~OOooOO~

Most of Harry's second year passed uneventfully. Unless you counted the fact that several students had been petrified by a basilisk. Hermione was one of these students and Harry was extremely upset. He had written to Charlie about it and the dragon handler had shown up at the school that night, even though he had just left the evening before. Harry, Ron and Ginny had cried on his shoulders. With some prompting, Ginny had handed over a diary belonging to a boy named Tom Marvolo Riddle. Charlie, who had more experience with dark objects than a couple of second year students, took the diary to Albus. The headmaster had taken one look at the diary and had immediately destroyed it. A strange sound, almost like a scream of pain, had come from the book, causing them all to stare at each other in fear.

Albus had locked and silenced his office and proceeded to explain to them exactly who Tom Marvolo Riddle had become. Ginny had fainted into her older brother Ron's arms. Harry had sat extremely still, holding onto Charlie's hand. This Tom Riddle had become Voldemort. The man who had killed his parents and had been responsible, in a roundabout way, for his abuse at the hands of the Dursleys.

After several months, a potion to reverse the effects of being petrified by the basilisk had been brewed and all of the students affected had been returned to normal. Hermione was happy that none of them had been harmed and she was glad that Charlie had been there for them when they needed him.

Draco Malfoy had tried, very briefly, to be nicer to Harry, but hadn't succeeded very well. When it was discovered that Harry was a Parselmouth, Malfoy had spread a rumour that Harry was the heir to Slytherin and should be thrown into Azkaban. Lucius Malfoy had been outed as the person who had given Tom Riddle's diary to Ginny by slipping it into one of her textbooks. Harry took great delight in this, but said nothing to Malfoy about it. He was intent on keeping his promise to Severus Snape.

The potions professor had begun to revise his opinion of Harry Potter. Severus saw that there was far more of Lily in her son than there was of James Potter. Severus began to share stories of Lily with Harry and their relationship improved drastically. Draco, seeing that his godfather had been won over by Potter, had become even worse to be around. He took every chance he could to torment Potter about his lack of real family and the fact that he'd been blood adopted by one of the poorest wizarding families in England. Harry had tried to ignore him, but everything came to a head one Sunday morning at breakfast.

"Hey, Potty! I'm surprised that the Weasleys can afford to feed you. You know they don't have two knuts to rub together." The entire Slytherin table broke out into laughter. Harry kept his back turned and said nothing.

Charlie leaned over and whispered to him. "Has it been like this all year?"

Harry nodded. "This is actually kind of mild. It's been worse. He's sort of behaving because you're here."

Charlie looked at Ron and Hermione, who nodded in agreement. "This is behaving?"

He looked up at the head table and caught the eye of Severus Snape. Snape raised an eyebrow and Charlie got up to walk to the table. Harry watched him go with trepidation. He could just see his new relationship with Professor Snape going down the drain. The man would stick up for someone who was not only a Slytherin, but also his own godson.

Charlie stopped in front of Severus and greeted him cordially. "Professor, I would like to ask to speak with you privately, if I may."

Severus nodded and rose. He led Charlie out of a side door into a little used hallway. He cast a privacy bubble around them, so that no one could hear their conversation. "You wished to speak with me, Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes. I'd like to know why you are holding Harry to his promise not to aggravate Draco Malfoy, but you are doing nothing to curb the boy's hatred of Harry. Harry's kept his promise to you. To my knowledge, he has not said or done anything to Draco Malfoy all year. I've asked my brother and Hermione to report back to me if he does."

"I cannot control what Draco does. I've tried to impress upon him that it would behoove him to be more pleasant to Mr. Potter, but he does not seem to care. I am actually proud that Harry has restrained himself from retaliating against Draco. You should be proud of him as well."

"I am. I'm very proud. I just can't understand why the Malfoy kid won't leave Harry alone. If Harry's done nothing to antagonize him, why does he keep it up?" Charlie was confused.

"I believe it stems back to the beginning of their first year. Draco had not made a good impression on Harry the first time they met and then he insulted your brother, Harry's first real friend. Harry refused to take Draco's hand. No one had told Harry that it is considered the epitome of rudeness and an insult not to take someone's hand when it is offered, whether they like that person or not."

Charlie sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Unfortunately, the damage has been done. Telling Harry now will only make him feel guilty, and it won't resolve anything between him and Malfoy. Maybe, if you told the boy why Harry refused his hand, he might understand?"

Severus nodded thoughtfully. "It may help. I would like to see Draco become a little closer with Harry. Unlike most people, I do not believe that Voldemort is gone. If he is not, Harry Potter may be the only one who can stop him."

Charlie felt a chill clear down to his bones. "You don't think You-Know-Who is gone?" The words were a whisper.

"No, Mr. Weasley, I do not. I cannot elaborate at this time, but it would be best if we were to keep a closer eye on Harry Potter. I believe that Professor Kettleburn may be retiring at the end of this term. I will speak with Albus about appointing you as the instructor for Care of Magical Creatures." Severus paused for a moment. "That is, if that appointment would be agreeable to you."

Charlie smiled at his former potions professor. "Yes. Please ask. I think it would be best if I am around more. If I am here, I can keep an eye open for anything out of the ordinary."

Severus nodded, a rare smile on his lips. "You are good for Harry, Mr. Weasley. I also believe that he is good for you. You need to be away from those dragons. They will eventually kill you, if you're not careful." Severus canceled the privacy bubble and the two men rejoined the population in the Great Hall.

Albus found Charlie before he left for the day. "Severus told me that he spoke to you about Silvanus Kettleburn retiring at the end of this term. He also told me that you might be interested in the position yourself. Is this true?"

"Yes, sir. I would love the chance to teach. I may only be twenty years old, but I think that I have a fairly extensive knowledge of magical creatures."

"Oh, you do, Charles, you do. Not only that, but I do not believe that we've ever had a dragon handler as an instructor before. The knowledge you hold will be invaluable. Will you accept my offer of the position of instructor for Care of Magical Creatures?"

"I will." Charlie smiled as Albus shook his hand, sealing the offer.

"I believe that I do not need to tell you to keep this information to yourself for the time being. It will be announced at the beginning of the next term in September."