In the Crosshairs
Dragon Voldemort
Chapter 3: Birthday
On Thursday, a week later, the eighteenth, they were a few days into hiking along a remote trail across the Swiss Alps, hiking naked toward Austria. Facing the sunset, sitting on a big flat rock near the edge of a cliff, was Ron. This rock, in a field of many stretching hundreds of yards, was perched on the edge with a stunning view of a deep but narrow valley. Ron threw an empty ink jar down the steep slope; the shattering was heard several seconds later. Upon Ron's lap was a leather bound book, laid wide open, with tight writing on both pages of parchment around many drawings, and the tip of his todger laid on the bottom part of the crack between the pages. Ron's quill dipped itself into a new inkjar and continued writing.
"Littering?" Hermione asked, walking up.
Ron turned his head, looked at her.
"Pervert," Hermione said.
Ron grinned.
Hermione sat on the rock, leaned into Ron's right shoulder, her legs propped up. Her eyes focused on the book.
"That's—" Hermione asked.
"Nothing," Ron said.
"You're writing—" Hermione said.
"A journal," Ron said, "Not much, just little things since starting Hogwarts. Granddad gave it, at Mum's suggestion.
"Can I read—" Hermione asked.
"No," Ron said.
"Harry won't like that biography of him—" Hermione said.
"It's either me or Skeeter," Ron said, "His choice."
In short oder, hormones were in force when Harry walked up for a moment before turning around. A few minutes after that, Ron and Hermione returned to the small stone shelter where they were spending the night."So, you wanted something?" Ron asked.
"Dinner's ready," Harry said, pointing to some chicken teriyaki.
"Was thinking more vegetarian," Hermione said.
"With you playing with a sausage—" Harry started.
"Hey!" Ron snapped, his ears turning green as he glared at Harry.
Harry, Ron, Gia, and Hermione kept hiking, reaching Austria on Sunday, the twenty first, where they caught a train. After exploring Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest, Romania, they caught a train north on July thirthieth, north out of Bucharest. A taxi from the station, and they came to an orange barn beside the dirt road nestled into the mountains. Harry paid the driver, who turned around and left.
"You know, I've never actually visited Charlie here," Ron said.
"He gave me directions, we've got the orange barn," Harry said.
They walked up the lane, between some trees, deeper into the isolated valley.
"So, you know where we're going?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Harry said, "A few miles, maybe even sneak in a broom ride—"
"No!" Hermione said, "We're walking."
They all felt the compression wave go through them as they passed through a pair of stone pillars, trees to either side, along with a sign, No Muggles! They kept walking, on the lane, between the fake stone trees planted to both sides. Roars came from ahead in the distance, and they passed out of the trees to see a vast cleared field. Gia's eyes widened.
"Dragons," Gia said, "Those are dragons?"
"Yes," Harry said, pointing to the figures in the distance, "Those are most definitely dragons."
"Write Hagrid and tell him where we are," Ron said to Harry, "Maybe we can see Norbert."
Harry chuckled, Gia seemed puzzle. Hermione explained Hagrid hatching Norbert during their first year at Hogwarts.
Buildings in the distance steadily became closer, stenches of burning vegetation came their way
"Hagrid got into trouble for it," Harry said, "We've kept it quiet."
"Why?" asked Gia.
"Impossible to tame," Ron said, "So they're unsuitable for normal pets. Imagine the keeping a dragon in Hermione's back yard, hard not to notice."
They reached a two story stone building, in front a badly burnt wooden sign with a picture of a dragon remaining on it.
"Well, guess this is it," Harry said, pushing on the singed, black, door.
Inside, desks were cluttered with parchment, a few quills scribbled notes, gloves piled in the corner, aprons hung from hooks on the back wall. A man with balding silver hair was scribbling at one desk, this man looked up at the visitors, eyes wide, and stared for a moment.
This man spoke, the words unintelligible as it was in Romanian.
"Charlie Weasley," Ron said, before raising his voice, "WEASLEY!"
The man cobbled up, walked out of view, and so they waited.
"Think he understood you?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said, "I raised my voice, of course he understood."
"World doesn't work that way," Hermione said.
"If you're so clever, you learn the language," Ron said.
They continued to wait, until the man returned, followed by the red haired wizard in his twenties known as Charlie Weasley. Another man, with brown hair, similar in age to Charlie, followed.
"You made it!" Charlie said, "So good to see you, that is Mr. Rozell," he pointed to the silver haired man, "Our director, and this is Adam."
"Greetings," Adam said, "You must be—" reaching for Harry's hand.
