Chapter Six
Snuggled within the warmth of the queen sized bed, Charlie hid from the frosty wind on the December breeze. He slowly allowed his eyes to flutter open, taking in his surroundings. A small being clung weakly to his side, her form was as close as humanly possible, with all four limbs wrapped delicately around his torso. The five year old child clung helplessly to her uncle and to any notion of her previously sleeping state.
"Roxanne?" He coaxed, running his freckled hands through her dark curls. "Doll come on, let go of me."
Her protests strengthened. Her grasp tightening around her uncle as he tried to detangle the young girl from his form. As his hands expertly unwound her limbs a sharp inhale signified the end of her dream like state.
"Uncle?" She asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her tiny dark hands.
"Come on Rox you have to get up, or at least let me go." Her uncle insisted. She nodded her agreement, smiling up at him heavenly, signifying she too recognised it was time to wake up.
"Bath?" she asked lazily.
"Hmm," Charlie checked his watch, "yeah alright. Come on." He lifted her small form into his arms and carried her into the main bathroom.
"Here we go." He stated turning the taps on the bath, watching as the steam filled the room.
"Too hot, Uncle." She smiled stripping her pyjamas onto the tiles.
"Yeah I know." He smiled sleepily, adding cold water and some bubble bath, much to Roxanne's delight.
"Alright I'm going to have a shower," he stated firmly. "When I get out you have to get out too okay?" She nodded.
Charlie stepped into the shower getting unchanged within the tiled walls. Once all of his clothes hung over the wall of the shower he turned on the taps.
Scolding water gushed from the taps, somehow relieving his muscles of the sleeping position he had found himself in last night.
Slowly adjusting the taps to the correct temperature Charlie continued washing himself, periodically checking on his young niece by asking her questions and getting her to wash her hair.
"Alright Rox I'm getting out now, pull the plug." As instructed he heard the typical whooshing sound of the drain pulling the water out of the bath tub.
Wandlessly, he conjured clothes for himself to change into and a towel for his niece.
Emerging from the shower fully dressed caused Roxanne to giggle. "Did you shower with your clothes on?" she laughed. "That's silly."
Charlie smiled at her, wrapping the towel around her petite form. Using the towel he'd conjured for himself, he wiped the excess soap of Roxane's face, neck and feet.
"You missed a bit." He teased, splashing the soap from the towel onto her nose.
"Yeah." She giggled, wiping the soap off her face. "I'm not that good at baths yet."
Charlie carried his dripping niece back to his bedroom. "Where are your clothes Rox?"
Leaping from his arms she scurried for a little bag with green and purple hearts on it. "Mum packed me some clothes. You have to choose matching ones." She demanded.
Charlie smiled with relief. There was only one set of clothes in the bag, a small green dress and a pair of nickers.
"Here we go." He handed them to her and watched her expertly dress herself.
"Breakfast?" she asked.
Charlie nodded, picking her up, this time throwing her ceremoniously over his shoulder as he descended the stairs. A small girlish giggle that couldn't be contained echoed throughout the almost empty house.
As the pair reached the kitchen, Charlie wandlessly enchanted the utensils to create a 'ferocious breakfast for two', as he sat with his niece on his lap towelling her still dripping hair.
"Your hair almost looks straight when its wet." He stated.
"Yea, when it dries it goes Biiing." She clarified, motioning with her hands the action her hair made. Charlie nodded, he could imagine her hair doing precisely that. The girl had inherited Angelina's tight curls, he assumed that one day Roxanne would braid her hair like her mother, just for convenience's sake.
A quick look at his watch dictates that he has under an hour to arrive at the orphanage. Quickly dishing out some food for himself and his niece, they enjoy a rushed breakfast before he kissed her cheek and apparated away. Leaving her in the care of the girl's grandparents.
Charlie landed in the orphanage's basement, if his assumptions were correct, no one would be down there for the next three hours. Meaning that he could apparate in undetected.
Feeling proud of his assumption, Charlie ascended the stairs to the main floor. Making it all the way to the crew room before he ran into Alex.
Swearing before acknowledging him. She asks in Romanian "When the hell did you get here? I only just unlocked the door."
Smirking wildly at her, Charlie answers. "Magic." His jazz hands exaggerating his mischievous mood.
Both crew members enter the crew room to notice Adam sitting at the table messily eating a slice of toast and a milky coffee.
"Good morning." Charlie greets cheekily.
"Oh, good you came back." Adam's smile was noticeably weaker this morning. Charlie guessed that he hadn't slept well last night, considering the man hadn't noticed the piece of toast hanging off his jaw.
"Are you here for good?"
"Yeah." Charlie nodded, trying to avoid staring at the man's toast covered chin. "This is where the sanctuary needs me, so here is where I am. Until further notice of course."
