"Not bad, not bad at all," muttered Charlie Weasley, as he looked carefully at his N.E.W.T. results. Beside him was a job pamphlet on dragons. They required an N.E.W.T in potions, defense against the dark art, care of magical creatures and herbology. Charlie, an over-achiever, had gotten all that and an N.E.W.T in charms and transfiguration. Each class that was passed could get up to two N.E.W.T. s. That meant that Charlie had tweleve N.E.W.T. s.

It had always been Charlie's dream to work with dragons, and they certainly were beautiful things. An hour later, he was found at his desk, scribbling a letter to Romania. His younger brother, Ron came in, asking what he was doing.

"I'm applying for a job with dragons," he answered,

"Are you going to leave home?" Ron asked, fearfully.

"Yes, and you will too, someday."

"What if I don't want to?"

"You'll be forced to leave, anyway."

"Why?"

"Because you'll be a grown-up, and you'll be independent."

"Oh, nice talking to you, Charlie."

"See you, Ron."

He sent a letter via his family owl, Errol. Hoping for a quick response, eighteen-year-old Charlie went downstairs for a lunch of turkey sandwiches. His mother, Molly Weasley, was muttering to herself, while pacing the kitchen. She did that a lot.

"Hey, Mum," smiled Charlie.

"Charlie, have you received your results?"

"Just this morning. I have tweleve N.E.W.T. s. The dragon place in Romania only requires eight."

"That's funny," claimed his other brother, Percy, as he entered the room, "Healing requires tweleve."

"Ha, ha, ha. Luckily, I'm not becoming a healer," Charlie retorted. Charlie was the second-oldest. Bill was older than him, and Percy was younger. Following Percy were the twins, Fred and George, and Ron, and Ginny, the only girl.

"Charlie, I'm not so sure that you'll get in. Many people try, and tweleve N.E.W.T. s is only tweleve," said Mrs. Weasley, worriedly.

"But Mum, those people wouldn't want to be a dragon tamer, they'd try to be in the ministry, or something."

"If you're sure."

"Is it time for lunch?"

"Yes, it is. Will you call everyone down?"

"Sure, Mum. Time for lunch!" he called. It sounded like a herd of elephants, as Fred and George tried to push in front of the eldest, Bill. Bill had come to visit from Egypt, where he worked with goblins in banks. He was twenty.

A week later, when Charlie was outside playing Quittitch with Bill and Fred against Ron, George and Percy, there was a ring at the doorbell. Two old wizards stepped inside, in search for Charlie.

"He's out back. Should I get him for you?" he heard his mother say.

"No thank you, we can find him ourselves," answered a rough, old man's voice. The two cloaked figures strolled around back to where the six boys were playing Quittitch, using an apple as a quaffle, seeing as two weeks earlier, George had thrown it so hard that it flew through the hoop, and into the neighbor's yard, where a bulldog promptly ate it.

"Do you know where Charlie Weasley is?" asked the first wizard.

"I am Charlie Weasley," answered Charlie, a little confused.

"Your application to the Romanian Dragon Center has been accepted. Congratulations, Mr. Weasley," announced the second one, regally. Charlie's mouth was wide open in shock.

"Really?"

"Yes, sir. You may come with us to Romania as soon as you say your good-byes." By then, the others had touched down, and were listening to this conversation with mild interest.

"I'll get Mum and Ginny," suggested Fred, running off towards the house. A few seconds later, Fred returned, leading two startled people, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.

"What's going on, Charlie? Fred says that you're leaving for Romania," asked Ginny, a nine-year-old.

"They've accepted my application to the Romanian Dragon Center."

"So, you're going to leave?" she asked.

"Yes, but I'll come back during breaks and such."

"I'll miss you, big bro."

"I'll miss you, too, little sis. See you around, all of you guys. Bye, bye."

"Bye, Charlie." called Ron.

"Bye, dragon lover!" laughed Fred and George in unison.

"Bye, sweetie." Mrs. Weasley shouted.

"Bye, big bro!" Ginny yelled.

"Bye little bro!" called Bill.

"See you soon, Charlie!" shouted Percy.

The two wizards nodded, grabbed each of Charlie's hands, and apparated to Romania, where the Dragon Center was. Noise erupted in Charlie's ears. Shouts and cries echoed around the buildings.

A man around Charlie's own age rushed up to greet them. His sand-colored, short hair sat neatly around his ears, giving him the appearance of someone important.

"Hello, Charlie Weasley. My name is Thomas Bartholomew, but you can call me Tom. I was given the job of ghanding out leaflets, schedules and advice too newcomers. It's nice to meet you, Charlie."

"Nice to meet you, too," answered Charlie.

"Well, I doubt that you'll want to stand here all day, so please follow me." Charlie did as he was told, as Tom led him to a busy building, with boys streaming in and out of it.

"Wow."

"Charlie, this is where you'll be staying. I hope you like it. Here are your papers. Your room number is 279." Tom left at a run, leaving Charlie to figure his own way around.