Thank Merlin He Can't Read My Mind; Can He?

~Hermione's pov~


Well, that could have gone better, I thought to myself, easing out of my seat between Arthur and Charlie. After that first ~ and only, thank Merlin ~ incident, Arthur had calmed down enough to slurp his smoothie and watch the movie. I'd sat stock-still through the bloody thing, and my brain actually felt numb. I wonder how many brain cells I killed these past two and a half hours in this theater. As I looked up to my right and saw Charlie stretch languidly, two thoughts hit me immediately:


1: I should be worrying about going blind, not stupid.


2: We really need to get back to the Burrow before they all kill each other in their boredom.


"Shall we?" Charlie asked, offering me his hand. My legs were still from sitting for so long, so I gladly accepted. My traitorous body seemed to have decided to let me be for a bit, so I could take his hand without worry. For now.


"Charlie, can you apparate the girls back home for me? I don't really trust myself to side-along, and I need someone who knows the Burrow's wards to apparate in myself," I asked, my voice low as there were still muggles in the theater. Kind of strange how after all this time, I'd finally started seeing that I was different, a witch in a sea of muggles, when for so long I'd strained to keep that part of my heritage alive. I mean, I still wear muggle lingerie, so that must count for something, right?


Charlie shot me a strange look, then shook his head. I waited for an answer, but Lavender opened her mouth instead.


"Oh, Mr. Weasley, can we please come to the Burrow for a bit? We haven't seen Ginny since the holiday started, and we all really miss her and Ron and Harry," Lavender asked sweetly, and I wanted to throttle her. Now that my body had realized just who Charlie was, it started to regain itself ~ and Lavender was still a rival, in some sense.


"And if everyone is so sick, maybe our help is needed," Padma added, her voice just as syrupy. Merlin, both of them? Ron and Harry would kill me for allowing both girls to tag along, especially while they're sick.


"Actually, I think we can manage that lot on our own. And school's only been out for what, a month? I hardly think you two miss Ginny that much," I said, trying to keep my voice down. I really didn't want to share the 'sanctity' of the Burrow with that pair.


"I do, though," Luna chimed in, and I turned to stare at her. Luna never wanted to see anyone or do anything on her own. She was always so passive, much more passive than I've ever been, and she chose now to open her mouth? I finally nodded and grinned crookedly at Arthur and Charlie.


"Shall we, then?" I asked, and in truth, I really wanted to fall through a hole. I wanted to go to the Burrow and be someone's child, not baby-sit Lavender, Padma, and Luna on top of taking care of my friends. "I'll still need help getting through the wards at the Burrow, though. It looks as if we'll have to do a few trips to get everyone there."


"I'll take you once Da takes the girls," Charlie said immediately. I looked at him and fought the urge to scream. He couldn't take the other girls back home, but he'd side-along with me in tow back to the Burrow, through the wards? Probably wants to make sure Harry and Ron can't accuse him of letting me near any sort of danger. "That way he only has to do it once, and the wards will only be crossed a few times today."


Alright, so there was a bit of logic behind Charlie's reasoning. Not that it made me feel any better, but I couldn't argue with him. Mr. Weasley held his arms out to my girlfriends and Lavender and Padma each grabbed an arm. After a moment, Luna kneeled down and grabbed his leg. With a POP!, they were gone, and I was left with Charlie.


I wonder if Luna realizes what that will look like when they arrive, I thought to myself, giggling. Arthur Weasley, sex god. My Merlin, Molly is going to beat them off with her broom while the twins snap pictures and Harry and Ron laugh and choke themselves.


Charlie laughed abruptly, and I turned to face him. He shook his head, still chuckling, and I realized that he must have had the same idea. I smiled and laughed along with him and our laughter seemed to encourage one another. It wasn't long before I had wrapped my arms around my stomach in glee and people were beginning to stop and stare at us.


An arm shot out and grasped me around the waist, pulling me close and took my head into a soft, sturdy neck. I opened my eyes a moment to see Charlie's eyes go distant before he put his mouth near my ear.


"Time to go home, sweetheart," his voice rasped, and without another thought, we were apparated to the Burrow.


I was dizzy for a moment, not being used to being the luggage on side-along; Charlie sensed that and kept his hold on me, steadying my while my stomach caught up with us. It was only for a moment, but as I pulled my face from his neck, his hands burned on my waist and I ached to kiss that mouth.


One kiss wouldn't kill me, but not knowing just might. If only he'd lean down a bit, just a bare press of ~


Charlie's mouth folded over my own lips, his tongue licking my mouth briefly before a voice called behind us.


"Oi! Surprise, Hermione! Happy Birthday! C'mon, Charlie, she can see the house now," Ron and Harry bellowed from the open kitchen door. Charlie stiffened and pulled back from me, shaking his head as he turned to speak to his youngest brother.


"Wotcher, Ron, I was telling her to keep quiet so she wouldn't disturb you lot. You're supposed to wait until the birthday bab~ baby is in the midst of the guests before you let her know what's going on," Charlie said, trotting from me to the house in a few quick strides. I bristled at the abruptness of the kiss, but at least I got something I wanted for my birthday, right?


55555


~ Charlie's pov ~


One of the problems with being a wandless Legilimens is the fact that when faced with someone who projects emotions without thought, those emotions and desires can imprint on you. And then when the person projecting is one of the most desirable things on earth, it makes it even harder to fight the imprint. It takes years to be able to control the imprint process, and luckily I've been practicing since my fifth year at Hogwart's.


