A Love Across Worlds

Chapter 10: Meeting Charlie

Bella's POV

The day George arrived in Forks, I felt like a bundle of nerves, pacing the living room as I waited for him. Charlie had agreed to meet him, though he didn't know about the magical part yet. I figured it was best to take things one step at a time.

When George finally knocked on the door, I opened it to find him standing there, looking as handsome as ever, a grin spreading across his face the moment he saw me. I hugged him, feeling the familiar warmth of his arms around me, and for a moment, the rest of the world disappeared.

"Bella," he whispered, pulling back slightly to look at me. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," I replied, my smile matching his.

"Are you ready for this?" he asked, glancing nervously toward the living room where Charlie was waiting.

I nodded, squeezing his hand. "We've got this."

We stepped into the living room, and Charlie stood, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sized George up. I knew that protective look-it was the same one he'd given Edward when they first met. But George's warm smile and easy charm quickly broke the tension.

"You must be Mr. Swan," George said, extending his hand. "I'm George Weasley. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir."

Charlie shook his hand, eyeing him with a mix of curiosity and caution. "So, you're the one Bella's been talking about."

"Yes, sir," George replied, flashing a grin. "I'm honored she speaks of me. I've heard quite a bit about you, too."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, his expression softening a little. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Well," George said, glancing at me with a wink, "I hear you're quite the fisherman. I'd love to hear more about it sometime. We don't get much fishing where I'm from, but I've always wanted to try."

That seemed to catch Charlie off guard, and a small smile crept onto his face. "I suppose I could show you a few things."

We spent the afternoon chatting, George managing to charm Charlie with stories about his family, carefully avoiding any mention of magic. It was only later, when Charlie went to check on dinner, that George leaned over and took my hand, his expression serious.

"Are you ready to see a little more?" he asked softly.

I nodded, my heart pounding with anticipation. He pulled the small pendant from his pocket, the same one he'd sent me in the letter, and placed it in my hand. "Hold onto this," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And just... trust me."

As I clutched the pendant, George took out what looked like a small, polished stick. He waved it in the air, murmuring something under his breath, and suddenly, tiny sparks of light appeared, floating around us like fireflies. I gasped, watching as the lights danced in the air, their colors shifting and swirling in a beautiful display.

"It's real," I whispered, my voice trembling with wonder.

He smiled, watching my reaction with a tenderness that made my heart ache. "It's real, Bella. This is just the beginning."

The lights faded, and as the last spark disappeared, I felt a rush of emotion, a mix of awe and gratitude. George had shared his world with me, the part of himself he'd kept hidden, and I knew, without a doubt, that I wanted to be a part of it.

As the evening wore on, Charlie joined us again, none the wiser to the magic that had just unfolded in his home. But as I looked at George, I knew that this was just the start of something extraordinary. We were building a life together, one step at a time, and I couldn't wait to see what lay ahead.