Broken Smile

Broke Smile

Hermione sat by the lake watching the rippling of the water. She felt as if she were in a tunnel, with a dead end at the other side. Her mind drifted back to the day Titan was born. She remembered the feeling of complete happiness. Then the day at platform Nine and Three-Quarters played through her thoughts. She remembered how hurt Titan look and the most painful thought was that she put the hurt in his eyes.

Hermione felt a coat settle around her shoulders; she looked up to see Charlie smiling down at her. She tried to return his smile but she couldn’t; instead Hermione looked back out to the water. Charlie sat next to his wife; he took hold of her hand and gave it a squeeze.

The boys would be home for Christmas next week. Ron had kept his promise and wrote to his mother every week. Titan on the other hand hadn’t written to his mother at all. After the boys had been back at school for a month and Titan hadn’t written, Hermione realized he wasn’t going to. She couldn’t wait to see them, but at the same time Hermione felt anguished.

“I checked on Arthur before coming out; he’s asleep,” Charlie said while looking back down at the baby monitor.

Hermione nodded her head in answering. Charlie looked at her sideways; he watched the moonlight dance across her rich dark curls. Charlie had watched his wife mope around for the last couple of months and he hated the sadness in her eyes.

“He loves you no matter what—more…” Charlie began.

“Charlie! Please, not right now—I don’t want to talk about it,” Hermione said in a tired tone.

“Well tough—for weeks you’ve been moping around, snapping at everyone…”

“Charlie!”

“No! I’m talking; you’re listening,” he told her firmly. He lifted his wife onto his lap. Hermione tried to more away but Charlie had a firm hold of her.

“Charlie…don’t,” Hermione complained as she tried to get up.

“Stop—you’re going to listen to me.” Charlie held both her arms clasped to her sides. Hermione looked like an irritated child in his arms, her mouth set in a pout.

Charlie almost smiled at her pouted lips and pleading eyes. Hermione made herself a little more comfortable for she knew she wasn’t going anywhere until her husband was done with her. She looked back out onto the water.

Charlie let go of her arms, his own encircled her waist; one of his hands rested on the side of her thigh.

“You know it’s rude not look at someone when they are talking to you?”

Hermione continued to look at the water; she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

“I don’t think I’ve been beating you enough,” Charlie joked.

Hermione knew better then to look at him, because she’d start laughing. The blistering night chilled Hermione’s bones; she wanted to cuddle closer to Charlie though she remained looking away from him.

Charlie took hold of his wife’s chin and turned her face towards him; his hand then rested in her hair at the back of her neck. Charlie hated to upset his wife more than anything, but she needed to talk.

Hermione looked into Charlie’s blue eyes and saw concern and worry. She didn’t want to cry and she knew once she started talking about Titan and the past that she would break down.

Hermione moved closer towards Charlie’s chest; she laid her head just below his chin seeking his warmth. Charlie pulled her even closer, encircling her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweet smell of her hair.

“Tell me what’s on your mind?” Charlie asked softly.

Hermione snuggled closer to her husband; she could hear the gentle beat of his heart.

“Since you’re not going to talk, I guess you’ll be freezing that lovely rump of yours for quite awhile,” Charlie informed his wife, while his hand rubbed across her bum.

“I’m lovely and warm,” she replied. She placed her hands under his jumper.

Charlie chucked at her cheek, though he didn’t mind her hands caressing his chest. He just wished she’d stop wriggling in his lap so much, because he needed his mind to stay focused.

Charlie looked down at the top of Hermione’s head. He knew he’d have to start the conversion, which was odd because the two most important women in his life always had something to say.

“Remember the first time we made love?” Hermione looked up at Charlie; he had known that sentence would get her attention.

She looked at him for a moment. “Of course I remember…what brought that up?” Hermione asked.

“Well, remember how scared you were—we were? I was so worried I’d hurt you…but when you trusted me…well, that gave me all the confidence I needed.” Charlie could see she knew what he meant.

“This is different…if I don’t tell him, he’ll resent me…and if I tell him the truth…” Hermione couldn’t continue; instead she wiped away her tears angrily.

Charlie gently pulled her head against his chest again. “Sshh…if you need to cry, then cry…”

Hermione pulled away from him angrily; her dark brown eyes seemed so bright. “I don’t want to cry—I’ve spent too much of my life in tears…I just keep walking into brick walls…” Charlie remained silent; he could see she need to get this all out…she needed to cry.

