Must be fate ((Cute-boy and Gin))

[phaedra]

((For those, who don't know - cute-boy is Charlie Weasley. ))


Maybe she should get a hair-cut. And maybe get some make-up that wasn’t hopelessly dried into the tubes she had bought it in. With the correct shade of eye-shadow maybe she could... Phaedra turned away from the mirror and told herself firmly to stop it. It was almost scary. She met one boy – no, he was a man now, but the point stayed the same. She saw one man the previous day with who she had been friends with in Hogwarts and foolishly had let herslef be influenced so much that she already pondered what Charlie might like in a girl’s appearance. She was pathethic. And her wardrobe was fine. Not overly fancy, but practical and comfortable which was the most an auror could ask from her clothes. But deep inside Phaedra was a hopeless romantic. Maybe that was also while she always had silk and lace as the only materials for her undergarments. And why Phaedra liked stockings no matter how rarely she wore stockings. They just made her feel feminin and pretty. Speaking of which she should receive a package from a clothings store in Diagon Alley today.

Leaving her hair losoe as it was having only slipped a brush through the mane covering her head Phaedra pulled on a pair of tight blue jeans that were so nicely worn in that the seams on the sides had alreayd turned white. But the jeans were comfortable and soft at her skin. Just like the white jumper she pulled on as well. A long blue scarf – memory from her days as a Ravenclaw, even though her scarf didn’t carry the Ravenclaw crest anymore – finished the outfit. Black boots and a long black light-grey coat as well while Phaedra fitted everything she would need – keys, money, her wand – into her pockets before Phaedra rushed happily out of her home and to the point where she could apperate from only to pop out of air a moment later before Diagon Alley.

Phaedra couldn’t help but gape once again. The very same man who she had been thinking about previously and who had robbed her from a few hours of peaceful sleep was here again. It was fate. No, not fate. Saying it was fate would mean that there was something more going to happen in their future and that something would be together. And Phaedra would not allow herself to get lost in such thoughts. Charlie took her only as a friend after all. However gorgeous those broad shoulders were. So Phaedra threw her head up confidently and catching up with Charlie with a few quick steps jumped on his back her arms wounding their way around his neck as Phaedra laughed and pull lightly on Charlie’s hair: „Don’t throw me off. I won’t attack you in the middle of a public street.“
„And I would hope you wouldn’t attack this cute-boy before your colleagus who are stuck with this job. I will need your name just in case and if you want dinner, then your contact data would be appreciated as well,“ came the voice and Phaedra looked up and grinned at Tsuyoshi who had easily directed the last sentence to Charlie. She had been in auror practice with the Japanese orignin guy and they got along fairly well. Especially so as Tsuyoshi wasn’t interested in girls.
„Tsuyoshi, really now, don’t scare away all the cute guys,“ Phaedra laughed giving one more playful tug at Charlie’s hair, „Isn’t red hair signature enough? It’s Charlie Weasley and can we go in now?“

„Weasley. Ah, you have a cute brother. Now you be nice to my girl and bring your brothers over here at one time. Phaedra-love, he’s fully on your responcibility. Don’t destroy the alley and don’t hesitate to call the auror department down on his neck if he even looks at you in a way you don’t like, love. Ta, sweethearts!“ Tsuyoshi said dramatically making Phaedra laugh at his antics as she let her feet drop back to the ground unwinding her arms from around Charlie’s neck silently deciding that Cute-boy fit him rather well. But seeing Tsuyoshi and the easy bickering they always had had made her feel a bit more secure as Phaedra grabbed Charlie’s sleeve and dragged him into the Diagon Alley without him having to pass any other security checks.
„There are some perks to being an auror. Getting through security easier is one of them. What are you doing in Diagon? Even though it’s hardly my business, is it?“ Phaedra said catching her lower lip between her teeth for a moment, hoping that Charlie didn’t think she was overly nosy with that one comment, „Did you remember to tell your mother I’d really-really-really appreciate a copy of that photo I saw yesterday?“ Well, she would leave Charlie alone and not stalk him like a love-sick puppy. She had more self-respect than that. Hopefully. Now looking at Charlie Phaedra found herself quietly hoping she had dressed just a bit more fancily. But exchanging a few pleasant phrases wouldn’t hurt, after all? Right?

[Charlie Weasley]

It was a new morning when Charlie finally come out of his shocking state. He had wakened up shaking his head, and asking himself if it had all been a dream. Surely he had not slept the day away. His previous day had seemed just as such, a sweet marvelous dream. And from what he gathered from the reactions of his mother, he must have also seemed shocked, for her reaction when she finally returned from Diagon Alley was to ask him if he was well. “What’s wrong, Charlie? You look as if you had seen a ghost today.” She had asked. He could remember only replying, “She kissed me. Oh, and she returned the book you left behind at lunch as well.” He knew that would give her some clue as to whom he was dazed about.

After coming out of his state of shock that morning, all he could think about was her. The way she looked, the way she played around with him. It was just like school all over again. He looked through his suitcase, shaking his head. He was going to head into Diagon Alley, hoping to see her again. He wasn’t happy with his clothes. Why didn’t I bring anything nicer to wear? But then I only could have hoped that this would have happened. I didn’t really expect it to. He continued to dig through his stuff, looking for his best shirt, and jeans. Finally he found a decent pair of stonewashed light blue denim jeans, and a light blue tee shirt. The tee shirt was the best shirt Charlie had, even though it showed his muscles a little more than he would have liked, but it was the only shirt he had brought that he had not yet ripped the sleeves off of. I’ll just have to try to get something in Diagon Alley. He thought to himself. After dressing, he went down stairs to inform his mother that he was leaving only to find that she had already left the house. Asking Fleur to let Molly know that he would be in Diagon Alley for the day, he walked out the door and down the lane, so that he would be able to apperate to his destination.

