Prompt #480 – Home Soil – Flying With Different Brooms – slashluv18 – Harry Potter

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Title: Flying With Different Brooms
Fandom: Harry Potter
Prompts: #480 – Home Soil
Warnings: Depression
Pairings: Charlie/Hermione
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,855
Summary: Hermione's need to help Tonks interferes with her budding relationship.

Hermione and Charlie walked into the room. Tonks was holding her newborn son as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Hermione went to the two and put her arm around Tonks.

"Remus isn't here," she whispered.

"I know," Hermione softly murmured. She kissed Tonks's head and continued, "He would have been one proud father."

"I'm naming him Teddy Remus Lupin."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful boy. He'll grow up to be strong and kind, just like both of his namesakes. I guarantee it."

"Hermione?" Tonks looked away from Teddy to look at Hermione with a question in her eyes.

"What is it?"

"Harry is already Teddy's godfather, and I'm happy with that. I would like you to be godmother as well. Between both you and Harry, if anything was to happen to me, I know Teddy would be in good hands."

Hermione's heart warmed. "It would be my honor. I've also been thinking, and I've decided that you shouldn't be alone right now. I want to move you and Teddy into my flat for a while. That way I can help."

"Thank you," she whispered before her eyes went back to Teddy.

Hermione looked back at Charlie and noticed the frown on his face. 'What?' she mouthed.

Charlie shook his head, and Hermione turned back to the mother and son. She was focused on helping them on her home soil, no matter what.

-

Hermione looked at Tonks. The woman had taken to staring out of the window, even as her son cried.

The bushy brunette had held hope with how Tonks had acted at the hospital. She seemed like herself, ready to be a mother. It seemed like Teddy would be enough to keep her with them.

She had told Tonks she wanted the two of them to stay with her because she did want to help, but she also wanted to make sure Teddy would be taken care of in case Tonks relapsed. It looked like Hermione's fears hadn't been unfounded after all.

She had been frightened when Tonks wanted to name her as godmother, but she had brushed her worries aside, deciding it was Tonks's way of thanking Hermione for being there for her. Now though, she was starting to worry if Tonks was preparing for something.

Hermione cleared her throat, making her presence known.

Tonks didn't turn away from the window.

"I was wondering if you wanted to take Teddy outside to play. It's a beautiful day, and the park isn't that far away. I'm sure he would love the sun."

"No," Tonks muttered.

Hermione walked over to Tonks, standing behind her. "I think it might be good for you as well."

"No," Tonks replied.

"You can't stay in the house all day every day. It's not healthy. Come outside, just for an hour."

"No."

Hermione sighed, knowing there was nothing she could say to convince Tonks to leave her room. She went to her own bedroom where Teddy laid. His eyes were open, and he smiled a toothless grin when he saw her.

Hermione put on a brave smile and lifted Teddy from the bassinet. Just because his mother wasn't in the mood, didn't mean Teddy wouldn't enjoy being out in the sunshine.

Hermione grabbed everything she needed and went to a nearby park. There were no muggles around but to be on the safe side, Hermione muttered a charm so Teddy wouldn't change his looks. She held Teddy as he stared wonderingly around his new surroundings.

Hermione was enjoying her time with her godson, but she was looking forward to Harry taking him for the weekend. She hadn't seen Charlie much lately, and their relationship was very new. She didn't want Charlie to forget why he liked her because he hadn't seen her in a while. That wouldn't do at all.

Over an hour later, Hermione arrived back at her flat to see Charlie was already there. They kissed each other, and Charlie caressed Teddy's cheek. "Good day?"

Hermione shrugged, unsure of how to truthfully answer the question. Teddy had a good day, but Tonks was another story all together.

When Harry arrived to pick up Teddy, he asked, "How's Tonks?"

"She's deteriorating."

"Maybe we should look into a mind healer."

"Maybe."

Charlie and Hermione did their best to enjoy their evening together, but Hermione soon heard a racket coming from Tonks's room and rushed to it, her heart in her throat.

Tonks was on her bed, shoulders shaking as the sobs went through her whole body. Hermione laid in bed next to Tonks, doing her best to comfort the woman.

It was three hours later, after Tonks had finally drifted off to sleep, that she remembered Charlie. She hurried back to the sitting room and found him passed out on the couch.

Her heart clenched. She vaguely remembered him coming to check on her and Tonks, but the other woman got violent and hysterical when she saw Charlie. In her fear for Tonks, she had told Charlie to leave the room and not to come back in.

And Charlie had left, only to fall asleep on the very uncomfortable couch.

"Oh, Charlie, I'm so sorry."