Adam smiled at him a little stronger than the first time.
"Okay, I need similar jobs to yesterday completed." Charlie nodded his understanding. "But this time take a bottle of water and some food with you, so that you don't knock yourself out again. Okay?"
Charlie smiled and nodded, allowing a small laugh to escape him. "What's first?" he questioned.
"Well, the tween unit have broken most of their items again. I really think they will all receive their Hogwarts letters soon, I don't think there's a single muggle amongst them."
Charlie nodded knowingly. "Yeah, I did get that impression."
"After that I could really use your help for lunch and straightening out the kids for their interviews? I think Alex said there was twelve interviews today."
Charlie set off in the direction of the tween unit. Knowing full well the damage young witches and wizards could create. Although, he was quite shocked at the state of the shared bedroom. Lights were broken, wires hung dangerously from the ceilings and clothes lined each square of the floor.
"Merlin." He stated realising the work he had cut out for him.
Charlie locked the doors and cast a silencing charm. He wouldn't want any of the kids to walk past and hear him muttering spells under his breath. How would you explain that to a muggle? Oh you know, I just casually speak Latin to the air…? Somehow he didn't think they would buy it.
Charlie started by cleaning up the room. Casting spells to return all the loose items to their rightful places and repairing holes, loose threads and small breaks wherever possible. Once the tweens' items had been returned to their trunks, Charlie started on the live wires.
"How on earth?" these kids seemed to be practicing magic. But they didn't seem to be doing very well. The only logical explanation Charlie could muster was that the children practiced wandlessly and the only electrical current they could successfully channel was the lighting wires.
With a swift flick of his hand Charlie sent the wires back into the ceiling and mended the broken connections. It was then that he noticed her.
The little girl from before. The twin, if he remembered correctly. Amy? No that wasn't it. Alana? No, it was Anna. Yes that was it, Anna...
"Hey, Anna. I can see you hiding over there." Charlie worriedly crept over to the child hiding under one of the bedframes. Merlin, I hope she's magical. He prayed.
"Anna?" he called at her again, crawling to her side.
A loud yarn escaped the tiny girl. "Hey, Charlie." She smiled up at him. "You wasn't ment to finded me. That was Mr. Adam's job." Her tiny arms rose above her head. Indicating to Charlie that she wanted to be lifted up.
Complying with her wishes he lifted the small girl and sat her on his hip.
"Hey, you un-messed this place." She stated, a tone that indicated she was quite impressed with his work.
"Yes. I cleaned it." He responded, "Anna why are you here? In the big kids' room?"
"Oh, umm." She paused. "Oh, Jack was reading us a bed time story, it was really good." She yawned again.
"Did you fall asleep here? Last night?" Charlie probed.
"Must've." She smiled a toothy grin at him.
"So, where are you supposed to be?" Charlie asked the small girl. "It's nine o'clock now."
Anna just shrugged her shoulders and rested her head, dozing on his shoulder.
Swiftly unlocking the door with his wandless magic, Charlie walked back to the crew room to see if Adam was there. Hoping he could tell him where Anna needed to be. But as he arrived at the room, he noticed that all the staff members seemed to be out. Charlie noticed a piece of paper with a grid on it, taped to the wall.
Ahh, a roster, that's helpful. He thought.
After a quick glance at the clock he figured out that Anna and the other under-fives where supposed to be at breakfast. They tended to have a later breakfast then the other students as their classes tended to be less educational and more about basic skills. Whereas the tweens started math, English or science just after eight.
As Charlie got closer to the assigned room, Anna began to stir.
"Is it me breakfast time?" she asked rubbing her eyes with her small hands.
"Yeah, you almost missed it." He answered.
As he knocked on the door, he noticed that Adam was the teacher for the small class.
"Oh thank heavens." Adam stated sighing in relief. "I'd hoped she'd turn up somewhere. I was beginning to think that she'd wandered off the estate."
Charlie placed the small girl on the floor and she quickly re-joined her sister at the knee high table. Charlie supposed that the tables where made specifically so that the children could learn to sit at a real table once they grew up a little bit.
"Where'd you find her?" Adam asked
"She was asleep in the tween unit. Apparently Jack had been reading them a bedtime story and she'd fallen asleep there."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. They aren't supposed to visit each other's bedrooms, but it isn't out of character for them to do that." He informed. "Anyway, how's the bedroom going? Did they create much of a mess?"
"Yeah, actually. I'm almost tempted to take the students out and get them wands. It seems that they have been practicing drawing energy from the electricity." Charlie stated, clearly he'd lost his cheeky streak from this morning.
"Oh, yeah I can remember doing that at a young age." Adam paused, reminiscing. "It always felt so dangerously entertaining," A small smirk found its way to his tired face.
Charlie nodded in agreement.