Charlie stood waiting in line to pass through security checks, when he felt someone jump onto his back, and soft arms wrapping around his neck. The skin felt reassuring, as if he had just recently felt it before. He felt a tug in his hair, and a familiar female voice asking him not to throw her off. “Don’t worry I won’t throw you off.” He said hoping that she did not see the slight blush in his cheeks as he smiled. His day was grand now. Hoping to see her was the whole reason he had decided to make this trip. As the auror that seemed to be stuck with security checks, asked for his name he heard Phaedra’s angelic voice answer for him, but he answered about his dinner plans, “Well, as for dinner, If Kitten here decides to join me, I more than likely will be staying.” Looking at the auror Phaedra had greeted as Tsuyoshi, Charlie wondered which brother he could possibly be talking about. “Now which brother would you like me to make sure gets out this way? I’ll do the best I can.” Charlie said smiling. “And I doubt I’ll be any trouble at all.”

Charlie was slightly shocked at being dragged through the rest of the checks without having to stop at any of them. “Thank you.” Was all he managed to say when they stopped. Watching Phaedra bite her lower lip, his mind wandered to the memories from the previous day. He once again could help himself from thinking how sweet and cute she looked. “I .. Well umm I came actually for two reasons. One was to get a better shirt than this one.” He said looking down at the tee shirt he had on, “ And the other was to umm well umm I was hoping to find you here.” Charlie couldn’t believe that he almost said exactly what was on his mind. He wasn’t ready to tell Phaedra that just yet. When the time’s right. He thought to himself, trying to shake back his feelings a little

((He couldn't help but to stutter. He's trying not to tell his secret feelings. Oh and I asked Molly about the mentions. She's fine with it.))

[phaedra]

Phaedra berated herself mentally. She had told herself that she would just drop by quickly and pick up the parcel she had ordered and then retreat to her home and curl up and while watching photos recall old times at Hogwarts. But here she was running into Charlie as a first thing. Not that they had exactly ran into each-other but rather she ahd jumped onto his back. But still Phaedra wished she looked better. Oh well, Charlie would just have to take her as she was. Phaedra let go of her lower lip and stuck her tongue out at Charlie.
„You just had to promise Tsuyoshi to send one of your brothers over, did you? The fact he saw you with me here means that he will constantly be bothering me until I’m so annoyed that I would come over and bother you until one of your brothers comes over and recognizes the name,“ Phaedra explained with a slight grin on her face trying wihtout much succees to keep strands of her hair out of her mouth and face where the wind kept blowing them, „I’m sure your nickname will spread through the auror department like fire anyway. Not that I think it will over-come what friends call me there anyway. You are the only one who has always called me Kitten and most likely the only one to have ever decided on such a nickname.“ And it sounded nice and homey when Charlie said it.

Phaedra had let the first comment about Charlie staying for dinner pass away without any comment from her. After all Charlie had always been polite. Still was, if his behaviour at the time Phaedra had fell into the burrow basically could be taken as an indicator. But at his words about him wanting to see her Phaedra curled up her toes in her boots as she smiled brilliantly at him. “Well, you did find me here and your blouse looks absolutely fine,” Phaedra peeked at Charlie’s blouse or at least to the part that was visible from under the jacket he was wearing, „It suits you. Tell me, do dragon-trainers have to wear some special clothing or protection pads or something else while working? I must admit that I don’t know much about your job I’m afriad. I have always been fascinated by dragons – which girl doesn’t dream of being a princess in an enchanted land where friendly dragons roam forever? – but I have never really seen one up close.“

Phaedra started moving slowly towards the direction of the store where her parcel was waiting for her as she found it with a sudden pleasant surprise that Charlie’s taller form blocked most of the wind from reaching her, so her hair wasn’t constantly flying into her face. Smiling up at Charlie Phaedra rubbed her hands together and blew on them to warm them up. She didn’t have pockets on her jacket into which she could stuff gloves or her hands and her fingers were feeling a bit chilly. „I actually just have to pick up something from a clothing store and after that I had actually planned to go home and loose myself in some memories. I found old year-books in the attic last night and dragged them down-stairs as you made me think back in time. And I suppose I was just wondering what ever happened to our old school-mates and if I even remember their names.“

[Charlie Weasley]

Charlie laughed when Phaedra reminded him of what he had said to Tsuyoshi. “I’ll have to get Fred or George to do me a huge favor which means that I will have to promise to test some new products for them, and there’s no telling what they will come up with for me to test. But it’s not a big deal, it won’t be too bad. And I’ll make sure that it gets taken care of.” He said still laughing a little. Charlie stretched his hand out and gently brushed a strand of Phaedra’s hair from her face. The wind wasn’t being too polite to anyone with long hair that day.

Charlie realized that Phaedra had not responded to his informal dinner invitation, but it didn’t bother him much since he had not just come out and asked her. He wasn’t good at asking a girl out, but he would have to try after his shopping was done. Charlie could only smile when Phaedra told him that his shirt looked fine. “Truth is, this is just my day off shirt. I honestly don’t think I own a nicer one, and it’s been two or three years since I bought a new one.” He was slightly ashamed of his shopping habits for he didn’t like to shop, but never would ask his mother to pick out new clothes for him.

