A/N: This story is a continuation of Charlie's War. –Rita.

Based on characters created by J. K. Rowling

Chapter One--New Year's Eve in the Desert

Why Charlie Weasley volunteered for "tour" duty on New Year's Eve, he had no idea. What he should be doing was partying his ass off in Mexico with a bunch of his friends, getting too pissed to walk and ending up in bed with some beautiful witch, whose name he wouldn't remember who either would brag to her friends that she slept with the famous Quidditch player from the Reds, who were, by the way World Cup Champions, or pretend she couldn't remember what happened. He would also like to have spent New Year's with his girlfriend, Jessica, but she was in Dallas doing some kind of artist thing.

So here he was, demonstrating dragon safety to a bunch of tourists (Dragon safety; when a Flying Demon approaches you from the air, throw away your wand and kiss your ass good-bye, because there is no way to prevent becoming a crispy critter when confronted by a seven ton fire breathing dragon with a pissed off attitude. Oh yeah, and have a really fun time, while you are being carried away by spiders that are as big as Mini Coopers or seduced by sirens, who will steal your soul, leaving your stupid-ass body to rot on the desert floor.).

"Any time you're out here with the group, please do not wander away. The disillusioning charm only covers the immediate area," he said more pleasantly than he felt. "If you happen to see an arachnid smaller than four feet across, please leave it alone because its mother is going to be looking for it."

The group, seven witches and three wizards, all adults (thank God, no children to sacrifice!) looked at him uneasily. Maybe they were thinking this wasn't such a good idea. He hoped so. The idea of opening up a dangerous dragon preserve to tourists had to be one of the dumbest ideas management had ever come up with. The even stupider idea was having the tours sanctioned by the Department of Magical Tourism.

The only consolation for Charlie was that he wasn't out here alone; his good friend Ricardo Sanchez ("Boo") and Dustin Franco were with them for the overnight tour. Dustin was one of the new interns that had been dropped in the wranglers' laps a month ago. He wasn't as bad as some of the interns Charlie had been forced to train; he was a good flyer and wasn't a Quidditch fan (although Charlie couldn't understand anyone who didn't like Quidditch, but at least he wasn't following him around like a puppy trying to get pictures or an autograph or telling him what he could do to improve his game).

Boo, on the other hand, was one of the coolest wizards Charlie had ever met. He had a barrio look, but was one of the nicest wizards Charlie knew. He looked fierce, which was an advantage when trying to scoot unsuspecting muggles away from a nest of sleeping dragons. Ricardo was very intimidating figure. He looked like the stereotypical gang banger. His arms, neck and chest were covered in tattoos. He wore a bandana and a lot of leather. Like Charlie's friend, Mike, Ricardo always carried a firearm with him when they patrolled the muggle highway that intersected the dragon preserve. Few muggles were intimidated by a huge man waving around a little stick; but no one was ready to challenge a desperado with a shot gun.

"Is it okay to fire off our wands at midnight?" one of the men asked.

"Oh yeah, sure. It'll scare off the spiders, but it may attract the Verdemalos. I don't know for sure because I've never been stupid enough to shoot sparks out of my wand just for fun in the middle of a fucking desert ass deep in dragons." He didn't actually say the second part out loud.

Boo slapped Charlie on his shoulder and grinned. "Of course, you may. Just make sure you stay in the perimeter."

"We also brought some adult refreshment to toast in the New Year," the man said, grinning. "We do hope you'll join us at midnight."

Dustin was busy trying to impress some of the witches. He was very cute and had a wholesome cowboy, aw-shucks-ma'am look that most women found appealing. Dustin's eyes lit up at the invitation to join the group for a drink, but Charlie shook his head. "Sorry," he said.

Of all his vices, and they were legion, Charlie never drank on duty. He had too much respect for his teammates and co-workers. Now, he had gone to work nursing a giant sized hangover once or twice, but he was always functional.

