10
Silence reigned in the main building of the dragon reserve, a rustic wooden structure marked by decades of use and dragon dust. Thick wooden beams supported the ceiling, whose candlelight cast warm shadows and made the creaking of the old floor a faint echo. A fireplace crackled quietly in the corner and spread a hint of charcoal smell. At a long wooden table full of rolled-up maps, hand-drawn sketches, and chaotic notes, Charlie, Draco, Lea, Anna, and Leaf sat and looked at the plans in front of them with concentrated expressions.
Charlie was the first to speak, his voice deep and permeated by a clear, determined tone. "The Cinphonies will not give up," he began emphatically. "If we want to protect our dragons, we need to strengthen security and keep a close eye on anyone who behaves suspiciously." His finger glided over a map of the reserve that marked different areas—the caves, the clearings, the narrow paths that led deep into the woods.
Draco, who listened carefully to his friend's words, felt a wave of respect and admiration rising in him. Charlie radiated a calm and confidence that gave him strength. In moments like these, he realized how much he admired this man—his strength, his dedication, his unwavering determination. "We could reinforce the areas around the caves," Draco suggested, his voice calm and deliberate. "With a web of protective spells that shields them from intruders. No one should get near our dragons without us knowing."
Lea, an experienced dragon keeper with a sharp eye and a quick grasp, nodded thoughtfully. "And we should also secure the escape routes," she added. "If the dragons panic, they need a safe way to escape."
Leaf, the rather taciturn nurse but whose eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, leaned forward when an idea germinated in him. "I still have a few traces of rock magic," he said softly, his voice slightly hoarse from all the silence. "This would allow me to erect invisible barriers that mislead intruders."
Draco looked at him impressed and grinned. "Not bad, Leaf! Maybe we should think of a secret sign so that we don't end up in confusion ourselves."
A slight smile played on Leaf's lips. He and Draco winked and grinned at each other with various ideas on how they could best design such a system. It was a moment of playfulness, a welcome relief in the oppressive heaviness of her mission. Anna and Lea gave each other amused looks, while Charlie shook his head, but his eyes lit up with warmth. It was almost as if the seriousness of the situation faded into the background for a moment, leaving room for a touch of lightness.
"You two are worse than the young dragons in the enclosure," he sighed and tried to hide his smirking expression. He looked at Draco, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Come on, sleepyhead," he teased and reached out to gently take Draco's hand in his own. "If you want to protect the reserve, then maybe you should concentrate a little more."
Draco's heart began to beat faster as Charlie's hand clasped his. The warmth that emanated from Charlie's touch spread through him like a soothing fire. For a moment, he forgot everything around him—the danger, the Cinphonies, even the meeting. All that mattered was the gentle familiarity of this moment. Without saying a word, he returned the pressure of Charlie's hand and smiled shyly at him. He didn't know exactly when this affection had developed, but at that moment he felt safe and deeply understood.
After the plans had been determined and the strategy had been thought through, the group said goodbye for the night. Everyone retreated to their quarters to prepare for the day ahead.
The next morning, even before the sun sent the first warm rays over the hills, Draco and Charlie were standing in a secluded clearing away from the main area of the reserve. The fog hung thick between the trees, and the air was filled with the stillness of the morning, a calm that reigned only a short time before nature awakened. The leaves rustled softly in the wind, and a cool breeze blew through Draco's hair as he stood by Charlie's side.
"I want to help you," Charlie said and caught Draco's gaze, which was full of questions. "Whatever keeps you from transforming is mental. Maybe it's the fear of losing control. But I know you can do it."
Draco swallowed and nodded, his thoughts were a jumble of uncertainty and self-doubt. He closed his eyes, tried to collect himself and feel the deep, slumbering power within him. It was like a fire running through his veins, a glowing energy waiting to be released. But every time he tried to reach for her, she slipped away from him like smoke between his fingers.
He opened his eyes, and a trace of frustration was reflected on his face. "It's as if something is holding me back," he murmured, his voice a low whisper, almost as if he feared that the admission would only make the barrier stronger.
Charlie stepped closer, his presence a calm, reliable strength. He put a hand on Draco's shoulder, a warm, firm hold that made Draco feel like he wasn't alone. "You can do it," he said emphatically, his voice permeated by a warmth that touched Draco deep inside. "I believe in you, Draco."
Draco closed his eyes again, but this time he let go of the pressure, let go of the desire for control and concentrated only on Charlie's closeness, on the ground under his feet, on the gentle breeze that brushed his face. Slowly he felt the tingling in him increase to a wave that blazed through his veins like dragon flames.
The moment expanded, becoming a silent, intense struggle between the strength that was seething inside him and the insecurity that was holding him back. Seconds passed that felt like minutes as Draco reached deep within himself and finally found the courage to face the fears that kept throwing him back.
