And BANG the first day of October is here which means publishing day for @hphmbang2020. For this awesome piece I was paired with @hechivan20, hope you enjoy.
The first rider (A Charlie Weasley prompt)
Draping a hand over his forehead, Charlie let out a small groan. It wasn't like him to get this frustrated over work. He was doing what he had always wanted, dragons were and still are his passion, the reason for getting his hands on every article, book and parchment containing precious information on them.
It's what captivated him since he was but a small boy, his mother hanging up countless drawing of the winged creatures, pieces still present on a wall in his childhood home. And he finally did it, he succeeded.
It was the reason why he left England and travelled to the untouched Carpathian mountains in Romania that sheltered the Dragon Sanctuary. Due to his passion and love for dragons he endured burns, scrapes and bruises. Slept in the cold, rain and wind just to care for them, make the creatures feel comfortable and safe.
However all that changed with the latest female addition, a very moody and downright unapproachable Hebridean Black dragon. While they were known for their violent behavior, this was off the charts. But of course he took on the task of caring for her, he was Charlie Weasley after all, the best dragon handler in the Sanctuary and frankly the only one bold enough to take on such a challenge.
His mind drifted to the countless texts he had studied over the years, trying to pick his brain for that vital piece of information. It started keeping him up at night, just like now, when silence drowned the mountains and only the bugs outside stirred and sang their late night lullabies.
Turning to the side, he started counting in his head in hopes that sleep would take over "One baby dragon, two baby dragons, three baby dragons." No, it was useless. Throwing the covers off him, he sat on the edge of the bed rubbing his face, feeling the crisp air on his skin "Might as well do some work." With one flick of his wand, the candles on his desk lit up, casting a warm light on the countless papers waiting for him.
One particular notebook interested him, one containing all the information he gathered on the dragon, all steps taken to try and bond with her.
Since the very beginning she refused to let anyone get close, the moment she sensed a presence, she would roar, bat like wings outstretched, flapping them with immense force. The classic sign of warning, telling everyone to stay away.
Under the Sleeping charm him and others from the sanctuary took time to check the dragon for any wounds, bumps or health issues, but she was fine, perfectly healthy, so he scratched that off his list.
It wasn't the reason for the angry behavior.
The only time she would show any obedience was when food was brought to her and that only at the cave entrance. Not only did she learn that was her place, but protected it with stubborn ferocity. As long as no one tried to enter, she would not attack. But she refused to also get out and stretch her wings.
She was young, the report that came in advised that she hasn't bread any baby dragons, so she wasn't missing her children either.
"Why are you being so impossible?" he sighed running a hand through his ginger hair.
Grabbing some supplies, he stuffed them all in a bag, Lumos spell lighting the tip of his wand as Charlie stepped out into the chill night air. The camp was quiet, no other tents lit up which meant his colleagues were all sleeping soundly, unlike him.
Carefully, he made his way through the mountains, quiet steps leading him to the much desired cave. As soon as he peaked his head inside, a growl was heard, him rolling his eyes, smile dying on his lips "Yeah, yeah I know. I'll stay here. Blimey you didn't even let me say a proper hello." All that earned him was a huff from within the cave, two large amethyst eyes shining through the darkness.
She watched him settle down on the damp ground just outside the cave entrance. Lifting her head as if to check if he was in her territory, the female dragon concluded it was fine, head gently settling back on her front paws.
"You need to talk to me, let me help you." Charlie tried to reason, placing an open palm against his chest "I want to be your friend." His voice was low and suave, as if he was talking to a child, trying to reason and show good faith.
Taking out a piece of parchment, he showed her a drawing of a deer, the dragon just flaring her nostrils, but not even bothering with any other movement. That indicated to him she wasn't hungry yet, which was a good thing. It meant her digestion was on track, everything within her body running as it should. Opening his notebook, her last meal has been scribbled down a couple of hours prior to his visit, next one scheduled in the early morning.
