Blessing in Disguise

Do you really have to?

  **Lauren's POV**
  "Mums probably a nervous reck about our where abouts since we didn't leave a note, we should probably head back" Charlie spoke softly into my ear. I nodded my head in agreement, but I didn't really want to leave just yet.
  "It is nearly dinner time after all. Wouldn't want to miss that or she'll really have our heads." I said back. We both let out a laugh picturing Mrs. Weasley yelling at us for being late. With that we both got up from our table and left the small café. We wondered down the street longer than we had to, to find a good apparation spot. Both of us just enjoying being in each others presence and the view of the setting sun in front of us.
  Suddenly Charlie pulled me into him and with a small pop and a tugging sensation felt throughout my body I new that we were apparating. Once my feet were firmly planted back on the ground I could help but yell at Charlie for the suddenness of his action.
  "CHARLIE BLOODY HELL!!  A LITTLE WARNING WILL STOP A GRIL FROM HAVING A HARD ATTACK YA KNOW!!" I yelled at him.
  "Sorry love, I knew that if we kept walking we would have never come home and truthfully I'm afraid of getting the wrath from mum" He told while letting out a small chuckle. Unfortunately he was to late as Mrs. Weasley was already making her way towards us.
"Where the hell have you two been all day! It's nearly dark out and I come home to an empty house with no note! Ginny and Harry had no idea that you two had even left the house!" Mrs. Weasley yelled at us.
  Neither of us had any idea what to say, as we were to embarrassed to speak, we just nodded our heads until she was finished. Charlie was the brave one to speak up after Mrs. Weasley had gone off on us.
"Sorry mum, we went out for a cup of coffee and just lost track of time I guess" he spoke sheepishly. Clearly embarrassed by the fact that he was a grown man getting yell at by his mum. I let out a small chuckle not being able to hid my amusement at his embarrassment while Charlie just glared at me.
  "Sorry Mrs. Weasley it won't happen again I promise."
  "No you're right. I suppose it won't" Mrs. Weasley said so quietly I wasn't sure I even heard her say anything. Quickly as if not wanting to say more, Mrs. Weasley was ushering is inside claiming that the food would get cold if we stood outside any longer.
  Charlie and I shared a questioning look with one another, but figured it be best to leave that matter alone until after supper.

**Mrs. Weasleys POV**
  Dang it, I've said to much I thought to myself. I didn't plan on telling them about the letter Charlie had received until after dinner.
  I was so angry with them for just disappearing that I wasn't thinking about what I was saying. Thankfully neither pressed me any further.
  Goodness, these two didn't need this kind of news so soon. I could tell by the tinges of pink flushed across both their faces that they had enjoyed each other's company. They were just getting to know one another. It had just been near hours since they found out there pairing.
  I knew as soon as I heard Charlie announce it was Lauren that he was to marry, this would be a complicated matter. Charlie was in fact a few years older than the girl, established in a job across the country none the less and Lauren was due back at Hogwarts to finish up her 7th year in just a few weeks. (A/N: I actually have no idea where Romania is in relation to Britain as my geography skill are not great. I did read it's about a 3 & 1/2 hour flight though).
  I doubt either of them had though about this yet. Of course they hadn't why should they have all that should matter right now was that they got to know one another. This was going to complicate things for sure.
  With an unsettled feeling in my stomach I ushered the two back inside for dinner. Not wanting to ruin the lovely evening the two had clearly just shared quite yet.

**Lauren's POV**
  We had just finished supper where Mrs. Weasley had been noticeably quite the entire time. "Dinner was lovely Mrs. Weasley, one of my favorites I think." I spoke in attempt to make some sort of conversation at the completely silent table, I tried meeting Ginny's eyes to see if she could signal any clues about the looming silence but she wouldn't even look at me.
  'Oh why thank you dear" she said followed by a small but seemingly forced smile. Something was obviously bothering her but she was trying to hid it. Without saying anything Mrs. Weasley got up from her chair and left the kitchen but came back not a moment later. Except this time she was holding an envelope, to whom it was addressed to I couldn't see.
Charlie stiffened next me, I gave him a questioning look but he wouldn't meet my eyes. Mrs. Weasley walked over and handed Charlie the letter. She gave me a sad smile before returning to her chair next to Mr. Weasley.
  Hum that was odd I thought, but as I looked up and around the table everyone was giving me the same sadden look Mrs. Weasley had given me not a moment ago and I hadn't a clue as to why.

**Charlie's POV**
  As soon as mum had returned with the letter in her hand, I immediately stiffened. I could feel Lauren looking at me but I refused to meet her eyes, instead keeping my eyes on mum. I knew the seal on the back of the letter as well as knew how to tame dragons.
  Since learning that Lauren and I were paired together this morning, I hadn't thought about work at all. Well I mean I had, briefly, it was only Bill who knew about my concern about my inevitable return to work and how Lauren would be retuning to Hogwarts at the start of September. We had spoke of it quickly but had dismissed the conversation quickly as we thought we'd have time to figure it out. I guess that time had come quicker than I had expected.
  I refused to look at Lauren still, no one had uttered a word since mum came back in with the letter. Everyone was used to seeing these letters by now, summoning me back to work. My boss new about the new law, and told me and the handful of guys that I work with who would also be caught in the law that he'd give us some time off to figure things out before we'd be called back.
  This could only mean one thing, something was wrong back at the reserve. I opened the letter from my boss and skimmed it quickly.
  I felt sick, poachers had been threw the camp and they need all hands on deck to help clean up the reserve and take care of the injured dragons. I didn't know when I'd be back home, but most importantly I didn't know when I'd see Lauren again.
  For the second time that day I was instantly filled with dread. I didn't know how I was going to tell Lauren that I had to leave and even worse I didn't know when I would be back. We just been paired together mere hours ago, and yet it felt like I had known her my entire life. I wasn't ready to say goodbye even if just for a little while, not after only getting to spend a few hours together.
  With all the Gryffindor courage I could muster up, I turned in my seat to look into her eyes. I grabbed her hands in mine. Fully knowing that what I was about to tell her would most likely break her already broken heart.

**Lauren's POV**
  Once I had finished looking around the table, the last pair of eyes I was met with were Charlie's brown eyes that held nothing but sadness in them. I was so confused, what could have been so bad that the rest of the family already seemed to know but I didn't. Charlie locked his eyes with mine and we just stared at one another for a long moment before I finally spoke "Charlie just tell me what this is about,  we'll figure it out together I promise."
  Man how I wished I had kept my mouth shut just a little longer, I wasn't prepared for what he was about to say. He opened and closed he his mouth a few times as if he were going to say something but closed it again as if thinking better of it. "Laur... it's umm... you see.. it's the reserve. Poachers have broken in and I'm need back their to help care for the injured dragons. I don't know when I'll be back" He spoke so quietly and rushed I was afraid I hadn't heard him right. I knew by the look in his eyes that what I heard was correct.
  It took a moment for what he had just told me to sink in. Suddenly the severity of the situation hit me and I could feel the blood drain from my face. "Bloody hell" I said quietly to myself. "Do you really have to?" I asked him but I already new the answer without him saying it.

**Authors Note**
So what do you think? What's going to happen to Lauren & Charlie? Let me know what you think is going to happen in the comments. As always, I appreciate any attention this story gets so please comment, vote, and tell your friends about it. Buckle up, because this is just the beginning.