When Dragons Are Born Without Wings

"Worthless piece of scum! Get out of my house! Shut up, Petunia! I don't care if he dies, he'd be more useful as a corpse!"

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Harry sat on the curb, head in his hands, staring at the asphalt. He didn't look up as a car passed by. There were a surprising amount of people out at...(he checked his watch)... five in the morning.

"Being me sucks." Just then, another car drove down the street. Harry paid no attention--it was the third in under five minutes. However, this one stopped directly in front of him.

"Hello luv. Need a ride?" Harry looked up. Then his jaw dropped, in a rather embarrassing fashion. In front of him was a gorgeous forest green convertible with the top down, in the front seat of which was sitting a very interesting looking young woman in her twenties. She had long black hair that was stirring in the light breeze, silver-gray eyes, and was dressed in very peculiar attire for a Muggle in this area. He had no doubt that she was not from Little Whinging--he was quite uncertain if she was even from England. She was wearing flared green velvet jeans, which matched the color of her car very nicely, a close-fitting black spaghetti-strap shirt, and a deep green long sleeved overshirt with the sleeves rolled up to almost the elbow. Dangling from her ears were a pair of jet and emerald earrings, adorned with little silver bells, and her hands each wore at least four rings. She was wearing what appeared to be little black plastic bracelets on her wrists, at least ten on each. About her neck hung a black leather choker, dangling from which was a silver dragon pendant. She looked, to say the least, utterly unfamiliar.

"Who the bloody hell are you?" The girl in the car smiled.

"I'm Dreah." Harry stared blankly at her. She looked puzzled.

"Didn't Draco mention me?" Harry started. Draco? Why would Malfoy be talking to him? He asked her as much. She gave him a strange look.

"Well, he talks about you all the time--'Harry said this, Harry said that' and 'Harry wore the most sexy outfit to Quidditch, he has such a nice arse'. That sort of thing. It gets really old, no offense. I just figured that for him to have a rather obsessive crush on you, you two would at least be corresponding." Harry was in shock. His mouth opened, but words refused to form. He rather looked like a fish in dreadful need of air. Dreah mentioned this. After another minute or so, Harry managed to burst out,

"He said I have a nice arse!? HE HATES ME!!! WE'RE MORTAL ENEMIES!!! HE HEXES ME AND MAKES 'POTTER STINKS' BADGES AND LAUGHS AT ME ALL THE FECKING TIME!!! And now, HE HAS A CRUSH ON ME!?" Dreah looked slightly amused.

"Well, that would explain why he sounds really excited when he says you hexed him. I sort of just thought you two were into bondage." Harry made a choking sound, eyes bugging slightly out of his head. He clapped his hands over his mouth and rocked back and forth, emitting odd little noises and moaning. Dreah looked at him in mild concern.

"I guess I shouldn't have said that, huh?" Harry squeaked and removed his hands from over his mouth.

"I am never going to get those images OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!" Dreah bit back a laugh.

"Right. Well then. I'm Draco's cousin, Dreah. And you look really frigged up, sitting out here for Voldemort to come and get." Harry looked at her warily.

"How do I know you're not a spy, sent here to traumatize me with horrible lies about my arch nemesis? And does that mean Malfoy's gay?" Dreah shook her head exasperatedly.

"To start, I'm not a spy, do you see a Dark Mark?--and they aren't lies! And now that I think of it, the poof'll probably kill me for telling you. If you're his arch nemesis, he probably doesn't fancy you knowing that he's in love with you. Oops. Please, don't tell him I told you, no matter what. And yes, it does mean he's gay. Duh. Now, do you want a ride, or not?" Harry made an odd face.

"Where to?"

"My house."

"Er..."

"You can't stay here."

"But... you're a girl."

"I won't molest you. Promise." Harry glared at her sarcasm.

"Alright. Thanks. After all, it's another month until term starts."

"Great. I've got a spare room. It's a bit full at the moment, but I'm sure that I can make room for you. Hop in and get comfy, it's a long ride." She pushed a button on the dashboard, and the passenger door popped open. Harry sat down on the squishy black leather seat, setting his trunk in the back.

"Here's some coffee, you look like you could use it." She pushed a cup of hot coffee at him, and Harry eyes the steaming drink warily. Dreah gulped some of her own.

"Drink up, luv, it won't bite." Harry carefully took a sip of the bitter liquid. It was good.

"Thanks." He didn't ask why she'd had an extra cup, but she noticed the odd look he gave her.

"I had an extra because I'd expected to go for a drive with my cousin, but she bailed on me." Harry nodded.

"Can I ask you a question, Harry?"

"Sure."

