draco dormiens;

❝ Got a bit of a dragon situation going on right now, actually. ❞ Charlie Weasley | Wrangler of Dragons and Younger Brothers {independent Charlie Weasley RP, Harry Potter} tracking | ofdraconickind

[facadeofasnake]

Music always helped her to study, always let her disappear into her own little ‘bubble’. However, that little bubble usually left her being not very aware of everything else around her, and especially with how she looked. She’d pull all kinds of faces, ranging from outright delighted to downright confused… but, mostly the latter. Damn essays.

It just so happened that she had risen her head when the voice sounded, and she looked up at him. “Hm? Oh yeah! Just a little confused on this essay… well, make that a lot,” she frowned, eyes moving back down to the parchment in front of her. “Maybe I’ll take a break.”

[ofdraconickind]

"I'd say I'm glad it's not something more distressing, but then- I always hated essays so I've no room to talk." It wasn't a lie- heaven only knew how he managed to get through seven years staying on top of his game. Probably at least some small amount of luck. 

Still- it brought a measure of relief to know that the problem lay in the world of, if not the mundane, then at least the usual. The manageable. Dropping to sit comfortably in a seat beside her, Charlie glanced at the length of parchment she was working on then back up at her.

"So, what's this one on? I can tell you right now that if it's anything to do with History of Magic you're better off taking that break because I'll be of no help."

[ofdraconickind]

open;

Charlie had never made it too much of a point to dwell on anything behind the present. It was rarely necessary and even less wanted than that. But though he never felt the need to express it, his perception had always been keen. There was no way it couldn't be even if it hadn't been part of his natural disposition; latent tendencies were never entirely dormant and there was never a time when he sensed something wrong and avoided acting upon it.

The concern didn't manifest too blatantly on his features- just a furrow his brow and a gentle, downward twist of his mouth. Anything more and he'd have been written off by his younger siblings long ago. Which meant treading with surprising, learned care.

"Y' alright there?"

[ofdraconickind]

corners of the evening | freckledquidditchqueen

[freckledquidditchqueen-deactiva]

She thought she’d be alone, at this hour anyway. She’d been counting on the darkness of the sleeping castle to conceal her from wandering eyes. However, she hadn’t particularly been counting on Charlie finding her out. She jumped slightly when he broke the silence, green irises rolling as he finished speaking.

"Maybe I’m just bettter a’ sneakin’ about than you."

She spun around on her heel, tightly braided hair whipping over her shoulder. "Oi, what’d ya’ want anyhow? Or do ya’ just enjoy sneakin’ up on people?" That was a silly question, she had been the one out after curfew after all. But if anyone was going to admit fault here, it certainly wouldn’t be her.

[ofdraconickind]

"Oh please," he replied without even a moment of hesitation, catching up to her with little effort. "You've a long way to go before you come close to that." Bill might have been slightly better at the business of ferreting out younger siblings but it was only because he'd had a few years on him; extra time to practice hardly made for a fair comparison.

There was always a fine line between exasperation and amusement for him, but his sigh- as always- was underscored by genuine affection. "Y'er as sunny as ever," he offered dryly, refusing to rise to the bait. He had a particularly high threshold when it came to matters of patience. It would take more than a snappish retort to throw him off balance.

"Oh yeah, y' definitely caught me. No greater pleasure than sneaking up on people." Resisting the urge to roll his eyes in return, he settled for quirking an eyebrow that clearly read really? "I don't want anything. Or I didn't plan on it, anyhow. Some of us were getting in after a long night. But if I have to pick a desire now I'd like to know what you, still-a-student sister, are doing out this late."

[cavexcanem-deactivated20140916]

Jane, too, knew that there was no conceivable way in which Molly could have heard Charlie, but she still hushed him, a hand batting lightly at his arm in reprimand. “Oh my god— Oh my god, she’ll hear you, stop it,” she managed to say, but the chastising effect of her words was lost in her laughter.

