Charlotte sat on the floor with a book propped open. She was reading frantically trying to find some appropriate answer for the assigned question, only, nothing in the text gave her enough of an answer to satisfy her assignment. She managed to make due so far. Most professors gave the holiday assignment questions early enough for students leaving the school to complete the research prior to leaving. This question, however, perplexed her.
Really it was her own fault. She proposed the question for the assignment. All she needed to do was change the question to something easier and she could go forward. But Charlotte never took the easy path through her life and she was not about to start now. She looked up at Charlie, debating her options. He lay sprawled out on the couch half-heartedly napping. He would occasionally wake enough to stroke a finger through her curls or to trace her shoulders as she worked.
She was actually shocked at the way he was acting since she returned to Romania on Saturday. She thought he missed the physical relations of a woman when she arrived. However, his whole attitude changed since her last visit. She wondered at the change in his letters. She thought maybe he was trying to put forth a bigger effort at the prompting of his sister or mother, but now she was not so sure.
She worked so hard to please him those first two days, hoping he could be satisfied with her. After their encounter in the shower that first morning, he made an effort to always tell her how happy she made him and not just in their lovemaking. Every meal she made was praised as if it were a grand feast. He noted when she rearranged the kitchen again to accommodate the new dishes she brought with her and told her how much he appreciated all she had done to make their tiny house a home.
He took her to the small town again after he got home from work on Sunday. They shopped for the mundane things again, staples for the house, things for meals throughout the week, and, much to her displeasure, a few more clothes.
Charlie even bought her a new necklace. Nothing fancy or expensive, it was a study leather cord holding and inexpensive charm of a dragon in flight. The dragon had a deep blue gem for its eyes. Charlotte was not looking at the trinket, but Charlie was drawn to it. As he slid it around her neck and fastened the clasp, he kissed the back of her neck making her shiver. "The dragon and you have the same eyes. So wild and exotic, you have to have it."
She looked back into Charlie's storm blue eyes expecting to see lust, but it wasn't there. Something she could not place shone back at her. Somewhere, sometime, somehow, Charlie had come to care for her, and she knew, as well, she had begun to feel the same way.
He must have sensed her looking at him, because he opened his eyes lazily and looked at her. She smiled at him and he sleepily smiled back. "Almost done?"
"Not even close." She replied, sighing. "Though, I may have to finish this one when I get back. I don't have the proper books to complete the essay."
"Really? Which class?" Charlie closed his eyes again and relaxed back into the couch.
Charlotte smirked and shook her head. At least he was pretending to be interested. "Care of Magical Creatures."
Charlie smiled but didn't open his eyes. "Oh? I might be able to help you with that. I do remember a little about the class. I might even had a book or two lying about that may help"
Charlotte snorted and looked across the room. Charlie's small bookshelf was crammed full of reference books from his mastery in both magical creatures and dragons. She debated looking before, but had no clue how to find the answer to her question.
Charlie pulled himself upright to a groan. He kissed the top of her hair and propped his chin on her shoulder. Turning sideways, he kissed her neck before trying to focus on her assignment. "What has Hagrid assigned?"
"Don't you think it would be cheating to just ask you for the answers?" She asked trying to turn to face him. He was too close and she could not focus on him, so she turned away dropping her gaze back to her paper.
"No. Not in the least. If you want, I can make you work for the answers." He whispered seductively into her ear. He moved her hair and kissed her in the spot her neck and shoulder met. She giggled and squirmed away. Charlie didn't relent which lead to Charlotte being pulled up into his lap followed by a great deal of kissing. Charlotte finally sighed and slid back to her seat on the floor after a few moments of his attentions. Charlie reached across her from his position behind her and drew the parchment forward to read the question. "What are the characteristics of the venom of various dragons and what is the appropriate medical treatment?"
Charlotte nodded. "We have been studying dragons for a couple of weeks, and since we are all leaving soon, Hagrid told us to develop an essay question to help us in our future careers."
Charlie looked at Charlotte in shock. "That is rather ingenious of the chap."
Charlotte grinned sheepishly. "Hermione is helping him with his lesson plans again."
"Ah." Charlie nodded. "Now that would make more sense."
Charlotte nodded. "I was thinking, since I have a good chance of working with Thayer and CeCe…"
"You mean when you are working with Thayer and CeCe. They love you. Sang your praises to anyone who would listen. Peptrofski too." Charlie beamed down at her with pride.
