9. Chapter – Hideaway

The next two days Janus spent watching his "team", the group of six wizards from various countries, work with the dragons. They were an easy-going group of not merely co-workers but friends. When it came to work they concentrated on the care of their beloved dragons but during the evenings when they assembled in the meeting house they laughed and joked around. To Janus' absolute surprise he felt a smile tugging at his lips more than once while with them.

One of the many reasons for Harry'/Janus' leaving England and the war was that he was just fed up with his constant masks. He was tired of pretending to be who he was not. True, being at a dragon preserve under a different name was not very conducive to not wearing masks but, truly, assuming a new name and a new face was his blessing as this way he was seen as just another person and not as a two-dimensional poster-boy.

He still had to keep many secrets but though it sounded strange, he could relax here amongst the dragons and dragon handlers. They didn't expect from him anything. Not really. He wasn't the one with responsibility resting upon his shoulders. He could lean back and help the team from afar for now because he first had to get used to how they worked with the dragons before he could do the actual job himself. Not only so that he wouldn't be fried by the dragons' breath but also so that the dragons wouldn't be harmed.

Apart of the new location and new identity, the international group was like a one big family and Janus really, really enjoyed that. He was a little unsure when Charlie introduced him to his co-workers as to how they would welcome or accept him. But it turned out he had nothing to fear. They included him into all of their conversations and gave explanations when he didn't understand what they were on about. After the first evening he could see why Charlie seemed so happy amongst the little community for it reminded him of the Weasley family very much.

There were the other three teams and even though they socialised in the evenings, they were never as close as one's own team. Every member brought something different to the dynamics of their group so that many would wonder how such a group could coexist but Janus knew that the love of dragons and the shared life-style were way too strong to keep them apart.

They generally got up at sun set when the dragons also woke up. On an ordinary day only four members of each team worked. They rotated so that everyone could get two free days a week. In emergencies, like when a dragon was sick or injured, they needed all the muscle they could get.

Even though the two days were ordinary ones Janus was very much fascinated by the dragons and the work around them. 'Thanks for small mercies,' he thought at the thought of a hurt dragon or a new, frightened addition to the dragon preserve.

He was a little apprehensive around the Hungarian Horntail with the name of Tanit. He couldn't rationally explain it but he had the feeling that the serpent lady, too, was apprehensive when he was around. Considering that he had practically attacked her and her eggs only few years ago he could understand her sentiment. However what bewildered him was the fact that he knew (or thought he knew) what she felt.

He was happy to see Norbert again. He had grown quite well and if you liked such beast as dragons you could clearly recognise the beauty of the Norwegian Ridgeback. He was huge, and exuded power. His back and wings were in many different shades of blue but his belly and the underside of said wings was nearly black. When they got to his cave the first day, the dragon turned his head towards the new assistant and watched him in, in what the black haired assumed was, recognition.

His favourite, however, was Adelinda, the Icelandic Bluefire. She was not quite as large as the other dragons in the valley but she was still magnificent. Though tired from the nesting, she still held her head high. Her scales were in light blue, green and silver, changing with the light. She was, as expected, wary of the humans as every nesting dragoness would be but she only roared and spat fire when Paul, the American dragon handler, came too close to her nest. The fire was blue and in contrast to the fire of others it was freezing everything in its wake instead of scorching it.

Despite the fact that he had to wait only one night until he was allowed to get closer to the dragons, Janus just wished it was already tomorrow. During days he could concentrate on the dragons but as soon as they were back in Charlie's cabin, all the thoughts he managed to repress while working would come back. All the worries, all the pain and anger.

He didn't want to bother his host who already did so much for him – giving him a place to stay and work. The redhead was tired after the day's work and surely wanted only to launch or chat with his "adopted family". Apart from that, the young wizard had the impression that Charlie watched him. He didn't particularly mind as the stare wasn't the one that followed your every move and tried to control you. No, the gaze was rather of the kind: How does this puzzle fit together?

