Sorry for the long wait! It's been a busy week at work. Not a valid excuse, I know!
A special thanks to Kim for her reviews. I didn't realize that there were so many incorrect ways to spell Mcgonagall...I'm pretty sure I hit on all of them! I've also noticed a few minor grammatical/spelling errors (and Madam Pomfrey's first name...when I initially wrote my rough draft I couldn't think of it so I just gave her the name Rochelle, and I missed one or two when I went to change it to Poppy.) I'm about to fall asleep, but I wanted to get this uploaded immediately! I will get those errors corrected tomorrow! As always, criticism, constructive or destructive: I welcome it! Please give me feedback!
A warning, things are starting to heat up betwixt these two, even though Charlie wants to keep things at a slower pace, Draco can't help himself! So, you've been warned...
Enjoy!
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A loud shriek startled Charlie awake. He jumped up from the couch while simultaneously grabbing his wand and in a few steps slammed open the bedroom door.
Draco was making whimpering noises. He screamed again, and tossed violently back and forth, the sheets tangled around him. As soon as Charlie realized that Draco was having a night terror and not in any real danger, he relaxed instantly.
"Lumos!" Charlie leaned over the bed, and saw that Draco was covered in sweat. He gnashed his teeth and groaned. Charlie felt a rush of concern. He reached out to untangle the sheets from around Draco, but Draco grabbed his wrist.
"Please! PLEASE!" Draco whimpered again, and tightened his clammy grip on Charlie.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay." Charlie made soothing sounds as he finally got the sheets untangled with his free hand. They were soaked from Draco's sweat. Charlie frowned, unsure if he should wake up Draco or not. He extricated his hand and leaned down to pick him up—he decided to move him to the living room. However, Draco grabbed at Charlie, again. This time he managed a handful of his shirt.
"Please, no! I promise I promiseIpromiseIpromise NONOnononooo!" Draco struggled in his sleep, his free hand clenched in a fist at his side. The tendons in his neck and arms stood out, made all the more prominent by the play of shadow from the dim light of Charlie's wand.
"Okay, okay! Shhh, you're okay!" Charlie tried soothing Draco again; this time his voice woke him. Draco's eyes darted around the room. He looked absolutely terrified and was hyperventilating. After a few seconds he calmed down enough to sit up and take in the worried expression on Charlie's face.
"I normally cast muffilato before sleeping. My apologies." Draco said a bit stiffly as he grabbed the comforter and drew it up around him.
"You have these nightmares often?"
Draco didn't say anything, just nodded once.
"Well, why don't you change out of something less damp, and I'll go get you a drink." Charlie's tone conveyed that it wasn't a question. He placed a calloused hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Okay." Draco whispered and climbed out of the bed and rummaged around his trunk. Charlie ducked into the kitchen and warmed up a mug of milk. He added a touch of vanilla and sugar and sprinkled some nutmeg on top. This was a drink Ginny invented, and would often drink before bed instead of tea. Charlie walked back in and saw Draco sitting forlornly on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. He was clad in green boxers. Charlie thought to himself that the darker green complimented Draco's skin tone. Charlie handed him the milk and grabbed some thick wool socks from a drawer and his dragon skin boots from under the bed. He sat next to Draco, who gave him a strange look. He drank most of the milk before asking, "Where're you going?"
"For a walk. Put your shoes on, too." Draco pursed his lips, but he set down the mug and grabbed a pair of pants from his chest. He slipped his feet into a pair of loafers, and then realizing that Charlie's definition of "walk" might actually be more like a "hike."
"Charlie, do I need to put on my boots, or are these okay?"
"You're good. We'll be on a trail mostly. Let's go." Draco followed Charlie through the house and onto the front porch. The cool air felt good on Draco's skin. Charlie motioned to the right. "Up that trail is where the rest of the Dragonists stay. They've got a big lodge. Over there is the nursery. We've only had to use it twice, both times from abandoned eggs we found in the wild. That almost never happens."