Charlie wasn’t sure where to begin when Phaedra asked him about his job. There were so many details to being a dragon keeper that one could easily get lost in them. Although her questions were simple, Charlie had never really thought what he might say to someone about what one wears, or does when on the job. Dragons were truly colossal creatures that needed caution and proper knowledge. He thought for a few moments before answering and then finally spoke again. “We have very little protective clothing or padding. It’s usually just dragon hide gloves and boots, and also a dragon’s hide cloak. They also give us these jackets.” Charlie tugged at his jacket in the last part of his sentence.

Charlie noticed that Phaedra was acting like her hands were cold. He pulled off his own jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Here this will keep you a bit warmer, while you do your shopping and such.” He said after making sure his jacket was properly on her shoulders. He wasn’t cold anyway. “Well, I was, that is, to be honest. I was hoping that maybe you could join me for dinner. That is if you would like to.” Charlie couldn’t understand what made him so bashful around Phaedra, she had been his best friend for years in school. I have to become more assure of myself or she will never realize that I feel more for her than just friendship. He thought to himself, as he awaited Phaedra’s answer. He still had to pick up a sweater, but that was no problem. He was in the right place for that after all.

[phaedra]

Phaedra laughed trying to imagine Tsuyoshi’s joy when one of the infamous twins whose products biggest fan he was would show up. “Feel free to send them both. And will it really be that bad? You can warn them that you have friends among aurors. If aurors stop using their inventions, then their income will most likely be cut by half,” Phaedra said with a wide grin while shaking her head a little having to fight the urge to close her eyes and purr when Charlie pushed back the hair from her face. In some ways the nickname Kitten was most certainly justified. And Phaedra did like to curl up when her stomach was full and she was warm and just sleep or just… be she supposed. Maybe this wasn’t how cats acted, but for osme reason Phaedra always tied this kind of behavior to cats. “But honestly, how bad can it be? I introduced you to Tsuyoshi, so feel free to drag me along to be a test-subject. It would be only fair actually,” Phaedra grinned as Charlie laughed and fell into step next to him as they started to venture into the Diagon Alley.

“I think I understand why not too much protective padding is worn. While it might protect you in some way, if you fall under all those layers of things that are supposed to protect you, then you are even more helpless as a dragon may just sit on you and squish you. While wearing less things allows you to move as a human with a smaller body should be more agile than a dragon, am I right?” Phaedra asked curiously her eyes shining like a child’s as she expectantly waited for Charlie to either agree with her thought or to explain the correct answer to her, “But you still get scars. I saw the one on your neck yesterday.” As if to prove her point Phaedra raised her hand touching the scar on Charlie’s neck with her fingertip again pulling her finger down the small part of the scar up to the point where it disappeared under the collar of his shirt, “How often does this happen? Have you gotten very many scars while working with dragons?”

“And I would love to have dinner with you. At the very least we can call old memories back to life,” Phaedra said with a grin sidestepping a small puddle on the ground. She felt butterflies in her stomach. Not really butterflies really. Butterflies made you yourself feel as if you were flying and Phaedra didn’t feel like flying. This was more like a… a… whirlwind. Something that touched her, cleared and moved something but Phaedra wasn’t exactly sure of anything what had happened yet. But a whirlwind wasn’t a suitable description to what Phaedra was feeling either. Her search for some suitable adjective was interrupted when she felt something warm settling over her shoulders. Looking up a bit startled Phaedra petted the fabric of Charlie’s cloak with her fingers. “Oooh, it’s so soft,” Phaedra stated with surprise while looking at Charlie and shaking her head doubtfully: “Won’t you be cold? And do not tell me that the red hair also means a fiery soul that can’t get cold.”

Phaedra narrowed here eyes thoughtfully towards Charlie trying to find a solution before nodding resolutely: “We’ll have tea first, then we both had time to warm up. Come on, let’s see if you are still as aagile as you were as a seeker!” Phaedra called over her shoulder with laughter as she was already running down the street while holding Charlie’s jacket closed around her fingers as she ran towards a cozy little café she knew at Diagon. It was opened by a retired auror after the Diagon Alley was rebuilt. It wasn’t too far from where they had been standing. Perhaps half a quarter of a mile only as Phaedra sprinted down the street having to hop between people form time to time so as not to run them over. Laughter wanted to bubble out of her as she reached the door of the café as she slowed to a stop. Holding onto her sides Phaedra laughed happily as she brushed her hair back and looked around for Charlie. The sudden exercise had somehow cheered her up and clamed her a little. This was Charlie. Her Charlie, so everything was alright actually.

[Charlie Weasley]

Charlie knew that threatening the twins with the aurors was not a good idea; they still had plenty of students that bought their products, and that meant that they wouldn’t care. “Testing some new product won’t be too horrible, at the worst they could change my skin tone again, and that would just be another picture for Mum to take, and show you.” He said thoughtfully, and jokingly. Charlie didn’t mind sharing some of his most embarrassing secrets with Phaedra; it made him feel closer to her. And for some reason that was all he could think of, being closer to her.

Charlie nodded at the reasons Phaedra was giving for why Dragon Keepers didn’t really wear a lot of padding. “Every one of those reasons is absolutely right. I just really don’t know how to explain it, I’ve not ever had to do such a thing. I’m not one of the trainers for the new recruits.” He said smiling. He was in all reality glad that he wasn’t a trainer; he didn’t want to be away from the dangers of working with the beasts, or have to worry about some new rookie getting hurt. He nodded again as Phaedra mentioned the scars. He had acquired quiet a few of them while working with the dragons. Too many to count actually. “Dragon keeping is a lot like being an Auror. You go into the job, knowing that there are dangers that could happen no matter what you do to protect yourself.” He said thoughtfully. When Phaedra asked about his scars it shocked him, “Too many to count, to be quiet honest. I can’t even remember where they all are, but when found I can recall how they happened.” He said slightly laughing.

