Daphne Greengrass

With Charlie’s hand clasped tightly in mine, we stroll around Ottery St. Catchpole. The weather is so nice outside we decided to get out and make the most of our time. Things have been much calmer for us since I decided to make set time for Charlie in my schedule. We see each other at least twice a week, and Mum just has to deal with it. She’s been quieter about things lately, which worries me. I worry she’s up to something. That she’s trying lull me into a false sense of security.

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“What are you thinking about?” Charlie asks.

“My mum,” I sigh. “She’s been making things too easy lately. At least your dad’s been great, even if things were a little tense with your mum.”

"Mum's great too, just give her time to get used to us." He leans over and kisses my forehead. "So do you think your Mum is up to something? Is she about to spring something new on me?" He smiles softly, like it doesn't worry him that much.

“I’d like to think that she’s just too busy to spend time on a lost cause, and by lost cause I mean breaking us up,” I reply. “Things have been pretty tense at the Ministry lately, especially since Percy stopped showing up. Everyone is on edge.”

"Percy isn't going to work?" Charlie's brow furrows worriedly. "I didn't know this."

“Yeah, it’s been a big mystery for everyone. He just stopped coming. I heard a rumor that he got offered a job from some rich wizard in Ireland, and then I heard that Umbridge asked him to do something he wouldn’t so he took off,” I explain. “I just know I like not having him hovering around all of the time.”

"But this is out of character for Percy. He's reliable if nothing else." He stops there on the side walk and looks at me intently. "What does this have to do with your mum?"

I shrug. “I don’t know. There have just been a lot of whisperings lately, and Mum always has to be in the middle of everything. There’s been so much going on for her to keep up with that I don’t think she’s had the time to harass us.”

He smiles at me, but that worry doesn't leave his eyes. "Well, maybe we'll have to take advantage of her absence of malice and run off and elope while she isn't looking." He laughs, letting me know it was a joke.

“All I know is that I’m still not getting much sleep with her off my back because I’m trying to cover Percy’s workload. I’m just not going to let it interfere with my time with you.” I reach over and kiss his cheek playfully.

"Maybe I'll just have to let you sleep tonight and not keep you up." He winks at me and puts his arm around me, pulling me in close to him as we walk.

“Well I don’t want to be punished!” I laugh. “That’s the best part of my week!”

"Come on," he says, and pulls me off the road into a meadow of flowers. He hits a patch of meadow with a quick drying spell, and then pulls me into the flowers with him. We're hidden by the tall hollyhocks and sunflowers while he proceeds to pull my jumper off.

“Charlie,” I laugh as his fingers brush my sides. “I love how spontaneous you are,” I sigh as he trails kisses down my neck.

"Thought I'd better take you now so you can sleep a bit tonight," he mumbles as he kisses me. "I love you enough that it's not just about the passion--I want to keep you healthy."

“Good to know,” I reply as I pull his jumper over his head and toss it to the side. “I just can’t ever seem to get enough of you.”

"It's mutual, angel. When I'm not with you, I'm thinking about the next time we're together and fantasizing about our last time together in my dreams. When can we stay together all the time? Not just twice a week?" His bare chest presses against mine and he nibbles on my neck.

“Soon, maybe,” I whisper as I drop my head back. I can imagine what life would be like if I spent all of my free time with Charlie. I can also imagine Mum’s reaction. Any relaxing she’s done would end immediately.

"Soon. I'll take that. It's more promise than I've had before." His hands go to my jeans and unbutton the fly. "Daphne, I know you don't like to hear it, but I have to say it again: I love you."

I close my eyes and concentrate on his hands on my body. I don’t know why I can’t tell him I love him. I feel more strongly for him than I have anyone else before. But something’s holding me back. I think that it may be I’m still waiting for everything to explode in my face. I whisper, “Charlie,” and run my hands through his hair.

His body tenses with disappointment for only a moment. I know he wants to hear it, but I also know he won't push me. "Daphne. My Daphne." He gets up on his hands. "You're so beautiful. You should lie in a bed of flowers all the time."

“I think it might get in the way of working,” I laugh. “But it would probably provide a nice visual.”

"All right. You win. Kill all the romance in my imagination. But you're still the most beautiful bird I know. Birds always belong in fields of flowers." He slips his jeans off and we lie in the field together. His caresses are such a mixture of gentleness and longing.