this was the universe telling them it just wasn't the moment. Yet she longed already for the feeling of his long lips on hers, how would her fingers feel running through his ginger locks.

"Can I stay the night?"

"As long as you don't steal my blankets."

That night, Charlie slept in his underwear and he didn't have to ask her to lay in his chest. She just did, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And in that second Charlie knew, he wouldn't be able to sleep the same without her.