Charlie could barely stop himself from dancing when Phaedra agreed to have dinner with him, but he knew he had to control himself. An outburst would make her think that there was something wrong or that he was hiding feelings. He wasn’t ready for her to find those hidden feelings yet. He wanted to make sure that she felt something for him too, if not, then the feelings would stay locked tightly away, so that they wouldn’t interfere with the wonderful friendship that he had with her. “I’m not worried about getting cold myself. I want you to stay warm. And I would never claim that my hair is a sign of a fiery soul. I do tend to get cold, but I’m sure it won’t be one of those days. Romania isn’t always the warmest.” He said wondering what she was thinking.

The sound of tea started to warm Charlie instantly. He had not had anything to drink that entire morning. For him to be honest to himself, he had been too nervous about the thought of actually finding Phaedra in Diagon Alley, and that had made him skip breakfast. He had really just now started to notice that he was getting a touch hungry. Maybe a cinnamon roll with the tea. He thought to himself, not really wanting to eat anything before dinner. He was truly now looking forward to dinner.

Charlie watched the direction Phaedra had sprinted off to, and recalled a short-cut that Fred and George had told him about when Diagon Alley was being rebuilt. He still had his speed which was luck for him, because he was able to hide beside the little café, and wait for Phaedra. Seeing her reach the door, he snuck around behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist, slightly lifting her up off the ground. “Hey look, I caught a kitten.” He said laughingly as he let her feet touch the ground once again. He enjoyed the moment. The playfulness warmed him from the inside out. It was something he wasn’t able to do when he was away, and something that he really had not had anyone to do with since he had became a Dragon Keeper.

[phaedra]

Phaedra looked back towards the direction from where she had came from and arched her eye-brows curiously when she didn’t see any sight of Charlie. Phaedra found it hard to believe that he really didn’t have the stamina to run anymore. You don’t loose your shape like that, besides you had to be fit if you wanted to be a dragon keeper. Yet there was no sight of Charlie anywhere so Phaedra touched her upper lip with her tongue thoughtfully as she tried to figure out where Charlie must have stayed. Only to suddenly feel arms wrapping around her waist and lifting her up. Phaedra’s reaction was immediate and automatic. This was an attack she was under so she had to protect herself. All aurors were required to know a little bit of martial arts just for occasions like this. Her left elbow curled and flew back and upwards making contact with someone just a moment before Phaedra’s feet touched ground. Stomping one of her low heels on the toes of whoever had caught her Phaedra whirled away her wand already drawn and pointed straight to her attacker. The curse she was about to cast died on her lips as Phaedra stared at her ‘attacker’. Her left hand that wasn’t holding his wand clapped over her mouth Phaedra stared at Charlie feeling a bit horrified as she half-groaned, half-yelped: “Charlie!”

“Charlie… I… I’m sorry! Are you hurt? I’m so sorry, you just grabbed me and I reacted without thinking,” Phaedra yelped out quickly putting her wand back and rushing to Charlie’s side her hand worriedly touching his shoulder, as Phaedra used the fingers of her other hand to worriedly turn his head to see if she had done any damage. “Come, we can get some ice for your cheek inside. That should take down any swelling so you wouldn’t worry your family too much if you go home with a black eye.” Phaedra said opening the door and stepping into the pub while glancing worriedly back over her shoulder to Charlie, hoping against hope that he wasn’t terribly upset over the accident.
“You know, girl, beating up your boy is not the best way to keep passion alive,” game the roaring laughter from the pub owner and Phaedra glanced up to the owner of the pub with a dark scowl on her face. Which was erased a moment later as Phaedra saw the owner hand Charlie a towel wrapped around some ice-cubes before waving his hand to Pahedra showing that they could go and pick a table for themselves. “Green tea for me. And a plate of your cheese-cookies,” Phaedra ordered before moving towards a private booth near the back of the restaurant part.

Phaedra pointed for Charlie to sit first and then Phaedra leaned herself onto the table next to Charlie and looked at his face again hoping she hadn’t caused much trouble. “I’m really truly really-really-really sorry about it.” Phaedra searched Charlie’s skin with her eyes and after a quick inspection decided that it should be alright. Blowing lightly on the skin completely Phaedra leaned closer completely on instinct and gave the wounded cheek a quick kiss realizing with horror what she had just done. The move had been completely motherly or something a girlfriend would do. Phaedra hoped that Charlie wouldn’t mind it too terribly much as she went to sit on the other side of the table her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry it was just an instinct. You see someone hurt themselves and you kiss them to make it better. My mother always used to do it for me,” Phaedra said apologetically as she sat and peered at Charlie curiously for a few moments.

Now that she knew that no real damage had been done Phaedra suddenly found the whole ordeal funny. Closing her eyes Phaedra bit her lip trying to swallow her laughter but she couldn’t help it as a giggle crept out and then Phaedra laughed. “I’m sorry, it’s just that… kittens sometimes grow claws you know. Being able to protect yourself against someone who attacks you from behind is part of auror training, I’m afraid.” Phaedra giggled again and brushed a tear of laughter away from the corner of her eye placing her hands on the table and fiddling a little with her fingers. “Ro-ma-ni-a,” Phaedra said out slowly tasting each syllable. It sounded a bit like love or romance rather. Phaedra had always been a helpless romantic in her heart so she smiled a little, “I like the way it sounds. Do you like it there? Didn’t you have any language problems in the beginning? And you must tell me the stories of your scars one day.”

