a/n: Again, life has gotten in the way of writing Charlie. I'd love to say that I'll never do it again...but that would be unrealistic. Thank you for your patience, and for sticking with me.

Just when Charlie thought that time couldn’t move any faster; he woke up and realized that he would be going home for the Christmas Holiday. His days had been filled with classes, Quidditch, friends and fun. He was confident he had done well enough on his end of term exams, though he was sure his Mum would think he could do better. He also was keenly aware that he had avoided any major trouble with Nudds. Other than a few menacing looks, and banging into his table during Potions, Nudds had left Charlie alone. The only thing Charlie wasn’t sure of, was whether this was a good thing, or a calm before the storm. Charlie chose to hope for the best, concerning Nudds, but always to be on his guard.

The trunks were all packed, and the students were all in the Great Hall, for breakfast before getting on the train. Charlie wrapped a few things up and stuck them in his pocket; he didn’t want to be the only one without snacks. He was going to have to figure out a way to get pocket money for next term. Charlie and Eric met The Girls in the Entrance Hall, and made their way to a carriage to bring them to the station. Charlie bit his tongue against a chuckle when he saw Eric shudder slightly.

“All right, Mate?” Charlie asked with a smile.

“Fine, Charlie. Those carriages are kind of creepy, that’s all.”

The friends climbed into an empty carriage, and it began to move toward Hogsmeade Station. They discussed their end of term exams. Charlie was fairly confident he had done well in everything. Even his marks in Potions were good, despite the animosity between Professor Snape and the Gryffindors. Charlie was certain that his ability to brew a better than decent potion was all that kept him from receiving T’s. He wondered how the other Gryffindors were fairing in Potions. He heard grumbles, of course, but you can never be sure if they are justifiable grumbles.

In short order, they arrived at the station. They located their trunks on the station floor, and moved into a compartment. Charlie and Eric stowed all the trunks overhead, and Tonks grabbed her set of Gobstones. Eric already had his ready. He had been practicing ever since Tonks had introduced him to the game. He was no longer the first one covered in stinky goo, and he actually won quite a few games. He and Tonks played for keeps, often passing the same gobstones back and forth for days.

“Care to play?” Eric looked at Charlie and Peyton.

“No thanks. It’s far more entertaining to watch you two.” Charlie looked at Peyton, “how long before they are both covered in goo?”

Peyton looked at the two friends sitting on the floor of the compartment. “Ten minutes, tops.”

They weren’t disappointed. The train was barely out of the station before a bad shot had Tonks dripping, and planning retaliation. Five minutes later, Eric was also covered, and the foursome was laughing. They went off to clean up before the snack trolley came by.

The rest of the journey to London was uneventful. Eric bemoaned the amount of homework that had been assigned over the break. Tonks complained that they couldn’t use magic out of school. She told them that she had chores that she needed to do without magic. Charlie was looking forward to seeing his family, but was not looking forward to the noise.

“Maybe the twins have settled down, you know…grown up a little”

Tonks fell off the bench at that statement. They had all met the twins over the summer, and Tonks obviously couldn’t believe that Peyton could think the twins could have grown up enough to stop being a couple of menaces.

“What, I’m trying to cheer Charlie up…not make it worse.”

Tonks rolled her eyes. “Charlie isn’t stupid, he knows the twins will be Tag Team Terrors, just like always. Better to just deal with it.” She looked at Charlie, “too bad it’s too cold to fly…that’s usually a good escape.”

Charlie laughed, “It’s never too cold to fly. I’ll probably go flying every day, either with the twins, or with my baby brother. He loves flying. I think he’s pretty good at it too.”

The train pulled into Kings Cross Station, and the boys got the girls trunks down before they got their own. Charlie hefted his trunk off the train, and started scanning the crowd of parents. He heard his family before he saw them, and hurried toward the sound of his mother’s voice. He came upon them, finding them at the same time as Bill did. Charlie grabbed Ron’s hand, and Bill got all the luggage on a trolley, and then swept Ginny onto his hip. Percy pushed the trolley, and they headed toward home.

As had become the norm, Bill immediately started on his homework. Charlie decided to follow the example, and pulled out his History of Magic assignment. He settled at the table with his textbook and a roll of parchment, and began reading about one of the many Goblin Rebellions. Charlie really thought it comical, and unnecessary to learn about all the various Rebellions. He wondered if Professor Binns actually read their essays. He wasn’t willing to take the chance, though, and made sure that he did the best that he could.

The Holiday was filled with homework and spending time with the family. It was chaotic and loud, but somehow, Charlie was enjoying it. He and Bill had come to enjoy sharing a room. It gave them time to talk, and reconnect. Charlie was sure that they would be closer once they were back at school.

