Chapter five
Charlie was abruptly awoken by a young teenage boy who poked him sharply in his cheek.
"Are you alright?" His croaky voice asked.
Charlie just nodded his response.
"Are you a Wizard?" Still not able to speak Charlie's eyes shot open.
"Relax sir, I'm a student at Hogwarts. I'm just here to see my friend." Charlie relaxed, taking a deep breath and releasing it harshly.
"Yes, I am. I went to Hogwarts too."
"Were you practicing wandless magic?" Charlie nodded, "That's pretty cool. I've never met anyone who can do that. Did you learn or could you always do it?"
The boy's voice broke a few times throughout his sentence, Charlie smiled at the memory of being young and all the lovely changes that happen to your perfect body.
"I learnt. I'm a Dragon trainer. It's a part of our training." He stated plainly, rubbing his head in an attempt to soothe the painful throbbing.
"You're him aren't you? Charles Weasley?" Charlie nodded. "Well… Oh Merlin, you're bleeding. I'll call for Alex."
The boy pulled out a mobile phone and called, who Charlie presumed was the receptionist.
"Alex? Yeah, could you bring the first aid to Jack's bunk? No, no Jack's fine. Yes… Alex please hurry up!"
Charlie thought about it for a moment.
This boy reminded him so much of Adam. His dark hair, green eyes, caramel coloured skin, even his muscular build were alike to Adam. Could this be Adam's son? Did Adam even have a son?
"Okay I can see you!" The boy placed his phone back into his back pocket and waved Alex and Adam over.
As Adam drew closer he began to understand what had happened. "Alex it's alright, I'll take care of this. You have enough paperwork to get done." She smiled at him sweetly and turned on her heal making sure to swing her hips as she walked away.
"Overdo it did we?" Adam Chastised.
Charlie just nodded in return.
"I know I asked a lot of you but you don't have to over work your magic. Merlin that can't be good for your wand?"
"Oh no Dad." That confirmed Charlie's question. "He was using wandless magic, isn't that cool?"
Adam's eyes widened. "Wandless?" he paused wiping blood from the other man's forehead. "Why didn't you just use your wand? Look at the damage you've done to yourself." He commented condescendingly.
Charlie snatched the rag from Adam's hand. "You wanted a job done and I'm not great with words. Or wands." He added,
"So the jobs done the best way I know how." Bandaging himself and dowsing the wound in a healing potion Charlie winced and marched in the direction of the kitchen.
"Great job Dad, insult his awesome skill."
"Shut up Xavier."
Adam found Charlie in the kitchen chopping tomatoes and buttering sandwiches with an angry scowl on his bruised and, slowing, but still bleeding face.
Fricking child. Adam thought. There's still quite a lot to be done, I guess I should probably thank him for what he's accomplished so far. There's no way I could have done half of that today.
Adam stood beside Charlie and began assembling sandwiches, slowly piling small triangles onto a plate. The silence grew heavy on Adam's already tired form.
"Oh for God's sake." Adam wiped out his wand and motioned for Charlie to do the same. Casting a spell on the door first, Adam and Charlie charmed each item of the kitchen to either chop, assemble, cook or clean. While the utensils did the work Adam conjured a jug of heavily brewed coffee.
"How do you take it?" Adam asked, offering Charlie a seat at the small round table which he gladly obliged.
"Black with two." Charlie sat at the table, his free hand to his skull. "Is it still bleeding?"
Adam nodded, pouring a coffee for both men. "Here?" Adam pointed his wand at the other males head and spoke a foreign spell that immediately glued his skin back into place. "That might scar." He stated placing his wand back into his work boot. Charlie just shrugged.
"I've got plenty of scars, that's nothing I can't handle."
Adam nodded. "I guess it comes with the nature of the job?"
"Yeah." He paused, "I guess a lot comes with the nature of my job."
An awkward silence settled over the pair, Charlie's eyes roamed Adam's slouching form. His muscled dark arms held his head just above the table top. His slender fingers stretched over his face theatrically, pressing a wedding band into his slightly lined skin. Adam yarned loudly, raising his head from its resting position and meeting Charlie's gaze awkwardly.
"Yes?" He groaned, Charlie quickly averted his eyes, making an obvious attempt to look at anything but the man across from him.
