Playing With Fire (Charlie Weasley X Reader)

Chapter 5: The Promise

Chapter 5: The Promise

I stared at the ashes on the ground. My heart pounded in my chest. I looked at the signature that I had forged. I ignored my screaming conscience and set off down the stairs of the astronomy tower. I ran to Dumbledore's office and spoke the password that he had given me. I climbed onto the staircase and entered his office.

Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, his glasses perched on his nose dangerously. He was signing a piece of parchment when I entered with thin, slanting letters.

"Miss Y/L/N, it's a pleasure. Please, take a seat."

"Headmaster Dumbledore," I greeted and sat across from him. "My mother returned the contract."

"Ah, wonderful. Come on in. We've just got a few things to go over and then you'll be free to get started with your studies," he said with a curt nod of his head.

"I am very excited to have gotten this opportunity," I said pleasantly.

"Well, I think that everyone should get an honest chance to make themselves."

***

As soon as I finished discussing the final terms of the scholarship with Dumbledore, I headed straight for the Gryffindor common room. I delivered the password to the portrait and decided to skip any formalities despite the Fat Lady's attempt to create conversation with me. I spotted Percy sitting on the couch in the common room before the fireplace. He was reading a novel, his eyes glued intently to the pages.

"Percy Weasley, you are looking at the first recipient of the Hogwarts Scholarship for Students Studying Abroad," I said and twirled in front of Percy.

"Congratulations," he said with a brisk, yet unenthusiastic round of clapping. "That means you're ready to study?"

"Starting tomorrow," I said with a smile before settling beside him.

"That was to be expected," he said and marked his page in his book. "I was honestly surprised that your mother consented. I mean, she barely lets you come to our house over break, so I'm surprised that she would let you go anywhere in the world to study."

"It's not anywhere in the world," I scoffed all while dodging his doubt. "Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore drafted a list of locations where I could go."

"Does anything stick out to you?"

"I don't know yet," I admitted. "I really don't know what I want to do yet. There were a bunch of cool places, but I want to pick a place that will be beneficial for me. Once I find something intriguing that sticks out to me as a future career, then I'll choose a place."

"Smart."

"Speaking of which, I need to start researching careers," I said.

"Well, you're really good at Potions. Maybe you can do something with that," Percy suggested.

"I guess, but wouldn't it be cool to be, like, an Auror. That's so badass."

Percy rolled his eyes at me and picked his book back up.

"What? You don't think it's badass?" I asked.

"I suppose it is, but I really can't see you being an Auror," he said.

"Why not?" I demanded.

"I don't know," he sighed. "You'd have to hurt people, you know."

"I can hurt people. Stand up, Weasley. You and me, right here, right now. I'll destroy your ass," I threatened and stood up.

"Merlin, Y/N," he groaned. "What is wrong with you?"

"Come on, Percival. I can smell your cowardice from here!"

"Don't call me that," he said.

"And you call yourself a Gryffindor," I scoffed. "Percival Weasley. They should call you... Coward-ival Weasley, kind of like 'carnival'," I said with wide eyes.

"You're going down," he warned me with a teasing smile as he stood.

"Come on, now. Mano y mano, Percy. Let's do this," I challenged and threw my wand on the ground. He laughed, but a groan interrupted it when I threw my weight at him, sending him back down on the couch. "Read 'em and weep!" I yelled as I climbed on top of him.

"Merlin, okay, okay," he surrendered with a laugh. His glasses sat on his face sideways. I climbed off of him and grabbed my wand from the ground. I sat beside him as he straightened his glasses. "I guess you could be an Auror."

"Eh, I don't want to be one. Too basic," I said. Percy looked at me in astonishment.

"Then why did you just do all of that to me?"

"For fun."

"Alright, so what do you like?" he asked me. "Seriously."

"I like... helping people," I said and leaned back into the couch, "but I don't want a boring job, like retail or anything."

"Helping people," he repeated to himself. "Maybe teaching or becoming a healer?"

"I don't know," I said. "I haven't ever really thought about it."

"Well, you have plenty of time," he assured me. "Oh, you could always work at the Ministry, like I'm going to."

"No offense, Perce, but that sounds so fucking boring," I said.

"I guess to some people. That's why you have to find something you like on your own. There's no one else that will be able to find something suitable for you except for you," he said. "As I said, you have plenty of time to figure something out."

"I really don't. A week ago, I had seven months to figure it out. Now I've got two before I have to decide."

"Two months? I thought you didn't go abroad until March," Percy said and looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"I don't, but it's nearly December and I have to have my decision by February. The school still has to set up the trip and the accommodations."

"I guess that makes sense," Percy said, staring into the fore absently. "I never thought about how soon you'd be leaving."

"Percy, come on. It's only for a couple of months."

"We've been going to school together since our first year. I've never done it without you except for when you were with your dad, but even then, I still got to see you," he said. "It's going to suck."

"It's what I have to do."

"I know, and I'm really happy for you, honestly. But you have to write to me so that I know that you're okay. Promise you won't forget about me."

"How could I? Whenever I go to do something bad, I hear your voice like an annoying little angel on my shoulder," I said.

"Seriously, promise me that we'll still be friends."

"Of course we'll still be friends. I promise."

I just ate so much mac and cheese I think I might vomit.

Anyways, onto the next. This is where the fun begins. Also, if you're looking for a slow burn sort of thing, you will not be finding it here haha. Shit's gonna get real, real quick.