"I have to have high enough scores on my exams to get the job." Charlotte reminded him.
"So, no problem there. I have seen your essay scores, Charlotte. All E's and O's."
"I could freeze up." Charlotte looked worried.
Charlie kissed her on top of the head again. He didn't debate, because the possibility was real. It happened in the past when she was under a lot of pressure.
Charlie thought for a moment before continuing. "How did your OWL's go? Any problems?"
"No." she shook her head. "But that was a lifetime ago. So much has happened."
"Agreed," Charlie nodded, "and you survived it all. I believe with all of the studying you lot are doing, the potions you are on to help you sleep without nightmares, and the fact Thayer sent a letter to Minerva to let her know what happened here and why, you will be fine. If not, the Ministry testers have removed students to calm them down before. Besides, you are a battle student. They are giving you more leniency on the exams and practical."
Charlotte hung her head in humiliation. "I hate that. All of it. I want to receive the grades I earn, not ones for something I did. I am weak and have to take the potion to sleep. I cannot be brave enough to move forward like Ginny, Hermione and Luna."
"You think Ginny and Hermione are coping without help?" Charlie scoffed. "That battery of potions Hermione is taking includes a calming draft. She has been having a right time of it without Ronnie and Harry there with her. Ginny, for all of her act, is a mess. She is afraid Harry is going to disappear again. Mum doses her with calming draught every time she leaves the Burrow. George doesn't sleep more than three hours a night. Mum is continually watching that clock. Percy is everywhere trying to help put Wizarding England back together. Harry sees a mind healer three days a week trying to deal with the fact so many people died trying to help him. Even more, he is trying to deal with the fact he killed another person. Bill is running himself ragged trying to help everyone in the family. Ronnie is working at the Ministry during the days trying to catch what's left of the death eaters and nights trying to keep George going. I think if it wasn't for that, he would be the appointment right after Harry with those mind healers. Hell, Charlotte, if it wasn't for you, I would be a drunk mess at the pub every night. That's how I handled things when I got back. I was drunk more than sober those first few months. Now, I have you to think about. I sit here at night and dream about what it will be like when you come here and we are together every day. You are not weak, Charlotte. For all you have endured, your entire life, you are the most sound-minded person I have ever met. Look at Luna. She lost only her mother and she spends half her time with the fairies. If you think any of us have it more together than you, you're living a dream. We just have more practice not letting the façade drop."
She was shocked at his explanation. Shocked at his admitting the truth of what was really happening. She began to think of all she seen and what was happening around her as she was falling apart. Angie didn't live with George to help with the business. She lived with him to deal with his twin brother's loss. Ginny was always desperate to hear from Harry and when he was around, she never let him go. The girls were regularly comforting one or the other to get through something which triggered memories. But everything they did, they did together. No one stood alone, not even Charlotte. Not anymore.
One thing concerned her from his conversation. "Charlie, you're alone here."
He smiled. "I have my friends and my dragons. I tend to work a lot, collecting time so when you are home, I can be around more. Before you came along, I was content, but not anymore. I never thought I would think this, but I am looking forward to the day you come home for the last time. I was never lonely before you, Charlotte. Now, at times, I ache for you to be here with me."
Charlotte dropped her head. Charlie picked her chin up with one finger. "Don't be sad. It's only a little longer. I have made it seven years here on my own. I can last for ten more weeks. Besides, I will get to see you a few days in those ten weeks and our week is not over yet."
She smiled and nodded, accepting his answer. He grinned back. "So, let's learn about dragons. I should be able to find you the book you need."
He heaved himself off the couch, stretched and wandered to the bookshelf. He looked at the spines and retrieved one of the thick text. He flipped through the pages as he returned and sat back down on the cushions with a grunt. He flipped a few more pages and grinned. Reaching down, he pulled Charlotte up onto the couch next to him. He reclined into the corner of the couch again and pulled her with him reclining them both allowing Charlotte to use him as the cushion. "Read this chapter and the next. I think it will give you what you need to know. If not, we can visit Thayer and CeCe tomorrow."
"I don't want to be a bother." Charlotte tried to protest.
Charlie grinned. "I have orders to bring you in to show them you are eating."
Charlotte read. Charlie snored.
When she was done, she had a better understanding, but realized things were missing. She looked up at Charlie. His eyes were open again and he was watching her read. "Your nose crinkles up when you are reading. I can tell when you are confused about something you are working on. It's cute."