[Charlie Weasley]

Charlie wasn’t sure how to react to getting attacked, he just let out a soft yelp and hoped that Phaedra had recognized the sound of it. Now that Phaedra had stopped defending herself, something Charlie found that she was very good at, he smiled the best he could, for his cheek and jaw were now a bit sore. “I should have known better than to sneak up on you that way. I could have easily jumped out and said boo, and it been just as much fun.” He said trying to calm Phaedra. He didn’t know what he had been thinking when he had thought of the idea of sneaking up on her like he had done. The thoughts of holding her like that were nice, but he couldn’t believe that he didn’t really expect her to fight him off like she had done. Charlie followed Phaedra into the little café trying to not think of his cheek, but of his company. He wanted to worry more about enjoying it, instead of the slight sting of his cheek. He knew from much experience that it would go away, but the memory of his day would last. He wanted it to be worth remembering, and that’s what it really was becoming.

Charlie just snorted as the pub owner joked at Phaedra for beating him up. It truly was Charlie’s fault, he knew better than to sneak up on an auror, but he still had problems with thinking of Phaedra in any other way than his Kitten. Charlie placed his small order for chamomile and lavender tea, and followed Phaedra to the table. He had taken the towel full of ice from the pub owner, but had not yet placed it on his cheek. The pain wasn’t as bad as some things that Charlie had experienced, but then again he wasn’t used to getting hit with a human elbow. He slid into one side of the booth that Phaedra had picked and placed the towel on his cheek for just a moment, before looking up at Phaedra, whom was now sitting beside her. “It’s perfectly alright. It’s my fault, how else could you be expected to react to someone grabbing you like I did.” He wasn’t trying to be sweet, although he knew that was the way it had sounded, he was just telling the truth. He didn’t regret it though. It might not have been the best choice, but it had been a good idea at the time. Charlie thought about the events, and decided given the chance again, he would have done the same thing over. Charlie had been sitting as still as possible to let Phaedra inspect his wounded cheek, and make sure that nothing would be seriously wrong with it, when he suddenly felt what appeared to be a quick kiss. It had been nice, and not something Charlie had minded at all. He watched Phaedra move from his side, to across the table from him. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. It was nice.” He said catching Phaedra’s eyes.

Charlie noticed the look on Phaedra’s face. He guessed that she was trying to stifle a laugh, and knew that he was right when she let out a soft giggle. “It’s fine to laugh, it really is funny.” He nodded in agreement that kittens do eventually grow claws, and smiled at the fact that she had learned the martial arts while in auror training. He knew it was good for everyone to know some type of physical defense as well as magical, and mental. That would help someone be prepared for almost any type of attack that happened.

He listened with a smile as Phaedra rolled the word “Romania” off her tongue. To hear her say it Charlie thought it was this wonderful place filled with love and laughter, and she was probably right. Charlie had never really explored the country while he was able to have time off. He just always came home to visit with everyone. “It’s not home, but it’s nice. I guess it could be a lot worse than some of the other places, that they use to keep dragons. And the language is a bit different, but most of the other Keepers came from this area as well, and quiet a few of the older ones graduated Hogwarts also, so it wasn’t that difficult.” He paused a moment at the mention of the stories of his scars, “So many scars, so many stories, I wouldn’t know where to begin.” He said thinking about the different ones, and which had actually been the worse. Charlie easily decided on that one, the one on his neck. That could have killed him if the Dragon’s claw had went two inches deeper than it was given the chance too. He shuttered, the thought of laying in bed like he had done after that accident had always made him shutter a bit.

[phaedra]

Charlie tried to assure her that it was alright but Phaedra still felt a bit guilty. Charlie had came to Diagon Alley to enjoy himself, not to be physically assaulted. Having someone slam their elbow into your stomach was far from fun. Phaedra looked at Charlie as he caught her eyes and assured her once more that he was alright. Charlie was sweet and polite. Phaedra smiled at her with a bit of embarrassment still tinting her cheeks pink but she didn’t feel quite as guilty nor bad anymore. “I learned a bit of martial arts even before becoming an auror. The summer before my 7th year actually. At that summer I started to grow up I suppose and as I always were daddy’s girl, he wanted me to have some means to protect myself even without my wand should… I ah loose it again,” Phaedra said quickly rewording the ending of her sentence. She hadn’t been picked upon quite as much in her older years because people had learned that she could draw her wand quickly and Phaedra had been quite talented with all sorts of jinxes. None the less there had been one quite embarrassing ‘accident’ in her 7th year when Phaedra’s wand had been taken. She hadn’t exactly been hurt, but it had been embarrassing for her. Phaedra shook her head letting her hair cascade a bit forward as she pushed the memory back into the depths of her mind. This was not the place nor time to be recalling painful memories. Hopefully Charlie hadn’t seen the flash of memory in her eyes as Phaedra never could hide her feelings and emotions.

