Chapter Text
Clink.
The bustling sound rang throughout the house. It never was quite the silent house. Less so lately, as the family would soon outsize the home. But better a full home then a lonely one, or at least that’s what Mum says. The noise from the kitchen is what woke him. A clattering sound. The sunlight hit his eyes nearly as they opened. He waited to bask in the warmth for just a moment before the noise called his attention elsewhere. The few moments in the morning where the world slowed and he could just hold onto nothing, but the warmth of the sun and the home that surrounded the rather thin walls were some of his favorite moments. Fleeting yet wonderful.
“Charlie, Bill time to get up important day today. Hurry yourself and get ready for breakfast” Molly’s voice shrilled through the walls.
Fleeting but wonderful moments.
With that the young Weasley flung his legs over the side of the bed, they still dangled over the side not quiet reaching the ground. Through the wall, he could hear stirring. Motivation then hit him to move quickly. He wanted to reach the bath before Bill. The anticipation of the day was starting to boil to the surface. So the young barefoot Weasley slipped out and up and into the bath and readied himself as quick as possible. There was an energy flowing through him now, one not to be ignored.
“Eh watch yourself, Chars.” Said a still somber Bill as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. “Nearly hit me you git.”
“Oi, bugger off Bills.” Charlie replied pushing his hair out of his eyes. “A right start to wake you up at least.”
Bill just smirked and pushed his way through the door before closing it quiet purposefully behind him. Charlie wandered down and around into the kitchen.
“Ah Charlie, my boy.” Said a voice from the table behind the floating pictures of the Prophet. “Big day today, yeah?”
Charlie smiled up at his father quite fondly. “Yeah dad, big day today.”
“Oh Charlie come sit eat watch the babe for a moment while I gather the twins.” His mother gently demanded.
The babe in question spoke up. “Not a baby mum. The twins babies, I am big.”
Percy wasn’t quite big he was quite small for a five year old, but mum had a soft spot for him being so small and bookish so young.
“Alright Perc, no one is gathering you a baby you’re nearly Quidditch size.” Charlie laughed as he set down next to the little brother. “And don’t worry when the new babe comes you’ll get to be the big brother all over again.”
Molly scoffed behind a smile as she gathered to go upstairs to the rambunctious little matching toddlers. The twos has taken a toll all summer on that pair.
“Eh breakfast ready?” A voice called out from the stairs.
“Yes Bill, hurry now before you mother returns and gives you a mouthful.” Returned Arthur placing the paper down.
On point, Bill sauntered into the kitchen. How a twelve year old sauntered already is a mystery yet to be solved.
“Know better to try mum now dad. Isn’t my first time with her pregnancy either.” Bill stated matter-of-a-fact.
“Be careful with your words Bill otherwise you’ll be on the wrong side of a broom.” Charlie threw back at him.
Bill smiled.
With the twins wrangled, they all sat down to finish breakfast with no less then two outburst from the twins each and one squeak of disapproval from Percy.
“Eh Charlie and Bill hold your own letters and don’t lose them. We got to Floo out there soon and make sure to hold onto your brothers.” Molly instructed as she fumbled with papers in one hand and wrangled a lose George with the other.
The claim wasn’t anything new for Bill and Charlie while the first few years had been spent just the two of them as the family grew the last few years it had been expected the two oldest step in the help with the little ones. They took to it a bit like oil and water at first, but eventually they found their stride with the littles and were even anticipating the arrival of the newest brother with a renewed sense of pride. Granted they’d both likely still be at school when the babe came.
That was the importance of today it was a week before the return to Hogwarts. Supplies were needed to get them prepared and there was only one place for such, Diagon Alley. The pregnant Mrs. Weasley would be making the journey alone with all her boys in tow. And another importance lies in this would be Charlie’s first year at Hogwarts. The youngest of the eldest two was finally eleven. Bill had been there the year prior. From the plethora of owls received, Charlie was enthralled to say the least to start his journey. Albeit a bit nervous, he had been the shyer of the two most their lives. Tending to prefer solitude in the fields seeking creatures to find or closer to home searching for the Gnomes in the garden to observe. In short, Charlie had always been just a bit different; a bit off but his mother assured him he was quite fine to be this way. It showed a certain quality.
Diagon Alley was bustling with with activity when they arrived. So many young teens running amuck in the narrow streets and the waging voices of the concerned parents getting caught in the chimneys. The warm streets held a hint of sweetness and summer air as the last of the free willed days of summer died away for the chattering change of the school year.
Charlie had Perc in one arm while Bill wrangled the twins. One on his hip trying to yank at a curl and the other tightly wound in his hand much to the expansiration of the young boy who was trying with all the might of his short legs to pull away.
“Oi George don’t pull, Fred no not that store we have no means to go to Sugarplums yet we just have eaten.” Bill scolded.
“Darling we need to cut the curls when we get back it’s much too long if George can pull.” Molly muttered.
Bill groaned in disapproval. For much their lives Bill and Charlie sported the same hair cut, always cut too short the first time and too close to the ears only for them both to try and hide its growth for as long as possible to avoid the chop again. Charlie fluttered threw his soft waves instinctively dreading the snip of scissor that was to come. At least away for the year, they may be able to get the growth they wanted before the summer brought a haughtiness end to the look.