He reached down and pecked her nose emphasizing his point. She grinned at him and rolled her eyes.
"So, what has that cute button nose of yours all scrunched?" Charlie asked yawning.
Charlotte looked at the text again. "Something Katie said about Horntails the last time I was here."
Charlie thought back. "When were you talking about Horntails?"
"While I was treating the pair of you here. I was trying to keep Katie awake because of the blood loss, so I asked her about Horntails. It's actually what prompted my question. I didn't know I could not treat your burn with puncture because of the acid in the Horntail fire. I actually just read why I couldn't use it now. Thayer was busy and never explained."
"I never thought about something like that." Charlie said thoughtfully. "What else. You said you understood why now. What else was confusing you?"
Charlotte laid her arms across Charlie chest to better look at him. "She was telling me about how Horntails lick their talons and extract the venom on them. It didn't say anything in your book about it."
Charlie nodded his head. "It's a relatively new find. We began to notice it whenever someone got hurt, the claws and teeth did the same damage. Actually, the tail does also, but usually the person it so hurt by the tail, you don't worry about the venom as much other then they are bleeding profusely. It's actually what happened to Perry."
Charlotte blanched. She had never thought to ask. "What happened to Perry?"
Charlie smiled proudly down at her. "He survived. Thayer told everybody who would listen, if it had not been for you, kid wouldn't have made it. Probably would have lost Malcolm as well."
"Malcolm?" she questioned.
"Bloke with the head injury." Charlie explained. "CeCe said you caught it just in time. Could have killed him easily if he would not have come in or you would have thought it just a bump and sent him home."
She paled, never before thinking about what her actions could cause if she was not careful. Charlie read her like a book. "You were brilliant. For what little training you have received, you exceeded and excelled. CeCe and Thayer were confused for a time how you knew as much as you did. They both agreed it would take more knowledge than would could have been taught to a ten year old child, even one as smart as you. It took a letter to McGonagall to figure it out."
"I know," Charlotte grimaced, "Poppy told me she wrote to them."
"Fourth year, Charlotte. Most students going into healing might spend some time their seventh year, maybe their sixth, working for Poppy. You have been at her side for four years." Charlie marveled.
"Flitwick is good to his students. If he can find a way, and you are dedicated, he will help you to obtain your goals. I may be a half blood, but I am not of a good wizarding family, or I wasn't." She grinned up at him. Charlie rolled his eyes. "He figured if I have the school matron backing my application of St. Mungo's, they would consider me more openly. At that point, it was nothing more than proving I was willing and capable with good grades, excellent test scores and hard work."
Charlie pulled her to his chest and held her close. "You will be absolutely brilliant. I have no doubts."
They stayed like that for a moment before Charlie asked a question he was wondering. "Is that why you took so many summer classes as well. Thayer said you took anatomy during the summer one year."
"No." Charlotte sighed. "That was for my mother, but my career choice is what led to that particular class. She was not happy I was going to Hogwarts. Especially after she learned I was not learning math, science, proper muggle history and literature. To make her happy, I took the excelled summer courses to appease her. If I would have been home this summer, I would have wrote my exams to graduate from muggle school as well."
Charlie pulled her face up to look at him. "Did you want to?"
Charlotte looked back at him exhausted. "No, it would be like getting ready for the equivalent of the NEWT's only on the muggle side. I don't think I have it in me right now to do that."
Charlie nodded. He would not push the issue, hoping right now to just get her through the wizarding exams. He stroked her hair for a moment, hoping she might sleep. She was already up with her papers spread across their table working on ancient runes when he awoke this morning. The transfiguration homework she left incomplete was done sitting on one of the chairs. His luck hadn't held.
She sighed again and sat up. "I have to get this done and start dinner."
"Let me cook. Eggy Toast, I can make that." Charlie grinned proudly. "And sausages."
She giggled. He curled his lip into a pout, begging with his eyes. She laughed harder and nodded her head. He kissed her for allowing him to help.
She lay her chin back on her hands splayed across his chest. "Tell me more about the Horntails. You said it was a recent discovery?"
Charlie nodded. "Phillip been writing a paper for the professional journals about it for the reserve. We are on the forefront of a lot of new discoveries. Do you know Thayer has developed a new anti-venom for the Vipertooth? It works ten times as well as the previous. Several reserve workers were able to recover fully now from bites. Mind you, a full bite from one would still kill you, but a puncture is no longer a death sentence. This reserve is the largest in the world. I was lucky to get in here. If it hadn't been for Kettleburn, I don't know if I would have."
