Chapter Three : The Visit

Charlie Weasley is an easy-going type of a lad. He's not keen to listen to the news – not the Daily Prophet nor to those rubbish that go mostly around the school. He prefers it being alone tending to the chores in his warm little hut, taking care of his plants and animals wandering the castle grounds. The loudest of the gossips can knock off his cottage and Charley Weasley remain oblivious, the last person to possibly hear about it.

He enjoys the milieu of his little vegetable garden – a definition of luxury to a simple insouciant young man that of a former dragon-handler like him. Charlie spends most of his time here whenever there are no students to teach. It's been two years since he handled Care for Magical Creatures in Hogwarts, replacing Hagrid.

His house is simple, yet cozy and inviting. It crouched low into the grassy embankment, as though it were trying to hide, but the misshapen slate roof was too large to go unnoticed. The sides were the same grey slabs as the low walls in the dales and the roof was a darker slate.

The garden is a miniature vineyard of pumpkin, lettuces, and native shrubs, each of them trimmed as if they were green flames. To move about them is a sort of music, a poetry that cannot be spoken in words, yet is heard and calms everything that he is.

Charlie hums happily wrenching a few fresh cabbages from the rich soil. The song reminded him of his beloved dragons back in the Romanian Reserve. He was thinking about making a nice pot roast for dinner. It's the weekend. Usually, he would prefer eating on his own abode than stay in the Great Hall enjoying the sumptuous food prepared by the house elves.

Don't get him wrong. Their cooking is the best, way better than his mother's exquisite culinary skills, but still, nothing can beat to a home-cooked meal with that warm and rich, fancy taste, plus, fresh fine ingredients wafting on the plate. Add a pint of Mule or a bottle of Firewhiskey on the table and everything would be perfect.

Sigh… if only he could ask for something more special, he wouldn't mind having someone to spend and enjoy the dinner with. Only then, he can say his night is complete.

The man was too preoccupied lamenting over his loneliness, his basket half-full of potatoes, carrots, and lemon grass when a large hawk-like bird perched atop the wooden fence shook him of its presence.

"For the love of Merlin!" Charlie gasped, clutching his chest. "You're giving me a heart attack, mate." He bawled out. His tone of voice brash. His hands still trembling in panic. His straw hat nearly flew off his head. "Don't you ever try to scare me like that again, will you?"

The man was scolding the bird as if it could understand what he's saying. And yet, there was no reaction from it. It just stood there on the fence, staring at him still… almost with emerald green eyes twinkling in amusement.

That pair of eyes just seem so familiar, he thought to himself for a while. It just didn't occur to him that familiar something or someone has feathers and wings, glaring at him hawk-like.

"What's with the surprise visit, dear fella?" Charlie asks the bird in a friendly manner. "You look beautiful. I hope you'd fancy a nice dinner with roasted beef and vegetables with a lonesome bloke here, eh?" He joked, pondering about stroking its magnificent feathers but decided not to risk his hand.

"A nice pot roast doesn't sound so bad." His ocean-blue eyes widen in shock. The flying creature that perched regally in front of his house magically turned itself into a man – a colleague. Charlie looked up to see his brother's best-friend roosting on the fence looking as handsome as ever in his gray dress pants and ash waistcoat atop his white dress shirt with its sleeves folded up to the upper portion of his arms. The new defense teacher, his pseudo-brother – Harry Potter.

The transfiguration made him almost drop his basket onto the ground. "Ha – Harry?" He stammered.

"You look funny when you squeak." The raven-haired young man didn't bother hiding his smirk.

"I for one thing did not squeak, Potter." Straightening his stance, Charlie defended himself indignantly. He was trying hard not to ogle at the pair of the nicest and firmest butt he had ever seen. Not to mention that prominent bulge revealing in between Harry's thighs, thanks to that tight-fitting trousers he wore at that time. It didn't help that he was half sitting-half scrunching with his hips slightly lifted against the chunk of wood. It had brought up all the buried feelings back onto the surface for the last couple of years he did all but ignored.

"Whatever you say, Weasley." Sure thing, any form of uncontrolled girlish actions didn't lessen the former dragon-handler's masculinity at the least. Charlie in his dark-green-almost black sleeveless tunic with a high collar buttoned-up going downwards revealing his sculpted chest, paired with ivory breeches, hem clutching his firm and fine arse. It reminded him of all the sinful fantasies towards the man his dirty mind has come up with since he was fourteen at the Quidditch World Cup.

"I was hoping I can invite you to a drink or two at the Three Broomsticks. Although you must have other plans, the way I see it. You wouldn't mind if I join you for dinner, would you?" Harry asks him hopefully. Charlie's cooking is one of the best things about being a part of the Weasleys next to Molly's.

