
The early bird catches the worm
Seated at his desk in their cozy cottage within the Reserve, Harry dipped his quill into the inkwell, his brow furrowed in concentration as he carefully composed a letter to Hermione. The parchment before him was filled with his neat handwriting, each line detailing their recent discovery of Aurelian Dragomir and the broken wand piece. As the quill scratched across the paper, Harry's mind raced with questions and possibilities. Hermione had always been their go-to source for information, her vast knowledge and resourcefulness unmatched. Surely, she would be able to shed some light on the enigmatic wizard and his place in magical history. Charlie watched from across the room, curiosity evident in his expression as he observed Harry's focused demeanor. He had grown accustomed to Harry's intense moments of concentration, but there was something different about this particular letter that piqued his interest.
"What are you writing, love?" Charlie inquired, his voice breaking the silence of the room. Harry looked up, a small smile gracing his lips as he met Charlie's gaze.
"Just a letter to Hermione," he replied, his tone casual yet tinged with excitement. "I'm asking her if she can find any information about Aurelian Dragomir in the Hogwarts Library." Charlie's eyebrows lifted in surprise at the mention of the name.
"Ah, the legendary wizard," he remarked, his curiosity growing with each passing moment. "I'll bet Hermione will be able to dig up something interesting." With a nod of agreement, Harry returned his attention to the letter, his quill scratching across the parchment as he finished his message to Hermione. Folding the letter neatly, he sealed it with wax before handing it off to the owl, who hooted softly in response.
The crisp mountain air filled their lungs as Charlie, Harry, and Bogdan trekked through the snow-covered terrain, their boots leaving deep imprints in the pristine white powder. The landscape stretched out before them, a vast expanse of icy peaks and rugged cliffs. Bogdan led the way, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of the elusive white dragon.
"Katrin and I spotted the albino breed on our way down from the mountains," he explained, his voice barely audible over the howling wind. "It's rare to see one in its natural habitat." Charlie and Harry followed closely behind, their senses alert for any movement in the snow. Despite the biting cold and the treacherous terrain, they pressed on, driven by a shared sense of determination and curiosity. But as they ventured deeper into the mountains, the weather took a turn for the worse. Thick clouds rolled in overhead, obscuring their view and reducing visibility to mere feet. The wind whipped around them, sending icy tendrils snaking through their clothing.
"We'll have to be careful," Charlie called out, his voice barely carrying over the howling wind. "We don't want to get caught in a blizzard." Harry nodded in agreement, his breath forming clouds of vapor in the frigid air.
"Agreed," he replied, his voice tinged with concern. "But we can't give up now. We're so close to finding the white dragon." They pressed on, their eyes scanning the snowy landscape for any sign of movement. But despite their best efforts, the white dragon remained elusive, its presence shrouded in mystery and myth. Hours passed as they trudged through the snow, their spirits undaunted by the harsh conditions. But as night began to fall and the blizzard showed no signs of relenting. With the weather worsening and the daylight fading, Charlie, Harry, and Bogdan realized they had no choice but to set up camp for the night. Bogdan skillfully pitched a sturdy tent in a sheltered alcove, providing them with some protection from the howling winds and driving snow. Inside the tent, they huddled together for warmth, their breath visible in the frigid air. The glow of a lantern cast long shadows on the canvas walls as they settled in for the night, their minds still racing with thoughts of the elusive white dragon.
"We'll have to wait until morning to resume our search," Bogdan announced, his voice tinged with disappointment. "The weather's too severe to continue tonight." Charlie and Harry nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting a mixture of frustration and determination. Despite the setback, they were unwilling to abandon their quest. The white dragon was out there somewhere, waiting to be found, and they were determined to be the ones to find it.
Inside the cozy confines of their tent, Charlie decided to lighten the mood with a few sarcastic jokes, his quick wit bringing laughter to the otherwise tense atmosphere. With each witty remark, Harry's laughter rang out, infectious and joyous, while Bogdan wiped tears of mirth from his eyes. As the laughter subsided, Harry reached into his bag, his hands emerging with a warm, fresh meal for them to enjoy. The aroma of the food filled the tent, chasing away the chill of the mountain air and warming their spirits. Charlie couldn't help but marvel at the stroke of luck that had brought them together on this adventure. He hadn't felt this alive since his Hogwarts years, surrounded by friends and laughter, with the promise of adventure lurking just beyond the horizon. After dinner, Charlie and Harry cuddled up together, seeking warmth and comfort in each other's arms. Bogdan, ever the pragmatic one, couldn't resist making a playful remark about not engaging in any "funny business" during the night, eliciting laughter from all three of them.
The morning sun cast a golden glow over the snow-covered landscape as Charlie, Harry, and Bogdan resumed their search for the elusive white dragon. With determination in their hearts and hope in their eyes, they pressed forward, their footsteps crunching in the freshly fallen snow. But as they traversed the icy path, disaster struck. Harry's foot slipped on a patch of ice, sending him sliding backward with a startled yelp. Instinctively, Charlie sprang into action, lunging forward to catch him before he could tumble further. With lightning reflexes, Charlie's strong arms encircled Harry, preventing him from falling. The momentum sent them both stumbling, but Charlie managed to steady them, his heart pounding in his chest with adrenaline.
"Are you okay?" Charlie asked, concern etched in his features as he helped Harry regain his footing. Harry nodded, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm fine," he replied, his voice slightly breathless. "Thanks to you." Bogdan approached, his expression filled with relief as he surveyed the scene.
