The Potter Collection- Harry Potter One Shots

Ophilia *Charlie Weasley*

Please, Charlie. I don't know what to do. I'm beyond my breaking point, I truly am. How do I survive? How do I get past this? I know you are off with your dragons. I know you are upset with me. But I need help. My mother is beyond reconcile. It is like she has been possessed. I told her the thing I have dreaded to tell you-I'm pregnant. It feels so unsafe here. She has screamed for days. She screams until she can't scream anymore. I'm just a child, she said. I can't handle motherhood, she said. You would never live up to my expectations, she said. It's been blow after blow. I can't leave my room. I haven't eaten in two days. She hit me, twice. She even tried to shove me down the stairs. I am at a loss. Please, help me. Help our child. I am afraid for both of our lives. I'm not asking to get back together. I'm not asking for you to give up everything for us. I just want to escape. I don't care where or how. But please. For my sake. For our sake. Help.

-Ophilia Black

It had been a day since I sent the letter. I prayed he would come to me. I prayed he would rescue me from this disaster. Every day was worse. My mother had always been emotionally abusive. There was always something wrong with me. My hair, my body, my nose, my manners, my grades. Something. And she always managed to do it in small jabs. A comment such as "Oh, wow, look at your hips! So big!" And it never seemed to hurt less.

It was different now. She was on drugs, constantly high. I don't know what she was taking. Whatever it was made her mad. Made her violent. She was constantly harassing me, pushing me around. Finally, I told her to stop. That she had to be careful, now. The baby would be hurt. And that only seemed to make it worse. I was already four months along. I was terrified. Terrified to tell her, terrified to tell Charlie. It was a lot for me to handle.

I graduated Hogwarts and went back home. I applied for several jobs for magical creatures, but they had all been denied. No one wanted a hufflepuff. Charlie was lucky. He was off with dragons, now. Part of me wonders why he really took the job. Was it because he wanted to be with the dragons? Or was it because he wanted to be as far away from me as possible?

The breakup was messy. I didn't want things to end. Charlie was everything I could ask for. But I wasn't enough. Or, maybe, I was too much. Mentally, I wasn't ready. He wanted more. Marriage, a family. But I was scared. I wanted to wait, to make sure we were sure. Honestly, I was pushing things off. I was scared to truly commit to a life with him. I grew up watching my mother bounce from relationship to relationship. Three marriages that didn't last. How could I say yes?

He didn't get it. His parents are so happy together. They were meant to be. He wasn't scared. He was sure that I was the one. At least, until I was unsure. It put a wedge between us that was unfixable. We wanted two different things in life. I needed time to think. He needed time to get over me.

I instantly regretted the decision. I went home, lonlier than ever. Then, when I got home, I was greeted with pain and misery. I admit I relapsed. I had fallen into a dark depression at 12 years old. I wanted to die. Until I found out I was a witch. And then I got friends. And Charlie. And I wasn't so lonely. I was still sad. Always sad and stressed. But I had a support system. Until now. And here I am, 18 years old, pregnant, and falling back into my hole.

My hygiene was poor. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror. I wasn't brushing my hair. The long brown locks were in knots on my scalp. I didn't brush my teeth. I didn't get out of bed most days. I could barely bring myself to shower or eat. And I know it's bad for the baby. But I just can't bring myself to do it. To try. My brown eyes are bloodshot. Some days they look black. The bags under my eyes are darkening, the insomnia hitting hard.

I was laying in my bed when I heard the pop. I couldn't bring myself to sit up. I turned my eyes, and I saw him there. I couldn't believe he actually came. That he would really rescue me. Upon seeing me he rushed to my side. I could hear him calling my name, but I was so shocked I didn't answer.

"Ophilia! What happened? Baby, you need to get up. You look awful," he whispered, a hand to my cheek. Baby?

"Charlie. You came," I smiled.

"Of course. We had a lot to talk about. And you seemed so distressed. Of course I came. Of course."

He gently helped me up, his eyes running over my pale face. They moved down my body, and he noticed my bony arms. I hugged myself, shifting my legs. He only nodded, understanding my silence. He said nothing as he grabbed my bags, shoving clothes into them. He didn't ask what I wanted to bring. He knew I didn't have much, anyways.

"Thank you. For coming," I whispered, "I was afraid..."

"I will always be here for you, Ophilia. You should know that. Come on, I will take you back to my place. Don't get sick on me." Before I could answer, he put his hand in mine. We were gone in an instant. I did feel queasy, but I held it in.

"Here. Why don't you take a shower?"

He led me to his bathroom, pulling open the door. He ran the warm water for me, helping me undress. He was so gentle, never once getting out of line. He had always been a gentleman. And I suppose it was nothing new to him. He helped me comb through my hair, brush my teeth, and even made me soup. He never asked questions, though. He took care of me before anything else.

"How long," he asked once I had finished. His eyes met mine, and I shuddered involuntarily.

"4 months."

"4? And you didn't-no, I'm sorry. I know you were having a hard time. I shouldn't get angry. Do you...know?"

"It's a girl," I whispered, my head low.

"A girl," he leaned back, his hand over his mouth.

"Yes."

"I'm going to be a dad?"

"Yes."

"Oh, Ophilia. I'm so sorry. I'm such a fool!"

"I am too. This was both of our doing. Maybe...maybe we stopped trying too soon." I looked down, waiting for his reaction. I had been thinking about this since I found out. I was still in love with him. I never stopped. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how stupid I had been. I should have agreed to marry him. To start a life with this man. I would be so happy. Things wouldn't be the same as they were with my mother. He wasn't like that. Of course he wasn't. And I was foolish to think it was a possibility. I knew what I wanted now. I was just scared it was too late.

"Maybe," he agreed.

"I love you," I blurted, a deep blush filling my cheeks. His head snapped up, eyes wide.

"You still love me?"

"Of course," I let a tear fall, "How could I not? You are everything I could have asked for. And I was being so stupid and so selfish. Acting like a child. I'm sorry for that."

"I love you, too. Apology accepted," he laughed, "I couldn't stop thinking about you. I tried to go on a date, once. But I left ten minutes in. I couldn't handle it. She wasn't you. You were all I wanted." I cried into my hands, so angry with myself.

"Lets start over," he said quickly, reaching forwards and grabbing my hands.

"Really?"

"Yes. We don't have to get married right now. I just...I want to be with you. I want to be a good father. So...let's do this. Together."

I nodded, breathing out a sigh of relief. I sucked in my breath when he leaned forwards, kissing me gently. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. We stayed like that for a while, enjoying the feeling of touching each other once more. I was so excited for our future together. I knew we could make this work.