Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of these lovely characters. The title of this chapter is the same as one of Celestina Warbeck's (most under-appreciated) songs by the same name.

Your Love Makes Me Soar Like a Dragon

The morning sunlight filtered through my bedroom window as I became aware of something soft that had come into contact with my back: It was my bed. I fell back atop of the pillow, and God – he was doing it again, kissing me at the base of my collarbone. He used one of his hands to prop himself up above me as the other trailed up my thigh, pushing the white cotton of my pyjamas higher and higher until the rough pad of his thumb brushed against my now exposed hip.

I let out a satisfied sigh, opening my eyes just in time to see his lopsided grin, and I just couldn't help it – I smirked, pulling his face down toward mine and kissed him gently, my fingers now entangled in his curls as his lips parted slightly before he kicked off his shoes.

With one hand still lost in his untidy orange hair, I used the other to tug him closer by the collar of his shirt. I hadn't even realised that his shirt had a collar beneath his red, woollen jumper until he pulled it off and my pulse quickened at the anticipation of more of him to touch. I could feel his smile against my lips as I fumbled to undo his buttons and he joined me, moving swiftly before the garment was discarded with haste.

I unfastened my hands just long enough for him to pull my t-shirt off over my head, his brown eyes shining in the full daylight as they glided over my face with a radiant smile.

I kissed him back, grazing his lower lip ever so slightly and his grip tightened on my thigh as my fingers travelled along his jawline, from his hair to his neck, then from his shoulder to his back – so smooth and wonderfully sensual.

He ran a hand up the side of my now bare torso, sending tingles up my spine before ending in my hair, tugging it free from its loose ponytail. He hummed, an unmistakable tenderness in his gaze as he cradled my cheek in the palm of his hand.

Giggling, I tore my lips away and pressed a trail of kisses along his jaw to his throbbing Adam's apple as the skin of our abdomens brushed against one another.

He pulled back, just for a moment, and I used it as an opportunity to finally get a better look at him.

Everything about him was just so ... perfect.
"Hey, Cursebreaker," Charlie murmured, grinning as he spoke, and I couldn't help but return his smile with one of my own.

"Hey, Dragontamer."

Charlie leaned forward to kiss me again, only this time it was slow. Something bubbled up inside my stomach. At first, I thought they were just butterflies but it was more than that: a want no pure need for more.

I placed my hand against his chest, feeling his pulse against mine before rounding up over his shoulder to pull him closer … and where the hell was that bloody ringing sound coming from?

I woke up with a start, heart hammering as I checked my surroundings. I was neither in a state of undress nor wearing the said white t-shirt of my dream, but was still in the soft comforts of my silk nightgown. My bedroom and bed were the same as they'd always been, and, (save from my cat who slept at the foot of my bed) I was very much alone in it. The only similarity was that my hair had indeed fallen out of its loose ponytail, mused from a good night's sleep.

Thank Merlin.

It was just a dream. I ran a hand through the tangles and knots that had developed overnight and sighed. Bloody hell, I hadn't had a dream like that since Cairo.

The ringing, of course, was coming from overhead and I very nearly fell out of bed, grabbing my wand from my bedside table before silencing the damn thing with a clumsy Silencio.

My heart was still hammering in my ears as I took in my surroundings one last time before I tore off the sheets of my duvet.

What I needed was a nice, cold shower.

"Did Miss be having a pleasant sleep?" Swetty asked politely as she placed a plate of crepes in front of me.

I jumped a little in my seat, "Hmm? Oh, yes," I managed to stammer before I picked up my mug to inhale its sweet wisps of hot steam. "Which reminds me, I'll be staying back late at work tonight so don't expect me home."
"Miss be working very hard," the elf noted with a solemn nod, "Does Miss need Swetty to be packing a lunch or perhaps an extra dinner for Miss to eat?"
"Thank you for offering, Swetty, but I should be fine," I replied, "There are plenty of places that I can go to in Diagon Alley for a hot meal."
"If that be what Miss wishes to do," nodded the house-elf, "Would Miss like some syrup or perhaps Miss prefers some butterscotch sauce with Miss' pancakes?"