They weaved in and out of the stores collecting books and robes and all other means of necessity for the school year. The books were earmarked and worn and the robes a bit well washed. The Weasleys Boys weren’t naive too their vault status at Gringotts just at the end of the street. Not that it matter much to them, they had family and food every night and a warmth that spread beyond such frivolous likings as financial status. The shopping nearly done, Molly had snuck away a bit to let the two oldest take the babes to Florean Fortescue while she caught up with a friend over tea.
The hot summer afternoon lead to a overfilled and over warmed shop. The cooling charms were being overworked to keep the fares at their rightful temperatures. But all was lost on the Weasley clan, they managed to squeeze through to the front of the store to assess the collection. As Bill placed the orders for all, Charlie guided the boys into a corner out of sight of most and where their relatively noisy brood would be less of a disturbance.
A flash caught his eye first of stark color and then the laughs next. As he settled the last twin, he allowed his eyes to follow. Their corner was no longer a humble hideaway. Just a few feet away, were two snickering contrasting short heads. It was as if the mops of hair were meant to be the exact opposite one was the whitest color of a soft snow, the other a black that could have been liquid it flowed together so seamlessly.
“Sh, mother will have us both if she finds us.” One pipped up.
“Just be quick and she’ll never know we’ve gone.” retorted the other.
There were nearly finished with a cup of ice cream squeezed between the boys neither looking any older them Charlie himself. It seemed a secret moment of rebellion that Charlie only got to watch. It was broken by no other then a cracking George getting impatient with the wait.
Suddenly Charlie had two distinct sets of eyes owning him over. One icey cold blue to match the snow hair and the other several shades lighter then the black oil of hair a near grey color. He couldn’t help but feel a breath catch. There was something in those eyes that he couldn’t quite place.
“Eh, sorry just a babe ya know.” Charlie fumbled over his words.
“Can’t you keep them quiet we can’t be caught just yet.” Pipped up the one with the dark eyes.
“Just a babe can be a bit hard.” Charlie fumbled again
“Just tell them off, learnt behavior isn’t it?” Retorted him back.
Charlie was shocked at the behavior towards someone as small as George and even more enthralled by the boys hidden behind his corner here who seemed so curt, but before he had a chance to ponder further Bill made an amble appearance.
“Black?”
“Weasley.”
“Should have know the baby was one of yours from the moment I laid eyes on it.” Black, which what an amble name for such a boy, replied.
“Bugger off what are you and Malfoy doing hiding here?”
“None of yours, Weasley.” Malfoy retorted. Malfoy seemed so familiar, but Charlie could hardly place it.
At this point, his body reacted where his mind was lost to try and break the tension. He reached forward grabbing the cold cups from where Bill had stopped. He needed to soothe the twins, who were starting to feed off one another’s energy and become chaotic. He placed a cup in front of a corresponding brother. Percy was polite enough to report a thanks before digging in and the twins proceeded to fling out more ice cream on themselves then to their mouths.
“Really no manners there, the rumors must be true.” Laughed Black as he pulled forward his own bite out of the cup squeezed between him and the Malfoy boy.
“Not everyone’s the same as you.” Bill snipped clearly getting agitated.
“Calm yourself will be gone in a moment just need a place to finish, thought you all would be used to more kids then could fit by now.” Rolled the boy who’s hair and name matched.
“Keep your mouth Black.” Bill wrinkled his nose as he spoke.
“Stop being so loud we’ll get caught hurry up and finish we have to be off.” Finally pipping up the white haired one again.
“Have at it.” Black said pushing the the last bit over before standing up and brushing himself off. “I’ve had enough time to hear the experiences of the other half of pureblood lives and I’m quite tired of it.” As once again, Charlie felt the dark eyes bore into him.
The blonde scoffed, finished off the cup, and grabbed the other boys wrist dragging him off without so much as a look over his shoulder as he left. The dark haired boy threw one more pointed sneer before allowing himself to be lead out.
“Ignore them Chars. Not worth it those two gits.” Sighed Bill
“Who are they?” Charlie questioned as he started to clean the twins mess. There was now more ice cream on the table then he could figure they’d even eaten.
“Regulus Black and Scorpion Malfoy.” He explained. “The younger sons of House Black and Malfoy. Pure blood gits with more money and air between their eyes then one could figure.” There was a tinge in Bill’s eyes as he said this, almost a hurt.
“They go to Hogwarts?” Charlie inquired.
“Yeah, Regulus was sorted into Slytherin last year same time as I. Scorpion will be in your year doubt anything but Slytherin for him though given he’s a Malfoy.” Bill explained.
“Boys hurry along it’s getting late still need to get dinner ready and the twins bathed. Finish up here.” Molly distinct voice cut threw Charlie’s thoughts.
The group clamored back to the Burrow everyone in tow. But for the rest of the night Charlie could not shake those eyes staring back at him. He felt an energy pulse through him again as if it was trying to tell him something. He never could quiet place it as he tumbled into sleep.