"Harry," Harry said.
"I'm Ron!" Ron said, pointing to himself.
"My brother," Charlie said, "His friend, and their girlfriends."
"Greetings," Adam said, extending a hand to shake
Charlie said, "Lets show you around, come."
They went through the door into a small gym. Charlie waved his wand, conjured up some mats.
"Mats?" Ron asked.
"Dragons aren't to be fooled around with," Charlie said, "You need to learn to play dead. When there are no other options, play dead and hopefully the dragon will lose interest. This has saved my life on a number of occasions already—don't tell Dad."
Charlie demonstrated. Ron, Harry, Gia, and Hermione practiced until they had it down. Charlie waved his wand, the mats disappeared.
"Are we going to die from dragons?" Gia asked.
"Don't get me wrong," Charlie said, "Dragons are some of the most marvelous beings around. They are intelligent and curious, usually well mannered and docile."
"Hagrid, is that you?" Harry asked.
"He has the right idea," Charlie said.
Charlie led them outside, showed them around the other buildings; including the barn, the veterinary building, and the dragon shed which was currently empty. Finally, Charlie went through a fence to see—
"Dragons," Gia said, "Up close."
"See?" Harry asked, his right hand on her shoulder.
Charlie spent a while going over the different breeds before they headed back, making their way to the administration building.
"So, those are the dragons," Charlie said, "Wards are tied to all those stone trees you see, so Muggles won't notice, and keeps the dragons inside."
"Aw," Hermione said.
"We're remote, but occasionally a Muggle will approach," Charlie said, "A bit of fear turns them away."
They went around the administration building, walked across the small lane, to the small group of stone cottages arranged in a circle, each one partially buried into an earthen berm behind the cottage.
"Nothing fancy," Charlie said as they came to one with a red door with Weasley etched into it.
Charlie held the door open, they entered. Underwear hanging from the nearest coat hook, they were in the middle of the living area, small enough to make the sofa a tight squeeze with the coffee table near the cold fireplace in the middle of the wall to the left. On the far right was a small door to a loo, while a ladder and a small round table separated the living area from the kitchen. Several bookcases lined the walls with various Wizard books plus a small collection of Muggle books that occupied a single shelf.
"Most definitely a bachelor pad," Hermione said.
Every piece of furniture, every flat surface, had something laying on it, from shirts to a discarded newspaper; opened and half spent cereal boxes were on that small round dining table and scattered elsewhere. Dirty dishes roamed from the tall mess in the sink to spill over onto the counters, at least a foot deep in places.
"Well, sleeping options are up in the loft or the sofa," Charlie said, "These aren't the largest of suites."
Harry climbed the ladder, to look around at several planks of plywood with the rafters not too far above.
"It'll do," Harry said. He swept with his arms, clothes tumbled down. "Yeah, enough to fit."
Meanwhile, Hermione shuffled her feet, blazed a path to the bookcases that lined the walls, and began to rummage through some of the Wizard books. Ron traipsed the short distance, laid down on the sofa. Gia grimaced at the stacks of dirty dishes as she crossed over to the loo, where she closed the door. Charlie, however, reached into the refrigerator, brought out several bottles, handed them around, and sat at the dining table, indicating for Harry to do the same.
"So, how's your trip been?" Charlie asked, opening a bottle.
Harry opened the bottle in his hand, sipped, and tasted the butterbeer going down his throat.
…
Ron spent some time on the sofa, laying there, chipping in, but letting Harry carry on with Charlie. Hermione stood there, reading through the books that she was helping herself to. Ron made no secret of his arousal, Hermione groaned, kept trying to avoid it.
"So, you lost your virginity?" Charlie asked.
"Hell, yeah," Ron said.
"Hmph!" Hermione said, "I'm not some hooker—"
"Hermione!" Ron said, standing up, "Can we—outside."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"Come," Ron said.
"Go," Gia said.
"I don't get it," Charlie said.
"Outside," Ron said to Hermione.
Ron ushered Hermione the few paces to the door, opened it, and they went out into the moon lit darkness of the night.
"We'll be a while," Ron said before the door closed.
"Mind explaining—" Hermione started.
"Yeah," Ron said, "Get a bit away, privacy."
"That's rich coming from you," Hermione said.
Ron brought them to a fast halt on the lane, turned to her. His eyes surveyed her.
"Do you love me?" Ron asked.
"Of course you know I do," Hermione said.
"Do you? I'm having trouble, I can't tell," Ron said, "I don't know."
"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione said.
