Chapter 3: Fourth Year
The summer before Ron's fourth year Charlie got a letter saying that his dad had tickets to the quidditch world cup if he wanted to join them. There was no other answer but yes to that question and he immediately took the days off work and scheduled a portkey to meet them there.
When the day finally came Charlie woke early and packed a knapsack full of clothes and anything else he might need for the weekend. His dad said that there would be a tent large enough for everyone but that he might have to sleep on the ground. But that wasn't a problem, the amount of excitement electrifying through his body wasn't either, but that fact that even though it was the best way to travel internationally Charlie Weasley hated portkeys.
The trip was only a few seconds long but it was enough to do damage. Landing in front of the field and depositing the crushed can of Romania muggle soda Charlie pulled a small vial out of his bag, a potion to get rid of the instantaneous headache that port keys gave him, the relief was just as quick and he continued through the throngs of people to find the campsite.
Flags flew above camps for easy recognition and people were wandering through the rows trying to find friends or drinking buddies.
Following the map he got to the campsite he recognized the mob of redheads instantly and jogged over to them.
"Good, Charlie's here! Let's go get our pride gear and head to our seats. Don't want to be late." Arthur said hugging his son before setting the others on him.
Grabbing some green and white face paint from Ginny and wrapping a scarf around his neck Charlie followed everyone up the hill aweing at the enormity of the pitch.
"Should have brought tissues."
"In case of nosebleeds." The twins said together before continuing down the hill.
The seats were great, they could see everything going on in the game and even though the group was divided amongst themselves everyone had a great time. But when Ireland won the match after Bulgaria's seeker Viktor Krum captured the snitch Fred and George went crazy.
"We won! We're rich!" They sang refusing to answer any questions about it.
Back at camp the high spirits continued to flow until Arthur's ears perked up and he looked outside of the tent.
"Stop it!" He said frantically grabbing his bag. "We have to leave. Now! Fred and George you're in charge of Ginny, Charlie you're in charge of the other three. I'm going to find the ministry officials." Springing into action the twins grabbed their bags and Ginny's hand before running to the port key tent, Charlie watched as the other three looked between themselves.
"Ready?" They nodded. "Do you remember where to go?" Nods, again.
Checking that it was clear Charlie led the way through the chaos reaching his left arm back to take someone's hand to create a chain of people and being met with a small and clammy hand in return. There was no sign of death eaters but an explosion went off to their left and Hermione screamed out.
"Harry!" Ron yelled realizing his friend had been separated. "Harry!"
"He'll find his way back, he always does." Hermione reassured taking Ron's shirt and pulling him forward. "We can find him after."
Getting to the area with port keys Charlie realized that the area was cleared of any trash items, everyone else had taken a way out not caring where they ended up.
"We'll wait here for the others." Charlie decided, and it wasn't a long wait. Everyone had run in what could have been considered record time and when it looked like no one was left the seven ventured back in to find Harry and Arthur.
The dark mark was hanging high in the sky for everyone to see but none of them were focused on it. Their eyes were on the ground looking for Harry Potter. There were a few scattered bodies that would need care and some that were dead, Charlie hoped that no one else had noticed they weren't breathing.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed trying to find her best friend over and over until there was a motion to their right. "There!"
Ron and Hermione were in the front of the group crashing into Harry and holding onto him.
"STUPEFY!"
Everyone ducked just in time as red light streamed above them.
"Those are my children!" Arthur's voice boomed running to the small group huddled together.
"They were found at the scene of the crime!"
"They're just children Barty."
Harry turned to look at each person before landing on Hermione. "Crime?"
"It's the dark mark Harry, it's His mark."
They were all questioned quickly determining what they were doing and who they were with and since everyone came up with the same story there was no arguing that they could have done anything wrong. Except Harry of course, because the ministry seemed to be out to get him.
Ultimately they were free to return home with the promise that any belongings found on the campsite would be sent to their address within a month.
It wasn't the best trip and even though Charlie had a good time he was worried about everyone's well-being.
Christmas will be better.
It was a nice surprise when Charlie was able to write to his siblings and tell them he was making an unexpected trip to Hogwarts. Although he couldn't exactly tell them he was part of a team transporting four dragons it was safe to assume they thought that was part of the trip.
Of course in the note to Ron he invited Harry and Hermione to see them too, but since Harry was a champion it was also a conflict of interest.
The night he and his coworkers arrived with the four very large and very angry crates Charlie couldn't think about anything other than holding his baby sister.
It was difficult being so far away from the youngest siblings because he was missing them growing up, but he loved his job too much to leave.
"I can't believe you actually brought dragons here." George said taking a step in front of me towards the Welsh Green.
"Does mum know?"
"She does, but she couldn't come out to see me tonight. She'll be here in a few days to see me and cheer on Harry." Each dragon was in a transportable crate that was just big enough for them to turn around in, the four were in a clearing just inside the Forbidden Forest where Hagrid had cleared a few trees to make room. "You guys wanna try to get a little closer?"
The cheers from everyone made Charlie smile, he had only been able to show off the dragons once when his mum and dad came to visit Ron's first year at Hogwarts. After going over safety procedures and telling them to be careful (even going as far as threatening to take the twins wands) Charlie let the group follow him over to the Chinese Fireball that was his favorite.
"This one's name is Tanit, we got her from Hong Kong several years ago when she was very young so we got to name her. She's nesting right now so we can't get super close but from here you can see her scales clearly." The dragon eyed the group warily not sure what to make of them, she had grown up in the sanctuary so she was used to people coming up to her everyday but there was a change when she laid her first egg. "I think she's going to be alright if we move a few steps closer."
