Games Are Afoot Chapter 29
Games Are Afoot Chapter 29
Dragons
Disclaimer: JKR owns it all, I am just playing with dragons.
Author's Note: Thanks to Enthralled and her wonderful husband for their help with this chapter. Enthralled for talking to me and reading it for me to see if it would work and her husband for being such a fun boy who has great ideas on how to play with dragons!
Charlie and Hermione caught up with her Dad and Royce at the local pub. Hermione had enjoyed the walk as they passed several of the enclosures. She knew her dad would have been beside himself when he spied the Opaleye from his Christmas picture. Sure enough, it was the first thing he mentioned when they arrived.
Charlie held a chair out for her to sit in as Mr. Granger spoke rapidly of the three different dragons he had seen on his walk to the pub. He smiled remembering his own excitement the first time he had walked through the reserve. Charlie had a few surprises for Mr. Granger this week. He wanted it to be a vacation that he never forgot.
After Royce and Robert finished their drinks, Charlie led them to the nursery. The hatchlings had grown significantly and Charlie was excited to show them off. Royce held the door while Charlie led the way. Upon entering, Hermione was surprised to see the lights dim.
"Why does it seem like the lights are off?" She asked inquisitively.
"Well, ma'am," Royce began formally.
"Please call me Hermione." She asked gently as she touched his forearm. Charlie chuckled as he could have sworn Royce blushed.
"I'd be proud to." Royce smiled at her and then turned and glared at Charlie. "Hermione, we keep the lights down in the evening to settle the little blighters down. We are trying to get them used to sleeping at night. Caterwauling dragons make it a might difficult for the rest of us to sleep." He explained.
Mr. Granger chuckled softly, "Sounds like a daughter I once had at my house."
Charlie and Royce both laughed as Hermione's face exploded with color.
"Dad!" She reprimanded. He stood next to her with his arm around her shoulder.
"Don't worry. Those long nights are some of my fondest memories." He kissed the top of her head and then moved towards Royce.
Royce nodded appreciatively. "Aye, there's something special when ya bond with a young one during the night." Hermione's eyes grew wide as she saw Charlie nodding in agreement.
"You are all sappy sods!" She declared with a smile.
"One of my more redeeming qualities I think." Royce grinned back at her.
Charlie pulled out his wand and said, "Lumos." The simple spell triggered several lights within the hatchery, but the tip of his wand illuminated a green creature the size of a small duffle bag. It was laying still but they could see the steady rise and fall of its chest as it breathed.
Robert Granger was mesmerized. His entire life he had been enamored with the idea of dragons and here he was, standing in a hatchery full of baby dragons, staring at one of the most beautiful sights he could have ever dreamt of. Royce was animatedly explaining to him how difficult of a hatching Squirmy here had experienced.
"He's growin faster than the rest of em though. It was touch and go for a while, but he pulled through and now…well he's a feisty little bugger. Oh, pardon an old tamers tongue Hermione."
Squirmy was now rolling onto his back and Royce reached out and scratched his belly. He saw Roberts's eyes go wide. "Yeh wanna pet him?" Robert nodded vigorously completely unable to form speech.
Royce handed him a pair of thick gloves from the table's edge and helped him get them on securely. Robert reached out eagerly and then stopped.
"It's all right Mr. Granger, he won't bite. He may singe you a bit, but he loves his belly rubbed." Charlie encouraged. Mr. Granger reached the rest of the way and began to rub the belly of the baby green welsh. His heart was pounding with excitement.
"I never thought dragons were real until Hermione went to school. I never dreamed I would…I could…" His emotions made it impossible for him to speak. Royce nodded and Charlie smiled.
"Aye, yer a mate. Dragon lovers are a special breed. Welcome to the club Robert." He clapped Robert on the shoulder. Hermione watched this with a broad smile. It made her happy to know that her Dad was enjoying this trip so much.
"Charlie," she asked quietly as Royce continued helping and talking to her dad.
"Yes?" He answered moving closer to her and matching her quiet tone.
"Which one is Shadow?" She asked looking over the table that was large and sectioned off into eight sections. Each hatchling had its own complete space with magically charged warming lamps. The light from these lamps was low but you could feel the heat emanating from them.
Charlie moved his hand to her lower back to guide her around the table. "Let's see if you can guess which one she is." He suggested coyly. Hermione's eyes lit up. She loved a challenge.
