Broken Smile

Broken Smile


Hermione could hear Titan’s baby talk as she climbed out of bed, leaving Charlie asleep. She pattered across the hallway and opened his door to see him standing up holding onto the bars of the cot. Her little boy had become too big for the cradle Charlie had made him, so they bought a cot in town.

Now a little over nine months, Titan kept trying to say mummy; he usually got as far as ‘mu, mu’ with lots of giggling. Titan’s gray eyes lit up as he saw his mother.

“Mu…mu…” he said happily, as his mother picked him up.
“Good morning, sweetie,” Hermione said, kissing his little cheek.

Titan gripped his mother as she carried him to her bedroom; Charlie was still asleep, lying on his side. Hermione put Titan on the bed and he curled to Charlie; Titan started to play with Charlie’s face, trying to open his eyes.

Charlie lay still, waiting to attack his prey. Titan kept prodding at him, then suddenly Charlie’s eyes opened and he attacked the small boy with tickles. Titan giggled like mad until Charlie stopped and pulled him on top of his chest.

Hermione smiled at the display and climbed back into bed. She loved Sundays; she and Charlie could have a lie-in, have some time to themselves. Charlie put his arm around Hermione and pulled her to his chest where she laid her head. Titan touched his mother’s cheek and gave her a kiss.

* * * * * * *

It was Christmas time again, with snow on the ground and a chill in the air. Charlie relaxed back in his armchair in the living room; he had had a long day at work. Hermione was looking after Elle and Millie while their mother stayed for her weekly school meetings.

Millie and Titan were playing happily in the playpen, while Elle studied Charlie from her position on the sofa. Ignoring the little girl’s stares, he continued to watched Muggle TV.

“Why aren’t you and Hermione married?” Elle asked. She wanted to see if Charlie would answer differently than Hermione.

Molly had been on Charlie’s case about proposing to Hermione for months. He could hear his mother’s voice: ‘You do love her…I mean people in love should be married…and the baby—what about Titan?’

Charlie looked over at the little girl; she had her nose in the air awaiting his answer. “Hermione and I are not ready to be married,” Charlie lied.

He loved Hermione with all his heart and wanted to be her husband, but every time he thought he’d built up enough courage, something happened to his brain and he couldn’t speak. He wished he could tell her what was troubling him, why he had waited so long to ‘pop the question.’

“Are you one of these men who are afraid of commitment?” Elle pressed on. “My mother says men who are afraid of commitment are no good to themselves.”

Charlie couldn’t believe Elle was only seven; she seemed more like thirty-seven. He was about to tell her to go play and be like a normal kid but another question rolled off her tongue.

“So, where do you work?”
“I work with animals,” Charlie answered, he wasn’t lying completely.
“Do you make a lot of money?” she asked.
“A fair bit,” Charlie said, turning his attention back to the TV.
“My father makes six figures,” Elle said proudly, still watching him.

“You must be so proud,” Charlie said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his tone. He kept looking out into the kitchen hoping Hermione would save him from this little nightmare.

“Yes, we are proud,” Elle said as she rose from the sofa. “I’m going to help Hermione with dinner,” she announced. She stopped at the living room door and turned back around. “Maybe you should help, too; being scared of commitment and lazy are never good signs.”

Charlie had always liked children but that one was a nightmare.


Charlie and Hermione lay in bed that night. Hermione was reading while Charlie stared up at the ceiling, thinking. He and Hermione had been living in Rushton for over a year; most of the townspeople thought they were married and that Titan was his son.

Charlie and Hermione decided to let people think what they like. Hermione had made good friends with the old couple across the lake, Robert and Annie Balintine. Elle and Millie’s mother wasn’t really a friend; she was Hermione’s employer.

“Mrs. Balintine asked if you would chop some more wood for them…it’s so cold and they are burning so much,” Hermione said.

Charlie didn’t answer, he just mumbled a ‘Mmm’

Hermione put down her book and looked at him. “What you thinking about?” she asked.

Charlie turned his attention to her and smiled warmly. “I’m just tired,” he answered, taking hold of her hand and kissing it. Hermione moved closer to him. “Are you very tired or a little tired?” Hermione asked with a smirk.

Charlie returned her smirk. “I’m never too tired for that,” he said playfully.
Hermione brushed her lips against his. “Charlie, you know you can tell me anything,” she told him.

Charlie sat up a little and pulled Hermione to him, he was silent for a moment. “What would you say if I asked you to marry me?” he asked nervously.

Hermione looked at him; she wasn’t expecting marriage to be on his mind. “Well, you haven’t asked me—so I don’t know,” she said, smiling at him cheekily. Charlie shook his head. “You know what I meant…Besides, I wanted to asked you in a more romantic setting—you know, candlelight and rose petals—all that stuff,” he retorted, kissing her forehead.

Hermione laughed lightly. “‘All that stuff,’ how very romantic. I’m not that kind of girl; I don’t need candles and petals,” she said, caressing his cheek. “All I need is you.”
Charlie took hold of her face and began to kiss her softly; they soon had to come up for some air.

Charlie built up some more courage before he spoke again.
“I know things would have been different if Ron wouldn’t have…” He broke off, unable to say it. “…Sometimes I just feel guilty.”

Hermione looked at him for a long moment; she thought about Ron and Harry a lot, sometimes even more then her parents. She often thought about if they wouldn’t have died, then she would have probably been engaged to Ron or even married.

“You shouldn’t feel guilty; I’m lucky to have you,” Hermione said truthfully. “If I’m going to be honest with you, losing Ron broke my heart…” she paused for a moment. “I once told you that you found my soul and you did, but now it belongs to you—I sound like one of those cheesy romantic novels,” she said with a smile, which Charlie returned.