I shook my head to clear my thoughts as I spoke to Ron.


"Wotcher, Ron, I was telling her to keep quiet so she wouldn't disturb you lot. You're supposed to wait until the birthday bab~ baby is in the midst of the guests before you let her know what's going on," I said, and I cursed myself as I fought to keep from using endearments with Hermione. I'd already called her sweetheart, but then again, I call my dragons 'sweetheart' if the need arises.


I could feel Hermione bristling behind me. I couldn't let it matter to me; she would definitely be better off with Ron or Harry, anyone younger and with a higher life expectancy would do. Except maybe a Malfoy. Or that Longbottom they like to spend time with; he would be nothing but a project for her.


As Hermione swept past me into the open arms of Harry and then Ron, I shook myself again. She could deal with the opposite sex all on her own. And I had other things on my mind. Like my much needed respite form the Dragon Plains of Romania. Ron shot me a strange look and I shrugged my shoulders, following them into the house. I shut the door behind me and took a seat on the sidelines to enjoy the festivities. And perhaps have a nap.


55555


~ Hermione's pov ~


I truly wasn't expecting the party. My birthday wasn't even till September, and it was only the beginning of July; we should have been celebrating for Harry's coming of age, not mine. Especially considering I was already of age. My next birthday I would be eighteen, not seventeen. Even annoyed as I was at Charlie for being. . . well, a git. . . I still found it funny that I started out the youngest of our trio, and now I was the oldest. I didn't have long before I was bombarded with hugs from every friend we had, from Hogwart's to the Order. Harry and Ron kept passing me back and forth while Ginny stayed close to keep Padma from Harry; Tonks had been chatting with Sirius while she perched on Remus's lap. Neville and Luna talked with Lavender as she eyed Ron.


I rolled my eyes as I felt Ron's lips on my neck. Some things never change, and soon I could feel a draft on my neck as he moved my hair. He nipped me, over that jutting bone before he let my hair fall back. Tonks gave me the eye while Remus and Sirius gave Ron dark looks. His mother wasn't in the room, but he needs to remember to tone it down around them; the longer I stayed in the wizarding world, the more protectors I seemed to gather. I knew that they'd have a chat with him before they left that night.


"'Mione!" two familiar voices shouted as two very familiar redheads threw themselves at me. "For your birthday, we've decided~"


"Not to play jokes on you!" Fred said. I assumed George started the thought, but you could never tell with them. I wondered what would happen if anything would befall one and not the other.


I smiled a bit warily, as I hugged them again. Suddenly, I felt ice sliding down my back and my halter top changing color. I glared at the twins, and they smiled smugly.


"Well, not too many," George said with a smile.


"We just need to see if that serum will make your shirt see-through. Once we get our results, we'll gladly hang up the jokes on you for the night," Fred finished, checking his watch. "Should be any minute now."


Horrified, I looked down to see my halter not only turning quite transparent but it was also shrinking!


"Fred, George! What is this doing to my shirt?!" I screamed, and in my panic I didn't notice the last visitor; well the last person I expected to see in the Isles, that is.


"Herm-own-ninny, surely you understand that must wait until we are alone?" a gruff Bulgarian accent attacked my ears. "Happy Birthday, Michka."


"Viktor?" I gasped, trying to cover myself. He was still using that damned nickname, and Ron was getting redder by the minute. I couldn't figure out who'd have invited him, but it was about to get un-pretty, quite soon. "Viktor, you have to leave. I'm practically topless!"


Charlie, who'd been napping in the corner ~ as if I wouldn't notice that he'd fallen asleep as soon as his arse hit the chair ~ shifted and at my words, his eyes snapped open. In a flash, he was out of the chair, grabbing me and turning me so my chest was pressed up against his, offering me the cover I so desperately needed.


"Ron, stop staring at her and grab her a new shirt, or Ginny can do it. Fred, George, you are dead once Hermione is settled again. Viktor ~ get out," Charlie growled, and Sirius and Remus both got up and grabbed a twin. Tonks tapped Viktor's shoulder and guided him out.


"They aren't the only ones who'll be owing an explanation," Sirius rasped, and Charlie's body tensed next to mine. I had no idea what the hell was going on, other than the fact that my poor halter was shredding itself as it tightened on my chest, almost painfully so.


"Charlie, wrap her in this for the time being," Harry said, grabbing his sweatshirt off the sofa. Charlie unwrapped an arm from around me to grab the shirt, then the other so he could help me wrap the monstrous thing around my breasts. I was still angry at the twins, and I wasn't paying attention. The sweatshirt slipped, and I heard three distinct intakes of breath.


"Hermione, pul the damned shirt up before someone jumps you," Charlie said, his voice hoarse. Harry seemed unaffected, but Ron was staring at my face as Viktor had come barreling back into the room.


"Michka, you are more beautiful than I had remembered," Viktor breathed, and the other three males in the room wheeled on him, forgetting about me completely. He kept his eye trained on me, and I could feel him getting closer to the edge, ready to fight off Ron, Harry and Charlie to get to me. Suddenly, I felt like a piece of meat in a hungry lion's cage.


Viktor came closer to me, his hands reaching for me. His eyes were hungry and dark, and it scared me. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.