They stared at him. Of course they’d stare at him. Minerva McGonagall watched with pursed lips as Linda Glove, Dumbledore’s hand-chosen Head Girl this year, snuck furtive glances at the young man beneath her lashes. It was time to end this nonsense.
“Charlie Weasley.”
The familiar redhead turned at the sound of his name and answered with a wide grin.
“’Lo, Professor McGonagall,” he replied cheerfully. As Minerva stepped closer, she could see, however, the bags and bruises beneath his eyes. “You look like you haven’t aged a bit.” He shook her outstretched hand with a strong, firm grip.
Minerva stiffened at Charlie’s casual tone. She might not be his professor anymore, but damn it if she puts up with his colloquial conversation.
She cleared her throat. “It might be best to talk in my office,” she announced loudly enough for the girls who had slowed down to admire the young dragon keeper to hear. She turned sharply on her heels and led the way wordlessly to her office in the Gryffindor tower.
“Have a seat, Mr. Weasley.” Minerva waved her wand, conjuring a chair.
“Thanks, Professor.”
“Tea?” Even Minerva winced at the severity of her voice.
“Erm, no thanks, Professor.” As Minerva settled behind her desk, Charlie leaned forward. “I doubt you’d invited me here just for tea.”
Minerva smiled thinly. “Of course not. As you know,” Minerva folded her hands, “Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament. For the first task, we’ll be needing your help.” Minerva continued, explaining what the council had planned. “I don’t think I need to emphasize how important it is that each Champion has an equal chance to win.”
Charlie put his hands up quickly. “Of course, Professor. I won’t say a word to Harry.”
“Or Ron,” Minerva looked severely at Charlie over her glasses.
“Or Ron.” Charlie grinned.
Unconvinced, Minerva continued, “Hagrid will be helping you with the dragons once they arrive. Until then, you’ll need to stay in Hogsmeade. The council is prepared to pay for the expenses.”
“Yes, Professor.”
---
“Oh, hello, Professor.” Charlie, dressed in the most rumpled of robes, stepped aside, letting Minerva walk in.
Minerva glanced uncomfortably around the room, carefully keeping her eyes away from the piles of robes and unspeakables lying on the bed and floor of Charlie’s room.
Charlie reached up to ruffle his hair, blushing slightly. “Er. Sorry, Professor. You caught me at a bad time.”
“No, no. My apologies.” Minerva struggled to keep from squeezing her eyes shut.
“I was just on my way down for a drink.” Charlie looked at Minerva’s stiff figure. “Erm, maybe it will be more comfortable for us to talk downstairs instead of here.”
Minerva sighed with relief as she followed Charlie down the stairs of the Three Broomsticks. Though she never was a great fan of the raucous cacophony of the Three Broomsticks pub, she couldn’t imagine what she’d do if she had to sit on Charlie’s knickers.
After Charlie had ordered both of them a Firewhisky, much to Minerva’s dismay, he turned to her. “So, what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
“Oh, right.” For the first time in - well, a long time “ Minerva scrambled to remember why she’d come to endure this awkward meeting. “Ah yes.” Minerva cleared her throat, banishing the image of the room upstairs. “Albus has sent me to find out more about what preparations are needed for the arrival of the dragons tomorrow.”
Their drinks arrived then. Charlie, unfazed by Minerva’s attempts to push her pitcher away, plonked the mug in front of her and took a big gulp from his. “Right. Well, more dragon tamers had arrived earlier today to lend a hand. We’re going to be unloading the dragons tomorrow at night after the dinner.”
Minerva nodded and took a tentative sip, slightly gagging as the drink burned its way down her esophagus. “Well, that’s fine. Just let me know what supplies you may need.”
Charlie grinned proudly. “Dragon keepers always are prepared with their own tools.” He paused. “But thank you.”
Minerva nodded again, concentrating on keeping her drink in and from spewing it all over the man sitting across from her. It was odd “ though she was drinking this vile Firewhisky, she couldn’t help but feel excited. Maybe it was the drink. At the thought of this, Minerva took another mouthful of the burning substance.
Charlie continued talking about the plans for tomorrow night, but Minerva couldn’t concentrate. She watched Charlie’s lips move, forming words she couldn’t hear, and smiled lazily.
“…and hopefully the dragons won’t be any more dangerous than Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts.”
Minerva threw her head back and laughed. Oh, how she laughed. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so alive, so happy, so…free! She was aware of the strange looks others in the tavern were giving her and of the amused grin on Charlie’s face. For the first time, though, she didn’t give a damn of what Charlie or anyone else thought of her at that moment. A fleeting moment of practicality passed; maybe she should put down that damned mug and stop gulping the Firewhisky down so greedily. But just as it occurred to her, it passed again.
“Professor…you all right?”
“I’m fine, Mr,” a hiccup, “Weaaasley.”
As hazy as her senses were, she could hear his chuckle as clear as day. What a lovely sound!
“I think you’ve had enough, Professor. Let me take you back to the castle.”
Minerva felt a pair of strong, rough hands gently help her out of her seat. Thankful for the support, for even she knew she couldn’t stand on her own two feet at the moment, she grinned stupidly up at her hero.
