Fire in Her Eyes - Charlie Weasley

Chapter 5 - Burn

Trigger warning: some sexual-ness, mention of ptsd and domestic violence

Charlie led her up the stairs of the headquarters and she caught Chelsea's eyes widening in surprise. There were only two doors at the top of the stairs. Charlie opened the one to the left, allowing her to enter. The room was large with floor to ceiling windows that let in natural light. There were three different potions stations, a chopping station, a desk and plenty of shelving.

"It's beautiful," Kai breathed out in awe. "This is perfect," her eyes lit up as a smile graced her face. "Thank you," she let out softly, looking Charlie in the eyes.

"Of course. It's not a problem. I'm not using it. I'm terrible with potions," Charlie shook his head with a chuckle of remorse.

"What's across the hall?" Kai's curiosity was piqued. Chelsea had specifically said no one was allowed upstairs, but all that was up here was an old potions room.

"Nothing," Charlie gaze was fierce. "That door is locked and you are not to enter. Do you understand?" Kai held his gaze, fire in her own eyes, for a moment before slowly nodding her head.

"Yes sir," her voice was laced with sarcasm, and she rolled her eyes before turning away to dump the potions ingredients on the chopping table.

She heard Charlie let out a huff of annoyance behind her. "Rule number one, Kailani," his tone was threatening, but she didn't even turn around and he slowly retreated down the stairs.

Kai rolled her eyes again at his authoritative behavior, but began to focus on her potions work. She slung her jacket over the desk, pulled her wand out of her shirt, rolled up her sleeves and began to work.

A gentle knock startled her out of her deep focus on the shimmering gold pot in front of her. Her eyes darted upwards to the doorway. Charlie was leaning against it, arms folded across his chest.

"Time to grab lunch. Let's go," he nodded his head toward the front door.

"In a bit," Kai nodded her head, only half listening to what Charlie said, her eyes already back on the cauldron in front of her. Her burn potion was very powerful, but incredibly volatile. It needed her complete focus right now for the next half hour. It wouldn't even be done for a few weeks, but it was at a very sensitive stage.

"Kailani, you've been up here for three hours. The mess hall closes in 20 minutes. It's time for lunch," His voice was demanding, but she didn't even look up at him. She was staring intently at her watch, watching the seconds tick by.

"Ok, then I'll grab something from down the road in a bit," Kai muttered, stirring the potion once clockwise and then going back to watching her watch.

"Now, Kailani," Charlie's voice was deep, firm, and unwavering. It was grating her nerves that he kept using her full name. Couldn't he see that she was busy?

Kai's eyes flashed to meet his, and she bit her lip in apprehension as she noticed his jaw was clenched and his lips were a thin, tight line.

"No," she kept his gaze for a moment, before looking back down at her watch and stirring the potion counter-clockwise.

"Rule number one, Kailani. Either come with me and grab lunch or pack your bags," Charlie had a formidable look on his face.

"Oh my god! It's Kai," she was exasperated, but kept her eyes on her watch. Thirty more seconds and she would have five free minutes. "Give me twenty seconds, please."

They stood in a stoney silence for the next twenty seconds. Kai stirred the potion one last time and when she finally looked up, she really wished she hadn't. Charlie's eyes that had been such a light grey last night were dark under a scowl. His face was furious.