"Why the hell aren't you at home?"

"Uncle threw me out."

"The guy with a purple face that was being chased by a skinny lady in the lawn of Number Four, Privet Drive?"

"Aunt Petunia was chasing him?"

"Is that her name? Ugly cow, isn't she?" Harry smiled slightly.

"See, I always thought she was more of a horse..."

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"Well, this is it." Dreah pulled up the drive of a house about the size of the one at Privet Drive, maybe a little bigger. It was not surprisingly, green, and had black roofing. It was two stories high, and was very elegant. Pillars that stood on the front porch, holding up the roof, were carved with dragons. Two great stone dragons stood at the base of the steps, the only man-made adornment in the immaculate lawn. A flowering willow was the centerpiece of a neat garden, full of fragrant flowers and herbs. On the other side of the lawn, a path began, curling around to the back of the house. The entire house was covered in green and white Christmas lights, which were blinking erratically.

Dreah climbed out of the car and helped Harry with his trunk.

"You have a very cool house." Dreah smiled.

"Thanks."

They walked up the stairs, and Dreah put the key into the lock. The door swung open, and she stepped inside, Harry just behind her.

"Come on in."

She led him into the sitting room, and gestured for him to put his trunk on the floor behind the couch. He did, and she grinned at him.

"Well, this is it. Oh, and come on, I'll show you around. Library first. That's probably where Draco's hiding." Harry turned a rather interesting shade of red.

"You didn't say he was here!" Dreah rolled her eyes.

"Sheesh. What did you expect? He moved into a homeless shelter when his mum died? You already know he doesn't hate you, and you can at least be civil for four short weeks! I will not let you hex him under my roof. Unless he annoys me. Oh, just come on." Harry muttered under his breath, something about scary girls who plan to slowly kill you, but obediently followed her through the house to the library.

When they got there, Draco was found to be sitting, completely unguarded, in an armchair, reading. Harry paused a moment, and looked at him. The blonde was flopped over the chair sideways, one leg over the arm of the chair, the other stretched onto the floor. And he was wearing nothing but a pair of black silk boxers. Not that Harry was looking, because he most certainly was not. But damn, Quidditch had done him good.

Dreah watched him with a smirk on her face. She didn't say anything to him though, not wanting to embarrass him in front of Draco. She simply cleared her throat and knocked on the doorway. The change was instantaneous. Draco leapt up, dropped his book on the table, and grinned at Dreah. Harry was behind her, and therefore out of sight. Draco rushed over and hugged his cousin. She hugged him back, a smile on her face.

"You're back! What took so long? You said you'd be back in two days, you've been gone five bloody--Auuuuuuuuuugh!" Draco had caught sight of Harry over Dreah's shoulder. He leapt off his cousin, and ran backwards. He fell over the armchair he had been sitting in, and his legs shot into the air. Dreah tried not to laugh, and failed miserably.

"Draco, what's wrong? He doesn't bite. At least, I don't think he does--Harry, you won't bite him, will you?" Harry smirked.

"Not unless he bites me first," he said in a low voice. Draco gulped. God, he sounded sexy.

Harry, inside, was flipping out. What was he doing? He hated Malfoy! But if what Dreah said was true... he had always thought he was sexy. And he had never, ever had fantasies about him. Really. None at all. And he was a bloody liar. So he had a crush on Malfoy. But Malfoy had been mean. But Malfoy had been sexy mean. Oh god, he was confused.

Dreah watched in amusement. She knew Harry had been checking Draco out when he walked in, and apparently looking at the insults exchanged in a different light, but she hadn't known that he'd be smart enough to do anything about it. After all, he hadn't even realized Draco was gay! And with those girly clothes, too.

"Harry, will you excuse us for just a second? I'll be right out." Harry nodded and left the room, shutting the door behind him. The second it closed, Draco pounced on Dreah.

"What the hell were you thinking? I'm in my boxers. Why did you bring him here? I'm in my boxers! You made me look stupid! And DID I MENTION THAT I'M IN MY BOXERS???" Dreah smirked.

"Draco, you like him."

"SO?"

"So, now is your chance. You do realize there's only one bedroom I don't sleep in, and I'm not making him sleep on the couch, right?"

"Dreah! There's only one bed!"

"So? Conjure one."

"I can't use magic outside of school!"

"Tough break, love. And don't try to make the boy sleep on that floor. It scares even me. Why do you have so much perfume, anyways? It makes the house smell funny."

"It's not perfume, it's... stuff. And it's so I smell spring garden fresh."

"More like grandma's laundry, if you ask me. Come on, chill. He was flirting with you, just then."

"No, he wasn't! He hates my guts!"