But when the barrier was almost overcome, a glimmer of doubt flickered in his mind, a shadow of fear that took over him. He felt the feeling slip away again and sighed exhaustedly, the hint of frustration returning to his voice. "It's not enough... Something is still holding me back."
Charlie looked at him, his eyes full of understanding and patience. He raised his hand, gently stroked Draco's back and spoke with a firmness that resounded through the calm words. "Draco, what you feel now is a part of you that you have to accept. It's not about controlling the dragon fire within you. It's about accepting it – all the force, the power and the unknown. You have to surrender to it, only then will it become a part of you."
Draco nodded, his breathing became calmer, and he lowered his gaze. Charlie's words echoed in him, making him see fear differently—not as something that weakened him, but as a trial that could make him stronger. Slowly, an inner peace spread through him, and he began to accept the power within himself.
Together they stopped, the silence of the clearing was like a bubble around them, a moment when everything else faded and only the two of them existed. And so they remained still for some time under the clear starry sky. Until the peace was suddenly interrupted by a group of strange figures. Their cloaks fluttered in the wind like the wings of black birds, and their eyes glowed ominously as they came face to face with Charlie and Draco. An aura of cold determination was around her, and her wands glittered as if they had been immersed in an unholy fire.
Charlie and Draco gave each other a determined look. There was no room for doubt. They raised their wands, and the first thing to be heard was the low, deadly buzz of magic rising between the two groups before the battle was unleashed.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco shouted, aiming at one of the Phoenixes, but the spell was deflected by a swift shield. The opponents were prepared, and their counterattacks came like a storm. Red, green, and purple flashes of light shot through the air, illuminating the darkness in a fast, intense rhythm.
One of the Phoenixes, a tall man with a stony expression and deep scars, pointed his wand at Charlie and muttered a formula Charlie didn't know. A paralyzing feeling shot through his arm, and he felt the strength in his wrist wane. But Charlie gritted his teeth and fended off the spell with a quick shield, only to immediately launch an attack of his own.
"Stupefy!" The red beam of light hit the Phoenix with full force and threw it back a bit, but it quickly regained its composure, as if the attack were little more than a push. The man grinned, an eerie, triumphant smile, and raised his wand again.
Meanwhile, Draco fought two Phoenixes at the same time. His movements were precise and smooth, and every spell he cast seemed like part of a thoughtful dance. The Phoenixes, however, reacted to his every move, they knew his tricks as if they had studied his tactics. One of them, a woman with silver hair and a cold expression, countered his attack and cast a dark spell on him, casting deep shadows on the air around Draco.
Draco whirled around and yelled, "Sectumsempra!" The curse cut through the darkness and tore through the woman's defenses, who recoiled in surprise as fine splatters of blood floated in the air. But she seemed hardly wounded; with a cold smile she raised her wand again and spoke a formula that sounded like a poisonous hiss. Dark tendrils of pure shadow magic shot towards Draco, engulfing his body and beginning to choke him out.
"Draco!" Charlie shouted and pointed his wand at the vines. "Incendio!" A flame shot out of his wand and loosened the vines, which evaporated in a black smoke. But it was only a brief moment of liberation, because the Phoenixes had already prepared their next attack.
The Ash Phoenixes were merciless and battle-hardened. They attacked strategically to corner the two. A tall, bearded wizard hurled a powerful curse at Charlie, who barely dodged. The ground next to him burst in a shower of sparks, and the pressure of the explosion threw him to the side. Charlie rolled off, picked himself up and immediately prepared for the next attack.
Draco felt the tension. "We have to regroup, Charlie!" he shouted. But the phoenixes didn't give them time. A new wave of curses and flame spells rained down on her.
Charlie raised his wand and shouted, "Protego Maxima!" A massive shield spread out in front of them, blocking the attacks, but each impact shook the shield. It felt as if the magic of the Ashen Phoenixes itself was darkening the air around them, as if the light was suffocating within itself.
"Now, Draco!" Charlie saw the opportunity as the Phoenixes paused for a moment to join forces. Draco rushed forward, and together they unleashed a series of attacks that took the Phoenixes by surprise. Flashes of pure light, fire and shadow collided in the air as the two sides tried to outdo each other.
But the pressure of the fight made itself felt. One of the Phoenixes crept up behind Charlie, and before he could react, a paralyzing spell hit him in the back. Pain ran through him, and his legs gave way. Draco, seeing the moment, threw himself between Charlie and the phoenix, his eyes sparkling with anger.
"Keep your hands off him!" Draco screamed and shot a powerful curse that made the phoenix stagger. But the fight was not over yet. They faced an opponent trained in the art of dark magic and ready to fight to their last breath