Fire in Her Eyes - Charlie Weasley

Chapter 25

Charlie's face contorted for a moment, clearly thinking, before he spoke evenly, "He was a professor at Ilvermorny, wasn't he?"

He watched her steadily, no emotion on his face. She closed to her eyes, giving one quick nod. She didn't know if the shame was visible on her face, but god it felt like it was stained through her soul.

She took a moment to look out the window at the forest behind him, before taking a breath and shoving every memory down. She had survived and it was in the past. There was no point in digging through the pain now. "Let's look at that leg," she kept her voice perfectly professional, trying to make it clear that the subject wasn't up for discussion.

He only nodded in response, pulling his pant leg up so that she could unwrap the bandage from it. His mouth dropped at the sight of the new, healthy skin underneath.

"You actually did it," he breathed out. "I-, wow."

"Of course I did," she retorted. "I told you I was good." Her voice was smug as she took in the surprise laced across his face as he looked back and forth from his leg to her face.

"I-, I know.. I just-"

Kai chuckled as he fumbled for words, taking a seat back across from him. She enjoyed seeing him flustered, his normally calm, cold demeanor reduced to an adorable, blubbering mess.

Charlie took a quiet moment to collect himself, rolling his pant leg back down. "I'm impressed," his voice was steady and controlled once again. He leaned back in his chair, looking at her.

Oh no. She knew that look on his face. "Wear a sun protection salve for a few weeks. And be careful because the skin is still new and soft. Try not to scratch or scrape it," she briskly stood up as she spoke, trying to escape before he asked whatever question was on the tip of his tongue.

Her hand was on the doorknob when his soft voice sounded from behind her, "How did it happen?" So close. He was using the same voice that she used with him. The one to soothe something frightened.

She bit her lip, looking down at the knob in her hand. She heard him shift in his chair behind her, but he didn't speak again. He didn't order her to stay or tell him. He was leaving the choice to her. It was completely up to her whether or not she told her story.

"It's a long story," she sighed. She knew she couldn't tell it right now. There was no way she could get into that part of her past and then just go back to work. She couldn't pretend everything was normal; as if she wasn't breaking all over again. "Ask me another time, preferably with a bottle of expensive tequila." She didn't look back as she closed his door behind her and went back to work.

Kai worked through the afternoon. Elliot came by and was cleared for work, paperwork was done, and she made another new list of ingredients she would need for her potions.

Charlie knocked on her door near the end of the day. "I'll take you to the dragon, but you don't touch her. Just talk to her and we'll go from there," his tone has no room for discussion so she nodded her head.

The quiet between them was awkward. She didn't answer his question for the first time since their deal, and she could only assume he was upset. Her thoughts ran wild as they walked down the rows of homes to the very back. I'll stop by after dinner and explain what I can. The road turned into a well used trail that led to a cave in the forest. Kai could feel the aura of magic without even needing to change her sight. The cave hummed with it. When she did shift her magical gaze, she could see dozens of colors creating a magical, mesh web over the front of the cave.

Charlie grabbed her hand and walked through the magical barrier, pulling her behind him. She let out a small gasp as she felt a small piece her blue green wizarding magic attach itself to the mesh barrier. She felt squeezed and pressed, every part of her begging to turn back around, but Charlie's grip stayed firm as he pulled her through. And then it was over. She was through. She looked back behind her, seeing her magic thread its way through the mesh.