“Well I’m about to join you on that cheesy train,” Charlie began. He took hold of her hands and looked deep into her eyes. “Hermione Jane Granger, will you marry me?”

Hermione pretended to think hard about it. “Well, I have had many offers. If I did marry you, what do you have to offer me?” she asked, trying not to laugh.

Charlie played along. “I don’t have a lot of money, but I do have the body of a god.” He flexed some muscle. Hermione straddled him, leaning forward to kiss him. Charlie broke their kiss and looked into her eyes.

“I love you and Titan…I’m not going to tell you how much, because I couldn’t put it into words…” He caressed her bare thighs as he spoke. “…so what do you say?”

Hermione held his gaze, trying her hardest not to cry. “I’d be honored to be your wife,” Hermione answered.

Charlie pulled her down towards his lips and told her with a kiss how honored he was to be her husband.
* * * * * * * *
Charlie and Hermione were married on March thirty-first. It was a small wedding at Rushton church and the reception was held at their house. Ginny was Hermione’s bridesmaid and Bill was Charlie’s best man.

Titan had just turned three when Hermione found out she was pregnant again. She still looked after Elle and Millie and sometimes another little boy down the road.

Hermione had another son; they called him Ron Harry Weasley. He was a big baby at ten pounds, two ounces; Hermione wasn’t sure how she managed to push him out. She noticed how happy Charlie was to have his own son; he loved Titan very much and thought of him as his own. But she could tell that he often felt left out when Draco was around, as Titan adored Draco.

Ron Harry Weasley has very curly red hair and a chubby face with lots of freckles. He looked like Charlie in every aspect, but he had his mother’s soft brown eyes.

Hermione finished nursing Ron, and Titan stood by the rocking chair; he gently stroked his little brother’s head. The baby fell into a peaceful sleep. Hermione tucked herself away, while carefully supporting Baby Ron.

“Do you want to give him a kiss?” Hermione whispered to Titan.
Titan nodded and placed a little kiss on his baby brother’s forehead. Hermione smiled down at them both and rose from the rocking chair.

“After I put Ron down for his nap, I’ll make you some lunch,” Hermione whispered. “Are you hungry?”

“Yep!” Titan said; a little too loud, he realized, and quickly placed his finger on his lips. Hermione chuckled lightly and tickled him under his chin with her free hand. He moved out of her reach, trying to be quiet.

Hermione used to feel that she wasted her talents; she’d always thought she’d have an important job, be a career woman. Looking down at her little son, she realized that she does have an important job, the most important job of all: being a mother.

Hermione picked up Titan to let him look into the cot at Ron. Titan twirled his mother’s hair around his finger while watching his baby brother.

After lunch, Hermione hung out the washing, played with Titan, and did some writing while Titan took a nap later that day. She picked up Elle and Millie from school and made dinner while they watched TV. Ron went down for another nap, giving Hermione some time to do some more writing.

Hermione had been working on a children’s book; she had based the story on a small dragon called Alfie. Charlie found her half-written book one night when he was looking for some paper at her desk. He didn’t say anything but started to draw some illustrations for it. He put the drawings into her folder where she kept her unfinished book. When Hermione found them she thanked him in many different ways.

Charlie still wasn’t home when Hermione started to wash up; she put his dinner into the oven to keep it warm. The front door opened; from the kitchen she could hear Titan yell ‘Daddy…Daddy.’ Charlie came walking into the kitchen a moment later. Hermione had her back to him, as she was putting the dishes away.

“You’re late,” she said, but didn’t turn around.
“The woman I’m seeing has become quite clingy—can you blame her?” Charlie said playfully as he approached his wife.
“Well, she can have you—I’m getting bored with you anyway,” she joked back.

Charlie placed his hand on his wife’s hips and his lips kissed her neck softly.
“I missed you,” Charlie told her. Hermione turned around, her hands cupping his face. “I missed you, too,” she said, kissing him on the lips.

Charlie broke their kiss and placed his hands on either side of her, leaning his weight on the kitchen counter. He leaned in close; she could feel his breath at her ear as he spoke, sending shivers through her body. It hadn’t been that long since Hermione had giving birth to Ron, so she and Charlie hadn’t been able to fulfill their needs the way they liked—and wanted—to.

“You know I like nothing more than to make love you…” he began, kissing just below her earlobe and than continuing. “…but I really miss fucking you.” He let his lips brush against her earlobe.

“Charlie!” Hermione said, looking over his shoulder to make sure the children were still in the living room. Charlie chucked and brushed her lips against hers. “I plan on making you say that a lot tonight,” he said smugly.

Hermione placed her hands on his chest and shook her head at him.
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Quite a few things come to mind,” Charlie quipped, capturing her lips.

* * * * * * * * * *

Minerva Ann McGonagall-Thanks so much. I’ve had a lot of fun writing it.

Christina- Thank you so much, that’s so sweet of you. Next to reading books writing is one of my passions.

Lacey- I gave Charlie a good kick, lol. Thanks.

Erin- the last chapter was nice to write-a bit of happiness. Thanks.

Juri- the site was down for a bit, but I was still updating. I love writing for Charlie/Hermione. I have another fic in mind for them. Thanks.

DrkMnComikker- Titan got his Daddy, I’m sorry about yours.

* * * * *

Thank you everyone who has been writing Reviews or just reading the story. It helps more than you all know to read what you guys think. Well, enough sucking up. Chapter 26 is going to be longer, it’s not the last chapter but I just couldn’t stop writing.