Something

As Harry entered the bustling canteen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air. His gaze immediately sought out the familiar figure of Charlie, who was already seated at a table with Nita, their plates piled high with scrambled eggs and toast. With a grin, Harry made his way over to them, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of his boyfriend. Charlie's eyes lit up as he caught sight of Harry, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Hey, love," Charlie greeted him, his voice soft with affection as Harry approached. "Sleep well?" Harry nodded, returning Charlie's smile as he leaned in to press a quick kiss to his lips. The touch was brief but filled with tenderness, a silent reassurance of their love for each other.

"Morning, Nita," Harry greeted Charlie's colleague with a friendly nod as he settled into the seat next to Charlie. Nita returned the greeting with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she observed the couple's affectionate display.

"Good morning, Harry," Nita replied, her tone light with amusement. "I see you've found yourself a cozy spot there." Harry chuckled, his cheeks flushing slightly at Nita's teasing remark.

"Yeah, seems like I'm rooted here," he quipped, shooting Charlie a playful grin. Charlie chuckled at Harry's response, his arm slipping around Harry's waist in a gesture of possessive affection.

"You're not going anywhere, love," Charlie teased, his voice laced with mock seriousness. "I've got you right where I want you." Harry leaned into Charlie's embrace, a contented sigh escaping his lips as he savored the warmth of his boyfriend's touch. As they settled into their breakfast, Nita couldn't help but notice the bracelet adorning Charlie's wrist, a delicate band crafted from shimmering dragon scales.

"Charlie, that bracelet is stunning," Nita remarked, her eyes widening in admiration. "Is that the one Harry made for you?" Charlie's face lit up with pride at Nita's question, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the bracelet fondly.

"Yes, it is," Charlie replied, his voice filled with affection. "Harry made it for my birthday, and I couldn't be happier with it." Harry beamed at Charlie's words, a swell of happiness warming his chest at the sight of Charlie proudly wearing the bracelet he had crafted with love.

"I'm glad you like it," Harry said softly, his voice tinged with emotion. Charlie leaned in to press a tender kiss to Harry's cheek, his eyes shining with gratitude.

"I love it," Charlie whispered, his breath warm against Harry's skin. "And I love you." As they shared a moment of quiet affection, Nita couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at the bond between Harry and Charlie. But she pushed aside her own feelings, choosing instead to focus on the joy and love radiating from the couple before her.

"I'm happy for you both," Nita said sincerely, her voice tinged with warmth. "You make a wonderful pair." Harry and Charlie exchanged a knowing glance, their hearts overflowing with love and gratitude for each other. As Harry and Charlie finished their breakfast, Harry felt a gnawing unease in the pit of his stomach. He realized with a start that he hadn't told anyone about the strange symbols and potions he had stumbled upon in Matei's cottage. The memory flooded back to him—the eerie atmosphere, the shelves lined with mysterious vials, and the unsettling feeling that something dark lurked beneath the surface.

"Uuuhmm," Harry began, his voice hesitant as he glanced between them. "There's something I need to tell you." Charlie looked up, his brow furrowing in concern at the serious tone of Harry's voice. Nita's gaze sharpened with curiosity as she turned her attention to Harry.

"What is it, Harry?" Charlie asked, his concern evident in his voice. Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.

"When I was at Matei's cottage the other day to make your gift, I...I stumbled upon something strange," Harry admitted, his words tumbling out in a rush. "There were these symbols—ancient ones, I think—and potions, too. I don't know what they were for, but...but it didn't feel right." Charlie's eyes widened in alarm at Harry's revelation, his grip tightening on Harry's hand in a silent show of support.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Charlie asked, his voice tinged with concern. Harry hesitated, his gaze dropping to his lap as he struggled to find the right words.

"I...I didn't want to ruin your birthday," Harry confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted everything to be perfect for you." Charlie's expression softened at Harry's words, his heart swelling with love and gratitude for the selfless gesture.