Charlie was in front of the others with his hands up to the dragon so show he wasn't going to hurt her or take her egg, his wand in a brace on his forearm ready to send the magical wood into his hand in a second if need be.
Slowly, the others followed his lead pocketing their own wands and stepping forward inch by inch until they were right behind Charlie's large form. Tanit didn't seem to mind them so much but kept an eye out just in case.
"She's beautiful." Hermione whispered. "Are the underside of her scales red?"
"Yes they are, that's why everyone sees them as black and red creatures. When they move around you can see it more and the red can be reflected onto the black scales around it giving it the impression of fire."
"How big will she get?"
"What does she eat?"
"Can I pet it?"
He tried to answer the questions one at a time after firmly telling them this was as close as they got. "Come visit me in Romania sometime and I'll let you play with smaller ones that won't char you up and make mum kill me. Also, don't tell her I offered that."
For the next few nights the Weasley's and Hermione all ventured out to spend time with Charlie for a bit before going to bed. It seemed suspicious that everyone was watching them leave the castle after dinner for the Forbidden Forest and emerge hours later in the darkness, but Dumbledore had allowed it and with dragons nearby nothing was going to attack them.
Finally the day of the first trial came and Hermione couldn't stop fidgeting.
"Come on Granger," Fred gently tugged her out of the Gryffindor common room. "You need to eat something."
"I need to wait for Harry, I need to see him."
"He's already left to prepare. We can't have you passing out on us though so eggs and toast."
Ginny was as nervous as Hermione and the twins generously filled their plates with food that Hermione was never going to finish. It had been fun to see the dragons up close but the night before the Hungarian Horntail had started spitting fire at everything close to had told them to leave so no one would get hurt and the image had stuck in her mind that Harry would have to face one of those things.
After breakfast the twins walked with Hermione and GInny to the quidditch pitch to watch while Ron followed behind in his perpetually annoyed state.
"I'll meet you there." Hermione called out suddenly running off in another direction.
George had started to follow her but Ginny grabbed his arm telling him that Hermione needed some time. About a half hour later she squeezed through the seats to fit between Ron and Charlie who had been able to join them.
"How is he?"
She hadn't told anyone where she was going so when Charlie winked she figured he must have just guessed.
"Not as scared as I am honestly." Her hands were shaking and even lacing her fingers together didn't help. "They were picking dragons when I left."
The canon went off and the shaking intensified. Mrs. Weasley muttered about the safety and how worried she was for everyone, but when Harry came out (last and of course with the Horntail) the girls all went silent. Until the dragon tried to bite Harry in half.
"YOUR WAND, HARRY!" Hermione shouted watching as her friend hid behind a rock. The heat from the flames was warm up where they sat so she knew he was sweating. "He's going to die, this is it."
Charlie placed a soothing hand on the middle of her back while also letting his mum squeeze every drop of blood out of his fingers on the other hand. "He'll be fine. He's smart so he'll be able to get out of this."
"Then he's going to be maimed."
She was serious, Hermione thought that Harry would actually be hurt beyond repair but Charlie just kept pressure on her back letting her know that he was there for comfort. When the broom sped into view she relaxed a bit knowing that Harry was in complete control of the situation. There was a click before the Horntail released a jet of white hot fire to him and he was using that as a marker for when he should veer to the side.
But then the dragon broke free of the chains holding him to the rock and Harry had to drag him away from the crowd of people.
"Where's he gone?" Even though they were fighting, Ron was still pale and his knuckles lost all color from holding onto the railing so tightly.
Five minutes went by. Then ten. Fifteen. Twenty. Finally Harry could be seen flying back towards them a trail of black smoke behind him as the end of his broom smoldered.
"I have to go help with the Horntail. I'll see you all tonight." He had told his coworkers that while he was there to help and do his job, he was also there to support Harry and Hogwarts and they had agreed. But now that a dragon just flying around aimlessly he had to work. "Told you he would make it." He added before running off to grab a broom from another handler and flew off to find the rouge dragon.
Everyone cheered and raced down to celebrate with their respective champions. Hermione couldn't remember a time she hugged Harry as hard as she did now.
Having left the day after the first task with the dragons Charlie hadn't gotten to spend too much time with his family, but was pleased when Christmas time approached. When he got Ginny's letter though he realized how sad he was.
There's going to be a Yule Ball this year because of the Tournament. I've been asked by Neville Longbottom. Sorry we won't get to see you for the hols. I miss you. - Ginny
Bloody ball is going to be rubbish. I tried to ask Hermione to go with me but she said she had already said yes to someone else, doubtful of course. She'll probably show up alone. - Ron
It was known that Ron could be insensitive to everyone else's emotions but the fact he just assumed that Hermione would lie about having a date just to show up alone was beyond his usual level of stupidity.
So Christmas came and went with Bill and Charlie both spending the day with their parents celebrating and relaxing together before going back to work.
It was a week after Christmas that Charlie received his first letter from the twins.
The ball was brilliant. We tried to spike the punch but it was charmed to filter out the alcohol so instead we just drank it ourselves. Ginny and Longbottom danced too long though, might have to corner him and have a chat. Ron ignored his date all night because he's a prat. Oh! You'll never guess who Hermione went to the ball with. VIKTOR KRUM! She was gorgeous too, we have pictures of them before everything went to hell. - Twins
She did indeed look beautiful. The blue dress was demure and revealing at the same time. The blue fabric hugged all the right curves and dipped low in the front revealing just the smallest bit of cleavage. Ron and Harry stood on either side smiling and helping her twirl around to show the entire outfit.
It was no wonder that she had caught the eye of someone like Viktor Krum.
It was also no wonder that Charlie felt a twinge of jealousy. Reminding himself that she was only fifteen he steeled away from the picture and his impure thoughts, throwing his efforts back into dragon taming.