Towers||Charlie Weasley.

15

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For three days it seemed, to Charlie, as if Hattie was on the road to getting better fully. She ate more than she usually did, not everything but at least a quarter of a meal, she wasn't sleeping as much which suggested that she was feeling better. She smiled a bit more and she acted happier.

It was a sunny day and the household were out in the garden soaking in the rare sunshine. There were minimal garden chairs that went straight for the adult use only, including Bill, Tonks and Charlie.

The children and young adults were organising yet another quidditch match as their one from a few days ago had to be postponed due to the weather and Molly not wanting them to get sick.

Whilst Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Ginny were getting things set up Hattie sat on the grass playing with the daisies. From a little further away, Charlie, Bill and Tonks sat in their chairs talking about their jobs and whether they were looking forward to going back when Charlie called Hattie over.

Raising her eyebrows at him, Charlie grinned pulling her onto his lap, nestling his head on her shoulder.

"Why aren't you with the others?" Asked Tonks sipping her drink.

"I don't like quidditch." Replied Hattie leaning back into Charlie's chest her hands fiddling with his which were set on her knees.

"I still don't understand how you don't!" Exclaimed Bill, laughing, "you were taught at duh a young age, you must love it!"

Hattie grumbled, her bottom lip jutting out, "that's why I hate it! I have never liked it! It's stupid!"

Charlie chuckled sending vibrations through Hattie's body, "I take it you're not going to play are you?"

"Nope!"

Harry heard the girl and pointed at her, "yes you are!"

Hattie shook her head, "come on, it might be enjoyable. I'll pick you for my team!" Cooed Charlie.

"Who says your captain?" Cried George pointing his beaters bat at his brother. "What if I am!"

"Who's been a Captain before? Oh look! That's was me!" Charlie replied smugly, flipping George off quickly so that his mother didn't see.

George halted at Charlie, turning back to Fred whilst Charlie smirked triumphantly. "I say, you and I are caps, Bill. Show these young end how it's done!"

"I'm older than you!" Yelled Tonks.

"By two weeks!" Retorted Charlie. "Besides, I didn't see you on the quidditch team!"

Tonks' bubblegum pink hair changed to a bright red as she emitted growls at her best friend who squeaked hiding himself behind Hattie who laughed, for the first time in years, heartily and not forced.

From his head being buried between the girls' shoulder blades, he smiled happily hearing the laughter from Hattie, giving her a tighter squeeze instead of just holding her in his lap. "I'm proud of you." He muttered and Hattie just about caught what he said.

She gave his hand a squeeze just as James and Sirius returned to the garden carrying some broomsticks, half of which Molly had let them go and collect from their shed at the burrow. They handed each of those playing a broom and James went to hand Hattie one but she shook her head.

"Come on." He encouraged.

"I'm not playing."

"But you love it!"

She shook her head again, "You love it. I hate it."

James gasped dropping the broom and stumbling back. Sirius caught hold of him in confusion. "What? What is it?" He asked James who clutched his shirt where his heart sat.

"Your daughter has sinned!" James spluttered.

Sirius scoffed, "Please! She's too innocent. What's she apparently sinned for?"

"She said she hates quidditch!" He said I disgust. It was Sirius' turn to gasp. Also stumbling back, tripping and landing on his back with James on top of him.

"Honestly, you'd think they weren't adults and fathers but instead children!" Exclaimed Peter laughing at his friends.

"They are children! Who are you talking about?" Lily stated. "Get up you two!"

James and Sirius scrambled to their feet and stared at Hattie in shock. "How? Y-you...? Merlin's beard, I was not prepared for this. Um, okay....are you playing?"

"Obviously not." Remus stated rolling his eyes, "come over here, Hattie, let's watch you father and James lead teams to fail."

Hattie climbed off of Charlie's lap, who stood up and joined his siblings (except Percy who was working like Arthur was), Tonks and Harry, the group now waiting for James and Sirius to join them. She waddled to her uncle and perched on his lap and snuggled into his chest like she had done to Charlie.

Peter sat beside them with pom-poms in his hands, that looked very old, the red and gold colours fading. Apparently he waved them at every gryffindor quidditch match.

Sirius and James quickly got over their dramatics and ran over to the younger kids and adults. Within minutes there was already an argument about teams.

"You can't have both Fred AND George, Charlie!" Cried Ginny.

"You have James AND Sirius!" The brother retorted pointing at the men who were smirking at Harry who stood with the opposite team.

"But we have Ron!" Ginny exclaimed, "he's about as good of a keeper as you are with girls!"

"That's harsh, Ginevra!" Spat Ron. "I am good! You've never even played with us before! Can you even ride a broom?!"

"I can ride one better than you!"

Fred and George snickered to themselves about the innuendo made by their younger sister. "Make the teams fair, will you?" Called Remus, "Pads and Prongs in separate teams, Charlie and Bill on separate teams and the twins on separate teams too!"

Grumbling James split them teams fairly and the game began. Peter cheered on joyfully and Remus laughed when his friends failed. Hattie didn't really watch, like she said, she didn't like quidditch. Occasionally  she would look up from her hands and observe when bickering happened but other than that the line son her fingertips was her entertainment.

"Do you want something to eat, sweetie?" Lily asked her as she stood up to go and make a cup of coffee.

For the first time in a while it was a, "Yes please," that she answered with.