Charlie felt restless that night and gently extricated himself from the blond's hold, placing heating charms on the bed to keep the two dragons warm. There was nothing for it, he would have to try and relax his mind. And he had just the right project for it. The cottage was comfortable but soon it will not be enough for them. Callista was a dragon after all. The first six months, they will be able to handle her if he planned this well, but once she joins the adults, their little girl will no longer be theirs, and by no means little. He chuckled at the thought, even though it made him a little sad. Perhaps another newborn will take to them. Draco will surely want another newborn, or another project to look after.

But for now, he was on a mission. The large desk where he kept all the necessary paperwork was cleared up thanks to Draco's filing system, which meant two full rows of folders in one of his bookcases, all clearly marked and colourful. He chuckled and pulled out an A3, a pencil and a ruler. Perhaps he could work with the back wall, as it faced the forest... He drew for a couple of hours, working with the space available to him, counting in the magic and the manual labour he would have to do.

He suddenly felt a long fingered hand on his shoulder and turned around to see a sleepy Draco, the white cut off t-shirt falling off his shoulder. "What are you doing? Why did you leave the bed?" he asked, his voice a little raspy from sleep.

Charlie smiled and motioned for the blond to look at the paper. Draco leaned over his shoulder, his slender chest pressed into Charlie's nude shoulders as he looked at the shapes, numbers, angles and side notes. "What in Merlin's name is that?" he asked.

The redhead just chuckled. "My dad always had a fascination with muggle geometry, that's how I learned to actually plan and draw space I want to work with. Callie will grow much in the next six months, so I thought I could work on that wall," he pointed to the back of the living room, with only one large window that shower the nearby forest, "and make it more accessible. A few extension charms, sliding door and some cushions. For us to rest and read on, and for Callie to sleep on when she gets too large for the bed." he explained, showing the blond the lines of the room and the plan that would almost double the living room space.

Draco listened carefully, looking between the wall and the plan before smiling. "I like it. As long as you let me work with the fabrics and colours for the cushions. To make this place feel a bit more like a home." he said, not really considering any deeper implication of his words. The reserve did feel like a home, and the safe private environment of the cottage, Charlie's inviting character and Callie's innocent trust was adding much to that impression.

Charlie paused at the term, realising that his home in Romania was made by the people, the nature and the dragons in his care. But never by his cottage. Now it was this young man, barely of age, offering him a real home. A safe haven for private moments, for rest, for joys and for sorrows. A real home as he knew it from the Burrow. "I would like that." he said softly, turning to look at the blond. Their faces were mere inches away, their gazes connected in a moment of vacuum where all that mattered was those few seconds in time while they almost shared the same breath. And it was so easily shattered by Callista whimpering from the bedroom softly.

"Coming sweetie!" Draco pulled away and swiftly left the living room to reassure their little one. Charlie sighed and decided to leave it for the night with a list of possible types of wood to be used, before heading to bed as well. Draco was already half asleep but lifted the covers for him, holding Callie close into his curled up form. Charlie slipped into the bed and opened his arm for either or both if they wished. The blond just shuffled over, long resigned to the fact that he was a sleeping cuddle-bug, and just curled his form into the other man, with Callie trilling contently at the warmth of both her human and his mate finally back in bed with her. Charlie smiled fondly and the last thought on his mind was the he would have a real home soon.

Charlie stepped into the little room that contained nothing but a single chair, in which a man known only by his last name was tied to, and secured with more magical means. Avery. He leaned against the wall across from the smirking ex-Death Eater with a smile on his face.

"Avery, I would say it is a pleasure but we both know that is not true. So let's make this short. You tell me how you got here and who helped you, and I will tell the Wizengamot you cooperated. Or, you remain silent and a dementor gets to suck on your ugly soul. How does that sound?" he asked brightly.

Avery remained silent a moment before spitting at the redhead's feet. "Blood traitor. You are as filthy as mud-bloods." he hissed and turned his head away.