Draco grinned at the satisfied tone in Charlie's voice as he continued to describe his domain. However, as the darkness grew, Draco's unease from the night terror began to surface. He performed the lumos charm. Charlie understood that he was uncomfortable so he grabbed Draco's hand. Their fingers intertwined, and Draco pulled closer to Charlie. He continued his nonsensical narration, talking about the number and types of dragons on the reserve, and the different dragon trainers. Charlie's voice distracted Draco from the dark forest surrounding him.
They headed left, down the trail. The trees and the darkness started growing deeper around them, and Draco felt a little more uncomfortable. When he heard some rustling and branches cracking in the distance he felt his old familiar companion of fear churning inside his stomach. Draco tightened his grip on Charlie. He had a longstanding fear of werewolves. It started when he had to go into the Forbidden Forest for detention his first year, but by the time he was a 5th year he had been forced to spend his summers in the presence of a real werewolf. When Voldemort took over the Malfoy Mansion as his headquarters Fenrir Greyback had been a constant torment to Draco. Fenrir Greyback was Voldemort's third in command, and spent a great deal of time on the Malfoy property. He was known for intentionally infecting children with lycanthropy. Because Lucius outranked Fenrir, and the Malfoy wealth was crucial to the Dark Lord's plans, Fenrir was forbidden from infecting Draco. That didn't stop the werewolf from tormenting Draco, though. He smelled Draco's fear in a way that only a large predator can, and took great pleasure in cultivating that fear into full blown terror. He would lurk in the darkened halls of the great mansion and corner Draco. When Fenrir had Draco trapped against the wall or alone in a room he would undergo a partial transformation—an animagus skill that only the strongest of wizards could safely control. He would drag his claws against Draco's neck, threatening to break the skin and transmit his disease. Even though Draco knew in this form he was an animagus and not a true werewolf, it didn't lessen his fears any. He'd seen him dart through the forests surrounding the mansions when he was overcome by the moon and it was an awe-inspiring, terrifying event.
The first time he'd whispered in Draco's ear, with breath so foul from the raw and bloody meat he had consumed, was just the beginning of long months of fear for the slight, blond youth. "As soon as you fail in the tasking that the Dark Lord has given you, I will have permission to punish you. I'm not going to use crutiatus, or magic, oh no, my beautiful little boy. I'm going to hold your neck, like this"—Fenrir spread his claws around Draco's neck, the claws pressing little almost-pinpricks against his jugular—"and you, beautiful little boy, aren't going to move. Because if you resist me, you'll make my claws puncture your skin. And you know that will give you lycanthropy. And while you're being as still as you possibly can, so that I don't accidentally pierce your alabaster skin and let that sweet red blood flow, I'm going to pull down your pants." Fenrir used the claws on his other hands to slice Draco's leather belt in two. Draco started shaking uncontrollably. He ran one claw along the seam causing the fabric to neatly split. "And then, well, you can imagine exactly what I'm going to do, can't you?" Fenrir gave a sadistic laugh before shoving Draco roughly away from him. He gave a small growl and took off running. It was only a few seconds later that Narcissa had entered the room. It was all he could do to get away from his mother before she realized something was wrong. The fear, and shame, had sent Draco spiraling to a new low that summer. He was desperate to return to Hogwarts, his only safe haven. No matter where he went in the mansion that year, Fenrir always managed to find him. He'd even woken to find Fenrir sitting on the edge of his bed a few times. Draco shook his head to clear away the bad memories.
They wove around a small cluster of trees and Draco let out a small gasp as he realized they were now in the middle of the forest. He tightened his grip on Charlie's hand. Charlie realized that Draco was growing nervous, so he announced, "We're going through those tress, and up the hill. There's a clearing—that's where we're headed."
The path narrowed, and Draco found himself trailing behind Charlie. Charlie stepped between two trees and held aside a branch for Draco. He stepped out of the forest and looked at the hill that loomed up in the dark. Charlie smiled encouragingly, "This is where I come when I can't sleep. You'll see why in a second."
