November 1986

Aaron sat with Tonks, using her copy of Ancient Runes Made Easy. Madam Pince walked out from an aisle of bookshelves and Tonks shot Aaron a look. Pince had pulled Tonks aside last week and had a long talk with her after she laughed too loud at a joke Eni made. Aaron turned down the volume on his Walkman until the sound no longer drifted past the headphones. Pince walked past them.

Aaron couldn't focus on the homework much longer. He had stayed in the kitchen too late last night, cleaning with Lara and the house elves after dinner, and he was tired. He had to work again tonight.

Tonks wasn't feeling it either. She sighed and leaned over the textbook, pressing her forehead against the table. Her hair changed from red to purple.

"It's been three hours. We should have just taken Care of Magical Creatures so we wouldn't be stuck in the library all Saturday."

Aaron took off his headphones. "I don't think taking Kettleburn's class would have saved us. Charlie walked in about an hour ago. He's been reading in the corner behind you."

Tonks turned around and looked at Charlie. "I bet he isn't even doing homework. He's probably reading more about dragons for fun. That's all he does now."

Aaron put his headphones back on and looked back at his parchment. He got three translations further into the assignment before Maddison snuck up behind him and pulled the headphones off his head.

"Did you bring it?"

"It's in my bag," Aaron said.

Maddison looked around to make sure no one was watching, pulled the bottle of bourbon out of Aaron's bag, and slipped it into hers.

"Eleven o'clock in the Slytherin common room," she said.

"Sounds great," Tonks said.

"I can't anymore," Aaron said. "I have to work."

"What do they have you doing now?" Maddison asked.

"Something with Hagrid."

"You can't stop by after?"

"I don't know how long it will take," Aaron said.

"Damn, alright."

Aaron handed Tonks his parchment. "Here's the first part. Well, most of it. I'll finish the last bit tomorrow."

"I'll get the second half done and swap you back," Tonks said.

"Where are you going?" Maddison asked.

"To do something I'll probably regret," Aaron said, and nodded toward Charlie.

"Don't you dare invite him to hang out with us tonight," Maddison said. "He still hasn't apologized for what he said at the Three Broomsticks."

"I won't," Aaron said. He pushed the rest of his stuff into his bag and walked over to Charlie before he could talk himself out of it.

Charlie didn't look up.

Aaron pulled out the empty chair and sat down. "Look, I don't exactly want to talk to you, either, but Hagrid has an old dragon in the forest."

"What's that word you and Eni like to use? Oh yeah. Bullshit."

"Fine," Aaron said, "don't believe me. Hagrid was the one who wanted me to tell you, so go ask him about it."

Charlie looked up. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Aaron said. "Look, I'm going out there tonight because Hagrid and Kettleburn need an extra hand and I need money, but you actually care about dragons, so you should be there."

Charlie didn't say anything.

"If you want to go, but you don't want me there, that's fine. Meet Hagrid at the edge of the forest after sundown. Just tell me if you go so I don't show up, too, alright? Pass the word to me through Donaghan or whoever you still talk to."

"I don't talk to Donaghan either," Charlie said. "What are they doing with a dragon?"

"Hagrid wouldn't tell me much, but it didn't sound like anything good. The dragon is old. I think it's dying."

"They really want help?"

"Yes, and it should be you, not me," Aaron said.

"Are you saying you don't want to see a dragon?"

"Not as much as you do, Charlie," Aaron said. "You're the one who wants to study them."

"Thanks for telling me," Charlie said.

"Like I said, Hagrid told me to tell you."

"You don't have to stay back if I go."

"Can you really stand to look at my non-magical mudblood face all night?"

Charlie closed his book. "I shouldn't have said what I did at the Three Broomsticks."

"No, you shouldn't have," Aaron said.

"I want to see the dragon," Charlie said. "I can help Kettleburn and Hagrid if you don't mind me going with you."

"Alright," Aaron said. "Bring a lantern."