Charlie flicked his wand, cutting off all air the man's lungs. Avery started choking, and Charlie let up after a little while. He had learned the effective method from an ex lover who was in the military for a few years. He told Charlie to only use it as self-defence or when he needed to gain information that would save many lives. If they found out that there really was someone on the inside, they could save many dragons from suffering and cut off one major source of dragon commodities on the black market.

"How did you get here and who helped you?" he asked again, completely calm.

Avery just grinned and shook his head silently. Charlie flicked his wand again, and so the 'discussion' continued. He had enough after two hours though, and left the dark man alone to get some water himself and collect his thoughts. He did not however expect Draco to be standing just outside the door.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, concerned. "Is something wrong with Callie?"

Draco looked up at him. "Let me try." he said softly.

Charlie was surprised by the request. "I don't think that is wise."

Draco looked at him firmly. "I will be the judge of that. I want to speak with him. If anyone has a chance to get something out of him, it would be me."

Charlie straightened and stepped aside to let the young man pass. "I don't doubt you, but if you need me, I will remain out here." he said politely but with much more reserve, obviously unappreciative of the blond's tone.

Draco took a deep breath and stepped inside the room, closing the door quietly. Avery looked up and surprise was clearly written across his face, before it disappeared just as swiftly. "Ah, another blood traitor. What did I do to deserve such a reception?" he asked with an ugly smirk.

Draco conjured a chair and sat across from him, legs crossed and body open, leaning back in his seat. "Well you did hurt a dragon. At a dragon deserve. That makes you quite popular around here. But fame is not something you are after, is it Avery?" he drawled, arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

The ex-Death Eater leaned back in his chains and grinned. "Little boy is trying to play the game of men. Tell me, did daddy dearest teach you that? Where is he, by the way? Last I hear he was receiving a kiss from a dementor." he taunted.

Draco's jaw clenched firmly for a moment at the words that felt like a knife twisting in his gut, but remained cool on the outside. "Don't worry, you will have a chance to see him again very soon. The only way you won't end up just like him, is if you tell them who your contact here is. Now, I did try to explain that there are two sides to this coin. One, we never give our sources, as they can be useful one day again. But two, you are moral-less scum who will throw others overboard just to save his own life." he drawled, smiling pleasantly. "Which side of the coin is more important to you at the moment?" he asked.

Avery remained silent a moment before shifting slightly in his seat. "Daddy dearest taught his otherwise useless son well after all." he drawled. "I want an official promise from the Wizengamot, that I will not receive the kiss, neither will I be in the highest security wing with all the rattling bone-bags. Then, I just might remember the name." he said with a grin and then turned his head away.

Draco stood and left the room, remaining collected until the door was firmly shut. Charlie put his bottle of water away and stood up once the blond joined him outside, waiting to hear how it went. Instead of any words however, Draco just stood there, his whole frame shaking and eyes closed as he tried to gather himself. He did not count on the strong arms pulling him into the warm safety of Charlie's chest, and large hands rubbing his back soothingly. He had reached his breaking point, one his mind was silently spiralling into for the past weeks, only distracted by the happiness Callie and their new home brought him. His eyes filled with tears and the sobs were no longer quiet as his hands fisted in the redhead's t-shirt as if it was his last life line.

Charlie just held the blond close in his arms and let him get all of the pent up emotions out. Draco was finally crying for the years of simple teenage joys he had lost in Hogwarts, for his parents, for what he was forced to do, for losing almost everything... the list was long and the tears were many but at least they were finally falling. But this was not the place for them. Charlie leaned down and picked the blond up into his arms, holding him close still, and cast a disillusionment charm over them as he swiftly made his way into the privacy of his cottage. Draco's tears were unrelenting, a soft hiccup rising from his chest as he struggled to breath. Charlie pressed a water bottle to his lips for a few sips before getting them more comfortable on the couch, Draco in his lap and curled into his chest securely.