She smiled at his reminiscence of his school days. "I heard from a few students he was a lot like Hagrid."
"Who do you think taught Hagrid how to move all that dodgy stuff about," Charlie laughed.
"Did he teach you as well? Hermione had a very interesting story last week" Charlotte's eyes flashed with mischief. Charlie grinned back, happy she had begun to pick up some of the devious antics of his sister and future sister-in-law. He truly enjoyed the new found courage this week so far.
Charlotte realized she was not going to get an answer and moved on to the topic at hand. "Tell me about the Horntails."
Charlie's face was beaming from being in his element. "They are amazing. They are unique in a couple of ways. The one being the acid they spew out with their fire. It causes double the damage of just being burned."
"I hadn't noticed," Charlotte replied sarcastically. Charlie flinched at the memory.
"So, you understand how their claws curl," Charlie asked.
She looked back at him with thinking. "Let me look up a picture in my text. I think there is one in there."
Charlie looked at her smirking. "You can't remember the claws."
"I don't know if I ever seen a photo of one. I have to look in the text," Charlotte explained.
He looked at her like she was mental. "A photo?"
She looked back at him and nodded. He grimaced. "You don't remember the one from the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"
She frowned becoming melancholy. "I was gone from school."
Charlie was perplexed. "Gone. Why were you gone?"
She did not look up at him. "I was back in Bristol. It's…It's when my mother died."
Charlie slumped back into the couch. Then he reached forward and pulled her into his lap gathering her to his chest. "I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to have something like that sprung on you."
He just held her for a while stroking her hair. To her credit, she never cried, just held him close as well. Charlie's mind wandered, wondering if anyone ever held her when her mother died. Had anyone given her more than a perfunctory hug? Had anyone even held her hand during the actual memorial?
Ginny had basically been in his lap and Percy crumpled into his side as they sat through Fred's funeral. Bill all but carried his mother up to the front row of chairs. His father was barely functional as he helped Ron deal with a catatonic George. If it had not been for Harry and Hermione, he doubted the pair would have moved to get George to the front at all.
He always wondered if he had seen his new wife as a small third year while back at Hogwarts for the tournament. Now he knew he hadn't. She couldn't have been there to see the dragons during the tournament. Would not have been one of the small students to come up after and get a closer look….
"You've never seen a dragon?" Charlie was appalled.
She looked up at him. "When? My only real chance at school, I was gone."
"You've never seen a dragon?" He sat up pulling them both up to stand. "You've never seen a dragon? What kind of husband am I? Come on."
He pulled her across the room and grabbed his gear and turned to look at Charlotte critically. "Well, that won't do. I'll have to correct that in the future."
Charlotte looked at him with unconcealed apprehension. He paced for a moment. His expression changed, and he grabbed Charlotte's cloak and flipped it over her shoulders. Looking down at her feet, he scowled at her school saddle shoes. "You really need better shoes for Romania. Boots of some kind."
He grabbed her hand and proceeded out the door. They walked across the reserve housing area, turning down another trail they usually met Jake and Katie at when they were going to town together. Halfway down, he turned them up to a cabin slightly larger than their own. He walked up the porch to the door and began to pound on it. No one answered. He banged on the door again not stopping this time.
The door finally swung open and a half dressed, irritated Jake glared at him. "We're busy."
"You're a lousy shag anyway." Charlie said as he pushed past him. "Katie!"
Jake glared at him as they passed. "She just seemed to be enjoying herself a minute ago, before you started pounding on our door."
"She was faking, mate. Trying to get you done. Katie," Charlie called.
His quarry entered the room buttoning a shirt which had to be Jake's. She looked up smirking. "Yes, Charlie. What do you need?"
"To leave so we can continue," Jake grumbled.
Charlie ignored him. "A set of your leathers. Charlotte has never seen a dragon before!"
"What!" Katie was incredulous.
Jake looked equally shocked all former irritation was gone. "Chuck, you bonehead. How can you have never shown her a dragon? How long have you been together? November? It's fucking April!"
Katie was already in motion. She stormed across the room, grabbed Charlotte and marched into their small bedroom. "I cannot believe the nerve of him, never taking you to the enclosure. What in the hell has he been doing?"
"I'm not here all that often." Charlotte tried to defend him.
Katie sniffed. "If I had known, I would have brought you I myself. Really."