Janus was neither ready to answer Charlie's unasked questions nor could he lose himself in his thoughts. Brooding over his parentage, his inheritance, Dumbledore and the war merely amplified his anguish and deepened his depression and he just wanted to relax for once in his life. Therefore he studied the books he bought – first and foremost the book on wards and concealment. He hoped to solve at least a few matters. It was easy at the moment as he had only to continue holding up his glamour on the scars (and the ever darkening circles under his eyes) with the help of the Glamour Strengthener. When he returned to the UK he would have to become the Boy Who Lived once again.

So now, on the third evening of his stay at the dragon preserve, the black haired wizard sat on the doorsteps with a disguised book in his hands, enjoying the evening sunrays. While he read about the different potions and charms used to change the appearance, he kept an ear open for possible visitors. For one, he didn't like to be caught unaware, for another Charlie had asked him the day before whether he would mind if the redhead's boyfriend stopped by.

Harry/Janus had grown up listening to his aunt and uncle badmouthing homosexuals and any other "abnormalities" as they called them. Even in his young age he didn't put much value behind their opinions. Then when he entered the wizarding society he didn't get to find out what the public's standpoint on same sex relationships were and he didn't particularly care either way. Growing up at the Dursley's without love at all and then getting to know the Weasley' family taught him certainly one thing – love was a precious little thing and you should cherish it while it lasted. It didn't matter in which shape and sizes it came.

He could admit to be slightly surprised that the second eldest Weasley brother was gay or at the very least bisexual but due to his rather neutral opinion of the concept he could agree very easily to the visit of the significant other of his host. He only asked that his identity not be revealed.

When he heard the footsteps coming up the road, he didn't lift his head from his book but glanced from behind the curtain of his pitch black hair at the newcomer. He was sure it was Charlie's boyfriend as he hadn't seen the person anywhere at the preserve before. He was medium built, dressed in fancy clothes, had short brown hair and held his head high. Everything about his posture screamed confidence.

"Get up, I need to get through!" the visitor ordered when he was close to the doorsteps upon which Janus was sitting.

The black haired wizard didn't like the tone of the voice but he stood up nevertheless and ignored the lack of greeting. Instead he looked the brunette in the face and said: "Hi, you must be Kyle!" He didn't offer his hand as he didn't think it would be shaken and neither did he want to touch the visitor. Something about him made his skin crawl. He would prefer not to be in the vicinity of Kyle but it was not his place to say so. If Charlie liked him who was he to tell him to finish the relationship?

Janus didn't step aside but took the few steps up to the door and with a quick glance over his shoulder informed the brunette: "By the way, I'm Janus." and went inside the cabin.

Charlie raised his head when he heard the door open. He had been passing up the time before his lover came, by going through the Daily Prophet and thinking about his new assistant. Ian had been with him for three days now and he was nowhere closer to figuring him out. He seemed at ease with his team as well as around dragons. However, as soon as they got home, Janus either hid behind one book or another or went into the back of his cabin to practice the control of his magic.

"Ian! Kyle!" The redhead exclaimed in greeting when he saw the two men stepping into his cabin. He stood up and before he was able to take even two steps from the couch he was swept into a possessive embrace and given a hard kiss. When Kyle finally let go of him, he was confused and breathless. They had been seeing each other for three months now but he had never been kissed like this. He probably wouldn't have minded in other instances but with Ian present...

Charlie turned around, searching for the young man. He could see only his back as Janus moved quickly in the kitchen, preparing tea.

Ian picked up his freshly made cup of tea, glanced at him and his lover and with an expressionless face informed them that he would be spending the evening in his room. "... Don't mind me and enjoy the evening!" were his last words before the door to his bedroom closed shut behind him.

Charlie's attention was brought back to his lover as Kyle tugged him down on the sofa. "So how have you been?" Kyle asked him while massaging his thigh.

The redhead answered and continued to talk to his lover, kiss him, touch him and make sex to him until Kyle fell asleep in his bed. However he couldn't find sleep that easily. The expressionless face Ian had been wearing before he closed his door behind him was haunting him all night long. Also, when he kissed Kyle he wondered what it would feel like to kiss Ian. What it would feel like if it was Ian calling his name in the throes of passion?

