Chapter 2 Realization.
Her flooing over to one of the many Wizarding Hotels in Romania was quite easy. There had been loads of options. Since Mrs. Weasley had told her the Dragon Sanctuary was in the province Dobrogea, she chose one there. What was even more easy was the way she was offered a ride in minutes when she told them her name was Haper Potter. Harper figured that she was still, not in a million years, going to get used to it. An elderly woman came to her and started blabbering to her in a foreign language she did not know, while holding her hands, and crying. Soon she felt overwhelmed with the amount of people that wanted to shake her hand and talk with her. Though she kept telling them she did not know their language.
Finally the Hotel owner had mentioned for her to come over to him. He had been near a car which she was no in. Being driven to the far off located Dragon Sanctuary. She had been looking forward to seeing Hagrid again, and his reaction to all the dragons. She imagined he was in a state of Heaven.
And seeing the dragon reserve would be exciting enough. She didn't particularly like dragons that much but since she took one on in the First Task, she respected them and she wasn't that scared of them. If she had shown any fear back then, she would've been toasted. Charlie had then been very impressed about the way she outflown the Horntail. Harper grinned at the direction her mind was heading.
This was the one brother she did not know at all. That's why she was glad Hagrid was there. She wasn't much of a social creature. So this could be her chance to meet another 'brother' like figure. She had loved all the Weasley children. Accept for Percy, but he had been quite cruel in his assumptions. Though she had forgiven him, he had been blinded by ambition. And in the end had come through to fight at the Final Battle of Hogwarts and make peace with his family. Harper was just glad that it had happened before Fred had died…
Now she had hated the way her mind was heading to Fred's death.
"We're almost there Miss Potter," her chauffeur said.
She thought that was a good enough distraction. Her mind had been on so much other things she hadn't even paid attention to the landscape. They were driving through a sand road that was coursing through an area with a lot of hills. After another couple of minutes she saw those hills change into mountains. Mountains so incredibly high she wasn't sure that it were real ones. It was appeared magical. Harper smiled though it did feel frightening when the mountains took away the sunlight because of their height. It was just that small sand road in between the mountains.
"Don't worry Miss Potter. These mountains are magically secured. They will not fall." The driver assured her as if sensing her freight.
She smiled to him. "I'm sure, with all those dragon's it ought to be."
The driver nodded. The car arrived at a immensely large gate that was made of steel, and appeared to be very thick. On the left there were little scaled creatures she did not recognize all sitting comfortably on a wooden pool that was left side ways. They were like scaled birds. The driver stepped out and took a parchment from the table which Harper had not noticed, being busy to observe the scaled creatures, and wrote something on it. He then gave the parchment to one of the creatures and it immediately flew up to the top of the gate. The driver then came back with a reassuring smile and sat back in the driversseat.
"In a moment the gates will open and I will drive you to the reserve. From there one I heard the Head of the Dragon Sanctuary will give you a tour through the premises."
"Oh okay," Harper said a little put out. She agreed to being shown around. But again she did not like that it had to be the Head of the Sanctuary. She was going to assume that it was customary, but she doubted that.
Not long after that, the gates made a huge cracking sound and opened slowly. So the driver had start the car and they were going in.
The driver made a waving gesture to a man at the gate and then drove to more gates. She was to excited and curious to count them all. But when they drove through the last one she first saw miles and miles of land encircled by the same huge mountains she had seen before. At the end she noticed more mountains and to add to her excitement she even saw a dragon flew above it and then disappearing into the mountains again.
Next the car drove through something she could only describe a little village. All of the houses were cottage like, but were build with material like gypsum blocks and steel. She saw overall a lot of women from different countries, and children from all ages. There was a even a bar and a little school. In the distance behind the village she thought she saw the glistening of the seawater. Though she had not been sure.
"I'll drive you to the Mountains first to meet with Paula, the Head of the Sanctuary. She can tell me where to leave your luggage and where you will be sleeping during your stay at the Sanctuary."
