Once again, Charlie Weasley was running behind schedule. He should have known better than to think he could start his vacation on time. First, there was the fight between the two Horntails to deal with, and then the Welsh Green egg decided to hatch, three weeks earlier than expected. He was worried about the baby dragon surviving since it was so tiny, maybe too tiny.
Maybe I should stay and look after the baby, he thought to himself. No, Bill would kill me if I didn’t show up for their party. He grabbed his satchel and walked over to the book that was his Portkey to Shell Cottage. Being the director of the dragon reserve had some benefits, he thought as he reached out and placed a hand on the book. My very own Portkey to use whenever I need it.
He managed to stay on his feet as he landed in the yard of Shell Cottage, but just barely. Shoving the book into his bag, he looked around. Not much had changed in the year since he had last been here. He imagined though the baby, Victoire, had grown since he last saw her. She had been only a year old at that time. He hadn’t made it back for the five year anniversary memorial service last May. He had just been promoted to director of the reserve and couldn’t get away.
As he walked towards the front door, it flew open and a tiny blonde haired toddler ran out. Charlie assumed this was his niece which was confirmed when he heard his brother’s voice.
“Victoire, come back here. If your mother sees you haven’t had your bath yet, it will be both our heads.”
Charlie dropped his bag and reached out with the unerring reflexes born from his Quidditch days to grab the fleeing child around the waste.
“I seem to have found a pixie trying her best to escape the evil master of the house,” he said to Bill, who had just come outside.
“Wrong,” replied Bill, “you caught the evil master trying to flee justice.” Bill reached out and relieved Charlie of his burden. “She has suddenly decided she would rather be a ragamuffin than a clean little baby.”
“No baby, big girl,” said Victoire pouting.
“Well, big girls like to take baths,” said Charlie. “In fact, they enjoy them. It is only babies who cry about taking them.”
“I don’t cry,” said Victoire regally. “Bath now, Papa,” she said in a commanding voice.
Charlie laughed. “I see what you mean. She rules the house, doesn’t she?”
Bill nodded gravely. “I don’t know what I am going to do in a couple months,” he said seriously.
“Why, what is wrong?” Charlie asked concerned.
Bill nodded towards the house where Fleur was now standing just outside the door. It took Charlie only seconds to realise he was going to be an uncle again in a very short time.
“Should I congratulate you or offer my condolences?” he asked jokingly.
“Oh, aren’t you just the funny one. We will see how you feel when it happens to you,” Bill said.
Charlie shook his head. “Not going to happen to me. I am married to my dragons. They are all I need in my life.”
“Charlie, ‘ow good to see you again,” Fleur said as walked up to her. She reached out and took Victoire from Bill. “And you, my leettle angel, time for your bath, oui?”
Victoire smiled sweetly and nodded her head. “I like to take baths now,” she said in a tiny voice.
Fleur raised her eyebrows at her daughter and looked at Bill questioningly. Charlie chuckled as Bill just shook his head.
“It seems Uncle Charlie managed to convince her that taking baths was something big girls enjoy,” Bill told his wife. “Give her back to me, and I will take care of her. You should be lying down.”
“I am fine,” Fleur answered in the same regal tone Victoire had used earlier. “I can bathe my own daughter.” She turned and walked back into the house talking quietly to her daughter.
“I see that you have your hands full,” said Charlie as they walked into the house behind Fleur. “So, who all is coming to this party?”
“It seems like half this country and half of France,” said Bill. “You would think it was our fortieth anniversary instead of our fourth. I don’t even see why we have to have a party this year. We haven’t before; the first year, was too soon after the Battle, the second, we had just had Victoire, last year we didn’t because Ginny had just won the Quidditch World Cup. I told Fleur we should wait until next year, but would she listen? No.”
“Well, think of it this way, how bad can it be?” Seeing the look of anguish on Bill’s face, Charlie burst out laughing. “At least you are having it at the Burrow. That should make life here easier. I, for one, would not want to be there right now. Remember how Mum was before your wedding?”
Both brothers shuddered at the memory of Molly’s determination to have everything perfect for the wedding. They looked at each other and identical grins spread over their faces.
“It’s good to have you here,” said Bill. “But, why were you late? I thought you were going to be here early this morning.”
Charlie began telling Bill of his morning. Just as he was finishing his story, there was a tap on the window. Looking over, Bill recognised Ron’s little owl. He went over and opened the window allowing Pig to fly in. The owl went right over to Charlie and fluttered around in front of him.
Charlie reached out and grabbed the bird out of the air. He took the envelope from its leg and let it free. The owl flew over to the counter where it landed and looked at them.
