CH5- Suspicions

I forgot who but someone was annoyed about the whole 'why doesn't he just nod or shake his head' situation. Which suuuucks because I am annoyed by this sort of thing as well, and was trying really hard to make sure that every time it either a) wasn't a question that a nod could solve or b) such a small amount of time after that he wouldn't get a chance to respond. He could try answering every question with a nod, but then he'd just be 'that one dragon that likes to bob his head', y'know? Anyways!

Charlie huffed as he pushed a heavy large cart, filled with three buckets full of a rice, beans, and cooked chicken mixture. Everything a dragon could want, if they wanted to eat some sort of human-ish food. If this didn't satisfy the Lithefoot, he didn't know what would.

Knocking on the door, he did the spell that would shorten the chain once again. For a moment, he considered if it even mattered, since the sly devil could slip out of his chains at anytime. Somehow. Still not sure about how it's pulling off that one quite yet.

He entered with a bright smile. "Heeeello~? I've brought you something that I think you'll like this time." The Lithefoot was standing at attention in the center of the room, watching the Weasley with a careful eye. Charlie offered it a bucket.

Danny took a sniff of it. Well, it wasn't warm anymore, but it was way better than anything else in this facility.

Charlie brightens as he watches the Lithefoot slowly nibble on the food. He catches its eye, confused when it flicks away to avoid eye contact. This hyper aware dragon brought new mysteries with every interaction.

He carefully caresses the side of the Lithefoot's neck as he eats. "Not food aggressive, which is good." he mumbles, watching the beast for a change of movement.

The pats get a little rougher, scratching at the base of the dragon's neck. Now.. if he understood yesterday correctly, he's fairly certain it nodded at his question. Which could only mean...

He strokes the horse-like ear, leans closer, and whispers, "You can understand me, can't you?"

The beast tensed. He didn't even realize they did at first, but the muscles under his fingers told no lies. Charlie took two steps back, this aggression was not something he wanted out of the dragon. This may be some pet or something, but he did not need to take any more chances than necessary.

The dragon pulled his head up to look at Charlie with the most suspicious expression he'd ever see a reptile wear. And the beast slowly nods, fear pricking at the corner of its eyes. Internally, Charlie took a sigh of relief. At least the reaction wasn't angry.

"Hey, hey. It's alright, I'm not gonna do anything to ya. Least of all harm you. Can't you see? Dragons are my passion. I even got this earring from a hatchling I raised from the egg."

Charlie bites his lip. Well, he confirmed his suspicions. And that was great, really it was. But.. what does he do with that now? The fact that the dragon is processing human speech? The fact that the dragon is listening to him? The implications of those suspicions? Oh crucio, this was going to be worse than the Thorntails.

The dragonologist shook his head solemnly, ignoring a grumble from the dragon.

"Alright well listen up. You still seem like a very young dragon! And young dragons need to eat." He pulls out the other two buckets and places them on the floor. "So you better finish your whole meal this time, got it?"

Charlie retreated with the cart, mentally preparing himself to have what was bound to be a very unpleasant talk with Timms.

Charlie walked swiftly into the main office of the building, looking around corners for his superior.
"Timms?" he called.

"At the ink station, Weasley" he heard back. "What is it you need?"

Charlie slides up to the shelf of inkpots, chuckling nervously. "Heyyy there Timms." He coos.

The dark skinned man side-eyes the ginger with a suspicious look.

"Alright, get it over with. What did you break this time."

Charlie huffed, crossing his arms. "I didn't break anything! Why do you always think I'm causing trouble?"

Timms glares at him deadpan. "Because you are." He sighs. "What did you need, Weasley?"

Weasley's left hand reached up to fiddle with his dragontooth earring.

"I think.. I've figured out the mystery behind the Lithefoot."

Charlie proudly sashayed into the cage of the Lithefoot with Goldhorn and Asp.

Asp pulls out her want and said a quick spell that pulled the Lithefoot's chain to the farthest corner of the room. It only hesitated slightly before following the chain.

"So remind me, Weasley. What are you going to do with the Lithefoot in a travel container?"

Charlie pulled open the two huge doors on the other side of the pen with a flick of the wand. It revealed a relatively large yard with a huge shipping container placed in it that could magically secure any dragon they threw at it.

Through the cracks of light one could see other yards where dragons on their chain leashes could be seen wandering designated patches of land. The sight of these seemed to intrigue the Lithefoot as it let out a curious trill.

"Well, you remember my brother Bill?"

Asp made a so-so gesture.

"He's a curse-breaker, so if anyone was going to be able to figure out the spell surrounding the Lithefoot- whether that's one intelligence, entrapment, or dark arts- it would be him. He's already confirmed meeting me at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures on level four, where they'll have room to house the dragon temporarily while in wizarding London."

Goldhorn rolled his eyes as he summoned ropes to pull the Lithefoot's head and legs towards the shipping container, working with Asp to drag it towards the box.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to get your brother to come here instead of relocating an entire dragon?"

Charlie chuckled nervously as he motioned the Lithefoot to follow into the container. It hesitantly took steps towards the long metal crate with barely any cracks of light passing through it.

"Yes, but he wanted to stay near his team because they're on a very serious case right now."

And it definitely isn't because it's a good chance to unsuspiciously smuggle more people in the order to wizarding London…

He felt a little bad lying to them, but he had to keep his mouth shut right now.

The ropes and chain persuaded the pale dragon into the crate, and Weasley levitated a chain around the neck that was connected to the neck, while the other two wizards retreated with their precautions. There were other chains, but since a) somehow the brat kept letting himself loose and b) he didn't see the dragon trying to escape the box like a Thailand Bullethead, he let them be.

One final spell and the crate was conveniently shrunk to the size of what a muggle would consider a cat carrier, complete with a handle and everything.

"I'll see you blokes after I find more information- don't get lonely without me!"

Goldhorn rolled his eyes and Asp gave a little wave. With that, Charlie apperated to the nearest train station.

.. I may be having too much fun with wizard swears..