Treading on Thin Crystal
Charlie approached Viktor's office with a mix of determination and apprehension. He knew asking for a day off wasn't going to be easy, especially considering Viktor's recent demeanor. Knocking on the door, Charlie waited for permission to enter. As he stepped inside, he was met with Viktor's stern expression, his brow furrowed in annoyance.
"What is it now, Weasley?" Viktor grumbled, his tone sharp. Charlie took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.
"I wanted to request a day off on July 31st," he began, trying to keep his voice steady. Viktor's expression darkened further.
"And why exactly do you need a day off?" he demanded.
"It's Harry's birthday," Charlie explained, hoping that Viktor would understand the significance of the occasion. Viktor scoffed, his lips twisting into a sneer.
"Potter's birthday? Why should I care about that?" he mocked, his words laced with disdain. Charlie felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he fought to keep his composure. He knew that losing his temper wouldn't help his case.
"Because it's important to me," Charlie replied firmly, his gaze meeting Viktor's unwaveringly. For a moment, Viktor's expression softened, a hint of something resembling remorse flickering in his eyes. But just as quickly, it was replaced by his usual arrogance.
"Fine, take your day off," Viktor relented, waving a dismissive hand. "But don't expect any special treatment just because it's Potter's birthday." Charlie nodded, grateful that Viktor had acquiesced, even if begrudgingly. He turned to leave, but before he could reach the door, Viktor spoke again.
"Sorry for the outburst, Weasley," Viktor muttered, his tone surprisingly apologetic. "Enjoy your day off." Charlie nodded again, feeling a mix of relief and frustration as he made his way out of Viktor's office. He couldn't help but wonder what Viktor's true motives were, but for now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focused on making Harry's birthday as special as possible.
As Charlie exited Viktor's office, Nita and Katrin were waiting anxiously outside, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Well?" Nita asked eagerly, her eyes searching Charlie's face for any sign of good news. Charlie grinned, unable to contain his excitement.
"I got the day off!" he exclaimed, relief flooding through him. The girls exchanged relieved smiles, their tension easing at Charlie's words.
"That's fantastic!" Katrin exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine happiness. Nita nodded in agreement.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked, eager to hear Charlie's ideas for Harry's birthday celebration. Charlie's grin widened as he considered the possibilities.
"I thought we could go on a cave expedition," he suggested. "Harry loves exploring, and I think it would be a great way to spend the day." Before the girls could respond, Matei approached, his expression unreadable. Charlie felt a twinge of unease at his presence, but he pushed it aside, determined not to let anything dampen his excitement for Harry's birthday.
"We're planning a cave expedition for Harry's birthday," Charlie explained, hoping to include Matei in the conversation despite his reservations. Matei's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"Sounds like fun," he remarked casually, though there was a hint of something unsettling in his tone. Charlie exchanged a wary glance with Nita and Katrin, a feeling of apprehension settling in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't shake the feeling that Matei's presence could spell trouble for Harry's special day. As Charlie materialized in Andrei's home, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at the thought of waking Harry from his peaceful slumber. Harry lay in bed, his features softened by sleep, and Charlie couldn't resist the urge to lean down and press a gentle kiss to his cheek. Harry stirred at the sensation, his eyes fluttering open slowly. At first, he seemed confused, but as awareness flooded back, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Charlie?" Harry murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. Then, as realization dawned, he grinned widely. "What are you doing here?" Charlie's heart swelled at the sight of Harry's bright smile.
"I couldn't let your birthday start without me," he replied softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from Harry's forehead. As Harry slowly roused from sleep, he found himself in that hazy state between dreaming and waking. In his dream, Charlie had appeared, his smile radiant as he leaned in for a kiss. It felt so real that Harry almost believed it was, until a sudden movement jolted him fully awake. Instinctively, Harry's hand shot out, aiming for whatever—or whoever—had disturbed his dreamlike state. Unfortunately, his aim was a little off, and he ended up smacking something—or rather, someone—square on the forehead.
"Ow!" came Charlie's surprised exclamation, breaking the spell of confusion that had momentarily clouded Harry's senses. With a start, he realized that the figure before him was indeed real, not a figment of his imagination. Panicked and mortified by his unintentional assault, Harry scrambled to put on his glasses, his heart racing with embarrassment. There, standing before him, was Charlie, rubbing his forehead with a bemused expression.
"Oh, Merlin, Charlie, I'm so sorry!" Harry exclaimed, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I thought you were... I mean, I thought I was dreaming!" Charlie's laughter rang out, filling the room with warmth and easing the tension that had settled between them.
"It's alright, Harry," he assured him, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Consider it an unexpected wake-up call." Despite Charlie's lighthearted response, Harry couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at him.
"I didn't mean to hit you," he apologized profusely, his voice tinged with regret. "I'm really, truly sorry, Charlie." With a gentle smile, Charlie reached out to grasp Harry's hand, his touch grounding and comforting.