-

"We had a date, didn't we?" Hermione asked guiltily. She fingered her hair that was all in disarray.

"Yeah, is everything okay?"

"I'm so sorry. I completely forgot and Teddy has a fever, so I can't leave."

"Where's Tonks?"

Hermione looked into his eyes. "Sleeping. It's all she does lately."

"Maybe I can help?"

"I don't know if that's such a good idea. If Tonks wakes up and sees you here..." She trailed off. Neither of them had figured out why Tonks reacted so violently to Charlie's presence. She probably didn't even know herself.

"You're taking care of her son. I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you have some help."

Hermione stood on her toes and gave Charlie a quick kiss, one that lacked passion and showed her distraction. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I can't risk it. I'll Floo you tomorrow so we can reschedule our date, and I'll make it up to you. I promise."

Charlie opened his mouth just as Teddy began shrieking. Without looking at the redhead, she closed the door.

The next day, still caught up in Teddy and Tonks, she forgot about her promise to Floo Charlie. She wouldn't remember for a couple of days, only to be reminded when Charlie paid her another visit.

Hermione had never seen Charlie so angry before.

"I feel like I don't even matter to you anymore. I don't think I'm being unreasonable, expecting you to keep your promises."

"You're not. With Teddy being sick, you slipped my mind. He's feeling better, so I'm sure we can go on a date. I'll just ask Harry to watch him."

"Don't you think his mother should be helping out? How is she ever going to get better if she doesn't try?"

"Harry and I are planning to talk to her, I promise. We both agree that enough is enough, and that she has to pull herself together for her son's sake. Please, don't give up on us."

Charlie looked away and with a heavy sigh, he said, "You're lucky I like you so much."

"Yeah, I am lucky."

-

Charlie crossed his arms. "I get it. You're trying to help Tonks. I, more than anyone, can understand that. I have to watch George rebuild his life after losing Fred, but you're not taking care of yourself, and I can't remember the last time we spent any time together."

"Stop being so selfish."

"I'm selfish for wanting to spend time with my girlfriend? I'm selfish because I'm worried that my girlfriend's health is suffering. I'm selfish because I hate watching a young baby slowly lose his only remaining parent because she refuses to get professional help? If all of that is selfish, then I don't care."

Hermione looked at her feet. "I know Tonks should get help. Both Harry and I have talked to her, have begged her for Teddy's sake. She refuses, though, and neither of us wants to force her."

"Something has to change because I can continue to watch this."

"What are you saying?"

Charlie visibly swallowed. "I care about you so much, and I want to help you help her, but not at the risk of your health. If you continue to ignore the things your body needs to thrive, I'm not going to stay and watch you end up in the hospital. I refuse to watch it."

With those words, Charlie left, and Hermione feared that she lost him for good.

-

Hermione stared at the shockingly white wall. Teddy was with Molly, but for once, Hermione wasn't thinking about the baby.

A hand grabbed hers, and without looking, she knew who it was. "You came."

"Of course. What happened?"

With tears swimming in her eyes, Hermione turned her head to look into Charlie's compassionate gaze. "She tried to kill herself. Right in front of Teddy. I'm glad he's too young and won't ever remember it."

"Where were you?"

"I went outside for some fresh air, and I thought if I left Teddy with her, it might bring her out of her head. I don't even know why I went back inside. Teddy wasn't crying or anything, but something didn't feel right, and I knew I had to check on them."

"You're instincts have always been right." He brushed her hair out of her eyes.

"She's going to be forced to see a mind healer now, and she's going to be staying in the hospital until they decide she's no longer a danger to herself or others."

"What's going to happen with Teddy?"

"Since Harry and I are his godparents, he'll stay with one of us. Although Harry has spent a lot of time with Teddy, I've been his primary caregiver, so he'll most likely live with me. Harry will do his best to help of course, and Teddy will probably spend weekends there so I can have a break." She looked at her hands. "I guess I still won't be an available girlfriend."

"I don't mind sharing you, Hermione. I just need to know you're not going to neglect your own health. I can't watch you wither away because you stop taking care of yourself. You don't have to do it by yourself. Harry will have Teddy on the weekends which is great. Let me help during the week. And when Tonks is released, we'll figure out what to do next."

Hermione liked that Charlie said 'when Tonks is released' and not 'if Tonks is released." Even so, Hermione wasn't so sure if she would ever truly recover from losing both of her parents as well as Remus. It made her wonder how Harry had been able to keep his mind, with only having to deal with some residual anger issues.

"Okay. I would really appreciate your help."

"Good."

Hermione wasn't ready to leave the hospital yet, and Charlie stayed with her, being a comforting presence. She was thankful she had him and hoped she would always have him.