"I doubt it. God, Draco, you only told me about the whole insult thing, and I got it. You like him, and he doesn't hate you. You could make a rabid hippogriff fall for you. He will. Trust me."

"Dreah, he saw me nearly naked."

"And the way he was looking at you like a fresh piece of meat, I'd lock the bathroom door when you're in the shower. The look on his face, it was so obvious, Draco."

"What do I do?"

"Maybe you should bite him?"

"Shut up."

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"Hey Harry. Draco here will show you to your room. Please, if he snores too much, don't kill him. And if he mumbles about people in his sleep, pray you don't know them and ignore him. And if he mumbles about you in his sleep, it's because he's murdering you in the dream, and most certainly not shagging your brains out. Draco, help him with his trunk." Draco had turned a delicate shade of pink, and Dreah had a desperate urge to cackle madly. It was working!

"Come on Potter."

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Harry and Draco walked into their room, and Harry's eyes bugged again. It was green and silver and black, and all the wood was mahogany. Two tall dressers stood there, and one Queen bed. The closet was open, and Draco rushed over to it, slamming it shut.

"Er... don't go in there."

"What's in there, you're Playwizard collection?"

"Er... yeah. Now stop asking questions. Here's your dresser, your side of the bed. Keep out of my wardrobe, and don't go in the closet. And don't touch my conditioner in the bathroom. You can use the blue one." Harry nodded. He dropped his trunk next to 'his side of the bed' and opened it. He pulled out his toothbrush, and wandered to the bathroom.

When he returned, Draco was about to climb into bed. However, the moment Harry walked into the room, Draco froze, one knee on the bed. Green boxers. Green silk boxers. Harry was dressed in only green silk boxers. And he looked really, really gorgeous in them. Just to be evil, he bent over his trunk, giving Draco a nice view of his bum. Draco swallowed, and his eyes followed each of Harry's movements.

Harry stood up, having put his clothes away. He turned to Draco and pretended to only have just realized that the blonde was staring.

"Like what you see, Draco?" Draco gulped audibly as Harry crossed over to the bed.

"I thought so..." He climbed into bed, turning out the light as he did so. Draco quickly got under the covers to hide his growing erection. He faced away from Harry and scooted to the very edge of the bed, so he was nearly falling off.

"Draco? Come on, I didn't mean to freak you out..." Harry's hand snaked across Draco's back, but Draco flinched away. However, this action caused Draco to topple off the bed. Harry's quick Seeker reflexes caused him to grab Draco, and he heaved the other boy onto the bed. Harry looked at the Slytherin's face, noting its fluid grace and silver eyes. He reached his hand out and stroked Draco's face. Draco once more flinched, and closed his eyes. Harry stroked again, and Draco shivered. His hand grasped Harry's and pulled it away from his face.

"Stop. Please. I... you don't..." Harry closed his eyes and pulled his hand out of Draco's grasp.

"Yes. I do." He slid his hand over Draco's face, fingers lighting on the boy's lips. Draco's eyes fluttered closed, and he sighed.

"Potter... you don't know what you're saying... please...don't..." Harry paused.

"My name is Harry. And I really think I do... but if you want me to stop, I won't force you. Just one kiss, please?" Draco's breath caught as Harry's face drew closer.

"Please, Draco? I'll do anything. Just one kiss." Draco closed his eyes. Then he nodded. A moment later, a pair of silk lips met his and a gentle pressure was applied. He responded, his subconscious taking over, ignoring his protesting conscience, which was informing him that Harry was just going to hurt him, laugh at him. That Harry didn't love him, would never love him. A velvet tongue darted out against his lips, begging admittance. He granted it wantonly, his own mouth savoring this one chance he had at tasting Harry. And what a taste... musk and toothpaste and coffee and fire and forests. Oh, he tasted so good, how could this be happening?

Slowly, they broke away, breathing hard. Harry's cheeks were red, and Draco's tinged with pink.

"See, that wasn't so bad... oh god you taste so good...please, just one more...?" Harry's emerald eyes pleaded with him.

"Harry... I can't... don't you get it, I love you, and I can't have you do this, it'll hurt me when you say later that you don't feel that way, and I just can't...please, Harry! Try to understand." Harry sighed and closed his eyes.

"You jump to the strangest conclusions, you know that, right? I've liked you for ages, I just didn't know it. And I could love you, really I can, I think I might already, and it's very confusing, but please listen to me... I swear I won't hurt you, I won't say I don't feel that way. And I'm a noble, irksome Gryffindor who can't break a promise, let alone an oath. Draco..." The blonde finally met his eyes.

"You don't love me, you know it. You're not serious about me."

