I love you. I'm glad you're feeling better. You're not still bleeding? Are you still hurting? Are you taking your pain potions? You ate all right? Sleeping okay?
I can't help worrying. You're my... well, my Charlie. You mean the world to me.
I'd prefer you to tell me when you actually feel like company. You've had a lot going on and I don't want to be hovering over you and irritating you. I'd like it if our time together was free from stress for you right now. Well, anytime really, but especially now. So you say when and I'll be there.
Did you breathe while writing all of that? I can almost hear you say it. I am fine. There is no trace left of the injury, not even a scar. I'm not taking a pain potion because I'm not in pain, and the locanda has the best food. So yes, I'm all right. Stop worrying.
I wasn't being polite. You can come here whenever you want, even now if you'd like. If you didn't get it the first few times I've mentioned, I am fine.
I don't feel like I've breathed properly since first walking in and seeing you in that infirmary bed. You shouldn't have been there, you shouldn't have been hurt, you could have been killed. It frightened me.
I couldn't make it without you.
Is that Charlie speak for asking me to come over? I'm just making sure before I portkey to the shop.
Charlie shook his head. "He probably needs some time alone. He hasn't left my side since the attack, and he really has a thing for work. He works too much. Besides, he did say that he wanted us to spend time together. He could have been a little more subtle but it doesn't make it less true. So how are you? How's Harry? Are both of you dealing with things all right?"
"All... all right." She still felt unsettled. He'd pushed her away. He'd covered it up with niceties, but it didn't change the fact that he'd pushed her away from him. "Um... yeah, Harry is fine. I'm not sure how he'll be after Hermione is through with him. She's on the war path. I think I talked her into at least speaking to him, rather than screaming. But he's okay. His cousin lived, did you know? Did I... no I've not talked to you. He got the owl that day after. On his birthday. I think it shocked him how upset he'd been over it. But he's all right. He's Harry, you know? Nothing keeps him down for very long."
"So why is Hermione screaming at him?" he asked with a smile. Charlie hadn't had that many occasions to speak with the girl, but she seemed strong and stubborn. If it weren't for her lack of red hair she could have been a Weasley. Of course, she also seemed to mull things over, plan, and that was nothing like a Weasley. "I could suggest a little hostel in Singhisoara where he can hide until she comes down, though."
"He's... well he's keeping things from her. He's keeping things close to his chest, and she's not handling that well. Personally? I think that because of the possition he's in he has to keep things quiet. He's protecting her by not telling her. I don't know, I guess maybe she's a bit jealous. And she is upset that Ron wasn't with her the other night at the attack. And she's upset that Harry was with me instead of her. Typical girl stuff."
"I thought you told me it was all right to act like you. You even said I should be out fucking as many men as I can." She grinned at him. "Not going back on that now, are you?" She kissed his cheek. "He's a better person than I am. I'd have fussed over you. And you're an awful patient under the best of circumstances. I hope you didn't drive him mad," she teased.
"Oh you can fuck, I don't care about that. Go forth and fuck, I say. No, I meant fighting with Bellatrix. Let's avoid that, please." He pulled a lock of her hair. "I do not drive anyone mad, especially since I was fine." He shrugged. "He knew how I felt, so it made things easier."
"You drive me mad occasionally. Fine or not. I just think that Terence is a saint. It's the only explaination, really." She looked up at him smiling before thinking about what he'd just said. She grew serious. "Will you stay away from her? The next time your paths cross... will you keep your distance?" She already knew the answer though and she slid close to him once more, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Of course, he must be exceptional to put up with me," he said, amused. "How else would we have made it for a whole month together without killing each other?" Charlie brushed her hair. "I don't know, love. I know it's dangerous; she's dangerous. I don't want to put any of you through this again, but will I stay away? I don't know. I want to hurt her. I want to push to the limits of pain before you go insane. I don't even want to use a wand, but my hands. Yes, I know very well that it's suicide and that's why I won't do it, but it's tempting."
"Terence didn't whip me, and yes, he has control. In fact, he has to go against that control to do what I enjoy. It's not easy for him, that I know. It's a lot more difficult for Terence to cause me pain than for Fredrick to stop. He's a very old vampire, not some new fledgling. He has control of what he does." Charlie smiled. "It doesn't matter though. There is no Fredrick in the near future, just like I doubt Terence will cause me any pain for a while." He couldn't imagine Terence handling a knife with any calm after what had happened, and calm and a steady hand were necessary.
