Hermione was pacing in the dimness of sunset as she waited for a hint or sign that Durstia knew what he was looking for. No one could console her and she was beyond herself at this point. The witch was kicking stones and running hands through her hair.

"Hermione, come eat with us," Pallas's voice entered the clearing. "Char would be ripe if we did not make sure you ate."

The witch heaved and nodded, "alright, I will, but I need to come out here and wait the minute I am done."

He took her under his arm and walked her toward the mess hall, "Char is a right strong wanker, don't you worry. He probably found a hole to hide in until the horntail loses interest."

Hermione nodded and sighed, "I- he- well, I mean," she sputtered trying to find words and Pallas squeezed her shoulder.

"I know. We are worried too," he told her and she chewed her lip.

They approached the mess hall and when she walked in everyone was clapping. "To the woman who rode a dragon twice in her life!" Hedrick declared and Hermione smiled.

Pallas helped her to a seat and Torg got her a plate of food, "we are very thankful for what you did, Hermione. You saved Tatiana's life. We are all family here," Torg murmured and Hermione gave him a nod.

"I am glad I could help," she grumbled and Burgis handed her a cup of ale.

"It helps with the nerves," he told her and Hermione sipped it.

"Tai told me that she asked Dursy. She just was like hey let me ride you please?" Jess muttered and Hermione laughed.

"Not quite, but I was polite about it," Hermione responded and everyone shook their heads.

"Char is going to be so proud!" Pallas exclaimed and Hermione nodded.

The chatter died down in regards to Hermione and she ate swiftly. She just knew she needed to get back outside. Waiting was so hard, but the dragon had to know what she meant. Once her ale was drained and her plate was emptied. Hermione stood up. "Alright, I am going to go wait."

"Hermione, wait, don't worry yourself sick, dear," Hilda murmured and Hermione shook her head.

"He will be here, he just is most likely waiting it out. Knowing him he found a clutch of some species of dragon and is making observations before returning. Char would be gone for days at a time when the hatchlings are coming." Des declared and Hermione frowned.

She was going to retort, but a small wispy dragon entered the room. "Durstia- found..." Was all it said before it disappeared. The voice was Charlie's and it was strained with pain.

Hermione gasped and ran outside, followed by everyone in the mess hall. The young witch sprinted down to the clearing and she heard the distant beating of wings. Gazing up above trying to find him in the sky, she finally saw the white form emerge into a winged creature. The woman was shaking from anticipation and fear.

Durstia finally got close enough for her to see Charlie's form in his grip. Hermione was covering her mouth and trying not to chew her lip off while the dragon was making for a landing. Durstia landed with his back legs and Hermione ran up to grab the limp man from him.

"Thank you, Durstia!" She cried and saw that Charlie was unconscious. "Thank you!" She rubbed the dragon's hand and it nuzzled her swiftly before moving so the rest of the group could come over.

"He's alive, but not conscious!" Hermione shouted and Hilda ran over with Hedrick.

Hedrick grabbed the man from Hermione and Torg ran up to help the large man carry Charlie. "Come on, let's get him inside his cabin. Hilda will check him there." Hedrick declared and the men started to move.

Des took Hermione under her arm as they followed them, "I don't know how you did it, but you are amazing." She whispered to the younger witch.

They got to the outside of the cabin and Jess stopped them as the boys entered with Hilda. "Maybe we should wait out here?" She asked and Hermione glared.

"I am not going to wait out here," Hermione retorted and the other two witches nodded and followed her in.

Hermione scaled the stairs and saw that Hilda was already at work to see what happened to the Weasley. "Broken femur, broken tibia, five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone..." Hilda murmured as she was casting spells. "Both wrists are broken, a fractured hipbone, small rupture to his kidney and a major concussion. Well, my boy, you sure do not make this easy."

"What can I get you?" Hermione asked and the older woman sighed.

"A pot of tea, a bit of toast and some wet clothes for my face," Hilda declared and Hermione nodded.

"I shall return," the young woman muttered and went down the stairs.

Hermione went down and started to make the toast and the tea. "What else does she need, Hermione?" Jess questioned with worry.

"Wet clothes, and maybe someone could go transfigure her a chair to ease herself in. He sustained a great amount of broken bones." Hermione declared and Jess nodded.

"I am going to go check on Tai and let her know Char is back," Des declared and Jess nodded.

"Thank you," Jess murmured and started getting the clothes wet in a bowl. "She feels like she is to blame," Jess murmured as Des left.