"Than why was I kissing you?"

"You're horny?"

"Hell yes I am... because of you. Draco, come here, can I at least show you something?"

"Fine."

"Give me your hand." Draco warily held out his hand. Harry pressed the other boy's palm to his chest, and covered it with his own. He slowly led it downwards, over his navel and down to his groin. Draco's eyes were locked on his, and the blonde was completely unable to move. His hand was now covering Harry's erection, and the Gryffindor closed his eyes.

"Does that feel like I'm not serious?" he asked in a breathy, ragged voice. Draco didn't reply, but instead leaned in and kissed the other boy gently.

"No." Harry smirked at him.

"I didn't think so eith--ohhhh shit..." Draco's hand had slid inside Harry's boxers, and had begun to stroke the other boy.

"Draco... god...mmmm..." Draco had begun to kiss him, continuing his ministrations on Harry's groin. His long, slender hand wrapped around Harry's cock and he slowly began to bring him off. He sucked hard on Harry's lip, and slid his tongue into the warm mouth. Harry's hips began to buck, and Draco slid his other hand around the Gryffindor's back. Harry moaned into Draco's mouth, the sound turning the blonde on exquisitely. Harry felt the sizeable erection on his hip growing larger still. Another pumping stroke, and Harry cried out. Draco began to trail kisses down the other boy's neck, sucking as he went. Another stroke, and Harry's hips snapped forward, shaking.

"Draco!" Harry came hard and fast into his boxers, moaning out Draco's name as he did so. A minute later, his looked up into Draco's eyes, his own glazed in the pain and pleasure of the aftermath of orgasm.

"Please tell me you don't doubt me now." Draco laughed into Harry's shoulder, and slid his hands up into the other's hair.

"Harry Potter, you are one twisted person, you know that?"

"I'm in bed with you, aren't I?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Shut up and kiss me."

"No problem."

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"Morning Dreah!" The girl looked up from her cup of coffee and glared at Harry. Draco smirked at Harry.

"She's not a morning person, luv. Wait until at least noon to even try to talk to her." Draco leaned over and placed a careful kiss against Harry's cheek. Dreah looked up again.

"I suppose I shouldn't even bother asking why neither of you looks like you've had any sleep whatsoever, and why you both have that 'I've-just-been-thoroughly-been-shagged' look, or why it's nine AM and you're both happy. I'm assuming the answers to all those questions are the same as the reason Draco has messy hair, right?" Harry nodded.

"Exactly." Draco, however, squeaked and said,

"I have messy hair!?" and ran straight into the bathroom. Dreah looked at Harry. Harry looked at Dreah. Harry and Dreah looked at each other. And then they both drank coffee. Well, what were you expecting, a meaningful conversation? It's nine AM, for god's sake! Who the hell would get up at such an ungodly hour? Only just-been-shagged people and people who were kept awake all night by thuds and bangs being made by the just-been-shagged people. Duh.

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It was two weeks before school was due to start, and Dreah poked her head into the boys' room.

"Today we've got to go to Diagon Alley, so hurry up and get dressed." She didn't even bother commenting on the fact that they were wrapped around each other. Over the past two weeks, she had gotten annoyingly used to it, and Harry had gotten over his extreme embarrassment.

"We'll be down in a minute."

"Draco. She knows us too well by now. We'll be down in half an hour." Dreah cackled and left the room.

"Harry, you're so embarrassing."

"That's why you love me."

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It was noon before Harry and Draco were dressed and eating breakfast. An hour later, they were standing in front of the fire, throwing Floo Powder into the fireplace.

"Diagon Alley!"

Dreah was the last to tumble into the alley, and she managed to land on her feet, unlike the two boys, who had quite gracefully managed to land on each other in a heap.

"Come on lads, let's go." She hauled the two of them up. Draco smirked at Harry behind her back as the first store they went to was the Quidditch Supply Store.

"Er... Dreah, why don't we get school stuff first?" asked Harry meekly. Dreah and Draco looked at him like he was nuts.

"Harry, I need a new broom. Well, the team needs new brooms, but that isn't my problem." Harry looked at Draco, confused.

"Dreah's captain of a Quidditch team, Harry." Harry looked surprised.

"Really? Which one?" Dreah and Draco exchanged identical smirks.

"Drombeg Dragons." Harry's eyes got wide.

"The team that flattened England last year in the semi-finals? You're that Dreah?" Dreah and Draco burst out laughing. Draco slung his arm around Harry's shoulder.

"Yep."

"But... isn't your last name Malfoy?" Dreah scowled.

"No. It's Lestrange." Harry froze, and the smile dropped off his face.