He had to stop his thoughts. It was so very wrong to want Ian desire him. It was so wrong to fantasize about the younger man for so many reasons. For one, as far as he knew Ian was straight as a ruler. He was also nearly eight years his junior. His brothers always talked about their sister's crush on Harry Potter and last but not least, why would someone beautiful, powerful and intelligent as Harry/Ian even want him?

No, he definitely had to stop his mind from coming up with unrealistic scenarios. Besides, he already had a lover, so...

Janus was so shocked when Kyle all but shouted "Charlie is MINE!" when he kissed the redhead that he couldn't move for a moment. He had never ever seen someone so possessive and straightforward in their hostility.

He had to shake himself to turn his back on the couple for two reasons. First, he really didn't like people like Kyle: arrogant and commanding. Second, – and he really couldn't explain this reaction of his – when he saw the brunette close his arms around the redhead's waist he only wanted to chop those arms off. It was as if a snake was coiling in his belly, preparing to lash out.

Therefore he decided it would be best to retreat into the safety of his bedroom. He didn't know what possessed him as he didn't have urges to hurt someone even when provoked by Malfoy and if Kyle continued to be hostile he was sure Charlie would notice and he didn't want to cause any more problems to his host.

He woke up after two hours of fitful sleep and didn't have the strength to face his nightmares again. He was seriously considering brewing some Dreamless Sleep potion for if he were to continue he would probably get eaten or burned at work. He couldn't afford any inattention while around dragons. Some of them might tolerate him but it didn't mean that they would be any forgiving of his mistakes.

Janus lay in bed for a whole hour considering his idea from the night before. He came to the conclusion that neither a potion nor a spell alone could change his appearance to his old one as the Boy Who Lived as the public knew him didn't have a specific DNA. His DNA was the one of Harold James Potter aka Janus Damian Kermit, the son of Lily Evans and Severus Snape. If he was not much mistaken his mother had to use the blood from James Potter to make him look (at least temporary) like his biological son. As James Potter's blood was inaccessible he had to come up with another method to change his appearance.

He doubted that Polyjuice Potion would work even with using his old hair and as he decided before, it wouldn't be very practical. He was strictly against wasting his magic on glamours 24/7. In addition both of these solutions were highly unreliable. You had only to wait for a specific amount of time for the potion to wear of and you only needed to cast one single spell to cancel a concealment charm. So there had to another answer.

When he showered and dressed, the black haired wizard put his hair into a lose ponytail and went out into the darkness to practice using his magic again. He was improving rather quickly and was most of the time confident enough not to blow things up. He didn't avoid casting spells anymore for fear of harming any bystanders. He just wished his thoughts and life itself could be sorted as easily...

As usually Janus went back inside before Charlie had to get up to prepare a quick breakfast. He was surprised when he could hear water already running in the bathroom but he paid it no mind and went about making tea and coffee.

The door clicked open and he turned around to bid the redhead good morning, however the greeting got stuck in his throat. It wasn't Charlie who exited the bathroom but Kyle. Janus muttered "'morning" and turned back to cutting a bread for toast.

He listened to footsteps, doors opening and closing and then he heard water running again. 'Charlie must have gotten up,' he thought to himself and poured the hot water into two pots. He would have jumped from the close proximity of someone if he didn't feel something cold and very sharp push between his ribs. Instead he hissed in pain as he missed the second pot and burned his left hand with the boiling water and stiffened. He really didn't like people sneaking up on him and even less putting knives to his skin (as he recognised the feel of the cold sharpness hold to his back – he would have been mad not to from how often uncle Vernon had threatened him with knives and cut him).

Janus repeated his mantra in his mind to calm his nerves: 'I'm not at the Dursley's. It's not Vernon.' He wasn't prepared to be threatened at the dragon preserve and so this treatment came absolutely unexpected. He had to keep himself in the present at all costs. A flashback wouldn't be the best thing in this kind of a situation.

He felt hot breath at his right year and the force of the knife increased.

"You listen to me, boy," Kyle whispered. "If you so much as look at Charlie, you're dead. Are we clear?"

When he didn't answer right away, Charlie's lover pushed the blade even further so that it pierced skin. Janus shook himself mentally, took a deep breath and said in as strong a voice as he could muster: "Crystal clear."