Charlie allowed her to laugh and Phaedra giggled pulling her knees up to her chest and burying her forehead on her knees as her shoulders shook with laughter. “It was nice? Being elbowed in the ribs was nice?” Phaedra managed to gasp out between her laughter as she raised her head and grinned towards Charlie feeling, “Maybe you have spent too much time hidden in Romania with your dragons if you think that was nice.” Phaedra let out one more giggle and pushed off her shoes wriggling her toes a little as she wrapped her arms around her legs as their orders arrived. Pushing the plate with cheese-cookies to the middle of the table Phaedra opened the small package of honey squeezing the honey into her tea. Phaedra always liked to drink her tea with honey. “The cheese-cookies are amazing. One bite and you will be in heaven. Help yourself. If you want honey in your tea instead of sugar you must go and ask for it yourself. I’m not sharing mine. Green tea with honey is simply the best. As I have already admitted I’m helplessly addicted.”

Phaedra blew gently on the hot drink in her mug before taking a sip narrowly managing to avoid burning her tongue. Reaching her hand Phaedra snatched up one of the cookies and started to nibble on it’s edge as she pondered over Charlie’s words: “Not home? I suppose not. But are you planning on making your home in Romania or not? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. At least you really did find the job of your dreams and got a nice tan while doing it. It suits you too. You always had the most amazing connection with all animals, no matter whether they were as dangerous as dragons or as boring as Flobberworms. You always managed to find something to talk about with younger years too. Remember the Twister game with them instead of graduation ball? The kids were so happy about it. I exchange owls with one of the girls who played then and who I tutored in DADA as well. She’s thinking of becoming an auror too,” Phaedra grinned almost pensively as she tucked a strand of her hair back behind her hair. Actually Phaedra had spent more time with younger years as well rather than the people in her own year. She had been alone about half of the time and the rest of the time she had spent with Charlie or with tutoring some younger year or helping them. Phaedra was the perfect person to who people came to before balls thought because she always had time to help other prepare for them. In all her life Phaedra had only gone to Charlie’s graduation-ball because he had asked her as a friend but as they had never danced that didn’t really count as a proper ball either. Especially not so as they had left before the ending of the ball and played Twister with some first and second years. The younger students had been amusingly happy that someone so much older, and at Charlie’s cast that famous over the school too, had bothered to come and hang around with them instead of going to a ball they weren’t allowed to attend.

“What do you like most about working with dragons? Do you have baby-dragons too? And start with some random scar and tell me a story about it. Preferably including princesses, brave knights, forests, rivers, fairies and no chopping off heads,” Phaedra grinned at Charlie and finishing her cookie reached for her tea-cup once again raising it to their lips.

[Charlie Weasley]

Charlie noticed a flicker in Phaedra’s eyes as she explained to him about when she had really taken up learning martial arts. He knew the flicker all too well; it was the one of a memory flashing through her mind. He decided that he wouldn’t ask about it though, for if she wanted him to know more about it, she would share when she was ready. “ It’s always good for everyone to know how to defend themselves without a wand.” Charlie had learned a bit of self defense in Dragon Keeper training, but it had really been so that they could protect themselves and the dragons should anyone try to dragon-nap them. He had never really had to use it though, cause anyone would be crazy to attempt to take a sleeping dragon. Or at least that was the reason he had thought for never having to use it anyway.

Charlie smiled as Phaedra continued to laugh about her elbowing him in the ribs. “Yes, it felt nicer than a dragon’s tail would have. And I agree I have spent too much time with the dragons, that’s why I was finally able to take a vacation.” Charlie was happy to be on vacation, it meant that he was able to spend time with his family, and friends. And now he could spend all his time with Phaedra now too. It also meant that he could partake in some of the Orders projects, and tasks. His vacation had been well earned after yet another incident with a Chinese Fireball. Charlie hadn’t shared that incident with anyone yet, because he was still healing from it. He wouldn’t tell anyone that he had a bandage across his back, from one of the dragon’s claws. He just couldn’t. His job kept his mother worried enough without him breaking the news to her that he had yet again been injured. Charlie honestly loved his job, and couldn’t think of many things that would cause him to give it up, but he had thought of one. And now that he thought about it more, she would be the only reason he could ever give up his job, because the pay was good, and the danger was what kept it exciting. What fun would being a dragon keeper be if there wasn’t a little danger involved in the job? Charlie’s love for magical creatures was what had lead him to his job, and he was almost as bad as Hagrid in loving the more dangerous animals of the world. Charlie snapped back from his thoughts about his work, just in time to hear Phaedra offer him cookies; smiling, he quickly grabbed a cookie off the plate. “I prefer sugar in my tea most of the time, so it’s no big deal.” He said still smiling.

Charlie had never thought about making Romania his home, his home had always been The Burrow, and he really loved England. He just really couldn’t see himself making a home in Romania. “I’ve never really thought about making Romania home. I mean I always thought of home being here in England.” His eyes glinted when he said this, because he was also thinking that he would never be able to make a relationship with Phaedra if he made his permanent home in Romania. He wouldn’t have many reasons to come back here then, but as long as home was here, he would have reasons to return every time he had a free weekend, or even a free couple of days. Charlie smiled at the thought of the faces on all the younger years when he had really ruined an actual chance for a first date with Phaedra, by cutting their time at the ball short, just to play a muggle game that he really liked with the younger ones. Charlie had always thought that there should be more for the younger students to do while they were stuck at Hogwarts. Once they got into their third years, at least they had the Hogsmeade trips to look for, but what about before that. What would the kids do for fun during those two years, before they were allowed to go to Hogsmeade.

