Wild Love

Charlie

Charlie walked toward the hippogriffs as he does early every morning. The sound of crying made him walk up quieter. Harry sat on the ground, his hand in his hands. Puddlefoot was nuzzling into his raven-colored hair. 

Charlie stood still. He stared at the younger wizard. He didn’t know what else to do. Charlie would love to go over there and ask him what was wrong, but could he after what he said? 

A distressed trill and a nip at his fingers made him look down. There stood Niven. He nibbled at his fingers again to pull him closer to Harry. With a grunt, Charlie moved forwards. 

Harry’s head snapped up when Charlie got closer. His bloodshot green eyes were glassy as tears fell down his cheeks. He watched as the smaller man jumped up and wiped his eyes.

“S… Sorry Charlie, I was just leaving” Harry looked over at Puddlefoot and he bowed, which Puddlefoot returned. Charlie watched as the smaller wizard climbed on top of the hippogriff. Was he going to ride him?

“Wait!” Charlie ran towards him. “What are you doing?” 

Harry tilted his head in confusion. “I’m taking Puddle flying,” Harry said to him in a what-do-you-think tone. 

“He lets you ride him?” Charlie didn’t think about someone riding a Hippogriff, he supposed they could, but.

“Yes.” Harry smiled a watery smile at him. “Bow to Puddlefoot.” 

Charlie didn’t know why he bowed to the creature. He would not go up on the hippogriff with Harry. He couldn’t, could he? What he wouldn’t do to fly again with a creature. The dragons used to let him ride them. 

Puddlefoot bowed down to him, and Harry reached out his hand. Charlie just stared at the younger wizard.

“It’s safe. I promise they are stronger than they look.” Harry looked him up and down. Charlie thought he saw something in Harry’s eyes, but he shook his head. “Please…” Harry said as he wriggled his fingers. 

Charlie took the smaller hand in his. It was soft for someone who worked hard at labor for 12 hours a day. He carefully put his leg over the creature. Harry kept him steady. When he sat down on the hippogriff’s back, he let out a breath. 

“Good boy Puddlefoot. Let's go find the sun.” Harry patted the creature, his talons dug into the dirt before he went into a sprint. Puddlefoot’s massive wings prepared for flight. 

When they became airborne, Charlie found his arms around the smaller man’s waist. Harry’s smaller frame leaned back into his chest. The scent of Harry’s shampoo tickled his nose. Was that vanilla?

As they flew, the sun was rising. Orange streaks painted the sky as they dipped and weaved through the clouds. 

Charlie didn’t know how long they flew, and he didn’t care. Being up in the air for the first time since his accident. He felt tears burn his eyes. He didn’t think he would ever feel this again. 

When the sun fully rose, Harry brought them back down. Charlie hated it was over, not because he couldn’t hold Harry anymore. It was more because they were not in the air, or at least that is what he was telling himself.

Charlie watched as Harry dismounted. The younger man held out his hand again. Charlie didn’t hesitate to take it. Harry’s green eyes watched him as dismounted.

“Harry.”

“Charlie,” They both said at the same time. Charlie nodded to Harry.

“Thank you for flying with me. Sometimes I need to be up in the air. A broom is okay, but it’s not like that.” Charlie had to agree, he loved flying on a broom but nothing compared to that.

“You’re welcome.” He looked into emerald eyes. Come on Charlie. “About this morning, when you were.” He didn’t finish the sentence. Harry looked down at the ground.

“Come on, Mr. Grumpy Bear, let's go get breakfast. I’m sure they can survive without us this morning.” Charlie watched as Harry sent a Patronus to his dad. “You okay with side-by-side apparition?” 

 He wanted to tell Harry no that he should go to work and not spend any more time with him. 

“Yeah,” Charlie mumbled huskily. Harry held out his arm, and he took hold. The swirl and the sudden stop soon followed the tug of the apparition. That was the worst part. Charlie stumbled Harry wrapped his arm around his waist. Charlie wanted to yell and tell him he didn’t need the smaller man’s help but the feeling of Harry’s arms around him.

“So, the diner is this way?” Harry said, and he pulled away from him. Charlie missed the unfamiliar contact. Though he didn’t mind watching Harry walk in front of him.

Once they were seated, Charlie had a good look at the small diner. Besides him and Harry, there wasn’t anyone else. The walls were checkered; the booths were red vinyl.  