Draco let go of Charlie's hand just long enough to wipe his sweaty palms on his pants. He grabbed Charlie's hand again and followed him up the hill. His footing was a little unsure on the dew-kissed grass, but they made it to the top quickly. "Here! Look!" Charlie grabbed Draco's shoulders and spun him to the right. "See? Down there!" Draco peered into the darkness, and let out a small gasp when he saw a bright orange-red light appear far in the distance, and then vanish just as suddenly.
"They're snoring!" Charlie's excitement was infectious.
"Those are dragons?" Draco sounded incredulous.
"Yeah! When they snore the tips of their snouts glow. See?" Charlie pointed eagerly.
As he stared into the darkness, looking for the little bursts of light, all of Draco's fears and feelings of worry from the nightmare disappeared—he was focused on something so foreign he was completely distracted. He felt joy bubble up inside him. Draco started laughing. He tried counting them, but they appeared and disappeared so rapidly he kept losing count. "How many did you say there were?"
"Seventeen adults, eleven of them are males. The females are a lot more territorial, especially if they are rutting. Sometimes, the females actually snort a burst of flame, but that's not common. Their internal core temperature is higher than the males, that's why." Charlie sat down on a boulder and pulled Draco toward him. He tucked his fingers in Draco's pockets. Charlie smoothed his fingers over Draco's hips; the slight pressure caused him to wiggle his ass against Charlie's lap. Draco leaned back so that he was resting against Charlie's chest. He stared out at the lights and felt a moment's peace. Charlie nuzzled Draco's shoulder blade, and breathed in his scent.
"Hey, Charlie?" Draco whispered.
"Hmm?" Charlie placed several kisses against Draco's back, in a line down his shoulder-blade.
Draco was silent for so long that Charlie asked, "Yes?"
"Nothing. Nevermind." Draco pulled on Charlie's arms. When Charlie pulled his hands out of Draco's pockets, Draco wrapped them around his chest and laid his arms overtop of Charlie's.
Charlie grinned in the dark. "It's okay, go ahead."
"It's not important." Draco turned around and placed his arms around Charlie's neck. Draco toyed with Charlie's hair. Perched on the boulder with Draco standing in front of him, Charlie was at the perfect level to plant kisses along Draco's collar bone. Charlie kissed and licked along the prominent ridge, while running his hands up and down Draco's back. After a minute, he slid his hands down to cup Draco's ass.
He pulled Draco especially close and said, "I think I just figured out why you're being so quiet."
"Let me hear your theory." Draco rolled his eyes. He highly doubted that Charlie could guess why he was being so quiet.
"You're nervous." Charlie felt Draco stiffen for a splint second. That was all the indication he needed to confirm he was on the right track. "For some reason..."
Charlie's let his voice trail off as he stopped himself mid-sentence. He was originally going to say "for some reason you're too scared to ask me," but given the fact that Draco just woke up screaming from a night terror, that seemed inappropriate.
He finally finished lamely, "For some reason you won't ask me."
Draco slid his hands out of Charlie's hair and along his jaw. Charlie looked up at Draco, seriously. Draco felt extremely nervous, but he leaned in anyway. As his lips touched Charlie's, he closed his eyes. A small tremor spread through his body. Charlie's hands were still on Draco's ass, and as he explored Draco's mouth, he lifted Draco up into his lap. Draco tried to find purchase with his knees on the boulder, but Charlie held him firmly so he was in no danger of slipping. Charlie matched Draco in the kiss. At first Draco kiss him tentatively, so Charlie controlled himself. He gave Draco's lower lip a small, teasing bite, but for the most part didn't push for the kiss to grow into anything more. After a few seconds, when Draco realized that Charlie wasn't rejecting him, he started kissing Charlie with confidence. Charlie eagerly matched Draco's enthusiasm. Draco's tongue darted into Charlie's mouth. Charlie did the same, and sent his tongue pressing against the inside of Draco's lips. Draco's hands were tangled in Charlie's hair again, and he felt Charlie's dick pressing against his ass. Draco ground against Charlie's erection, and he felt a smile spread across Charlie's face.