“As much as I wish that…night never happen…well, if it didn’t—then I wouldn’t have had Titan…” Tears fell rapidly as Hermione spoke. “I feel guilty for wishing the night never happened…but then thankful to have Titan.”

Hermione looked at Charlie; she had never told him any of this, and she hoped he wouldn’t feel disused with her words.

“I wish Titan was yours…” Hermione took a deep breath, while Charlie wiped her tears.

“He is—just like Ron and Arthur…and you,” Charlie said, meaning every word; he kissed her nose and Hermione gave him a smile. Belonging to Charlie made everything seem fairy tale-like.

“Sometimes Mum drives me mad—even more now I’m an adult…” Charlie smiled and then continued. “But no matter what, I love that woman, so my point is: the boys love you just as much…especially Titan.”

* * * * * * *
Hermione hooked her bra and took a top from the hamper. Charlie had left for work a while ago. The boys were due home today. Arthur offered to pick up the boys from the station because Charlie had to work. Hermione had to stay home because little Arthur was just getting over the flu.

Arthur played in the living room while Hermione tidy around. Arthur’s nose was still runny, though his throat was thankfully a lot better.

Hermione watched Arthur’s namesake, Ron, and Titan walk up the path; as they got closer to the house Hermione moved away from the window. She heard the front door open and close.

“Mum!” Ron called out.

Hermione came out of the kitchen with a big smile on her face. She gathered Ron into her arms, kissing him all over his face.

“Mum! Mum…can’t breathe…” Ron complained, though he was very happy to see his mother.

Hermione looked at Titan. He didn’t move towards his mother nor looked like he had any intention to do so.

“Don’t I get a hug?” Hermione asked. She wasn’t sure if she wanted him to answer that.

“I guess,” was all that Titan said after a moment. He move towards his mother and hugged her lightly.

Hermione held onto him, feeling some relief. He was so much taller now, Hermione just about reached his shoulder.

Little Arthur’s voice broke their hug. He stood at the top of the stairs yelling, “Titan…Ron!” He was about to come down the stairs before his mother told him better.

“Arthur, sit on your bum!” she called to him.

Arthur sat down on the top step and bumped down the stairs. Hermione worried that he would fall down the stairs if he tried to walk down. He reached the button step and ran to hug Titan. His older brother picked him, as he did Titan noticed white stuff around his mouth.

“What have you been eating?” Titan asked.

Hermione moved closer and frowned at her little boy. “Arthur Weasley, have you been eating toothpaste again?” his mother asked him.

She took Arthur from Titan’s arms. Arthur gave his mother his cutest smile. “I only had a little bit,” he told her in a small voice.

“It will make you sick if you keep on eating it,” Hermione said, but she couldn’t help but grin.

“Toothpaste can be quite nice,” Arthur told his grandson.

“Dad, don’t encourage him,” Hermione said in a light tone, as she carried her son into the kitchen.

Hermione sat little Arthur on the work surface and gave him a glass of water to wash down the paste, while his grandfather put on the kettle.
Ron took a couple of biscuits and was on his way back into the living room.

“Ron, take your trunk upstairs; tell Titan to do the same.”

Ron made a huffing sound but didn’t answer his mother back. He walked out of the kitchen munching his biscuits. Hermione picked up Arthur and brought him over to the table.

“Mum, Titan won’t bring his trunk upstairs!” Ron yelled as he bumped his own truck on each step.

“Shut up, you little maggot—I said I’d do it later!” Titan yelled from the living room.

“Titan, take your trunk upstairs now, please.”

“I’ll do it later,” Titan called to his mother.

“Titan!”

Hermione had started to talk again, but when she didn’t hear Titan move she gave Arthur to his grandfather. From the archway of the living room door she could see Titan stretched out on the sofa with the remote control in his hand.

“Titan, I asked you to take your trunk upstairs.” Titan didn’t answer her; he just looked at the TV.

“Titan, answer me.”

Titan made a growling noise; he stood up and tossed the remote control out of his hand. “I’ve been back five minutes and you’re already moaning at me.”

“I’m not moaning at you—please don’t make…” Hermione didn’t get to finish.

“Alright, I’m going—just stop nagging.” Titan’s grey eyes flicked to his grandfather standing in the archway; he hadn’t notice him, until now.

