The next morning found Charlie Weasley at the Three Broomsticks in time for breakfast. He explained that he'd managed a few hours free from the mystery at Hogwarts as Ivy served him soft boiled eggs and toast.
"Rose gave me the whole day," Ivy told him. "She said something about needing a break from magical catastrophes."
Charlie laughed, and then gave Ivy a more serious look. "Everything OK, today? You haven't heard any more voices, have you?"
"No voices. No beetles. That spell Hagrid used did the trick. I slept better last night than I have in ages."
"And other than that..." Charlie asked, trying hard to be tactful. "How are things going since you came back? Any difficulties living around Magicals?"
Ivy shook her head, smiling. For once she would be free to share company with someone who knew about her lack of power and accepted her anyway. "Not many. I mean, none that aren't common to both worlds."
"Except the occasional vampire."
"And a dementor or two," Ivy grinned.
"You don't miss the Muggle world, then? Not even a little?"
Ivy thought for a minute, and then shrugged. "Sometimes I miss light switches and microwave ovens, but I wouldn't go back, if that's what you're asking."
"And everybody's been understanding about your... erm..."
"Lack of magical abilities?"
Charlie gave her an apologetic look.
"I haven't really told anybody about that," she muttered, studying the bar. "I feel bad sometimes, but.... Father's one great fear was that I'd blemish the family name. So I'm keeping it clean. Mostly everybody here accepts me at face value. I did tell one person, but he didn't take it very well. Just yesterday, in fact. I think getting to see you again is exactly what I need."
"Who'd you tell?" Charlie asked, leaning forward.
"Zack Zonko," Ivy spat. The memory of his rejection still rankled.
"You haven't told Hagrid?"
Ivy let out a sigh. "I've been meaning to. I mean... I would have. Except for yesterday. I thought Zack would understand, and I was wrong. Dead wrong. Now I'm not sure I should tell anyone."
"If you stay long enough, it'll come out. Things like this have a nasty habit of doing that. Hagrid knows what it's like to be different. He'll understand."
"Where is Hagrid anyway?" she asked, changing the subject. "He said he'd be here."
"Think about it," Charlie answered, content to let the subject change. "There are dragons at Hogwarts. Where do you think Hagrid is?"
"Did any of them come with eggs? And have you got them counted?"
Charlie laughed and stood to his feet. "That reminds me, I can't stay gone too long. We brought in four nesting females and only thirty wizards. Bad odds, any way you count them. We're all going to have to stay close till this is over."
"But won't nesting females be... you know..."
"Extremely protective, easily provoked and utterly cantankerous? Exactly. I don't know what this task is, but it'll take every ounce of skill those kids have to get anywhere near them."
Ivy paled. "Can they handle it? I mean... can Harry?"
Charlie took her arm and they walked toward the door. "That's why I'm here," he explained. "When the Ministry decided on the task and Dad got wind of dragons being involved, he requested me put on this team.
"'You watch over Harry, Charlie.' he said. 'Don't let anything happen to him. I mean it. If you want your mum to allow you showing your face at The Burrow again you'd best make sure he lives through this.'"
Ivy laughed at Charlie's antics, then sobered up. "And do you think he will? Live through it, I mean?"
"He'll do fine," Charlie told her. "He's a wizard, remember? Don't forget to factor in magic. He'll finish the task. I think he's meant for greater things than silly school tournaments. And don't tell Hagrid or Professor Dumbledore I said that."
"Promise," she grinned, remembering how excited Hagrid had been when he'd explained the Triwizard Tournament to her.
Charlie leaned over to examine the mark Valenkoff had left on Ivy's neck as they walked down High Street, arm in arm. It looked exactly the same as it had the night before, a beetle-sized red blotch with spidery tendrils radiating out in all directions.
"I've never seen an actual Vampire's Kiss," he said. "Heard about them, though. Vampires are dangerous enough, but this one... This one was really over confident. Most of the time they leave their little beetles in your blood stream and wait. They watch for a moment when everything's quiet and you're all by yourself. Then they call your name. And they keep calling until you answer."
"And then you're dead."
"No, Ivy," he murmured, gently tracing a fingertip over the spot. "Then you're undead. Forever. Or till someone comes along with a stake or silver bullets."
Ivy shuddered, thanking her stars once again for Rubeus Hagrid.
"There's a bright side though, if I remember my lessons. Now you're immune."
"To what?" Ivy asked.
