The next morning Remus did not emerge until after Tonks and the twins had left for work. Sirius informed him that he and Tonks had thought it would be nice for David to meet more people and Molly and Arthur were happy for him to come to their party if Remus wanted.
"So in other words all four of you are planning on playing matchmaker?" concluded Remus.
"You're interested in him right? I mean Tonks seemed pretty certain you were."
"It's a bit complicated."
"Yes or no?"
"No." Sirius stared at him. "Maybe," Remus conceded.
"Well then since this is the first time I've ever managed to get even that much out of you and I've known you since you were eleven, it's high time to make you do something about it."
"Padfoot, I really need to get to know him first. He wasn't at Hogwarts and he's been a recluse for years so I have to take it really slowly so as not to scare him away."
"Don't worry Moony, Tonks has promised to teach me to be subtle. Not that it matters since the only times I'll see him I'll be a dog. So I'll only subtly wag my tail. So tell me, what it is about David that none of your other acquaintances has ever had?"
"I think that's stretching it a bit. I have been out with people before you know!"
"Mr Padfoot thinks Mr Moony has been keeping secrets and since Mr Padfoot spent twelve years in Azkaban for keeping a secret from Mr Moony, Mr Padfoot thinks Mr Moony should not keep secrets from Mr Padfoot."
"After you went to Azkaban I was investigated by the Ministry and once I was released I turned my back on the Wizarding World for a while. I met a lot of muggles, male and female, and, well, you know... I'm not proud of it; I wasn't particularly attracted to any of them I was just desperate to forget what had happened."
"Snape told me that, but I didn't believe him. I said he was talking about the wrong marauder."
Remus winced. "I got drunk at the staff Christmas party the year I taught. Someone had had the bright idea of getting Sibyll Trelawney to organize the punch and she made it alcoholic. Sherry I think. We all got drunk which was a very bad idea with a 'vicious mass murderer' on the loose. The next day Severus started making comments about it, so I must have said something. I don't really have much memory of that evening."
"But David is different?" Sirius prompted.
"Yes, David is different. I feel a need to be near him and to take care of him. I've only ever felt like that around one other person, but I wasn't attracted to that person, which is why it is complicated."
"Who was that?"
"That is a secret I am not sharing."
"It's someone I know isn't it?"
"I'm not saying."
"Well, well, well, I wonder who it could be."
"Padfoot," growled Remus warningly.
"Well, I'm looking forward to meeting your David next Sunday. As your faithful dog I'm sure I can nudge him your way. What colour fur do you think he would appreciate more, I have yet to make the potion?"
"Just don't make red, we'll loose you to the Weasleys."
Later that day David received a telephone call from Molly Weasley. "Hello, can you hear me?" she began extremely loudly.
"Yes, I can hear you perfectly," he replied at a normal level. "This is David; may I ask who is calling?"
"This is Molly Weasley dear."
"Are you related to Charlie who works in Romania?"
"Yes dear, he's my second son."
"You must be very proud, he does amazing work."
"Yes we are; Charlie has told us about you in his letters. He thinks very highly of you."
"That's very kind of him. How can I help you Mrs Weasley?"
"Oh Molly, dear, please. Anyway I was chatting to Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks earlier and I found they knew you too and they told me how to contact you. I wanted to invite you over on Sunday to meet the family. We're having quite a few people over, my youngest two are still in school and we're celebrating the start of their summer holidays. I'm afraid Charlie won't be there because he is in Romania at the moment but Remus and Tonks will look after you and I'm sure everyone would like to meet you. My husband Arthur has expressed a particular wish to meet you having found that you are interested in muggles."
"Arthur Weasley? As in the head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office?"
"Yes."
"I look forward to talking to him; I've been toying with the notion of some spells to put on photos to make muggles think they are static like theirs, while wizards see them normally and I'd value his opinion on the subject if he has the time. Thank you very much for the invitation. Could you let me have the particulars?"
Molly gave David the relevant information and rang off. David turned to the bird perched on the back of the chair opposite him. "This is all your fault you know. You persuaded me to go and befriend Remus and now I've had Mrs Weasley on the phone. You knew once I'd heard her voice I'd not be able to avoid them all."
The bird said nothing. It just stared at him in silent communication. "Actually that sounds like a good idea," said David. "I'll go and see Charlie." He changed his sandals in favour of dragonhide boots and apparated to a dragon reserve in Romania.
"Good evening Richard, Jonathan," he greeted the men in the reserve office. "I wanted a word with young Charlie. Is he around?"
"Ah David, a pleasure to see you again," said Richard. "Charlie is over in the westfold area. There's a young Hungarian horntail who had a bad run in with a weather balloon. William and Charlie have been trying to patch her up all day but she's being a bit uncooperative. I'm sure they'd appreciate your help."
"Thanks, I'll go find them."
"You know if you want a job here you only have to ask?"
"Thanks Richard, but to work with dragons full time you need a passion for them and I don't have that. But if you ever need my help just call."
"I guess that'll have to be enough."
David apparated across the reservation to the westfold area and then wandered around looking for Charlie and William. It did not take him long to find him, the young dragon he was tending was creating a lot of noise. As David approached the animal quieted down and allowed Charlie close enough to immobilize her and tend her wounds. David made his presence known and helped.
"I suppose I have you to thank for her change in attitude," said Charlie. "Did Richard send for you then? He said he would tomorrow if he had to."
"Actually no, but Richard did suggest that I might be of some assistance when I asked where you were."
"So what brings you here?" asked William.
"Indirectly, Charlie's mother."
"I didn't know you knew her. She's not ill is she?"
"No, as far as I know all your family is fine. I got a call from your mother today asking me to a 'get together' on Sunday. She said the whole family would be there, except you because you were here. So I wanted to know if you wanted me to have a word with Richard so that you could have the time off to attend."
"I can't. There's no way I could get a portkey, and flying all that way would take too long."
"Can't you apparate?"
"Are you mad? Apparate to England and back on the same day?"
"Oh, but if transport weren't a problem would you like to go?"
"Sure."
"Okay, I'll sort out transport. You just get the time off and meet me at the office at 1pm on Sunday. With the time difference we should then arrive for lunch. Molly's doing lunch and tea so I doubt you'll be back until late evening."
"Thank you David. It'll be great to see everyone."
"My pleasure. I'm doing it for purely selfish reasons. I don't want to face the Weasley clan with only Remus and Tonks for protection. This way you get to save me from the twin hooligans too."
"How do you know Remus and Tonks?"
"Met Remus in a library and got talking. He introduced me to Tonks. They make a sweet couple."
"They're together? That's really odd. I definitely need to be there on Sunday."
"Well they seemed together. Anyway I'll see you Sunday. Goodbye Charlie, William."
Charlie waited outside the reserve office as 1pm approached on Sunday. David suddenly appeared without even a crack of apparition.
"What do you think?" David asked gesturing towards the bottle of wine in his hands.
"I won't even pretend to know about the wine, but I'm sure it will be fine. You've got red hair so Mum will welcome you into the family regardless."
"Thanks. Before this week I'd never even tasted wine; I enjoyed my research! Shall we go?"
David placed his arm around Charlie's shoulders and a moment later they were standing among the trees at the side of the road leading to the Burrow. It was unlike any form of transport Charlie had ever experienced. They just winked out of existence in one place and appeared immediately in the other. In apparating there was normally a journey through some dark in between world. He looked at David who had gone a bit pale.
"What was that?"
"That's how I travel around."
"Oh." Charlie took his own gifts out of his pocket and resized them. "The Burrow is this way, follow me."