"Like Bellatrix Lestrange?" Dreah nodded, confused.

"My mum." Harry blinked a few times.

"But... you aren't evil." Dreah raised an eyebrow.

"I can assure you, I am no Death Eater. I've never liked my mum." Harry breathed again.

"Right. New subject then. Who wants to shop?" asked Draco brightly. Harry and Dreah looked at Draco with the air of two very wary people eyeing a gay man in a store full of thongs.

"...Sounds okay to me."

"Right-o, luv. Let's go."

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The three of them were enjoying themselves, and the day was going nicely. That was, until they went into Flourish and Blotts.

"... And he said 'What kind of name is--" Harry stopped mid-sentence and groaned.

"Draco. It's Ron and Hermione and Ginny." Draco froze, and Dreah paused.

"Who?" Harry sighed.

"My Hogwarts friends... I haven't written to them all summer." Dreah sighed.

"Well, they've seen us. Nothing to do about it now." Indeed, the three were walking towards them. Hermione looked confused, Ron looked suspicious, and Ginny looked amused.

"Hi Ron. Hermione, Ginny." Ron's arm was around Hermione, and Ginny just rolled her eyes as Ron took in Harry's around Draco.

"What are you doing with him? And who's she?" Harry fought the urge to either groan or laugh.

"This is Dreah. She's Draco's cousin." Ron looked livid.

"Draco? AND WHY IS YOUR ARM AROUND HIM?" Draco now intervened.

"Now, Weasley, no reason to frighten the bystanders with your shouting. Calm down, and we can discuss this outside."

"Shut up, Ferret. I'll DO WHATEVER THE FUCK I PLEASE!" Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth.

"Ronald Weasley!"

"HERMIONE, I'M BUSY!" Hermione humphed. Ginny and Dreah rolled their eyes.

"Weasley, if you must insist at being barbaric and shouting, I assure you that I can shout much louder." Harry sniggered into Draco's shoulder, and whispered something into the blonde's ear, which caused Draco's cheeks to go pink. He swatted Harry's arm.

"Stop that, I'm trying to argue, and that's very hard to do when you say things like that."

"I was encouraging you."

"Sure you were." Harry laughed and nibbled on his ear. Ron's eyes were wide with horror. He was making odd choking noises and rocking back and forth. Dreah cleared her throat, and Harry realized what had just happened. He quickly moved towards Ron, but the redhead backed away.

"What... you... his ear..." Ron's voice was low and frightened. Dreah stepped in at this point, getting annoyed.

"Look. I think I need to clear this up with you, Weasley. Harry got his ass kicked out of his house. I picked him up, he stayed with us. He and Draco started shagging. Now we're here, and you either need to state your horrified opinion and flee before I pummel you, or get the fuck over it. Okay, luv?" Ron was staring at her.

"They what?" Dreah cracked up. She began to laugh, tears running down her face. Ginny walked over to Ron.

"Ron, Harry has made a habit of screwing Draco into the wall." Thud. Ron passed out, either from hearing his sister's language, or from hearing that his best friend was shagging a Malfoy. Ginny giggled.

"You don't seem surprised, Weaselette." Ginny smirked at Draco.

"I knew it'd happen sooner or later." Dreah clapped her on the back.

"A girl after my own heart." Ginny looked at Dreah.

"You're on the Dragons, aren't you?"

"Captain for the past four and a half years."

"Wow."

"Well, ladies and gents, let's move out. Harry, luv, help Hermione with Mr. Freckles there, he'll wake up soon enough." Harry did as he was told, and he and Hermione hoisted Ron up.

"Harry?" Ron's eyes fluttered open.

"Morning, mate."

"Tell me that was a nightmare."

"Nope."

"I'll kill him."

"If you break my boyfriend, I will not be pleased." Ron groaned and rested his head on Hermione's shoulder as the group began walking.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After they had gotten all their school supplies, Ginny reminded Ron and Hermione that they were supposed to meet Bill, Charlie and Fleur in five minutes at the Ice Cream Parlor. Dreah said that they would accompany them.

As the group approached the Parlor, Ginny caught sight of two redheads and a blonde and rushed over to them. She quickly introduced Dreah to them.

"Dreah, this is Bill, his girlfriend Fleur, and Charlie. You guys, this is Dreah, Draco's cousin. She's captain of the Drombeg Dragons." Dreah shook their hands, smiling at each of them. She then poked Ginny in the arm.

"I hate it when people do that. I am a person, you know, despite the rumors." Ginny laughed, but paid attention to the look on Charlie's face. His eyes ran over Dreah while she was looking at Ginny. Bill nudged him, and Charlie stomped on his foot.

