It's my new Charlie/Hermione fic. I was writing something else, but I really hated the direction in which it was moving so I scrapped it all and started afresh.
There will be another chapter to this, I just need to work out how to upload them later on. If you know how, let me know.
Enjoy.

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Charlie/Hermione

"Charlie! Get that fucking rope or she'll fly!" shouted Rick. Charlie scowled at the unnoticed rope and dived on it before the dragon they were moving nearly escaped. They were moving a young Chinese Fireball across the reserve so she could have more room when her egg hatched, but this dragon was a feisty one. Charlie thought it was the most lively he'd ever seen in his years in Romania at the reserve.

After leaving Hogwarts, Charlie was taken on at the dragon reserve as a lowly apprentice to clean up after the higher workers. He had taken years to move from apprentice to the lowest rung on the employment ladder and then gradually worked his way up. Now however, he was just past fifty and director of the reserve that had become his second home. His active work and dedicated work ethic had allowed Charlie to age gracefully while keeping the body he had at twenty three. The sun and dragon work had caused some scarring of his bronzed skin, and his still toned physique was burned and his eyes crinkled in the corners when he laughed. His hair was still thick and tied back at the nape of his neck and he had a tooth of his first dragon hanging from his ear, and one from every other dragon stitched to his belt. He never had a steady girlfriend over the years, he just picked women up in local bars with Rick as his wingman until he was in his early thirties. Now both he and Charlie were living with their respective wives on the reserve. Rick had Chloe and Charlie had Hermione. Yes, Hermione Granger. His youngest brother's best friend in school was now his wife of twelve years, and they still had that spark of teenagers in love.

Hermione had moved from Hogwarts student directly to Hogwarts professor, as an assistant to Minerva McGonagall. Once McGonagall had retired, Hermione had taken over the post for almost fifteen years before she grew restless and bored with the repetitive monotony of her life. She loved teaching and the students, on the whole were a joy to be around but she needed the excitement she had when she was seventeen. She didn't want the imminent danger of Lord Voldemort chasing her every move; she just wanted to feel alive again which was why, at the drop of a hat, she quit her job at Hogwarts and transferred to the Ministry of Magic. Her new post initially was in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but seeing that her talents lay elsewhere, her supervisor had her transferred to the Department For The Regulation And Control Of Magical Creatures where she liaised with ministry officials from other magical territories about the breeding and transfer of dangerous creatures. The job had her Flooing all over the world at a moment's notice and she saw things she'd never see outside of Hogwarts. She loved the security Hogwarts gave her, but this job allowed her to see two of the most aggressive dragons she'd ever seen almost fight to the death in the air above her. She still, after all these years, held that as the most amazing thing she'd ever seen. After repeated visits to Romania's dragon reserve she had got to know Charlie Weasley. She knew him as Ron's older brother of course, but now Hermione knew Charlie for being Charlie. She knew his quirks, his hates, his passions and just about everything else. When they went on a joint mission to Australia, Charlie had proposed to her at sunset while camping on a cliff overlooking the dusty outback. She knew at once that she would. She knew many months before that she would be marrying Charlie Weasley.

"That fucking beast will be the death of me!" Charlie replied to Rick once the offending rope was tethered to a spike in the ground. Charlie removed his dragon hide gloves and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"You're getting old, Brother" Rick joked. "Perhaps you should lie down or something"

Charlie knew he was the oldest on the ranch. He was more than surprised to have survived this long without getting majorly harmed or even killed. Usually a dragon tamer will be ready to retire or leave at about forty, having had enough of the near death experiences and constant injury.

"I've more stamina than the rest of this team put together, Rick, you should know that" Charlie couldn't suppress a grin at his innuendo. Rick however was too quick for him.

"Well, if that wife of yours is telling the truth, she said you can't keep going past midnight these days, you know how women gossip" taunted the younger of the two men as they walked back towards the reserves head office; Charlie's Den.

"You can get fucked with that, Mr I'm-Asleep-By-Nine. I bet you I could go all night with Hermione AND still do a sixteen hour day here without rest" Charlie boasted. They often had this type of verbal banter running between them, but rarely did they formally agree to a bet. Rick knew Charlie was fit. He could easily run rings around the younger workers, but he had to push it.

"Fifty galleons. I bet you can't rock and roll all night and do a full day here."

"You've already lost" Charlie smiled and held out his hand for Rick to shake. "Food?"

""Aye, lets grab the women though, I want to know what they'll make of our little wager" Rick decided. Without another word, the two men dropped their dragon hide gloves, boots and changed into slightly less charred clothing and Apperated to the residential area of the reserve. There were a few places to eat on site, but they ventured into the nearest town and sat on a veranda in the sun with Chloe and Hermione. They were talking, laughing, gossiping and eating happily until Rick turned the conversation to the newest wager.