"To the Vampire's Kiss. It won't work on you anymore. That beetle you felt crawling... it wasn't an actual bug. More like a dose of whatever runs through a vampire's veins. It left little particles behind in your bloodstream, which your blood attacked and absorbed. It'll reject any future little buggers out of hand."
"Like a flu shot?" Ivy queried.
Charlie only gave her that apologetic look again, like she'd spoken in some foreign language.
"He had to have a point of contact though. Did he touch you?"
"He had my wrist," Ivy admitted, holding her arm out to him as they continued their walk to Ivy's house. "And he stared at me. You know... held my gaze. I thought it was his eyes that made me feel funny, but..."
"He was trying to distract you. Did it hurt?"
"No," she sighed, looking Charlie in the eye. "If I were magical - would I have known? Felt something? Anything?"
"I'm not sure. We learned about vampires in Defense of the Dark Arts class at Hogwarts, a long time ago. But I know who we can ask," he continued as they approached Ivy's front gate. "Hermione Granger. She's about the smartest little witch I know."
"I've met her!" Ivy told him. "She comes to town on Hogwarts Weekends with your little brother Ron. First time we met I made the huge mistake of telling him how I used to feel about you. He didn't take it well."
"He has a major little brother complex," Charlie grinned. "And what do you mean, 'how I used to feel'? Are you telling me you don't love me anymore? Trying to let me down easy?"
"Charlie Weasley," Ivy cried, stopping in the middle of the path that led to her front porch. Sunlight glinted off her hair and brought a heightened sparkle to her green eyes.
"When I was 10 years old I swore my love to you. Gave you a ring from my jewelry box and told you I'd wait for you to come back from Hogwarts. And you laughed and said I was too little and too skinny and you'd rather play with dragons."
"I was 11 years old," he reminded, tugging on her arm to get her back in motion.
"And I thought you hung the bloody moon," she told him.
Charlie leaned close and whispered, "You're letting that pub rub off on you."
Ivy grinned and slipped her key into the lock, then swung open the door. She was about to step inside, when Charlie pulled her back.
"Why do you suppose that was?" he mused. Ivy wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Why what was?" she murmured.
"Why'd you think I hung the moon? I mean, there was Bill, nearly grown up, way cooler and more than able to sweep young ladies off their feet. Why'd you set your cap for me?"
Ivy finally looked him in the eye. "Maybe because you knew where you were going from the start. You told me you were going to be an expert dragon tamer. We played dragons every time we were together. I knew you'd do it and I knew you'd be really good at it. You were a certainty in my uncertain world."
Charlie gave a soft little laugh. "Did I really say that? 'Expert Dragon Tamer'?"
"You did," Ivy nodded, stepping inside successfully this time.
"Now I know better, reckon. Dragons aren't tamed. Controlled, maybe, but never tamed. A few give their trust to humans. Even fewer offer affection, but when I see a tame dragon, that's when I'm leaving Romania and heading back to The Burrow. Sounds like I had a lot to learn."
He stepped inside and Ivy showed him around.
"I still have that ring," he told her, pulling out his wand to produce a lovely blue and white dragon-lighting-a-fire-under-a-cauldron patterned wall paper for her kitchen.
"Really?" she smiled, trying to do a quick calculation of how many years ago she had put it in his hand. "It was your 'Going off to Hogwarts' present."
"Too bad you won't be keeping the promise that went with it..." he teased her.
Wrinkles appeared on Ivy's brow. "I don't..."
"You fancy Hagrid now, don't you?"
Ivy blushed, but managed to hold his gaze.
"In case you haven't noticed, Hagrid is infatuated with someone else."
"You didn't answer my question," he pointed out. "You came to Hogsmeade and he stole your heart away from me. Made you forget all your promises and turn your back on your first true love. Maybe I should have words with him."
Ivy laughed, but there was a bitter note to the sound.
"Don't bother." She studied the floor.
Charlie put a finger under her chin, pushing up gently till Ivy had to look him in the eye.
"I was teasing," he murmured, surprised to see a tear slide down her cheek "Hagrid's a good man. There's none better."
"I know," she whispered. "But he's in love with this incredibly large woman from Beauxbatons. When he looks at her it's like... like she's an incredibly large and beautiful woman with a dragon egg in her hands. I can't compete with her, Charlie. I'm only five-foot-seven, and my hands are decidedly empty."
"What about last night?" he questioned.
"What about it?" she countered, wiping her cheek.
"I've known Hagrid a long time. Don't think I've ever seen him that angry. If he'd have gotten hold of that vampire, Ivy... The term being 'torn limb from limb' came to mind."