"It's hard to kiss you when you're smiling." Draco wiggled his hips again.
Charlie laughed "I just enjoy you so much, that's why I'm smiling. You make me happy." He leaned in and kissed Draco's nose.
"Really? I do?" Draco didn't try to hide the incredulous tone.
"Yes. You do."
"That was my question. Kind of." Draco started playing with Charlie's hair again.
"What was your question, exactly, if that was only kind of?" Charlie placed his hand on Draco's chest and spread his fingers. His thumb brushed up against Draco's nipple. Even though it was dark, Charlie could make out that it was slightly pinkish brown and contrasted brightly with Draco's pale, milky skin. Subconsciously Charlie began playing with it, rubbing and grazing with his fingernail, and rolling it between his fingers. Draco mumbled something incoherent, that Charlie thought sounded like "why me?"
"What?" Charlie stilled his hand.
"I was just wondering, what I mean is, I'm almost painful shy about my body, and you aren't at all about yours, obviously. And you have no problems touching me. And it makes me nervous because I don't see how you could want-I mean, this, I don't understand. Why me." Draco finished his sentence in a blur and looked down at his hands. He picked at his thumbnail and avoided eye contact.
Charlie sat there, silently, just holding Draco. He was a little shocked by the question and not sure how to answer. He sensed there was a lot more to Draco's question than just why was he attracted to Draco.
Charlie took a deep breath and finally replied. "Well, there's a lot of different things you just brought up, so I'm going to try to answer them all, okay? Let's head back to the house, it's starting to get cool." He waited for Draco to climb down and taking his hand, he led the way.
"The first and obvious question is about your body. Draco, you are handsome in an austere, beautiful way. Your eyes are gray and hide so much mystery. Your skin is soft, and I want to touch it. I am very attracted to you, and aroused by you. But, it's more than just being physically attracted to you." He pulled Draco close and kissed the top of his head. They continued through the forest.
"You are so intelligent. You're so much smarter than I am, and you have a very sharp wit. You are studying to be a healer, come on. You're brilliant." Draco gave him a disparaging look, but because it was dark and Charlie was intent on following the path back to the lodge, he didn't notice.
"Also, I enjoy you. I enjoy being around you. You make me nervous."
At Charlie's confession, Draco laughed. "I make you nervous?"
"Well, yeah." Charlie sounded a little defensive.
"That's rich! I'm terrified of kissing you because I have no experience, and I make you nervous?" Draco laughed.
They had threaded their way through some trees and ended up back on the path that wound its way from Charlie's front porch. Charlie turned and pulled Draco close to him. He angled his thigh so it was between Draco's legs, and had his left hand wound in through Draco's hair, holding Draco's head still as he leaned down to kiss him. Charlie used all of his considerable experience to kiss Draco. He poured his desire for Draco into that kiss. His other hand found its way down the back of Draco's soft pajama pants. He cupped Draco's cheek with his palm and cautiously explored the cleft with his fingers. He ran his finger in gentle circles around the rosebud. Draco clenched at first, but it was just a reaction to never having been touched there. As he fell into Charlie's kiss, he relaxed and even pushed against Charlie's exploring fingers. Between the sensation there, and Charlie's thigh pressing against his hard dick, Draco was overwhelmed with pleasure. He felt his knees grow week, and his heart race. Charlie desperately wanted to press his fingers into Draco's most secret place, but he surfaced for air, instead. He pulled away from the kiss, and slid his hands to Draco's hips. "It has nothing to do with experience, Draco. It has everything to do with you. I want you. And you make me nervous because I've never felt this way about anyone else before."
Draco looked up at Charlie and said, "You want me." Draco sounded giddy. Charlie grinned.
"Yes. I want you. Come on, we're almost home." Charlie intertwined his fingers with Draco's and they headed up the short path to the lodge.
They climbed up the steps and Draco headed straight for the bedroom. Charlie followed, but stopped at the door. Draco slipped out of his pants and climbed into the bed wearing his boxers. He realized that Charlie hadn't moved from the doorway. "Don't go."
