Celandine's Chronicle (celandineb) wrote in cels_fic_haven, @ 2012-02-02 13:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | hp ficlets charlie/harry, hp quill-it 100.3 |
HP ficlet: A Gentleman-like Manner [Charlie/Harry, general]
Title: A Gentleman-like Manner
Author: celandineb
Fandom: HP
Pairing: Charlie/Harry
Rating: general
Length: 450 words
Summary: Harry thinks he might be gay. Charlie knows he is.
Note: For quill_it, 100.3, prompt 94, "embrace". For secretsolitaire who asked for this pairing. The title is borrowed from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
"You're kidding."
Harry stared at Charlie, astonished. The hand holding his drink relaxed so that the glass tilted, nearly spilling. Charlie reached out to steady it.
"No, not kidding in the slightest," he said lightly. "If you want me to prove it...?" Charlie left the question dangling.
Harry's brain was still spinning. Absently he raised his glass and finished it in three gulps. He had already been more than half-drunk, which was why he had confessed to Charlie that he thought he was gay, leaving Charlie to respond that he, Charlie, unquestionably was. The additional cider calmed him but sent the world out of focus, as if his glasses had disappeared. He felt for them to make sure that they were still perched securely on his nose.
"Um, what?" He looked owlishly at Charlie and found himself sliding from his stool.
"Careful there." Charlie hopped down from his own seat and caught Harry in a rough embrace, holding him upright. "Not right now, mind you; you're in no shape to know what you're doing."
"Am too," Harry protested, enjoying the feel of Charlie's strong arm around him, supporting him.
"No, you're not." Charlie was definite. "Come on, I'll take you home so you can sleep this off. You're going to have a thumping headache in the morning, I suspect. But you can think about what I said then. If you're still of the same mind when you're sober, that's another story."
Harry stuck out his lower lip, but Charlie ignored his sulky expression and steered Harry out of the pub. Again he took Harry in his arms, preparing to Apparate them back to the Burrow where they were both staying. Harry was to be Ron's best man in four days' time, and Charlie had come home for the wedding. They had both been happy to have an opportunity to escape the preparations tonight and go to the Three Broomsticks for a quiet evening.
Charlie landed them with a bump in the back garden. Harry took advantage of overbalancing to give Charlie a drunken kiss. Charlie only allowed it for a moment before breaking away and saying softly, "Now, none of that." He stroked Harry's hair away from his face. "I meant it when I said I want you to make this decision sober."
Harry sighed, though deep down he knew Charlie was right. He let Charlie lead him inside and deposit him by the door of Ron's room, which he was sharing.
"Goodnight, Charlie. Thanks," he mumbled sleepily.
Charlie cupped his cheek and gave him a swift kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight, Harry. I'll see you in the morning." He turned and disappeared down the stairs to his own room.