"Let's see. Bed four over there is Squirmy so that just leaves seven to figure out." Charlie chuckled under his breath at her determination. They strolled around the table.
"Bed three and two are not red so they are not Chinese Fireballs." She said methodically narrowing down the table. Charlie nodded and continued to follow her. "Bed number one is the same color as Squirmy but a little smaller so I think that is another Welsh Green."
"Very good deductive reasoning." Charlie deadpanned. Hermione quirked her eyebrow at him.
"Are you teasing me?" She asked flirtatiously.
"Of course."
Her eyes scanned the other side of the table. She moved towards the middle to compare the four on this side. Really, it wasn't difficult. There was only one red and gold dragon and she was in bed number eight.
Hermione moved toward the baby with Charlie close behind. She bent over and let her eyes roam over the hatchling fondly. "Well hello Shadow. It's nice to finally meet you."
Charlie reached over and nuzzled Shadow's nose with his fist. Shadow snorted a shot of steam in response and slowly opened her eyes. Upon recognizing Charlie she popped up and rubbed her snout against his fist.
"She looks happy to see you." Hermione observed.
"She's very special. I think we have bonded."
"Should I be jealous?"
"Never. She's not nearly as fun to hug."
Hermione laughed. "Can I pet her? Will she let me touch her?"
"Just move slowly. She doesn't like gloves and the steam from her snout can burn. Let me hold your hand by mine so she recognizes me and knows you are not a threat."
Charlie lightly placed his hand over the top of Hermione's so that his palm rested on the back of her hand. He slowly moved their hands toward the little fireball. Shadow pulled back and then inched her nose forward sniffing and retreating until she felt secure. She nuzzled the back of Charlie's hand and he slowly turned it over so she could catch Hermione's scent mingled with his.
Shadow cocked her head like a puppy when she realized Charlie wasn't alone. Hermione held very still and let Charlie guide her hand. The fireball sniffed and nudged until she finally nestled into Hermione's palm.
"She likes how you smell. But then she's got good taste because so do I." Charlie whispered into her ear. He was so close to her she could feel the heat from his chest warming her back. She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder. Shadow continued to snuggle her face in Hermione's hand and so Charlie gradually removed his hand and let Hermione and Shadow get to know each other. He moved his hands to her waist and stood behind her.
Charlie couldn't express the joy that filled his heart as he watched the two of them together. Matilda's daughter had gotten him through the rough months when he was separated from Hermione, and now here they were…all together in the same place and it just felt right. Hermione began to scratch behind Shadows ear and she snorted a steam of happiness at the effort. Hermione didn't even flinch.
"Is your arm ok?" Charlie asked quietly so as not to ruin the moment.
"It's fine. That was a happy gesture on her part, right?" Charlie nodded at her when she turned to look at him.
Charlie was again impressed with Hermione's natural intellect. Hermione was getting braver and she slowly brought her other hand toward Shadow. Shadow froze and so did she. Shadow scooted over to investigate the new hand, but relaxed once she realized it was still Hermione. Hermione patted and rubbed and let Shadow nuzzle her. She was pleased that Shadow had taken to her.
On the other side of the table, Mr. Granger and Royce were moving along the row getting to know the four dragons facing him. Two green welsh hatchlings and two opaleye hatchlings. Mr. Granger was enthralled with all the tidbits Royce was sharing. He had ventured so far as to pick one of them up and was surprised at how heavy such a little thing was. What surprised him further was when Squirmy snuggled into him. Just as he was cradling him, Squirmy sneezed.
Mr. Granger held on despite the flames shooting out of Squirmy' nose. Royce had his wand out in a flash using the aguamenti charm to prevent Robert's shirt from burning.
"Are you ok. Dad?" Hermione asked nervously.
Charlie and Royce took one look at the grin on Robert's face and burst out laughing.
"Lassie, I think he is pleased as punch!" Royce chortled.
"I'm fine! I'm fine! Squirmy just had himself a little sneeze…nothing to write home about." Robert responded confidently. He was murmuring reassurances in a low voice to the dragon.
Hermione shook her head and turned her attention back to Shadow. After a while, the dragons were put down for the night and the foursome made their way to Charlie's tent for some dinner.
Charlie had hidden talents. He was as good a cook as his mother and soon the table was creaking under the pots of food.