She heard Jake cast a patronus from the other room as Katie began to throw clothes on the bed. She held up two pair of pants and tossed one to Charlotte. "Put those on."
She tossed the others on the bed and went back to the closet. A cotton long sleeve shirt followed. Katie shrugged out of the shirt unabashed she was nude under it and dressed. Charlotte blushed wide eyed and carefully unbuttoned her dress slipping her arms out of it and pulling on the shirt before letting it pool to the ground at her feet. She jumped as she heard the door of the cabin banged open.
"What do you mean, he never has taken her to see the dragons." Louis' irritated accent boomed through the cabin. "Chucky, how can you be so absent minded?"
Charlotte laughed. She had begun to realize the nickname was only used when their friends really wanted to irritate Charlie.
"More like narrow minded," Nate snapped. "You can do more with her then just fuck. Have you even taken the time to show her the area? Does she know not to go to the central valley? How about not to walk the perimeter roads after dark alone?"
Charlie harrumphed. Nate snarled at him. "I thought not. Charlie, these are basic things she should know. What happens if she needs to leave when you are gone?"
"Hopefully she will send for me," Charlie defended himself. "I told her the first day not to leave the cabin without me!"
Katie stormed out of the room without her shirt on. Charlotte followed in shock. "You are telling me you have left her in your home alone without explaining the dangers of living here?"
Charlotte thought Charlie looked like a scolded toddler.
Katie continued ranting as she pulled her shirt over her head. "Please tell me she at least knows to check before she opens the door?"
Charlie just continued to sulk, staring at the floor, arms crossed over his chest.
Katie screamed in frustration rounding on him. "She could have been killed. Did you think of that?"
"No." The answer was soft and sad. Charlotte looked at Charlie in shock, not understanding.
Jake just sighed and shook his head. He looked over his shoulder at Charlotte debating. "One issue at a time. Let's go. Someone send a patronus to Phillip."
Nate nodded and pulled out his wand. Katie grabbed Charlotte's hand. "Come with me. I'll keep you safe. Obviously, your husband is too stupid to look after you properly!"
"Please don't," Charlotte asked softly. Katie stopped and looked at her gloomy face. Charlotte continued. "Please don't be mean. I have barely been here. I never leave the house except with one of you. I'm sure he was going to explain all these things to me but has not had a chance yet."
"She is right to be upset, Charlotte," Charlie still hung his head in shame. "I was so focused on the time with you I had, I never considered your safety when I was gone."
"But you did. Go to the cellar if we are attached. Don't leave the house until I show you where it is safe. Don't open the door unless you know who it is." Charlotte repeated the instructions for her safety he told her as she needed to know. The room relaxed marginally.
"It's a start." Nate said pushing off the wall. "Well, let's go. I, for one, cannot wait to see her reaction."
The group brightened. Charlotte reached out for Charlie's hand. He took it sheepishly and kissed her head. "I'm sorry. I really have been irresponsible. So many things could have went wrong. I've been careless."
"Hay!" Jake yelled. "Dragon's now, make up sex later. If I'm not getting any, neither are you."
Charlie grinned mischievously at his wife. "Let's go."
Charlotte was confused by his look for only a moment until Charlie leaned over and whispered into her hair. "I have a lot to make up for, my beautiful, forgiving wife."
They made their way to the central compound and turned in a direction Charlotte had never been before. The roadway was well worn, but after a short while, there were no buildings. They walked a long way before there were any signs of activity. Charlotte could hear … was that roars?
They broke out of the woods into an open area. A strong steel gated fence blocked their progress forward. Next to the gate, stood a small building where Charlotte noticed Phillip leaning against the wall by the door. An older, portly man grinned at their approach. He took a few steps forward to meet them on the path. Charlotte noticed he had a very prominent limp.
"Tony!" Several of the handlers greeted the man, who grinned back waving with his left hand. Charlotte studied him closer to discover his right arm hung limply at his side. For all of his disabilities, his face shone with glee at their approach.
He bounced on his toes when they got close, his entire focus on Charlotte. "You finally brought her! I did not know if you were ever going to. I never ask. Some are too frightened of our charges. She looked so small and timid the night you brought her home for the first time, I was afraid she would be one of them."
Katie snorted. "No, Tony. Charlie was just being stingy. He wants to keep her all to himself. I have to argue all the time for a few minutes to visit."
