Love, Weasley Style

"Where are you going to work, Ana?" Charlie asked, walking around the lake with Ana.

"I don't know," Ana admitted.

Charlie noted that Ana knew nothing nowadays. She wasn't sure of anything. The Ana he had met during their first year, Ana with thick dark hair and jolly dark eyes. Plump, cheerful Ana.

Charlie could see that over the last two years, Ana had lost lots of weight. She was now extremely thin, much too thin for her health. Her eyes had dark bags underneath, and her hair was limp and thin. She seemed to have lost her shine.

Ana had told Charlie about her troubles at home. She was from a high-class pureblood society, much like that of the Malfoys. Ana hung out with people from Gryffindor, and was one herself, often showing qualities of a true Gryffindor. And also being friends with Charlie had its downs. Her family gave her beatings daily, but Ana refused to say anything to anyone, and had sworn Charlie to silence.

"I'll probably have to do a planned marriage. Mother has been hinting for me to be Lucius Malfoy's second wife," Ana said sadly. She looked into Charlie's blue eyes, tears rolling down her pale cheeks. "Please, Charlie. I don't want to be married to him!"

Charlie just hugged her warmly. "Hush, Ana, it'll be alright..."

Ana broke down and sobbed into Charlie's shoulder. "Promise me, Charlie, promise me, I won't have to marry Malfoy! Promise me, Charlie!"

Charlie was silent.

Ana drew away and looked into Charlie's eyes. "Promise me, Charlie," she said her voice barely above a whisper. Charlie felt blood rush to his head and his knees go weak when she looked at him like that.

Charlie's voice wavered. "I promise, Ana."

*

Forever hold your silence. The worlds bounced around in Charlie's head. Forever seemed like a long time. He remembered his promise to Ana on the last day at Hogwarts. His promise to save her from an organized marriage with Malfoy.

Charlie stood up, much to the surprise of his neighbors. "I do."

The priest, Lucius Malfoy, and Ana turned to him. The priest was just generally surprised, Malfoy was livid, but Ana was looking blissful. The priest was truly at a loss, so Charlie spoke up.

"Ana shouldn't be forced into a wedding as a second wife to someone she doesn't even know," Charlie said, hoping his voice would portray his Gryffindor courage and not his wavering insides.

"That's ridiculous!" Lucius Malfoy laughed. However, he laughed alone.

Charlie's words had an impact on the guests, and a low murmuring and whispering could be heard, something along the lines of "second wife".

"Everybody should have the right to find their true love," Charlie continued. He knew Malfoy would punish him later, but the look on Ana's face was reward enough. He stared at Malfoy, keeping a straight face.

"Do you love Ana, Weasley?" Malfoy's voice was venomous. His face was set, but his eyes glittered malevolently.

"Yes. Yes, I do."

Ana ran-or rather, walked quickly, as she was in a long wedding dress- to Charlie.

"Thank you," she whispered, expressing her thankfulness in a kiss she planted on Charlie's mouth as the wedding guests erupted in cheers.