Beaus, Brutes & Boondoggles — A 'Harry Potter' Fan-Fiction

Disclaimer: Everything in the Potter verse belongs to the incredible J.K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing her characters and making my own plot ;)

Chapter One

“Gin, are you sure your Mum won’t mind?” the petite witch asked. Her soft blond curls were swept up into a sweaty pony tail and her Quidditch jersey was drenched in the salty liquid. She pulled at the back of her shorts, fixing her wedgie with a shy smile as Ginny laughed. The freckles across her nose popped out against her creamy skin in the sunlight.

“I’m positive, Christelle. She loves guests,” Ginny said with a smile.

“But I’m all sweaty and your entire family is here,” Christelle groaned.

“Don’t sweat it,” Ginny said, laughing at the pun. Christelle rolled her eyes, grinning slightly. “Besides, you can take a shower and borrow some of my clothes.”

“Okay, if you’re sure,” Christelle said as she bit her bottom lip. Ginny started for the kitchen door and Christelle followed reluctantly.

“Ginny! Back from practice already?” a plump witch with auburn colored hair asked with a smile. She noticed the other witch walk in behind Ginny and watched her with curiosity.

“Hi, you must be Mrs. Weasley? I’m Christelle, I’m on the team with Gin,” Christelle said apprehensively as she moved forward. She held out her hand and Ginny’s mother took it.

“It’s nice to meet you! And please, call me Molly.” Christelle smiled timidly as Ginny perched on the edge of the counter, taking an apple. Christelle sat on the stool beside her as a little boy with pink hair ran through the room. He laughed jovially as someone with untidy black hair chased him around the kitchen table. Ginny brightened as her fiancé grabbed the little boy around the middle and threw him over his shoulder.

“Hey, love,” he whispered as he kissed Ginny’s cheek.

“Harry, this is Christelle, the one I was telling you about,” Ginny smiled as she motioned toward Christelle.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Harry said politely before tickling little Teddy in his arms. The child screamed laughingly before Harry set him down.

“Nice to finally meet you, too. Ginny talks about you all the time,” Christelle grinned. Harry turned to wink at Ginny as Teddy grabbed at Ginny’s ankle.

“Hey, Teddy Bear, did you miss me?” Ginny asked as she bent over to pick him up from the floor. She kissed the top of his pink curls, causing them to turn turquoise.

“Unca Harry chase me,” Teddy giggled as he pulled at Ginny’s hair. Ginny laughed lightly at him.

“Did he now? Hmm, I’ll have to get him back for you later,” Ginny told him, turning to wink at Harry.

“Christelle, dear, are you staying for dinner?” Molly asked.

“Yep,” Ginny replied.

“If you don’t mind that is,” Christelle murmured.

“Of course not, dear. A friend of Ginny’s is always welcome,” Molly said as she turned back to the food. Christelle smiled as Ginny put Teddy back down and he ran off, Harry following after him.

“Come on, I’ll show you my closet so you can pick something out,” Ginny said as she hopped down from the counter. Christelle followed after her, her eyes gazing over the packed living room. Christelle blushed scarlet as she realized what she must look like.

“Okay, any of these should fit you, really,” Ginny said as she opened her closet door and motioned toward the left side of the closet. Christelle fingered through the articles of clothing, frowning.

“Gin, they’re all dresses,” Christelle grimaced.

“I know,” Ginny grinned.

“You know I hate dresses,” Christelle accused.

“I know,” she repeated.

“You have to have a pair of jeans or something,” Christelle said as she turned toward the dresser. Ginny stood in her way with her hands on her hips.

“Nope, you have to wear a dress,” Ginny said fiercely.

“Why do you care what I wear?”

“Just because,” Ginny said faintly before turning toward her door. “Hermione! Can you come help me?” she yelled down the stairs. Seconds later, a witch that seemed about Ginny’s age, a few years younger than herself, walked through the door.

“Christelle, I presume?” Hermione asked, holding out her hand. Christelle nodded slightly. “I’m Hermione.”

“Nice to meet you,” Christelle said.

“Can you help Christelle pick out a dress while I go take a shower?” Ginny asked Hermione.

“Sure,” Hermione said happily, immediately turning toward the closet.

