Just Like Home | Charlie Weasley

Chapter 16

A/N: Apologies, this is a shorter chapter, but the next part will be up soon! Currently adding them as soon as I've finished writing so please do let me know if you spot any mistakes <3

"Where are you off to now, Charlie?" Molly Weasley shrieked as Charlie bolted back into the house and towards the fireplace.

"What the hell, mate?" George asked, jogging behind him. He really was completely baffled at Charlie's odd behaviour. What the hell was going on?

"Charlie, mother asked you a question!" he heard Percy stutter from his spot on the sofa.

"Respectfully, Perce, shut up," Bill mumbled amusedly. "But mum's right, where are you going? Looking like that as well?".

Charlie peered down at tatty, ripped work jeans and his faded blue t-shirt. He was sure he looked a right mess, but right now that didn't matter. He knew where he needed to go, and needed to get there fast. "I'm going to see Ellie," he said before hopping into the fireplace throwing down a handful of floo powder. In a frenzy of bright green flames, he was gone again.

"Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?" Ginny threw her hands up in the air.

"I would if I knew..." Arthur shrugged, looking around at his family for clues.

George let out a deep sigh, before falling down into a seat in the armchair. He told his family all that he knew, but explained he had absolutely no idea what Charlie was doing now. Feeling much too drained to investigate now, George decided that he'd head home and confront Charlie about it tomorrow. Hell, he was a man on some kind of weird mission right now that likely couldn't be stopped, anyway.

When Charlie arrived in the fireplace at The Leaky Cauldron, he wasted no time in striding right through the dingy-lit pub and out of the door. His skin prickled with the cold that came with wearing only a t-shirt in December, but that was the last thing on his mind. He needed to see her. He needed to explain. For a girl that he barely knew, he was really rather caught up on her. He couldn't let whatever they had ended before it had even started.

As he marched along the cobbled alley, he couldn't get the image of Eleanor out of his mind. Her forest-green eyes and bright smile, the way her cheeks blushed so easily at anything he said, her soft lips when he kissed them. These thoughts soon turned into him imagining her waiting there for him and his stomach twisted. It made him feel nauseous that she very possibly hated him. With his long legs and purposeful strides, it didn't take him long to make it to the far corner of Diagon Alley where Eleaor's shop and flat were. He peered up at the second floor of the building, but his heart sank when he realised that there were no lights on. She was either asleep, or out. He let out a defeated sigh and sank down onto the front step of her shop.

"Come on," Hayley laughed, hauling Eleanor up off her seat. "Time to go home."

Eleanor pouted, but obliged. She was feeling decidedly sleepy after all those cocktails, anyhow. Hayley hooked an arm around Eleanor's waist to steady her, and the fresh air hit her like a bus. She wobbled precariously in her heeled boots, giggling as Hayley steadied her. To ensure she kept her friend safe, Hayley had remained sober for the evening so she could apparate them back to Eleanor's flat. She guided Eleanor into a small alley around the side of the restaurant, holding Eleanor tight in her arms before she apparated them to the far corner of diagon alley.

When her feet landed on the familiar cobbled stones, Eleanor's head span and her stomach wrenched. Apparating sober was enough to make even the bravest person nauseous, let alone apparating whilst intoxicated. Sensing that her many drinks were about to make a comeback, she tore herself away from Hayley and leant over the nearest bin, heaving into it. Hayley grimaced, but tucked her wand away in her jeans and walked over to hold Eleanor's hair back. As she stood, holding her friend's hair, she spotted a rather sorry-looking man making his way over to them. She immediately recognised the red hair and broad stature.

"Don't," Hayley hissed at him, peering down at Eleanor to make sure she was still... busy. "Not is not a good time, if you couldn't tell."

Eleanor's own heaves drowned out the sound of the hushed conversation going on right above her head.

Charlie stood awkwardly, eyeing Eleanor with concern as her friend glared daggers at him. "Is she okay?" he asked, pushing his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"What do you think? She's currently heaving into a minging bin after feeling the need to get pissed after some twat stood her up. You join up the dots, pretty boy," Hayley growled at him.

Charlie's shoulders slumped, his heart sinking. So she did hate him. Not that he could blame her at all, he would probably be feeling the same had it been the other way around. "I just want to explain,".

"Well why don't you do it when she's sober and she can decide if she actually wants to hear you out, yeah?". Hayley sent Charlie one last glare, sending him on his way, whilst Eleanor's head finally reappeared out of the bin.

"C'mon, Binderella, let's get you to bed," Hayley chuckled.

Deciding to head back to George's (if he'd let him in, of course), Charlie kicked the pavement as he walked back down the alley. He absolutely hated himself right now. How could he have muddled things up so badly? He truly didn't understand how he'd let it happen. Hell, he was so damn excited for their date, it didn't make any sense that he'd just... forget.