𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 | 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿

Beginning's End & Unsettled Friend

"I'll come back after the match is over, alright?" Harry shouldered his broom, interrupting his two friends' small, intimate moment.

"Sounds good," Charlie tore his gaze from Hermione and nodded in understanding. "Good luck, mate. Hope you hammer McLag— I mean Smith."

Hermione kinked an eyebrow at Charlie, acknowledging his slip of tongue. In response, he shrugged, a wide smirk curling upon his lips.

Harry shook his head, grinning, "See you later."

And with that, Harry disappeared through the grand double doors of the hospital wing. As the door shut behind him, Charlie and Hermione succumbed to the quietness of the vacant common room. With a small smile, Charlie pulled at Hermione's hand, beckoning her closer to him.

"Come here, then."

Without hesitation, she climbed into his bed with him, letting her body melt into his. As she reached out to pull him closer, Charlie reciprocated and managed to lace their fingers together, holding her tightly in his embrace. With his unoccupied hand, he rubbed circles on her back and leaned his head into her hair. Hermione threw one leg over his and cuddled closer into his warmth, just as Charlie pulled the covers up and around them.

Hermione moved again, settling against him so that her body was curled against his left side and her head rested on the centre of his chest. She listened contently to the calming beat of his heart, thudding strong and steady against her cheek. She sighed deeply, nuzzling further into him.

Charlie bent his head down and kissed the tip of her nose affectionately, "Comfortable?"

"Very much so," Hermione snuggled her cheek against him in response and took a deep breath, inhaling his musky, woody scent as she relaxed. She laid there, warm and safe, and absently trailed her fingers down the planes of his chest.

She could feel him nod against her ever so slightly.

"Hospital beds aren't nearly as comfortable as the ones in the dorms, mind you," he muttered lightly, and his heart thumped steadily, but a little quicker, against her ear again, "but I have to admit, as long as you're here, I can't complain."

Hermione giggled breathlessly, "Quite the charmer, you are."

"Only for you," Charlie chuckled, and he leaned down to place a romantic kiss upon her forehead. As he leaned back up, he looked around with a sigh, "You know, after all that's happened, I'm starting to feel as though I'm Madame Pomfrey's only patient... and I dunno if that's a good or bad thing."

"Definitely bad," Hermione perched her head up upon his chest. She somewhat got lost in the absolute beauty of his eyes as she looked at him. "You scare the living daylights out of me whenever you end up in here," she admitted, her tone soft and timid.

Charlie balked, his eyes transfixed upon her. He watched as her eyes twinkled with emotion and he instinctively pulled her closer. He could feel every curve... oh, how her body seemed to mould so perfectly with his as they laid there.

"I'm sorry," he told her sincerely, and Hermione buried her head back into his chest; Charlie could feel the wetness of her tears through his hospital gown. "It was never my intention to —"

"I know," she interjected, and Charlie felt her grip tighten around him. "I mean, I know you'd never intend for something like this to happen, but... honestly, Charlie, y-you c-could've..."