"I have been thinking of more names for you. Want to hear them?" the dragon kept watching him from within the cave, eyes always wide and alert. He was certain she could understand him, at least to some degree, judging by her reactions alone "Libelle." Huffing once more, a small cloud of dust rose from the caves ground "Thought so, alright, Dalinda which means noble serpent." Again a small puff.
Scratching his head, the quill in his hand marked another name with an X "Nuri?" even he frowned, not liking it "You need something regal, something to match those beautiful jewels." Making eye contact, he winked at the dragon who let out a low guttural growl, Charlie holding up his hands as if to tell her nothing was going on "Guess we can try later."
Taking out a book, he flipped to a certain page, showing her a picture of a Welsh Green dragon. As always she wasn't at all impressed. Not only did she not react to his pictures, but she also refused to even look at certain dragons. Stubborn, that was the word he thought perfect for her "At least I'm trying."
Her eyes turned to dangerous slits upon hearing the increase of his tone, Charlie's brows lifting slightly. The female was sensitive to sounds, too moody, understanding by tone alone certain aspects of the one sided conversation. Shrugging his shoulders, he figured he had nothing to lose as he started humming a random tune his mind recalled from childhood, yet his brain could not wrap around the words that were being sung. Instead he just repeated "Pretty dragon, sweet dragon, come out and play."
He needed to get something more out of her apart from violence, he needed her to get out of that cave since it's been over two months since she had been brought "Come on please, give me something." He thought as he continued to watch her. Taming her wasn't necessarily on the agenda however if she posed as a threat to herself and other dragons in the sanctuary, her odds of survival were growing slim.
Slowly, she lifted her head as if to hear him better, tilting it to the side slightly.
In order to test the theory, he stopped, her snarling, teeth on display for him to witness. Smiling bright, Charlie continued to hum his tune, head tilting from side to side, her watching him with great interest. It was a small win, but it showed she liked it. If he continued to repeat such behavior, she might even be willing to trust him, even if for a bit "Baby steps, that's it."
As soon as the sun rose, he was already down the mountain trail, feet leading him to the nearest village in the region. Although he didn't really know or understand the language, he managed to convey his message, drawing for the families there what he wanted to purchase.
By noon he managed to get his hands on a makeshift drum and an old guitar. With a wide smile and a mispronounced "Multumesc" in Romanian meaning "thank you" he managed to get his message across and head back to the sanctuary.
Peering into the cave, the dragon flapped her large wings, sending dust outside as she roared "Shh, shh, shhh, there's nothing to fear." He coed softly, taking out his wand to enchant the instruments "See? Music. You like that, don't you?" she did not dare take a step towards him, but neither did she attack as Charlie took a couple of steps inside the cave, carefully placing the enchanted instruments inside.
A definite win as he struck his chest forward, proudly displaying a set of pearly white teeth. She allowed him inside the cave, she did not attack, or snarl, did not even flare her nostrils at him, instead paying attention to the music emanating in the cave, resonating through the air.
Hearing footsteps approach, Charlie slowly backed away, greeting Felix Rosier. His brows lifted in amazement seeing his colleague walk out of the cave unharmed "Amazing mate. You managed to approach her?"
"Not exactly." Charlie stated, keeping a low voice while also still paying attention to the dragon "But I found something she likes. Hopefully she will come out soon if I keep moving the instruments around." Felix peaked over Charlie's shoulder nodding.
"Hopefully, otherwise she might not be able to fly at all if she doesn't use her wings." Both knew the risks of having a dragon not exercise enough. However despite all the cases they had, eventually they would still go out, fly, hunt, interact with other dragons. But not her.
"You know" Charlie's voice drew the attention of Felix's sharp eyes "don't you find it mind boggling that she likes music? I mean this is a violent breed, yet if she knows what music is then she must have heard it near a village or something." However her file did not state she attacked any human establishments, fact that puzzled both men.
