WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU TRIED ALL YOU COULD!? WE ARE FUCKING MAGIC! THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU COULDN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING!
Charlie
Day of Charlie’s Accident
“We have a late 20s male. Dragon attack. Severe burns, and lacerations to the lower part of the body.” A matron yelled as he pushed Charlie's bed through the hospital. The smell of burnt flesh permeated his nose. Pain, dizziness, it was too much. Charlie couldn’t take it. Darkness took over.
Charlie heard voices as he woke up. There were multiple. Why were there so many voices?
“Oh my sweet boy, how could this have happened?” That was his mum. Why was his mum in his house?
“Molly, dear, these things happen. We will be here for him, especially after everything.” What was his dad talking about? Charlie opened his eyes and the light above blinded him. He wasn’t in his home, he was in the hospital.
Then he was back at the sanctuary, fire burned around him. Medárd stood in front of him. Charlie had never felt scared of his dragon. He raised Medárd since he hatched. Pain seared through his body, and a scream tore from his throat.
Charlie felt soft hands on his face. “It’s okay, Charlie, you are safe. Dad and I are here.” His breathing slowed down as he focused on her voice. “That’s better. I’m so glad that you are awake, Charlie. You scared your father and me.”
Charlie tried to sit up, but he couldn’t. His body felt heavy, almost numb. “My body feels strange. What is wrong with me?” Charlie felt his heart pound in his chest. He knew that he had been hurt, but by the looks on his parents' faces, he was bad.
“Charlie, you had an accident. Do you remember?” The older witch rubbed his arm. Charlie was getting more agitated. When a healer walked in with a white coat, overly enormous glasses, and mud brown eyes.
“Oh, I’m glad to see you awake, Charlie. It has been a tough couple of days.” DAYS? How long has he been out? “Are you in any pain right now? I can send for pain reliever potions.”
Charlie shook his head. “NO! I need to know why I feel how I do! My legs, I can’t move them. I need to know what the fuck is going on!” His voice boomed in the small room. Whatever happened wasn’t good. He hoped Medárd was okay. That dragon meant the world to Charlie.
“I understand you are upset, Charlie. You came in for severe burns and lacerations. We tried all that we could, but unfortunately, we couldn’t save them.” The redhead pulled back his blanket. Charlie felt dizzy at what he saw. They were gone. Where his legs should have been are gone and there were bandages up to his hips.
“WHERE THE FUCK ARE MY LEGS! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU TRIED ALL YOU COULD!? WE ARE FUCKING MAGIC! THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU COULDN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING!” Charlie’s chest tightened and his vision swam. This had to be a nightmare. It was all just a bad dream. He heard voices around him again and then felt magic around him. Charlie let the darkness come again.
———
Charlie stared up at his ceiling. It’s been two weeks since the wedding. Two weeks since he last saw the love of his life smiling with another man. Since then, he learned who the man was. It was Neville Longbottom. Ron and he were in the same year.
What Ron said, Neville was quiet, loved plants, and was not at all grumpy or broken like him. Why wouldn’t Harry want to be with someone like Neville? His fingers rubbed at the leather of his bracelet when the door slammed open.
“Get up!” Bill demanded as he walked into the room. “You will not lie here and give up. I don’t care what you saw at Hagrid’s wedding. From what I heard, Neville’s heart belongs to another. Even if Harry is with Neville doesn’t mean you can’t get him back.” Bill flicked his wand and the curtains opened. Light poured into the room and it burned Charlie’s eyes.
“Bill, you need to get the fuck out of my room. Don’t you have my nephew and niece to take care of? Your poor wife is,” Charlie heard crying. Apparently, his nephew and niece were with him.
“My kids are here with me. It’s Sunday dinner, which you would know if you got your arse out of the bed. Go take a shower, you smell like shite. The babes miss their Uncle Charlie.” Bill held out his hands. “I don’t want to hear your excuses. Then we will talk about how to get your man back.” Bill crossed his arms and glared at him.