Tony looked at Charlotte and grinned. "I have to admit, if she were my wife, I would probably keep her locked away as well. You are very beautiful, Mrs. Weasley."
Charlotte blushed and dropped her eyes.
"She is also too modest for her own good," Jake joked.
Tony just smiled at him. "It's actually part of why she is such a beautiful person. She is not vain or conceited. It's the innocence."
He turned back to the gate and approached a small man gate. He turned slowly back around and looked at Phillip. "So, my boy, do I have permission to allow the lovely Mrs. Weasley in to see our precious charges?"
"In a moment," Phillip smiled at the group, "The director wants to come with them. It isn't very often he has time to take someone into the enclosure himself."
The other gasped. Charlotte looked on in worry. "Oh, he did not have to do that. I know he is busy."
Phillip just smiled.
"You don't completely understand, Charlotte. I can't take you all over the enclosures. For instance, you would not be able to see where I work. I planned on taking you to the hatchery. Maybe see if one of the handlers thought you could see some Welch Greens. But that would be all I could have done. Peptrofski can take you to see the whole damn place, if he wants to."
"That I can." The director drew everyone's attention to the path. Next to him, Thayer gave Charlotte a critical eye.
"Oh, good. You're both here." Charlie beamed. "See Charlotte. Now I'm not giving you the answers. Thayer can fill in the gaps for you."
Everybody looked perplexed until Charlotte explained about her homework. This prompted all of them to speak at once until Phillip whistled them quiet. "How is she supposed to follow what you are trying to tell her? Go in, see the dragons and when you get to them, tell her about them. Thayer, make sure you explain the medical parts as well. She appears to be smart. She'll remember when she gets back, so part of her training will be done."
Tony opened the gate and the small group proceeded inside. "Have fun, Mrs. Weasley."
"Oh, please call me Charlotte." She asked.
"Of course, Mrs. Weasley." Tony's eyes sparkled with mirth.
She smiled back and walked through behind Charlie. She slipped a few times in the mud. Charlie shook his head at the offending shoes. "We are going back to town tomorrow to get you boots."
Charlotte grimaced.
"And a coat." Katie added. "She can keep that set of leathers, they don't fit me any longer."
Charlie nodded. He knew he was going to have to force the issue with Charlotte. She made due with so little throughout her entire life, she was used to managing without necessities. He could understand from his years at school. After he had graduated even, he lived as efficiently as he could so he could send money home for his siblings. Bill was able to slide a few extra coins from both of them into their parent's vault at the beginning of August to help with school supplies. Charlie also sent a few coins to the kids at school so they had pocket change for Hogsmeade weekends. He wondered if Charlotte ever had new clothes before the other day when he sent Bill out with her to go shopping.
Ahead of them, Peptrofski began to tell Charlotte all about the enclosure and how it was laid out. He stopped just short of a turn in the path and grinned. Charlie took her hand. Peptrofski stepped aside and Charlotte gasped. In front of her was an Antipodean Opaleye. Her eyes lit up as she looked at the beautiful creature.
"They are so beautiful." She looked wide eyed at Charlie with tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Charlie asked, confused why she was teary eyed.
"You were willing to give them up for me to finish school. How could you." Charlotte just stared at them in amazement.
Charlie reached down and wrapped his big arms around her slight body. "Because it was you and you are so giving. You would do anything for anyone without a thought."
"You didn't even know me then," Charlotte admonished.
Charlie just sighed. "I think you bewitched me even then, I just didn't realize it yet."
Peptrofski and Thayer were patient, taking Charlotte to see each type of dragon at the reserve. Every stop, Peptrofski told her facts and about their defenses. Thayer would take over from there, telling her about treatments for each attack of the dragon. They even stopped by the nursery and played with day old Welch Green hatchlings. They were still too small to attack properly, but tried anyway.
They finally arrived in the high security level of the enclosure where Charlie and the others spent most of their days. The director took Charlotte's arm and guided her to one of the enclosed areas holding a large horntail. "This here is the beast responsible for all of the trouble during your previous visit."
Charlotte looked within the enclosure and drew back. More than most, this dragon looked vicious. His yellow eyes glared back over the fence as his lip curled in a low snarl. Charlie stepped up behind her and grabbed her shoulders in comfort and support. "Marcus, that isn't polite. Charlotte here helped to save you from being disposed of. You should be nice."
The dragon redirected his gaze to Charlie, harrumphed and put his head back on the ground. His eyes continued to follow the people standing around his gate.