The tour group ate with the other wranglers in the dining hall. Dustin ate at their table while Charlie and Ricardo sat with their friends. Most were heading out for the party in Mexico after their shifts were over and couldn't help rubbing it in. Charlie took the ribbing with his usual good humor.

"So you coming to the party, Weasley. No, wait, you have to work." Jack said, jokingly.

"Fuck you," he said a little too loudly. A couple of the tourist witches turned around and stared at him. He smiled and waved. "Sorry," he mouthed pointing to Jack. "He's got a mouth like a sewer. Pay him no mind."

The women looked at each other and started whispering among themselves.

Jack gave him a look and flipped him off. "Any of the tourist witches look good to you?" Jack said, eyeing the table behind them.

Charlie shook his head. "No. After the last tour I've sworn off trying anything stupid."

On the very first tour the preserve arranged, he and Pete were making out with two of the adult women chaperones when a swarm of giant arachnids decided to watch. He realized at that point that any chance at romance would have to be sought when he was off duty.

"Why'd you volunteer to work tonight? I thought for sure you'd want to go to that big party." Boo asked, reaching across the table for a piece of bread.

"I have to work tomorrow night anyway. I took a full week off Christmas and Mike worked. I didn't want to be greedy. I think Mike's going to Lindsey's family this New Year." Charlie explained. Lindsey was Mike's muggle wife. She was also Charlie's girlfriend's cousin.

"Patrol?" Boo asked.

Charlie nodded. "You know there's going to be a lot of activity with muggles trying to kill themselves with fireworks tomorrow. Then I'll be out the rest of the week doing census and harvesting."

"Who's going with you?"

He thought for a moment then shook his head. "No idea. Probably somebody from the nursery. More than likely I'll get one of the interns. Most everyone has asked for the day off to recover from the party."

"The party of the century," Jack chimed in. Charlie ignored him.

"Well," said Boo. "I'm off tomorrow after we turn over this group and I have a date with Camilla. Didn't you two used to go out?"

Charlie nodded. Camilla was the only co-worker he dated at the preserve. Normally he didn't date women he worked with. That was one of his few rules to live by. "She thought I was afraid of commitment," he said, grinning.

Dustin turned around and leaned over to their table. "One of the men wants to talk to you, Charlie."

Charlie magicked his tray back into the kitchen and walked over to the tourists' table.

"Yes sir?" he asked expectantly.

"What's on the agenda for this evening?" The tall wizard named Dominick asked.

"After dinner, we'll take you to the nursery to get a look at the hatchery. Dragon eggs are removed from their mothers right after they're laid when there's a real danger of the mothers stepping on the eggs. Sometimes it takes a while for the maternal instinct to kick in. First time moms are the worst. They don't know what's going on; then sometimes the eggs are stolen by the males for food. It's really a better way to ensure the continuation of the species. There are so few dragons left; we do everything to help preserve them."

"How many species are there?" One of the witches, Hope, who was listening in asked.

"There are only three indigenous species of dragon in North America. Actually four, but that species lives far to the north and is a sea dragon. I personally think the American Red is a descendant of the sea dragons and adapted to the land after the oceans disappeared. The Verdemalos probably migrated to this area during the last ice age and followed the mammoths here. We don't know much about the Flying Demons. Legend is that two dragons escaped from an evil place to guard the gates of the domain. The Flying Demons are the most mystical and the most intelligent of the three. When the evil lords return to earth, supposedly the Flying Demons are the gate keepers ones who will let them in.

"The preserve is also home to a wide variety of magical creatures." Charlie continued brightly. The group was in rapt attention.

"Uh, Mr. Weasley, uh, Charlie, what were you saying about the Flying Demons being gate keepers for the evil lords?"

"Well, it's just a legend. I personally don't think dark wizards are waiting at the gates of the domain to be let in by Flying Demons. I think the dark wizards are already here and they didn't need any help getting here."