After they ordered, it was eating at Charlie why Harry was crying the way he was. It shouldn’t, but seeing those emerald eyes that are so sad. 

“Harry, this morning. Why were you crying?” Charlie graveled out. He watched the smaller man take a deep breath. He was about to tell Harry he didn’t have to talk about it when he spoke.

“I have nightmares sometimes. I hear screams, spells, and a flash of green light. When I do, I normally go flying. I know I may seem like I’m a ray of sunshine all the time, but there was a time when I wasn’t. I’m sure you know who I am, the story of my bio parents. It is a lot to think that I am the reason for so many deaths. So I would dwell on all the bad. The only happiness I had was with my creatures.” Harry's voice shook as he spoke. Charlie watched as Harry swallowed down a sob. He didn’t know what to do, so he waited.

“I lost my parents, my god-parents. I’m sure it wasn’t in the papers, but my god-father was pregnant. He and his husband were going to have a baby, and they all died. I wasn’t the only one to lose parents. There was another boy who could have been the chosen one. They tortured his parents, and healers have said they will never recover. I don’t know what is worse, Charlie. I lost my parents, that is true, but I have the world's greatest dad. This man still had his parents, but the thing is, they are not his parents. Not really, they don’t even know who he is.” 

Charlie reached over and placed his hand on top of Harry’s. He gave it a gentle squeeze. Harry looked up at him and Charlie's breath hitched. Even with red-rimmed eyes, he was beautiful. 

He cleared his throat before he spoke. “Harry, it may seem like it is all your fault all of this happened, but it wasn’t.” Harry shook his head, but Charlie continued. “You were just a baby. You didn’t ask for this to happen. You couldn’t have done anything. Everyone did what they had To because it is what anyone would do. I would do it for my son… or godson. The war was scary; he was a madman, and many people died. It has nothing to do with you.” Harry cried softly, his eyes fixed on the table. “You are too good, Harry.” 

“I don’t know about that.” Harry smiled a watery smile. “Mr. Grumpy Bear isn’t so grumpy. I knew deep down you were a teddy bear.” 

Charlie growled and took a sip of his coffee. Harry shared something with him. He felt he should do the same. 

He downed the rest of his coffee and cleared his throat. 

“Ever since my accident, I’ve had nightmares. It’s normally the same every night. I can feel the heat of the sun along with hearing the screams, then the pain. The smell of burning skin.” Charlie forgot he was still holding Harry’s hand until the smaller man squeezed it. 

“I raised that dragon since he was a hatchling. He was mine, and I was his. We found out after he was very sick, that is the reason he attacked. Sometimes I think I should have known that he was sick. That I could have done something. I still love him, I don’t think I will ever not. When…” Charlie swallowed the lump in his throat. “When they told me they euthanized him, I felt like a piece of me died. It hurt worse than losing my legs. So I lost my legs, my career, and a child.” Tears burned Charlie’s eyes. 

“Charlie, I can’t imagine the pain and suffering you have been put through.” Harry looked at him with pity. Pity, he hated the look of pity. He quickly pulled his hand away.

“I don’t need your pity!” He growled out. Harry looked shocked before a scowl appeared on his face.

“Good! Because you don’t have my pity! Charlie, what happened to you was horrible, but trust me, I have seen you work. There is nothing you can’t do. You are in incredible shape. Your biceps are as big as my head. Don’t get me started on your chest and abs.” Harry's face grew redder and redder as he spoke.

Then something broke in Charlie, and a laugh escaped his lips.

“Hey don’t laugh! Mr. Grumpy Bears don’t laugh.” Harry tried to hide his smile. 

“They do sometimes.” Charlie barked out as he wiped the tears from his eyes. 

“Fine, I suppose they do.” Harry checked his watch and sighed. “I guess we should get back.” 

Charlie nodded. He didn’t want to go back, but he shouldn’t spend more time with Harry. He has already spent too much time already. 

When they apparated back home, Charlie looked down into green eyes. He was still touching Harry.  

“Thank Charlie for listening.” Harry smiled and pulled away.

“Thanks for brunch.” Charlie crossed his arms, and he watched Harry’s eyes roam over his body. He couldn’t believe all that Harry said to him about his body. 

“You’re welcome. I… I’ll see you later.” Harry hurried away. Charlie didn’t move, he just watched leave. What a morning.

