𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 | f. w

xxvi. florin chamillet

chapter twenty-six
FLORIN CHAMILLET

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» » "HOW ARE THINGS with Florin?", asked a curious Edith Charlie Weasley a few days into the new year. He had gone back to Romania during Twixmas, only to return for a couple more days to visit his family and friends, which left Edith adamant to learn of the developments and/or predicaments of his love life. "I've been meaning to ask. Are you guys still seeing each other?".

At the mention of Florin, Charlie simply grinned, letting Edith know just about all she needed to. However, she couldn't help but feel like there was something Charlie was keeping from her. Perhaps it was the various nasty fights over the phone ('phone', a muggle device which Florin apparently gifted a curious Charlie), sudden shifts in his otherwise gleeful demeanour, or the way he would sometimes resort to speaking of other things than the subject of his relationship. Whatever it was, it made Edith worried. Rightfully so, she wanted to protect her friend by any means necessary, and it hurt her knowing he was going through something.

"It's going good—yeah—he's been coming to see me at work a few times. I really like him, Edith".

Edith smiled but it was short lived.

"But...?".

"But—I feel like he's not entirely in this, you know? It's almost like he's somewhere else at times—and I've been trying to talk to him, but he just won't give me a clear answer. I really really like him, but if he's not willing to fight for our relationship the way I am, I'm not sure I can keep seeing him".

Edith gave him a comforting smile, placing her hand on his. Ravi was out getting drinks with a few of his friends, so her and Charlie had the place to themselves for the night.

"I get it. I know what it's like thinking you're both on the same page only to find out it's not at all the case. Just try talking to him again, yeah? Maybe he just needs someone to—I don't know—slap some sense into him. I could volunteer". She smiled.

Charlie chuckled apprehensively. He was still sad and heartbroken about Florin and his behaviour, but Edith could always seem to make him feel just a teeny tiny bit better.

"You know—Fred loves you, right?", Charlie asked after a short moment of silence.

Edith let out a deep and constrained sigh. "I know".

"He feels shitty about what he did to you. I know it. He won't stop mentioning the look on your face and how it broke his heart knowing you might not ever forgive him".

Edith sat up right, facing Charlie. "I do forgive him. I do. It's just...—I'm not so sure I'll be able to forget. He hurt me, Charlie, and that's not something I can just erase from my memory, and even if I could, well—I don't think I want to".

"What do you mean?", Charlie asked curiously. He was staring intensely at the girl at this point, making sure to give her all the attention she needed.

"I mean—he hurt me. He hurt me really badly, but I think he was right to. It's what I deserved after what I did to him. What I continue doing to him. Can't you see? I'm a wreck. I'm poison, and I'm just gonna keep hurting him. So yeah—maybe he did the right thing. Maybe we're not supposed to end up together, maybe our whole relationship—whatever it was—was just me pouring more gasoline onto the fire".