Hermione waved it off as she buttered the toast. "He is a wild man. Fierce and absolutely crazy. She shouldn't risk her life and possibly get killed in the process."

"How did you know that Durstia would find him?" Jess asked and Hermione shrugged her shoulders.

"Charlie speaks dragon, I think reading his notes has rubbed off a bit on me," Hermione teased and Jess sighed.

"Thank Merlin you are here. You saved both of them today," Jess declared and patted her shoulder before heading up the stairs.

Hermione had done well to choke down her fear, but she was still worried. That is a bit of damage and he was out there all day. Grabbing a cup for tea and the pot, she took the toast in her other hand and climbed the stairs. Hilda was sitting down in her transfigured chair as she mended the Weasley. Hermione set down the pot, cup and toast on his bedside table.

The young witch stood back and Hilda was grumbling and shook her head. "I really wish he was awake for this. I will not know the extent of the healing."

Jess blotted the older woman's forehead and she nodded, "you are amazing Hilda, you can do it."

Hedrick was taking Charlie's boots off gingerly and trying to get the man comfortable. The healing process was slow and agonizing for Hermione as all she could do was look on. She wasn't sure how long she stood there and looked on, but by the end of it, she was depleted. The older witch stood up and huffed.

"I am knackered. Hedrick, escort me back to my cabin? I need some sleep. Hermione, would you stay and make sure he takes some pain draughts when he wakes?" Hilda asked and Hermione nodded.

"Will he wake soon?" The witch replied meekly and the older woman shrugged.

"It is in his hands now. If he wakes up tonight he is going to be pretty sore." She told the unsure girl.

Jess rubbed Hermione's shoulder and nodded, "he is a strong fucker, dragon girl."

Hermione exhaled heavily and forced a smile, "thank you for working so hard, Hilda."

The old woman waved her off, "you saved his life, we should be thanking you. We need a smart girl around here. They run in without thinking and you have proven that a plan is better than risking it."

Everyone shuffled out and Hermione gazed at the beat-up wizard. She shook her head and grabbed a few pairs of comfort clothes from his drawers and put them on. Running down the stairs she grabbed a few bottles from her bag and took them. Things she knew she needed to take and a calming draught for her nerves which were shot.

When she returned she climbed in bed next to him and removed the hair from his forehead. "I have a confession and knowing you are out makes this easier. I was beyond myself you might die... I am not sure, but it might just ruin me to leave you. We both know I have to, but you have bewitched me, Dragon Keeper." She whispered and sighed heavily.

She wasn't sure when the calming draught stole her to slumber, but she felt the warm body of Charlie as she drifted off.

0o0o

Hermione awoke with a start as she felt a hand running through her hair. "Bok jente," his voice was raspy and she shot up.

"Charlie, oh, Charlie!" She gasped and leaned up to kiss his face.

"Easy, book witch, I am still extremely tender," he grumbled and she huffed.

"Can I get you anything? Are you hungry? Thirsty?" She asked and he chuckled lightly.

"Some water and a kiss, bok jente," he rumbled and she reached over to the nightstand and poured a glass of water for him.

Helping him sit up she offered him the glass and he drained it quickly, "thank you," he murmured and she placed the empty glass back down. "How about that kiss?" He questioned with a small smile.

Hermione sighed and leaned down, kissing him gently which he moaned and sighed about. "You taste so grand," he breathed and she ran a hand over his face.

"Can I get you a pain draught?" She asked and he shook his head.

"Not just yet, I don't want to fall back asleep, I just want to look at you." He declared and she blushed.

"Char-" he stopped her by pulling her in for another kiss.

This one held desperate need on his lips. She heeded his desire and the Dragon Keeper snogged her, his fingers running through her hair. Hermione ran her hands carefully over his facial hair and he moaned into her mouth. "Bok jente, I missed you," he whispered and she smiled against his cheek.

"Don't do stupid stunts and you wouldn't have to miss me, Charlie." She murmured and he chuckled and grimaced.

"Occupational hazard, Hermione," he said and she curled into him. "Thank Durstia for being such a loyal dragon. He just knew to come find me," the Weasley mused and Hermione nodded.

"Very smart dragon, indeed. I am glad he found you," she whispered; some things didn't need to be said and she wasn't going to tell him she begged the scaly beast to find him.

"Stay with me?" He breathed and she nodded against him. "Just like this."

Running her hand lightly over his chest he breathed and enjoyed the contact. "Alright, bok jente, I will take that draught and we can get some sleep."