Harper nodded. She wondered briefly if Hagrid slept with the dragons and grinned from the image it gave her. She quickly pulled her long red hair into a braid and was glad she had thought to put on some walkingboots and her old beige sweater. Only her short jeans weren't really usefull since her legs would be quite bear. But she wasn't going to fight the dragon's this time, so she was hoping it would do.
They drove until they came to the front of the mountains. A woman was standing in front of the large cave opening looking stern but strangely delighted. The driver stood up to open Harper's door but Harper was quick to do it herself, she smiled apologetically though she did not know why. But the driver did the same. They walked over to the woman.
She had a muscular body full of scratches and burn scars. Her blue eyes were stern but again, delighted. It reminded her a little of Professor McGonagall, though more toughly build.
"Good afternoon Miss Potter. My name is Paula Woodward." She shook Harper's hand with a firm grip. She tried to answer it evenly firm but bit her teeth.
"Good afternoon, nice to meet you Ms. Woodward." Harper said politely.
"It's Mrs. actually, my husband lives in the village," Mrs. Woodward corrected her and Harper nodded. "Now, I'll show you around the reserve where we keep all our dragon's and study them. Now Ioan!" she looked at the driver and Harper realized Ioan was his name. Must've been Romanian. "Please bring Miss Potter's luggage to Marica's house."
"Off course Mrs. Woodward."
Mrs. Woodward led her into the cave and first brought her to a sort of gateway where she went over safety. Then she introduced her to some of the supervisors and care takers of the Dragons and study's. And while there she finally saw a big shadow that she knew.
"Hagrid!"
Hagrid turned around and smiled broadly. "Blimey Harper! Took yer long enough, glad yer here, glad yer made it!" Harper ran into his wide spread arms and was rewarded with an all to familiar bonecrushing hug.
"Oempf! Hagrid! Need to breath!"
"Oh sorry there Harper," Hagrid grinned and let go of her. "Good yer here Harper. Charlie wer also wundering where yer were. Charlie! Over here!"
And as he moved to make way, Harper saw the second eldest brother of the Weasley family. He was just putting down a heavy looking bucket on the ground and she had a nice view on the muscled arms. Luckily for him his long red hair had grown back, since Mrs. Weasley had cut off his hair for Bill and Fleur's wedding. She grinned at the memory. When he stood he was tall, though everyone was taller than her off course. His blue eyes sparkled with excitement and something else she couldn't decipher. Though she did see he looked her over once or twice and blushed.
"Hi Charlie," she said bravely not being able to raise her voice quite as enthusiastically as she did with Hagrid.
Luckily he appeared a bit nervous as well. But she saw him swallow and then grin widely. "Hi Harper, we were wondering how long it was going to take. How was Milan? You got held up by all the fashion and glamor?"
"Oh no," Harper scoffed and Hagrid and Charlie laughed. "It was actually the thing that got me so late. The designer wouldn't let me go!"
"Perks of being the Girl Who Lived." Charlie mentioned. "Or the Vanquisher of the Dark Lord."
Harper rolled her eyes. "Whatever they call me these days. That reminds me Charlie, do all visitors get a tour by the Head of the Sanctuary herself?"
Charlie made a apologetic face and Harper sighed. "Forgive them Harper. They were really excited that you were coming."
"O don't worry, it's okay, I'll just never get used to it." Harper shrugged. "Have you seen Norberta yet Hagrid?" she changed the subject.
"Yes I did, yes I did. Woul' yer like to see er?" Hagrid answered back.
Harper nodded enthusiastic "I would love to!" and Charlie led them to the Dragon nests.
"Wow!" Harper gasped when she saw the dragon. It was 35 ft! Luckily they had secured the cave in which Norberta was with some other dragons, with invisible force fields so the dragons couldn't attack or burn anyone.
"Isn't she beautiful Harper?" Hagrid sobbed. Harper laughed but then nodded. She thought it was a magnificent one.
Charlie began explaining about how they found out Norbert was actually a Noberta and all the things that came with an Norwegian Ridgeback. She listened with genuine interest and asked a lot of questions.