"Harry, your safety is more important to me than anything else," Charlie said gently, reaching out to cup Harry's cheek in his hand. "You should have told me or someone else sooner." Nita's eyes widened in disbelief as she processed the gravity of Harry's words. The realization of what Matei had done—the danger he had posed—settled heavily in her chest.

"Matei...did have his cottage full of potions and symbols?" Nita murmured, her voice barely audible as she struggled to comprehend the extent of Matei's deceit. Harry nodded, his jaw set with determination.

"Yes," he confirmed. "And we need to find out what he was up to before it's too late." Charlie squeezed Harry's hand in silent agreement, a steely resolve hardening in his gaze. Harry's heart raced as he made his way to Alexandru's office, the weight of his revelation heavy on his mind. He knocked on the door, his knuckles rapping against the polished wood in a rapid rhythm.

"Come in," Alexandru's voice called from inside. Harry pushed open the door and stepped inside, finding Alexandru seated behind his desk, a stack of paperwork spread out before him. The chief caretaker looked up as Harry entered, his expression shifting from one of concentration to one of concern as he took in the troubled look on Harry's face.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Alexandru asked, his voice tinged with worry. Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.

"It's about Matei," Harry began, his voice steady but filled with urgency. "I...I found something in his cottage." Alexandru's brow furrowed in concern as he listened to Harry's account of what he had discovered. Without hesitation, Alexandru stood up from his desk, his eyes flashing with determination.

"We need to investigate this immediately," Alexandru declared, his voice firm with resolve. "Follow me." Harry nodded, falling into step behind Alexandru as they made their way out of the office and toward Matei's cottage. The air crackled with tension as they walked, the weight of the unknown hanging heavy in the air. As they approached the cottage, Alexandru's gaze swept over the dilapidated structure, his expression grim.

"Let's see what Matei was up to," Alexandru said, his voice low with suspicion. They entered the small building, the musty scent of old books and potions filling the air. Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he followed Alexandru through the cluttered space, his eyes scanning the shelves lined with jars and bottles of mysterious substances.

"What do you think he was doing with all of this?" Harry asked, his voice barely above a whisper. Alexandru's jaw clenched as he surveyed the scene before them.

"I'm not sure, I never inspected anyone's accommodations without reason." Alexandru admitted, his brow furrowed in thought. "But it's clear that Matei was involved in something dangerous." Harry's mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle of Matei's actions. Suddenly, a memory stirred in the back of his mind—the love potion that Matei had mentioned during their confrontation months ago.

"Chief, do you remember when we fought against Matei?" Harry asked, his voice tinged with urgency. Alexandru nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought.

"Yes, I remember," he replied. "He mentioned something about a love potion." Harry's heart sank at the realization, a chill creeping up his spine.

"He was planning to use it on Charlie. Wish I could forget that." Harry whispered, his voice filled with dread. Alexandru's expression darkened at the suggestion, his jaw set with determination.

"We need to find out everything we can about these potions and symbols," Alexandru declared, his voice firm with resolve. "Before it's too late." Later that day Harry and Katrin made their way to the hatchling infirmary, the soft chirping of baby dragons filling the air as they approached. The room was warm and cozy, illuminated by the soft glow of magical lanterns that hung from the ceiling. As they entered, Harry's gaze swept over the rows of nesting boxes, each one containing a tiny dragon hatchling nestled snugly inside. His heart swelled with affection at the sight of the adorable creatures, their scales shimmering in the dim light. Katrin smiled warmly at Harry as they began their rounds, checking on each hatchling to ensure they were healthy and well-fed. But as they worked, Harry's mind was elsewhere, troubled by the unsettling discovery he had made in Matei's cottage.

"I..," Harry began, his voice low with concern as he glanced at his colleague. "...need to talk to you about something." Katrin looked up, her brow furrowing in concern at the serious tone of Harry's voice.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice gentle with concern. Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.

