The Fight
a Harry Potter story
by midnight_angel_girl
Charlie Weasley woke up and looked over at his sleeping wife. After nearly a year of marriage and 3 years of sharing a bed, it still startled him to see her sleeping form. Mariah was laid straight out, flat on her back, her arms crossing her chest, one hand on each shoulder. "Hey-yichh. " He lurched forward with a sudden sneeze. "Yihshoo, arshoo. "
"Bless you," she mumbled sleepily. "Allergies?" She waited while Charlie blew his nose.
"I don't think so. My throat's sore too. Probably just a cold. Anyway, you know my allergies really only bother me in the spring and fall." He said, coughing roughly. "Do we have any cold potion left?"
"I'll check, but I think I gave the last of it to Percy." She glanced at the clock. "It is ungodly early."
"You say that every morning. Harsheshh."
"That's because morning comes way too early." She grumbled, getting up and slipping on her robe. She returned a few minutes later. "Sorry, babe, we're out."
"Cad you make be sobe?"
Mariah patted her stomach. "Maybe you could ask your brother's boyfriend. You know I can't. Bad for the-"
"Baby." he finished. "'Riah, honey, is the baby going to be like you?"
"She'll be like both of us, honey. She'll get her traits from both of out genes." she responded carefully, not entirely sure what he was getting at.
"That's not what I...ihhhshushhh ...I meant. Will shehh...ehchehh .... Will she be like you?"
"You mean, will she be somewhat of a vampire."
Charlie nodded, grabbing a tissue. "Heyehshh, eh-ehshh, eh-yishhh."
Mariah bit her lip and looked away, running her tongue over her slightly elongated canines. It had been nearly a hundred years since her pregnant great-great-great-grandmother had been bitten, resulting in a child that was both vampire and human, and Mariah was maybe 1/16 vampire now. The savage bloodlust had gone out a few generations ago, the only remnants of that being that she liked her meat a little too rare for Charlie's taste. Her teeth were somewhat longer, but not to the point where they could be called fangs. But the vampirism still showed in many ways: her pale skin, sensitivities to sunlight, silver and garlic, not enough to seriously harm her or arouse suspicion; they could easily be passed off as allergies; but enough to make her uncomfortable after enough exposure, a decided preference for night over day, quick reflexes, heightened sight and hearing, strong immune system - she had only been ill two or three times in 28 years, and rapid healing abilities. Most telling of all was how she slept: perfectly still and as though she were dead and in a coffin.
"'Ri...ehptchushh? " Charlie snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Bless. Less than I am, but yes, she'll have the same traits, only not as strong. On the bright side, she'll be healthy; she won't have any of your allergies."
"I like my allergies. They make me human." Charlie countered.
"Well, if human is so important to you, you shouldn't have married me. You knew what I was and knew it would be passed on. I thought you were okay with it." She snapped, getting up and storming out of the
bedroom."Hey-yichh. " Charlie sneezed and flopped down on the bed. A few minutes later, he got up to find her. She was curled up on the couch. "'Riah, baby -" She turned and walked back to the bedroom. He tried to follow her, but she slammed the door in his face. "Hon, I want to...uhshoo...go back to sleep." The door opened and his pillows, a blanket and clothes appeared in front of him before the door sealed itself. "Earshoo, hurschoo." A pair of sneezes propelled him forward, and he figured he'd call Bill about getting some potion. Maybe Bill could help with this situation. He started the fireplace and threw in a handful of Floo powder. "Bill Weasley."
A few minutes later, Bill's head appeared as Charlie sneezed again. "Hey-chuhh. "
"Bless you." Bill said, cheerfully. "Allergies?"
Charlie sniffled, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. "Head cold. I was woderig if you could ask Severus to bake sobe of the potiod Bariah usually does. She gave the last of it to Percy."
"I'm sure he will. He's been looking forward to trying it. Anything else? You look upset. Hishoo, hitshoo. Excuse me. I haven‘t taken an allergy potion yet"
"'Riah and I had a fight. Heh-arshchh."