"She resembles the Hungarian Horntail if it wasn't for the black ridges on her back."
"You are right about that," Charlie said nodding. He seemed at ease here near the dragons, but he was also distracted. She wasn't sure why that was.
"Hiya Charlie, Hagrid!" she heard behind them. She saw a tall muscular man with short black hair and hardened grey eyes. But he had a friendly smile. He looked at her as well and grinned widely looking from her to Charlie and back. "Who's the beautiful lass with you?"
Harper blushed a deep shade of red, Charlie coughed uncomfortably and Hagrid's bouldering laugh must've been heard through the entire reserve.
"Harper, this funny figure is Chris Peterson," Charlie tried to laugh with the two. "Chris this is Harper Potter."
Chris shook her hand. "An honor Miss Potter. What brings you here to Romania? Not our handsome peace of a Weasley ha?"
Harper dared to grin as well now. The man did put her at ease in some way. "I have been exploring the world. I remember his mother telling me in a letter that I was invited to see the dragons. So here I am. And please call me Harper." She tucked a curl behind her ear. The guy was gazing at her scar. She would never get used at it.
Chris laughed. "You like dragons as much as Hagrid, Harper?"
"I wouldn't want one as a pet like Hagrid, but they do fascinate me a lot, I admire them," Harper nodded.
"We have a new Ironbelly, ever heard of them?" Charlie asked.
They looked surprised when she nodded again. She blushed. "I looked it up later but err… when me and my friends, we err.. had to rob Gringotts. And well my friend Hermione.. we had to improvise so we freed one of the dragon's that guarded the vaults and well." She shrugged her shoulders. "Well we flew away on it's back. Really rough scales!"
Chris and Charlie nodded with confusion on their faces. Harper turned red and Hagrid laughed hard while he patted the men on their backs, they almost cracked them.
"Alright," Chris said. "Then you can see some after we have some dinner. I'm starving!"
"You're always starving!" Charlie said dryly.
Harper could see that they were very good friends.
"Because my woman is the greatest cook in the world!" Chris replied.
"Let us go!" Hagrid said quickly. The two men walked faster. Charlie leaned to Harper.
"Hagrid is also a fan of her cooking," he said chuckling.
Harper giggled. "I'm curious."
Charlie nodded. "You will like Marica, she is very kind. She is a native here."
"Romanian you mean?"
"Yes. Now be prepared, we always walk back to the village. Mrs. Woodward says it helps with our health and condition."
And it ended up to be a long walk, about half an hour so it was still doable. Other coworkers of Charlie and Peter joined them.
"Great to meet you Miss Potter!"
"Thank you for all that you have done Miss Potter!"
"Gratitude Miss Potter."
Harper was getting a bit fed up with the 'Miss Potter' thing but accepted it. They would all learn she was only human after all.
She was luckily able to keep up with the men, though they themselves were having trouble with keeping up, with Hagrid's half giant steps after all.
In the end, after half an hour they reached the village. The coworkers were greeted by their wives and children. One of the little girls ran towards Chris and he picked her up.
"Lia! What've you been up to the whole day?" Chris asked in a softer voice. Harper thought that he probably only saved that for the little girl.
"Daddy, I've made a drawing for mommy and you too daddy! And I helped Ioan. He had a loads of luggage from Miss Potter. And then mommy said to make a drawing for Miss Potter as well."
Harper smiled at that and Chris put the little girl in front of Harper. The girl looked at Harper and her eyes widened comically.
"This is Harper Potter. Harper this is my daughter Lia."
"Nice to meet you Miss Potter!" Lia said in awe and raised her hand. Harper sat on her heels to get down to her level and shook her little hand.
"Nice to meet you too Lia. But please call me Harper."
She nodded still in awe. "I made a drawing for you Harper."
Harper smiled with a look that she was impressed. "Well I can't wait to see it. I believe my stuff is with you so why don't you show me your house?"