Royce turned to look at Charlie, "If I knew yeh could cook like this Char, I'da married yeh years ago!"
"Your not my type." Charlie responded after looking Royce over.
"I would have to agree with Charlie here, Royce," Mr. Granger interjected, "I think he likes softer hands."
"Hands…er right…I also don't think I am near pretty enough." He teased winking dramatically at Hermione who just rolled her eyes.
The conversation flowed easily through dinner and Royce had them in stitches over several experiences he had shared. He was quite the story teller. As her dad and Royce compared stories, Hermione looked on fondly. Royce was amused by the dental profession and kept encouraging Robert to tell him more.
She stood up to clear the table. "You three go visit. I am going to do the dishes." She said over her shoulder as she left the table.
"I'll dry." A familiar deep voice said behind her as she moved toward the kitchenette.
"I seem to remember the last time you said that." She bantered playfully.
"I do too. Same rule still applies." Charlie said as he pulled out his wand. The dishes leapt from her hands and into the sink where they began washing themselves. Hermione leaned against the counter with her arms crossed. The dishrag flew to the table and started scrubbing. When it finished, Charlie waved his wand in a circular pattern and muttered under his breath. Two towels were accioed and dried the now clean dishes.
"There. All done." He said proudly.
"And what do you plan to do with ALL that time you just saved?"
Charlie's eyes twinkled. "I thought we might teach your dad and Royce how to play flinch."
Hermione smiled brightly. "You have the quill?"
"No. But last Christmas I talked to Sirius and he told me how they made theirs. So I adapted it a bit and now have my own."
"Well aren't you clever." Hermione drawled playfully.
"You have NO idea." Charlie replied as he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the couch.
"What are you two babbling about?" Royce asked.
"Charlie here wants to teach you a game." Hermione responded winking at Royce.
"I feel a might nervous now. Maybe I should call it a night."
Charlie blocked his half-hearted exit. "Royce, trust me."
"Nothing good ever came of a statement like that." Royce shook his head but sat back down.
"What game did you have in mind?" Mr. Granger asked curiously.
"Well, Dad, it's a game I learned last summer when we were staying…safe. It's a magical game."
Mr. Granger's eyes lit up. "Let's play!" He said eagerly.
"But Robert, yeh don't even know what it is yet." Royce cautioned.
"I am game for anything this week. It's time for me to see how the other half lives."
Hermione laughed. "Dad. Really."
"You haven't been able to use your magic at home yet. I have been waiting SIX years for a week like this. You think I am going to waste it playing regular games? Bring it on."
Charlie disappeared into his room chuckling to retrieve the game piece.
Royce looked at the father and daughter sitting side by side. It had been a long time since he had been a part of a cozy family evening and he was enjoying it immensely. He observed the playful banter and the obvious love between these two. He knew if he had ever had kids, this would be how he hoped it was.
Charlie returned with his hand behind his back. "Royce, can you bring over another chair so we all fit around the table. We need to make sure we can all reach comfortably." Royce did as he was asked and after everyone was seated comfortably Charlie sat down, still with his hand behind his back.
"Where's the quill?" Hermione asked.
"What quill?" Charlie asked feigning innocence.
Hermione looked at him with annoyance. "The Flinch quill. You know, the feather that we play flinch with." She said sarcastically.
Royce and Robert chuckled at the exchange.
"Well, when Sirius explained how to create one, I realized we didn't necessarily need a quill…" Charlie said dragging out the last bit as he pulled his arm out from behind him. In his hand was a dragon scale similar to the one that he had made into a bookmark for Hermione so many months ago.
Robert was leaning around Hermione to get a better look at what Charlie was holding. Hermione smiled as she recognized it and Royce was just confused.
"I never heard of Flinch and why do you have an old scale?" He asked impatiently.
"Charlie charmed the scale for the game." Hermione said excitedly. "Flinch is a game like truth or dare, only you use a charmed…well scale in this case…everyone puts a finger on the scale and you are sort of locked in. We take turn asking questions and the scale will know if you are not being truthful. If you try to lie, omit, or skew the truth it will give you a little shock making you flinch."
"And it won't release you until you give the truthful answer." Charlie added as he looked toward a blushing Hermione. Royce and Robert noticed her face too and Robert raised a questioning eyebrow toward Charlie.
