Chapter Text
Year 1
It was four in the morning when the owl crashed through his window with a loud squawk and landed unceremoniously on the floor.
Charlie Weasley stared for a long moment, then looked down at the notes he was busy revising. Why did exciting things always happen at the worst moments? Really though, he had been studying all night and was just about to go to bed and now he had to deal with whatever this was as if Haru's mother Henning him about his sleep schedule wasn’t enough to give even him nightmares. In all fairness, Haru was a great roommate (not that Charlie would ever tell him that) but his motherly instincts were always a bit overwhelming. It had taken two weeks to get Gabrielle to stop clucking every time he told Charlie to eat more or go to bed earlier.
Charlie sighed and got to his feet. The owl was probably important and if he left it until tomorrow, he would probably forget about its existence and cause some world-threatening chaos. Knowing his luck, that is exactly what would happen. He most certainly did not want a repeat of the last time he ignored an owl, it ended with a very confused but very lovely old woman on his porch and a furious granddaughter who accused him of kidnapping her Nana. It was an interesting experience, to say the least.
After cooing over the owl for a moment and making sure it was unhurt, he finally reached for the letter. His name was scribbled on the back in handwriting that was almost completely illegible and most definitely Ron’s. The letter itself looked a little worse for wear but he supposed that was to be expected considering the distance from Hogwarts to Romania. Oh well, what can you do?
He flopped back into his seat and attempted to open the letter. After ripping a considerable amount of the envelope off, it finally fell from the shredded remains and onto the desk. It had been a while since he had spoken to Ron, though Molly and Ginny had visited for Christmas. He had introduced them to his friends and spent the week hoping that his mum wouldn’t notice the charm he had cast on his hair to make it look shorter. Every time he tried to grow it long, she would cut it and he was not about to let that happen again. The rest of the time had been spent in a dizzying blur of laughter and good-humored arguments. He had really missed them.
Unfurling the letter, he began to read.
Dear Charlie,
I know that you’re super busy in Romania, but I really need your help. Hagrid has a dragon at the school, not just any dragon though, it’s a Norwegian Ridgeback! He’s raising it like a baby and calling it Norbert. Do you think you’d be able to take it to Romania? Hagrid keeps fretting over it but I’m sure that you will keep it safe and this way Hagrid won’t go to Azkaban.
I really, really want to help Hagrid but we’re not sure what to do.
Please write back quickly.
Love, Ron (you’re favorite brother)
Charlie banged his head on the table.
Great. Fantastic.
Hagrid has a dragon at the school and somehow Ron is involved, which means that Charlie’s involved which means he has to figure out how to smuggle a baby dragon over no less than five borders as soon as possible. And of course, he can’t say no because Ron is his brother and Hagrid is one of his best friends and the poor little dragon is all the way across the ocean and is probably terrified and even though he doesn’t want to admit it, he’s been bored these last few days. Gabrielle and Haru were off with Sylvia and Zel god knows where and Varen was always busy with one thing or another. So really, Charlie didn’t have much of a choice.
He reached for his quill and a spare sheet of parchment making a mental note to clean his desk (really, it was a wonder he could even find those two things) he needed a plan, a good one to get the dragon out of Hogwarts. Time to think.
The first problem was who would pick the dragon up. Easily solved, Gabby, Haru, Sylvia, and Zel would be passing the UK on their way back to Romania in a few days. He could write to them easily enough and get them to go collect it.
The second problem was the wards around Hogwarts. Charlie thought for a good hour on how to get around those before he realized, they wouldn’t be a problem. There was no way in hell that Professor Dumbledore didn’t already know about the Dragon. Chances were, he already knew Charlie would be the one to organize the Kidnap– liberation of the little guy. The wards wouldn’t be a problem, he was sure of it. And thank god too because he would have never been able to work his way around them, and neither would any of his friends
The third problem wasn’t so much of a problem. It was more of a pothole. He wasn’t sure how he was going to explain an extra dragon randomly appearing in the sanctuary. He could always lie, but he was a terrible liar. When Gabrielle and Haru asked him to cover for them while they went on a romantic walk to suck each other’s faces, the only thing he was able to come up with was “Haru broke Gabby’s leg accidentally and they’re at the hospital.” which had caused a lot of trouble when they came back with no injuries and the flowers sent to the hospital were met with confused stares. That was a problem for later though, he would come up with something. Probably.
He decided to write Ron back first and then send letters to his friends. That way they wouldn’t be able to refuse. Not that they would, but any edge was a good one.
Dear Ron,
How are you? Thanks for the letter – I’d be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won’t be easy getting him here. I think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming over to visit me next week. The trouble is, they mustn’t be seen carrying an illegal dragon.