"It scared him, you being hurt. I can't... he was here when you apparated home, yeah? I can't imagine how upset he was. I was frantic when Fred told me, and that was just hearing it. And I know it was bad, or McGonagall wouldn't have let Terence into the castle." She hugged him hard. "I'd imagine it would be difficult for him to cause you pain after seeing that."
"Yes, he was here. He's the one who firecalled McGonagall. The how is just as bad as the event itself. I joked, saying that we should use Bellatrix's dagger. He blanched. He didn't go off on me or anything. Terence is nothing if not poised, but it's not an idea that appeals to him. But again, it doesn't matter. I feel good, and I don't feel the need to be in pain at the moment." No, he was more interested in causing it, in giving Terence constant remainders of their relationship. He wanted to mark him, make him his in a way he'd never felt before. "And I told you the truth about the injury. I told you exactly what had happened."
"I know you did." She glanced at him. "You use knives? Wow, I'm... not sure what to think of that. Isn't that a bit... over the top?" She nestled against him and kissed his cheek. "It doesn't matter. I know he'd not let anything terrible happen to you. And I know that you told me exactly what happened. But you still made it sound better than what I'm sure it was. You were seriously injured. Very seriously, or Terence wouldn't have been allowed in." The thought scared her badly and she clung to him. "I'm glad you're all right, Charlie. And I'm so fucking... self centered. All I could think was that you couldn't be hurt, shouldn't be hurt, because I'd done what you'd said, I'd listened. I'd been good and you still... it shouldn't have happened. I know it doesn't make sense but I guess I thought as long as I did what I was supposed to that everyone would be all right."
"Yes, I'm healed. You have to love potions, even if they taste nasty." He smiled at her. "Maybe he does. I've never asked. I guess I should be more interested, but things never interested me. I don't know if I'd like Ireland. I can do the open space, Merlin knows I've seen enough at the camp, but I want a night life, clubs and food and cafes."
"I honestly thought you'd just want a bed." She grinned at him and leaned up to kiss his nose. "But there are clubs everywhere, yeah? Oliver would know, but Terence probably would too. I'm sure he's traveled. Don't think about it too much, just go, get away. Buy me something pretty where ever you go. And tell me everything when you come back home to me."
"I don't have to leave the house if we're aiming for a bed, but if we're going somewhere, I imagine he'd want to get out of the bedroom. Or maybe not." Charlie grinned. "So typical of a girl. I haven't even decided to go and you're already asking for a gift. What if we decide to hide in a cave with nothing around? What am I going to get you?"
"You know, you always brought me things from Romania any time you came home. It's your fault for spoiling me." She squeezed him a bit tighter. "You can always leave the cave and find the nearest town to buy me something shiney. Of course, there could be diamonds in the cave, you just might have to look for them. You were promising me one at one point, you know?" Before they'd stopped feeling so close. She snuggled against him and pushed that out of her head. Things were going well today and she'd cling to that for as long as she could.
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I love you. I'm glad you're feeling better. You're not still bleeding? Are you still hurting? Are you taking your pain potions? You ate all right? Sleeping okay?
I can't help worrying. You're my... well, my Charlie. You mean the world to me.
I'd prefer you to tell me when you actually feel like company. You've had a lot going on and I don't want to be hovering over you and irritating you. I'd like it if our time together was free from stress for you right now. Well, anytime really, but especially now. So you say when and I'll be there.
Missing you,
Gin
Reply
Did you breathe while writing all of that? I can almost hear you say it. I am fine. There is no trace left of the injury, not even a scar. I'm not taking a pain potion because I'm not in pain, and the locanda has the best food. So yes, I'm all right. Stop worrying.
I wasn't being polite. You can come here whenever you want, even now if you'd like. If you didn't get it the first few times I've mentioned, I am fine.
Love,
Charlie
Reply
I don't feel like I've breathed properly since first walking in and seeing you in that infirmary bed. You shouldn't have been there, you shouldn't have been hurt, you could have been killed. It frightened me.
I couldn't make it without you.
Is that Charlie speak for asking me to come over? I'm just making sure before I portkey to the shop.
Love you,
Gin
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Is this the part where I say that you shouldn't have been there either? None of us should have been there, in fact.
That's Charlie speak for saying that you can come over now or whenever it's good for you.
Love,
Charlie
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