Change the Future

*Sixth Year Part 1*

Rory Gets Carried to Her Doom

It was the first week of the summer holidays. Rory and the twins were sat in the twins bedroom working on plans for future pranks whilst Fred and George teased Rory about writing drunk letters.

"I think we should write to Charlie and tell him to come home" Fred said with a smirk.

“Fred. If I even see his hair, I’m turning into a bat and flying away”

“That’s not how Animagi works, Rory” George told her, his smirk just as big as freds.

“I’ll figure it out” she snapped. George looked at her.

“You know, for someone who wrote a drunken love letter, you’re putting in a lot of effort to avoid facing the music.”

“I was drunk!” she hissed. “That doesn’t count!” Fred glanced out of the window just as Charlie apparated into the garden. His smile grew as he glanced at Rory on the floor.

“You know what? I’m bored”

“What?” Rory looked up at him. “Fred, no. Fred don’t” But it was too late. Fred spun around, grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing. “FRED!”

“Sorry, Rory,” he said cheerfully as she pounded on his back. “But this is for your emotional development”

"What is?" George asked following with a smile.

"Well our big brother has just arrived"

“You’re dead to me! You and your stupid long legs and your betrayal—” Rory said still hitting his back.

“Oh look,” George said smugly. “There’s Charlie now” Charlie had just walked into the kitchen at the same time as them.

“Delivery!” Fred called as they reached him. Charlie raised an eyebrow, already smirking. Fred dumped Rory gently in front of him and gave a mock salute. “She’s all yours.” Then, without another word, Fred and George turned and walked away so fast, smirking and snickering. Rory didn’t move. Charlie looked down at her, lips twitching like he was fighting back laughter.

“Hey Nova. Fancy seeing you.” She slowly lifted her head to look up at him.

“Did they physically deliver me to you?”

“They did” he said, nodding solemnly. “It was very efficient”

“I’m going to hex them both” He grinned.

“So do I get to thank you for the letter? Or do I pretend I didn’t read it while slightly tipsy and definitely smiling like an idiot for two hours?” Rory buried her face in her hands and groaned.

“You know what,” she mumbled. “I take it all back. Every word. It was the firewhisky. I meant to write to Hagrid. Or— or the Whomping Willow” Charlie laughed, warm and bright. “I was drunk, Charlie. Like, off-my-face-on-firewhiskey drunk”

“I figured”

“And it doesn’t count,” she added quickly, peeking at him through her fingers.

“Oh, it definitely counts.” She groaned.

“Charlie, I thought I was dying when I woke up and remembered. Why do you have to be so chill about it?”

“Because you’re not the only one who’s been quietly in love with someone they’ve known forever” She blinked, stunned.

“Wait—what?” Charlie grinned.

“You think I gave you all those jumpers just because you were cold? Rory, I’ve been falling for you since you broke into Filch’s office in second year and blamed the ghost of a cat”