"Something we should be aware of?"
Charlie laughed and Hermione looked down.
"Hermione?" Her dad persisted.
"We were playing flinch last summer while Bill and Charlie were elsewhere and a question was asked to which my truthful answer would have been Charlie, but just as I was about to answer, he walked in and I got nervous and gave a different answer. I got flinched and then I had to give my answer in front of him. It was a tad uncomfortable at the time." Hermione explained never looking away from Charlie.
"I see." Mr. Granger said as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Royce tried to cover his laugh with a cough.
"I always said Charlie here needed to be smacked upside the head to notice something." He choked out.
"Oh, that's not what made me take notice. It was the games we played before that. She taught us muggle games and her cleverness won me over."
Mr. Granger followed Royce's lead and coughed to cover his laugh. Hermione looked at her lap, but her dad could tell she was pleased with what Charlie had said.
"Enough of the small talk. Are we playing a game or not?" Royce interrupted.
Charlie laughed and placed the scale in the middle of the table. He reached forward and placed his finger on it followed by Hermione at his left, her dad who was sitting next to her, and finally by Royce who sat in the chair opposite Charlie's.
"We'll start with a practice question, just so you get the idea." Charlie began. "What is your favorite color?"
Hermione smiled remembering Charlie's. "Gryffindor red." She stated.
Robert said, "Blue."
Royce added, "Green like the green welsh."
It was Charlie's turn to go. "My favorite color is sunshine yellow." He deadpanned as his hand jerked from the shock. "Not really. It's Gryffindor red and gold. Just wanted you to know how it worked." Their fingers released and Charlie shook his a little before returning it to the scale.
"My question then." Hermione inserted. "What is your favorite dragon?"
"So far, the OpalEye or Squirmy. He was sure a cute little critter."
"It's no surprise it's the welsh green for me." Royce said.
"Chinese fireball."
"Shadow." Hermione finished the round as the fingers were released.
Robert Granger had an extremely Hermione look in his eye as they began the next round. "I want to ask what the most dangerous thing you have ever done is."
Hermione's face blanched. Royce laughed. Charlie just shook his head. Robert's eyes were twinkling.
"I tried to ride one of the dragons after a lengthy visit to the pub. Forgot me gloves along with my brain. Walked right up to Matilda and tried to hop on. I was in the medical tent for a few days after that one. Completely snackered I was." The group laughed in amusement as they could picture the crusty old bachelor trying to score a ride.
Charlie took some time to think.
"Too many to choose from?" Mr. Granger offered.
"Something like that." Charlie smiled at him. "I think the most dangerous thing I ever did was tick my mom off when I got a hold of some muggle fireworks. The magical kinds don't burn but I didn't realize how different these were. So I lit the first one and everything went okay and then the second one I didn't throw far enough. Caught a hedge on fire. Mum was right put out about it because she was sitting on the other side and it singed her hair. I ran and stayed away until after dark." Charlie barked out a loud laugh. "But she was still waiting for me…"
"Okay, my dear daughter. It's your turn." Mr. Granger said affectionately. He gave Hermione a look that told her he knew that she knew this was exactly why he asked the question. He wanted to know about the ministry.
Hermione looked straight ahead and took a deep breath. "The most dangerous thing I ever did was go to the ministry of magic at night and fight death eaters there." She said barely above a whisper.
"Blimey!" Royce said, his face expressing the shock he felt.
Hermione looked at her dad. "I had to go. I had to help Harry. Please understand."
Robert Granger put his free arm around his daughter. "I am trying to. Really. You just won't talk about it. You know your mother and I worry but we also support you. We taught you to take a stand when you believe in something."
Hermione sniffled but smiled. "Thanks Dad. We can talk about it more later. I think we are killing the mood of the game. Besides, its your turn."
Robert's eyes began to twinkle again. "The most dangerous thing I have ever done was jump out of an airplane!" He looked around very pleased with himself. Hermione's mouth was hanging open. "I had a parachute of course." He reassured her. She shook her head in disbelief.
Charlie whistled low. "Wow. Guess Hermione didn't get her fear of heights from you."
"Yes she did." Robert said merrily. Hermione nodded still completely amazed that her dad had done such a thing.
Royce snickered. "I guess you can teach an old dragon new tricks."