"It's about Matei," Harry admitted, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I found something in his cottage—strange symbols and potions. I don't know what he was up to, but it didn't feel right." Katrin's eyes widened in alarm at Harry's revelation, her expression mirroring his concern.

"That's troubling," she murmured, her voice tinged with worry. "Do you think he was involved in something dangerous other than shadows?" Harry nodded, his jaw set with determination.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "But there's something else. Matei mentioned a love potion when we fought against him months ago. What if it's still out there, hidden in the catacombs?" Katrin's expression darkened at the suggestion, her mind racing with the implications of Harry's words.

"If that's the case, we need to find it before it falls into the wrong hands," she said firmly. Harry's heart sank at the thought of the potential danger lurking beneath the reserve, but he took comfort in the knowledge that Katrin was by his side, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"We'll search every inch of those catacombs if we have to." Harry vowed, his voice filled with determination.

Alexandru sat at his desk, the broken piece of wand resting in his hands. It was a relic of immense power, once belonging to the legendary Romanian wizard, Aurelian Dragomir. For centuries, the wand had been shrouded in mystery, its origins and significance lost to time. With a furrowed brow, Alexandru examined the wand piece, tracing the intricate patterns etched into the surface. It was a fragment of a greater whole, a symbol of a bygone era when magic flowed freely through the land. The wandmaker who had identified the piece had been hesitant to share more information, citing the rarity and significance of the artifact. But Alexandru knew that there was more to be uncovered, secrets waiting to be revealed. Turning to Hermione's research, Alexandru delved into the history of the wand, uncovering clues that hinted at its true nature. According to Hermione's findings, the wand had been crafted from a rare crystal found deep in the Carpathian Mountains—a material of unparalleled power and potency. As Alexandru set the wand piece down on his desk, a sense of determination filled him. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to discover, more to uncover about the wand's history and significance. Pushing himself to his feet, Alexandru made his way out of his office, the weight of the wand piece heavy on his mind. There were answers to be found, secrets waiting to be unlocked, and he was determined to uncover them.

Charlie, Harry, and Andrei stopped by to bid farewell to the Weasley family, the atmosphere was tinged with a sense of melancholy. The Weasley's were preparing to return home to England, their time in Romania coming to an end. Molly bustled about the apartment, packing the last of their belongings into suitcases while Arthur double-checked that they hadn't forgotten anything important.

"Safe travels, Mum, Dad," Charlie said, enveloping his parents in a tight embrace. "We'll miss you." Molly returned the hug, pressing a kiss to Charlie's cheek before turning to Harry.

"You take care of yourselves, dear," she said, her voice tinged with motherly concern. "And keep an eye on this one," she added, nodding toward Charlie with a playful twinkle in her eye. Harry grinned, giving Molly a reassuring nod.

"I will, Mrs. Weasley. You can count on it." Arthur shook hands with Andrei, a warm smile on his face.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, lad. Take care of these two troublemakers for us, will you?" Andrei nodded, his expression solemn.

"I will, sir. Safe journey home." As the Weasley's gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, Ginny lingered by the door, her gaze fixed on Andrei. Despite her earlier rejection, there was a softness in her eyes as she watched him.

"Take care of yourself, Andrei," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "And maybe...we'll see each other again someday." Andrei's heart skipped a beat at Ginny's words, a glimmer of hope sparking in his eyes.

"I'd like that," he replied, his voice filled with sincerity. With one final round of hugs and farewells, the Weasley's made their way out of the apartment, their suitcases in tow. As they disappeared down the street, Charlie, Harry, and Andrei stood together on the doorstep, watching them go with a mixture of sadness and hope.

"Safe travels, fam," Charlie murmured, his voice filled with affection. "Until we meet again." They turned to make their way back to the reserve, the echoes of the Weasley's departure lingered in the air, a reminder of the bonds of family and friendship that transcended time and distance.