Looking down at his tea, he swirled it for a moment with his finger. Although the tea was still steaming hot, he could just barely feel the slight burn because his hands had been burnt so many times before. “My favorite part of being a Dragon Keeper. Hmm” he thought for a moment, before answering, “The danger, the action, the magnificent creatures that abuse me from day to day. The fact that I get to stay on the top of my game with the help of the dragons. There’s not one prospect of my job that I truly do not like. I have to admit that I love it all.” He gave a smile at the thoughts of his favorite aspects of his job. The only thing he could think of that he liked more, was the beautiful Kitten sitting across from him at the moment. He had to blurt this out, he couldn’t hold it in. “There’s only one thing I like more than my job, and that would be my Kitten.” Hoping Phaedra didn’t ask him to repeat himself, he started swirling his tea again.

[phaedra]

Phaedra grinned a little at Charlie’s explanation. Did he get hit that much by a dragon’s tale and the spikes on the tails of some dragon species? Phaedra wanted to enquire about it but as the conversation had already moved on she never got the chance to do it. Phaedra chuckled a little as she glanced at Charlie: “As I have a famous sweet-tooth and I love honey, then even if it would have been a problem, I wouldn’t have shared. I’m not that nice.” Phaedra’s eyes laughed back at Charlie as Phaedra leaned the bottom of his cup on her raised knee and blew gently on the hot liquid once more while waiting for it too cool to the level where she could drink it without burning her tongue. While Phaedra really did want to enjoy the taste of her favourite – green tea – already she knew better than to rush with drinking it. I she burned her tongue then she wouldn’t be able to feel any of it’s taste anyway.

Phaedra gave a small satisfied grin as Charlie said that England was still home. She wasn’t even sure why the simple statement warmed Phaedra’s insides, but for some reason it did. Maybe it meant that she could see Charlie some more at some point of time when he visited England. Even if Phaedra didn’t hold much hope to ever having Charlie as something more. Considering how pretty and awesome Charlie was, he was bound to have girls lining up for him so Phaedra wouldn’t really stand a chance. “I’m glad you haven’t forgotten England even though you disappeared for so long after you graduated. It must be fun though. To live in Romania and abroad I mean. It must be quite an experience. I have never been outside England you know. I always keep thinking that I want to go somewhere, but I don’t really dare to travel alone and there was no one to invite along or with who I could stay during my trip. You don’t have that problem as there must be quite picturesque views in Romania. Did Dracula live there too? No Dracula lived in Transilvania. Where is Transilvania?” Phaedra sent Charlie a bit questioning glance as her brows were furrowed thoughtfully, “Geography and orientation have never been my fortes after all.”

Phaedra winced as Charlie dipped his finger into his tea. The tea was still steaming. Phaedra leaned forward reaching out her hand and stopping Charlie’s hand while looking at him almost beggingly: “Please, don’t do that. I know you are about to tell me that it doesn’t hurt as you have gone through worse with dragons, but looking at it makes all the nerves in my fingers itch as if I was burning them.” Phaedra gave Charlie a bit sheepish smile before letting go of his wrist and pulling her arm back to her. Blowing gently on the tea in her cup once again Phaedra was taking a careful sip of the drink when Charlie’s words made her swallow abruptly. Phaedra burned her tongue and as she swallowed the hot liquid she could almost feel it burning down it’s bath down her throat. “There’s only one thing I like more than my job, and that would be my Kitten.” Phaedra coughed for a moment as she put her tea-cup down on the table her eyes wide as she searched Charlie’s face with her eyes for a moment. But Charlie had turned his attention back to his tea again so perhaps Phaedra had read more out of the statement than Charlie had meant in it.

“I didn't know you had a pet cat," Phaedra commented quietly feeling rather sure that this time Cahrlie didn't mean her by the nickname. How could he have? Phaedra was nothing special after all, no matter how much admitting to herself that Charlie might never care for her that way stung inside her for some reason. "Or was that a line, Charlie Weasley? You know, as you keep calling me Kitten as well I have to figure out some nickname for you too. Dragon? Nah, that doesn’t sound that well. Maybe I should learn to Tsuyoshi and start calling you Cute-boy,” Phaedra said with a small grin as she tilted her head and picked up her tea-cup again, “That’s your favourite part. But is there some tedious work or something you don’t like about your work? Besides the fact you guys according to your own words tend to run out of stories to tell so news when someone goes back home are waited for anxiously by everyone with who you work. While being a dragon keeper clearly works for you, is there really nothing bad about the work? Maybe I did the wrong choice and should have started to work with dragons as well.” Phaedra grinned at Charlie as she took a careful sip of her tea again while her eyes never left Charlie’s face.

[Charlie Weasley]

Charlie couldn’t bring himself to look up from his tea at Phaedra. He had let it slip, and although she hadn’t noticed it, that didn’t mean that she would miss the truth in his eyes, if he looked up. It had slipped, the subject was brought up, and now he would have to admit that he was talking about her, considering that he had to explain that he didn’t own a kitten. Kittens and dragons just didn’t mix in nature, but would it be possible for him and Phaedra to mix well enough to form more than a friendship. Charlie knew that he was just kidding himself; Phaedra could never feel the same for him that he felt for her, and it just couldn’t be possible. He just knew that there was no way she could ever love him for more than a friend. He smiled as she mentioned her famous sweet tooth. He had discovered her well known sweet tooth once before, when he had stayed at the castle for the holidays, and his mom had sent him some fudge along with his Weasley sweater, he had found Phaedra in the halls, and he offered her some of his fudge, the two had moved from the halls to the student lounge, where he let Phaedra finish off most of his fudge. Charlie couldn’t help but to smile again as the memory flashed into his mind.