"I can't read minds," Ron said, "All I know is what you say and what you do. You're dismissive, or embarrassed—"
"I'm not embarrassed," Hermione said.
"I can't tell," Ron said.
"You know I love you," Hermione said.
"Then act it," Ron said, "We're a couple, it's perfectly acceptable that you jump my bones, or I jump yours. Heck, Harry and Gia are probably doing it now."
"You're counting," Hermione said.
"We've done it once since Paris," Ron said, "Tell me that you love me, show me, and we'll be better. I need to know, and I need you to tell me, just not now, but every time you think it, alright?"
"I…sorry, I didn't realize you've been so shallow," Hermione said.
"It's not shallow," Ron said, "Every night Dad came home from work, he'd kiss Mum, they'd hug, and I never asked how late they'd stay up after we had gone to bed. I'm not saying I need to store my todger in you, though I wouldn't mind—"
"Pervert," Hermione said.
"For you," Ron said, "Say we forget them, enjoy the night, and…guess, do you need me to read to you?"
"No," Hermione said.
They walked along the lane.
It was nearly noon of the next morning in Charlie's cabin. Ginny stood in the kitchen, frosting a cake. Adam, sharing the cramp kitchen, had eggs and bacon on the stove, while Charlie carried a platter of fried chicken into the cabin. The food was placed onto the dining table, it had been lowered to that of coffee table.
"That's making me hungry," Ron said.
"Is Harry—?" Fred asked.
"Upstairs," Gia said.
"Fancy, calling that the upstairs!" George said.
"It's not much, but it's my home," Charlie said.
"Ready, just need the birthday boy," Adam said.
"HARRY!" Gia shouted up, "HARRY!"
Feet first, stepped on the top rung, before jumping. Harry came down, fast, his eyes going wide as he saw Ginny, staring back at his full monty.
"Ginny—" Harry stammered.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" George started, which caught on, and everybody shouted it.
Harry glanced around, tried to use his hands to cover up.
"Birthday suit is most appropriate," Fred said, "Plus, food's getting cold."
"Let's eat!" Ron exclaimed.
Fred's hand escorted Harry, to the open chair around the lowered table. Harry sat, crossed his legs as he propped his feet up on the wooden table in front of him, and leaned back.
"Make yourself at home," Fred said, handing Harry a plate of food.
On Harry's plate was an English breakfast with a side slice of cake. Everybody watched carefully as he took a bite and chomped on it. With a serious concentration, Fred and George watched Harry's todger flash blue, followed by a fast torrent. Harry blushed as he peed.
"There is a toilet—!" Fred said, pointing.
"Make this cake?" Harry asked, studying Fred's facial expression.
"Why do you ask?" George asked.
"Food!" Ron said.
"It'll keep, Adam?" Charlie said.
"Sure, not a problem," Adam said, standing.
Charlie went to a closet, pulled out a pair of Trigger 10's, a Cleansweep 7, and a Nimbus 1000.
"Of course," Hermione said.
"Harry?" Charlie asked.
"We've got our brooms," Harry said.
They left the cabin, played for the afternoon before returning. And when they returned, Harry cleared the sofa and laid down. Fred and George looped over Harry.
"We were going to sit down—" George said.
Harry grinned; Fred and George sat on top of Harry's legs, pushing them apart a bit so their rears were between . Harry shrugged, decided not to object. Ron, though, sat on Harry's stomach.
"Lumpy sofa," Ron said.
"How about a dragon?" Charlie asked while pulling some food out of the oven.
Tentacles came out of the sofa, wrapped around Ron tightly. Fred and George, both startled, jumped off.
"Your sofa!" George exclaimed.
Ron looked at Harry, smiled, and shrugged.
"Fred, George—?" Charlie asked.
"As much as we'd love to take credit—" Fred said.
"What's for dinner?" Ron asked.
"Seems to be you," George said.
Ron's face turned purplish, but the sofa vanished, causing Ron and Harry to hit the floor, hard.
"Ow," Harry said.
"Do you even want gifts?" Hermione asked.
"That'd be nice," Harry said.
After dinner, they turned to Harry's presents.
"I sort of played post," Charlie said, "Guess your trip wasn't a complete mystery." Charlie brought out a couple of packages.
Harry went to the first one, addressed with the recognizable typical scribble; he opened the note.
=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=v=
Harry,
Happy Birthday! I hope you find this helpful for the year. I tried sending chocolates, but the post refused due to some export issue. Hope you're enjoying your day and see you in September.
Hagrid
Attached to it, was a book, Sizzling Book of Dragons, which started to huff out flame, the smoke of which billowed and added a layer of soot to his glasses.