Charlie didn’t move. He didn’t give a damn about anything right now. Yes, he missed the babies, but he isn’t in the mindset to see anyone.
“Okay, if you will not move. Aguamenti!” A stream of cold water hit Charlie, who may have screamed a high pitch scream. “Now go take a shower. I’ll tell Mum you’ll be down in 15 minutes. Don’t make me shower you myself, Charlie, or better yet, I’ll get Mum up here to shower you.” There was an evil glare in his older brother’s eyes.
“Fine! I’m getting up. I’ll be down in 15 minutes.” Charlie wiped the water off his face as he summoned his prosthetics.
“Thank you, little brother. See, that wasn’t so hard,” Bill smirked at him as he walked out of the room. He closed the door before the curse that Charlie threw could hit him.
The last thing he wanted to do was to see all of his family, but Bill would get their mum.
Charlie walked into the kitchen, and there sat his whole family. A pang of jealousy hit him. All of his siblings have significant others. Well, besides Percy, he wasn’t there. Good, he still hated how Percy treated Harry, even though his younger brother had issues.
“Finally! Mum wouldn’t let us eat without you being here.” Ron whined as his girlfriend, Hermione, slapped the back of his head.
“Ronald really!” Their mum scolded.
Charlie ignored him and sat down next to Lee, who was holding his niece. With a look at his brother-in-law, Lee smiled at him and passed him, Lola.
“Hi, sweet bunny.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for that smile. I needed that today.” Charlie leaned down and nuzzled into her curly hair.
The dinner was too long, but at least he got to hold Lola the whole time. Playtime with Victorie and Louie was a must. As he was about to escape, Luna stopped him. She was about 7 months pregnant now and looked even more beautiful.
“Charlie, I wanted to say goodnight. I know you are about to hide away. Your brain is full of wrackspurts. I hope they go away before the babies come. You will need a clear head. We will be busy.” Luna kissed his cheek, then walked away.
He loved his sister-in-law, but she made little sense often, even though she was always right. Maybe he should get some help. Though she was only having one baby, why would she say babies?
Harry
The weather warmed up. Harry could tell summer was going to be a warm one. He wasn’t excited to be pregnant during summer, but he couldn’t wait to meet his little one.
Yesterday he had a healer’s appointment. Everything went well. His parents found out if Pooh Bear was a boy or a girl. Barnaby wanted to do something special for him to find out.
Though he couldn’t find out yet, he had to help feed the creatures. His dad said that he shouldn’t do as much as he does, but soon he will not be able to help.
There was a little part of him, well, a big part of him that would love Charlie to be here with him. To share this happiness. He wondered if the older wizard was doing okay and if he had his new prosthetics. Harry wanted to get them for him anonymously, but when he called to do so, they were already paid for. Maybe it was for the better. Charlie might hate him even more if he found out.
Harry made his way through the zoo. Brock and he have been talking about bringing his dragon to live at the zoo. It was still in the planning phase, but he was hopeful.
Harry thought about his baby in a body sling and visiting all the creatures. Pooh Bear would know all about each creature. He placed his hand on his stomach.
“I love you already, Pooh Bear. We will have so much fun here. Growing up in the zoo is the best.”
Harry walked over to the water where Ariel, their Hippocampus was. He hasn’t visited her in a while. When he walked up to her crystal blue water, she splashed around.
The bottom was full of different colored and sized rocks, where other creatures lived. Harry stood on the raised paved stone.
“Hey beautiful girl, I know you are hungry. I’m sorry I haven’t been here.” The hippocampus slapped their tail and water splashed onto him. “Okay, I probably deserved that, but come on girl, look what I have.” Harry always brought treats for them. Ariel loved her sugar cubes.