"Wise enough to know, and yet you’re still coming?" Jane teased. But she wasn’t exactly going to complain about Charlie’s presence; it was more welcome than most. She slipped her hand into his and started to lead him back the way she’d come.  "—I’d like to start by saying this was Fred’s idea and not mine. I’m just a spectator. Just in case your mum asks.”

[ofdraconickind]

"I could laugh at you," he replied wryly, "But honestly, very few give her the credit she deserves. Cheers on recognizing true power." Fear of god was not too far off of an idiom to describe his mother- though, perhaps, borne more out of respect than legitimate terror. But it still astounded him that anyone in the wizarding world existed that doubted the force of nature that was Molly Weasley. 

"Well someone has to make sure no one dies, yeah?" It wasn't that much of an exaggeration. At least, not from his experience. And while most of the slightly-younger were not his brothers, supervising was still a reflex. Better to prevent- or mitigate- before things got too out of hand. It had always served him, if not well, than at least better than the alternative. "Plus it's not as if I'm ancient just yet. Wisdom- which I do have in spades- only goes so far." 

He let himself be led, having learned long ago that bending into a storm was more prudent than staying firm. "She will, and it will still be my fault. But I will say now that I'm calling it- if it's Fred's it's a terrible idea."

[ofdraconickind]

corners of the evening | freckledquidditchqueen

It was comforting to know, at least, that no matter how long he was away from the castle he could always count on certain constants. Particularly trick steps. He was reminded vehemently what an absolute bloody pain they were, particularly given how late he had been working and how long it had taken to get back on the right course again. It was a rare moment that Charlie ever envied his older brother; he himself had, of course, received what he'd often cited were the best of the family genes. But it would have been nice to use some curse breaking to avoid the unintentional pit stop on his way back the room he'd been given for the few months he'd be staying.

Still, it was nice to know that the place hadn't changed in the interim of his absence. Or, at least, not in any permanent way. Even he felt a wistful disappointment at the Quidditch pitch's imminent and temporary, though as of yet unknown, demise. That was likely to go over well. Eternal glory was all well and good until the pride of tradition was challenged.

Then again, he had enough on his plate to keep his mind occupied firmly in the present. Livestock shipments were frustratingly difficult to keep track of which felt, strangely, as if it shouldn't be the case. After all did they really need the clearance of three departments for the movement of a dozen goats? It was more than a little redundant; still, he wasn't willing sit through whatever explanation Perce dreamt up so he supposed he shouldn't complain. He also should probably do something with his shoulder if he wanted to sleep on that side with the familiar itchiness of a burn keeping him awake.

No stranger to the unexpected, he wasn't that so surprised when he discovered he was not, in fact, the hall's only occupant. And less so to see the familiar shock of red hair that stood out starkly in the nighttime gloom. Where he could have been startled, had he been someone else, there was only that time tested mix of amusement and exasperation that he had possibly borrowed too much from his mother for his own comfort.

Still, he had to confront her. "Oi. A last count I remember a rule about curfews, yeah?" He could have also added that she ought to be better about concealing herself, growing up under the influence of the twins, but he minded his own tendency to brush off misdemeanors. He should try to set some example, after all.

[ofdraconickind]

a handful of dust | witchgranger

Charlie watched as the hesitant hands of dawn began to leak from the horizon. He had fortunately been an early riser for most of his life which managed to keep him a step ahead of the general chaos of the Weasley home, but where there had once been perpetual, imperceptible movement, now he was still; elbows propped on knees, gaze even and steady as it stayed fixed forward.

It seemed that no matter the time that passed, this home remained constant. Moving on had meant moving out but now there was nothing unfamiliar about the back porch he'd spent half his childhood on, nothing unnerving about the silence that meant the only creatures he'd encounter would be chickens. Old wood supported his weight the way it always had and he couldn't help but think the comfort was out of place. 

Of course it was. He chose not to dwell on it. 

It was spring but the air had not quite caught the memo; even as light began its slow, heavy duty of flooding out the inky twilight he let himself indulge, just for a moment, in the jarring juxtaposition. It was not something he'd keep with him for the rest of the day- there was too much to do, too many other things that needed to be dealt with. And, had there not been, he'd never been particularly skilled at wallowing anyway. 

