Love and Dragons: Dragon's Bath
Author: OverusedBarcode
Disclaimer: Don't own them. I made no money for writing this, although I did have a lot of fun.
Pairing: Charlie/Draco
Warnings: Boy on boy luv. Naughty content later!
A/N: All information regarding most spells and potions that will be used throughout this story was derived from Harry Potter at Lexicon. Feedback and questions are welcomed! Thank you! Review!!
Warnings: Unbetaed, now accepting offers! Slash.
Chapter Seven
Re-cap:
"Charlie my boy! What brings you to my fireplace?" Dumbledore seemed to be in high spirits, as though he had just received some very good news.
"I have someone here who would like to talk to you Sir, and I was wondering when I would get to have some of my mother's home cooking and maybe see my family again." Charlie was really asking when the next Order meeting was, and apparently, Dumbledore understood.
"Very soon Charlie, very soon. So, who is it I am to speak with, hm?"
Charlie stepped aside to let Draco through. Draco sat in full view, knowing his wings and bodily injuries were visible to Dumbledore, and spoke.
"Hello sir, how have your holidays been?"
Rolling in the Money
After Draco spoke to the headmaster, he and Charlie went through his wing cleaning routine once more with little progress regarding healing. Draco spoke with Charlie about how he would be needing to do his school shopping sometime before classes started up again, and his accounts would need looking after. Charlie had told him to settle down, as he wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon with those wings of his.
The headmaster had spoke to him about his situation and the information Draco had been sending. He had been assured that things were being put into effect that would enable him to return to school safely and continue as a student. Draco was worried.
Within the next two weeks, Draco lost much of his pure-blood bluster in order to endear himself to Weasley. Though it startled him to see how easy it really was to like him.
Unlike the Weasel, Charlie Weasley had suprisingly good manners, and he never failed to think of Draco first.
Later that day, Draco had several owls arrive to deliver mail to him, each being checked for tracking spells before being relieved of the mail they carried. He had gotten his Hogwarts letter a bit early in light of his situation, three owls from Gringotts with directions to review his private accounts being of age, one saying he no longer had access to the Malfoy vaults. That one confused him until he got to the last letter. From his father saying he had been legally disowned.
That sent a shock through him. Without a tracking spell, there was no way for his father to know where he was, but that he could still be contacted was alarming. He resolved to speak with Charlie about it immediately.
Draco dealt with his vaults, pleased to see that even though he didn't have access to family vaults, he would not be wanting. He may have to cut back on needless spending, but even doing that would ensure he never had to work for a living if he chose so.
He sent the owls back with his replies, he now had money, and according to Gringotts, he owned a small villa in France.
Charlie had a few members of his team secretly looking for the reason his wings hadn't changed back when he had. For secrecy purposes, he had put a charm on them they usually use when they can't disclose dragon information to the public for a certain ammount of time. It was Charlie's own invention, a different version of silencio.
It had been implemented as soon as he and Draco had arrived but only just revealed to Draco himself. With everything that had gone on, he didn't think Draco needed the added stress of knowing others knew, or had some information on his situation. Charlie himself had been working on it for quite awhile in his spare time, and was thrilled to have been told a member of his research team, Doyle, had found what they were looking for!
"Draco! Draco we found it!" Charlie burst into the room unannounced and took in the sight before him. As with before, Draco was completely naked, only this time he knew that Charlie had seen. Charlie quickly turned around, but not before catching a glance at porcelin skin tinged with the pink of embarassment.
"Well Charlie! If you wanted to see me naked all you had to do was ask!" His voice was steady but a bit tense as he hurried into some clothing. "I do hope you'll announce yourself before entering again, I do prefer to be dressed in private." He paused for effect. "Now, tell me what you've discovered."
Charlie stood still for a moment, gathering his whits before turning around once more. He didn't understand why this kid was affecting him so badly. He had never had infatuations with anyone younger than himself. On the contrary, all of his interests had been older! It had to be the close living quarters, Merlin knew they weren't friends.