The hippocampus poked its head out of the water. Harry laughed and held out his hand. “Come on Ariel, I know sugar cubes are your favorite.” The smaller man leaned further into the water. With the extra weight on his front, he lost his footing and slipped. When he did, his head banged off the stone.
The last thing Harry felt was the coldness of the water before his world went black.
Hagrid
Hagrid watched as his husband danced around behind their house. Barnaby had never been this excited. When they went to Harry’s healer’s appointment and found out what their grandchild would be, the blond went into planning mode.
“Ruby, can you believe it? I’m so proud of us for not telling. I know we haven’t been around him much since then, so it’s been easy, but a win is still a win!” The smaller man ran up to him and kissed his lips.
“Ya, it has been hard. Though I haven’t seen him much today either. I know he said he was going to visit Arie, but that was a while ago.” Hagrid looked down at his husband, who frowned up at him.
“Do you think he went to have a nap?” Barnaby nibbled at his bottom lip. He saw the worry in his eyes.
“No, I don’t think he would on a day like today. He was excited to find out. What do ya think we should go see?” Hagrid took a deep breath. He was sure everything was fine.
“Okay, Ruby let's go find out boy.” Hagrid grabbed onto his husband’s hand. He needed the smaller man’s strength. Fang followed behind them. They walked to make sure they didn’t miss him.
When they got closer, they heard loud neighs. Hagrid dropped Barnaby’s hand and ran towards the water. When he got to the water, he gasped. Arie had Harry’s shirt in his mouth. Her tail moved quickly. The clear blue water was clouded with his son’s blood.
“Harry!” Hagrid jumped into the water and pulled Harry out of the water. “Barnaby!”
The blond rushed over to them. “Oh, fuck Ruby! Is… Is he?” Barnaby touched his son’s chest. Hagrid could only watch, frozen by fear. His husband shook his head as he leaned down. “He isn’t breathing! Ruby!”
“Hold on to me.” Hagrid hissed out as if he were in pain. With a pop, he apparated to the hospital. The waiting room was full. Before he could say anything, his husband took over.
“We need help! Pregnant wizard over here! Not breathing and he has a head wound!” Hagrid's knees buckled as he held onto his son. The sight of him lifeless in his arms was too much.
Hagrid’s arms soon were empty, and the matrons had him on a bed. He tried to follow them but was told to stay put. He heard a buzzing in his ear. This couldn’t be happening. Harry was going to be okay. His son had to be okay.
“Ruby… Ruby baby, come on! We are going to figure out what they are going to do with our son, okay?” Hagrid could only nod as Barnaby pulled him towards the door that Harry was pushed through.
Barnaby
“I don’t give a damn what you say! My son is back there and I need to know what is going on! He is pregnant with my grandchild and I swear to all the goddesses that if anything happens to them!” Barnaby snapped at the old matron that sat behind the desk. She wore no emotion on her face, which made him angrier. His husband’s hand squeezed his shoulder. Not even that could calm him.
“They will tell us, Barnaby. Let’s go sit down and wait.” Ruby pulled him away from the desk and sat him down on the ugly chairs in the corner of the waiting room. “It’s going to be okay, Barnaby.”
Barnaby looked up at his husband. It should be him this upset. That was his baby boy. “I’m sorry Ruby! I should be the one comforting you. That is your son.”
The half-giant shook his head and cupped Barnaby’s cheeks. “No love, he is our son. Ya allowed to be upset, he loves ya. Ya are his Pops.” Barnaby leaned into his husband’s touch and cried.
It seemed like it’s been hours since they brought Harry in. No one has come to update them. Barnaby was about to go off again when a small woman walked up toward them. She looked like a healer.
“Misters Hagrid.” They both stood up and Ruby grabbed his hand.
“Yes.” His husband nodded. “Is my son okay?”
“I’m healer Hazel. Your son is stable now. It took a while to run all the tests. There is blood on his brain, his left cheekbone was broken, but we fixed that. We had a couple of issues, but he is a fighter. His magic is powerful. He is in a magically induced coma to heal.”
