Everything

Charlie returned to the Reserve with a sense of urgency, ready to discuss the plan with the others. However, as he entered the main building, he found Viktor waiting for him, his expression dark and menacing.

"Where have you been?" Viktor's voice was sharp, filled with anger. Charlie remained composed, though a flicker of defiance shone in his eyes.

"I was handling some personal matters," he replied evenly. Viktor's nostrils flared.

"No one leaves the property without informing me. That's the rule." Charlie's smile was tight.

"My working hours are from 7 to 18. It's 20:24 now. I was off duty." Viktor's face flushed with frustration.

"I don't care about your working hours. You're an employee of this Reserve, and you will obey my rules." Charlie's tone remained calm, but there was an underlying steeliness to it.

"I'll obey the rules that are fair and reasonable, Viktor." Viktor's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Watch your tone, Mr. Weasley. If you continue to defy me, you'll find yourself without a job." Charlie held Viktor's gaze unwaveringly.

"I won't stand idly by while you mistreat us, Mr. Petrov. We have rights." Viktor's jaw clenched, his grip tightening on his wand.

"Get out of my sight, before I do something we'll both regret." Charlie's expression remained defiant as he turned and walked away, leaving Viktor seething with anger. The next day, Viktor's absence left Bogdan in charge of the Reserve. Charlie saw this as a golden opportunity to execute their plan. With Viktor away, they could gather evidence of the mistreatment they had endured under his leadership. As Bogdan assumed temporary control, Charlie wasted no time. He reached out to Harry through their telepathic connection, conveying the urgency of the situation.

"Harry, it's Charlie. Viktor's gone to the Ministry. It's our chance to gather evidence. Can you come here?" Harry's voice echoed in his mind.

"On my way." True to his word, Harry appeared beside Charlie in an instant, his expression determined.

"What's the plan?" Harry asked, his eyes reflecting the seriousness of their mission.

"We need to document any instances of mistreatment while Viktor's away," Charlie explained. "Let's gather evidence and bring justice to this place."

Charlie and Harry scoured through their schedules, denied PTO documents, and paychecks, collecting evidence of their mistreatment under Viktor's leadership. Once they had compiled all the necessary documents, they handed them over to Harry.

"Now, it's up to you to make a case for us," Charlie said, his voice filled with confidence. Harry hesitated, feeling the weight of the responsibility.

"I'm not sure if I can do this," he admitted, his brow furrowing with uncertainty. Charlie stepped closer, his hand gently touching Harry's shoulder.

"You can, Harry. I believe in you, love." he reassured him, his voice unwavering. Feeling Charlie's support, Harry's confidence grew. He looked into Charlie's eyes, finding strength in their unwavering gaze.

"Okay, let's do this," Harry said, determination shining in his eyes. Charlie smiled, leaning in to press a tender kiss to Harry's lips. Their embrace radiated a sense of unity and determination, reassuring the others that they were not alone in their fight for justice. Harry sifted through the documents, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock as he reviewed the contents. When he compared the current paychecks to their previous ones, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Charlie, look at this," Harry exclaimed, his voice filled with incredulity. "Your salaries... they're barely half of what they used to be!" Charlie glanced over, his expression mirroring Harry's shock. Placing a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder, he spoke in a reassuring tone.

"It's hard to believe."

"But why?" Harry asked, frustration lacing his voice. "How could Viktor justify such a drastic cut?" Charlie sighed, his features contorted with frustration.

"According to Viktor, he had to make budget cuts due to low income. He claimed it was necessary to keep the Reserve running." Harry's jaw clenched with anger, his fists tightening at his sides.

"This is outrageous," he muttered, his voice trembling with indignation. Charlie placed a calming hand on Harry's arm, offering him a reassuring smile.

"It is unfair, Harry. By the way, the ceremony is 5 days from now. I must be there, or the family will talk behind my back that I do only care about dragons." As the days dwindled down to the ceremony, Charlie's anxiety mounted. He paced back and forth in the common area, his thoughts consumed by the looming event. The prospect of missing yet another family milestone gnawed at him, filling him with a sense of unease. Harry watched Charlie's restless movements with concern, sensing his inner turmoil. Stepping closer, he reached out and gently cupped Charlie's face in his hands, coaxing him to meet his gaze.