Madam Rosmerta clicked her tongue in disapproval. “What’ve you done to Minerva, Charlie?”
“Just a bit of Firewhisky is all. I didn’t know she was so intolerant.”
Minerva popped an eye open to see Madam Rosmerta place her hands on her hips. “What, you thought the proper Deputy Headmistress sneaks drinks between classes?”
“Sorry.” Even without looking at Charlie, she knew he was smiling sheepishly.
“This won’t do, Charlie. We can’t bring her to Hogwarts like this. Think of the rumors.”
“What do you propose?”
After a pause, Madam Rosmerta’s voice replied, “Let her stay in your room tonight. I’d rent out a room if I had anymore.” Another click. “All these visitors showing up for the Triwizard Tournament. I’ll bring some extra sheets up later for you.”
“ Mobilicorpus!”
Minerva couldn’t restrain her squeal of delight as she found herself levitated off the ground. She laughed all the way up the stairs and into Charlie’s room.
“Oof!” she exclaimed as she landed in a bed of sheets, clothing, and quilts. Suddenly the only light in the room extinguished with a hiss. Suddenly, Minerva was overcome by a wave of exhaustion.
“Try to get some sleep, Professor.” When she murmured in response, she heard his soft laugh again. “You’re going to have some headache tomorrow morning, Professor.”
---
Damn. Minerva groaned as she came out of her deep slumber to the sound of a pounding that seemed to come from inside her head. Shit. She gasped as pain nearly knocked her unconscious again. Nausea washed over her, and Minerva quickly dove for the edge of the bed.
She wiped her mouth after she finished emptying her stomach and groaned again. She rolled over and immediately jumped back up. She searched frantically for her wand in the folds of her robes and panicked when she couldn’t find it.
“Oh, morning, Professor. I see you’ve felt the effects of the Firewhisky, eh?” A vomit-covered Charlie wearing naught but drawers emerged from the other side of the bed. “Scourgify.” After the mess had disappeared, Charlie smiled and pointed to the nearby dresser. “I’d placed your wand there since I couldn’t imagine how uncomfortable it would be to have something sticking in your side as you slept.”
Minerva stared in shock at Charlie’s rumpled form. “What happened last night?” she managed to choke out.
Charlie’s eyes widened before he let out a loud bark of laughter. “Oh not what you think, Professor!” As his fit of laughter passed, he gasped out, “You’d ingested quite a bit more Firewhisky than a first-timer should’ve.” He shook his head, his shoulders still shaking from his obvious amusement. “You should’ve told me, Professor; I didn’t know.”
“The hell you didn’t,” Minerva snapped. Never had she been so embarrassed in her life. Merlin knows how she made a fool of herself last night in front of all those people in the tavern. And to wake up in a bed of undergarments. Minerva shut her eyes, just willing for this nightmare to end.
“Minerva?”
“Mr. Weasley!” Minerva kept her eyes closed. “Do not call me that. You have no right, after what you did to me.”
“Minerva “ Professor, I mean “ I didn’t mean any harm from last night. I “ “
“Just shut up!” Even Peeves had never infuriated Minerva to this degree. Minerva whipped her head to glare at Charlie, who’d instantly snapped his mouth shut. “Not a word of this to anyone, understood?” She shook her finger at him urgently. She’d never live this down if the people at Hogwarts caught wind of this.
“You have my word, Professor,” Charlie promised solemnly, all traces of laughter gone from his face.
Minerva swiveled to leave this dreaded scene behind when Charlie called again, “Wait, Professor. May I say something?” Minerva restrained herself, but she paused anyway. Footsteps drew closer from behind, and she felt the warmth of a body cross before her path.
“Last night was the best night of my life.” Minerva narrowed her eyes menacingly. “No, no, I swear nothing happened, Professor,” Charlie amended. “What I meant was “ well, I’ve never seen you so relaxed before. You always seem so tense, if I may say so.” Charlie eyed Minerva warily and continued when he deemed it safe. “Even back when I was a student, you never seemed to let your guard down. You rarely smiled. You never laughed, certainly not like you had last night. You never just let yourself go and enjoyed yourself, enjoyed the things and people around you until last night.
“Let’s face it, Professor, you’re not getting any younger. And I mean that in the best possible way,” he added. “So just, you know, laugh. Besides, you’re awfully pretty when you laugh.” He lowered his head, blushing.
Minerva felt her own cheeks redden at his last comment. But could it be? She remembered glimpses of what had happened the night before. She remembered the burning sensation down her throat, the amused grins that surrounded her, the sparkling sound that had come out of her mouth, the feeling of pure bliss that had coursed through her. But most of all, she remembered that clear, unrestrained chuckle from the man standing before her. He was the one who helped her. He was the one who’d broken down that barrier and let out all the pent-up feelings.
And now, she looked up into his brown eyes, she saw nothing but respect, slight pleasure, anticipation, but no judgment. She couldn’t help but offer a weak smile. “Charlie Weasley, you’re too much.”
Charlie grinned with delight and opened his arms. “You know, I liked you more when you were drunk.”
End notes: This chapter follows as closely to canon as my knowledge of the Harry Potter universe as of November 5, 2006 allows. Any information revealed to be false by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will not be changed.
Reviews are graciously accepted and appreciated.