“What about my grandchild?” Barnaby questioned. He didn’t know if Harry could handle it if anything happened to them.
“The baby is fine. Harry’s magic is powerful, so that is why the baby is doing so well. We might need the baby’s father to help if Harry’s magic dips. We are monitoring it, so we would know right away if we need it.” Barnaby’s stomach dropped. Fingers crossed, they wouldn’t need Charlie.
“We will let the father know now. He is currently in the UK.” Ruby told the healer he wasn’t going to Charlie just yet. They couldn’t do that to Harry because what if he didn’t need him?
“You can go see him now. He still has bruises. We didn’t want to use too much magic.” They both nodded and squeezed each other's hands.
“Thank you, healer Hazel.” Ruby sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair.
“Yes, thank you for taking care of our boy.” Barnaby croaked out.
The older witch walked away, and Barnaby sighed. Harry was okay, his grandchild was okay.
“Let's go see our boy,” Ruby said as he pulled him towards the doors.
“Yes, let's go see him.”
When they walked into the room, Harry looked as if he were sleeping. Until he saw the bruising on his face and the bandage around his head. Ruby got to his son in two steps.
“Hiya Harry, don’t worry. Daddy is here now. Pops is here as well.” The half-giant leaned down and pressed a kiss to their son’s forehead.
Barnaby wiped the tears from his eyes and walked up to his son and grabbed his hand.
“Yes, and we are not going anywhere. We will be right here until you wake up. You just need to heal and get better!” Barnaby’s voice cracked as he squeezed Harry’s hand.
“We should contact Charlie soon. He will need to be here just in case the baby needs him.” Ruby whispered as he sat down on the other side of the bed.
Barnaby shook his head. “No, we should wait and then contact him if we need him. We do not have Harry’s permission to tell Charlie about the baby. Harry told us he didn’t want Charlie to know. That he made his choice.” Barnaby snapped quietly. He would not do that to Harry.
“I don’t think we should wait. What if we can’t find him in time and then we lose not just the baby, but we lose Harry as well!” Rubeus countered. The worried look on his husband's face made his heartbreak. He wanted nothing to happen to them. It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. He couldn’t ask for permission, anyway.
“I know our son would do anythin to save this baby.” Barnaby sighed and nodded his head.
“Fine, you will stay here and I will go floo the Weasleys.” He kissed Harry’s forehead and then Ruby on the lips.
Barnaby found the public floo and called the Weasley’s home. He knew it wasn’t too late; they were only 5 hours ahead of them. Barnaby was about to give up when that woman answered the floo.
“Hello?” Molly greeted, great he didn’t want to have to deal with this woman.
“Hello, I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to talk to your son. It is very important.” Barnaby replied. The last thing he wanted to do was to talk to this woman.
“Which son? I have a lot of them.” She sneered. Of course, she would remember him. His mouth got him into trouble a lot.
“Charlie please,” Barnaby said as nicely as he could. What he wanted to do was walk away from this conversation. Maybe they could find another way to give Harry and the baby magic.
Barnaby watched as the older woman glared at him. “I don’t think so. I don’t think I will tell him. Isn’t that what you told me?”
Barnaby was about to go through the floo and tell this woman what he really wanted to say the first time he met her.
“Listen, lady, I don’t really have time for this. Is Charlie there or not?” Maybe he was right, maybe this wasn’t a good idea. Maybe he could wait a little while and call back.
“Charlie isn’t here right now. He is at a healer's appointment. I can let him know to call you back.” Molly huffed.
Barnaby knew that the woman would not tell him. It was fine. He would not worry about it unless Harry truly needed him.
Charlie
Charlie sat in the waiting room of a mind healer. This is the healer he got from America. It was his goal to live in America when all this was over, so he was going to start here. He didn't want to have to find a new mind healer once he gets his life back on track.