"The results came back from your blood tests and there's a curse on you keeping you from changing back. I don't think it has anything to do with you not healing, that should, well, nevermind. The point is that Doyle figured out the solution! It's basic dragon instinct! Your wings didn't change back because you still feel threatened. Simple, but explanatory. With the threat of your situation, you still feel the need to have a means of escape ready at a moments notice. Once we break the curse, which is relatively simple, and as soon as you feel safe that the threat has gone, your wings will change back."
Draco sat for a moment and thought about his 'situation'. Of course he still felt threatened! He had death eaters after him and there was a war on!
"Charlie, darling, how on earth am I going to fell safe? I mean, all things considered..."
His comments fell on deaf ears. Charlie was turning the tent upside-down looking for something. He finally found what he was looking for and brought it over in front of Draco.
It was a chest, no bigger than a small carry on suitcase with intricate designs on the front and no locks. Charlie opened it up with a whispered word and revealed all sorts of potions. A few he recognized; burn cream, blood replentishing. Even more, to his surprise, he didn't know of. The colors off, the texture all wrong. It looked as though they were new. As in, newly discovered. But that couldn't be right. No one but a Master of Potions could create new potions! No one knew enough, ingredients, heating, processes! Unless.
Unless. Unless there was a Master who was supplying this camp with top of the line potions. But who would even...
Before Draco could continue his train of thought he was brought back to his senses by Charlie uncorking one of the bottles he didn't recognize. It was greenish in color and thick. Charlie explained to him that it was a form of ritual base that allowed his body to be ready, purified even, for the curse to be broken. Like a primer. Once Draco took it, nasty taste and all, he didn't feel any different, but Charlie started chanting low, something that sounded egyptian. Draco had long enough to wonder how he knew what to do, it was the eldest Weasley that was the cursebreaker wasn't it?, before a tightening around him lessened he hadn't even noticed before.
He assumed this meant the curse was broken, as Charlie looked pleased before he began rifling through the chest of potions again. Charlie handed him a bottle filled with something he recognized immediately.
A calming draught. Ah, yes. Now he understood his intentions.
Charlie wanted him to take the calming draught in order to see if his wings would change back. Like maybe the draught would trick his body into thinking he was safe and had no threat to flee from. It was worth a try.
Draco took the bottle and drained it in one go, making a face as the vile taste hit his tongue. Immediately he felt his body shudder, his wings' wounds healing as they hadn't before. So when he changed, the only eounds left were those on his body. But the main thing was...he had changed!
Draco stood and turned around looking at his body happily. " I don't understand! Why did my wounds heal when I changed?"
Charlie laughed at him, in good humor. "You've got a lot to learn Malfoy. When animagus change from one form to another, if the wounds aren't too bad, all or most injuries are taken care of. In your case, with your wounds not healing regularly, I'm guessing whoever it was that put the curse on you to stop your injuries from healing was counting on you to feel threatened. For you to not figure out how to change back."
Draco took this in for a moment before nodding his understanding. He sat for a minute longer before jumping up excitedly.
"Leave! Leave now!"
"What? Why, is something wrong? Draco I can help--"
"No you imbecile! I haven't had a proper bath for longer than I can remember and my only reason for abstaining is gone! Well, unless you'd like to see me in the state of undress you found me in earlier anyways."
Draco flirted and began slowly pulling off his clothing, laughing out loud when understanding dawned on Charlie and he ran out of the tent, flushed red.
Merlin! That boy was going to be the death of him.
Draco took his time soaking once he had water heated. Scrubbing all over, rinsing, draining the tub, and filling it up agian with hot water. By the time he was done, he was pruny but cleaner than he could ever remember being.
He didn't have many clothes, only what had been provided for him. So when he went through to find some night-wear he pilfered Charlie's closet first. He struck gold when he found a pair of butter-soft pajamas, well worn and smelling of Charlie.
He put them on and nodded his approval. They weren't silk but they would do. He had neglected personal hygene long enough. It was time he pampered his body once more. After all, he couldn't seduce a dragon rider looking like an urchin.
Draco had made his decision. With his earlier conclusion being drawn about Charlie breaking up with his boyfriend, he felt that this was the best course of action to secure a place in the Light's good graces.
Satisfied with himself, Draco climed into his bed's lush sheets and fell into a deep sleep, feeling naturally calmer than he had since before this fiasco happened.