House: Slytherin
Category: Drabble
Prompts: Antipodean Opaleye
Word count: 462 (Excluding Author's Note, but including entire Drabble and Title)
Summary: Charlie Weasley takes it upon himself to care for a dragon whose slim chances of survival invigorates his passion for caring for magical creatures.
Author's Note: Just a quick drabble for Round Three of the House Competition.
As always, enjoy
-Carolare Scarletus
.~.
Chain of Pearls
.~.
"I trust that you can take care of it, then?" his supervisor said while they made their way over to the examination table. "Confiscated it from some smuggler in the states, and it brought back to Australia. Haven't the faintest idea what breed it is, but-"
"Antipodean Opaleye," the man stated firmly. His boss looked at him sideways, taking in the way his eyes lit up at the sight of the pearly white egg. It was the size of a melon, and though it weighed as if a thousand golden bricks had been stashed inside, the boy knew his dragons. It put him at ease knowing that Charlie Weasley, one of his youngest and most passionate apprentices was giving up his time to care for the unhatched creature. He wished he could say the same for the others. "If my calculations are correct… the little guy is due to hatch in two weeks."
"If he hatches at all, Charlie." His boss said solemnly. "He's had a rough ride. Been taken all over, and who knows what that smuggler did to him. Probably didn't care for him as he needed. If anything, he'll be severely weakened and misshapen. He'll be lucky if he survives the night."
"We'll never know if we don't try."
"Don't say I didn't warn ya." His boss walked away, leaving him to ponder.
Determined, Charlie took the egg and headed back to his tent. He was stationed in a closed-off syndicate of Australia, one of the few places on earth where Antipodean Opaleye dragon could prosper. Granted, there were better choices for the guy to be born, but he didn't have that luxury. He had to make due.
After hours of preparing, he put together a small stationary birthing table, equipped with glowing balls of light that were charmed to continue to heat the egg even while he was away at work. The next morning, he felt the impressionable lift that he was doing something right. And, not soon after the egg was found, the creature dwelling inside began to stir within. It was a small, little noise that grew to a loud, cracking crescendo. Charlie watched in great anticipation as a single line appeared the opal shell, followed by many more. Within minutes, the creature was born, and he swore he never saw anything more beautiful in his entire life.
The dragon was breathtaking with its pearly scales that lined its body and glittering multi-colored eyes. Upon further inspection, he discovered the little guy had no pupils, but that didn't matter. A huge sense of protection fell over him, and as the tiny dragon struggled to find a complacent seat on his lap, he vowed that he'd always be there to protect him.