Just Like Home | Charlie Weasley

Chapter 26

Here's some wholesome Charlie/ Eleanor content for y'all! <3

Charlie followed Eleanor into her shop, watching her in awe as she wordlessly flicked the lights on with her wand and closing the door behind them. She kept the blinds down so as not to draw too much attention to the lights beaming through the windows in the otherwise darkened alley. He felt inexplicably nervous to be here with her. He had in no way expected to see her tonight when he left the flat to escape the love noises coming from George's bedroom, and certainly didn't expect to be spending the evening helping her to do some baking.

His eyes followed her as she easily moved around the familiar space. She slipped off her coat and scarf, hanging them both on the back of the stool before reaching up to tie her hair. He felt his mouth go dry as he observed her, wondering how on earth this woman in front of him had such a profound effect on him.

"Shall I take your coat?" her gentle voice broke through his thoughts.

"Oh! Yeah, thank you," Charlie smiled as he slipped off his own coat. He took a step forward and held the thick, khaki material out to her. His breath caught slightly when their fingers brushed as she took it from him and he swore he saw her cheeks tinge pink.

Hanging Charlie's coat next to her own, she beckoned him into the small kitchenette area in the back of her shop. He felt oddly excited to be sharing this with her, revelling in the fact that not many people would see this side of Eleanor or her business. The space was small, but it was perfectly Eleanor.

"So..." she began. "What are you thinking? Chocolate? A simple sponge? Or shall we be adventurous and go for something where we can use some of the butterbeer?". Eleanor leant her back against one of the counter tops as she turned to speak to him. Her eyes grazed over his tall, broad frame that seemed to take up a lot of space in her tiny kitchenette. Despite this, she couldn't get enough of the sight of him standing before her and she began to feel giddy.

In the light of the room, his sapphire eyes seemed to almost glow as he looked at her, a slight smile lifting on his lips as he pondered her question.

"I'm a simple man, Ellie, I say we go chocolate,". Charlie's voice alone was something that Eleanor found incredibly alluring for whatever reason. She wished she could listen to him talk forever.

"Good choice," she grinned. Her entire face had been lit up with her usual spark and Charlie was glad to see it. "Okay, no wands!" she declared, holding out her hand.

"You're asking for a disaster," Charlie shook his head playfully but reached into his pocket to pull out his wand all the same. He placed it in her hand alongside her own, the two looking rather lovely laying next to each other. She let out a giggle and reached into the drawer behind her to stow them.

"You realise I could just go in there and get it back, y'know?" he muttered amusedly.

Eleanor turned back to him with an offended expression that made him laugh loudly, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"And spoil the fun?!" she gasped. "I don't think you're that type of man, Charlie Weasley,".

The way his full name rolled off her tongue made his stomach jolt. He'd never exactly thought about the sound of his name, to be honest, but the way she said it made him adore it.

"And how would you know that, Eleanor Birch?" he countered, leaning himself against the opposite counter and folding his arms, raising a playful brow at her.

She chuckled lightly and set about gathering ingredients and equipment from the cupboards, having to stand rather close to where Charlie stood to retrieve a mixing bowl. She could feel his eyes on her as she worked.