I stepped into Gringotts, the heels of my boots echoing as I made my way across the marble floor. A large chandelier of diamonds sparkled from above as I took in a breath. After spending so many years overbroad, I'd almost forgotten how impressive the bank's foyer truly was.

"Merlin's beard, are my eyes deceiving me or are you actually here early?" Bill teasing voice crooned from behind.

I rolled my eyes as the Weasley joined me; curbing his usually long strides to match my own.

"Oh, ha-ha very funny," I drawled.

Bill smirked, hands in his pockets as we walked down the portrait corridor that led towards the Cursebreakers' department, taking care to ignore the portrait of a particular Cursebreaker that scowled at the two of us.

"Really though," he replied, seriously this time. "Charlie told me about the trial …"
"If you can call it a trial," I muttered.

"Point being," he continued, "Are you really sure …"
"Yes, I'm sure that I'm fully capable of working overtime tonight, Bill," I answered his question before he finished his sentence. "And besides, it gives me something to do," I added quickly.

"Fine," relented the Weasley, "It's not like you'd actually listen to me anyway …"

"That's because there's a difference between listening and following through with what I hear," I quipped back.

"Oh sure," Bill snorted, ruffling my hair as the doors opened for us. "Just promise me that you won't stay here all night? You might be an amazing Cursebreaker but you still need to sleep."

"Alright, alright. Whatever you say …"

The clock in the office struck midnight as my owl Pepper came swooping in through the open window and onto her perch with what looked like a dead rat in her beak, apparently very proud of herself while I sat at my desk working on my latest project.

The dim candlelight flickered overhead, dancing in stinging spots across my irises as I let out a short yawn.

Overtime again.

Ever since transferring back from Cairo, I found that I was actually getting used to it now, in fact, I found that at least with work I could keep my mind from wandering to other things.

"Your brother was a meddlesome busybody too," hissed Mr Malfoy as he rounded on me, nostrils flaring, "If you're not careful you'll meet the same sticky end as he did."

Did he know something that I didn't?

Could he possibly be linked to 'R'?

I shook my head.

No, now wasn't the time to think about that, I told myself.
Pepper stared at me, interrupting my thoughts with a hoot as she cocked her head to the side.

"I'm alright," I promised, finishing the final sentence before I dropped my quill with a slight yawn before reaching for my mug of Butterbeer to find that it was already long since stone cold.

"Typical," I sighed, reheating it with a flick of my wand before I slumped back into my chair, stretching my stiff fingers when a Patronus came soaring through the window.

Pepper screeched; flapping her wings indignantly at the intruding ball of light as it slowly yet surely transformed into a Patronus that I recognised to be Bill's.

'I know that you're probably either working or heading home but it's Charlie and um … it's probably best if you come by to see for yourself …'

"Well, looks like the Butterbeer is going to have to wait," I murmured, getting up as the Patronus disappeared and tugged on my coat.

Pepper blinked, her large amber eyes gazing reproachfully at me as if it were my fault that a Patronus had interrupted her meal.

"Fine, go ahead and try some," I replied, "But don't blame me if you get Butterbeer stuck in-between your feathers again."

"Holy Merlin …"

The bedroom was littered with crumpled parchment; Butterbeer bottles and discarded textbooks, with the dragon keeper in question slumped in a corner. He stared at his feet, head tilted with his brown eyes obstructed by his fringe, silent and unmoving.

I sighed, tiptoeing my way through the mess before I crouched beside him.

"A little birdy tells me that there's been a certain stubborn dragon keeper who won't go to sleep."

The sound of my voice made him shoot up immediately.

"God damn it, Bill," he glared somewhat angrily towards his brother. "This was your idea, wasn't it?"
Bill threw both hands up in the air.

"Why did you make her come? It's so late. You know that it's not safe …"
I raised an eyebrow, stepping in between the two.

"So you don't want to see me then?"

Charlie blinked, immediately falling quiet again as I sought his gaze. His face flushed pink as he averted his eyes, looking everywhere but at me.

"Charlie."

No response.

"Charles Weasley," I seized his face and drew closer, forcing his eyes on me.

"Listen to me, I know that you want to keep working on the appeal but you're pushing yourself too hard. It's the middle of the night for Aprigga's Sake. You need to get some sleep."
"But … I … I'm not sleepy …"
I squished his face to look like a Plimpy.