"Of course, I don't." The former dragon-handler cleared his throat. "It's been a while since I haven't seen you, after all." There's a tone of excitement in his voice. He wanted to say, 'I miss you' but decided not to push it through.

Meanwhile, Harry was observing his every move. From the way he wringed on those vegetables to putting them into the basket. His eyes trailed at the way his muscles flexed in every stretch.

"You have such a lovely house." Harry looked around. Charlie's hut looked almost the same as the one he had in Romania located at the enclosure of the Dragon Reserve.

"It helped a lot when I was adjusting to my new workplace." The ginger explained. "The vegetable patch was an added bonus." He had known for a long time about Charlie's fondness towards plants and animals. And since he loves to cook a lot, he loves to grow vegetables in his yard. It was one of the things Harry missed about the red-headed man when he stayed with him for a short time on a special mission before he retired from the Auror corps.

"I guess this should be enough." Charlie decided after picking some tomatoes on a shrub. "Best be inside, now, mate. It's getting dark." He stood up and motions for Harry to follow him inside the house.

The man complied but not without getting past the chance in ogling the former dragon-handler's arse the moment he turns to walk back.

Harry's lip twitched up a bit as he roamed his gaze around the interior of the house of the second-oldest Weasley. He must have done a few changes to it compared to the many times he had been in the tiny cottage that was once owned by his half-man, half-giant friend. Expansion charms can make a lot of wonders. It has two bedrooms, a bathroom, a sitting room, and a kitchen. A typical wizard's hut. It does look wider on the inside than the way one would look at it on the outside.

"Wow." The raven-hair gasped. "This place is nice." He commented.

Just exactly what he wanted in a house. His dream home was no more than a small cottage surrounded by flowers and a vegetable patch. Way far from the intricate life he had in a manor surrounded by people of politics and a crazy exposure from the press.

"It's been a while since you've visited." Charlie admonishes. He was referring to his old home in the dragon reserve. He deposited the vegetables he had gathered on the kitchen counter, picking up the teapot and places it on the fire. "Tea perhaps?" He offered.

"Sure." Harry gulped. Those biceps looked just too sinful in his eyes. "I didn't even know you already left the reserve to teach in Hogwarts."

For a moment, his smile had faded. But as soon as he realizes, forces the smile back to come out of his face, beaming at Harry gently. "Got involved in another accident. Pretty nasty cut on my lower chest nearly brought me to my end. It was a horntail." He added, "although not the same dragon you've outflown when you were in your fourth year. It was her older sister that did it actually."

The young raven's eyes widen from what he had heard. The thought of the man who was once in danger suddenly frightened him. "You – you were? Ho – how are you? Are you okay now?" He asked. There is too much worry in his voice when he blurted that out.

Charlie held out a chuckle. "Hey, I'm more than okay now." He reassured him. "I was lucky the healers were prompt to fix me before it was too late. As if nothing happened. Although it left a scar at the back, opposite from where my lower chest got hit. I could've gone back after a month or so. But it made me realize that was the last straw. I still want to live longer. Still have plenty of things to accomplish."

He gulped to stop himself from saying anything more. He wanted to admit that the true reason behind his decision was that he didn't want to die without letting the man he was talking to find out how much he cared for him more than an older brother does.

Things have been different since Harry had left the reserve. He'd been gone for almost two years since the frequent visits. There has never been a day he wasn't thinking about him, longing to draw him in his arms. Even the house he had looked into as his home for such a long time had lost its vibe since the man departed, heaven knows where he'd been all these years.

Harry held out a sigh of great relief. At least he's fine and safe now. His mind is screaming deep within. He chose to say, "I couldn't imagine what Molly would have thought if anything happens to you," instead of, "I'd be devastated if something bad happens to you, you know."

Charlie turn to look at him intently in the eyes. Whatever it is he is seeing right there, he couldn't determine… or he had rather chose to deny it.

"Why weren't I informed when this happened?" flabbergasted, he felt a bit hurt. He made friends at the reserve in those visits. How come none of them have thought about firecalling or owling him at the time?

Didn't they know how much he cared for the guy?

"I guess you were off-the-track when they tried." Charlie reasoned out. "But it's not your fault. You had a lot of things going on in your mind. And when we met again at Christmas a few months after that, I have fully recovered. There's no point making you worry for what it's worth." He supplied.

Harry wanted to argue but decided not to push the point before he might say anything that may reveal what's hidden inside his heart. He's not yet ready to discuss them yet. Especially in front of this dragon-tamer wearing such an outrageously sexy outfit.

"I haven't seen the family since the holidays." He admitted. He was on a world tour for two year's straight.

Had he known!