"Charlie, listen to me," Harry began softly, his voice laced with reassurance. "You're not obsessed with your dragons. You're passionate about them, and there's a difference. Your family knows that." Charlie let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping with tension.

"I know, but... I just don't want them to think I'm neglecting them." Harry leaned in closer, pressing a tender kiss to Charlie's forehead.

"You're not, and they know that too. But we can't let Viktor control us like this. We need to stand up to him, all of us together." Charlie's gaze softened as he met Harry's determined eyes.

"You're right," he conceded, a glimmer of resolve shining through. "We'll confront Viktor, and we'll do it together. No more letting him push us around." Charlie took a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling on his shoulders. He looked at Harry with a determined glint in his eyes.

"Harry, when we confront Viktor, I want you to be there. But under the Invisibility Cloak. We need more evidence, and having you there will give us an advantage." Harry nodded without hesitation.

"I'm all in. Just tell me when and where." Charlie smiled, feeling a surge of confidence with Harry by his side.

"We'll do it tomorrow, in the main office, right after breakfast. Viktor will least expect it then."

"Got it," Harry agreed. "I'll be ready." The next morning, the sun barely peeked over the horizon as the group gathered. Charlie, Nita, Katrin, and Bogdan stood together, a unified front. Harry, hidden under his Invisibility Cloak, silently took his place among them, ready to document everything. As they marched towards Viktor's office, the tension was palpable. When they entered, Viktor looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to annoyance.

"What is the meaning of this?" Viktor demanded, his voice dripping with authority. Charlie stepped forward, his voice steady.

"We need to talk, Chief. About our working conditions, our denied PTOs, and the drastic pay cuts. This can't go on." Viktor's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening.

"You have no right to make demands. I run this Reserve, and you'll follow my rules." Nita interjected, her voice firm.

"We're not asking for favors, Viktor. We're demanding fair treatment." Harry, under the cloak, carefully moved closer, ensuring he could capture every word, every inflection in Viktor's voice. The tension in the room was thick, and he knew this confrontation was crucial. Viktor's face reddened with anger.

"If you don't like it, you're free to leave. But I guarantee you'll never find work in another Reserve again." Charlie's eyes blazed with determination.

"We won't be intimidated. We're standing together, and we won't back down." Viktor's gaze swept over them, calculating.

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise," Katrin said, her voice unwavering. As the confrontation continued, Harry's heart pounded. He could see the resolve in his friends' faces, and he knew they were making a stand not just for themselves but for every dragon keeper who had ever been mistreated. Finally, Viktor threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Fine! We'll discuss this further with the Board. But if I find out anyone's been sneaking around or gathering evidence against me, there will be consequences." Before they left Viktor's office, Charlie took a deep breath and asked,

"Chief, I need permission to leave for my siblings' graduation ceremony. It'll only be 2-3 hours, at most." Viktor's eyes flashed with irritation.

"You used all your PTO for the year, Mr. Weasley. You're not allowed to go." Charlie's voice was steady, but there was an edge of frustration.

"You never gave anyone their PTOs since you've been here. How could I have used it all up?" Viktor's face turned an even deeper shade of red.

"I manage the PTOs as I see fit. And my decision stands." Charlie's fists clenched at his sides, but he kept his voice calm.

"This is important, Petrov. It's my family." Viktor leaned back in his chair, his expression cold.

"My decision is final. Now, if there's nothing else, you can all get back to work." The room was thick with tension as they left, but Charlie's resolve only hardened. He knew he had to stand up not just for himself, but for everyone who had been mistreated. Harry, still invisible, followed closely behind, his mind racing with plans to gather more evidence. Once outside, Charlie turned to the group, his jaw set with determination.

"We'll keep pushing. This isn't over." Harry, now visible again, stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Charlie's shoulder.

"We'll figure this out together. We're not giving up."