———

Harry

It’s been three days since Harry and Charlie went flying. Harry couldn’t help but to dream of it every night. The feeling of those muscular arms wrapped around him, his solid chest that he leaned back into. Harry shook his head as he jumped out of bed. 

At least he has seen Charlie the past couple of days. He wasn’t trying to avoid him now, so that was progress. Maybe Charlie knows now that Harry doesn’t pity him and he isn’t so happy all the time. 

Harry stretched, bones cracked, and he groaned. He walked toward his bathroom when he heard a knock on the front door. It was probably his dad. It hoped that everything was okay.  

Harry opened the door without asking who it was. When saw who was behind the door, he wished that he would have. On his porch stood Charlie, holding a rectangular glass dish. Of course, it was Charlie because the man always comes when he is in a towel or, better yet, bright orange boxer briefs.  

“Shit!” Harry closed the door quickly and flicked his hand for a pair of lounge pants. He quickly stepped into them and pulled open the door. 

Charlie stood there, his teeth in his bottom lip as if he was holding back a laugh.

Harry rolled his eyes and smiled. “Hi Charlie, I wasn’t expecting you.” He moved to let the taller man in. 

“Do you always answer the door in your underwear?” Charlie asked with his eyebrow raised. “Or is it because you figured I saw you in a towel? Why not show me your bright orange boxer briefs?” Charlie teased and Harry huffed and slapped his muscly arm. 

“You are right, though maybe I should have waited for our third date.” He said before thinking.

“I’m sure that went out the window after the towel. I guess since I brought breakfast, this could count as the third date.” Charlie held out the dish. What the hell? Did he just play along? Harry thought to himself.

“We used to make this all the time at the Dragon Sanctuary. We had someone from America who loved hot dishes, as she called them. This one is a breakfast one. It has eggs, sausage, peppers, cheese and potatoes. You hungry?” Charlie smiled, he smiled. Harry didn’t know that he could smile. He must have stared too long, because Charlie’s smile faded and the mask was almost up again.

“Yes! I mean yes, I’m starving. Here I’ll make the coffee. The plates are in the cabinet by the sink.” Harry said as he pulled Charlie into the kitchen.

Mr. Grumpy Bear brought him breakfast and said it was a date. Is this a dream? Harry filled up the mugs and walked over to the table where Charlie was plating up the casserole. 

“I couldn’t remember how you took your coffee, but I assume black.” Harry placed the mug on the table.

“Actually, I take lots of sugar and cream.” Charlie sat down and made up his coffee, putting in spoonfuls of sugar and a ton of cream. 

“Oh, this looks great, Charlie. Thank you.” Harry blushed and took a bite of the cheesy egg casserole.

“I was hungry, and I figured you were, too. Plus, I owe you for the other morning. You paid for breakfast.” Charlie took a sip of his coffee but didn’t meet his eyes. 

“You’d be right. I am hungry. Though Charlie you didn’t have to do this. I was the one that asked you to come. The least I could do is pay for it” They continued their eating in silence. It was nice, though, to have breakfast with someone besides his dad. 

“So next time I will ask you so I can pay for it.” Harry almost choked on his last sip of coffee. “I guess I should let you get ready for work. I know you normally go into town with your dad. I’ll check on the demiguises. I’ve noticed you have been going there a lot recently. Anything I should look out for?” Harry couldn’t fight a smile, and Charlie looked like he might smile too.

“Yeah, Dad thinks a baby will come soon. So we are making sure we catch it early so we can make sure Ruya gets the care that she needs.” Charlie nodded and stood up. 

“Maybe next time I come by, you will have clothes on.” Harry scoffed and Charlie winked and walked out the door. 

Harry took a deep breath. What just happened? If only it was truly a third date, he might have gotten a kiss goodbye. He walked back towards the bathroom, knowing he should get ready, and he heard another knock on the door.

Harry opened the door. Maybe he could get that kiss after all. There stood his dad and Fang, smiling at him.

“You’re not dressed yet? We are supposed to be going into town. We have a lot of places to go to today. I told Barnaby we would all get lunch together. He said that he would like to get to know you better.” His dad blushed. 

“Of course, I would love to get to know him too! Let me hop in the shower. Five minutes.” Harry moved so his dad and dog could come in. 

“Alright, just hurry. Was that Charlie I saw leaving? He was carrying something, and it looked like he was smiling?” Now it was Harry’s turn to blush. 

