A/N: Charlie moves into a new apartment and tries to get to know his new neighbour. slash - Viktor/Charlie. Neighbour!AU. Charlie is not yet a Dragon Trainer, and Krum was just recently made Buglaria's Seeker. I do not own Harry Potter.

Submission for:

Weekly AU! Competition: Neighbour!AU

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Care of Magical Creatures Assignment #6 - Write about someone trying to befriend another who's hard to reach, either with status (i.e. pureblood and muggleborn) or that person is closed off. Prompts: eager.

Stratego: D4 - Viktor/Charlie

"I'm going to miss you so much," Ginny said as she hugged her older brother in the hallway. She and his brothers had just helped him unpack the last set of boxes to get him settled into his new apartment. He finally earned enough money from working at the animal reserve to move out, just one more step on the road to pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming a Dragon Trainer.

"We're gonna miss you too, you big lug," George said as he and Fred came up behind them and began needling him in his side. "Home won't be the same without you."

"We'll definitely have more space to move about now," Fred said.

"And won't have to worry about walking in on you with someone in the kitchen again," George added.

Charlie blushed, as they all laughed at the events that took place just a few weeks ago when they found him and his newest partner half-naked on the dining table. Mum was not too happy about that one.

"Did someone say kitchen?" Ron said as he came up to his siblings, an apple hanging out of his mouth. "By the way, you need to do some grocery shopping."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Thank you for the update, Ron. And I'll come by tomorrow evening for dinner."

They all nodded and said their final goodbyes before heading down the hallway and leaving Charlie to his own devices.

He stood there for a moment in the doorway with his arms on hips just basking in the moment. This was what it felt like to be on your own. No loud noises down the hall, clothes thrown about the floor or screams coming up the stairways. Just quiet.

Then the door opened across the hallway to reveal a broad-shouldered man with a gym bag over his shoulder. A layer of stubble covered his cheeks, kept low like the brown hair on his head.

Their eyes locked, hazel meeting blue, and Charlie offered a wave. "Hello there, I'm Charlie, your new neighbour."

The man blinked once before turning away without a word and walking down the hallway in the direction of the stairs.

Charlie let his hand fall to his side before he simply shrugged. It was just his first day here. Given time, he would eventually get to know all his neighbours.

Since moving in, Charlie developed a regular routine. He would wake up in the mornings, take a shower and brew a cup of coffee, open the window to let in the owl with his mail and then head out to work. It just so happened that whenever he chose to leave, it would coincide with the time his mysterious neighbour chose to leave as well.

He had tried everything to get the man to speak to him without seeming too eager. He made small talk about the weather, he inquired about the affairs in the Prophet, even tried inviting him over for a cup of coffee, but the man simply walked ahead of him, stepped out onto the pavement and apparated away.

Eventually, Charlie had given up. If the guy wanted to be left alone, Charlie would abide by his wishes, no matter how nice he smelled in the morning. He took his Prophet from the owl at the window and went to sit at his table to read.

He had just hit the first sports page when he spat his coffee all over the black and white print. There was his neighbour standing among a team of seven other burly men - Bulgaria's newest Seeker steals the show. That explained the gym bag and the layer of sweat that coated his skin every evening he returned. Viktor Krum was a professional Quidditch player, and now Charlie knew exactly how to approach him.

The next Saturday morning found Charlie standing outside his neighbour's door. He didn't have to go to the animal reserve today and if he knew Krum's schedule as well as he thought he did, he shouldn't have practice today either.

He knocked twice before the door opened and Krum stood there with his brow furrowed. "Can I help you?" he asked.

Charlie simply smiled and said, "You're Viktor Krum, aren't you?"

Krum began to push the door closed. "Sorry, I don't do autogr-"

"No!" Charlie cried, his foot and hands flying forward to stop the door from closing. "I'm not asking for an autograph. I actually came here to ask if you wanted to go flying with me."

Krum opened the door wider. "Flying?"

Charlie nodded. "I used to play Seeker at my old school and I was pretty good. Interested?"

Krum stood there for a moment, his eyes analyzing the redhead before he said. "Zounds good. I vill get my things."

The door closed and Charlie celebrated inwardly. He had broken through his mysterious neighbour's hard shell and though not explicitly stated, he had just scored a date with a professional Quidditch player.