Charlie stepped into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. Draco scooted over and said, "You could sleep here, if you wanted. I mean, if it's okay. It's your bed, I mean."
Charlie slipped out of his wife beater and pulled off his boots. He flicked his wand at the lights and set his wand next to Draco's on the nightstand. He stretched out on his back next to Draco. "I'd like that."
Draco scooted over so that he was next to Charlie, resting his head on his biceps. He laid on his stomach, with one knee curled over Charlie's leg, and his hand spread across Charlie's chest. Charlie curled his arm around Draco, protectively. Draco ran his fingers through the light red curls on Charlie's chest. He smiled at how they felt against his fingertips. He ran his fingers down Charlie's stomach, and felt the washboard abs with a little bit of awe and envy. He reached his bellybutton, and felt the soft red fuzz again. He ran his fingers down until he hit the waistband of Charlie's pajamas. Charlie placed his free hand over Draco's.
"Slowly."
Draco grinned and kept toying with Charlie's pants. He untied the draw strings and slipped his fingers behind the elastic of Charlie's boxers. He could hear the change in Charlie's breathing. Gathering his courage, Draco tugged gently on Charlie's pants and said, softly, "Could you take them off? Please?"
His breathing uneven, Charlie didn't trust himself to reply, so he just used his free hand to pull them off. They got tangled around his knees, so Draco reached down to help. Draco grinned in the darkness when he realized that Charlie had left his boxers on. Oh well, Draco thought, I have mine on, too.
Draco continued to play with the hair on Charlie's lower abdomen. "You don't mind?"
Charlie used his free hand to pull Draco's face up for a kiss. "I thought we already covered this. I love it when you touch me. Don't be nervous about touching me. It makes me happy."
With that endorsement, Draco slipped his hand into the fly of Charlie's boxers. Charlie gave a small gasp of pleasure and surprise as Draco gripped his shaft. "Merlin. I thought we were going slow."
Draco replied with just a hint of sarcasm, "I thought you like it when I touch you."
"Well, yeah, but, I-" Charlie interrupted himself with a moan as Draco squeezed gently.
All sarcasm was gone, instead there was satisfaction as Draco observed, "Well, your cock likes it when I touch you, anyway."
"Okay, yeah, forget slow." Charlie spread his legs, a little, to give Draco better access. He was afraid that if he moved he'd scare Draco off, so he gripped the edge of the mattress. Draco was just exploring, though, and soon had Charlie's balls in the palm of his hand. He felt the little ridge where the skin formed a line between them, and he ran his fingernail gently over it. He squeezed gently and ran his thumb over Charlie's balls, then released them in favor of exploring Charlie's dick. As he spread his fingers around the base of the shaft, and applied a firm pressure, Charlie felt his eyelids flutter. His eyes roll back and he tried to control his breathing. Draco slid his hand up and was surprised to notice that Charlie wasn't circumcised. Draco shifted so that he could rest his head on Charlie's stomach. Charlie's hand slid off Draco's back, and he clutched the sheets tightly. Draco looked along his stomach at Charlie's dick, and was also surprised at how thick he was-he was average length, but very thick. He also noticed that Charlie didn't have much hair—he wasn't sure if that was because he kept it trimmed, or simply because he wasn't very hairy down there. Draco smiled because compared to him, Charlie was very fuzzy all over. He even had a dusting of hair on his back. Draco continued to grip Charlie, but he ran his thumb gently over the foreskin. He wasn't sure, exactly, what to do with that because he didn't have one. Draco gripped Charlie's shaft and pulled down, and when the head was exposed he smiled in satisfaction. He gently touched the tip of Charlie's dick. Charlie couldn't contain himself and let out a little moan of pleasure. He swallowed and breathed in short, deep gasps as Draco began moving his hand up and down Charlie's dick. Charlie let go of the mattress and fumbled at the light stand. He finally managed to open the drawer and retrieve his lube. He flicked the lid and grabbed Draco's hand.
"I've only ever used lotion…" Draco's voice trailed off uncertainly as Charlie squeezed a small amount into his hand. Charlie took the second to slip out of his boxers.
