Summary: Astoria wanted to see a dragon before she died, and Draco swallows his pride and asks Ron Weasley for a favor to make it happen.

Rated: K

Genre: Family

Warning Tag: References Terminal Illness: References Sick Creature

Competition/Challenge Block
Written for/Stacked with: The Houses Competition (Year 8); Monthly Challenges for All (Year 4)
THC: Slytherin - Astronomy; Drabble ([Event] Going on Holiday/Vacation)

MC4A: Fa Bingo (3D-Studying/Learning); Settings Bingo (3E-Sunny); Ship Bingo (3D-Grand Romantic Gesture); Ship War (Fa Micro 1 [Creature]); Fireworks (Summer Fun); Garden (Meteorology [Sunny]); Hunt (Fa Setting [Windy]); Chimera (Protection; Blanket; "Your Arms Feel Like Home" by 3 Doors Down); Link (Same Challenge Circle); ICs (In a Flash (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Neurodivergent (Y); Rian-Russo Inversion; Disabled (Y); Lovely Triangle (Y); Setting Sail (Y); Ship Sails (Y); Zed Era (Y); Gryffindor MC x2; Slytherin MC; Ravenclaw MC; Magical MC x4; Old Shoes (Y); Human Companion (Y); Adult Activities (Y)); BCs ([Primary] LL (Hot Apple); NC (Lyre Liar); StL (Three's Company); ToS (Unwanted Advice; Spinning Plates; Middle Name); BAON (Zucchini Bread); FPC (Not a Lamp; Ladylike; White Dress; Persistence Still); [Secondary] AV (Wind Beneath; Creature Feature); Fence (Peddling Pots; Machismo); Star (Wabi Sabi)); [Tertiary] O3 (Oath); FR (Liberation); T3 (Terse; Tether)); [Generic] TY (Āvāsa); (LL; NC; SIN; StL; ToS; BAON; FPC; MLG; RoB; AV; ER; Fence; Star; O3; FR; T3; Mea; TY)

Word Count: 946

Beta: Ash K, Dhrish, Hope

Simple Gestures

Draco never thought he would ever find himself going to Ron Weasley, of all people, to ask for an important favor. But here he was, standing in the doorway of the Auror's office, trying to ignore the very smug look on the ginger's face.

"You want me to contact Charlie, my brother, so you can plan your vacation?" Ron said with a scoff, rubbing his stubbly chin thoughtfully. "Why?"

"Do I really need to explain myself more than that to you?" Draco asked, narrowing his eyes. "Look, as much as it pains me to say, I'll owe you one should you entertain my request. Just, could you?"

Ron tapped a finger over his lip, contemplating his options. Draco shifted his weight nervously, finding his scrutinizing attention discomforting. He really didn't want to give Weasley any more information than necessary, but hindsight told him now that it was probably better to just tell him. The health of his wife, Astoria, was normally kept tight-lipped and on a need-to-know basis for a reason, and Draco intended to keep it that way. This request did not meet these exceptions in his opinion, but his will to fulfill one of Astoria's last wishes was strong, even if it meant putting his pride aside and working with Weasleys to do it.

She wanted to see a dragon, up close and personal.

Ron smirked then, dropping his hand on his desk where a pile of parchment rested. "Alright, sure. I'll write to him and get back to ya when he responds. Might take a while, though. He is always pretty busy."

"You know where my office is," Draco replied curtly, offering a stiff nod before leaving.

The trip to Romania was done slowly for Astoria's sake. Traveling was always a touch and go experience for her, so a lot of steps and methods to get to their destination were always considered. The couple arrived and was greeted by Charlie himself on a bright and sunny, yet very windy afternoon, much to Draco's genuine surprise. They exchanged pleasantries before Charlie directed them to the apartment they'd be staying in. Being in a remote location, there were few options that didn't involve the local town thirty minutes away.

"So, what brought you here, if I may? Ronnie was a bit vague in his letter," Charlie asked, turning to face Draco and Astoria while walking backwards. "Not that I mind the company. I love educating people about dragons, but it is not very common to get guests."

Draco opened his mouth to respond, but Astoria answered instead.

"Because I am dying, and one of my life's desires was to meet a dragon in person," she explained, receiving a surprised expression from Charlie. "Draco told me about this place and thought it'd be a great way to do that safely."

Draco stared at Astoria, speechless by her sudden honesty to a mere stranger.

"Well, you look amazing," Charlie said, smiling warmly. "And you certainly have come to the right place. Let's get you settled in and we'll jump right in after, yeah?"

Astoria smiled, nodding appreciatively while falling into step with the dragon wrangler. Draco trailed behind, idly listening to their conversation about various dragon species and what the reservation does.

Draco spent his time watching Astoria absorb everything she possibly could during their week-long stay. Charlie was very good at his job and it was clear he was passionate about the profession. He knew every breed alive, even the rarer ones, and was able to answer every question asked from the ever-curious Astoria.

"This is a Norwegian Ridgeback," Charlie explained as they approached the enclosure. "Her name is Norberta. Funny story, she has. Had to smuggle her out of Hogwarts several years ago."

Astoria laughed at that. "You didn't!"

Draco narrowed his eyes, speaking the same time as Astoria. "I knew it!"

The two looked at Draco, Charlie raising a curious brow.

"Nevermind," he said, waving the air in front of him in dismissal. "Please, continue."

"Anyway, we tried relocating her to her homeland, but she keeps migrating back..."

Draco found the bond Astoria was forming with Charlie admirable. He was very kind, charming almost, and eager to share his knowledge with them. Draco couldn't help but give into his charismatic ways of telling stories about every dragon they came by and explain why some dragons could never be reintroduced to their natural environments due to their disabilities, habitat destruction, and poaching.

"Come to the hatchery with me. I've got something to show you," Charlie said eagerly, leading the couple to the large dome building.

"A fresh batch of Antipodean Opaleyes hatched just before you got here," Charlie said, walking backwards to talk to them directly. He tended to do that a lot. "One, however, is having a little trouble…"

Astoria approached the incubator Charlie stopped in front of, covering her mouth with her hand at the sight. Draco stood behind her, looking at the underdeveloped creature over her shoulder.

"What happened?"

"Her egg was cracked when it was laid, we didn't think it was viable. But here she is, fighting to survive." Charlie swallowed hard, placing a light hand on Astoria's shoulder. Draco's attention went directly to Charlie then. "I hope you don't mind, but I named her after you."

"Why?" Draco all but snapped, drowning out Astoria's sharp intake of breath.

"Because she is a fighter just like your wife. Just like you, Astoria."

Astoria splayed her hand over the warm glass, seeing the tiny sleeping dragon in her nest. Draco's heart melted at the answer, wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her temple, looking at the baby dragon.

"I'm honored."