"I know you didn't, Harry," he replied softly, his eyes filled with understanding. "No harm done." As they reached the entrance of the cave, Harry's expression shifted from confusion to bewilderment. He turned to Charlie, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Charlie, what are we doing here?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. Charlie grinned mischievously, a glint of excitement dancing in his eyes.
"Just wait and see," he replied cryptically, his tone teasing. Harry watched as Charlie reached into his bag and pulled out the necessary equipment for their adventure. Before Harry could protest or even ask what they were doing, Charlie dropped the gear into his hands with a playful wink.
"Put these on," Charlie instructed, gesturing to the equipment. "We're about to embark on a little journey." Eager to uncover the mystery behind Charlie's plans, Harry wasted no time in donning the gear. With each strap tightened and each piece secured, he felt a surge of anticipation coursing through him. Whatever Charlie had in store for him, Harry was ready to dive right in. As they descended into the depths of the cave, their wands illuminated the darkness with a soft, comforting glow. The narrow passageways twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the heart of the earth. Harry couldn't shake off his confusion, and he turned to Charlie once more, his expression a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
"Seriously, Charlie, what are we doing here?" Harry asked again, unable to contain his curiosity. Charlie's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Just trust me, Harry," he replied, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "You're going to love it." Harry couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at Charlie's words, despite his lingering confusion. As they ventured further into the cave, Harry's senses were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds around him. A gentle stream flowed beneath their path, its soothing melody echoing through the cavernous chamber. Glittering rock formations adorned the walls, their surfaces glistening with the soft light of their wands. Harry was mesmerized by the natural beauty that surrounded them, and he felt a sense of wonder and awe wash over him. Whatever surprise Charlie had in store for him, Harry knew that this unexpected journey into the depths of the earth was bound to be an unforgettable experience. They ventured deeper into the cave, they eventually reached a corridor lined with glistening salt crystals. Charlie's eyes lit up with excitement as he picked up a crystal and licked it, much to Harry's discomfort. With a mixture of laughter and anticipation, Charlie encouraged Harry to try it too. Reluctantly, Harry picked up a crystal and tentatively licked it, his expression twisting into one of disgust as the taste registered on his tongue. Despite his initial reaction, Harry couldn't deny the familiar taste of salt.
"Salt?" he exclaimed incredulously, shooting Charlie a questioning look. Charlie chuckled, planting a tender kiss on Harry's forehead before moving forward.
"Just a little detour," he replied with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, leading Harry further into the depths of the cave.
"Detour?" Harry echoed, his eyebrows shooting up in amusement. "You brought me all the way down here just to taste some salt crystals?" Charlie grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he nodded.
"Well, not just for that," he clarified, gesturing ahead. "There's more to see. Come on, you'll love it." Harry rolled his eyes playfully, but couldn't help but smile at Charlie's infectious enthusiasm.
"Lead the way, then, great cave man." he said sarcastically, following Charlie deeper into the cave with a sense of curiosity and excitement. Harry's eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the breathtaking sight before him. The walls of the cavernous hall shimmered and sparkled, reflecting the dim light of their wands in a dazzling display of colors. Each surface was adorned with countless crystals, casting a soft glow that illuminated the entire chamber.
"It's... it's incredible," Harry breathed, his voice barely above a whisper as he surveyed their surroundings in awe. Charlie nodded, a proud smile gracing his features as he watched Harry's reaction.
"I thought you might like it," he said softly, taking Harry's hand in his own. As they explored further, Harry's attention was drawn to one particular crystal formation. His eyes widened as he recognized the distinctive shimmer of Pseudobrookite, the same mineral from which Aurelian Dragomir's wand was crafted.
"This... this is it," Harry murmured, his heart racing with excitement. "Charlie, look!"
"What's got you so excited about this?" Charlie asked, his brow furrowed in confusion as he watched Harry examine the crystal formation with eager fascination. Harry turned to him, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"It's Pseudobrookite," he explained, his voice tinged with excitement. "The same mineral that was used to make Aurelian Dragomir's wand." Understanding dawned on Charlie's face as he realized the significance of Harry's discovery.
"So you think this could be a clue?" he asked, his own excitement growing. Harry nodded eagerly.
"Exactly. If we can find more evidence of Pseudobrookite here, it could help us unravel the mystery of Aurelian Dragomir's wand and what happened to it." Charlie grinned, his eyes shining with anticipation.
"Well it was in Matei's possession until it got broken when he tried to lead the poachers that night." he said, determination in his voice as they began to search the cavern for further clues. As Harry voiced his idea about repairing Aurelian's wand with the crystal, a voice interrupted from behind them, causing both Harry and Charlie to tense.
"I was thinking the same thing," Matei said, his tone cold and calculated as he stepped into view, his eyes glinting with malice. Harry and Charlie exchanged wary glances, their guard immediately going up in Matei's presence. They hadn't anticipated him following them into the cavern, and his sudden appearance sent a shiver down Harry's spine.
"We don't need your input, Matei," Charlie replied sharply, his hand instinctively tightening around his wand as he stepped protectively closer to Harry. Matei smirked, his gaze flickering between them with a predatory gleam.
"Oh, but I think you do," he said cryptically, his words sending a chill through the air.