However Charlie still stuck to his plan. On a daily basis, the instruments were moved. Firstly within the cave, gradually taking them outside, while he also sang to her, this way forcing her in a sense to come out so she could hear the songs played. It all went according to his plan, the dragon gradually making her way to the cave entrance.
Despite his efforts, that's where she stopped, refusing to budge. Her lethargic state deepened, stubbornness reaching new heights, Charlie eventually giving in and bringing the instruments back inside "Come on girl, you need to fly, you need to get out." Turning her head away from him, she huffed, a low growl resonating through the mountains.
Letting out a heavy sigh, it was like looking into a mirror, both looking equally grim. Shaking the thoughts out of his head, a ginger lock of hair tickled his face "I've been thinking of more names." He could of sworn if he had been dealing with a human, they would have rolled their eyes at that very moment, but he did not let that discourage him as he took out his note book and started mouthing the names "Nala?"
As if something struck her, the female dragon hastily rose her head, amethyst eyes turning to look at Charlie. His entire body froze for a moment, logic leaving his brain entirely. Slowly his fingers wrapped around his wand, ready to cast the sleeping charm or protect himself in case of an attack. Sniffing, she slowly moved her entire body, getting up.
Standing before him in all her glory at the cave entrance, Charlie also slowly rose from his crouched position, notebook tumbling onto the ground "Do you like the name Nala?" he was now on full alert. If one wrong move was made, or if he misinterpreted one gesture, the female dragon would lose all the trust built.
A snarl made him take a small step back, head slightly bowed as to not alarm her. Shaking her entire body, her wings flapped, expanding as much as the cave allowed her. Extending a hand out, palm face up, Charlie tried again "Was Nala a friend? Do you want to show me?"
He could feel the trepidations in his body when she took a few heavy steps, his wand now at his side. The female dragon peered deeply in his eyes, both not moving at all for a few moments. Slowly, humming his tune, Charlie stepped to the side allowing her to look outside the cave, get a whiff of the fresh mountain air.
He was in equal measures alarmed yet enchanted seeing her stick her head outside, eyes travelling to him from time to time, as if checking with him if it was allowed "That's it, come on." He urged softly taking a few steps back "Come on, do you want to show me what Nala is for you?" ignoring him entirely, she huffed nose pushing around his bag that was discarded on the ground.
Charlie rose his brows as the dragon apparently browsed through pictures and papers. Shaking her head, a small doze of fire ignited his note books, Charlie's hands flying to grip his hair "My work!" snapping his fingers to get her attention he asked visibly annoyed while pointing at the mess made "Now why you go do that for?" craning her neck the female dragon peered at the instruments that stopped singing they tune a soft sound leaving her throat "No, no more songs, you destroyed my work, there's no spell to fix that." Flaring her nostrils only made him replicate the movement, a staring contest being held. She once again turned to the instruments, him not casting the spell.
"No, you need to learn your lesson and not set on fire months of work." He almost lost his balance when she pushed him slightly with her snout "No, I said…" eyes widened to grand proportions when she went for a second attempt, nudging the hand that was holding the wand "You…you understand a lot more about what is going on don't you?"
It was an idea that did not grant him any sleep and he just had to know. It wasn't common for a dragon to understand human behavior to such an extent unless she actually was near humans, or grew up knowing one.
The name Nala triggered her and he would use it to get her out of the cave, getting her used to the outside once more, little by little. She liked it, he could read it in how she shook her body, how her wings extended as if she wanted to fly but couldn't. He began bringing her photos of the mountains where she was found in and the surrounding areas in hopes something would trigger her.
And he was indeed right. She knew more, once belonged somewhere.
"Look" he reasoned with her one day before night fall "I can't get you out of here, but I can go." He pointed a finger to his chest, then to the picture "I can fly there." He imitated wings flapping, her wings also moving in the same motion "Yes, like that, I can fly here." He repeated the same movements, the dragon cocking her head to the side.
