Dragon Man
Chapter 9 – Night of the living dead.
Bill laughed and shook his head at Charlie, "What?" Charlie asked.
"You, you should have gone through this about fifteen years ago Charlie, not now"
"Gone through what?" Charlie questioned.
"Love, falling in love, being happy, you know all those things you've always shunned" Bill replied.
"I've been in love before" Charlie defended "Just never like this"
"Dragons don't count" Bill observed dryly.
"Look right, I've had girlfriends, and I've loved a few of them, but I'm not this big commitment phobe you all think I am, I was willing to commit to a couple of women over the years, unfortunately they didn't want to commit to me. At least I didn't marry someone and have four kids and then decide we hate each other" Charlie defended himself.
"And you want to marry this one?" Bill asked.
"Bill, if it weren't for the fact she's far too sensible I'd have married her already" he said "I've always rushed things or not been in that place but now I am, and actually it's not so bad that I have to be patient, I don't know why but some sense keeps telling me that waiting, being patient is the right thing to do"
"You don't want to scare her off you mean, like the girls in the past?" Bill asked, but his attention was over Charlie's shoulder.
"Yes and no" Charlie tried to explain "To be honest it just feels right, like this and I have too much riding on this to be impatient and screw it all up"
"Good good" Bill murmured, his attention now totally focussed over Charlie's right shoulder.
"What's so bloody fascinating over there?" Charlie grumbled, he'd wanted to talk to Bill about this for a while, and now he wasn't even listening.
"Those guys, who came in when you came back in, I swear I've seen them before, and not in a good way" Bill spoke quietly, it instantly got Charlie's attention.
"What's going on?" he asked sharply.
"Me and dad, George, Fred, we all had a mission back in the war, those guys….well they are supposed to be dead, at the battle I saw their names, it makes no sense" Bill shook his head as if trying to rid himself of the confusion.
"Bill, you are making no sense" Charlie started to get frustrated, resisting the urge to turn and look.
"We had to follow and report on a group of death eaters for the order, we got to know how they looked really well, and I think they are over there, but they can't be because I saw their names on the list of the dead at Hogwarts" Bill had reached inside his robes and had his hand on his wand.
"Seriously?" Charlie became nervous, adrenaline pumping. There were still small bands of death eaters that were being rounded up all these years later and the aurors had fought some battles to incarcerate them. But they were mainly small time criminals who hid behind an allegiance to Voldemort. He looked as George appeared one side of Bill and Arthur the other.
"Bill…." George began.
"I know" Bill spoke through gritted teeth "There must be more opposition than everyone thought, where are the others? Harry and Ron, please tell me they are not on their own, despite what the ministry tells us there is still a price on their heads, Hermione's too"
"We're here" replied Ron quietly, sliding beside Charlie, Harry suddenly appeared too, auror training Charlie supposed.
Despite being the son, Bill took charge "Dad, go home, tell Ginny and Hermione to ward the house, protect themselves, Percy go with him" he added as Percy arrived, unaware of the situation that was unfolding.
"Charlie, on my word turn around, and have your wand ready because this is going to get messy" Bill warned, Charlie withdrew his wand, breathing fast "Now!" Bill said almost inaudibly.
As Charlie turned he saw the flash of a spell go over his head as he automatically ducked, and that was the last conscious action he made that night, the rest were pure adrenaline and reaction. The death eaters threw their spells and the group responded like for like. Music pounded still through the darkness of the pub as they fought, the area around them cleared quickly, Charlie barely registered the screams of fleeing innocents as he duelled, it was a long time since he had fought like this, in fact the last time had been the battle of Hogwarts and he'd thought he would never have to do it again.
Charlie reached out and caught Ron as he was hit by a spell, he pushed him behind, shielding him from further damage, the death eaters were advancing, and they were starting to get the better of the small group of dedicated fighters who stood between them and their aim to cause as much damage to the patrons of the pub as possible. The place was almost cleared, Charlie caught sight of a few people he'd known slightly from the order, and they added their weight to the fight.
Awry spells had wrecked the bar and suddenly it went deathly quiet, the sound system must have been hit. Both sides paused for a split second, thrown by the sudden silence. It was still dark and the atmosphere crackled with spell residue as the world halted momentarily. It didn't last, the death eaters began firing spells again, and Charlie and his fellows repaid the favour.
Suddenly the death eaters stopped, and so did the Weasley's and their allies, wands held aloft still ready for the fight to start again. Through the quiet could be heard the laboured breathing of those who had fought, and the faded screams of those still fleeing the scene.
"Harry Potter you will pay!" A voice said "We are much stronger than you believe and the dark army will rise again, and this time YOU will be defeated!"
"Bollocks!" shouted George "There's about six of you, and you are all here, and we're going to kick your arses!"
"You underestimate us" the voice laughed.
"No that's your mistake not ours" Bill warned "This is a storm in a tea cup, you are a band of small time crooks up against aurors, curse breakers and a dragon tamer" Bill laughed sourly "Oh and not to mention two of the golden trio, one of which just happens to be the boy who lived, who defeated Voldemort when he was a teenager! Who do you think you are kidding?"
"We are strong and true to the cause!" Another voice cried back.
"Oh please" Bill replied "Get a grip, you have been brain washed by dead man!"
"Voldemort will rise again!" the group chanted as one.
"Oh, I don't think so" Harry said softly "He was definitely dead, I made extra sure" and he fired a spell, in the light generated the band of death eaters were lit up, they all saw the man at the front fall, stunned and rigid "Now do I have to take you all out one by one?"
The death eaters fought back but the Weasley's and their crew were revitalised by Harry's words, they pushed the band towards the wall, each person fighting for what they were worth. Charlie was hit twice, in the shoulder but continued until a third strike lifted him from his feet and laid him flat on his back, he panicked slightly before he blacked out.
When he came round Bill was standing over him, and the pub was light.
"That was a girl you know, the one who got you" Bill informed him.
"What?" Charlie was groggy and confused.
"The spells, don't worry they were only light stunners the effects wore off ages ago, looks like you knocked yourself out when you hit the floor" Bill told him, holding out his hand to help him up. Charlie rose rather unsteadily to his feet, rubbing the back of his head "We beat them" Bill told him proudly.
"Great" Charlie winced as he spoke, his whole body ached.
"Harry, Ron and the other aurors have taken them to Azkaban" Bill said "Turns out they wanted to rob the place, funds for their cause" Bill rolled his eyes "But when they saw Harry they decided to try and become legends"
Charlie sat gingerly on a nearby step, his head between his knees.
"Charlie, you ok?" Bill asked his voice sharp with concern.
"Bang on the head" Charlie muttered "Feel like shit"
"Come on" Bill half picked him up "Let's get you home"
The last thing Charlie remembered was the sensation of apparating with Bill.
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