Hermione turned around; she could see Arthur was angry, which was rare. Titan had respect for his grandfather. He’d always made it clear that Charlie was his stepfather, but never with Arthur; his grandparents were just his grandparents.

“Don’t talk back to mother or use that tone with her, young man.” Arthur was never strict, unless he had to be.

Titan’s eyes flicked to his mother. He mumbled a ‘Sorry’ on his way past her. His grandfather took hold of him gently as Titan passed him. “Do you understand me? Be respectful to your mother.”

Titan rolled his eyes but turned around to face his mother. “I’m sorry, alright?” Without waiting for a response he picked up his trunk and carried it upstairs without another word.

Hermione watched him leave, and then she looked at Arthur. “It’s going to be a great Christmas,” Hermione said with sarcasm lining her tone.

“Come on, I’ve made some tea,” Arthur said as he put his arm around her shoulders. “I think I’ll have a talk with him before I go home.”

Hermione leaned into him. “Maybe that will help. By the way, Mum would have been proud of you; you were very stern,” she said with a grin.

* * * * * * *
Arthur had left just before dinner, but not before he had a talk with Titan. The large Christmas tree stood tall in the living room waiting to be decorated. Hermione had wanted to wait for the boys; it was somewhat of a tradition.

Hermione and Charlie lay in bed that night. Arthur and Ron were asleep in their room. Hermione could still hear Titan moving about above them.
A little while after Arthur was born Charlie had turned the attic into a bedroom for Titan; Titan had even helped. It was the only time they had worked together without being at one another’s throats.

Hermione was writing in a velvet covered book. Charlie had watched her night after night with this book and pen scribbling away. He thought maybe it was a diary or another book she was working on. Charlie sat up a little and looked over her shoulder to try and steal a look.

“Your get a creak in your neck,” Hermione commented without looking up.

Charlie smiled and pulled the end of a loose curl that had fallen from her bun. “What you writing?”

“A list of all your faults—there’s so many.”

“You think you’re so cute, don’t you?” Charlie took the book from her hands, mischief dancing in his eyes.

“Charlie! You know, sometimes I think Arthur is more mature then you,” Hermione told her husband, now kneeing up on their bed.

“Well, that kind of talk is going to make me give back your book to you so much quicker,” Charlie said, enjoying the annoyance that was creeping into Hermione eyes.

Sometimes Charlie had to bring out the inner child in his wife, reminding her to have some fun. In some ways it was a fair exchange, for sometimes Hermione makes his inner adult that he buries so deep come to the surface.

“Charlie…fine—keep it,” Hermione said, sounding tired.

“So, the little know-it-all is giving up,” Charlie teased with a raised eyebrow.

Hermione gave him a smirk; she moved closer and started to kiss his neck with open-mouthed kisses.

“You wicked woman,” he said huskily. She smiled against his neck.

Hermione kissed down his bare chest, knowing just how to make her husband respond to her. She kissed lower and lower until she reached her bargaining tool. When Hermione was done with him, Charlie made a promised with himself to steal her things more often.

* * * * * * * * * *

The boys had been home for a couple of days; in that time their mother had them helping decorate the Christmas tree. They drove into town two days before Christmas Eve to do all the food shopping, which Hermione found helpful as Titan played with Arthur and kept him occupied. Ron was also helpful; he had written a list the night before with his mother and made sure to tick everything off while shopping.

After Christmas dinner they planned to take the kids to see their grandparents, which they did every year. Hermione and Charlie had both learned to drive, so heavy shopping bags were never a problem.
The night before Christmas Eve Titan sat up in his attic room listening to music. He heard the attic stairs being pulled down and he looked up from his position on his bed. He could see Ron’s curling hair heading up the stairs. His younger brother pulled the stairs back up after himself.

“What do you want?” Titan asked.

“To hang out…or maybe we could play a board game?” Ron suggested.

“I don’t want to play a board game—ask Mum,” Titan told him.

“Mum’s bathing Arthur…can I…?”

“No. Go bother Charlie—go on, get out of my room,” Titan said nastily.

Ron didn’t move; he knew something was going on between his mother and brother. Ron sat down on the floor cross-legged and looked at his big brother. He had heard them argue about Titan’s father. Ron wondered why his mother wouldn’t just tell Titan what he wanted to know. Sometimes he thought his mother was being mean, but he never dared speak his opinion to his mother.

“Are you mad at Mum because she won’t tell you about your dad?”

Titan looked at his little brother; he wanted to tell him to get out of his room, but he didn’t.

