Seven

Silently watching the rain clouds
Move by far too fast
You said it was a night where
Anything could happen
But nothing was gonna last

Charlie got up from his rather comfortable position on the sofa with a sigh. He had been quite looking forward to having an evening in with the Wizard Wireless in the corner and a good book. Disgruntled, he crossed his living room to the front door.

He was more than a little surprised to find a dripping wet Hermione Granger in the hallway outside his flat. His annoyance at the interruption dissipated as he took in her sodden form. The woman was dressed entirely inappropriately for the weather. She had her arms folded across her chest as she shivered silently but visibly. Charlie looked her up and down, concern evident on his face.

"You're wet," he said softly.

Instantly he regretted it. He cringed inwardly, waiting for her to laugh at him for stating the blindingly obvious, or to express irritation at his stupidity. To his surprise and relief, she didn't.

"Yes," she replied softly, "It's raining."

Coming to his senses at last, Charlie stepped aside to let Hermione into his flat. He told her to wait in the living room while he fetched some dry clothes. Guessing that Hermione wouldn't want to wear dragon hide trousers, Charlie selected a slightly battered pair of Muggle jeans and an old Weird Sisters T-shirt. When he returned to the living room there was no sign of his unexpected guest.

"Hermione?" he called curiously.

"I'm in here."

He followed her voice into the kitchen.

"I didn't want to drip on your carpet," she said by way of explanation.

Charlie smiled at her and held out the pile of clothes for her. As she reached for them, he suddenly realised that her white shirt had gone entirely transparent in the rain. Oh crap, I can see Hermione Granger's bra, he thought, trying desperately not to look at her chest. He was also hoping that he hadn't gone red from embarrassment. Hermione took the clothes, seemingly unaware of Charlie's inner turmoil. He was highly relieved when she just thanked him and headed for the door.

"You know where the bathroom is," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," she said, turning to smile back at him as she left the room.

Hmmm, thought Charlie, hope my bedroom's not too messy, as he realised she'd have to walk through it to get to the bathroom.

~~~~~~~

Hermione hummed to herself as she stood in Charlie's bathroom, rubbing her hair with a towel. She dressed herself in his jeans and T-shirt. The jeans were quite a good fit, surprisingly. She had thought they probably wouldn't fit her and had been speculating about shrinking or enlarging them, but thankfully it hadn't been necessary. It was quite funny looking at herself in Charlie's clothes. She would never normally wear a Weird Sisters T-shirt.

She combed her hair and pulled it back into a damp plait. There was no knowing what it would try to do if left to it's own devices after being rained on. Satisfied, she continued humming as she gathered up her wet clothes and the now wet towel. She unlocked the bathroom door, wondering what she should do with them. To her surprise, Hermione spotted a Muggle airer in the corner of Charlie's bedroom.

"Charlie? I'm hanging my things on the airer, ok?"

There was no response. She shrugged and began hanging her wet things on it anyway, before heading back to the living room.

~~~~~~~

While Hermione was in the bathroom, Charlie decided she could probably do with a cup of hot tea to warm her up. He wasn't sure if she'd want sugar or not, so he carried the sugar bowl and a teaspoon into the living room, floating the mugs in front of him and setting the lot down on the table. Thankfully he had finished doing this before his sister appeared near the door with a loud crack, scaring the living daylights out of her poor brother.

"Bloody hell! What have I told you about doing that, Gin? Can't you apparate into the hallway and knock like a normal person? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

She simply grinned and flopped down into the nearest armchair.

"Hey, big brother! What you up to?" she said cheekily.

"Well," Charlie sighed, "I was trying to read a book, but apparently the universe has other plans for me this evening."

There came a noise from Charlie's bathroom. From the expression on Ginny's face it was clear that she had jumped to the logical, yet annoying, conclusion that it had come from the bedroom. She then noticed the two mugs of tea on the table and looked at her brother with wicked glee.

"Didn't realise you had company, Charlie. I hope I'm not intruding."

Charlie did not like the evil look that had come across his little sister's face. Oh crap, he thought.

"No, Gin. It's not what you think, she just ..."

At that moment a distinctly female voice cut him off.

"Charlie? I'm hanging my things on the airer, ok?"

"This just gets better and better. What things is she putting on the airer, Charlie?" Ginny asked in her most over-the-top innocent voice.

Hermione walked into the room before Charlie could answer. Ginny looked a little confused. It was Hermione. Her hair was wet. She was definitely wearing Charlie's clothes. Hermione didn't seem to notice anything odd.

"Oh, hi Gin! How are you?"

Hermione finally noticed the oddness of Ginny when the younger girl squealed in response.

"You! And you! And ... I can't believe it! Eww, Hermione! He's my brother!"

"What?" Hermione asked, obviously lost.

"No, Ginny, I told you, it's not what you think. Hermione got caught in the rain and I lent her some dry clothes. That's it."

Hermione caught on and started laughing. Ginny remained unconvinced.

"What? It's not raining."

"How would you know?" Charlie exclaimed in frustration, "You apparated, remember."

"And why d'you think my hair's wet?" Hermione added. She had stopped laughing.

"Post-coital shower?"

"Ginny!" Hermione and Charlie yelled in unison.

"I don't believe you. Why didn't you just charm your clothes dry?"

Hermione was starting to feel like Ginny was auditioning for the Spanish Inquisition. She blushed.

"Idon'tknowhow," she mumbled.

"What?"

This time it was Charlie and Ginny's turn to speak in unison. Hermione started gabbling at high speed, still looking rather embarrassed.

"Well, I learnt at school, obviously, but I couldn't do it outside school, and with my parents I did laundry Muggle-style, and then after everything, and I like the smell of my clothes better when it's done without magic anyway, it reminds me of how mum did it and I guess I forgot how to do it after a while and I didn't bother re-learning it because I prefer it Muggle-style."

"Right," Ginny said, trying not to laugh, "but that doesn't explain why you didn't do it for her, Charlie."

"I, um, I ... Well, I shrink things when I try to charm them dry so I dry my laundry Muggle-style too. I can wash stuff with magic though."

Hermione and Ginny both laughed as he sounded so proud of his ability to wash his own clothes.

"So, you both do your laundry without magic. That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard. I think I'll leave you to do your laundry in peace."

Ginny winked exaggeratedly before disappearing with a loud crack, leaving Charlie and Hermione wondering what had just happened and how Ginny could make laundry sound dirty. Charlie broke the awkward silence by offering Hermione her mug of tea. He also handed her a blanket which she put across her lap. They settled down on the sofa with the Wireless on.

"So, what are you reading," Hermione asked curiously.