They stayed in the same position until they heard the shower in the bathroom being turned off. The knife disappeared and Kyle sat himself nonchalantly on a chair at the dining table. Harry ignored the slight pain in his back and pretended as if nothing happened. He put everything on the table but instead of taking his own place, he took a dry toast a cup of coffee and on his way out said to a still sleepy Charlie: "I'm going to see Adelinda. See you later!"

The redhead shook his head to clear his mind and looked at the retreating form. Adelinda? If he were more aware of his surroundings and not still halfway in bed, he would have definitely insisted on Ian waiting for him. Adelinda was a nesting dragon after all and his assistant might be powerful and intelligent but he hadn't been around dragons that long to know his way around.

In his befuddled state, however, he couldn't process the information and so he poured himself a cup of coffee, put some jam on his toast and began to eat. He woke up fully halfway through his second cup and wondered where his guest was. First, when he finished his second cup did he remember Ian's leaving words.

'Oh, shit!' he swore. He stood up abruptly and called over his shoulder to Kyle who watched him bemusedly: "I have to leave!"

He jumped on his broom and flew at a head speed towards the cave where the Icelandic Bluefire was nesting. If he was late he would never forgive himself. He berated himself the whole way for his lack of awareness that morning. He hadn't slept as much as he was used to due to his lover's visit and his trouble getting to sleep afterwards and look what it caused.

Remembering the morning he couldn't help but notice that there was something wrong going on with Janus. He normally ate breakfast with him so why not today? If he could just put his finger on it!

When he neared Adelinda's nest he slowed down a little so as not to startle her. As soon as he saw the lithe form of his assistant a weight fell from his heart. He was so relieved to see the young wizard alive. Not because he was the hope of the wizarding world as many claimed but because he came to care for the man full of mysteries.

But wait...

'What the hell! What is he doing?'

He had to get away, was the first thought when he was standing in the kitchen without the threat of being stabbed and Adelinda was the first he thought about.

Janus was aware of how foolish such idea could be. I mean going to a nesting dragoness unprotected and without back-up was really foolish but something told him that it would be alright.

Besides, his only concern at the moment was to get as far away from Kyle as possible. No, he really didn't like that guy. He had to reassemble his composure so that he would be able to function during the day. He came really close to losing his control over his actions. He was okay if he expected being assaulted, threatened, beaten or the like. He was only thrown off balance when a physical attack came as a surprise and he really came to see Charlie's cabin as a kind of safe haven. Guess he was wrong.

He sat down near the entrance to the cave with his back leaning on a stone and his legs drawn to his chest. He didn't have to wait long 'til the Icelandic Bluefire came to check who invaded her nesting place.

He looked into her piercing dark blue eyes fighting not to blink. °Hello, Adelinda, I didn't come to hurt you or your egg,° he said sincerely.

The dragoness continued to watch him for signs of lies and sniffed the air but when she couldn't find any, she hissed back: °You are hurt, young one.°

Janus was taken aback. He had felt her suspiciousness before but now there was concern and wonder. As he had thought he recognised the feelings of the dragons before, it wasn't such a shock compared to hearing the dragon talk and actually understanding what she said.

He stood up slowly, holding his arms beside his body in an unthreatening way.

°How can I understand what you say?°

She puffed out a cold air from her nostrils in what the black haired man was sure was laughter. This made him even more confused. As far as he was concerned, humans normally didn't converse with dragons.

°You are a speaker, little one.°

A speaker... Of course, he never noticed when he switched language but how could he forget! He was a parselmouth so did it mean that all dragons understood and spoke parseltongue? Why didn't then Voldemort recruit dragons in his little dark army?

°You speak parseltongue?° He asked after he processed the fact that he really could talk to the dragoness.

°Yes, but only the smaller kinds of dragons can speak the serpent language. The big ones use the language of dragons but we all understand the serpents. You are the first human I ever talked to.°

°There aren't many humans to speak the serpent language,° Janus commented. He wondered what Charlie would say if he knew.