"Hermione, has Charlie here told you of his new bet?" Rick smiled as Charlie shook his head and rolled his eyes. Hermione was all-ears, wanting to know what he had got himself into this time. Last time he'd bet with Rick, Charlie had had to take a few days off work as he'd ended up with tiger print patterns all over his arms and he growled when he tried to talk.

"What bet?" Chloe asked, as the repercussions of these wagers usually affected Rick too, in some way.

"Don't worry, it's only for money this time. Charlie here, bet me-"

"Come on now, Rick, at least tell the whole damn story" Charlie interrupted, taking another forkful of food between his lips. He knew it'd make him sound like a randy teenager so there was no point in trying to deny it.

"Right, the general gist of the story is that I called Charlie old, and he insisted" Rick couldn't help but grin at Charlie's discomfort at this point. "He INSISTED that he has more stamina than most of the young guys on the reserve. Naturally, I had to take it one step further and see if he was telling the truth"

"And so what's the bet?" Hermione asked, eying Charlie suspiciously.

"Charlie?" Rick prompted. He was too quick and caught the napkin that Charlie had thrown at him in mock frustration.

"Ok, fine. I bet him that I could make love all night and do a twelve hour day on the reserve" Charlie said while taking a sip from his wine glass.

"Twelve? I think you'll find it was sixteen hours, Charlie" Rick commented. He couldn't help himself. "Hermione, would you be able to help a dear friend out?"

"I think I could, Rick. But only if you do the same for Chloe. She'd so fed up with you falling asleep before she gets hers" Hermione teased. Charlie howled with huge, rumbling laughter as Rick's face went from gleeful, to downright flabbergasted. Hermione turned to look at her husband and was, as always, taken aback by his rugged beauty and glistening eyes. She affectionately brushed a strand of his sun-bleached hair back behind his ear. Chloe's hands went up to cover her mouth as she was as shocked as Rick was.

"Hermione! You said you wouldn't say anything!" Chloe was laughing, but outraged at her friend's outright crassness.

"You can thank me later" Hermione smiled as she reached for the hand of her friend and grasped it, while still laughing to herself.

A tinny whistle and rattle of vibration interrupted their laughter as Chloe's wand caught her attention.

"Aah bugger, the kids are getting feisty" Chloe sighed. She loved their children dearly, but they were rarely able to escape like this and talk and socialize with people their age. "I think we'll have to love you and leave you" she added while standing to gather her bag and scarf. It wasn't yet winter, but the cool breeze caught her unawares. She reached down to hug Hermione and the men stood to shake hands. Chloe released Hermione so she could kiss Charlie on the cheek, and whispered in his ear "Good bet this time. I hope Hermione is right though". This caused a chuckle from Charlie

"That's all up to him, darl', but if he comes into the Den looking knackered, I'll know he's put the effort in" Charlie grinned, baring all his gleaming teeth.

"Who'll be coming into the Den looking knackered?" Rick asked Chloe as they walked away but all she did was laugh in response as they Apperated back to their home on the reserve.

As Hermione and Charlie settled down at their table once more Hermione leaned into her husband's chest as they watched the hustle and bustle of the town's market square.

"Do you think we did the right thing?" Hermione asked.

"What are you talking about, honey?"

"Having children. Reckon we were right not to have them?" Hermione was serious. She knew it was the logical thing to do, but since she left her teaching job at Hogwarts, nothing in her life had been logical. Even marrying Charlie was illogical. He was older, more dangerous and she had only known him for about a year or so before she said 'yes'. Everyone thought she'd marry Ron but after the war she was more interested in her career than her love life. Ron and Hermione parted amicably and remained the best friends they were in their fourth year.

"Yes. I think we were. We wouldn't have been able to live this life with kids. I'd be stuck in some shit-hole office and you'd still be at Hogwarts, or in a book shop or something. We'd be like Rick and Chloe; having to drop everything for the kids. At least with the millions of kids my brothers and sister have had, we gave give them back when they start screaming" Charlie reasoned while planting a kiss on his wife's head. "We can still practice though"

"You're insatiable, Charles Weasley" Hermione stated, but kissed him nonetheless. A long, loving, passionate kiss, only broken by a wolf-whistle from one of the other reserve workers who had come in pursuit of food with his lady friend. Hermione grinned sheepishly and waved while Charlie smiled sweetly and gave him the bird as he passed, laughing to himself.

"What did you say about practicing?" Hermione whispered in his ear as she watched the other worker stroll along in the sun.

Fin, for now.

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