“It’s from Mum. She wants to know when I am coming over,” said Charlie. He looked at Bill suspiciously. “You did tell her I was staying here, didn’t you?”
Bill looked down at the floor and shook his head. Charlie groaned. “So she is under the impression I am staying at the Burrow. Well, damn. I guess you are going to get out of this party after all. I am going to murder you in your sleep.”
Bill looked up at Charlie and smiled. “Well, that will be hard to do when you are sleeping at the Burrow.”
Charlie let out with a growl that sounded very much like one of his dragons and lunged at Bill. Both of them went crashing to the floor. After several minutes, they were both bloody and laughing like loons at each other.
“What ‘es going on down ‘ere?” Fleur’s voice rose over the noise they were making.
Charlie and Bill looked up at her from the floor, then back at each other and began laughing all over again.
“Bill, you know my family will be ‘ere in the morning, I would think you would be ‘elping me to get everything ready.”
Charlie saw Bill look up sheepishly at his wife. He wondered if it was a good idea to tease his brother right now. As Bill opened his mouth to apologise, Charlie decided it was time to act.
“Fleur, I am sorry to tell you this, but my brother isn’t going to be able to help you. You see, I have to murder him, on principle, I’m sure you understand. But, once I am done, I will be glad to help you.”
“Bill?” Fleur’s eyes showed her confusion.
“Charlie is upset I never told Mum he was staying here. Now he is expected to stay at the Burrow and for some strange reason, he is upset over the idea.”
“Oh, I see. So, this ees all your fault then?” she asked Bill. “Charlie, I do understand and you have my permission to continue but...” She waited just a moment before she continued, “...not until after the party. I am sure you understand, my family ees coming.”
Charlie once again began laughing, only this time at the look of shock on his brother’s face over his wife’s joke. Standing, he reached down and held out his hand to his brother. As he pulled him up, he continued to pull him into a brief brotherly hug.
“Well, bro, I think the little lady has work for us to do. Which makes the perfect excuse to give to Mum as to why I am staying here.” Looking at Fleur, he asked for a quill to answer Molly’s note. Once he wrote a quick reply, he tied it to the tiny owl and opening the window, let it fly away.
“So, are the cousins coming too?” Charlie asked Fleur. At her nod, he smiled. “This should be fun.”
“Come on,” said Bill. “We have work to do.”
Charlie nodded and followed Bill out of the house. Perhaps, he thought, this may just be more enjoyable than I expected.
*****
By midmorning the next day, Charlie wondered if he had made a mistake in staying at Shell Cottage instead of going to the Burrow. Fleur was even more of a task master than his mother. They had been up until the wee hours of the morning constructing a temporary shelter for her relatives. Now after only a few hours sleep, he and Bill were putting sheets on the beds that had been delivered just this morning. When he had complained to Bill that this was woman’s work, Fleur had overheard and told him that he could always sleep at the Burrow with the chickens.
That made Charlie realise two things, though one could argue they were the same thing just different points of view: one, he was glad he wasn’t married and didn’t have to answer to and keep a woman happy all the time; and two, he realised he wished he had someone in his life to make him as happy as Bill was.
“Oi, Charlie, stop daydreaming and go get ready. They will be here soon,” Bill said to him. “I finished up in the other room. We better get a move on or Fleur will have both our heads.”
“Bill, ‘re you in ‘ere?” Fleur called from the doorway. “They will be ‘ere in a few moments. “Urry up and come outside.”
“Yes, we are coming,” Bill answered. “Come on, Charlie. Let’s go greet the in-laws.”
Charlie followed behind Bill, again wondering if Bill was the luckiest man or the unluckiest man alive to be married to a Veela. Personally, Charlie never understood the pull of the Veela side of Fleur or her family. Even at their wedding when Fred and George introduced him to the Veela cousins, he never felt the attraction. Sure, they were pretty, but physical beauty held little appeal to him.
Charlie had loved a girl once or at least thought he loved her then. She was the most unique girl he had ever met. But, he realised when he saw her again after school, that what he felt for her wasn’t the love you build a lifetime together on. No, he had loved Nymphadora Tonks as a friend, nothing more. Charlie had never truly been in love. Sometimes he wondered if there was something wrong with him, or if it was just he loved his dragons too much to love a woman.
As he and Bill came around the house, they heard the unmistakable sounds of company. Bill rushed ahead to go join Fleur while Charlie slowed his steps. He had the strange sensation something was about to change and not necessarily for the better.
As Charlie approached the gathering of people, he immediately recognised Fleur’s parents and sister. He was surprised how much the little girl had grown. He knew she was about fifteen or so now, and he was glad that he wasn’t her father. He would have his hands full soon with boys hanging around, if he didn’t already.