°So who did hurt you?° The dragoness repeated her previous question. °I smell blood.°

The young wizard lowered his head. He didn't want to say. °It's nothing. It was an accident.°

Adelinda growled angrily. °Don't you dare lie to me, young one!°

The black haired wizard found the stones under his feet suddenly very interesting. Others would be scared having an angry dragon growl at them but he was just embarrassed.

°It's really not so bad,° he insisted but as he heard another growl he acquiesced. °Charlie's lover came and he doesn't like me much. He threatened me.°

The dragoness growled once again and this time Janus knew that her anger was not directed at him but at his attacker.

°Come here, young one,° the dragoness ordered softly.

Janus raised his head and slowly went towards the dragoness. He was unaware of Charlie who landed some 50 feet away from them and watched in horror as each step took his assistant closer to the dragoness. He couldn't move nor shout because he didn't want to scare either of them and thus write Ian's death sentence. Even though he was pretty sure his guest's death sentence was already written.

What was he doing? The redhead wondered. The relief from before at seeing the young man standing and very much unharmed was forgotten.

Three steps away...

Two steps...

One...

'WHAT?' Charlie had to catch his mouth from dropping. Instead of opening her mouth and swallowing or breathing freezing fire at Ian, Adelinda lowered her head and nudged said ('insane' Charlie added in his mind) young man in the chest. Ian raised his right hand and started to scratch her at her nuzzle and between her eyes. To this, the dragoness closed her eyes and made a purring like noise.

The dragon handler was so shocked it took him several minutes until he felt his limbs again and could actually put them to use. With his eyes wide open he went towards the two. He tried to make some small noises to alert them to his presence so that they wouldn't be scared by his sudden appearance.

When he was some 20 feet away the dragoness opened her eyes and measured him. Ian turned around to face him while still continuing to stroke Adelinda's head. For Charlie it sure looked surreal.

He was about 10 feet away when the dragoness growled and made to push the black haired wizard gently behind her. If he didn't know better, he would say, she was protecting her hatchling against him.

°Adelinda, don't! It's Charlie and he won't hurt you!° Janus hissed. He didn't want anything to happen to the redhead. Least of all because of him.

°But he hurt you, young one,° interjected the dragoness.

°No, he didn't. His lover did but Charlie doesn't know. He's helped me a lot. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here. Please, don't hurt him,° the black haired wizard pleaded with her.

Charlie watched in fascination as the dragoness talked with Ian. Of course, he had known that Harry was a parselmouth, how could he not but between knowing and actually hearing parseltongue was a huge difference. He found the hissing noises strangely arousing. Add to that the fact that his assistant was talking to a bloody dragon, he was lucky to be still conscious.

°Ok, but if I see this lover of his I will bite him,° she rambled to which Janus couldn't help but smile. She was like a mother protecting her child.

"It's okay now," he informed the dragon handler who was still not moving from his place.

"You can talk to her," the redhead said in awe after he had gotten his wits back.

The younger wizard nodded and said: "Yes, but I would rather nobody was aware of it." His ability to speak parseltongue would surely freak out the other dragon handlers and uncover his true identity. After all, there were only two parselmouths alive and so it wouldn't be much difficult to draw the correct conclusion. Apart from that, if Voldemort were to find out about the possibility to communicate with the dragons, he certainly would want to either win them on his side or enslave them.

Charlie nodded and took three more careful steps towards the dragoness and the wizard. There he stopped and narrowed his eyes at his assistant as he remembered why he had been scared and worried to death when he hurried over here.

"Janus,..."

'Oh, oh,' the black haired wizard thought. He was never called by his real assumed name by Charlie.

"... I nearly had a heart attack when I found out you went here, alone, without a back-up or anything! Then I come here and see you walking up to a nesting dragon and stroking said dragon!" The redhead was now so angry and relieved he didn't care he was standing not even eight feet from a very protecting mother dragon. "You never ever do something so foolish!"

On the one hand, Janus couldn't help but feel bad for making Charlie worry so much. Nothing bad had happened to him but he was aware of the fact that it could have. At the same time, he was really surprised at seeing the redhead scared so much for him. It seemed like the second eldest Weasley sincerely cared for him and it couldn't be true, could it? Who was he but trouble?