"Hmm …"
Charlie was still intentionally avoiding my eyes in a show of defiance.

"Go to sleep or I won't go to the next Quidditch game with you, and I'll eat all the Honeydukes Chocolate that you keep stashed behind your pillow."
Charlie's eyes widened, "No, not the chocolate!"

He paused before letting out a sigh in resignation.

"Fine, I'll sleep!"
"Promise?"
"I promise."

"Good," I let him go with a huge grin, "Now go."

"Yes Ma'am," he mumbled, rubbing his cheeks that were either red from me squeezing them or pure embarrassment.

It didn't take long for us to coax him back into his bed. Charlie clutched at the duvet, looking somewhat pathetically at us with a pouty smile.

"It's all good," he said, "I'll be fine. See?"
As if to convince us, he gave the cushion two hard pats.

"Right," Bill frowned, "We're turning out the light now."

Charlie didn't say a word and buried his head under the cover as I quietly closed the door behind me. Then I motioned for Bill to be quiet.

In three … two … one …

It wasn't long until I heard rustling coming from inside the room.

"Aha!"

He froze in front of his lit lamp and dropped his wand that he'd been using for illumination.

I looked at a flustered Charlie with my hands on my hips.

"Uh … Surprise?"
Bill pinched the bridge of his nose in resignation, "That's it, I give up," he announced, leaving the room with a moan.

I planted myself on the foot of Charlie's bed, refusing to look at him as he gingerly scooted next to me.

He was breathing heavily, showing signs of extreme fatigue.

"Are … Are you mad at me?"

I ignored him.

"Don't be mad," he pouted, "It's not that I don't want to go to sleep; I just can't fall asleep." He sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Whenever I close my eyes, all I see is Buckbeak in those shackles and all the things that I could be doing for him." His voice began to tremble as he shut his eyes, "Merlin, I feel so useless …"

"Come 'ere."

He shuffled in closer, compliantly leaning his head on my shoulder as he left the rest of his sentence unfinished.

"It's all right, it's going to be okay," I held him tight, running my fingers through his orange hair. "You're not useless," I said, "You're awesome."
"You really think so?"

"Of course," I replied, "You might be an utter dork, but I'll always love you."

Charlie seemed to freeze up for a second before he put his arms around my waist.

"I'm so tired …"

"I'll let you go to bed then …"

"No, don't go," he whined, tugging me backwards by my waist.

I raised an eyebrow, "But there won't be enough room."

"It's fine," he mumbled, "We can just stay like this, …"
I giggled, placing a kiss to his forehead as I took in the scent of his body.

"Alright."
Save the occasional squeak of pipes overhead the room was completely quiet. Charlie leaned on my shoulder and his breathing evened.

Just as I thought that he'd fallen asleep, he suddenly spoke up.

"Bethany?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you too …"

I froze, eyes widening before I managed a smile, "Goodnight, Charlie."

It wasn't long until he'd passed out, stretched over his bed with his head on my lap, sleeping peacefully.

I watched him for what seemed like an eternity before I started to yawn.

Maybe a little shut-eye wouldn't hurt.

The next morning ...

"Well, would you look at that," Bill announced with a smirk, "If it isn't the love birds finally making their way downstairs for a late breakfast …"

Charlie shot his brother a glare before he ran a sheepish hand through his sleep-mused hair. "Where's Mum?" he asked instead in an attempt to change the subject.

"Out feeding the chickens," replied Bill, "I wasn't sure whether I should tell her to expect an extra guest or not …"

"Oh, shove off," muttered Charlie as Bill waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Bill snorted before handing each of us a slice of freshly buttered toast. Charlie made

"Anyway, I suppose I should thank you for wrangling his stubborn arse to bed for me," he continued, talking to me now.

Charlie made a slight humphing sound at the back of his throat, waving his wand so that the jug of pumpkin juice poured out two glasses on its own as I averted my gaze. He took a glass for himself before he handed one to me.

"Oi, where's mine?" asked Bill, frowning.

"Clearly, still up your arse," retorted Charlie.

I giggled, spluttering on my pumpkin juice as Bill raised an eyebrow.

I hope that was enough smut for you ;)

Remember to like and comment! I love reading your reviews!

Yours truly,

Sword Gold.