"Got your owl, didn't I?" Charlie smirked. "It was understandable. And since you were on the go from time to time, it will be impossible to track you down." On the contrary, the man did get plenty of owls from Harry. Usually, they were updates of his whereabouts, his travels, or whatnot. There're chances where the man returns to the country although they were mostly short-stays. He refused to oblige him to reply since chances in receiving them are no more than minimal. He could've left again before the owl arrives with his response mail which was proven by the dragon-handler himself many times.

"I spent last year's Christmas in Ibiza." Harry explained. "I went to oversee several family properties there."

"You were with Mason, yes?" Charlie was referring to Mason Potter, the younger man's blood-adopted brother. He's silently hoping that the rich and famous bachelor, Harry Potter had preferred wandering the temptation island of sin with his brother than going there on his own. Surrounded by girls or probably… men. The thought alone brought a pang of worry in his chest.

"Yeah. How did you know?"

Made a wild guess. Thank heavens! He babbled in his head. Though he knew he didn't have the right to be jealous.

Harry is a friend. He's been incorporated with the Weasley family as the youngest little brother since he was eleven. He's still way too younger than him by more than ten years. Not that he would consider it that the man is now fully grown up. Thus, narrowing the age gap. Harry is no longer the scrawny little guy wearing baggy clothes and round-rimmed glasses that he was. He has completely changed like the swan in the story of The Ugly Duckling from the Muggle tale. He's become a nobleman, a real-life prince. A pure-blooded wizard, a true celebrity.

"That explains the gift you have sent me then." Charlie's smile broadened. Harry's gift was an expensive watch made of gold decorated with stones of Sapphires and Garnet.

"The city island is famous for its precious gems." Harry told him. "I have no idea we own a couple of bazaars in their downtown until we got there. Got several jewelry-store branches in the local area even." And then, suddenly, after realizing something, he shots the older man a glare. "You didn't think I went there just to party around in a yacht drenching in sweat and wine with young birds and blokes, did you?"

Charlie's face reddened. He suddenly got busier than normal rinsing the freshly picked vegetables in the sink. "Of – of course not." He stammered. "Although I don't see anything wrong with a young and eligible man to indulge himself at times. Who could blame you? In fact, you're getting popular lately around the castle. Boys and girls are head over heels on their wonderful savior." He added, wriggling his brows teasing him.

"Git." Harry flustered. His cheeks burning. "My idea of fun has nothing to do with the protruding gossips, Mister Weasley." He sneered. Charlie must have already heard about the fiasco of his scandalous magazine. How can he not be? The news had already reached as far as Hogsmeade that very same morning.

"Now, now… play nice there, Potter." The ginger leered back. Harry was sure he caught the man blushing in about a second or it could've been only his imagination. "Mister Weasley sounded much like my father." He drawled. "We can be less formal inside my house, yeah?"

Harry swallowed a lump in his throat. He just realized the older guy had walked closer next to him. So close, he could count the freckles on his nose. Since when did it become so warm inside the room?

"Why don't you stop being a prat and act your age, then?" It was a joke, of course.

Charlie messes his hair and threw a light punch on his arm. The two exchanged playful punches goofing around.

"Kids." Harry muttered. "Now seems the best time to have Lockhart around prancing his stupid arse instead of the entire school ogling at my back. Can I help you with those?" He pointed at the rest of the ingredients Charlie placed on the table."

"Err… you can chop the carrots and potatoes into small bits. I'll heat the oven." The red-hair instructed which Harry took the knife from him without second guessing. "I heard what you did to those seventh years." He added, deliberately distracting him. "You know, I would have to steal that idea from you one of these days. Sometimes, playing the nice guy in class isn't enough. There are times you have to show them rough."

"Quite true. Worse, you have to be mean to them in any way but hurting them." Frustrated, Harry jabs the knife he held in the air.

"I suppose you are talking to students trying to seduce you, eh?"

The man had flinched but slowly nodded. "I got at least three of them in a day. It's horrible."

Shaking his head, the older Weasley began rubbing salt and pepper on the roasted meat. He's in a bit of deep thinking about going after those bold youngsters who'd dare work themselves as potential competitors. He doesn't like it at all.

"Want my help talking to them?" what he meant was getting rid of them. The offer came out of nowhere.

Harry raised his brows and then pasted a wicked grin on his face. "No, no. it's fine. Besides, I had it all figured out. You'll see." He stated, brandishing the sharp tool once again.

Charlie couldn't help but chuckle over the man's funny antics. Seeing the young lord of several prominent houses chopping vegetables on a dress made him think a lot of sinful things that involves the table and shed clothes with the both of them on top of it - naked.

Clearing his throat, Charlie resorted to switching topics. He averted his gaze and said, "by the way. Mum has sent over invitations. She firecalled yesterday to make sure you get yours."

