*AU Note*
Actually shaking from lack of sleep, cigarette hanging from my lips as I type. I'm a rockin' hot mess! Short but sweet and cute chapter!
Upon arriving in Sibiu, Charlie actually didn't have to look or listen far to hear rumors. He walked into the first muggle tavern he came across and listened to the tale of a wizened guide who was claiming that he saw fire from one of the caves in the mountains.
Once the tale was over, Charlie approached the man and in fluent romanian, asked him how much it would cost for the guide to take Charlie to the cave.
"Why?" the wizened man asked Charlie.
"Because I'm curious." Charlie replied simply.
"Don't bullshit me young man." the man barked, "Curiosity killed the cat. What's the real reason?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
Charlie sighed and sat across from the man. He mulled over the ramifications of what he was thinking of doing and decided to just say 'fuck it' and erase the man's mind later.
"Because I believe you. I am a wizard from England who tames dragons here in Romania at a hidden dragon sanctuary. My people have reason to believe that bad people are hiding dragons in the mountains and hurting them. And I intend to find and rescue those dragons."
The wizened man smiled, revealing a gummy smile. "I knew your lot existed. What can I help you with?"
"I need you to lead me to the cave where you saw the fire, and then I need you to leave the area immediately." Charlie replied quietly.
"What? Are you going to take on a bunch of badies all by yourself?"
"Once I confirm that it is the right place, I will call for backup and we will perform a raid."
'You're not telling me everything."
"You're right, the bad wizards kidnapped one of our tamers last night and we need to rescue her. We suspect that she's being held with the dragons." Charlie admitted truthfully.
"When do we leave?"
"Now." Charlie stated.
The man smiled at Charlie and held out his hand to Charlie, "Name's Ion."
Charlie took his hand and shook it, "Charlie."
"Well," Ion said, as he stood up from his chair, "Let's get going. It shouldn't take too long to reach the cave."
Charlie followed him out of the tavern, "About how long?"
"It's about a six hour hike."
Charlie's eye twitched, "Can we make it faster?"
"How would you propose doing that?"
Charlie looked around and quickly found a shop that had an abandoned broom by the door. "Follow me."
Charlie led Ion to the shop that was a bookshop. He entered the store and told the cashier that he wanted to buy the broom.
The cashier looked at Charlie quizzically. "Um, why?'
Charlie's patience was running thin but he dug into his pocket and pulled out the muggle Romanian equivalent to fifty galleons. "Sell me the broom, you get this. No more questions."
The cashier's eyes widened as she took the money and nodded.
Charlie and Ion returned to outside the store and Charlie grabbed the broom and led Ion down an alley between buildings. Charlie took out his wand and cast a quick series of charms on the broom. He released it and it was hovering in the air.
Ion's eyes widened and he looked at Charlie in awe.
"You weren't joking."
Charlie shook his head, 'Nope. And once this adventure is over, I will erase your mind. But what is happening is too important. I have broken A LOT of wizarding rules in the past twenty minutes, mainly the International Statute of Secrecy, an international law that applies to all wizarding kind across the globe that we are to remain silent when it comes to magic. But this is a matter of life and death of the woman I love and who knows how many dragons. Rules can be broken as long as the loose ends are tied up."
"I will do my best to convince you to not erase my mind, because this is a tale I wish to tell my grandchildren, even though they would never believe me."
Charlie smirked, "We'll see." Charlie mounted the broom and patted the space behind him. "Get on and hold onto me tight."
Ion complied, and carefully swung his right leg over the broom. He wrapped his arms tightly around Charlie and Charlie took off hard, shooting straight into the air.
Ion bit back his screams, not wanting to scream directly into Charlie's ear.
Once they were high enough in the air, Ion looked around to gain his bearings and then pointed northwest.
"Start that way, there is a trail that we will follow first. Hopefully you can see it from the air."
Charlie nodded and followed his directions.
"I'm coming, Hermione." Charlie thought to himself as he flew in the direction that Ion had pointed.
*AU Note*
Review, favorite, and follow! Like always! Crossposting now then onto Chapter 18!