The girl changed from shyness and awe to excitement and took Harper's hand. "Yes I'll show you Harper come with me! Mommy has cooked for all of us!"
So Harper was rushed to one of the house in the middle of the village. A dark brownhaired woman stood on the porch. And laughed when she saw her daughter coming with Harper right behind her.
"Mommy this is Harper! Harper Potter!"
The woman laughed again. "Well you should leave Miss Potter alone then, she has had quite a journey." The woman, must be Marica, had an accent, probably Romanian just like the driver.
But while Lia kept pulling her forward Harper waved at the woman. "Don't worry Ma'am, Lia told me she had a drawing for me and I would love to see it, call me Harper by the way!" and she was in their livingroom real fast.
"Here it is Harper!" she almost threw the piece of paper in Harper's face in all her enthusiasm and Harper laughed. It was such a long time ago she had laughed so genuine and loud. She looked at the drawing and saw it was her. She was colored in red clothes and a big head so she could decipher the thunder shaped scar. And she was on her broomstick fighting a dragon.
Charlie looked at it too and laughed. "I told Lia about you outflying the Horntail during the Triwizard Tournament."
"She wouldn't stop talking about it for weeks!" Chris fake complained.
Harper grinned and smiled at the little girl who was impatiently waiting her verdict. "I love it! Lia, thank you."
Lia lit up.
"Lia, show daddy your drawing for him as well." Marica said. And as the little girl walked over to her daddy, Marica came to sit with Harper.
"Welcome at the Sanctuary, my name is Marica," she introduced herself. Harper only nodded in response.
"Yes, you're married to Chris right? Nice to meet you."
Marica nodded in return. "Indeed he is, though sometimes I feel like I'm living with 2 children." She grinned. "Charlie, could you set the table please? Dinner is almost ready."
Harper had stood up as well to help and soon they were all enjoying dinner. Hagrid at the end of the table in two seats and enjoying a large pan of spaghetti. Harper and Charlie were next to him and Chris, Marica and Lia sat on the other side. Harper enjoyed telling them about her travels.
"Fer how lon' are yer stayin here then Harper?" Hagrid asked when they were taking dessert.
"I'm not quite sure yet. I still have to go to visit my friend Viktor. He will bring me to visit Durmstrang."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. "I thought they didn't permit that?"
Harper shrugged.
"They said that about Beauxbatons too." Marica said. "But I'm sure they like showing off their schools to you Harper." She winked good natured but Harper still blushed.
"Yes, I'll never get used to that I'm afraid." Harper quickly though to change the subject and turned to Hagrid who was just brushing off some food out of his beard. "How long are you staying Hagrid?"
"I was actually leavin' tomorrow Harper," He apologized. "'M sorry but it was gonna be a short trip anyway. Hogwarts still has a lot of work.."
"I can imagine," Harper smiled to let him know it was okay. But she wished he would've stayed longer.
The next day came all too soon. They had talked until late at night after Lia was sent off to bed and she had found the whole evening very relaxing. Hagrid's presence made her calm down. But she knew that he was still very loyal to Hogwarts, he would always be even with Dumbledore gone, and he would return as he promised.
And now she was in one of Hagrid's bone crushing hugs. "I will see you soon Hagrid. Tell everyone I love them."
"Will do Harper, yer enjoy yerself now. And come visit when yer back again right?"
"I will. Bye Hagrid!" Harper sobbed a little. "See you soon!"
And she saw him disappearing through the gate. His pink umbrella with him. And when the doors closed she felt a bit isolated although not sure why.
"I'm glad you decided to stay here for awhile Harper," Charlie smiled.
"Me too," she blushed, Harper didn't know why she kept doing that everytime Charlie said something to her. It was rapidly becoming really disturbing. "Durmstrang can wait I think."
"A whole school with boys who will be drooling all over you, I don't like to see you there already," Charlie blushed too to her wild surprise.
Harper stuttered something nobody could hear and she turned red too.
"Well two red faces what happened?" Chris asked making them blush even more. Mathew slapped
Charlie on the back and grinned.