She reached over him to the bedside table and grabbed the potion. Helping him sit up a bit he kissed her again before taking the draught. Hermione curled up, his arm around her and his fingers played in her hair. After a while of their comfortable silence, Hermione felt his arm grew slack and she relaxed. He was comfortable and it gave her the chance to succumb to sleep herself.

0o0o

Hermione returned to the world of the living and felt a rough hand rubbing her back. She glanced over with bleary eyes and saw Charlie was sitting up a bit and staring at her. He smiled and tilted his head as she stretched and pressed her chin to his torso. "Good morning, Dragon Keeper, how are you today?" She asked sleepily and he smirked.

"Much better. I am starving and I think I want to take a walk to the mess hall. Would you like to join me?" He asked and she frowned.

"Should you be walking yet?" Her voice was pointed but he laughed.

"I would much prefer to do so. Maybe a hot shower before. We still have some time for breakfast so it might be a nice change. Come join me?" He inquired and she blushed.

"Alright," she murmured and he pulled her to him, making her straddle him.

"Bok jente, you are in my clothes," he voiced with a smile and she shrugged.

His hands trailed under the shirt and ran fingertips over her skin. She arched under his touch and rolled her hips. "You keep that up and we aren't going to leave this bed," he warned her and she giggled.

Climbing off of him she stood up and stretched, "alright, Charles, let's get the grime off of you."

He rolled his neck and moved to get out of bed. He grimaced at the weakness he felt, but stood up with a grunt and stretched his arms to his legs much like a diver. When he erected from his position, he ran a hand over her face and lead her to the door across the room. Charlie stripped her of her clothing with lazy happiness as he nuzzled her neck and rubbed his cheek against her own.

Hermione helped the man pull from his clothes, tugging his tattered shirt off of him and kneeling to unbutton and shimmy off his jeans. He watched her from above and she blushed at him when she could clearly see his mind was elsewhere. Clearing her throat, she turned to get the water going as he pulled off his boxers and step from his clothing.

The witch got it to a nice hot temperature, assisting the man to climb in. He grabbed her as she stepped in and shut the curtain. His fingers traced her body as the water beat down on them and he rumbled in his chest. "Bok jente, you are beautiful."

She reached over for his soap and sponge, which she put forth decent effort to clean him as he was nuzzling and touching her. "Charles, are you going to let me clean you up or are you going to molest me?" She asked and he chuckled.

"Both, Hermione, I like my cake and to eat it as well," he declared and she shot him a flinty stare. "Oh, alright, book witch, I will let you clean me."

She went to work scrubbing the filth from his limbs and chest. Ducking down she cleaned his legs, being mindful of something else announcing it needed attention also. She turned him around once she stood up and cleaned his back, which was still very irritated looking; she did not like that, that was often a sign of needing more mending.

Once she was satisfied with his less intimate areas, she handed him the sponge and he smiled, "still too innocent to touch me?" He asked with a raised eyebrow and she shook her head.

"You can clean your own knob and bum, Charlie," she murmured and he chuckled.

"I will return the favor first," his response was playful and his hand and sponge went to her body.

He manipulated her under his fingers as he cleansed her skin, even running them between her legs in curiosity and intrigue. She bit back a moan and he exhaled heavily. "I am not going to be content with just touching you, bok jente, I need to have another taste."

Charlie finished the job of sudding them both up before rinsing swiftly. Hermione was about to argue with him on his overexertion when he pressed her to the wall and lifted her enough to slip inside. She gasped and reached to him for support as he slowly rocked. Her body was pinned and her legs coiled around his hips as he nibbled and suckled on her skin.

It was passionate, raw, and even a bit intimate for the Dragon Keeper. He wanted nothing more than to stay there. It was a simmered shag with plenty of vulnerable aspects, but he was not going to last long with her sighs echoing in the bathroom. One of his hands went between them so he could rush her to the edge. It was drawn out and lovely as she sang for him, making him grind into her and bite the flesh at her neck hard with a force that would leave a beautiful mark.

"Bok jente, you are perfection," he grumbled as he gingerly placed her back down.

She exhaled heavily and smiled at him, "you are the best shag I have ever had, Charlie," she told him and he chuckled.

"Boosting my ego because you thought I was going to die, or because I really am?" He teased and she smirked.

"Probably the first one," she retorted and turned off the water. "Come on, I am starving." The finished getting ready and headed back out into the world of Dragons.