Returning to the tween unit took no time at all. Charlie found that he enjoyed using his magic to fix all the broken items that the students had accidently destroyed throughout their experiments. It was just after one when Charlie noticed that the heavy locking spell he'd placed. On the door had been lifted, the tingling sensation in his abdomen told him someone had broken it. He turned anxiously toward the door to see who his intruder was.
It was Adam, holding a cup of black coffee and a plate full of sandwiches. Thank merlin. Charlie thought.
"Wow, you've out done your efforts from yesterday," Adam stated, handing Charlie the food items and conjuring a chair with his wand. "Here, take a seat, I don't have time for you to wear yourself out again. How are you feeling anyway?" he probed.
Charlie hadn't noticed how hungry he was until Adam had handed him the sandwiches. Which had disappeared almost as quickly as his coffee.
Adam released a throaty laugh "Worked up an appetite did we?"
Charlie nodded sheepishly, sliding further into the chair to relax. "I'm good now thanks.. I didn't realise how hungry I was. Goes to show how much energy it takes to do this kind of magic."
Adam nodded, "So how exactly did you learn wandless magic? Xavier said it was a part of your training as a Dragon tamer?"
"Yes, that's right, although I've always been quite good at it. Dragon taming just made my accuracy a little better."
"So why is it part of your training again?" Adam seemed to be thinking of all the possible situations that would require wandless magic.
"Well, it's not like you can really carry a wand around with you. What If the dragon got a hold of your wand, snapped it or swallowed it. You'd be a goner, but if you never had a wand on you in the first place. No one can take away your magic. "
Realisation washed over the man's face "So it's a safety thing then? That makes sense."
"Yeah, precisely." Charlie slouched further into his chair, closing his eyes for a moment.
In these few seconds Adam noticed the man's scarred, muscled and lightly tanned arms that connected to two broad muscled shoulders, and a chest that left nothing to the imagination in his skin tight green t-shirt. A light sweat covered Charlie's furrowed brow and it took a lot of effort for Adam not to run his hand across it to feel it on his fingers.
Charlie opened his eyes slowly, smiling at the man. Suddenly noticing the strange look he was receiving.
Coughing Charlie stood from his seat. "Don't we have some lunches to make?"
In an instant Adam blushed, realising he'd been caught red handed. He hurriedly rose from his seat, scrapping the chair's legs on the floorboards, and exited the room heading straight for the crew room and kitchen.
Well that was odd. Charlie thought, following the man back into the kitchen to help with lunches.
At roughly five thirty Alex came to sit with the crew at the table, it seemed that each day she'd come and announce the successes of the day. But today she seemed quite sombre.
"Twelve interviews today, and no adoptions." She huffed. "I really can't understand it. One couple insulted the child calling him a Squib." She furrowed her brow. "I don't even know what that word means." She shook her head in defeat, leaving the room after kissing Adam on the cheek like she did yesterday. Adam didn't seem to even notice it.
Automatically switching back to English Charlie started. "She's nice." A wide smirk lined his features as he teased the younger man.
"Is she?" Adam answered obliviously.
"Kisses every morning and afternoon? It's not really a wonder I'm questioning your…togetherness." He teased.
"Oh, umm. No, we are certainly not together…" he paused. "I'm not into… her… not like that anyway."
Charlie nodded adding a "sure." For teasing measures.
As Charlie arrived home that night he realised he'd received two owls whilst at work. They were piled on his pillow neatly. One from Teddy and the other from Bill. The one from Teddy read:
Dear U. Charlie,
I hope you don't mind me prying into your personal life, but I had to know some things about my mum. I mean you really knew her, unlike everyone else, you spent so much time together and I'd really like to know if you could answer some questions about her?
For one, did she like Quiddich? I know that sounds silly, but if I'm going to devote my life to it I'd like to know that she'd approve. Especially when her report cards seem to look ten times better than mine do. She was a Brainiac.
Secondly, how exactly did her and dad get together when it seems she was still with you when they met? Rude, I know and I'm sorry.
Lastly, and I'm sure I'll think of more questions later, why exactly did she and dad go to the war? Especially when they knew I would be orphaned if they died?
Yours sincerely
Teddy.
Charlie took a moment to let all of Teddy's questions sink in. He then quickly replied:
Ted,
She loved Quiddich, we often used to play against each other in the house cup. Before you leave school go and check out all of the enrolment details. You'll find her and my name there.
Tonks and I had been together since fifth year. But it did seem to be quite platonic. We stayed together even after I moved to the reserve, but by the time I'd come back she'd found Remus who showed her what a real relationship was supposed to be like. Don't get me wrong they had their problems at the start, but their problems were much more meaningful than our lack of… romance I guess. And never apologise for being curious about your mum, I'll always answer you.