°Go to your mate, young one,° the dragoness hissed. She could smell the worry, fear and love the redhead felt for the black haired one, now that he was closer. Also from this close proximity she could feel something else. The redhead was the young one's mate and he wouldn't hurt him. Not intentionally. And so she pushed the speaker away from her and watched as he uncertainly crossed the distance between her and the dragon handler.

"I'm sorry," Janus said in a small voice when he stood in front of the redhead.

Seeing Ian's insecurity was too much and Charlie drew him into a tight embrace. He cursed whoever was responsible when the young man in his arms stiffened and stayed like a board for a long moment. He hold Ian tight to his chest with one arm and with the other hand he stroked through the smaller man's silky hair while assuring him that no, he wasn't really angry with him. He had just been so scared he would lose him before getting to know him.

Janus wasn't prepared to be drawn into an embrace. He generally avoided physical contact but with Charlie his only reaction was to stiffen and let it happen. There weren't that many people who could put their arms around him without him bolting straight away. He had to admit that it felt nice to be held to Charlie's firm broad chest after he had convinced his body to relax a little.

"I really am sorry," the black haired wizard said when he withdrew from the embrace. "I didn't mean to worry you."

"I know," the dragon handler responded and put a lose strand of hair behind Ian's ear. "Now, would you like to explain?" He asked to break the silence between them.

The younger man understood what the redhead really was asking but he neither wanted to lie to him nor could he tell him the truth about why he came to be here. So he decided to rather explain the current situation.

"Adelinda says that every dragon understands parseltongue but only the smaller ones speak it. I was just about to ask her if she wished anything when you came."

Charlie sighed inwardly at the response. He had already suspected that his guest would evade the question once again but he would find out later. They didn't have much time 'til the others came looking for them. He looked the dragoness in her dark eyes and said: "Thank you, for not hurting him."

By her nod he knew that she understood.

°Tell your mate that he shall not worry.°

Janus repeated the message to Charlie who nodded in acknowledgment and wondered at the "mate" part. He hadn't noticed before as the dragon handler's ire was directed at him.

°Why do you call him my mate? He's just a friend,° the young wizard wondered.

Adelinda nudged him so that he would stroke her again and answered. °Because he is your mate but you haven't mated yet.°

The black haired wizard couldn't help but blush at her matter of fact words and resolved not to broach this subject in the future. Charlie couldn't be his mate. He had a lover for a start. Was older, more beautiful and skilful and besides, he didn't even like Charlie this way. He wasn't gay, or was he?

°So would you like anything special today?° He asked to change the subject.

They said goodbye to the dragoness soon afterwards and hurried to the meeting point with the team. Both were still a little dazed from what they have experienced in the morning but they played their part well and didn't give anything away.

He scared Charlie half to death a second time that day when they came to see after the Hungarian Horntail, Tanit. His fears that she remembered him from three years ago and was none too happy about him being around her and her growing babies were confirmed as soon as he came in her fire range and she spit fire at him. If it weren't for his quick reflexes acquired by Quidditch and dodging punches, he would have been burnt to death.

As it were he didn't come unscathed but with some second grade burns on his left side. Principally nothing that couldn't be healed with some healing spells and ointments. However the whole incident proved that Janus shouldn't be anywhere near the dragoness and her two nearly grown babies.

The black haired wizard felt bad for making Tanit feel so apprehensive and protective just because of a stupid Tournament he was forced to take part in. The worst was that he could have simply explained to her that he had never wished her or her hatchlings any harm but as the others were not supposed to know his ability to speak parseltongue he had to keep his mouth shut.

Later, when they were back in their cabin, he suggested that they, just Charlie and he, go to Tanit so that he could clear the situation with the Hungarian Horntail but the redhead went nearly ballistic. He didn't think the heart attack would elude him for long if his assistant kept putting himself in dangerous situations.

Sure he had known that his job of taming and being around dragons was very dangerous but there was a significant difference when it was just you facing the huge reptiles and not someone who you promised to keep safe ('And obviously cared more about than you'd previously thought,' Charlie added silently.).