Charlotte looked back at Charlie in shock. "Do they understand you?"
Charlie shrugged. "If they do, they don't let us know it. They are intelligent and do have a language we don't understand."
"Why did he calm down when you scolded him?" Charlotte asked.
Charlie laughed. "Because I feed him. He learned if I am happy, he gets treats."
Charlotte nodded and looked back to the dragon. A thoughtful look crossed her face and she looked back over her shoulder. "What exactly do you give a dragon as a treat? It's not like you can give him a biscuit."
Katie chuckled behind her. "Actually, some of them like biscuits. Most prefer meat. Some brandy."
"And Marcus?" Charlotte asked.
She heard a slight noise behind her and Charlie walked to the gate. He gave a whistle like one would call a dog. The dragon's head snapped up and Charlie swung something over the gate. The dead rabbit cartwheeled across the distance and the great jaws snapped it out of the air. It tossed the treat in the air to set it better into its mouth and began to chew. A low purring rumble followed.
Charlotte nodded her head still contemplating. Charlie wrapped his arms around her again. "We think as a hatchling in the wild, he must have been in an area with an overabundance of rabbits. I have a few left over from our hatchlings once and he went wild when he smelled them. It is the best way to medicate him, that's for sure."
Charlotte nodded. Charlie kissed her head again. She began to realize this was his way of telling her she had done or said something to make him offer comfort or a reward. What exactly it was this time, she was not certain. Marcus yawned and flexed his feet. "Look, remember earlier, when we were talking about his claws, see how they have grooves on the undersides. That is where they seem to extract the venom to. They gather it up on their tongues and fill those groves by licking them. Then they let them dry in the sun."
Charlotte nodded in understanding. The others added additional hazards about the horntail and again, Thayer told her about the treatment needs specific to the dragon.
They proceeded this way until they reached the edge of the fenced area. Charlotte grinned and looked back at Charlie. "Gladys!"
Charlie grinned back as his fellows chuckled. Thayer snorted. "Never made any sense why you boys would put the bane of your existences on your bodies."
Behind this last gate, the golden Vipertooth didn't stir. Her eyes were open, but she never rose her head from the ground like the others as they passed. Jake and Charlie exchanged looked of worry.
"Gladys, come now. Up." Peptrofski encouraged. She did not move. He looked over his shoulder at his handlers.
Charlie shook his head. "She been like this for two weeks. She won't eat. She won't drink. We are going to have to sedate her here again shortly, but we don't know how. Jake and I are debating going in tag team and leaving Louis to try to get the medication in her while she is attacking."
Peptrofski grimaced. "Hold off a little while longer. She may come back around after breeding season. She is sitting on a pinnacle. One more attack and the she will hit her limits. They will demand for her to be destroyed. No sense trying to help when we could end up causing more harm than good."
Peptrofski began to explain the hazards of the Vipertooth to Charlotte. They were man eaters by nature. Their preferred food was human flesh. Their venom was extremely poisonous. A human could possibly survive a grazing scratch of their teeth, but not a full-on bite. Even with scratches, the outcomes were not easy. Tony, for example, had been a handler who was bit. The poison in his system caused the paralyses in his body.
Charlotte approached the gate looking close at the dragon. "Is she sick?"
"No, depressed." Nate explained. "She was captured by a poacher who used her for breeding. He took her eggs. Something broke in her mind after it happened too many times, she was never able to produce another clutch. She never hatched a single hatchling. We have bred her several times trying to get another clutch on her hoping it would improve her attitude, but no luck."
Charlotte looked sympathetically at the dragon. "Poor, girl. Maybe she could adopt some other hatchlings."
"Tried that too, " Charlie said, "and other eggs. She refuses them knowing they are not hers."
"Enough sadness." Peptrofski said, taking Charlotte's arm. "Come let us go see the thing we are most proud of."
There was a gasp behind her as she was led still further to a gate in the fence. Peptrofski drew out his keys and shook one loose, he put it into a small door in the solid fence and stepped back. "Do you terribly mind if I keep her with me, Weasley?"
"Not at all, sir. She could be no safer," Charlie gasped.
Charlotte was confused. All around her, wands were drawn. Charlie and Nate both approached the door and pulled open a narrow slide to open a small window. Both took turns looking through. The spoke back and forth comparing what they saw. After one more look, Charlie looked back over his shoulder. We are clear enough to enter. They are all over 500 meters out. Two at three o'clock. A brood of six at seven o'clock. Five in the air."