"You haven't seen him with her." Ivy said. "And listen to me dumping all of my troubles on you. You're the last one who should have to sort out my life. What about you? Any prospective future Mrs. Charlie Weasleys?"
He sighed, shaking his head slowly. "The dragons are my ladies. Always have been. It's dangerous work, but I couldn't live long without it."
"And you think a woman might make you quit? Do something safe like stay home and change diapers?"
"Or punch a clock at some bloody Ministry office," he grinned, flipping his wand at the sitting room walls.
"Or stock shelves in some dumpy shop on Diagon Alley."
"Exactly," he agreed as they examined a pattern of sleeping dragons done in beiges and greens. "Now I think we might have time for one more swish-and-flick. Is this your bedroom?" He walked down the tiny hall and looked around.
"You're changing the subject." Ivy blurted as she followed him.
"I'm finishing the wall paper." he insisted. "Let's see. In here you need something to remember me, when I go back to Romania. When I'm cold and all alone and you're snuggled up with what's-his-name."
"Charlie!" Ivy protested.
"Decorum Instanto."
"Charlie?" She wanted to be sure he was alright, and she wanted to hear it from his own mouth.
With a burst of blue from the end of his wand the walls were decorated with a pattern of vibrant green dragons resting on beds of gold and treasure, each with a lovely maiden sitting on its shoulder.
"There," he said, still ignoring Ivy. "One expertly tamed dragon."
"But you said dragons aren't tamed."
"You're not looking close enough," he said, taking her hand and pulling her closer to the wall. He brought her fingers up to a certain figure in the recurring pattern and pressed them gently to it. It was a tiny knight in shining armor astride a rearing white steed.
"That's me. That little speck there. See me? Watching over you. Any dragons you need tamed, don't hesitate to call."
"Charlie," Ivy whispered for the third time. He held up a hand to keep her from saying anything more.
"I've made my choices, love. I'm happy."
"No regrets?"
"I didn't say that."
"Ahhh! Then there are some. The mysterious Charlie Weasley takes off his armor. All right then... what are they?"
"Maybe I regret laughing at a certain skinny 10 year old."
"But you were only 11," she reminded, reaching out to take his hands.
Charlie laughed and pulled her into his arms.
"Let's go check on the ladies, shall we?"
Ivy returned his embrace, tightening her grip and releasing a ragged sigh.
"What is it?" Charlie asked, stroking her hair. But Ivy couldn't answer. Her sigh turned into tears, then deep-rooted sobs. She clung to him and Charlie did the only thing he knew to do: he held on. And finally Ivy's tears subsided.
"Was it something I said?" Charlie asked, cradling her face in his hands and drying her tears with the balls of his thumbs.
Ivy managed a weak laugh. "Not really," she sniffled. "It's just... seeing you again has brought up so many memories. The good ones, the great ones, and the awful ones. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like if I'd had just a little magic. I could have gone to Hogwarts and... come home for Christmas. And summer vacation. And maybe Mum would still be here. Or if she had to go... at least I could have been there."
"But then you wouldn't be here, now, doing fun things like getting attacked by vampires." He offered her his handkerchief, and she used it to unceremoniously blow her nose.
"I love Hogsmeade," she assured him. "The town, the people... That's why I wanted this house. It's just... seeing you reminds me of Molly. She and Mum were best friends. How they loved doing things together."
"I wish I could bring your mother back to you, Ivy. If it's any consolation, my mum did her best to convince your dad to let you stay. She and Elana both. It was their crusade after you... umm, well... when you were gone. But it didn't work. And after a while Elana stopped trying. I always wondered about that. Why did she let him send you away? Mum always said he had very good reasons, but I never understood why Elana backed down."
"Neither did I," Ivy whispered. "That's the worst part. My last visit to London should have been happy, but I made it miserable. Instead of enjoying the time with my mother I unleashed all my bitterness on her. I blamed her for not sticking up for me. I was so full of hate. After that.... Do you know the next time I saw my mother, Charlie?"
Charlie swallowed hard and shook his head. He had an inkling, but he waited to hear it from Ivy's own mouth.
"Lying in a silver coffin in the living room of the grand and glorious Ollivander mansion. I killed her," she said, covering her mouth with her hand, as if with that motion she could stop the confession and then it wouldn't be true.
"No you didn't," Charlie insisted. "Elana was sick. They tried everything to save her. That I do remember. Mum was frantic. Your father brought in wizards from every direction. Anybody who was even remotely rumored to have the ability to heal..."