Though, contrary to popular belief, he was rather good at planning ahead. Which he could have done now- had been doing for weeks as if it had any beneficial effect at all on his mother's well being. Even now there was the steadily increasing threat of checklists and chores and everything that had been so recently second nature. But that wasn't the point now- not in this moment. He exhaled the bullet points, let them fade into lingering ghosts. 

In the silence of the morning's shadow, the back door's opening was more than a little noticeable no matter its objective volume. He didn't flinch, merely waited the length of a breath before shifting his weight to the left hand braced behind his back and turning his head. 

"-You're up early." Even though his voice was even and light, the grin he went for took maybe a little too long melt into something proper. Later, he'd blame it on the early hour. 

[ofdraconickind]

[[ Going to tackle the mini-replies I have left soon. If anyone wants an actual thread starter, just like this post/let me know/hang out in my ask! ]]

[cavexcanem-deactivated20140916]

"Alright, mum, I’ll be careful.” She chuckled at him, and rather than turning to walk away, she stayed, shooting him a smile.  ”—Y’know, you could always come along. Make sure I don’t get into too much trouble. It’d be kinda nice to have you around, too.”

[ofdraconickind]

"Oh please," he shot back lightly, "That was nothing. You watch that tone with me young lady or so help me you'll be spending the evening with this soap in your mouth." Even though he knew- beyond a shadow of a doubt- that Molly was nowhere in the vicinity of earshot, he still cut the impression short and settled on merely quirking an eyebrow as if to ask if she was impressed. 

"And be the fall guy? I'm wise to how this works." His words held no weight to them, colored with the edge of a laugh that faded into a sigh as he gestured down the hall. "Alright, alright. Lead on, might as well face the inevitable, eh?"

[softedged]

"Hey, he gave me a Boxing Telescope for my birthday which granted was stupid of me to open and use without thinking but     it bloody hurt!” He exclaims, arms out to his sides. “Of course I’m supposed to get him back for that. He hadn’t even bought me the removal paste so I could get rid of that black eye. I was walking around for a week with it. A week, Uncle Charlie.” He’s attempts to make his uncle understand his situation could be seen as endearing— or over-dramatic. 

He grins and shrugs his shoulders, “yeah, yeah, whatever. It’s not as if we can’t get it all cleaned up within fifty seconds.” Albus had a hunch his mother would make them clean it up Muggle style though, but he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. Right now, all he cared about was revenge and he poked his head outside of James’ room, listening out for his brother’s unruly footsteps to come up the stairs. “When did James say he’d be back?”

[ofdraconickind]

"Of course he did." His nephews had a long way to go to even come close to the legacies that Charlie's younger brothers had set, but there was no great shock in the revelation that this was a mere escalation in a longer game. He bit back the laugh that threatened to bubble up at Al's insistence. "A tip- there's a stash of the stuff in the attic. Left over from ages ago, I'm pretty sure that-" He caught himself with only the briefest moment's pause, lightly finishing, "-No one's going to notice one thing missing. In case you need it in the future."

He couldn't hold back his snort at the assertion. "Oh please. I don't know if you've seen it yet but your mother's just about the most terrifying creature on two legs I've ever seen. See how confident you'll be when she catches wind." Truth be told, Ginny had inherited a great deal of ferocity from their mother; but even though any Weasley home was still Molly's domain she was far too lenient with her grandchildren- at least, in the eyes of her sons. (Save, perhaps, Perce. But Perce rarely counted in these matters.)

[softedged]

Albus stood with his arms crossed over his chest, a satisfied smirk on his face as he rocks back and forth on his heels. He’s feeling pretty chuffed with himself and only shrugs his shoulders at his uncle. The dungbomb was balanced on the top of James’ wardrobe, and when opened would bring his older brother a lovely surprise.

"Yeah."

[ofdraconickind]

To be fair it could have been much worse- what with the examples he'd had. Until he heard the distinctive sounds of Whiz-Bangs or any of the assorted explosives still littered around the place Charlie wasn't going to worry all that much. And even then the resulting fires were usually not too difficult to extinguish. 