Nate continued to look out the door. "Agreed, nothing has changed."
The other handlers stepped in front of the director and Charlotte. Peptrofski leaned down and whispered into her ear. "Stay close. If I tell you to run, you do so right back through the door. Understood?"
Charlotte looked up with wide eyes and nodded. Charlie locked eyes with her. His expression was one of glee and contrasting fear. "Still clear Nate?"
"Yes, sir." Nate replied. It shocked Charlotte. She realized Charlie was in a leadership position amongst his friends, but this was the first time she seen them respond to him in such a manor.
Charlie looked at the director who nodded. "Open the gate."
Nate released the solid handle that held the door locked into position. He then grasped a handle, and taking one last look, pulled hard and drew the door open. Instantly, Katie, Jake and Louis were in the entry looking everywhere at one. Quietly, they confirmed the locations previously reported by Charlie and Nate. Jake called for a clear to proceed and the group stepped further into the gated area. Peptrofski's wand was in his free hand as he guided Charlotte forward.
"Ready?" he asked. She nodded, and they stepped through the gate. Charlotte's eyes drifted instantly to the locations the handlers repeated so many times and gawked in amazement. They were outside looking at the mountains and surrounding forest and, more importantly, dragons!
She gasped in awe. "They are so beautiful."
"Yes, my child, they are." Peptrofski commented softly. Around her, she noticed her friends were completely focused at the dragons as if waiting for them to attack. Phillip stood next to Charlie allowing him to turn back and look at Charlotte's awed face. She looked at him and smiled widely with tears in her eyes. He turned back to his assigned task to continue to assure her safety.
Peptrofski looked around with pride. "This, my child, more than anything, is our greatest goal. Our dragons, free and safe from the outside world. These dragons live within the reserve properties. We secure the parameter and watch for poachers. They cannot get in through our barriers at all. They are strong and safe. The dragons have a choice. They may leave our safety, but most do not once they are here. They have a great range at their disposal, mates to choose from and food aplenty. When we first release them, we do hold them captive for a few months to give them a chance to understand our intent, but after that time, they are free to go if they choose."
"They look so happy and free. Like Roma." Charlotte gasped again.
Peptrofski chuckled. "A good explanation."
He let her enjoy the experience for a few more moments before he had to break the spell. "We will need to leave our charges now. They become agitated easily if we are in here too long. Let's go. Slowly backwards. Don't turn around."
Charlotte back out as commanded taking in the view for as long as possible. Once outside the gate, Peptrofski pulled her aside allowing the handers access to the area. Last to leave were Nate and Charlie who ducked out one after another. Louis and Jake pushed the door closed and locked the handle in place in one motion. Only then, did the group relax their ready stance. The bolt was placed back into its slot by Jake. Nate looked out into the enclosure once more and slid the window plate closed.
Charlie rounded on his wife. He was upon her in two quick strides pulling her to his hard chest. "You looked so excited, so alive in there."
She nodded, still unable to speak. He kissed her soundly and turned to Peptrofski. "Thank you for allowing her in."
Peptrofski nodded smiling. "She is willing to sacrifice so much for you to remain. I want her to understand why she is giving up St. Mungo's for Romania."
She looked to the steel door once again. "I do. I understand now why they are so important to you. I would give everything up for you to have this. For you to be a handler forever."
Thayer was at her shoulder unnoticed until she spoke. "We are part of this, Charlotte. Without us, they cannot continue to do their jobs. We keep them whole and healthy. Without the handlers this place does not exist. Without us, the handlers do not survive to keep them safe. Never underestimate your value to the reserve."
She looked around the assembled group stopping last at Charlie. His eyes were still bright from their recent experience. Before her, five of the seven handlers were hurt during the last incident. She helped every one of them. Perry, the rookie, survived. So had the others CeCe treated. They lost no one. Every one of them, excluding the rookie who went home with his parents, returned to work within a short time of being injured. They returned to care for the magnificent beast she had just seen. She finally understood, she was not going to be trained at St. Mungo's, she was going to be trained somewhere even better.
She grabbed Charlie by the hair and drew him down to her lips and kissed him with every ounce of the passion she possessed for what she had just witnessed.
"Thank you," she breathed after they drew apart, "Thank you for bringing me here."
He looked deep in her eyes and kissed her sweetly again. "Welcome home, wife."