Chapter Text
A crash, followed by contagious laughter filled Charlie’s ears as he came around the third greenhouse.
Astrid’s head poked out of a giant pile of aspen and field maple leaves, so large it consumed her entire body, robes, and the books she had been carrying. She was completely dishevelled, little wisps of hair pointing in all directions, and her smile so bright that Charlie’s heart fluttered for a moment. She was beautiful. She always was. But in moments like this, when she let the simple joys of life lead her, he found you near perfect.
“Come on in,” Astrid shouted in his direction as she fell back with her arms out, allowing the pile to swallow her further.
“The water’s fine,” Charlie thought he heard her say through the rustle of leaves and wind rolling over the hills as she began mimicking a backstroke.
Charlie dropped his bag beside the pile and took a seat on the edge, wanting to make sure he didn’t accidentally land on top of her. Astrid popped her head up and upon seeing him tentative she grabbed at the panels of his jacket and pulled him down with her.
“Whoa!” Charlie managed before his world was filled with dark shadows of reds, oranges, and yellows, like stained glass at dusk. He felt her hands upon his chest, her fingers still gripping into the soft wool of his coat. And for a moment, he allowed himself to be overwhelmed by the comfort that came from the bed of fall foliage and the closeness of his crush.
But then he swallowed some dirt and he pulled himself up spitting. Astrid was already up, encompassed in a throne of leaves, giggling up a storm of Charlie’s demise.
“You—“ he began but she cut him off. “Don’t even complain. You love it.”
Charlie felt his cheeks burn at just how close they were, just how happy, just how right.
“Yeah, I do.”
Astrid reached down into the pile and tossed up a ton of leaves. She continued to laugh as they rained down on them, the wind carrying a few off over her head and against her face.
“You’ve got something in your hair,” Charlie said, reaching up to pull a leaf from her hair. It was a pleasant shade of sunshine yellow, with brown veins and just a hint of green at the stalk. It seemed the most breathtaking things liked to find residence on her face.
When Charlie went to pull it away, Astrid’s fingers held his palm against her cheek. Charlie could feel the warmth there, so similar to his own blush right then. He watched her chin lift as she let out a shaking breath. She offered him a nervous smile but didn’t move her hand.
Charlie lost control of his body. It was leaning forward for him. His lips were parting. His eyes were closing. His head was tilting. The only thing he did with intention was to run his fingers across her cheekbone as he kissed her. Her lips were just as sweet as he always imagined, probably from the warm cocoa she had decided to bring with them on this walk. They were plump and soft and emotive, eager to feel him too for some reason he’d never fully understand. He felt her hands against his neck, pulling him closer, and all he could do was smile.
It was Astrid who pulled away when the moment finally came. It took Charlie a few seconds to even realize she had gone. Everything had felt eternal.
As he slowly opened his eyes, he saw her staring at the ground, pulling apart a leaf blade as accurately as she could from the veins. After a moment, she lifted her gaze up to meet his.
“Was that okay?”
Charlie couldn’t even entertain the question.
“The best.”
Astrid laughed nervously at that, but then shuddered as a strong wind came over the hills. Charlie began to pull on his sleeves to give her his jacket, but a better thought crossed his mind.
He leaned over, rummaged through his bag, and pulled out a Weasley sweater. This one was from two Christmases ago, a pleasing shade of butterscotch in a fisherman’s knit with a large blue “C” upon the chest.
“Here,” He said, holding the shirt for your inspection.
With a smile, Astrid took it and pulled it over her head. It fit her well. The colour was ideal for today.
He watched her bring the fabric at the collar up to her nose and take a long sniff. Something about the action made him blush.
They heard the noise of students coming down the path to letting them know their classes were about to begin. Charlie stood and offered her a hand, pulling her to her feet. The loud rustle that she had created mustered a giggle from both of them.
“Thanks, Charlie,” She said. She leaned forward once more to kiss him again, this one slow and measured. It wasn’t life-altering like the first, but just as enjoyable, especially given how easily she gave it. He was awoken from his daze again by the feeling of her tucking a leaf behind his ear, the same colour as the top he just gifted you.
“Of course. And you can keep the jumper if you’d like,” Charlie said, adding with a slight mumble, “But you don’t have to wear it in class.”
She laughed as she strengthened the link between their fingers.
“Are you kidding, Charlie? I’m never taking it off!”
And with that, Charlie’s smile was plastered on his face as Astrid pulled him out from behind the greenhouses. Were you dating now? It didn’t matter really. For now, she was the girl who kissed him freely and wore his name upon her chest and proudly held his hand for all of her friends to see. Everything else was just formalities.