"Stun it!" Charlie said, recognition filled his eyes.
Harry removed his wand aimed it, the book calmed down.
"Any guesses?" Ron asked.
Harry continued with gifts, among which were Quidditch: Rules of the International Association of Quidditch from Hermione, Chudley Canons T–shirt from Ron, and a box of assorted gags from Fred and George, and something more private from Gia in a secluded corner of the little cottage enclave.
On Friday, the second of August; Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Gia left Charlie's place in Romania, meandered as they headed back to England. They visited Koktebel, Kiev, Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Nurnberg, Munich, and Stuggart before they traveled down along the Rhine River.
It was Wednesday, the twenty first when the cruise boat came to halt along the terminal in Amsterdam.
"Good," Hermione said, "Got some ideas of what to do."
"So do the boys," Gia said, as they left the boat.
"Are you thinking—?" Hermione started to as Harry and Ron.
"What?" Harry asked.
"It's a big city," Gia said as they entered the terminal building, "Lots to do."
"Here," Hermione said, grabbing a visitor map from the counter, "Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank House."
"Who?" Ron asked.
"Some girl from the second world war," Harry said.
"She wasn't just some girl!" Hermione snapped.
"Not important to your kind, I suppose," Gia said.
"Kinda goes on today," Hermione said.
They walked on, into the city, coming first to the Sex Museum.
"We'll save that for later," Hermione said, "Anne Frank House is one that's best to get to early."
They kept walking; Hermione kept steering them away from the more interesting museums, toward the one for Rembrandt, the Cheese Museum, and the Pipe Museum exploring the history of smoking; until they were finally eating dinner at a cafe.
"We're going to explore," Harry said, standing, "Should we find the youth hostel first, or do you want to come with us?"
"I'll come with you," Gia said, before glancing at Hermione, "Well somebody's got to keep them out of trouble."
"Hermione?" Ron asked.
Harry settled the check, and they went into the darkening evening. They walked along, until they came to a tight alley way, along with scantily clad women in the windows. A couple of young ones leaning against a doorway, came over, smiled and waved at the four to get their attention.
"Hi," Harry said.
"We couldn't but help notice you checking us out," the first girl said, with her silky brown hair, low cut white top and lace mesh panties.
"They're just looking," Hermione said.
"A couple?" the girl asked.
"She's my girlfriend," Ron said.
"Aw, a double date," the second girl, with a red strap to hide the nipples, and a bit of fabric to cover her doorway, "I get it. You need—company?"
"We can spice up the evening," the first girl said, "You?" Her eyes fell on Gia.
"I…" Gia stuttered.
"We're about to get a room ourselves," Harry said, "You know…"
"It's our business," the first girl said, "What's your favorite position?"
"Um…you just do it," Ron said.
"How old are you?" the second girl asked.
"Old enough," Harry said.
"So, he's good in bed?" the first girl asked Hermione.
Hermione shook her head.
"So what you need is a consultation," the second girl said, "Not the usual request, but a little tuition, and we'll help you put the spunk back into the bedroom, does that sound enticing?"
"Yes," Gia said, "He's become confident, of course, but a bit of variety would be nice."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Can you say the same?" Gia asked Hermione.
"Yeah," Ron said, "Lets get help."
"Are you mad?" Hermione asked.
"It's here or a hotel," Harry said, "A bit of guidance—sure."
Ron gently held Hermione from behind, leaned forward.
"Stay out here so I have to suffer with them by myself," Ron asked, "Or, join in the fun?"
"Boys!" Hermione said, "Yes!"
Harry handed over a bank note, they went into the building. Girls smiling across the hall as they entered, turned into the first room. A large heart shaped bed, with red sheets, was in the middle, the fragrence of an over applied flower air freshner hung in the air, all bathed in red light.
"Magic begins tonight," the first girl said, "Call me Kendra, if you need a name. She's Levina."
"We can definitely work with this," Levina said, surveying both Harry and Ron, naked.
They spent an hour before they heard the voice.
"I paid, I expect satisfaction," said the eriely familiar greasy voice.
Ron rolled Hermione onto the floor; same with Harry taking Gia onto the shag carpet. Billowing black robes, Professor Snape was now in the small hallway, glaring at an older woman. Ron and Harry cast their SEP, just before Snape turned his head to look inward to their room, for the door had not been closed.
"As I told you on your last visit," the madam said, "Unless you can provide a medical certificate attesting that your condition has been cleared, and submit to us examining for ourselves, you cannot be served here."