"Red faces need some drinks. Some Firewhiskey?" Matthew asked. Matthew was one of Charlie and Chris' coworkers in the mountains. She liked him. He was still a trainee and quite young. They left for the local pub.
"Matthew," Harper rolled her eyes when he kept trying to make her drink the liquid ever since they set foot in the pub. "I've never had it and I am not intending to behave like a maniac. Butterbeer for me please."
But everyone kept insisting. Matthew, Chris and other dragon trainers called Byron, a large black man from Australia, Ian who was from Britain as well and Marco a local Romanian. Even Charlie told her to try it.
"It's good, you need to learn how to drink if you're staying with us." Ian said smiling.
"Do it with me," Jenna said. Jenna was Matthew's fiancé and just three years older than Harper. That made them connect instantly. She was not a good drinker Harper knew so she would watch for her Harper figured. So with that Harper rolled her eyes and nodded smiling. The men cheered and gave her a glass.
Harper and Jenna toasted and drank. It tasted warm but really strong. She didn't know if she really liked it but chose to drink it empty. It wasn't half that bad and the warm feeling it ended up giving her in her stomach was very comforting.
"Another one?" Charlie smirked. To his surprise she nodded.
"I am exploring the world am I?" she chuckled.
"That's the spirit!" Chris shouted. "Music Vlad!"
The Romanian barman whipped his wand and the music started to play. Charlie gave her another Firewhiskey. He winked at her and they drank only to have their glasses filled again. Loads of Firewhiskeys later. Jenna had pulled her up the bar and they were dancing on it under the cheers and whistles of the man. Matthew took his fiancé of the bar and pulled away to a more private spot. Chris took her place and they were dancing and jumping up and down the bar.
"I love Firewhiskey Whooo!" Harper exclaimed, she felt so free, dizzy but without any withhold. Chris cheered too but then Harper jumped a little too far and hit her head on a lamp. She fell but luckily Charlie caught her in time. He looked at her in worry. "Whoops!" she exclaimed and he smirked.
"What a way to have your first experience with the liquor," he said to her.
"Hey, it's a good way to get in a man's arms isn't it," she replied with a double tongue. Even in the dimmed light of the pub. She saw him blushing slightly. For some reason it made her euphoric. And proud of herself.
"Maybe I should take you outside for some fresh air," he said and he carried her while she giggled really girly and not like her.
"Woioi! Fresh air," she exclaimed throwing her arms around Charlie tighter. He laughed and carried her all the way to a field of grass behind the pub. It was very long stretched and if she kept following the little trail of stones she would end up at the sea.
Charlie tried to let her down gently but she still just wondered around on trembling legs for a minute before she and Charlie fell down on the soft grass. They laughed for a long time. Before they went silent for at least 20 minutes.
She didn't know if it was the Firewhiskey or the presence of one of the Weasley brothers but she felt that she could relax here. Even stop watching over her shoulder the whole time and enjoy the foreign place.
"Charlie.."
"Yes?"
"I really like it here."
Charlie grinned. "I know."
She stared at the sky reminding her of stolen peaceful moments at Hogwarts with Ron and Hermoine.
"It's so great and beautiful. I haven't felt truly at peace in a while now. Maybe it's the Firewhiskey but I'm having so much fun." She sighed. "It does make me think about how not peaceful my life has been you know." Harper stopped not really wanting to bother him with depressed thoughts. She felt Charlie's hand taking hers and felt a strange kind of panic. Not bad I-have-to-fight-for-my-life kind of panic. More exciting.
"You can tell me you know, I don't mind and I want to know. I just would want to understand all you've been through. I just know half of it. But if you don't want to, I understand."
"You're rambling," she grinned.
"I know."
There was a moment of silence but then Harper started to talk. "The Dursleys were never kind. I wish Sirius wasn't in prison I would have had a real parent. They were the most neglectful people you will ever meet. They hated magic and with that, they hated me. Punishing me for my freakiness. My bedroom was the cupboard under the stairs for years. Until I got my letter. After my first year they were scared of me but then uncle Vernon found out that I couldn't do magic outside of Hogwarts. They locked me up."