Christelle sighed, knowing she wouldn’t win this argument, as Ginny headed for the bathroom.

0o0o0o0o0

“Oh, Ginny, how I hate you,” Christelle muttered to herself as she threw the door to Ginny’s room open and stormed out into the hall. “Oh! Sorry! I should watch where I’m going,” Christelle said as she bumped into someone. She staggered as they regained their footing. His shoulders were broad, short and stocky with his bright red hair flaming in the hallway light. She noticed that his hair was longer than what she was normally used to. His hands flew to hers and she could feel the rough calluses and blisters brush against her skin as he caught her before she could fall.

“No problem,” he said, chortling as he stepped back. His hands were still holding her arms as she looked down at the ridiculous heels Ginny forced her in. She cursed under her breath as she realized that one of the heels broke.

He arched his eyebrows at her as she held onto his shoulder to bend over and hitch them off her feet. “She must be bloody insane if she thinks I'm wearing those,” she muttered as she tossed them back into Ginny’s room.

“I think I know where she keeps her stash of flip-flops, if you're interested,” he said slyly, smiling warmly at her. 

She looked up, meeting his eyes and nodded mutely as he led her over to Ginny's bed. He kneeled down by the side of the bed and lifted the quilt that was touching the floor, showcasing his findings with his other hand. Christelle grinned as she picked out a pair of plain white sandals and slipped them onto her feet. 

"Thanks," she told him gratefully.

He appraised her, taking in the dress that Ginny and Hermione talked her into wearing. Her dress was light lilac, bringing out the purple tint in her eyes. It hugged her body tightly, especially her curves. The strapless cocktail dress stopped short of her knees, showing off her long legs and dominant calves. The heart shaped neck line gave a boost to her breasts, but didn’t allow them to hang out. Her hair was in loose curls down her back and her mouth was formed in a shy smile.

“I’m Charlie, you must be Ginny’s friend?” Charlie asked with a crooked smile that had Christelle’s heart beating in over time.

“Y-yes, I’m Christelle,” she said breathlessly. His smiled widened as he held out his arm for her.

I've still got it, he thought to himself.

“Care to accompany me?” he asked smoothly. She took his arm gratefully.

“Thanks, I’m such a klutz, I’d probably trip down the stairs,” Christelle said with a nervous laugh. She mentally kicked herself for the sudden nervousness.

“Good thing you walked into me then,” he laughed. She nodded slightly as they moved down the stairs slowly. As soon as they hit the bottom, her head snapped up at all of the curious, eager, mischievous faces. Her cheeks flooded red as she hastily drew her arm from his. Her eyes found Ginny and she glared at her innocent smile.

“Hey! Where are the heels? They finished the outfit!” Ginny protested as she surveyed her friend.

“The heels almost killed me, not to mention your brother,” Christelle grumbled as she went to sit down on the couch with Ginny and Harry.

“Don’t be overdramatic, Chris,” Ginny said with the role of her eye.

“Overdramatic, my ar—” Christelle started.

“You must be Ginny’s teammate,” interrupted a man with red hair that was graying in spots. Christelle’s cheeks flushed as she noticed Ginny’s father.

“Christelle… It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Weasley,” Christelle added.

“Call me Arthur. So, Ginny tells me your parents are Muggles, is that right?” Arthur said with a smile. Christelle ignored the roll of Ginny’s eyes as she looked away from her father and towards her older brother.

“Yes, sir,” Christelle said politely.

“So, what’s it like living with Muggles?” he asked excitedly.

“Sorry about him, he’s fascinated by Muggles,” Charlie whispered as he slid onto the now cramped couch beside her. Christelle jumped slightly, noticing that the small couch made their knees graze, legs connecting. His hot breath tickled her neck and she shivered involuntarily.

“It’s…okay,” Christelle finally answered. She didn’t feel like explaining that her Muggle family were monsters.

 “Dinner’s ready,” Molly announced from the doorway before her husband could ask more unwanted questions to Christelle. Everyone shuffled their feet toward the backyard, where Bill and George had put a few tables together for all of the people. Christelle was seated in between Charlie and Ginny, and Ginny smirked at her when Charlie turned his head. It was then that she realized why Ginny made her wear the God forsaken dress. It must have slipped Ginny’s mind that she had a boyfriend already.

TBC...