wandmaker | charlie weasley

21

Eloise groaned, and threw back the rest of her cocktail before excusing herself to get the second round. Kiera gave her a look as she made her escape, and she knew that she probably wasn't going to get out of discussing it so easily. Rationally, Eloise understood that talking it out with a good friend would probably help her to feel better about it all, and she might gain some sense of clarity regarding what had occurred. Despite that, she couldn't help but want to keep it to herself, as she wasn't exactly proud of how it all went down. As she headed back to the booth with the drinks, she resolved to stop fighting it and tell Kiera, knowing that getting it off her chest might at the very least, bring her some peace.

"Okay, okay," she started, as Kiera looked like she was going to continue her spiel. "Everything has been a bit out of sorts for the past few weeks. We got into an argument a while ago. Haven't spoken since."

"Oh Merlin," Kiera breathed. "I'm sorry I've been bugging you about it. We don't have to get into it if you don't want..."

"No, it's fine. It was stupid really. I overreacted, I think," she said. "He asked me if I wanted him to stay, and I freaked out. From what I gathered, he was teasing me. Because I like him." She winced as she admitted it and her friend's eyes widened comically. She could tell that the witch was trying not to burst out with an 'I knew it!'

"Are you sure he wasn't just asking for your advice?" she asked, seemingly managing to pull herself together.

Eloise thought back on the conversation and winced. "He's been very adamant about not wanting anyone to influence his decision, and we've talked about it plenty. He asked if I cared if he stayed or went."

"What did you say?" Kiera was on the edge of her seat, gripping her drink tightly as she took another sip.

"That as his friend, of course I cared! I told him he had to make a decision, and to leave me out of it."

"Well then," she said.

"I know. Do you think I'm crazy?" she asked. She had been replaying the incident for weeks in her head, so she felt a bit crazy.

"I wouldn't say that. I don't think that I would've reacted any better in that situation."

"It's the first time I've ever felt like he was talking down to me," Eloise admitted. To her chagrin, she felt tears welling up in her eyes and she blinked furiously, rubbing at them and willing them away. "I'm being so silly! He's just a man!"

Kiera grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. "Men truly are the worst. I know I've been pushing you in his direction for a while, but I do want what's best for you, truly. If Charlie isn't it, then he isn't it, and we can find you a new lad. But it seems to me that you're all cut up over this for a reason. My mum always told me that you know it's real when it hurts. Which is kind of horrible, I guess, but I think it's true to an extent."

"It's more real than anything I've ever felt for someone. Maybe that's why I've been so weird about his Romania decision. I think not knowing what it means for us, our friendship, is just so scary to me. Of course he's my friend, but if I somehow work up the nerve to tell him how I feel, and he leaves anyway? What becomes of us then?"

"I don't think that him leaving has to be it for you two. Maybe it doesn't work out romantically, but you just have such a true connection. That you're this close after just a few months of friendship is pretty amazing on its own. And you spend so much time together, and this is your first disagreement?"

"I guess when you put it like that, it doesn't really sound so bad."

"Having feelings is scary, but I have faith in you guys. You just have to see where it takes you. I'll stop teasing you about it, even though he's been at your flat every single morning that I've stopped over," she winked.

"Yeah, I'll believe it when I see it," Eloise joked. "Enough about my love life, or lack thereof. Anyone new in your life?"

"Actually..." Kiera trailed off, looking bashful and hiding behind her drink, before admitting, "I've started seeing one of the reserve players. We've been out twice now, so it's pretty casual."

She looked up sharply, meeting Kiera's eyes as her friend watched her carefully, as if daring her to say something wrong. Quickly, she managed to put two and two together. It wasn't hard really, considering the Harpies were traditionally an all-female team.

Eloise almost felt bad that she hadn't known. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to, but she couldn't help but think that if Kiera had mentioned this at some point, she wouldn't have kept making jokes about how if she liked Charlie so much, then she could date him.

"What's her name?" she asked, and Kiera breathed a visible sigh of relief, shoulders softening as she propped her chin on the heel of her palm.

"Alexandra. She got drafted last year, but she's a Muggle-born so she'd gone into hiding for a while. She's a chaser. Gwen thinks she's got potential, and I know that one of the other chasers is retiring after next season, so she might be stepping in pretty soon, which is amazing for a new player."

"Did she get scouted right out of Hogwarts?"

She shook her head. "No, she was working at the Ministry for a while after school, but missed it too much. Can't blame her, myself."

"You'll have to invite her out with us next time!"

"We've only been on two dates, but we'll see where it goes. I don't wanna rush into anything, or put too much pressure on her. It's a bit weird since we're on the same team, but the Harpies don't have any rules about inter-team relationships. Guess they never thought it necessary," she said, winking. Eloise chuckled at that. "Maybe I'll invite Gwen, though! My sister is sort of wild, but she's fun, and she said she's been looking forward to meeting you!"

"Gwenog, yes?" Kiera nodded. "I think that'd be fun! As long as quidditch doesn't dominate the entire conversation," she laughed.

"Well, if you think I'm bad about it, wait until you meet her. She's crazed. Actually, maybe we'll wait until you and Charlie make up. She played against him in school, I believe.

Eloise winced, but forced herself to look past it. Of course her and Charlie would make up. They'd move on, and they'd have drinks with the Jones sisters and talk about quidditch. She allowed herself a soft smile as Kiera went on about her Hogwarts glory days on the Hufflepuff team, laughing when she told a particularly extravagant tale. All would be well. Eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later, as Charlie hadn't yet made up his mind about moving back to Romania. 

~

A/N:

Hopefully now that the semester is over I'll be able to crank out a few more chapters. We're nearer to the end than I thought I'd ever be. When Wandmaker is over, what other kinds of stories would you like to see? Who is your favorite pairing?

I'd love to hear from you all, so please please please, comment/message me/vote, whatever you'd like!

Much love xx
Kath