"It's nice to meet you all, I hope you don't mind if we sit with you?" Charlie stood and pulled out a chair for her. Dreah smiled at him and sat down.

"Thank you. Come on, people, sit down." Draco and Harry sat at their own table, playing footsie and smiling dreamily at each other. Ron and Hermione did the same. Bill and Fleur were at their own, and Dreah had sat with Charlie. Ginny felt very left out.

"I really need a boyfriend," she said to no one in particular. Dreah laughed and offered to have her sit beside herself and Charlie.

"No thanks, not enough room. I think I shall go find some chocolate and mope at my own table." Dreah shrugged, then began an animated conversation with Charlie about Quidditch.

A few minutes later, a waitress came and asked what they wanted. Bill and Fleur ordered a milkshake with two straws, Harry and Draco got a sundae, and Ginny got three scoops of chocolate ice cream with a mountain of sprinkles. Dreah scanned the menu.

"One scoop chocolate, one scoop cucumber please." Charlie looked surprised.

"Cucumber? And chocolate?" Dreah nodded, unfazed. Charlie shook his head and ordered a scoop of tiramisu. The waitress took off with their orders.

"So. You work with dragons?" Charlie nodded.

"Where?"

"Romania, on Silvereye Dragon Reserve--is that an SDR badge?" Dreah was wearing a pair of dark green cargo pants, a black spaghetti strap tank top, and a dirty green jacket with a large badge sporting a green dragon with silver eyes on a background of black and silver stars.

"Indeed it is. I used to work there." Charlie looked impressed, if not confused.

"How? I mean, I've worked there for ages and I've never seen you--" Dreah cut him off.

"I didn't work in the same department as you. I was in the experimental breeding department. I go there every summer to stay with my ex-apprentice." Charlie looked even more surprised.

"You play Quidditch and you bred dragons. That's brilliant, that."

"The team has its name for a reason, luv." Charlie chuckled.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dreah, Draco and Harry all stood up about two hours later.

"We've been here a while, lads, and I need to pick up my new broom. Hello! Detach your lips for a moment, will you? Thank you. Come on, let's go." Draco and Harry grumbled. Ginny stood up.

"Can I come?" Charlie shook his head at her.

"Gin, we've got to get home pretty soon, mum'll be worried about you." Ginny rolled her eyes, but Dreah stepped in.

"Ginny, I'll give you my address, okay? Maybe you could come over for dinner sometime before school starts. The rest of your family is welcome as well," she added softly, flicking her eyes toward Charlie. Ginny nodded, barely able to keep a straight face.

"Thanks Dreah. Bye Harry... Draco." The two of them nodded at her, Harry smiling.

"Try to work on Ron for me, will you?" Ginny giggled and nodded. She then proceeded to grab Draco by the ear and tow him away from the group. Harry watched uneasily as she whispered something in his ear that he couldn't hear.

"If you hurt him, break his heart, or step one toe out of line, I will personally make sure that you become reacquainted with your ferret self, got it?" Draco scowled at her, but nodded.

"Fair enough, Weaselette." Ginny grinned.

"He needs this, he really does. Take good care of him." Draco smiled slightly, and nodded again.

"As long as you make sure your brother comes to dinner. Dreah likes him." Ginny grinned evilly. Draco shook his head.

"You should've been in Slytherin."

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It was the week before school was due to start, and Dreah was sitting in the library, reading The Return of the King, by J.R.R. Tolkien. She was in the middle of the last chapter when a tap-tap, tap-tap sounded on the enormous window. She looked up, and saw an itty-bitty owl hurling itself repeatedly against the glass. She suppressed a giggle and stood up, opening the window.

"'Lo, Pig." The owl hooted at her jovially. Her own owl, Athena, glared at the little bird reprovingly. Pig ignored her and let Dreah pull the letter from his leg. The message was short.

Hey Dreah,

Me, Charlie, Fred and George, Ron, Hermione, Tonks, Bill, Mum and Fleur are coming. Dad's at work. We'll be there at seven.

Ginny

Dreah grinned.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco and Harry wandered downstairs sometime around five, smelling the yummy food.

"What're you making?" Dreah turned to the boys, a large wooden spoon in her hand.

"Let's see... fettuccini alfredo with blackened chicken strips, Caesar Salad, tomato basil soup, and for desert... Chocolata Magnina." Draco licked his lips, and Harry looked confused.

"Choco-what?" Draco rolled his eyes.

"Chocolata Magnina. It's this giant cake thing. It has ten layers. What are they, Dreah?"