As Charlie got closer, he began to notice the others that were standing on the other side of the Delacours. It looked like there were three cousins that came to be at the party.
“Oh, Charlie, ‘ere you are. Come meet my family,” Fleur’s voice had taken on a more pronounced accent. “You remember my parents and my sister, oui?” At Charlie’s nod, she held her hand out to the others. “These are my cousins, Joelle, Chantelle, and Antoinette. This ees Bill’s brother, Charlie.”
Charlie smiled at the girls and held his hand out to each of them in turn. As his hand met with the tiniest of the three, he felt as he did when he had stuck a spoon in the little white box at one of his childhood Muggleborn friend’s house. As he quickly pulled his hand away from hers, he noticed she was rubbing her hand like she had felt the same thing.
Charlie’s mind went fuzzy as he looked into the girl’s eyes. Had he ever seen eyes of that colour before? he wondered. Shaking his head, he realised that Bill was calling his name.
“What?” he asked as he tried to focus on Bill.
“I asked you to help me get this stuff into the back cottage,” Bill said, his voice sounding amused.
“Sure,” Charlie answered. He turned away from the girl and reached down to grab the nearest suitcase. He followed behind Bill wondering just what had happened. Had he finally felt the Veela attraction? He would have to ask Ron when he saw him if that was what it felt like. He knew Ron had been affected by Fleur from the first moment he met her all those years ago during the Triwizard Tournament.
No, he thought, I can’t ask my baby brother something like that. It was just some weird thing, probably won’t happen again. At least Charlie hoped it wouldn’t happen again.
*****
The house was noisy all day as Fleur and her family caught up on each other’s news. There wasn’t enough room in the house for everyone to sit comfortably around the table to eat dinner, so like Harry’s seventeenth birthday, Bill and Charlie found themselves outside setting up tables for everyone to sit at. They had just levitated the tables they transfigured from rocks when Fleur’s voice rang out and told them they were not to behave as they did at that birthday party so many years ago. Sighing, both men slowly let their table drop to the ground.
“Bill, how much do you know about Fleur’s cousins?” Charlie asked in what he hoped was a nonchalant voice.
“Joelle and Chantelle were at the wedding. I have only met Antoinette once before, when Victoire was born. Why?”
“No reason, just wondering,” answered Charlie. He couldn’t help but thinking of her, of Antoinette. He had watched her all day as she primly sat at the table and spoke not a word. He wondered what her voice sounded like. While everyone had chattered like magpies getting dinner ready, she sat quiet and stiffly.
“I noticed one of them, I can’t remember her name...anyway...she just sat there all day not saying anything or helping at all.” Charlie glanced quickly up at Bill then back down at the plates he was placing on the table.
“That would be Antoinette. She is what best could be described as a pampered princess; the only child of aging parents who spoiled her. Her parents died last winter and she has been living with Fleur’s parents since then. She barely talks to anyone anymore, but I remember her voice. She has a voice like an angel.” Bill shook his head. “Don’t tell Fleur I said that.”
“I won’t. How old is she?”
“She just turned twenty-five a couple months ago,” Bill answered and then looked at Charlie. “Ah, come on, don’t tell me someone finally caught your eye. If something happens and she gets hurt...”
“I wouldn’t hurt her,” Charlie said defensively.
“Charlie, you are married to your dragons. We both know there is no room in your life for a woman. Look what happened with Tonks. Charlie, please...”
“Nothing happened with Tonks. We were better off as friends. She belonged to Remus from the time she was a child and first met him. I was just a pleasant distraction for a time. This isn’t like that,” he added quietly at the end.
“No, then tell me what is it like?” Bill asked.
Charlie didn’t have a chance to answer because at that moment, she came around the side of the house and all thoughts fled his brain.
“Oh, I see,” said Bill, there was worry lacing his words. “Good evening, Antoinette. I better go help Fleur bring dinner out.”
Charlie thought he heard Bill muttering to himself as he headed into the house, but he didn’t care. He pulled out the chair in front of him and motioned to Antoinette to sit down. He saw her hesitate for a second before coming over and taking the offered seat.
“Merci,” she said very quietly. “Eet ees nice to see manners. Eet seems they are too often forgotten.”
“You’re welcome,” Charlie answered. He pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. “Bill told me of your loss. My deepest sympathies to you. I know what it is like to lose family.” Charlie’s voice broke momentarily as he spoke. Even after five years, the pain still broke through at times.
“You lost your brother? In the fight?” she asked.
“Yes, my brother Fred. He died fighting, though. Not that makes a damn bit of difference in the scheme of things.” Charlie glanced across the yard towards the sea. “Would you like to take a walk...after dinner I mean,” he added the last when he heard Fleur’s laughter coming towards them.