"I'm s-so-sorry.." Draco hiccuped again, the worst emotions leaving him now and he suddenly felt embarrassed for breaking down like that in front of someone. He had never done that before, and Charlie was a person he trusted wholeheartedly by now, but still did not want to have the redhead see him like this.

"Shhh, don't apologise. Just rest and let it go.." he said softly, his hand with a will of its own petted the blond's silky hair, carding through the lightly curling tresses gently.

Draco leaned into his chest after wiping the last of the wetness from his cheeks and closed his eyes tiredly, not even realising her had fallen asleep. Charlie felt the blond's breathing change and gently picked him up once more, carrying him into bed with little Callie who was having her midday nap. They instantly curled into each other, making Charlie smile at the beautiful sight. He covered them with the blankets and closed the door quietly, leaving them to their rest.

It was a few hours later that Draco woke up with a throbbing headache, and puffy eyes. He groaned softly and rolled over, only to gasp in surprise when he noticed Charlie walking into the room.

"Sorry, did not mean to startle you. Here, for the head." he handed the blond a vial with pain reliever and wrung out all the excess cool water from a cloth before gently covering his eyes.

Draco sighed in relief, gulping down the potion in one go with a soft grimace. "Thank you. For before as well..."

"Don't mention it, just rest a while longer. I have one little girl in the bathtub, asking for attention. We won't be long, then the bathroom is yours." he promised and left the blond to his rest.

Draco sighed and leaned back into the pillow. There was only one time in his life he could remember someone taking care of him, and that was when he had received the dark mark and uncle Sev healed him and reassured him that all would be well. The man used to be an enigma even to his godson, but now Draco understood that Severus had always cared about him in his own way, he just didn't show it in the way Draco was able to receive in those years at Hogwarts. Perhaps now was the time to allow himself to be taken care of. He had no one in this world. No parents, no godfather, no real friends. Potter and Granger were friends, but they had their own golden trio bonds that he would never break into, not that he wanted to.

But Charlie..he had accepted him readily, with openness and kindness, and helped him find his centre. Was it only gratitude he felt for the redhead? But it couldn't be, he found the man gorgeous, he felt safe in his presence and he had admittedly worried his head off when the fool got burnt by the dragon yesterday. That wasn't gratitude, but attraction..with a pinch of longing perhaps. Not used to such deep analysis of his own feelings, Draco gave up on the thought process and rested his eyes a bit longer until he felt them cool off a little.

He heard laughter and content purring so he took the cloth off his eyes and looked toward the bathroom. Charlie walked out, grey sleeping pants hanging low on his hips, water dripping from his dishevelled shoulder-length hair, and a squirming Callie peaked from the large white towel in his arms. She trilled happily when she noticed her human's mate was awake and Charlie let her jump onto the bed, her wings still not developed enough for flight. Draco smiled warmly and opened his arms for the little one, getting tackled with another happy trill.

"Hello beautiful. Did you have a good time in the bath with Charlie?" he asked, nuzzling her soft scales as she purred contently and let out a few clouds of warm steam.

Draco chuckled and tickled her belly as Charlie roughly dried his hair with a towel. "Will you be alright to look after her or are you going to take a shower?" he asked.

Draco shook his head. "Callie and I are going to do a little exercise to make her wings strong, just like Sebastian told us to. Wanna do that munchkin?" he cooed and she trilled happily, rubbing her soft scaly head into his chin.

Charlie chuckled and nodded. "Alright, I'll make us some dinner, then we can talk." he said before leaving the room for the kitchen.

Draco looked after him a moment, wondering whether he could face the impact of his breakdown. Perhaps there was a chance Charlie wanted to talk about something else, but he doubted it. And he still had to tell him of the deal with Avery. They needed the name badly, or more dragons will suffer and word will spread out that their security is not what it's supposed to be. He looked down at the large soulful eyes of the little girl and gently caressed her snout. "Come, let's see how your wings are doing, and I am sure Charlie will have some lovely meat ready for you once we are done." he smiled, even though his mind was not quite there. Hopefully all will be well and they would have their peace once more...