“It is a bit exciting to live in Romania, but coming home is wonderful. Even though it makes leaving to return to Romania that much harder. And Transylvania is in Romania, it’s a smaller part though, and I have yet to travel there. I might if I had someone to join me.” He said thinking about the times that he had been offered by his co-workers to go with them on a trip to Transylvania. It hadn’t felt right. Trips like that were meant to be made with someone special. Charlie realized that he still had not looked up from his tea. He just wasn’t ready yet, he would when the time was perfect. But he had to try to hide what was showing through his eyes. He cursed himself for having such revealing eyes, they had never let him get away with anything in life, and even his mother had always known when he was hiding something from her, just by looking in his eyes. Although there were times that she never questioned what he was hiding. Charlie was always glad of those times, but he felt that Phaedra might ask. He wasn’t ready to take that chance

Charlie hadn’t even really noticed that he was swirling his tea with his finger until Phaedra stopped him from doing it again. He wasn’t able to feel the burn of the tea, but looking at his fingertip, noticed that it was severely redden. “I’ll try not to do it again.” He said smiling. Charlie scolded himself more for not being able to look up at Phaedra, but what was he to do. He had to tell her, it had already slipped out before he could catch it, and now it seemed that him hiding those feelings was blocking him from having a better time. Charlie couldn’t help but to think he was kidding himself. He had been over it a million times, and still saw no way that his best friend could see him as more than that. He shook the negative thoughts from his mind. He had no other choice but to admit his feelings, and hope for the best. He knew that he had to at least still have her in his life as a friend if nothing more, and didn’t want his feelings to get in the way of that. He had to confess them in order for that to happen, though.

Charlie laughed a bit as he realized Phaedra had not caught the true meaning of his words. This was a relief and made it all a bit easier. “What do you mean you didn’t know I have a pet cat? I don’t. Something as playful and curious as a cat wouldn’t mix well with dragons. But it was no line either.” Charlie admitted suddenly, his nerves making him want to swirl his tea more. Maybe he could get away with putting off telling her until later, until things were a bit more relaxed, and the situation not so suddenly tense for him. He laughed a little quieter as she mentioned a nickname for him. He rather liked the sound of Cute-Boy coming out in Phaedra’s voice, although it hadn’t sounded right when Tsuyoshi had said it earlier. “There’s nothing really tedious about it, except the constant spell work, but even then, it’s fun to sneak around and sometimes try something new on a dragon. Luckily they are impervious to any spell we can hit them with. There’s nothing I don’t like about it, with the exception of all the time it keeps me away from home, and from…..” Charlie trailed off, he couldn’t say what was on his mind, not just yet.

[phaedra]

Charlie didn’t look at her Phaedra noticed as she scrunched up her nose in confusion as she observed Charlie. Why didn’t he look at her anymore? She hadn’t suddenly grown a wart in the middle of her nose, had she? Phaedra suppressed the sudden urge to touch her nose to check. Tilting her head curiously to the side Phaedra tried to get a closer look on the expression on Charlie’s face, even though she didn’t really succeed. What had brought this on? Phaedra hadn’t known Charlie to be overly shy. Not in school and not when she had literally fell before him at the Burrow. Phaedra felt a giggle escaping her lips at the thought. Apparation had never been her thing. It had taken her months before she had managed to apparate successfully without splinching her in some way. Grinning Phaedra tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear ands smiled at Charlie happily. While he might not see her as anything more than a friend, Phaedra was glad to see that he considered her worthy of a light friendly teasing flirt.

“That was a crooked line at that. But thank you for it none the less,” Phaedra told Charlie ignoring the quiet voice in her head whispering to Phaedra that she did want something more than simple flirting from Charlie. Smiling widely to him Phaedra decided to take it as a compliment, while trying to read too much out of it. Charlie’s next words made Phaedra scrunch up her nose in slight distaste once again however. “Cat’s and Dragon’s don’t mix? And why not, pray tell? A kitten isn’t nearly big enough to threaten a dragon in any way nor should they compete for food so why wouldn’t cat’s and dragon’s mix? What do you know – maybe the dragon would rather grow fond of the kitten, take it as a friend or sort of family and rather start protecting the cat? Have you ever tried it for you to be so sure that the two wouldn’t mix?”

“Don’t you need to travel around by business? When some dragon gets in trouble somewhere or gets loose? Don’t you guys get called over to sort things out then and you never know where such problems may occur? I know I’m curious, but you just have an interesting job. Filled with charm and mystery that just draws people over. Speaking of which do you sometimes get nosy tourists over too who want to see what you are doing or do you have days when you show what the work really means to children who might become dragon tamers one day? I know I would like to learn more and see how it all is done for sure one day,” Phaedra questioned Charlie with a tilt of her head, blowing a strand of stubborn hair away from before her eyes. Only to frown a moment later. Charlie had hurt his finger after all. He might be used to it, but the finger still looked almost burnt. Phaedra slipped around the table and sat next to Charlie scowling at him a little as she took hold of his hand and turned it over so she could get a better look at the finger: “Look what you did now! You shouldn’t stir hot water with fingers!”

Shaking her head a little Phaedra bowed over the finger scrunching up her nose in concentration as she inspected it. It was red but it didn’t seem to be too badly burned which was good. Blowing the strand of hair away form her face again Phaedra took hold of her wand and cast a quick cooling spell on Charlie’s finger watching as the red colour slowly subsided a bit. “There, that should be a bit better. At least it looks like it,” Phaedra said finally letting go of Charlie’s hand as she smiled to him before catching her lower lip between her teeth.