Title: Dragon's prey 

Pairing: Charlie Weasley x Reader

Word count: 3.1k

Published: 19 August 2021

Author: Heloise Daphne Brightmore

Request: "Charlie Weasley x female reader. where it's her last year so she decide to join the Triwizard Tournament. During the 1st task, she gets the dragon egg but suffered burns/injuries. All the while Charlie was secretly backstage watching her complete the task while being worried sick yet proud of her. When she gets back into the tent she is surprised to see her bf Charlie. She didn't know he was in hogwarts, believing that he was in Romania. Anyways he takes over and nurses her injuries." 

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Charlie hated that he couldn't see you until your Christmas break, but you had to go back to finish your last year in Hogwarts and he knew after you graduated, he'd have all the time in the world to spend with you. He worked hard, trying to distract himself whilst only being able to exchange a couple of letters a week with you. He prepared himself for 4 months of utter hell without the soft kisses you liked to press to his forehead, your wandering hands curiously running through his ginger locks, your soft body curled against his, basking in each other's warmth. Even the thought of spending one more minute without you was hell and he often found himself daydreaming about you. But all those thoughts seemed to vanish from his mind when he received your last letter. His heart halted for a mere moment as he attempted to read the lines, his trembling hands complicating the simple task.

Your handwriting was disorganised and rushed; the parchment filled with spots of dried teardrops. All his muscles tensed at the sight of the short letter you'd sent. He couldn't believe his own eyes as he processed what you'd done. He knew at times you were reckless but throwing your name in the Goblet of fire had to be the stupidest thing you'd ever done. His lips quivered as he reread the letter over and over and over again, hoping it was part of a horrible prank and maybe— just maybe there was an indication that it wasn't real. But he couldn't miss the messy handwriting, he couldn't ignore the dried spots of what he knew without a doubt to be teardrops and most of all, he knew you enough to realise you'd never joke about such things. Not when you knew he'd lose his mind.

From that moment, Charlie's mind filled with thoughts that he wished to never think of. He couldn't pay attention to the dragons in his care, he couldn't focus on the meetings and discussions and couldn't get himself to see anything but you. He didn't care that flying in daylight was not permitted nor did he care about the Ministry punishing him for it. He took his broom and flew across countries high in the sky, after spending days in miserable despair waiting for a reply to his scolding letter. But your answer never came. His worst nightmares replayed in his mind as though they were stuck in a broken muggle film projector. He tried to shake the thoughts out of his head, but as soon as he closed his eyes, he could see your mangled body lying in a pool of your blood, his favourite pair of eyes clouded in a thin mist without a hint of light to break through.

As soon as he arrived at Hogsmeade— after 3 days of flying and stopping in crumbling, old motels— he rushed up the hills leading to the castle, separated by a large gate made of metal. He knew he wasn't supposed to be there and so did Professor Flitwick who looked at him as if he had accidentally grown another head since his arrival.

"Mr. Weasley?" He asked with a confused frown across his brows, securely standing behind the metal bars that separated him from Charlie. "What is your business here today?" He asked, slightly tilting his head.

"I need to go in," Charlie replied, his words rushed and impatient. The Professor studied him, inclining his head from one side to the other as if it helped him through whatever thoughts occupied his mind. "I need to get in," he repeated, this time using a more intimidating tone. Clearly, the professor didn't like the way he had been talked to and as a result, crossed his arms in front of his chest, his expression turning cold.

"I'm afraid that's not possible," he shook his head, utter calmness sitting across his face, studying the younger boy with a sceptical look.

"You better find a way then," he hissed through gritted teeth, slowly losing his patience. He was always calm and collected, but he couldn't access any thoughts in his memory other than your bloodied up body that his imagination so carefully crafted.

"Excuse me?" Flitwick's high-pitched tone showed just how awfully Charlie had rattled him and for a moment it seemed he was ready to curse his ex-student.

"Filius," the deep voice that came from behind a tree immediately caught Charlie's attention. For a mere second, he felt remorse for the way he talked before, but as quickly as it came, it disappeared. He needed to see you and not even the headmaster could stand in his way. "I might know why young Mr. Weasley would like to enter the school grounds," his words seemed slow and calculated, igniting another rush of impatience in Charlie.

"Professor, I—," He was ready to plead his case and beg if he needed to, but Dumbledore lifted a hand, immediately forcing him to quiet down.

"Filius, if you could please open the gate," He instructed the other professor, who was ready to argue, words ready to roll off the tip of his tongue, but a stern look from the headmaster stopped him from letting them lose. With a silent curse Charlie couldn't quite catch, he opened the gate.

"Thank you, professor," Charlie nodded towards the headmaster, his tone filled with relief. He was about to rush to you, trying to find wherever you'd been hiding, when Dumbledore spoke up once again.

"I assumed you'd arrive with your colleagues," he arched a questioning brow, but a hidden, knowing look lurked behind those wise eyes.

