Chapter 9: Meeting Charlie

Just like he promised, the next day, Antonia and Ron went to go see Charlie. He had felt good enough to apperate, so they left.

They emerged near a small housing facility, that was near an arena the size of at least five football fields. There, were at least twenty dragons, all being trained by various people. A flash of red hair flickered in Ron's vision, and followed it.

Him and Antonia then came upon the tall and muscular mas that was Charlie Weasley. Him, completely and utterly surprised, was speechless.

"Ron? Aren't you supposed to be at Hogwarts?"

"No, I've been living in Transylvania."

"Oh, right. That one fighter chica asked you to come with her to fight off Voldemort's Death Eaters."

Antonia waved her hand at him. "I'm that 'fighter chica'."

"Oh, excuse me! Hello, I'm Charlie Weasley, Ron's older brother. You must be Antonia?"

"Yes. Master Weasley was telling me about his family, and he said you were in Romania, and I thought we should visit you. I've always wanted to see what it's like working with dragons."

Charlie was speechless. No one he knew had a passion like his about dragons. "Wow, um. . . Would you like to try?"

"I don't exactly think I could, since I'm not a witch. I know what to do to do magic, I just don't know how. Squib-like, I guess."

"Oh." Charlie's smiled evaporated. "Do you and Ron want to watch? It's a lot better live."

"Sure."

He led them to a small bench that was a safe distance away for them to watch. Charlie already had been training a dragon, so he brought that one out. It was a Chinese Fireball, pretty vicious to say.

Charlie dodged fire breath after fire breath. He couldn't get a clear aim. It was a wild dragon, caught only the month before in the Chinese mountains. After a while of not getting anywhere, he put the dragon back along with a few of his mates help. He then introduced his friends to Ron and Antonia.

"Ron, this is Jon, Mike, Matt, Brad, and Dustin. There are more of us, but they are all too pompous to hang with. Mates, this is my brother and his. . . what would you call her? Trainer, professor, armorer?"

"You can call me Antonia Alden. Or Tone. I don't care." She said.

"Okay," Said Mike, sweeping long black bangs from his eyes.

"So, Tone, what is exactly that you do? Train people?" Asked Brad.

"Well, no. I'm training Master Weasley because I need his help. I'm a slayer. Vampires, werewolves. Not dragons, since the easiest way is to get them with magic, and I don't have magic. Well, I do, sort of. My mama is teaching me to heal. Bruises, cuts, scrapes, burns. It's somewhat like magical healing, but different. I won't get into the details, since I barely understand it either."

The dragon trainers laughed. "Let's see your skills. You do archery, yes?" Asked Jon.

"You know it."

"How about a shoot off?"

"You're on."

The seven people walked to the lounge area where Jon shot his arrows. Charlie handed her a bow. It was a crossbow.

"Do you have a longbow? I try to use crossbow the least."

"You'll never be able to string that." Retorted Dustin.

"Just give me the bow."

"Alright, alright, you can use mine." He handed his bow to her.

"Watch me." To their surprise, she strung it with expertise ability.

"Get the bulls eye three times in a row, you win. If you don't, I win."

"What do I win if I win?"

"A date with Charlie. It's obvious he fancies you." Matt elbowed him. Charlie looked down, not wanting anyone to see his blush.

"And if you win? Do you want a date with Charlie too?" She said.

"No! I get a date with you." He said, simply.

"Deal."

"Ladies first."

"Alright." She took an arrow from Charlie, placed it on the string, and loosed. The arrow shot forward, hitting the red mark.

"One perfect. Two more."

Antonia smirked, and took another arrow, and loosed. Once again, perfect shot.

Jon was beginning to look worried. He actually wanted that date, he had no idea she'd agree to it.

One last time, she loosed, and once again, a perfect shot.

"Damn!" He cursed.

Antonia walked to Jon, and kissed his cheek. "It's okay. I'll leave you open." She then went to Charlie, who looked up. Antonia got on her tippy toes to whisper into his ear, "Pick me up at seven." Like Jon, she kissed his cheek. Not a few moments later, she and Ron left.

During the match, Ron was speechless. Not only that she shot like a pro, but that she now had a date with his brother! He got a kiss!

"Shoulda made my move. . ." Ron muttered.

"What was that, Master Weasley?" Antonia asked.

"Oh, nothing."

"I need your help with something." She told him.

"Anything."

"Come with me, then." She grabbed his hand, and led him to her room.

"What exactly are we going to do?" His heart beat quickened.

Antonia rolled her eyes, and went to her closet. "I need help on what to wear. He's your brother. What do Weasley men like?"

"Well, anything, I suppose. I suggest that outfit you wore my first day here at dinner."

"So you liked that, did you?" She cocked an eyebrow.

"It did look good on you. . . ."

"Okay." She shooed him out and Antonia changed.

At seven, her doorbell rang. Ron, knowing who it was, answered the door, to see Charlie, wearing black slacks and a slightly tight black polo.

"Hey, Charlie. Antonia's almost done."

"Hi, Ron." Neither of them moved. "May I come in?"

"Oh, yes, yes, sorry."

"No worries, you always have been the scatterbrained type."

Ron punched his arm. "Am not."

"No, but you seem to have gotten stronger. That actually hurt." Charlie rubbed his arm.

Neither of them noticed, by Antonia had walked down the stairs, and stood at the middle one. Charlie looked up, and gasped. Not long after him, did Ron. She looked as beautiful as ever.

Her hair, done in an elegant bun, with a few strands hanging near her face. She wore some make-up, the first time he had seen her with it on. Light eyeliner and mascara, with a champagne and dark brown eyeshadow splashed on her lids and brow bone.

"Antonia, you look. . . ." Charlie trailed off.

"Beautiful." Ron murmured.

Woot. R/R!