"Devil's Food, chocolate ice cream, German chocolate, fudge ice cream, Swiss chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, Belgian chocolate, Belgian chocolate ice cream, brownie, coffee and chocolate ice cream, and the whole thing is covered in silver and black and green marzipan, sprinkles, and a big solid chocolate rose." Harry whistled, impressed.

"What's the occasion?" asked Draco slyly.

"What is it with you guys and those three colors?" asked Harry.

"Answer a) the Weasleys are coming to dinner, answer b) they're SDR colors."

"The Weasleys?"

"SDR?"

"Yes, the Weasleys, Draco. SDR is Silvereye Dragon Reserve, and also the colors of the Drombeg Dragons. And of Slytherin."

"Oh."

"Oh."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

At a quarter to seven, the dining room table was set with dragon-related (who would've guessed?) cutlery and dishes. The food was on platters at intervals along the table, and the huge cake stood in the center, kept frozen with a cooling charm. Dreah was dressed up slightly in a pair of green velvet jeans and a black silk shirt and a silver necklace. Her hair was partly down, but the top layer was up in a tiny bun.

At seven o'clock on the dot, Ginny rolled out of the living room fireplace. She was quickly followed by Charlie, Bill, Fleur, and three people Dreah didn't know.

"Hello everyone." Ginny stood up, her family quickly following suit.

"Dreah, this is my family. You know Charlie, Ron, Hermione, Bill and Fleur and Tonks. These are the twins, Fred and George--" The two kissed her hands, met with a jealous glare from Charlie. "This is my mum." Molly smiled at Dreah. She smiled back.

"It's lovely to meet you. Please, come this way, dinner's on the table." The herd of Weasleys and company followed Dreah into the dining room, ooh-ing and ahh-ing as they saw the food on the table. Molly looked pointedly at Charlie, and whispered something in his ear.

"Mum!" Molly shushed him, and gestured for everyone to sit down. She made positively certain, however, that the only empty chair was next to Dreah when Charlie sat down. He blushed and mumbled as he sat down, very conscious of the fact that he was not in the most gorgeous clothes. Harry and Draco giggled at him, and Dreah glared at them.

"Shut it, you two," she said so only they could hear. They grinned evilly back.

"I'm so glad all of you could make it. Please, dig in." They did, and all commented on how wonderful the food was. Tonks and Ginny sat together, giggling about something between bites, frequently glancing at Dreah and Charlie.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When everyone had finished eating, Dreah unveiled the cake. Fred and George looked amazed, Ginny looked impressed, Molly looked pleased, and the rest of them sat gaping.

"Wow." Dreah laughed and produced a knife. She sliced thin slices for each of them, because of how tall the cake was. No one noticed, or at least they didn't say anything, when Charlie's slice was bigger.

"You need some meat on your bones, luv." Charlie blushed, but bit into it anyway. Dreah watched for everyone's reactions as they chewed.

"Wow." Everyone seemed to say the same, and very soon their slices were gone.

"Anyone for seconds?" she asked lightly. Everyone shook their heads.

"Full," seemed to be the collective response.

"Well, please feel free to take it home, otherwise Draco and Harry shall eat it all, and will become fat little children and get eaten by hags." Draco glared at her.

"I do not get fat!" Dreah snickered.

"Right, luv, you just think that."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The evening went without incident, and the group migrated to the library, as it was the largest room in the house. Everyone sat down to do something--Ginny and Tonks sat and talked about something, giggling frequently, not to mention pointing. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco sat down to play cards. Bill and Fleur had to leave. Fred and George joined Tonks and Ginny. Molly left as well, thanking Dreah for her hospitality.

"You're welcome, Molly. Feel free to come back any time." Molly nodded and left.

Charlie and Dreah sat down for a game of chess.

"Thank you," said Charlie softly.

"For what?" asked Dreah, confused.

"For having us over. We're not exactly a... polite family."

"You're wonderful." Something in the way she said it said that she wasn't talking about the family. Charlie blushed. Dreah grinned.

"Well, I mean, when Fred and George tried to blow up the sink--"

"It was funny, Charlie. They're sweet." Charlie mumbled something that sounded suspiciously like, 'not too sweet'. Dreah smiled.

"Checkmate." Dreah scowled as Charlie moved his piece.

"Fine, fine." Charlie grinned at her.

"Sore loser, you are."

"Shut up, you."

"Sure thing." Dreah grinned back at him. Abruptly Charlie stood up.

"I have to go home. I have a meeting in the morning and-- well, bye." Dreah watched, confused, as he walked to the fireplace.

"Charlie?" He turned.

"Yeah?"

"Walk with me for a minute?" Charlie sighed and nodded slowly. The two left the house, and walked around to the back of the house, where a large Quidditch pitch stood. Dreah sat against one of the goal posts.