“He brought over breakfast, that’s all. Now, if you excuse me, I need to get ready!” Harry practically ran away. His dad’s laughter boomed through the cabin. 

Charlie

Charlie made his way to the Demigueses exhibit. Breakfast wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be. Of course, the man would answer the door in his underwear. Harry was trying to kill him.

He walked into the area and felt magic pour over him. The new Demigueses Ruya, who normally was all white, had a blue hue to her. Charlie knew what that meant. Ruya was having a premonition. Charlie didn’t want to disturb her, so he moved back, but before he could turn around, a blue haze clouded his vision. 

Charlie didn’t know he closed his eyes until he opened them, but he wasn't in the Demigueses exhibit. He was walking around the closed paths with Harry. They both had smiles on their faces. That wasn’t the strange part, though. Their fingers were interlaced. 

“You know what Charles Septimius Weasley, I still love you even though you are mean to me. I don’t see why we can’t get another dog. Fang is wonderful and I love him, but he is getting old. I need a puppy. Oh or a kitty.” Harry smirked up at him. 

“No cats!” Charlie said quickly, as Harry laughed.

“I can’t believe you. A man who took care of dragons is afraid of kittens.”Charlie scowled down at the younger man.

“I don’t trust them. I trusted you because you are a little ball of sunshine. You made me fall in love with you. It was too late now. I can see you are truly a cheeky pixy.” LOVE? Charlie loves him? 

“At least I’m your cheeky pixy. So a new puppy?” Charlie rolled his eyes. 

“We can go to the shelter and see what they have. One dog, Harry. Because I know as soon as Luna has our new niece, you will talk me into a baby.” BABY? Luna is having a baby?! Harry wants a baby with Charlie? 

“Okay, you are probably right, Bear. How can we give Fang a sibling and not Pooh Bear.” How far in the future is this? Charlie wanted to know more, but the blue haze evaporated. 

What the fuck was that? Charlie needed answers; he only knew a little about Demigueses. There was only one person who would know what was going on. Thankfully, it wasn’t too late in the day.

Charlie apparated to his cabin. With a handful of floo powder, he called out his destination. 

“So you were with Harry? He said that he loved you? You said that you loved him.” Luna’s dreamy voice said, and Charlie nodded.

“He wanted a new dog, and then I said something about you having a baby and him wanting a baby. The crazy part is that he said that he would need a sibling for our Pooh Bear.”  Charlie ran both of his hands through his hair.

Luna reached over and placed a hand on this leg. Charlie winced, and she moved her hand.

“Charlie, Demigueses are very intelligent creatures. They have wonderful gifts, they become invisible, and they can see premonitions. Their premonitions are never wrong.” Luna’s blue eyes sparkled with a shy smile. “You are going to have. A family.”

Charlie shook his head. He didn’t think he would have a family. Not after the accident. Before yeah, he figured he would find a man, and then have a family. They would have lived at the dragon sanctuary. 

“He will get sick of my arsehole tendencies. It doesn’t matter if, in the premonition, we were married and had a baby. That doesn’t mean one day he won’t wake up and get sick of me.” Charlie huffed and looked away.

“Fred could do the same thing to me as well. Though I know he won’t because I trust him and I know he loves me. Even though most people think I am crazy, he sees what others don’t. So when you find the one who wants to get through that tough outside to get to the cuddly bear on the inside, you need to allow them to do it.” Luna leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Go back home and think about it. I want to meet him. I’ll come over soon, without all the Weasleys.” 

Charlie nodded. He walked over to the floo. He had a lot to think about. 

Harry 

Later that night, Harry sat on his porch. It was a beautiful night. His day was busy, just like his dad said. Their lunch with Barnaby was wonderful. The way his dad acted and the way Barnaby looked at the half-giant, he knew it was love already. He couldn’t be happier. 

Harry was about to go into his house when a beautiful barn owl flew onto the arm of his chair. 

“You are a beauty. Do you have a letter for me?” Harry gently untied the letter from the owl's leg and reached in his pocket for the treats that he kept for instances like this. The owl nibbled his finger in thanks and flew away. 

Harry unrolled the letter and smiled as he read,

Harry,

How about an official first date? Be ready at noon Saturday. Make sure to have clothes on. We will be in public.

Charlie.

Harry’s heart pounded in his chest. An official date…