Could you get the Ridgeback up the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him away while it's still dark.
Send me an answer as soon as possible.
Love, Charlie
Now that that was sorted, he could move onto writing to his friends. Zel was currently working on her dragonology thesis, Sylvia was working full time on her study of the Catalonian Fireball and Haru and Gabby were working together on a study of Dragon breeding patterns while occasionally sneaking off on dates. The four of them would love a bit of excitement.
Of course, when they got back, they would nag and whine at him for sending them off on a dangerous quest. But he knew they wouldn’t be able to resist.
Honestly, it was a miracle any of them were still alive. They work around some of the most dangerous creatures in the world and get into all sorts of trouble and yet somehow always manage to wiggle out of whatever mess they caused. They certainly brightened up his days though, he supposes he can give them that.
To my bestest friends in the world (except Haru, he didn’t wash the dishes last week),
My dear friend Hagrid is currently housing a Norwegian Ridgeback at Hogwarts, which as you know, is incredibly illegal. I have already told my brother that you would be more than happy to retrieve the dragon on Saturday night from the tallest tower, so I’ll see you back here with the dragon in a week.
Thank you so much for doing this for me, try not to get caught (looking at you Gabby) and be careful. Haru will make sure you are but still.
Thanks for your help,
Charlie
The week was the slowest week that Charlie could ever remember living through. He tried to pass the time by throwing himself headfirst into his studies and badgering Varen whenever he was around. But that still didn’t stop him from worrying. He counted down the days to Saturday, hoping everything had gone smoothly. He pictured every different situation and tried to reassure himself that nothing bad would happen. He paced in his office until Varen told him to go home and sleep.
When he woke up, it was to the sound of laughter in his kitchen and a champagne bottle being opened. Wiping his eyes groggily, he pulled himself off of the couch where he had been sleeping. He figured that he must have accidentally fallen asleep at some point or another.
He padded through to the kitchen, still wiping the sleep from his eyes when something leaped in front of him and he jumped with an undignified squawk as fell backward onto the floor. Laughter erupted from the room.
“damn sorry about that sleeping beauty, didn’t see you there,” Haru said, grinning down at him. His blood-red hair was windswept and his clothes rumpled. Charlie couldn’t keep the grin off of his face. Haru offered his arm out, which Charlie gladly took, and hoisted him back to his feet. He clapped Charlie on the shoulder then made his way back to the kitchen.
Zel was sitting on one of the bunkers, legs swinging beneath her and a glass of wine next to her hand. Her inky black hair was frizzier than usual, and her face flushed. He assumed it was from flying, they must have just arrived. Sylvia was sitting on the floor beneath her, legs crossed and laughing. Her bone-white hair was pulled into a bun that was falling apart and her usual red lipstick was smudged. Gabrielle was leaning against the fridge, her warm honey skin glowing and her curls bobbing around her chin, her smile was small but unbelievably warm. The three of them looked up as he and Haru entered through the archway.
“well look what the cat dragged in” Zel signed, fingers sharp with sarcasm and eyes set in an unimpressed stare. Sylvia bashed her leg playfully “Don’t be mean Zel, he’s probably been up all night worrying about us, you know how he gets!” She scolded, signing along as she spoke. Zel could lip-read but it was a difficult thing to do and it was easier if they just signed as they spoke to help her follow the conversation. He sighed, rubbing the back of his head “I was up quite late,” Haru frowned and Charlie knew he was about to say something about his sleep schedule, so he spoke up quickly “I’m fine though! Just a little tired.” Haru opened his mouth but snapped it shut when Gabby started clucking like a chicken. he couldn’t stop the laughter from bubbling put of him. He had missed them.
After they had gotten caught up and he had been assured that everything had gone smoothly, they decided to head down to the sanctuary. Norbert, or Norberta as she had been renamed, (at that he had lifted an eyebrow but the others just shrugged) was lounging in the shade tree.
“she’s gorgeous,” He commented, noting her lovely coloring.
“Alright don’t go tearing up Charles, she’s a dragon, not a child.”
“How dare you insult my daughter!” he huffed indignantly and Haru chuckled, raising his hands in a show of mock surrender. Charlie smiled at him and turned back to Norberta.
“I know you’re a long way from home,” he murmured “but you’re going to be happy here, I promise.” Norberta sneezed and sparks shot out her nose. Charlie cooed at her and Haru huffed another laugh, lifting an amused brow. Everything was good.
“Charlie!!!” a voice shrieked “Where on earth did that dragon come from!!!!!!”
Well. Shit.
He didn’t know how he kept getting into these situations. he really didn't. He blamed Ron. Damn siblings.
Charlie stood up, turned away from Norberta, and ran. Behind him, Haru as laughing.
Everything was good.