Guarded Hearts, Fiery Souls (Charlie Weasley)

chapter 1: Beneath the Flames

Before i begin the story ,sorry here are some aesthetics to Lilah and Charlie :

Lilah Gold
-16 years old
-loves her cat munchkin
absolutely adores animals and plants

-Charlie Weasley
-16 yearls old
-2nd eldest brother to many siblings
-loves dragons

....

It was late autumn, and the chill of the season snuck through the cracks of Hogwarts' ancient walls, winding through the castle's winding corridors as I made my way toward the Potions classroom. The chill didn't bother me much; I'd always liked it, honestly. It kept me grounded, kept me sharp. Munchkin, my one-eyed, eternally grumpy cat, trotted close beside me. I knew he preferred to stick to the shadows, away from curious eyes, but he'd never left my side for long. Munchkin always seemed to know when I needed him, even on days like this, when I was calm as a breeze.

We were almost at the dungeon entrance when I spotted Percy Weasley striding down the hallway in his usual brisk, upright fashion. His red hair gleamed in the dim torchlight, and his Prefect badge was polished to an almost comical shine. Typical Percy, I thought with a smile, and called out to him.

"Percy!"

He turned, looking slightly exasperated but more amused than anything. "Lilah," he said, eyeing Munchkin with a raised brow. "Are you really bringing that furball to Potions?"

Munchkin hissed softly, apparently offended by Percy's remark, but I only scratched behind his ear, unfazed. "He keeps me focused, Percy. Besides, who else is going to make sure Snape doesn't poison me?"

Percy rolled his eyes but didn't argue, though I could see the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. We continued toward the dungeons, Percy with his perfectly straight back and precise steps, while I strolled at my own pace, letting the sounds of the castle around us fill the silence.

The Potions classroom was buzzing with that particular mix of nervous energy and dread that always seemed to hang over Snape's lessons. As soon as we walked in, Snape's sharp eyes landed on Munchkin, and I could almost hear the words forming in his head.

"Miss Lilah," he drawled, folding his arms, "pets are not allowed in my classroom. Surely you're aware of this rule."

I met his gaze head-on, forcing a polite smile. "Munchkin helps me focus, Professor."

Snape's mouth twitched, a hint of something that might have been irritation or amusement-or both-crossing his face before he turned his attention to the cauldron at the front of the room. The students around me were quiet, probably waiting for him to snap, but Snape just gave a curt nod, muttering something to himself about Gryffindor stubbornness. Munchkin sniffed disdainfully, and I stifled a laugh. He seemed to know exactly what kind of man Snape was, and he didn't approve.

Today, Snape had us working on a particularly tricky potion, something that required just the right balance of focus and timing. I'd barely set up my cauldron when I felt someone watching me. I turned to find Snape pairing me with a Slytherin boy who had that smug, sneering look some Slytherins seemed to wear like a badge of honor. Percy shot me a look from his station across the room, his brows knitting together, but I only shrugged.

It didn't take long for the boy to start making snide comments. He started with little things, digs at Gryffindors, at my "pet"-stuff I could ignore easily enough. But then his insults turned personal, muttering about my family, about the fact that I was at Hogwarts alone.

"Can I have the bat spleen?" I asked him calmly, watching him fumble with the jar.

I could feel Percy's gaze on me, tense and watchful. He'd always worried about my temper, knowing full well that my calm wasn't as unbreakable as it seemed. But I was done letting people like this boy get to me. I'd faced worse, dealt with people who wanted more than to throw me off balance.

The boy thrust the jar at me with a sneer, and I took it, pouring the ingredients in with care. "It's a shame," I said softly, keeping my eyes on the cauldron. "All that energy you spend trying to rile people up. Imagine what you could do if you focused it on actually learning."

The boy's sneer faltered, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw him glance around, hoping someone else had heard. But Percy, watching from his table, only gave me a barely-there nod, as if to say, Well done. The Slytherin was quiet after that, leaving me to finish the potion in peace.

When class ended, Percy was at my side before I'd even packed up my things, his gaze flickering toward the Slytherin boy as we walked out. He didn't say anything at first, but I could tell he was struggling to find the words.

"He had no right to say those things," Percy murmured finally, keeping his voice low as we stepped into the hall.

I shrugged. "People like him are too small to hurt me, Percy," I said lightly, glancing down at Munchkin, who was brushing up against my leg. "Besides, Munchkin doesn't like him."

Munchkin gave a disapproving hiss, as if to emphasize the point, and I chuckled, bending down to scoop him up into my arms. Percy watched with a sort of weary fondness, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was rare to see Percy let down his guard like this, but I'd come to recognize these moments-the way his shoulders relaxed just a bit, his posture softened. Around me, Percy was always... himself.

We walked in comfortable silence back to the Gryffindor common room, the hum of the castle filling the quiet spaces between us. By the time we reached the common room, the fire was crackling, casting warm, flickering light over the cozy room. A group of first-years were huddled around the hearth, whispering excitedly about Quidditch and enchanted objects. I took a seat near the fire, letting the warmth seep into my bones as Percy settled into the armchair beside me.

For a while, neither of us spoke. I stared into the flames, letting the heat wash over me, feeling Munchkin's weight heavy and familiar in my lap. I loved moments like these, moments of calm, where the only thing I had to focus on was the sound of the fire and the company of a friend.

But then Percy's voice broke the silence, so quiet I almost didn't catch it. "I worry about you sometimes, Lilah," he admitted, his gaze fixed on the fire, as though afraid to meet my eyes.

I looked over at him, surprised by the softness in his tone. Percy rarely let himself show vulnerability, even around me. "You don't need to worry about me, Percy," I said, trying to keep my voice light. "I've got Munchkin."

He let out a soft laugh, but it sounded almost sad. "You know it's not just about that. I know you can handle yourself-better than most of us, probably-but you don't have to do everything alone, Lilah."

I watched him, searching his face for a moment before reaching over to place my hand on his arm. "You've been there for me more times than I can count, Percy," I said, my voice gentle. "I might act tough, but I know who my friends are. And as long as I have you, I'll be just fine."

He looked at me then, a softness in his gaze that I didn't see often, and I knew that he believed me-believed that, as long as we had each other, we could face whatever Hogwarts, and life, threw our way.

Munchkin shifted in my lap, letting out a soft purr that seemed to echo the warmth of the fire. As I looked around the common room, taking in the golden glow of the hearth, the quiet laughter of my fellow Gryffindors, and Percy's familiar presence beside me, I felt a deep, unshakable sense of calm settle over me. I knew I could be fierce, that I could face whatever challenges came my way. But tonight, as I sat by the fire with my best friend and my grumpy, loyal cat, I was simply... content.