The Heart Of A Lion (A Charlie Weasley Love Story)

3. Trouble In Paradise

"Hey, Captain", Imogen sat down next to Charlie in the common room: "When do we start practise?"

"Woah, don't get ahead of yourself", the boy pointed a finger towards her: "How do you know you'll be on the team this year?"

Imogen nudged him gently: "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I would", he grinned: "But to your relief, I don't want to."

"I am honored", Imogen rolled her eyes: "Try not to get too cocky."

They suddenly turned around when they heard a knocking sound from the window. A grey owl was pecking the glass with a letter tied to its leg.

"Errol!" Charlie said and got up from the sofa. He opened the window to let the owl in.

"Is it from your parents?" Imogen asked and scooted closer to Charlie to see the letter.

"Yup", Charlie answered and opened the envelope. Imogen leaned her elbow onto Charlie's shoulder and read what Mrs. Weasley had written:

Dear Charles, your father and I are so proud!
We always knew you had it in you – but both Prefect AND Quidditch Captain?
We couldn't be happier for you.

Love, Mom and Dad

PS. Tell Imogen we said hey! We are proud her, too.

Imogen smiled. Although she had her own loving parents, they were Muggles so they didn't quite understand everything – well, anything – that happened in the Wizarding World; that's why she hadn't bothered to send them a letter telling she became a Prefect. But hearing Charlie's parents tell her they were proud of her felt oddly comforting.

"Did you send your parents an owl?" Charlie looked at Imogen. She shook her head and he sighed: "You know they care about you. I'm sure they'd love to hear about your achievements."

"Yeah but they don't understand anything", she argued: "I might as well write the letter in Hebrew, it wouldn't make a difference."

"But you should help them understand", Charlie pleaded.

"Trust me, they couldn't care less about me being a witch."

Imogen lowered her gaze to the ground. As much as she tried to deny it, the fact that her parents weren't interested in her life hurt her. Sure, they loved her and had a good relationship with her, but they had never shown any signs of genuine interest towards her life at Hogwarts.

"You know what", Charlie tried to cheer her up: "Maybe we could invite your parents to ours for Christmas. They'd get a good idea of how things work in a wizarding family."

Imogen snorted: "I doubt your parents would want complete strangers in their house for Christmas." She'd always hated being a burden. 

"Have you met my mother? She'd be thrilled to have guests", Charlie insisted: "Besides, don't you think it's weird we've been best friends since first grade and our parents have never met?"

"It's not weird, Charlie. My parents are Muggles."

"Exactly! My dad would love it." Charlie gave Imogen a persuasive look. Imogen hesitated.

"Come on, Ims..." he coaxed: "It would be fun!"

"Okay, fine", Imogen said: "We can ask." She wasn't sure her parents would be up for it. 

"Great", Charlie clapped his hands together: "I'm gonna go write the letter right away."

"Hold on", Bill had come in through the painting and was now walking towards them: "Are you writing to Mom and Dad? Leave some space for me, too."