Breakfast was indeed delicious. Charlie had created a delectable meal that rivaled Molly Weasley's cooking.

"I didn't know you could cook."

"There's a lot you don't know. Up until very recently I was a bachelor, out in the world fending for myself. Luckily cooking is something that came naturally to me." Charlie scratched the back of his neck during his explanation.

Despite the fact that the newlyweds were settling in together, the reality of the situation was that they were mere acquaintances. Sure, they had spent holidays together at the Burrow and even played a short lived game of Exploding Snap against the twins one time. But they're time together in the past had been in the midst of the chaos of a house stock full of friends and fellow Weasleys. They had never actually spent any considerable amount of time together alone.

Hermione insisted on doing the dishes the muggle way, while Charlie took a seat on the counter nearby to aid in the drying. They had agreed to limit their magic use, even though they were cloaked, just for peace of mind. Whether or not she wanted to admit it, Hermione was still fairly shaken up over the recent events. It seemed like mere hours ago she was just another Gryffindor girl secretly swooning over the rebel Weasley during her free periods. Oh that's right, she wasn't the only one who had noticed the shaggy haired man living on the outskirts of Hogwarts castle, Parvati Patil had taken a particular interest in him as well.

The glass Hermione had been washing cracked in her hand.

"Okay, I think that's enough muggle play for one day." Charlie scooped up the broken glass and deposited it in the waste bin before checking Hermione's hand for any signs of injury. Once satisfied that she wasn't hurt, he finished up the dishes with a flick of his wand.

"Sorry." Hermione mumbled as she clenched and unclenched her fist. "I wasn't really paying attention."

"Ah don't be silly. Just what had you so upset that you had to go all brute strength on me?"

She blushed, "Uh, nothing. It was nothing."

The rest of the day was spent battling through awkward bouts of silence and both parties trying desperately to fill it with idle conversation. The newlyweds were making up for lost time and were trying their best to get to know one another. By the time night had fallen, they seemed to be old friends.

"Charlie?"

He looked up from his spot on the floor; where he had temporarily sat to get a closer look at the books on the bottom of a teetering shelf.

"Yes?"

"I was just thinking it might be nice to go out sometime. I don't want to be cooped up in this house forever."

"Aye, we can do that." Charlie tossed a wink in her direction before finally selecting a book.

Hermione smiled as her husband sat down next to her on the couch. She wasn't sure what came over her, but she turned sideways and flung her legs over his lap. Her body sunk lower into the couch and Charlie's hand took up residence on her knee.

"Why is the engraving on my ring in Spanish?" Hermione asked as she twirled the object of discussion around her finger.

Charlie closed the book he had just started reading and turned a bit to face Hermione. She was laying flat on her back; her hair billowed out around her head. She was too focused on the ring to notice Charlie was looking her over.

"I don't know really. I just saw it and knew it was the one for you."

"Wait…I thought you didn't know anything when we got here. I thought—"

"I had a talk with Dumbledore when you were sleeping in my cottage at Hogwarts. When he told me what was happening, I kind of felt like you deserved a ring. Hermione, your first marriage should've been based in love. You should've had a beautiful garden wedding with all your friends and family there. Instead you're living off the grid with dragon trainer turned bodyguard…and it's all just so preposterous. You deserved a ring though. You deserve a lot more than I can give you." Charlie's voice trailed off at the end.

"It's beautiful and I love it. And stop beating yourself up. It's not your fault we're in this predicament. It's mine. I'm sorry I'm not some beautiful damsel in distress to your hunky hero."

"Hermione Granger, did you just call me hunky?" Charlie had a cheeky grin on his face.

She couldn't answer. Instead she just sputtered some incoherent noise.

"And for the record, you are beautiful. Not so sure about that damsel in distress bit…" He patted her knee and picked up his book once again.

Hermione propped a pillow under her head and watched her husband as he dove into the story. Charlie absentmindedly traced shapes on Hermione's legs as they settled into the comfortable silence.

"Where the bloody hell is Hermione?" Ron yelled for the fifth time that night.

"I told you, you stupid git, I can't tell you. Just know that she had to leave but she's fine now." Ginny stood on an ottoman in the Gryffindor common room so she could stare Ron straight in the eye.

"Ron, maybe we should just leave it alone for a bit." It was rare that Harry Potter was the voice of reason, but since Hermione's disappearance, the job seemed to fall on his shoulders.

"Thank you Harry. I'm glad someone around here has some sense." Ginny hopped down and left the room, making sure to slam the door for good measure.

"Women." Ron sighed.