The redhead was also astonished at how well Ian managed despite the pain he must have been suffering. They might have carried some first aid potions with them but they still didn't take care of all the pain. Not when the scorched area was so large as in the young wizard's case. As Tanit's cave was one of the farthest from the community house it took nearly an hour until they could get the black haired wizard to the capable hands of their healers. However Ian didn't so much as hiss when they moved him. Apart from looking paler than normal you wouldn't have said there was something wrong with him.

And then after his injuries were healed, Ian proclaimed that he was fine and would join them on their way to the next cave. Charlie tried to disagree but in the end recognised the pointlessness of his efforts and just insisted on getting some food into his house guest.

The rest of the team watched as the redhead argued with the younger wizard and just shook their heads in amusement. True they were also scared at seeing their newest addition burned but when it became apparent that the injury wasn't serious they stood back and speculated about the possible reasons to make the dragoness react in the way she did.

Over the next few days Janus learned the new routine of taking care of the dragons, making sure they had enough to eat, their caves and surrounding compounds were clean, they themselves were healthy as well as preparing the rare ingredients like shed dragon scales or dragon dung for sale. Though he stayed in the background when it came to Tanit. Neither of the team wanted a repeat of the first time he was close to her.

He learned some minor healing spells for when the dragons got into fights between each other or when they tried to leave the warded area of the dragon preserve and even got into discussion with the two healers, Helga and Niko, about how to improve some of the potions they were brewing for the community. He really enjoyed their talks as he had never been able to have a proper conversation about potions before. As the Boy Who Lived he pretended not to be the best brewer there was and so exchanging some knowledge about advanced potions came as a nice respite. They even made plans to meet up on his days off to try out their improvements.

With Kyle coming nearly every day, Janus tried to spend as much of a time as possible away from the cabin. When he wasn't working or chatting with the two healers, Janus buried himself in his books in an attempt to come up with a solution to make him appear as the Saviour once again. After hours and hours of search for something, he was nearly at his wits' ends. He felt the time slowly running out and was getting desperate to get some positive results.

He knew that he couldn't hide forever from Charlie but he tried to avoid the impending conversation. The redhead was wondering why he saw Ian only on his job but otherwise not even though they lived in the same cabin. Janus was also certain that he didn't do a really good job at hiding his sleeplessness and depression. When he fell asleep from exhaustion he had nightmares about Voldemort's resurrection, Cedric's death, Sirirus' death and more often than not he had nightmares about his life at the Dursley's, none of which helped to raise his spirits.

Often when he felt particularly down, he went to visit Adelinda who always made him tell her what was wrong. It felt good to unburden himself. He was quite certain that the dragoness would keep his secrets and so he didn't worry when he one night after an extra bad nightmare told her his whole life story with tears running down his face. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he had cried.

The dragoness just nuzzled him and listened to his story. Sometimes she growled in anger at what the humans in the little one's life had done to him. She wanted to rip the humans' hearts out but all she could do at the moment was to keep the wizard close to her. She worried about him because she could feel his exhaustion but as she had no way of letting the redhead know, she could only hope that the dragon handler would help her little one sooner rather than later.

Unbeknownst to her Charlie did see that Ian was plagued by more than just grief after his late godfather's death. He had thought long and hard about the letter Harry/Ian had left for the Order and then about the way the young wizard acted since he met him at Grimmauld place. The redhead was sure that something specific must have happened to force Harry/Ian to take such a drastic step as to leave everything behind and hide for a month. Whatever it was it was serious.

He couldn't detect any dark circles under the young wizard's eyes but he was nevertheless certain that he didn't sleep well. Ian didn't go to bed before him and he was usually out of the house by the time he got up. He kept in mind that his guest was an adult wizard and his ability to cover something up by magic stared him in the face every waking moment.

Also he couldn't explain why the young wizard avoided him. When they arrived at the preserve they spent some time together even though it wasn't much they still were at least in the same room while reading or relaxing. In the last few days he had only seen the back of his guest and was getting increasingly worried.

Why was Ian distracting himself to the point of total exhaustion?

Why was he avoiding him?

And why, oh why had he been so desperate to leave the Order headquarters?

A/N: Heya, how would you feel about Bill knowing about Harry being with Charlie or at the very least suspecting it?

If you have any suggestions for my story, please, don't hesitate to share them.