"That was a close call," he remarked, his voice tinged with concern. "We'll need to be more careful as we continue." Charlie nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering on Harry with a mixture of gratitude and affection.
"Let's make sure to watch our step from now on." An hour passed, the trio trudging through the snow-covered landscape, their hopes slowly waning as the elusive albino dragon continued to evade their search. Bogdan's frustration was palpable, his shoulders slumping with each passing moment.
"It's like searching for a needle in a haystack," Bogdan muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Perhaps it's best if we call off the search for today." Charlie nodded in reluctant agreement, his gaze scanning the horizon for any sign of movement.
"Maybe it's blending in with the snow," he suggested, his tone hopeful yet resigned. "It could be using its natural camouflage to hide from us." As Bogdan let out a weary sigh and prepared to call off the search, Harry's keen eyes caught sight of something above them.
"Wait," he exclaimed, pointing to the sky. "Look!" Charlie and Bogdan followed Harry's gaze, their eyes widening in disbelief as they beheld a magnificent sight. High above them, soaring gracefully through the air, was the albino dragon they had been searching for.
"It's the albino!" Bogdan exclaimed, his voice filled with awe and wonder. "We found it!" Charlie's heart swelled with excitement as he watched the dragon glide effortlessly through the sky.
"Unbelievable," he breathed, his voice tinged with admiration. "It's even more magnificent than I imagined." As they stood in awe of the majestic creature above them, a sense of wonder and exhilaration washed over them. As the trio stood in awe of the albino dragon soaring above them, their excitement was interrupted by the fluttering of wings. Harry's eyes widened in surprise as he realized that the majestic creature wasn't a dragon at all, but an owl carrying a letter in its talons.
"It's an owl!" Harry exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he reached out to retrieve the letter. "And it's carrying a message." Bogdan, still frustrated by their unsuccessful search, kicked at the snow in annoyance, his mood darkening with each passing moment. But his frustration quickly turned to curiosity as Harry unfolded the letter and began to read aloud.
"Dear Harry," Harry began, his voice ringing out clear and strong over the sound of the wind. "I've done some research on Aurelian Dragomir, and I've found some fascinating details in the Hogwarts Library archives." Charlie and Bogdan turned their attention to Harry, their curiosity piqued by Hermione's words. With bated breath, they listened intently as Harry continued to read, the contents of the letter shedding new light on their quest.
"It seems that Aurelian Dragomir was a highly skilled wizard known for his mastery of ancient magical artifacts," Harry read, his voice growing animated with each passing sentence. "His wand, crafted from a rare crystal found only in the deepest caverns of the Carpathian Mountains, was said to possess extraordinary powers." As Harry finished reading the letter, a sense of excitement filled the air, tempered by the realization that their journey was far from over. Armed with Hermione's newfound knowledge, they were more determined than ever to uncover the secrets of Aurelian Dragomir and the broken wand piece.
Back at the Reserve, Harry, Charlie, and Bogdan returned from their expedition, their faces flushed with excitement and anticipation. With Hermione's letter clutched tightly in his hand, Harry made his way to Alexandru's office, eager to share their findings. Knocking lightly on the door, Harry entered the room, followed closely by Charlie and Bogdan. Alexandru looked up from his desk, his expression curious yet composed as he greeted them.
"Ah, Harry, Charlie, Bogdan," Alexandru said warmly, gesturing for them to take a seat. "I trust your expedition went well?" Harry nodded eagerly, his heart pounding with excitement as he prepared to deliver his report.
"Yes," he replied, his voice steady and confident. "We have some important information to share with you." Harry began to recount their journey and the discoveries they had made. Alexandru listened intently, his brow furrowing in concentration as he absorbed the details. With each word, Harry painted a vivid picture of their expedition, from the breathtaking beauty of the snow-covered mountains to the exhilarating sight of the albino dragon soaring through the sky. "And most importantly," Harry continued, his voice growing animated with excitement, "we received a response from Hermione regarding Aurelian Dragomir and the broken wand piece." As Harry relayed the specifics of Hermione's findings, Alexandru's expression shifted from curiosity to intrigue. He leaned forward, his eyes alight with interest as he absorbed the information.
"Thank you, Harry," Alexandru said, his voice filled with gratitude.
The evening moon cast an icy glow over the Reserve as Harry, Charlie, Nita, Katrin, Ghita, and Bogdan gathered around a table in the canteen, their plates filled with hearty food and their spirits high. Laughter filled the air as they shared stories of their day's adventures and reminisced about past experiences. Nita, her eyes sparkling with mischief, regaled the group with a tale of her encounter with the Chinese Fireball's hatchlings earlier that day.
"They nearly singed my hair!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with mock indignation. The others erupted into laughter, their voices mingling with the clatter of cutlery and the hum of conversation. It was moments like these, filled with camaraderie and laughter, that made life at the Reserve truly special. Ghita, ever curious, turned to Charlie with a quizzical expression.
"So, did you guys really see the albino dragon?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. Charlie chuckled, shaking his head as he recalled their adventure in the mountains.
"Not quite," he replied with a grin. "It turns out it was just an owl carrying a message." Bogdan, who had remained silent until now, spoke up with a determined glint in his eye.
"I swear I saw one," he insisted, his voice firm. "It was flying high above us, just like a dragon." The group exchanged amused glances, their laughter mingling with Bogdan's earnest declaration. Despite the discrepancy in their stories, there was no denying the magic of their shared experiences and the bonds that united them.