"What's wrong?" Charlie had not sat down, so replied from somewhere above her.

"Nothing... I just... I'm confused."

"About what?"

"Stuff... I really need to go home, Dreah, I--"

"Okay. But Charlie..."

"Yeah?"

"My team's in the playoffs against Bulgaria on September 24^th... here." Dreah handed him a small slip of paper.

"Top box ticket. I'd really like it if you were there." Charlie nodded, and walked off.

"Thanks."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the weeks after Harry and Draco left, Dreah had trouble sleeping. Maybe it was the lack of odd noises from their room. Maybe it was Quidditch nerves. Or maybe it was something else. Whatever it was, on September the 24^th, Dreah was on the Quidditch pitch in her silver, black and green Quidditch robes, her Lightningstar 5000 in her hand, scanning the top box for a mop of red hair. She didn't see him.

"Come on, Lestrange! We're up!" She sighed and mounted her broom. The whistle blew, and she was in the air, fighting for possession of the Quaffle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dreah's team won, 560 to 140, Dragons. However, when she was done playing and had another chance to look for Charlie, she was not smiling. In fact, she flattened herself to her broom and shot towards the ground, pulling up quickly and zooming out over the stadium. Tears fell from her eyes as she flew as far as she could, not even noticing where she was going. Only until she saw a green building did she realize that she was home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A week later, Dreah was on her broom, flying to the Dragon Reserve. She landed in front of the giant green marble building, hugging Laurel Spinnet as she came out to greet her. Laurel was her ex-apprentice, and had been at the reserve for a month already.

"Hey Dreah--what's wrong?" Dreah had backed against the building, attempting to shield herself from the eyes of a redheaded dragon tamer walking by.

"I don't want to see him," whispered Dreah when Charlie had gone.

"Okay. He's been asking for you since he got here, though. Said I was to tell him as soon as you got here. He seems really upset." Dreah shook her head fiercely.

"Tell him then. Tell him he's a stupid bugger who I don't ever want to talk to again."

"I think I'll just say you're busy, if that's alright?"

"Fine."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Two months went by, Dreah never leaving the building as she worked on breeding a smaller dragon. Charlie would come by every day, and Laurel would go and meet him, saying that Dreah couldn't be disturbed, giving him a pitying look.

Eventually, Charlie got annoyed. He pushed past Laurel and strode into Dreah's lab.

"Dreah!" The young woman was at the incubator, watching an egg no larger than that of a chicken.

"Go away, Charlie." Charlie walked up to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your game... there was some trouble here that day."

"I said, go away Charlie." Charlie kept talking.

"I'm really sorry--" Dreah turned around very quickly, wand drawn. She shoved Charlie backwards, hard.

"I SAID GO THE FUCK AWAY!!!" She pushed her wand against his chest.

"If I ever find you in here again, you will get fed to the bloody dragons! NOW GO AWAY!!!" Charlie glared at her and left. Laurel walked in a minute later to find Dreah sobbing on the floor.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dreah got a letter from Ginny a few days later.

Dear Dreah,

Charlie told me what happened. He was very upset. So I figured I should tell you some things that might help you understand him better.

Charlie is in something called the Order of the Phoenix. It's an organization that fights against Voldemort. I don't know a lot about it, since I'm not allowed to be a member until I graduate. But he had a mission during your game. He got really angry when they told him, and even tried to hex Dumbledore. He was ballistic, just nuts. It took days to get him to go. He had to, because no one else was able to.

Also, Charlie has not had a girlfriend since he left Hogwarts, when he had an awful breakup. She was cheating on him, and broke up with him on the night he was planning to ask her to marry him. He's been kind of... anti-romance since.

So, maybe this helps. I don't know, but I thought you deserved to know.

Ginny

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Charlie?" Dreah was at Charlie's cabin, standing at the door. It swung open, revealing Charlie in jeans and a t-shirt.

"Go away Dreah."

"No." Charlie swung the door back open, as he had begun to close it.

"What?"

"No."

"It's my house. Leave."

"Make me. I want to talk to you."

"Fine. What do you want?" he asked stiffly.

"To apologize. Ginny... she wrote me..."

"She what?"

"She said you had a mission and stuff... and I wanted to say I'm sorry, and if you don't want to forgive me, I understand." Charlie sighed and gestured for her to come in. She sat hesitantly on his couch, and he joined her.

"Dreah... I..." He sighed and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She rested her head on the warm planes of his firm chest.

"I'm so sorry Charlie... I..."

"It's okay. Just... it's behind us, okay?"

"Fine with me," she said with a smile.