"Lunch!" Charlie stated a little too enthusiastically.
Charlie was right, as soon as the children woke up they all demanded their late lunches, Charlie spent the rest of the day cleaning and repairing items, and Adam raced after each child making sure they followed instructions and got to their parent interviews on time.
An hour after Adam's shift finished, Charlie, Alex and Adam sat at the crew table. Each adult completely exhausted from the day's work.
"Five children got adopted today." Alex announced happily in Romanian. "All of them are from the toddler unit too. So now there's…" She fumbled with some loose papers. "Ten teens, twelve five-to-tens and three under-fives." Adam seemed pleased with that result.
"So how many interviews are booked for tomorrow?" he questioned.
"Umm, there's ten interviews tomorrow morning." She answered tiredly. "There was twelve today and only five were successful. I'm just hopeful." She smiled, gathering her pages, kissing Adam's cheek and leaving through the back entrance.
"She's nice." Charlie Teased.
"Hmm," Adam replied seeming very uninterested, "Let's get a butterbeer. My shout, have this damn meeting while I eat some good food?"
Charlie nodded at the younger man and followed him as he approached the fireplace. "A floo network?" he questioned
Adam nodded "Yeah, I mean it does just look like a creepy fireplace. No muggle would suspect anything weird." He paused as he approached the fireplace. "The Leaky Cauldron."
Charlie quickly followed suit, clearly announcing his destination. As he arrived he was surprised to see that the usually crowded pub was empty. A quick glance at his watch explained that. He'd lost two hours coming to England. It was only four in the afternoon here. Charlie quickly found his seat across from Adam and ordered two butterbeers from a passing waitress.
Adam sarcastically held out his hand for a handshake. His formalities had obviously dropped though, his back slouched against the booth and his feet almost reached Charlie's under the table.
"It's nice to meet you Mr Weasley. I'm Dr. Mead." He muttered, yawning a few times throughout the sentence.
"Uhh.. Okay." Charlie commented. "How about we just talk?"
"hmmm… Guess that would be fine." Adam slouched further into his seat, cracking his neck and back in the process.
"Gross." Charlie shook his head in disgust, "you'd think I'd be used to that sound, working with dragons on a daily basis. But it's always different hearing a human do it." Adam just shrugged with a smile.
"So Mr Weasley, how are you planning on helping the reserve's name?"
"I really think that's why I'm meeting you. Aren't you supposed to have all the good ideas?"
"Yeah well, I just figured you could work at the company. Man who causes horror helps rehome orphaned children. Sounds kind of heroic doesn't it?" he yawned sarcastically.
"Alright, what is your problem? I get I fucked up but why are you being a dick?"
"Oh I'm sorry," Adam stated honestly, "My son always tells me I'm grouchy after a long day," Adam straightened himself so that he was sitting upright. "here I'll get us some food." He beckoned to the waitress, "I'll have the pumpkin soup. Charles?"
Charlie nodded "Yeah that sounds fine." The girl smiled and walked back to the bar to place the order.
"So you do have a son?" Charlie started. "He looked about twelve?"
Adam nodded, "Yeah, he started at Hogwarts this year."
Taking a sip from his Butterbeer Charlie continued. "Is he your only child?"
Adam nodded, "Yeah, he's been helping with the orphans as much as he's allowed to. Taken quite a fancy to a few of them. He told me the other day that he wished they were all magical, just so that he could have more friends at Hogwarts."
Charlie smiled, "Yeah I could imagine it would be hard knowing that you're never going to see some of those kids again."
Adam was about to continue when their soup arrived at the table. "Thank you." They stated simultaneously.
The night continued with Adam asking questions about Charlie's work experience and Charlie commenting on how he could help. It was about ten o'clock when Charlie finally made it home. His mother and father had already gone to bed, the soft whispers of snoring echoed throughout the house.
As Charlie reached his bedroom he noticed that a certain niece was occupying his bed.
Roxanne was snuggled deep within his blankets, fast asleep with a broad smile plastered on her soft face. Instead of waking her Charlie silently slid in next to her and fell asleep.
Her small form slowly tangled herself around her second eldest uncle.
~ What was that? Did I just…
Did anyone else notice?
Love just another AnonymousAmature ;) ~