“What do you care?”

“I think she should tell you. If I didn’t know my dad, I’d be mad, too.” Ron was only eleven but right now he seemed older.

“Yeah—well, tell Mum that. She doesn’t care how I feel—she’s so selfish,” Titan closed his eyes for a moment. Self-pity was never his thing but he couldn’t help it.

“What’s in those boxes?” Ron asked after a short silence.

Titan opening his eyes; there were five boxes in the left hand corner of his room. “Mum’s stuff—she still hasn’t sorted them out.”

Ron got off the floor and walked over to the boxes, lifting one of the lids and peering inside. A small box, an old teddy bear, and a dark blue jumper were in the box. Ron picked out the jumper and saw the letter R knitted on the front. The jumper was three sizes too big for him; he turned around with the jumper held up to his chest.

“Nana knitted it a little bit too big—what do you think?” Ron said with a grin.

“Nana didn’t knit it for you, you prat. That was Uncle Ron’s jumper; Mum must have kept it as a memory of him or something,” Titan said as he came over to his little brother.

Ron took out the old teddy bear and then the small box. Titan now
held the jumper and teddy bear, while Ron opened the box. Inside were fake pearls and plastic earrings. The boys found it odd to think of their mother as little girl, but all those things proved that she once was.

After Ron went back downstairs Titan opened the box again; the other boxes had old clothes in them. Titan looked at the teddy bear; it was a little ratty but quite clean-looking. He felt sorry for his mother; he remembered what his granddad told had him. When his mother’s parents were killed, she had to leave her childhood home; even though Arthur and Molly treated her like their own, it was still hard. Then loosing her two best friends left a hole in her heart, but somehow she managed to be a wonderful wife, mother, and daughter. Arthur told him that he, Titan, was his mothers Knight.

Titan went to bed that night with mixed feelings; maybe there was a good reason why his mother had kept a part of her life a secret.

* * * * * * * *
Titan walked the halls of Hogwarts; he felt a chill run down his spine; looking down at the jumper he was wearing. It was his Uncle Ron’s jumper, the one he found in the boxes. Titan knew he was dreaming; everything was in black and white. The dream had an old feeling to it.

He walked down to the dungeons; he felt the temperature drop as he walked down the steps. Titan saw his mother’s old teddy bear lying on the floor; he walked over slowly and picked it up. As he straightened up could hear a girl sob. Walking down the corridor fast, he tried to work out where she was. It was a row of classrooms. Titan could hear the sobbing coming from the one at the end; he could hear his heart beating in his ears.

“Please…please…don’t do this…” the girl sobbed over and over. Titan was scared to open the door, but the girl needed help. He kept telling himself that this was just a dream.

He opened the door and was shocked at what he saw. A young girl was nearly naked against the wall. A man was standing in front of her; his hands on her body. He wasn’t just abusing her with his body, but with what he was saying to her as well.

“You never know, you might enjoy this,” the man said in almost a whisper.

“I hate you with everything I have,” the girl bit out.

The man kissed her roughly; the girl fought back, which got her a slap. “You seem to want to do this the hard way,” he said, ripping the girl’s underwear.

Titan tried calling out but they couldn’t hear him as he moved closer; he realized that was his biggest mistake. The young girl was…his mother. No matter how much she cried and pleaded, he couldn’t help her, which tore him apart. Titan didn’t want it to be true, but he knew that man—no, beast—was his father.

Titan wanted to run, to wake up, but then again he couldn’t leave his mother here alone with this monster. He closed his eyes and gripped his mother’s old teddy bear, and had to listen to her sob; if he lived to be a hundred he’d never forget her pleading eyes nor the sounds she made.

Life has many hidden doors…this was one of those doors he never wanted to open again.

* * * * * *
Big thanks to Jamie.

DrkMnComikker- Sorry, didn’t mean to forget you-how could I. Thank you for reviewing.

Saintthistle-Thanks, glad you liked the chapter.

Annalumos- Titan will be good, but he’ll always be a Malfoy-like Draco. Thanks.

Juri-Charlie and Titan are more alike than they know. Thanks.

Heather-Thank you. I’ve had so much fun writing this fic.

Kimberly-Thank you for rambling about my story, it’s so good to hear what people think.

Thelorelei-I love Charlie too, I wish JK would give him a bigger role. Thanks.

erin kite-Thanks-good to hear from you.