“Oui, I should like that.”
At that moment, Fleur came into view walking beside Bill who had several dishes floating in front of him. Victoire was dancing along on the other side of him.
During dinner, the conversation continued around Charlie. He marvelled at the amount of different things that could be discussed in such a short time. He also noticed that Antoinette again was silent. He also noticed that no one even tried to engage her in conversation. It was as if she wasn’t even there.
As the other women began clearing the table, Charlie caught Antoinette’s eye and raised his eyebrows in question. She gave a slight imperious nod and stood. Silence fell across the entire group as Charlie took her arm and led her away from the table.
They didn’t speak until they reached the beach. Charlie wondered how to bring up the subject of what he observed during dinner. To his surprise, she brought it up first.
“You must wonder why they don’t speak to me,” she said in her soft voice. “Eet ees because they are used to my silence. After...after my parents died, I did not speak for a very long time.” She turned to look out over the water. “At first, when they would talk to me, if I even answered them, eet was with such anger. They began to speak less and less to me in fear of my anger. After a time, it became normal to just not talk to me at all.”
Charlie didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t understand how her family could just let her suffer in her grief alone. Granted, at first, it was hard to reach out to George, but that didn’t stop everyone from trying. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened to him if the family had just left him alone.
“I don’t know what to say. It was completely different in our family. We are never quiet. Even with George, we didn’t let him hide in his room and grieve. It took a long time, but he has the shop open again and is almost, though not quite the same as before we lost Fred.” Seeing her confusion, he realised she didn’t know they were twins. “I guess you don’t know. Fred and George are...were identical twins. They were never apart, and most times to get a complete sentence or thought out of them, it took both of them. They always finished each other’s sentences and thoughts.”
“I see now. Eet must have been hard for George to look in the mirror and see his brother,” she said. “I look in the mirror and see my mother, so I can understand.”
Charlie nodded and then smiled. “Well, there is one difference between them. Six years ago, when they were helping to rescue Harry, George was hit with a spell and he lost an ear. After that, it became very easy to tell the difference between them.”
“Oh, that is ‘orrible. That poor boy,” she said. “Eet is good that he has a family to ‘elp him. He ees doing better now?”
“Yes, he is doing better. In fact, he just got married last year. It seems strange to think about George being married.” He shook his head. “I guess life really does go on. Would you like to walk or just stand here and watch the sunset?”
Instead of answering, Antoinette began walking down the beach. Charlie had the urge to reach out and take her hand. He went with the impulse and though he was waiting for it, was still a bit surprised at the jolt when their palms met.
As they were walking, Charlie spotted something ahead of them on the beach. It looked to him like a large lump of cloudy goo. He led her over to investigate. Letting go of her hand, he bent to touch the strange object. Just as his hand was about to connect with it, his arm was pulled away.
“NON! Ce n'est une medusa!” she exclaimed.
“Um, English?” Charlie requested confused.
“Oui, what is the word...medusa eet ess dangereux, jellyfish. Oui, I think that is the word, jellyfish. Eet will sting you,” she explained as she pulled him away.
“I guess I am more familiar with magical creatures than ordinary Muggle ones. Thanks for stopping me,” he said. “It wouldn’t be a good idea to end up in St Mungo’s and bear the wrath of Fleur.”
Antoinette laughed and Charlie was so mesmerized by it, he tripped and took both of them down. At the shocked look on Antoinette’s face, his embarrassment fled and he began laughing.
“Antoinette, I am sorry. Let me help you up,” he said as he pushed himself to his feet.
Antoinette didn’t speak as she was pulled to her feet. She began brushing the sand off her and Charlie trying to be a gentleman decided to help. As his hands brushed across her body, his face flamed red.
“Um, I think I better let you take care of the rest,” he said as he looked away. Smooth, Charlie, he thought. First, you knock her down then you touch her in some very inappropriate spots. Yes, smooth as glass.
“Eet ess fine. Perhaps we should go back?”
“Yes, I guess we should. Look, Antoinette, I am really sorry about knocking you down.” Charlie hoped he hadn’t ruined any chance he had of getting to know her better. He couldn’t ever remember being this fascinated by a woman before.
“Please, don’t worry about eet. You did not ‘urt me.”
Charlie nodded and as they walked back toward Shell Cottage, he didn’t reach for her hand again.
Beyond Dragons by mudbloodproud
Story Notes:
This story is dedicated to Bine (luinrina). She asked for a fluffy romance written by me and my muse ran away with it.
Chapter Notes: I do not own anything you recognise in this story. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am just thankful to play in her world for a little while.