Robert nodded with a huge grin. "Yes sir, you are never too old to try something new."
Charlie decided to move the game along. "Hey Royce, your question." He shot out as he placed his finger back on the shimmering scale.
"Let's see here," Royce said thoughtfully, "A man just doesn't get this opportunity very often." He eyed Charlie quizzically and Charlie started to feel anxious about what Royce might want to know.
"I want to know who the first person you ever fell in love with was." He winked at Charlie whose face had just gone completely white under his freckles. "I want to start though. Would that be ok?" Charlie nodded, relieved by the short reprieve.
"Her name was Kathryn and I was a spritely lad of eighteen. She was seventeen and she had long honey colored hair and the greenest eyes I had ever seen. She was strong and an amazing witch. Fast on the draw if you know what I mean. Spent an entire summer pestering her until she hexed me just so she'd notice me. Finally got brave enough to kiss her. Had bat bogeys flying out of my nose for hours afterwards. Seems she really didn't care for me much."
Hermione couldn't help herself. She imagined Ginny hexing one of her many admirers for hovering too much. The image was humor incarnate. Apparently Charlie was thinking along the same line because he was shaking with silent laughter.
Suddenly Robert asked, "What are bat bogeys?" This triggered guffaws and hoots of laughter from the wizards and witch surrounding him. He laughed along because it was contagious, but he really didn't know what was so funny.
Once Hermione had a chance to collect herself, she explained. "Dad, a hex is a type of curse that is meant to disable your adversary. The Bat Bogey hex turns those little things up your nose into bats that attack your face. It's complicated and difficult to do, but it is extremely effective. Charlie's sister Ginny is a master at it." Charlie nodded in agreement, having been on the receiving end of one.
"Yer Baby Sister can do one?" Royce asked in awe.
"A very good one." Charlie answered rubbing his nose at the memory.
Hermione laughed. "It's become something of her trademark."
After the laughter died down the four of them looked at each other. Royce looked relaxed and Robert was smiling, but Charlie and Hermione looked extremely uncomfortable. Robert cleared his throat.
"I think I would like to go next." Royce nodded to him and he continued. "The first girl I ever fell in love with I married." He smiled broadly at Hermione. "Your mother was something else I tell you. She had this long wild mane of hair and such a quick and clever wit…I used to plan of witty things to say to her ahead of time so I wouldn't look like a fool in front of her. In twenty-three years of knowing her, I have never tired of talking to her. She can still make me laugh."
Hermione sighed thinking about how much her parents loved each other. "I love when you dance together in the living room."
"Yes. That is one of my favorites too. Do you remember the song?"
"Of course Dad. Because you used to pick me up when I was little and dance with the both of us. Of course you sing horribly off key…" She teased.
"What song do ya dance to?" Royce wanted to know.
"It's by a band called Foreigner. We saw them perform on a trip to the United States one summer. They sing a song called Waiting For a Girl Like You. My girls were worth waiting for."
"You'll have to let me hear it sometime." Royce suggested.
"I have a muggle cd player that can play it for you." Charlie offered. "I have that cd as well." Mr. Granger looked surprised and looked from Charlie to Hermione who had started to blush again. But that isn't what caught his attention. He was watching the way Charlie was looking at his daughter out of the corner of his eye.
"All right. Enough stalling Charlie. I believe it's yer turn to answer my very important question." Royce declared loudly.
Charlie glared at Royce, the Weasley blush coating his face and neck solidly. "Well, I hadn't actually figured this would come up and uh, well, you see…"
Mr. Granger was having a difficult time not chuckling out loud. He could sense what was coming and that Charlie probably thought it would be a private conversation the first time he declared his feelings.
"I…" he stammered nervously. He turned to look into Hermione's eyes. She was staring intently back at him. "The first girl I have ever fallen in love with is sitting right here." He finally said. Hermione's eyes were wide.
Her father finally chuckled out loud as Royce leaned over to whisper loudly, "I told yeh he hadn't said it to her yet."
Charlie glanced over to the two of them who looked as thick as thieves and shook his head before returning his gaze to Hermione. He searched her eyes for fear or rejection but was relieved to see neither. Her brown eyes were actually sparkling brightly.
Mr. Granger nudged Hermione. "Your turn sweetheart." Hermione looked at her dad and then Royce and finally at Charlie.
"Well…" She began nervously.