Always • Charlie Weasley

4:٤ | that English summer

Her back was now resting against his muscled torso, much warmer than the cold bricks of the Burrow. Malak was delighted with the change, her breathing getting heavier and her heart pounding against her chest dangerously.

She closed her eyes and let herself go, intoxicated by the sudden proximity — longing to be even closer to him. So she pressed her back against him, aided by his own arms, that hugged the girl into his chest, as he rested his head on Malak's shoulder. The soft tickling of his beard on her neck, enhanced by the soft breeze, aroused a sensation within Malak that she had never felt before.

Malak's hands rested on top of Charlie's, which were still secured around her own waist, and she squeezed them almost desperately. She needed to feel him closer to her, and he happily obliged.

Charlie had to use all of his willpower to refrain from brushing his lips against her neck. If he did, he would not be able to stop just there.

They spend what seemed like an eternity like that, until their breaths and heartbeats relaxed, their bodies familiarizing finally with the touch of the other. Nothing was said — the two of them just enjoyed each other's presence.

Charlie rubbed his head against her neck with so much affection, as his hands loosened around her waist. Malak looked up at him over her shoulder, and her lips curled up in the tenderest way possible. The dragon tamer's heart melted as he saw the way she was looking at him. Nobody had ever looked at him like that. Only her.

He sighed, and gathered all his strength to break the comfortable silence. He had originally come to tell her something, and he was going to do so. But he didn't want to, really.

"By the way, Malaki" he managed, almost out of breath. "Rich replied. He won't be working until Thursday."

Malak snickered. "I don't want to say I was right but..."

"But when you are right, you are right" he admitted, moving his right hand to ruffle her hair. The loss of contact almost making Malak cringe.

"That would be always, Mr. Weasley" she grinned.

"Oh, not always, bunny" he disagreed. "Definitely not when you go thinking that I didn't want to invite you for Christmas."

She felt silent all of a sudden, taking a sip of her now icy tea to avoid talking all together and she looked down at the cup in her hands.

"Malak?"

"Huh?"

"What made you think that?" he insisted.

"I just said it to get off Fred and George, that's all" she lied, but Charlie didn't believe her.

"Is it because I told you late?"

"No, really, Charlie, just let it go..."

"Well, just in case that was it, I am telling you early this year."

"I'll wait for your owl then," she snickered once again, turning around to look at him.

"Godric! For such a nerdy student, you are so thick sometimes!" he spoke almost exasperatedly. "I'm telling you now, idiot. We are spending Christmas break together. Period."

Malak bit the insides of her cheeks to prevent a squeal from leaving her mouth. She did so with such strength that she felt the metallic an salty taste of her own blood spread through the cavity of her mouth. But at least she didn't squeal. That would had been embarrassing.

"But maybe... in Egypt?" she tried, hoping to be able to convince him.

"So you can meet my dad" she whispered, smiling fondly as the image of her dad flashed through her mind. "I really want you to meet him. I think you will get along well."