The door opened when a man walked out who looked to be Harry’s age. To say Charlie was shocked that this mind healer was recommended when the man wasn’t that old. He had brown curly hair, pale skin, and big brown eyes.
“Charles Weasley?” The healer walked towards him with a bright smile. What shocked him was his accent. He was British.
“Charlie please,” Charlie told him as he shook his hand.
“Justin Finch Fletchley, but please just call me Justin.” The healer nodded. “You wouldn’t relate to Ron Weasley? I went to school with him.”
“Yes, he is my youngest brother. That won’t be a problem, will it? It won’t be weird or a conflict of interest?” Charlie was serious about this. After the talk he had with Bill and then Luna, he knew he had to do something.
Justin grew serious. “No, Charlie, it isn't. I moved from the UK after my 3rd year. I was never close to him. I was in Hufflepuff. Follow me and we can talk in my office.”
Charlie followed the healer, and his heart raced. Why was this so scary? He could stand in front of a dragon with no problem.
The room was comfy looking. There was a dark oak desk in the middle, but then there was a long couch with two leather chairs. Charlie would not lie on a couch like they do in muggle books and tv. He went to one of the leather chairs and sat down.
Justin pulled out a pen and journal. The healer looked at him and asked, “What brings you to therapy and what do you want to get from this?”
Charlie looked down at his fingers as he picked the skin around his nails. With a growl, he started.
“I fucked up. I’m here because I’m a prick. I lost the only man I loved because I hid stuff from him. I was hurt, and I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want pity or charity. I am half a fucking man because I lost my damn legs. He is fucking perfection, he is everything I’m not. The last time we spoke, I told him to get the fuck out. Then the last time I saw him, he was smiling at another man. My brother has been kicking my arse, telling me I need to get help and ask for help.” Charlie ran his hand as he huffed and continued.
“I want to think I’m not shite. I want to be the man that he deserves. I just need to be fixed and not broken.”
Charlie looked up and saw Justin studying him. The look on his face wasn’t pity or anything negative.
“Do you think you are only doing this to get this man back, or do you truly want to get better?” Justin asked as he fiddled with his pen.
“I’m here because I need to get better. I can’t lie and tell you Harry isn’t a motivator, but I can’t be the man he deserves if I don’t start healing myself.” Charlie answered honestly.
“Great!” Justin smiled again. “Now to get started.”
The hour with his new healer went by quickly. They covered little today but what they did, Charlie felt optimistic, well, as optimistic as he could.
When he got home, he heard his mum disconnect the floo.
“Everything okay Mum?” He asked the older witch when he saw her.
“Yes, everything is perfect. How was your healer's appointment?” Charlie didn’t tell her what kind of healer it was. He didn’t want her to know about it.
“It went okay. I’m going to go upstairs and work on some things. I’ll see you at dinner.” Charlie k kissed his mother’s cheek before he walked up the stairs. He would get better for Harry.
Harry
Harry was thirsty and achy. Gods, it felt like his body weighed a ton. His bed has never felt this uncomfortable. He was only 5 months pregnant, and he has a while before he gives birth. It is only going to get worse.
Then he felt a hand in his. This wasn’t his bed. Harry tore his eye open and the white bright lights burned. With a groan, he closed them.
“Harry!” That was his dad’s voice. “Hold on, we will turn the lights down for ya.”
He felt another hand brush back his hair. “There you go sweet boy, open your eyes.” Barnaby sniffed.
Harry opened his eyes again. The room was darker. “There ya are. We’ve been worried about ya, Harry.” His dad squeezed his hands.
“We have. Do you remember what happened?” Barnaby asked as he continued to run his fingers through his hair. Harry thought hard. It didn’t take long for it to all come back.
He fell into the water and hit his head on something. Pooh Bear!
Harry shot up as pain seared through his head and cheek. “Pooh Bear!” He groaned as his hands went to his stomach. The small tingle of magic brushed him.