"I paid," Snape emphasized.
"Do you have a receipt?" the madam asked.
"I will…" Snape glanced into the room, again, his eyes seemed to dwell on Harry before he returned his gaze to the madam. "I will be filing a complaint."
"You're not the first!" the madam exclaimed as Snape turned around, left.
Harry and Ron dropped the spell.
"You know him?" Kendra asked.
"Teacher at our school," Harry said.
"School? You're students?" Levina asked.
"Yes," Hermione said.
"We're sixteen!" Ron protested.
"I'm not," Hermione replied.[1]
"Out!" Kendra said, "Before you get our license revoked!"
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Gia left.
It was Friday, the twenty third, when they boarded the ferry in Rotterdam. Ron sat on the bench on the observation deck; Gia and Hermione were standing over the edge, watching the dock moving away as they headed toward Harwich; they moved around the deck, out of sight. Harry, though, leaned back against the railing, glanced at Ron's face, recognized the green tinge forming.
"What a trip," Harry said.
"Yeah," Ron said.
"Glad we didn't run into Snape again," Harry said.
"Poor use of tuition money," Ron said.
"Tuition?" Harry asked as the ferry passed into the North Sea.
"Yes," Ron said, "Hogwarts charges. Didn't … that's right, you wouldn't see a bill."
"I don't get a bill," Harry asked, "why?"
Ron's ears tried to twinge pink, while the face had a green look to it.
"It was in that article, about you going," Ron said, "Think it was that inheritance…" His voice trailed off.
"Ron," Harry exclaimed, "It's fucking annoying! You go mad every time I handle money!"
"How'd you like it?" Ron spouted, "To be reminded you're poor? At every activity being told we can't afford it'?"
Harry sat down next to Ron, joining Ron's gaze of their feet.
"Ron," Harry said quietly and slowly, in a calming manner, "I've always known it since I met you, your family's finances aren't the greatest. Family pride keeps you from accepting charity as you like earning your keep, that I respect and admire. You know me well enough to realize I do not base friendships on pocketbooks. You have been a good friend in all the ways that count, don't let gold divide us. Alright?"
"Yeah," Ron said, "It still bugs me."
"Did you have fun, this trip?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," Ron said.
"You'll be richer than Malfoy will ever be," Harry said, "My friends matter to me."
"Thank you," Ron said.
It was approaching midnight Saturday evening when the four teenagers approached the single detached home of the two dentists. Hermione took the key from underneath the pot, used it to turn the lock; they entered. Linda Granger was sitting in the living room, watching.
"Mum?!" Hermione spat.
"My daughter is coming home from a big trip," Linda said.
"Fantastic," Gia exclaimed, eyes wide, and trying to draw the attention away from Hermione, "Dragons! We saw dragons!"
"You did?" Linda said, "That must be exciting."
"I'll call my Dad," Ron said, headed for the fireplace.
"Now," Linda said, sitting on the arm of the sofa, "Tell me all about it."
"Where's Dad?" Hermione asked.
"Sleeping—don't change the subject," Linda said, "How was it?"
"It was great," Ron said, crossing back over, "Everything happened!"
"No it did not—" Hermione protested.
"Everything?" Linda asked.
"Mother!" Hermione protested.
"I'll tell," Ron said, now on the receiving end of Hermione's tickling, "I'll tell everything."
Linda studied the interaction between the two. Ron kept twisting and turning, as Hermione kept tickling him. Ron laughed.
"It can wait for the morning," Linda said, standing, "Sleep tight."
Linda walked for the kitchen, turned up to use the stairs.
"Nice try," Gia said, as Harry tried to pull her toward the back, "Big day tomorrow."
"In the hot tub—" Harry started.
"You promised!" Gia said, pulling him back.
"I lied," Harry said, tugging back.
Hermione shoved Harry toward gia.
"Conspiracy," Harry complained.
Ron crashed onto the sofa, watched Gia and Harry make it to the staircase. Hermione grabbed a banana, came back as Harry and Gia vanished along the upper corridor toward their room.
"Grumpy, isn't he?" Hermione said.
"Had the right idea—" Ron started.
Slap!
Ron rubbed his cheek, his eyes still up at Hermione standing near his head.
"It's not like it's a big deal or—" Hermione said.
"Her father's not a big deal?" Ron said, sarcastically.
"It's just—" Hermione started.
"Diciest place for a guy to be," Ron said.
"Oh Dad—" Hermione softly called out.
"Cut it," Ron said.
[1]: This story was started before JKR made the relative age of Hermione known, so I made her younger.