Charlie sat at his desk, the parchment spread out before him, quill in hand. He took a deep breath and began to write a letter to his family, explaining his plan to come home for the graduation ceremony.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to let you know that I will be arriving at the Burrow on June 20th for Ron and Ginny's graduation ceremony. This is an important moment for our family, and I refuse to miss it. No one will stop me from attending.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Love,

Charlie

He sealed the letter and called for a reserve owl, attaching the letter securely before sending it off into the early morning sky. As the owl flew away, Charlie felt a mix of determination and anxiety. He was resolute in his decision, but he knew the confrontation with Viktor would not be easy. Charlie began to pack his things for the weekend-off. He folded his clothes methodically, ensuring he had everything he needed. He glanced at a picture of his family on his bedside table, a smile tugging at his lips as he thought about seeing them soon. Meanwhile, outside, the dragons seemed to have calmed down a bit due to the weather cooling down a bit and their breeding frenzy lessening. This brought a temporary sense of relief to the caretakers, though the underlying issues still loomed large. In the common area, a few of the other caretakers were discussing the latest developments regarding the dragons and the ineffective measures taken to neutralize the love potion. Katrin and Nita, both looking tired and frustrated, joined the conversation.

"The Board decided to give the dragons bezoar to neutralize the love potion," Nita said, shaking her head. "But it's been completely ineffective."

"Of course it was," Katrin replied, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "Bezoar is a universal antidote, but it doesn't work on everything. Especially not a magically altered love potion." Charlie overheard their conversation as he walked into the room.

"Any updates on the crossbreeds?" he asked, concern evident in his voice. Bogdan, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

"The crossbreeds are stable for now, but if we don't find a way to reverse the potion's effects, we could be looking at more serious problems down the line." Charlie nodded, his mind already working on possible solutions.

"We'll keep working on it. In the meantime, we need to stay focused and united." As the group discussed their next steps, Charlie's thoughts drifted to Harry. He wished Harry could be there with him, but he understood why he needed to stay with Andrei for the time being. The plan they had formulated needed to be executed carefully, and Harry's role was crucial.

"We need to make sure we have everything ready for when Viktor returns," Charlie said, bringing the conversation back to the present. "Let's keep gathering evidence and preparing our case. We can't let him continue to treat us this way." Nita and Katrin nodded in agreement, their resolve strengthening. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but with Charlie leading them and Harry's support from the outside, they felt a glimmer of hope.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the Reserve, Charlie and the others wrapped up their day's work. The air was filled with a tense anticipation, everyone acutely aware of the confrontation that lay ahead. Despite the challenges, a sense of camaraderie had grown stronger among the caretakers. Charlie walked back to his hut, his mind racing with thoughts of the coming days. He was determined to see his family and attend the graduation ceremony, no matter what Viktor said. The unfairness of the situation gnawed at him, but knowing Harry was on their side gave him strength. He glanced at the sky, watching as the stars began to appear. A familiar sense of purpose filled him. He had always fought for what was right, and this time was no different. As he entered his hut, he saw the packed bag by his bed and the letter he had written earlier. A soft smile played on his lips. For the first time in weeks, he felt a glimmer of hope. Charlie sat down at his small table, pulling out another piece of parchment. He began to write a detailed report, documenting everything he and his colleagues had experienced under Viktor's leadership. This would be crucial evidence when they finally confronted him.

Dear Harry,

I hope you're well and safe at Andrei's. We've gathered the documents and evidence, and we're ready to move forward. Your presence here means a lot to all of us. Please stay strong.

I miss you more than words can say.

Love,

Charlie

He sealed the letter and set it aside, planning to send it first thing in the morning. With a heavy sigh, he prepared for bed, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges. As he lay down, thoughts of Harry filled his mind. He longed for the day they could be together without fear or uncertainty. Until then, he would fight with everything he had. Charlie closed his eyes, letting the weariness of the day wash over him. Despite the difficulties ahead, he knew he wasn't alone. They had a plan, they had evidence, and most importantly, they had each other. The night deepened, and a quiet determination settled over the Reserve. The caretakers, united in their cause, were ready to face whatever came their way. And with Harry's support, they knew they stood a chance. Tomorrow, they would begin to reclaim their dignity and restore order. But for now, Charlie allowed himself a moment of peace, holding on to the hope that better days were within reach.