"See," Ivy said, as if his comment proved her point. "She might have tried harder to live if I hadn't been so cruel. I didn't mean what I said, Charlie. I was hurt, and scared. And angry. I didn't want to go back to the States. I wanted to stay home. But I swear I still loved her, even if I told her the opposite. I didn't hate her. I didn't mean to break her heart."
"All of us have our time to go, Ivy. When that time comes, there's nothing anyone can do. You can't blame yourself for your mother's passing."
"My father does."
"You don't know that," Charlie said. "You haven't even spoken to him in years... have you?"
Ivy shook her head. "No."
"Then maybe you should. Talk to him. Tell him you're in Hogsmeade, and you're a big girl, and you're staying. You won't stand on the rooftops and proclaim that the Ollivanders produced a squib, but you have a home now, and this is where you'll stay."
She gave him a dubious look. "Maybe someday. But not now. I'm too afraid he'll take it all away. I couldn't go through that again. But look... we're late. We can't keep your ladies waiting forever."
"They can wait as long as it takes, you know that."
"No, really. I feel better now. Crying on your shoulder has helped more than you know." She said, straightening up and squaring her shoulders.
"That's good," Charlie said, venturing a smile. "And since this is your first visit to Dr. Charlie's office in nearly twenty years, I won't charge for my services."
Ivy pulled a Hagrid and slapped his shoulder, frowning a little when she didn't get quite the same reaction. She didn't have near the weight behind her that Hagrid had, and Charlie didn't even flinch, let alone go sprawling across the room. His shoulders shook with silent laughter though, so she whacked him again, only gentler this time.
"We've got to get to Hogwarts, missy," he said, ruefully rubbing his arm. "Unless you'd rather stay here. I can go on alone..."
"No!" Ivy insisted. "I wouldn't miss this for anything. I haven't been to Hogwarts since Rosie's commencement. And I want a good look at your ladies."
Charlie gave her a nod, and they turned to leave, Ivy turning back to enjoy the look of each newly decorated wall.
"About that handkercheif..." Charlie started as they walked down the path. "You can umm... feel free to keep it."
Ivy snickered. "You don't want it back?"
"Umm... No. You just go ahead and..."
"I would have washed it."
"It's yours. This way you'll have one if you decide on a another crying jag anytime soon."
Ivy growled in indignation and raced out the gate, shutting it behind her to trap him in her garden. They were fighting over the gate when she happened to hear an all too familiar 'woof'.
"Blackie!" Ivy let go of the gate and turned toward the sound, watching the dog trot up the street. Forgetting Charlie for a moment, she dropped to one knee. When Blackie got there she threw her arms around him.
"Charlie!" she called, looking up to see him open the gate. "Come and meet my protector."
"I thought Hagrid was your protector," he teased.
Ivy stood to her feet. "All right then. Blackie is... one of the many."
Blackie gave Charlie a half-hearted woof and sat at Ivy's feet.
"You know..." Ivy thought out loud for a minute. "That path across the road over there... it leads straight to Hagrid's. We could use it and get to Hogwarts faster."
"Listen to you, sounding like a local," Charlie grinned. Then his smile faded. "The Forbidden Forest is really not such a good idea. Do you... I mean... I don't mean to pry, but... do you travel that way often?"
"No," Ivy retorted, resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at him for what he was suggesting. "But Hagrid said he'd clear it with whatever lives in there. He only told me about it a few days ago. It's not like I go running to his house on a regular basis or anything."
"But you would," he pointed out, with an exasperating grin as he tugged on her braid. "If he happened to send an invitation?"
I'd run all the way, she thought privately. Publicly she raised an eyebrow at Charlie.
"I'm not talking to you anymore, Weasley. Honestly. If I'd have wanted a big brother to pester me, I'd have asked for one."
"You can't really ask for a big brother, Ivy. By nature big brothers come first.... I am just a special blessing sent into your life by a very benevolent Providence, thank you very much."
Ivy laughed, her hand resting on Blackie's head. As her fingers played absently through his hair an idea formed in her mind.
"Can Blackie come with us?" she asked. "He might enjoy seeing dragons, too. Especially dragons brought in just for the Triwizard Tournament." She bent over and pressed her cheek to the top of his head. "Don't you want to come with us and see what the first task is?"
Blackie's tail began to wag with enthusiasm.
"Does he have a friend in the competition or something?" Charlie teased, grabbing her hand.
"He might," Ivy murmured, giving the dog a long sideways glance. "You never know."
The dog woofed in earnest at that, and they took off toward Hogwarts, Blackie leading the way.