"Oh, about that…" Yeah. He almost forgot his other purpose of visiting the red-head. Harry was invited to join them for dinner on Sunday which is a usual family gathering at least once a month. He hadn't made it to visit the Burrow yet since returning to the country in the last couple of weeks. "I was actually wondering if I can side along with you." He pleaded. "I don't know what Molly and Hermione have in place once I show up there after missing for over a year. I may not survive it."

With a snort, Charlie took the chopped vegetables from the raven-haired young man, then added the ingredients into the large clay pot. "Of course, you can side along. It won't be too much of a deal since they knew we both work at Hogwarts. Although I can't promise you'll come out of the Burrow unscathed."

Harry nodded in agreement. "I can live with that. I am almost 100 percent sure those two are gonna kill me just like what they've threatened me in their letters." He scowled.

Charlie's laughter filled the kitchen.

"Hmmm…" Harry moaned. "This is so good." It took him one taste of the dish for those orgasmic noise to come out of his mouth, distracting the man who made it watching him across the table.

Charlie momentarily drags his mind into somewhere else. Thinking about some happy thoughts that could weaken the hardening muscle in between his legs. "I know." He murmured. "You have the same reaction when I used to cook it back in the reserve."

The younger guy took another spoonful and indulges himself on its rich flavor. "I've missed this."

"This is nothing compared to those things you've tasted roaming around the globe." Charlie smirked.

"Of course, not. Those are exquisite meals but this one's home." He retorted. "I won't replace it for anything else in the world."

The older guy felt his chest warm. There's this strange motion inside him bubbling in happiness hearing Harry considering his presence as 'home'. "We can do this again if you want." He offered.

The raven flashed a shy smile. "Yeah, I guess so."

Charlie took the bottle of Nebbiolo Harry conjured out of nowhere and poured the contents into their glasses. The rest of the night, under the dim light, they opt to keep their conversion casual before it may lead them into something, they're not yet ready to happen between them. Nevertheless, the time they spent together was intimate. It was in fact, surprisingly romantic.

"What made you decide to teach?" It was a question the red-hair has been dying to raise. It's weird knowing Harry's schedule was bloody hectic. The stunt he pulled at the Great Hall a few nights ago impressed the older Weasley to his wits.

A thunderbird…

Blimey! A majestic creature that can rival a phoenix. How powerful this handsome young man in front of him can possibly be?

His Animagus form is just absolutely stunning!

Stifling a chortle under his breath, the man admitted, "I am actually on a mission." He told Charlie. It's a confidential case but Harry knew he could trust the red-head, resulting to the latter's brows raised. "You remember what McGonagall said during the night of the opening feast?"

He nodded.

"Well, there's a possibility that the Defense Class is somewhat jinxed."

Charlie took a sip of his red wine before retorting, "was that supposed to be a myth?"

Harry shrugged.

"Do you think You-Know-Who's the one who had cast the curse?" He asked him again.

The young Lord's voice momentarily switches to something that sounded more complicated. "For now, it's a theory I would have to investigate." He pointed out, "if it is indeed a part of his doing, the curse should have been lifted since the final battle – which makes the whole matter even more baffling."

"Or maybe it was just a coincidence?" He suggested for the sake of the argument.

Harry shakes his head. "It has been too frequent and too routinized to consider it a mere coincidence, Charles."

He was right. Even in his time back in Hogwarts, Charlie couldn't remember any professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts that lasted more than twelve months. "Well, you probably have to be here for more than a year to prove that point." He joked.

"That's exactly what I'm dreading about." He scowled, but there's no way he'd admit that he finds it less dreadful having the stunningly gorgeous red-head's company around.

"How about your other jobs? Your position in the Wizengamot?" After claiming his lordship, Harry is now practically the most powerful man in Europe. Not that everyone knows but he's an unofficial monarch truth to be told. His popularity in and out of the country is feasted on by the press, more so by the wizarazzi.

"Technically, I still manage them." Harry shifted on his seat, crossing his legs. He doesn't consider managing his estates and businesses as an actual job. It's more a family obligation like a father taking care of his children. "Besides, they're under the supervision of my solicitors." He supplied. "Mason acts as my Chief Solicitor who oversees everything on my behalf."

Charlie nodded. Convinced. Considering the other man has actually been fulfilling 'mercenary jobs' on his own, there's no reason for him to argue any more. "You never get things easy, do you, mate?" He teases.

The red-head takes the trifle he prepared for their dessert along with the Moet & Chandon to wash it through their palate.

"I wish I really don't have to." Harry shot back. After all, his dream is simple. A nice, quiet life and a simple family of his own.

"Hear! Hear! Let's pray to that." Charlie raises his glass.

Therefore, as he concludes it: He'll be spending a year with Harry or two playing detectives in school.

This will be an interesting year... who knows? It may come out as bloody exciting.

Charlie thought at the very least.

-Next Chapter-

Punishment Is Severe