"I can't say I'm surprised," he replied dryly, "Though if you two destroy the house when this all plays out I'm not covering for you." It didn't seem to matter how old he'd gotten- taking the fall for one of his ever extensive family was a Weasley tradition that didn't seem to want to die.

[ofdraconickind]

open;

Even if he hadn't had years of practice at handling the fairly taxing, Charlie could still fall back on his nearly inexhaustible natural reserves of patience and good humor. So, taking in the scene before him, he merely raised a curious brow and tried not to let amusement show.

"-Really?"

[cavexcanem-deactivated20140916]

"—Yes, but bad ideas are always the most fun."

[ofdraconickind]

"What is it with you lot and certain danger?" There was a certain edge to his voice that reminded him far too much of his mother that caught him, chillingly, off guard. "-But if that's what draws you, at least you can't I say I didn't warn you, yeah?"

[denyandrefusethyname-deactivate]

          “What? I’m just relaxing, is that a problem? Please don’t tell me that I’m lying in your favorite spot in the whole giant Slytherin room or something. That’d just be idiotic.”

[ofdraconickind]

"Nah," Charlie replied, flopping lazily onto an abandoned cushion on the floor- all the while wondering how in the hell he'd wound up abandoned himself, forced into waiting in the Slytherin common room. Which, despite his normally even keel, was not usually somewhere he favored. 

"No worries, just waiting on someone. Unless you've got proximity issues? Which would be unfortunate seeing as how I've finally gotten comfortable." He shot the young woman a grin that usually mitigated his younger siblings' ire, keeping it simmering along the lines of exasperation over anything else.

[duchxnnes-deactivated20180209]

weaslae, ofdraconickind

   “You okay, there?”

[ofdraconickind]

"Should I not be?" Charlie's grin was much too full and lazy at the edges, but it still reached his eyes with lackadaisically good humor. "- Some advice: don't let Rosmerta talk y' into the house brew. 'S nightmarish tonight."

[clevernxss-deactivated20140719]

Jocelyn rarely found herself in the Ministry unless to file reports of her travels. Even then, she could ususally persuade one of her co-workers to type something up quick for her in exchange for a wicked cornbeef sandwich made by ‘yours truly’. This tactic hardly ever failed. But seeing as times were slow (pardon the pun), the time traveler took it upon herself to do her own homework today.

Luckily for the wayward gentleman. She regarded him with a bright smile, a signature expression for the upbeat lass, and tapped the air in front of them with her fingertip as they waited for the elevator. “I’m afraid ye’ve gone completely out of yer way. It’s down a few levels and t’yer left.”

[ofdraconickind]

Well at least his more directionally-gifted savior had the good grace to be kind. He could practically hear George's wickedly delighted snicker at his situation. Or, worse, Perce's exasperated reminder- honestly, you've a whole family who works here, shouldn't you pay a bit more attention to these kinds of things? Not exactly a tragic interaction but just insufferable enough to deflate his head.

"Of course I have," he replied, wryness buoyed by good humor about the whole thing. "One of these days I'll get the hang of it. Which I've been saying for years but one rarely suffers for optimism, yeah?" With a grin and little fanfare he held out his hand. "Charlie, by the way."

[ofdraconickind]

xsirius-black;

It was impossible to grow with Fred and George Weasley- or, hell, Bill was bad enough- and not recognize the air of mischief that preceded certain destruction. "That is not a decent expression you're wearing, there. If you're planning on causing trouble at least do it on a different floor. I've only just gotten back and I'd hate to spend my time explaining away something I haven't done."

[ofdraconickind]

unspeakabletimetraveler;

It was unfair, really; he'd been to the Ministry enough that its layout should have been second nature. But, as it held with most other visits he'd had to make, the whole place seemed determined to throw him off course.

At least he wasn't so pig-headed he couldn't ask for directions. "I don't suppose I could ask you how far I am from Magical Creatures I am without looking like a complete idiot?"