Your mum and dad went to the war for the same reason anyone else did. To fight for our freedom. If they had known you would be orphaned, I'm sure they would not have gone, but no one goes into war intending to die.
If you have any other questions just ask.
Charlie.
Charlie then flicked to the second letter from bill. It simply read:
- Come over when you get home from work.
Doing as instructed, Charlie showered, changed and headed to his only older brother's house. Charlie liked Bill's house, it had been one of their aunts houses whilst they were growing up, and it seemed to contrast nicely with the rickety old Burrow.
As he knocked on the door, Louis had called out to his father exclaiming happily that "Uncle Charlie the Dragon Man is here."
Fleur rushed in from the other room scolding the boy for calling him the 'dragon man' and ushering him into the other room.
"How are you Charlie?" she kissed him twice on each cheek, "You must have gotten Bill's owl, he'll be here shortly. Did you want some tea?" her French accent caused Charlie to have to listen intently to her words as she spoke. Nodding twice, Fleur set to work making her famous tea.
"Ahh, Dragon Man." Bill smiled. "I wondered who he was talking about. Bring your tea, let's go for a walk."
Fleur handed him his cup and the two men exited the house out into the garden.
"You know Charlie I received a worried message from mum this morning." Charlie nodded for him to proceed. "She was worried that you'd never find happiness, and that she couldn't believe how much mischief we'd gotten up to as kids."
"To be honest, neither can I now that I think about it." Both men laughed, "I can remember going to muggle clubs with you before you met Fleur. If only she could imagine the ruckus we both made messing around with muggle women."
"Yeah, Fleur is not too happy about that part of my life. She even stated that it was almost a deal breaker for her when she found out how much mischief we'd actually gotten up to." He paused taking a sip of the beer he'd taken from the house.
Charlie smiled cheekily at his older brother. "Did you call me over just for a chat?"
Bill smiled weakly and nodded "yeah, is that illegal?"
"I guess I can let it slide this once. But next time, maybe not." He joked in response.
"So, have you met anyone?" Bill pressured. Instantly steering the conversation in a direction Charlie wasn't comfortable with.
"No, and I honestly don't see it happening anytime soon."
"You know, you don't have all that much time left." His brother pressured. "Not every filly is as willing to take in a beaten up, soon to be forty-four year old."
"Yeah I know. But to be honest I'm happy by myself. It's much easier not having to worry about someone else whilst I'm facing death each and every day. Yet." He paused. "If I did find someone. There is no chance I wouldn't stop dragon training. The dragons have been in my life for much to long for me to give them up now."
"That's what mum fears you know? That death will be the only thing to stop you." Bill's face dropped as he spoke.
"Yeah," Charlie started cautiously, "It will most likely be a serious injury that stops me going." Bill responded with a disapproving shake of his head.
"Aren't you lonely?"
"No. To be perfectly honest I don't think I'd know what to do in a proper relationship anymore. It all seems like a lot of unnecessary work."
Bill released a loud and deep laugh. "It really is. The kids really take it out of us too."
Charlie nodded "I've noticed how tiring kids are too, working at the orphanage and living with 'Mum the Baby-Sitter'."
Bill hummed his acknowledgement. "Mum said she was impressed that you lasted so long with all the kids. She hopes it will make you want a family of your own. Sooner rather than later."
Charlie sighed an obvious distaste graced his features. "Hmm, I doubt I'll be having a family of my own." A weak smile ended his sentence.
Bill looked at him quizzically. "Why not? You still have a few years left. You're not that old. Yet!"
Charlie smiled sadly at him, "Nah, you see. When we were at school I noticed a few things were off, involving my body." He coughed nervously. "So I went to the healers and asked if they could run some tests."
"What tests?"
"Umm, the normal kind, blood analysis and body scans. But anyway, the results came back a couple weeks later stating that my…" he looked down. "Doesn't work the way it should. She said, 'nothing is connected down there'."
"Ahh. Shit." Bill awkwardly held his beer closer to his body. "That sucks, is it a genetic thing?"
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, apparently it's something that must run in our family. Although I can't remember ever hearing about it." Bill wrapped his arm around his younger sibling.
"We can keep this our secret if you'd like? I mean you've never told anyone else this, and I suppose there's a reason?"
"I just didn't want to break Mum's heart." Charlie took a nervous sip out of his tea. "She would be devastated for me, when in reality I couldn't really care less."
"Children not your thing?" Bill questioned, suddenly feeling guilty for all the times he had asked Charlie to baby sit.
"It's not that children aren't my thing. This orphanage has proved that to me, but up until now I have just had so much to do. The dragons, the war, the family, promotions, dealing with paperwork. I've never really had time for a family or anything involved with one."
"Until now?" Bill smirked.
"Yeah, until now."
~Love Just another AnonymousAmature~