Word Count: 533

It happens in a flash. One moment, Paulette, the latest Welsh Green baby, has her full attention on Charlie. Feeding time is always the easiest time to distract them. For the briefest of moments, the dragons aren't concerned with anything other than the free meat.

Then there's the faintest sound, and Paulette changes. Charlie barely has time to register the aggression in her posture before lunges, fire streaming from her mouth.

Heart racing as he realizes she's attacked someone, Charlie acts as quickly as he can, sending up a distress signal before doing everything in his power to subdue her. Dragons aren't easy. Even baby dragons are trouble more often than they aren't. Paulette loses interest quickly enough, and the fear fades. She huffs and returns to her plate of meat.

Charlie rushes over to the fallen man, swearing under his breath. Of course it would happen to Malfoy. Even if he's grown up now, Charlie has heard enough stories about the little jerk. What's to keep him from trying to have the sanctuary closed down?

"You… You saved me," Draco says, sitting up with some difficulty.

Charlie frowns. It's a good thing Paulette is so young. Draco will have a few light burns, and his robes will be mended, but it isn't a big deal. At least the younger man is a Healer, so he already knows how to tend to his own wounds. He's already digging for burn paste in his robes.

"Right." Charlie nods. "I'll just leave you to it."

"Weasley, wait!"

Charlie pauses, brows raised. It isn't like he and Draco talk, so why should they start now? There's nothing to stop him from just walking off, but curiosity gets the better of him. "Yeah?"

At first, Draco doesn't speak. His attention is fixed on the thick paste as he rubs it on his skin. The silence begins to feel tense after several seconds of it.

"I… Well, I was actually coming out to ask you if you were busy Saturday."

This day just makes less and less sense. Talking is one thing; does Draco actually want to hang out? Maybe Charlie should tell him no, but there's something endearing about the hope in Draco's pale eyes. "Nothing planned, other than my usual morning stroll."

Draco nods, pale cheeks glowing a soft pink. It seems strange to think that this is the same arrogant git Ron and the twins hated so much. His arrogance seems to be a thing of the past. Charlie has only ever seen him like this: vulnerable, uncertain, human.

"Would you like to get coffee with me?" Draco tucks the burn paste back in his pocket before examining his already-healing burns. "As… Well, as a date?"

The rejection is on the tip of Charlie's tongue, but he doesn't see a reason to let it out. Draco isn't the same person his brothers knew. Why should Charlie base his decision on a man who doesn't even exist anymore? Maybe he's still rough around the edges and learning to grow, but he has always been kind to Charlie. Besides, he would be lying if he said Draco isn't attractive.

Charlie grins. "Noon sound good?"

"It's a date."