"Why don't you get dressed and floo over. We'll talk about it while Sev makes the potion."
Charlie nodded, blowing his nose. "I'll be over id a bit."
10 minutes later, Charlie was dressed at Bill's apartment. Snape was in the kitchen, and began working on the potion while Charlie and Bill settled on the couch.
"Tea?" Bill offered.
"Ub, yeah. Thaks." Bill went into the kitchen to prepare tea after handing his brother a pillow and blanket, telling him to lie down and get comfy.
Charlie had just started to relax when he felt something jump onto him. Looking up, he saw a small tan and white kitten. "Go away." he shooed. The kitten looked at him, then crawled onto his chest. "Bill" he called. "Ihshihh, hihhshishh, ihkkshushh. "
Bill came out of the kitchen and saw the cat. "Come here, Vex." He said, realizing the problem and picking the kitten up, taking it to his bedroom; then he went to the kitchen and said something to Snape. He returned to Charlie and handed him a cup of tea and a vial. "Sorry."
"Whed did you get a cat?"
"It's Sev's. Name's Vexation. I forgot you're allergic. Drink that. He says it won't cause any problems with the other potion. It's a mild allergy one."
"Ehgshoo. " Charlie blew his nose again and drank the vial. "Thaks."
"So, what happened with Mariah?"
"She got mad at me."
Bill sighed. "Charlie, I know Mariah, and I know she wouldn't get mad at you without a reason."
"I asked her...ehhrsheshh ...about the baby, if it would be like her...."
"You mean, somewhat of a vampire?"
"Yeah. I was just curious, but she took it the wrog way ad wouldn't let be explaid."
"Charlie, she's pregnant, she's hormonal. I went through the same thing with Li."
"She thought I wasn't ok with it, ad I ab, really. Ad she wod't talk to be at all, so I cad explaid. Heh-shushh, hehshoo, heghshoo ."
"Gesundheit." Said Snape, coming into the living room. "The potion just needs to cool so you can drink it."
"Thak you, Severus." Charlie sniffled, blowing his nose again.
"Why don't I go talk to Mariah?" Bill suggested. "I'm sure Sev'll want you to stay here after you take thehh...ehshuhhh .... the potion to see how it works."
"Yes, I would." Snape put in.
"Thaks, Bill. Try talkig to her." Bill flooed out while Snape poured the potion into a glass and handed it to Charlie. Charlie drank it. "Thak you. It takes about 15 bidutes for it to work. Do you...uhshishhh.... Do you bide if I lay dowd?"
"No, go ahead. I'm sure you're tired."
Over to Charlie and Mariah's"Mariah? It's Bill." he called as he entered the house.
Mariah walked into the living room. It was obvious that she had been crying. "Hey." She said as Bill wrapped her in a hug. "Decaf coffee?" she offered.
"Sure." She got him a mug of coffee, and they sat down. "Charlie told me what happened."
"I figured as much. Is Severus making him the potion?"
"Yes. About this morning, he didn't mean it, Mariah. He's sick. You know as well as I do that he's a cranky, inconsiderate berk when he's sick. And you're a little, umm."
"Emotional." she supplied.
"Right now. Hihchishh. He really is sorry, ‘Riah."
"I know. I'm just a mess right now."
"It's ok. Let's talk." She and Bill sat on the couch and talked for over an hour. "Rehh...ehchoo, hehshoo, eckshhoo. Ready for Charlie to cobe back?" he asked, rubbing his nose. When she nodded, Bill went and flooed his place. "Hey hon," he said, when Snape answered. "Mariah's ready for Charlie to come home."
"He's asleep right now. Shall I wake him?"
"Let him sleep for a bit." Mariah said. "Why don't both of you come over around noon and I'll make lunch. I want to hear how the potion worked for you."
"Sure. Thanks. Bill, are you going to stay there, then?"
"If you don't mind."
"It's fine. We'll see you later." Snape went out, and Bill and Mariah continued talking until lunchtime.
None of the characters are mine except Mariah