"And then Fred, George and Ron came with the car to rescue you. I remember mom writing me about it. I had to laugh so hard at it." Charlie chuckled slightly.
"I know, your mom went mad. But she was nice to me, she always is for some reason. Even after the battle when Fred died. I thought you would all hate me because I was the one who didn't give herself up. Forcing everyone to fight. He died fighting for me…" Tears welt up in her eyes. And her voice went high. "I still can't believe your mom hugged me after the battle. Truly loving me like one of her own."
"What do you mean?" Charlie sat up facing her with widened eyes in shock. "You think it was your fault that Fred died?!" Harper didn't want to look him in the eyes and closed her own letting tears fall. "You do blame yourself don't you…" His voice sounded soft and a little sad .Before she knew it she was cradled in his arms. She didn't mind or felt awkward, it felt nice and comforting.
"Harper, I don't know if anyone ever told you this very clearly," he said with a clear voice. "Fred's dead was not your fault! You hear me! It was not your fault."
Harper shook her head. "Everyone fought for me, I was the reason they were there to begin with. I should have never allowed them to be. And I-I didn't give myself up. I didn't. Remus and Tonks it was my fault Teddy is growing up without his parents. And Sirius, I fell for that stupid trap Voldemort set for me. I shouldn't have been there, then he wouldn't have come to save me! Their all my fault, Moody, Snape and Dumbledore, everyone who died, even the ones I didn't know. I didn't do anything. I let everyone die for me!"
Harper said it all out loud and cried fully for the first time. More than she ever had. Charlie just let her and cradled her back and forth. That was until she finally stopped. He then lifted her chin to meet his eyes.
"Look at me Harper," she turned her eyes down. "Look at me!" Harper didn't dare to look down at the sound of determination in his voice.
"It's Voldemorts fault not yours," he said forcibly. "He spoke the commands and he spoke the spells. He is responsible for killing all those people and those we loved. Don't you understand why everyone is so grateful to you. We owe you all our lives. Cause if you had not stood up to him, fought him and killed him. We would still live in fear and maybe even died. The blood of those people are on his hands. Because he existed. Not because of you. Because of him."
Harper's eyes widened. She wasn't going to believe it but she knew he was right, still she shook her head in confusion. "Keep looking at me Harper." He whispered. She looked at his eyes again. Those beautiful blue eyes.
"You saved so many people, why can you not see that. You saved my father, Ginny, Ron. The Weasley family especially owes you, Harper Potter our lives. Everyone in the whole world, muggle or wizard, owes you everything! You didn't say the killing curses, you haven't tortured people. You, Harper Potter, you are a hero. Do you understand?!"
Harper opened her mouth but closed it again not knowing what to say. Charlie gazed at her intensely. "Repeat after me: It is Voldemorts fault, not mine."
Harper felt her tears falling again. "Repeat it."
Harper closed her eyes. "It's Voldemort fault not mine…"
Charlie nodded and kissed her cheeks removing her tears. "Again."
Her voice almost broke. "It is Voldemorts fault not mine."
"Again Harper," he stroked a curl behind her ear only to kiss her on the cheek again, only now he lingered there a little longer.
Harper felt a warmth overflowing her and she smiled weakly but her voice was strong. "It is Voldemorts fault not mine!"
Charlie smiled at her. "Good Harper, very good." He said softly. He embraced her again and she let herself fall into his chest. Closing her eyes she felt exhausted but also filled with energy. It had been hard to overcome and she still felt the stings of guilt but she knew he was right.
"Thank you Charlie," she said her voice did break now and she tightened her grip on his shirt.
"Anytime," Charlie sighed. After a while she slept deeply and Charlie laid down in the cool grass bringing her down with him so she laid on his chest. She murmured something in her sleep but she was peaceful. Charlie kept stroking her curls. And just looking at her beautiful face.
Yay! Next chap will be up tonight!