A/N: I felt bad about how short the first chapter was, so here's the second chapter, which is even shorter. It's kind of blah, but we'll be getting to the good stuff soon, I promise.

Disclaimer: Not JKR, Not Warner Bros, not anyone. Not mine. Don't sue me.


Charlie had been dreading this moment for the past three weeks. When the dragon had clawed him, he hadn't been worried about whether or not he would have horrible scars on his leg or whether he would even survive. All he wanted to know was whether or not they would give him his job back. He knew that the outlook was not good. Dragon Keepers had to be in excellent shape in order to deal with creatures that could easily kill an entire squad if they got angry. Charlie stopped to straighten his tie and flatten his flaming red hair before crutching into the office of Archimedes Baldwin, the man who held Charlie's future in his hands.

Baldwin's office was definitely a reflection of his persona. He was a meticulous, slightly crazed perfectionist, who almost worshipped the dragons. Whenever he spoke of them, his eyes went out of focus. For Archimedes Baldwin, dragons were his true love. Charlie could sympathize, although he preferred to call what he felt for the dragons 'passion' instead of 'true love.' The room was perfectly clean and devoid of all typical office clutter. There were no stacks of paper on the desk, no pictures of family members in mismatched frames, no balding quills and bent paperclips. The only evidence that someone even used the room were the huge and slightly frightening pictures of dragons that covered every inch of the walls. As Charlie entered, the picture of a Hebridean Black glared as the portrait of a Pervuian Vipertooth blew smoke rings at him.

"Ah, young Mr. Weasley," said Baldwin, not looking up from the model of a Chinese Fireball he was painting. "Do come in and take a seat." Once Charlie had maneuvered himself into the chair and rested his crutches against a picture of three Hungarian Horntails, Baldwin finally looked up.

"I believe we are here to discuss the implications of your recent injuries on your future with the Carpathian International Dragon Sanctuary," he said as he pushed the model dragon to the other end of his desk. Charlie nodded mutely. He was worried that he might vomit if he opened his mouth.

"I have a note here from Healer MacLean that you have shown significant progress since you were first brought to the infirmary on October the 2nd," Baldwin continued. Charlie looked at his hands and noticed that his palms were sweating profusely. Just get on with it, he thought desperately.

"You have an excellent record. Your supervisor has nothing but good things to say about your work so far. However…." Charlie stopped breathing. This was it…this was the moment he found out if he would be back with his dragons or back with his parents.

"…it is doubtful that you would be able to perform at the level required to be a Keeper after sustaining such a serious injury."

Charlie closed his eyes. It was over.

"Given your excellent work here preceding your injury, and the progress you have made so far with your recovery, you will be joining Patrol 17 once you make a full recovery."

Charlie opened his eyes in disbelief. Patrol…he hadn't even considered that a possibility! Making sure the dragons stayed in and the poachers stayed out...he felt like dancing, although it would certainly be hazardous in his present condition. He would still be able to be with the dragons!

"Thank you…thank you so much," Charlie spluttered. Baldwin smiled.

"It would have been a shame to take the dragons away from you," he said, and resumed painting his dragon model.


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