Chapter 50: A Future Without Harry

Dressed only in boxer shorts, Charlie was leaning on the terrace of his house in Romania. He didn't mind the cold September nights, he had gotten used to it over time. He was looking at the stars as he had been doing for the past nine years, since the death of the only two women in his life. The two years before their murders were a blur to him... Apparently it was because of the head trauma he had suffered when the rubble of the Burrow fell on him. He had tried to remember, to put the puzzle together, but every time he seemed to hold something, the memory escaped him. For three years, he had tried to revive his memory by calling on different specialists or by taking more or less legal substances on his days off. Nothing he had taken or tried had brought back his memories or filled the void he felt in his heart, drawing him to very dark areas of his mind. In those first few years after the tragedy that had struck his family, he had fallen into a depression, increasingly neglecting his health as he tried to fill the void with work and sex. He worked as many hours as he could legally work, taking more and more risks in the field and coming close to death on several occasions. He barely slept, going to a bar or nightclub every night and consistently finding a different man to have sex with. Despite the alcohol or substances that always coursed through his veins when he fucked one of these one-night guys, he could always remember the faces or names of these men and had always thought to protect himself.

That period had ended after he had spent the holidays with his family in the United States and Harry's family. Bill had come to get him by force that year. He found him on the living room floor, emaciated, stoned and barely conscious. He helped him wash, dress and eat before forcing him into his home. There, a doctor named Carlisle (Harry's stepfather), Andromeda and Jasper (Harry's boyfriend), had helped him get back on his feet. Something had changed in that moment, as if his pain had been eased. He had stopped trying to remember, but had not been able to overcome the emptiness he felt in his heart. He didn't really know what had happened, but when he got home he decided to get his life back together and he did. He had completely stopped drinking or taking any substances and had banned one-night stands. He cut back on his work hours slightly and began researching the properties of dragon scales, keeping him mostly out of the field.

Eventually, he was single for a year, getting his life back in order before meeting a man slightly older than him, Eric. They had loved each other for two years before Charlie realized that this man had never been serious about him and was cheating on him every chance he got. The dragon rider had been hurt, but he had not been devastated, he had never really been in love with Eric. His pride had been hurt, because he had felt like he had wasted his time and was no longer capable of love.

Almost four months after kicking Eric out of his house, Charlie had gone to get a tattoo, a chain that seemed to run under his skin at his heart. The chain ran up his pectoral to his left shoulder and then wrapped around his bicep, but there the links deteriorated to nothing but dust. He couldn't explain why he had wanted to make this pattern, but he had needed to.

Amused and flattered, he hadn't missed the tattoo artist's appreciative look at him when he took off his shirt and looked at him more closely. The man was about his age, dark-haired, long hair bunched up in a bun, bright green eyes, lightly tanned skin. He was about a head shorter than Charlie and had an athletic build. The dragon rider had quickly thought to himself that he reminded him of Harry, but he didn't dwell on that thought, the tattoos and the stim-punk style of the tattoo artist made them too different. Appreciating what he saw, Charlie had started the conversation. He had returned home five hours later with a tattoo he was thrilled with and a goofy smile on his face.

The redhead had returned to the tattoo shop a month later with the drawing of a huge dragon that he wanted to see cover his back. Jeremy, since it was the name of the tattoo artist had welcomed him with a magnificent smile. It had taken five sessions for the man to realize the tattoo and as much for Charlie to invite him to have a drink. In total, they had gotten to know each other for fifteen months before the redhead kissed him and offered to come to his place. He was certain this time that he could fall in love with the young man, he was already starting to have feelings for him.

Jeremy joined him on the terrace, just as much dressed. He stuck himself against the back of the dragon rider and let his hands run on the muscular chest. Charlie let a groan of appreciation leave his lips. He liked to think alone under the stars, but also liked when his lover came to take him back to himself.

"Are the stars talking to you tonight?"

"I was thinking about how far I've come from the worst day of my life to you."

"Oh, and how would you describe this year and a half together?"

Charlie turned with a smile, kissing his loverpassionately. Jeremy was a young man full of joy and energy, always positive, and generous. Behind his rebellious exterior, he was a marshmallow full of love to give. Every day, he pulled the redhead up and kept the hole in his heart from swallowing him up.

"Near perfection," he whispered against the tempting lips as he pulled away.

"That's what it takes, perfection is boring."

The redhead smiled, but held back from devouring Jeremy's mouth again. He was honest with his boyfriend, he was happy with him, but felt that he would never be completely. He was sure he could never fully fill the void in his heart. However, Jeremy would make him happy if he would forget that feeling of being incomplete. That was why he always spent part of the night looking up at the stars, to clear his dark thoughts and manage to enjoy the well-being his boyfriend brought him the rest of the time.

"Te iusbec," breathed Charlie.

"Și eu te iubesc."

They kissed tenderly as they walked to their room and dropped their boxers before reaching the bed. There, Charlie laid his lover under him and slid his fingers into the intimacy still dilated by their previous lovemaking, making his man moan. Assured not to hurt him, he turned his back to him to penetrate him in one push. Jeremy growled with pleasure before turning his head towards Charlie to kiss him while their basins moved to meet each other. The redhead's hand settled on his lover's sex making him moan louder and louder against his lips. The moans turned into cries of pleasure as they increased the pace. They finally came while shouting each other's name. Charlie remained for a moment in the hot den, immobile, enjoying this moment during which he felt only well-being.

Finally, he withdrew, got up and went to get some tissues. Gently he cleaned his lover who had fallen asleep, while observing him. He found him really beautiful. While taking him in his arms to sleep he thought that he could see himself spending the rest of his life by his side. Just before falling asleep, he promised himself that he would take him with him the next time he went to visit his family.

This time it's really the end.

Many of you have asked me for news about Charlie, I hope you are satisfied with this bonus.

Thank you all for following this story and for your comments.

See you soon on a new story!

Lyla0ï