With a heavy huff, she bowed her head and waited. Seeing how Charlie did not budge from his spot, she let out a low growl and flapped her wings. Slowly, he approached, confusion creasing his brow. She all but picked him up in her mouth, him taking a few steps back, the dragon growling. She pushed her snout forward at him, then to her back, wings flapping and then his eyes light up like that of a child on Christmas day when he finds presents under the tree.
She was letting him not only get that close, but ride her "Alright, slow." Seeing how he understood, she allowed for him to climb on her back "What now Nala?" it was enough of a trigger, her exiting the cave entirely. She had forgotten almost how to even fly. Too much flapping, too inconsistent as she tried to lift up from the ground.
But for them flying was exactly what riding a bike was for humans, once learned it could not be forgotten. It hit Charlie as they were soaring through the air, almost reaching the edge of the sanctuary that the dragon he was riding wasn't actually stretching her wings, but was actually taking him somewhere.
"Oi, oi, head back." The grip he had on her wasn't even an inconvenience for her, his voice barely registering against the wind "Nala you're going to make me lose my job! Or my life if we hit that barrier!" taking his wand out he barely had time to create an opening and cast a concealment charm, preventing them from being seen "You total nutter."
Crazy or not, there was no way he would get off the dragon now, how could he explain losing one of the largest breeds of dragons? He could already hear the questions "how did it escape? How could you let a dragon fool you?"
It was when she started her descent that he actually looked around, snapping away from his thoughts. Between the mountain peaks, a single small cabin showed "Huh? What is this? Oi wait, we cannot be seen by Muggles." A loud roar made the inhabitant leave the cabin, a dog barking to alert him.
As Charlie landed, the inhabitant was already outside, eyes searching the skies, a soft melody playing on a flute "Come on Nala, where are you?" sitting there unable to find his words, the spell soon dissipated revealing him and the dragon "There you are and I see you brought a friend. Dragon Sanctuary I see, happy to know she is safe."
Shaking his head, Charlie rearranged his thoughts, shaking the outstretched hand all while Nala was flapping her wings in delight seeing the small dog running around her "I…how? Do you have any idea how many months I tried to get her to even leave the cave?"
Inviting Charlie on the small porch, the stranger provided him some tea, raising the cup to toast to Nala "I have known her since she was a baby. Very stubborn, ignited my hair more than once and all the files on her. She is not your typical Hebridean Black dragon." And so he began telling him how his father and grandfather both used to work for the Dragon Sanctuary and so did he. Nala had actually been his father's, however she escaped one night when he retired "I realized she didn't like it at the sanctuary, despite being safe. But she needs to go back, she's far too big and dangerous now."
"So that's why she's been so depressed, she knows the place." A single nod confirmed it "So how can I make her go back now?"
A kind smile shinned his way alongside a small gift "Do you play the flute?"
"No sir, but I will learn. She likes the guitar and drum also. Looks like we might need to make a boy band." Heartwarming laughter echoed in the night.
"I'll enchant it to play the last song, she will follow. You see, she is not a typical dragon, more like a dog." He laughed pointing at the pair playing in the distance "A very large, fire breathing, moody dog. But she understands, a lot more than you think."
It wasn't an easy goodbye, Nala not appreciating where the stranger from the hut was pointing at. But he pointed at Charlie too, urging her to trust him, to go with him. Eventually one hour and several growls later, he was allowed to ride her once more, Nala returning to the sanctuary.
The months that followed were mixed. She was not willing to leave the cave all the time, but would try to escape from time to time once she did decide to stretch her wings. Her and Charlie had a mix relationship, diverting from total trust to no cooperation on both sides, Felix joking that they were acting like an old married couple.
No one found out Charlie and Nala escaped that night and thankfully she couldn't talk or else he was sure she would have ratted him out when she wasn't getting her way. However she improved and that was the main goal for the sanctuary.
Dragons hardly were tamable to begin with, however Nala still let Charlie fly with her when she felt like it.
The first dragon ridder, Charlie Weasley, the pride of the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.