“He is okay, Pooh bear is okay. You are okay Harry. Though you are never leaving our sight for a long time!” Barnaby put his hand over Harry’s. He was okay. Pooh Bear was okay. Oh, Barnaby said he!
“Pooh Bear is a boy?!” Harry croaked happily. The smile on Barnaby’s face fell.
“Oh Ruby, I told the secret. Look at you rubbing off on me.” Barnaby pouted. Harry tried to laugh, but it came out as a cough.
“It’s alright love, ya didn’t mean to. Harry doesn’t care, do ya, Harry?” His dad asked as he ran his fingers through Harry’s hair.
“Not one bit. I’m glad to know. Though I am hurting, thirsty and hungry. Um, do you think we can get a matron or a healer here?” Harry tried to get comfortable and twinged in pain.
“Oh, of course! Ruby, stay with our boy and I’ll go get a healer.” Barnaby ran out of the room.
The half-giant leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Ya scared me, Harry. Please don’t do that again. I’m not sure what I’m gonna do if anything ever happens to ya.”
Harry took his fathers' and squeezed it. “That is something you don’t have to worry about. I love you, Dad, and I promise I won’t scare you again.”
“I love ya too Harry and I love Pooh Bear too.”
“Topher, well Christopher, I don’t have a middle name picked out, but Christopher will be his name. I’ll have my very own Christopher Robin. Silly, I know, so that is why Topher it is.” Harry placed his hand on his stomach and smiled again. He loved the feel of his son’s magic.
“OH, that is perfect for our little Pooh Bear.” Barnaby agreed when he walked back into the room. “Topher will be loved so much!”
Harry knew they would be loved so much and will never be alone.
——-
Neville came over to check up on him a couple of days later. Since his parents' wedding, they have been almost inseparable.
“So, how is your professor?” Harry asked before he took a bite of his hamburger. Neville was raised around witches and wizards, he never had fast food burgers.
The blond’s face burned red. “He is not my professor. I got to spend time with him when he was picking ingredients. I’m not sure why I was there. He told me to meet him in the forbidden forest. I walked beside him and rambled about everything I saw. I guess I should be happy that he didn’t tell me to shut up. Though he didn’t say anything.” Neville sighed, he swirled his french fry in his milkshake. Harry wanted to hug his sweet friend.
“Nev, I think that means he wanted to spend time with you. He could have gone by himself. You are right, though he didn’t. He wanted you there with him. Neville, you are handsome, sweet, intelligent, the full package. I don’t see why he wouldn’t want to spend time with you.” Harry hated that his friend felt this way.
“I’m tubby Harry. I have a thick middle, blond hair, and then my chubby cheeks make me look like a child! Not everyone is like you, Harry. You have that perfect messy black hair, those green eyes and you have lean muscles. Even with your baby bump, you are hot.” Neville sighed as he threw up his hands in frustration.
“Oh, no, Hunny, did I hear you right?” Barnaby stormed into Harry’s living room. He loved his pops. “You are very handsome, Neville! Your body makes you who you are and you are handsome! I remember the other day we went out, and I saw a lot of men and women looking at you! You have that sweet, innocent smile. Lots of people like the innocent ones.” Barnaby winked at Neville before he kissed Harry on the forehead.
“If you say so, Barnaby.” Neville blushed and looked down at his meal. Poor guy, he needs to get his confidence up.
“I was stopping by to see if you ate lunch, but I see you have. It looks good!” Barnaby eyed their lunch. Harry loved that man so much.
“I have an extra burger and fries in the bag. I figured you would be by. It has a warming charm on it.”
“Oh, see. This is why you are my favorite sons. That means you too, Neville. Too bad I can’t officially adopt you or I would. Ruby already knows, so next family dinner I better see you there!” Neville’s head popped up, his eyes glassy with unshed tears.
“Oh… Umm.” Neville stuttered.
“It’s too late now Neville, you are family now. I’ve always wanted a brother.”