Christmas morning found them surrounded with gifts at the foot of their beds. Bill and Charlie remarked on the surprise of the Christmas Jumpers, and quickly donned them before opening the rest of their gifts. They both hurried downstairs, ready to help their mum get the smaller children ready for the trip to Auntie Muriel’s. They were surprised to see their mum directing several pots to stir themselves, and a ball of dough kneading itself on the wooden board.

“Mum, why are you cooking? Aren’t we going to Auntie Muriel’s for Christmas Dinner?”

Their mum barely looked at them, as she waved her wand, “No, it’s just far too much hassle. Auntie Muriel will be coming here for dinner. I’d much rather spend the holiday in my own home. PLEASE, will you keep the small ones occupied while I get everything ready?”

“Of course we will, Mum.” Charlie looked out the window, “we’ll bring them all out into the garden. It looks like it snowed over night.”

Bill called all the children into the lounge, and Bill, Charlie and Percy stuffed the struggling children into warm clothes to go outdoors. They stumbled into the garden, where they set about building snowmen and snow forts. They all started throwing snowballs at one another. Ginny proved to have a fair arm, hitting her target, usually Charlie, with almost every throw. They hadn’t been outside long when their father joined them, and charmed the snowmen to join in the snowball fights. Charlie and Ron teamed up against Fred and George, trying to bombard them with snowballs. Bill caught Charlie’s eye and using hand signals, quickly devised a plan to help. The brothers quickly and quietly surrounded the twins and began to pummel them with snowballs. After a good laugh, they went back into The Burrow for warm drinks and a quick tidy-up before Christmas dinner.

“Bill, Charlie…please help Ginny and Ron get dressed for dinner.”

Charlie nodded at his mum as he hurried the younger children up the stairs. He checked Ron’s robes, making sure they were tidy before he told Ron to get dressed. Charlie was sure he was old enough to do that without getting into any trouble. He went back down the stairs to Ginny’s room, chuckling at Bill trying to bully the twins into changing.

“Yelling at them isn’t going to make them move any faster, you know.”

“I know.” Bill sighed, “It sure does make me feel better, though.

Charlie laughed again as he ducked into Ginny’s room. She was sitting on the bed, glaring at the dress his mum had laid out for her.

“Just put it on, Gin Gin. It’s only for dinner, and then you can put on what you want.”

“Don’t know why we have to dress up; it’s just dinner at home.”

“Just make Mum happy, Ginny…It’s just so much easier that way.”

Ginny pouted as she pushed Charlie out the door. “I’ll wear it, but I won’t like it…and you can’t make me!” Ginny’s voice rose to a shout as she closed her door.

Charlie sat at the table with his family, and enjoyed the dinner his mum had made. Sitting on the table was a roast goose and all the trimmings. Charlie knew there would be something delicious for pudding. Fred and George pulled the first Christmas cracker, and happily donned their hats. Fred’s had a joke wand in it. He waved it, and a big paper flower appeared.

“Someday, I’ll make something better that THAT come out of a cracker.”

Fred winked at George and George winked back at him. George quickly read the joke that was inside his cracker. The rest of the family pulled their crackers. When dinner was over, Charlie’s dad waved his wand and the dishes flew into the sink and began washing themselves. The children scattered about the house, hoping to avoid being asked to help in the clearing up.

Charlie spent quite a bit of the Christmas Holiday playing with Ron and Ginny. On nice days, he would take Ron and Ginny to the paddock. He let Ron fly his broom; while he borrowed Bill’s to fly with Ginny. He liked listening to Ginny whoop with delight as he flew around the paddock. Ron was a decent flyer also. Charlie was sure he’d be getting a broom when he turned seven. Occasionally, the twins or Bill would join them. Percy didn’t care to fly; he didn’t even have his own broomstick. Ginny was becoming quite good on a broomstick as well. Charlie didn’t let her fly alone, but he did let her steer. She talked constantly about becoming a famous Quidditch player, and Charlie had no doubt that she could do anything she set her mind to.

Though it seemed like it had just begun, the Christmas holiday was ending. Charlie had finished his homework. He’d packed his trunk, and made sure to double check everything. The family made their way to the train station. Charlie was excited. He liked being home with his family, but he was always happy to get back to school, and back to his friends. He dragged his trunk onto the train, and found the compartment that Tonks was already sitting in. He stowed both their trunks, and settled in next to her to wait for the rest of their friends.

Tonks gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Did you have a good holiday?”

“It was nice. We had dinner at home for the first time. That was a bit odd.”

“It’s just Mum, Dad and me for Christmas dinner every year…just think, even your dinner, with just your family, was bigger than mine.”

Charlie nodded, “true, true. It was nice not to have to hurry anywhere.” He turned his head toward the compartment door, “Look, there’s Eric and Barry; I’ll bet Peyton isn’t far behind.”

Once everyone had found seats, Charlie slid the compartment door closed. He was happy to be back on his way to Hogwarts once again.