Redamancy || Draco Malfoy

DH // 21

It was raining.

It had been raining a lot.

I sat on my bed, staring out the window. A pile of letters lay beside me.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

I turned to see Charlie poke his head in.

"Can I come in?" He asked quietly, and I nodded.

He shot me a warm smile, coming to sit beside me. "Haven't seen you much since I came home, Aria," He told me lightly, but there was a hint of worry as well. "What are you up to?"

"Avoiding people." Was my instantaneous response.

Charlie laughed, "Right. You're always doing that. That's normal. But what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," I answered hastily. "Why would you think something's wrong?"

Charlie inhaled deeply, "Well, for starters, no one in this household seems to know you exist. Mum and Dad don't ask where you are when you're not there for dinner, the twins don't laugh about you or play some ridiculous prank on you, Ginny and Ron don't even bring you up. The only ones who seem to remember you actually exist are Bill and I. And second, every time I come home, Ron would be complaining or throwing some fuss about you and that Malfoy boy. He'd be calling that kid a git, or a tosspot. He didn't once bring up the two of you. And I know you adore that boy with all of your heart—"

"What?" I spluttered, incredulous.

Charlie smiled gently at me, "It doesn't take a mother to see these things, little sis. Ever since first year, your eyes would light up at the mention of his name. I don't even have to be at Hogwarts to see it for myself. I know you keep him in that tiny heart of yours. And that's why I know something's wrong."

There was a long silence afterwards.

I was registering my brother's words. Charlie always saw through everything in transparency.

"Also," Charlie whispered, knocking my head with his lightly. "Every year without fail, you'd come running towards the door as soon as you heard my footsteps. I didn't see that today."

I turned to give Charlie a side hug. "I just don't want to see them, you know?" I explained. "I know they doubt me because they think I did it, that I helped with the murder. And I don't want to see how little trust they have in me."

"No one thinks you did it, Aria. Maybe except Ronald, but he's a git most of the time." Charlie assure, and I giggled.

"Bill's worried about you too," Charlie continued. "He wants to see you there at the wedding."

"Do you think Percy will be there?" I questioned softly.

Charlie hesitated. Then, "I don't know."

"I really hope he goes," I whispered. "I don't want him to forget us."

Charlie sighed. "Sometimes we need to let him do what he wants," He told me. "If he wishes to forget us, it's not our choice to object. He's grown a lot. In many ways, I still see my little brother, whom I spent so many summer days chasing after and laughing with, but like us, he's got his own path to follow now."

I nodded, "Yeah, I get it."

Charlie smiled, turning to me. "Come on, Mum left some dinner for you," He muttered, getting up. "You need to eat. I'll sit with you and you can tell me all about that tosser McLaggen who just doesn't give up."

I laughed, "How do you know?"

Charlie's eyes twinkled, "Ron."