Draco looked at the small amount on his hand and shrugged. He clumsily wiped it all over Charlie's dick, and was little taken aback that it wasn't sticky—it looked like it should be sticky! He gripped Charlie at the base of cock and grinned at how quickly his hand slipped along him. Charlie couldn't control the moans and little noises of pleasure that Draco was bringing out of him. After a few minutes, he let go of the mattress and grabbed Draco's hand to guide him. When Draco realized how close Charlie was to orgasm, he sat up instead of resting his face on Charlie's stomach. Charlie climaxed with a moan, and sprayed all over his abs. He sighed contentedly. Charlie lay there, totally languid. Draco sat the rest of the way up, and tucked his knees under him. He smiled, satisfied. After a few seconds, Charlie grabbed his discarded boxers and used them to wipe himself. He grabbed Draco and flipped him onto his back. He leaned down to kiss him, his hair curtaining on either side of their faces.
"Can I?" Charlie had his thumb in Draco's waistband, and was pulling gently.
Draco nodded, too nervous to trust himself to speak. It was different when he was exploring Charlie's body, but now he felt shy and exposed. Charlie slipped his boxers off, easily, and smiled when he saw that Draco was hard. A small glint of moisture glistened at the tip of Draco's cock. Charlie kissed a line down Draco's sternum, and he took a second to play with Draco's nipples. His hair brushed Draco's stomach and made him squirm a little. Charlie ran his thumbs over Draco's hips. He planted a kiss below Draco's bellybutton. He slid further down on the bed, so that he was between Draco's legs. He grabbed behind his knees and pushed his legs up, and apart. Charlie wanted to lick, and suck, and kiss, but he decided to wait. He ran his hands along Draco's hamstrings and cupped his ass. He smiled at Draco's wide eyes and said "You have the most adorable ass in the world, you know. I can't keep my hands off it. And, I like how my hands can hold it perfectly."
Charlie grabbed the lube and quickly slicked his hands. He watched Draco's face as he slid his hands over his dick. He used one hand to slide along his shaft, and the other to fondle his balls. Still cupping Draco's balls, Charlie slid his finger down to apply slight pressure below his balls, right above his anus. He knew how sensitive that particular strip of skin was. He continued to move his hand over his hardened cock. On the downstroke Charlie gave his hand a slight twist. After the third or fourth time, Draco had scrabbled to get purchase with his feet so that he could thrust and shift his hips in tandem with Charlie's hands. He made a desperate moaning noise. Charlie bit his lip to keep from smiling at the reaction he was causing. Draco's hands fluttered on the bed sheets. Charlie slid his finger further down, and rubbed a small circle around Draco's tender anus. He really wanted to slide his finger in, but decided to wait yet again, until he was positive that Draco would be receptive to it. He could tell that Draco was seconds away from coming, anyway. He increased the speed of his strokes and easily brought Draco to climax. His whole body shook with release. Draco tried to sit up, but felt the room spin. He lay back on the pillows and clutched Charlie's wrist. Charlie grabbed the boxers, again, and used them to wipe Draco. Then, he pulled Draco close, so they were spooning, and wrapped them both in the blanket. He brushed Draco's hair off his forehead and whispered, "Was that okay?"
Draco twisted around so that he was facing Charlie. He tucked his arm around Charlie and announced, "That was amazing." Draco planted a kiss, boldly, on Charlie's lips. "You know what, Charlie?"
"Nope, what?" Charlie ran his thumb along Draco's lips. He grinned at Draco; he sounded giddy and almost drunk.
"I love you."
A smile broke out on Charlie's face. "I love you too, Draco."
"Night, Charlie."
"Goodnight, Draco."
Charlie watched Draco close his eyes and fall asleep almost instantly. This time, Draco's breathing was deep and steady. He was at peace. Charlie, however, had a whole host of emotions and worries that were dashing through his thoughts. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to go back to sleep. He kissed Draco's forehead again and felt himself relax a little bit. Maybe he'd fall asleep in a little bit, after all.