* * *

When Hattie returned home she couldn't wait to spend the evening with Charlie. Since sorting out the situation, she was excited to spend more time with him and continue her journey of recovery. She slipped into the house to find it quiet and barely any lights on, yes it was late but she at least expected her father to be awake waiting for her or Remus. Instead nobody was there.

She had eaten with Dallin in a small cafe not far from Diagon Alley and then they hung out in a park talking. When she entered the kitchen to replenish the moisture in her mouth that had dried out, Charlie was sat at the table, his head in his hands and light snores tumbling from his lips. She grabbed a small drink, chugging it quickly and wiping the excess from around her mouth, setting the glass on the table.

Gently, she slithered her arms around Charlie, closing her eyes and letting his aroma flood her senses bringing her home completely. He felt the touch of Hattie and Charlie's she's fluttered open, a small grunt slipping from his lips.

"What time do you call this?" He murmured, tilting his head up to look at her.

"Stargazing time?"

Charley couldn't withhold a small chuckle as he pushed back his chair. "Not just yet," he said and tugged her into his lap. "Where did you go?"

"To Diagon Alley."

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to?"

"Who were you with?"

"Someone."

"Who?"

"I just told you, now can we go outside?" She went to stand up but Charlie's grip tightened. "Can you just leave it? I'm an adult remember, I can do as I please."

She ripped Charlie's arms off of her and wandered out to the garden in a bit of a strop. She didn't see the need for all the questions. Charlie followed her out like a sheep, and laid down beside her. "Baby girl, I'm just worried. I don't want another person like Dallin Winter hurting you-". Hattie's face clenched and she refused to look at Charlie. Him finding out about Dallin would not be okay, it would be a total nightmare, a war in itself and someone would end up hurt, that was for sure.

Unfortunately, Hattie's expression didn't go unnoticed. Charlie tolled init his side and propped his head up on his hand. "You didn't. Tell me you didn't meet him?"

"Char-"

"Are you being serious right now? Tell me this is a joke! Because I swear if he has come anywhere near you..."

Hattie sat up, "he has changed! You don't even know him, Charlie. That Dallin wasn't the true Dallin, the true Dallin is so loving and kind. He treats me well and I couldn't ask for anymore."

He shook his head in disbelief. Hattie was supposed to be smart, nobody who ever treats someone the way Dallin Winter did would change that easily! His heart thumped and angrier surged through his veins like electricity through a wire. He could feel the fire burning through his body and he wanted to roar and let it out like a dragon but he couldn't, not in front of Hattie.

He pushed himself up and went over to the fence, drawing his clenched fist back and slammed it into the wood. Hattie stared as he beat the living daylights out of the wooden fence. He turned around and pointed back at the fence. "That's what I will do to him if he comes near you again! You hear me? That no-good, abusive, manipulative arsehole does not come near you again! You'll get hurt again and I'm not having that, not when you are actually on the right path to getting better."

He didn't even care that he swore in front of her. He was raging, and there was no holding it back.

Hearing the commotion the house trudged out of their beds, clad in their pyjamas, all sleepily gathering in the doorway to the garden. "What's going on?" Questioned Lily, "Charlie you're bleeding."

"I can see that, I know that, because I just beat the crap out of the wood!"

"Why, dear?"

"Why, mother? Why? Why don't you ask Harriet that? Go on, tell them!"

"Tell us what, Hat?" Sirius stepped towards towards his daughter, "have you relapsed? If you have then that's okay, we'll sort it and Charlie can stop being angry because you can't help that and he should no that."

"No she hadn't relapsed! But she might as well have done so for the pain she'll be putting herself through!"

"What?"

"She's back with Dallin! That's where she has been. With him!"

Ron gritted his teeth, "I swear to Merlin, Hattie if you are, I will kill him."

"You guys don't get it! You don't know him!"

"We know what he did to you!"

"That was not his fault. It wasn't his fault..."

She sobbed and dropped to the ground again, curling up into a ball resting her head on her knees. Remus stayed level headed and crouched down beside her. He carefully checked for any jewellery that she could have been wearing that may have been charmed to make her fall for him again. She wasn't.

"Let's all remain calm, let me talk to Hattie. I'll get to the bottom of this. Charlie go get cleaned up, everyone else back to bed-"

"You don't tell me what to do, Remus Lupin, if I want to stay and discuss an issue with my goddaughter I will bloody well do so." Lily said sternly, "everyone else, bed."

Nobody argued with the redhead who looked scary, even in Mrs Weasley's eyes. Even Sirius complied knowing that Hattie would be in safe hands. James led him back into the house and the pair situated themselves in the living room waiting to hear what exactly has gone on. Meanwhile back in the garden Lily and Remus day with Hattie and asked:

"Can you tell us everything that has happened since being back from Romania?"