"I— I wasn't—," he breathed with a heavy frown spreading across his brows. His mind roamed through hundreds of memories in a matter of seconds before his eyes widened. He could just about recall a hazy memory, the transportation of four of their dragons across the continent, but he didn't quite pay attention to the location or the reason behind it. His mind wandered over the letter you'd sent him, imagining scenarios he wished to never see. A harsh curse left his lungs as he realised you were about to meet head on with the dragons he cared so deeply about. He felt his chest tighten at the thought, the image of your brutally destroyed body flashing in his mind once again, guilt flooding through him.

"The first task has already started," Dumbledore said, indicating for him to get his sorry ass wherever he was pointing at, before his heart was about to stop right then and there. Charlie didn't dispute, nor did he thank the headmaster. He ran as fast as lightning, or so he wished, but it still felt like his body was barely jogging across the grounds of the school. He followed the loud, cheerful sounds coming from across the field and hurried his steps.

When Charlie found the arena, his heart jumped to his throat, almost suffocating him. You were squatting behind a rather large stone, ducking each time the dragon spat fire at you. She was playing with you, taunting you and she knew exactly what she was doing. Charlie knew the dangerously intelligent dragon. Bloodthirsty purple eyes, vicious tail decorated in spikes crafted like lethal arrows, thin membrane of skin stretching between too-wide, pitch-black wings, sharp talons shining in the dim afternoon light. Charlie felt his blood freeze, his legs going numb as he watched you struggling against the attacks. A Hebridean Black, ready to play the last game of her victim's life. She wasn't worried about her eggs' protection. Oh no! She was a confident, somewhat arrogant dragon who Charlie had always struggled to get close to. She enjoyed the game, playing with her prey before growing bored and brutally ending their lethal act with the snap of her muscled jaws around her victim's neck with a horrifying crunching sound.

As Charlie finally found the will to move, he ran towards the tent across the spectator seating and like wind, slipped through the thin material hiding away the inside. Harry's eyes widened as he caught sight of the older boy, but remained quiet as Charlie placed his index finger on his lips. With a simple nod he turned away and created a diversion inside the tent, drawing the other contestants' attention away from Charlie whilst he sneaked around the edge of the tent and hid behind a curtain with a perfect view to the outside.

His body trembled as he saw burn marks across your arm and shoulder. A gaping whole revealing the injured skin as the material soaked up the blood escaping your wound. His breath shuddered, but a certain pride rose in his chest as you turned just enough for him to catch a glimpse of your face, a feral smile spreading across your lips as though you were winning against that giant, 30 feet tall dragon towering over you. He didn't understand how you were still on your feet, attacking the wild beast with such advanced spells even he'd never heard of. He couldn't process how you could feel so confident against hundreds of pounds of pure death, but you were still standing with that fearsome grin across your face as you sent a spell against the dragon, and it froze. Her body stopped moving, wings tightly shut behind her, jaw open wide, ready to attack, but she couldn't. Not when she froze like a statue. You quickly jumped across the stones and pulled out the golden egg you have been desperately fighting for, lifting it in the air with a triumphant smirk.

Charlie couldn't process what happened after that. His senses only seemed to return as you stepped inside the tent with an assertive atmosphere surrounding you, earning you a nod from each competitor you'd been fighting against. Harry patted your shoulder with some encouragement thrown your way, but the smile quickly disappeared from your face as he accidentally touched your burned flash causing you to wince. As though that was all Charlie needed, he unrevealed himself from behind the curtain, earning himself numerous pairs of confused looks and gasps before you finally turned towards him as well. Your eyes grew wide in surprise, but you didn't have much time to greet him and hug him or even let a word slip from your tongue. He cupped your cheeks with the speed of a lion and pressed his lips against yours. Air stuck in your lungs at the feel of his desperate need for touch. Your heart thundered heavily under your ribcage, blood coursing through your veins like hot lava, burning you from the inside as you whispered his name on his lips and kissed him back.

"Charlie," you whimpered his name, pleading, unknown to what and why exactly.

"I'm here, love, I'm here," he nodded and without a glance at others, he wrapped an arm around your waist and led you out of the tent. You were so entranced by his presence, the warmth filling your chest, the worry sitting across his face and the tense arm he held around you with a beast's protectiveness emitting from him, you didn't even realise when you arrived at your dormitory.

He led you up the stairs, still not a word exchanged between the two of you. Charlie wanted to scream how much he had missed you and wanted to hold you in his arms, but each time he caught sight of your injury, his heart skipped a heavy beat.

"Charlie," you called his name, your tone desperate for him, his touches, his kisses, the whole of him.

"Let's get you cleaned up and we will talk, love," he nodded, his eyes filled with worry, his hands shaking as he helped you get out of your clothes and placed the hard-won egg and your wand beside the bed. You wanted to talk, say something, but you could feel him trembling beside you so you didn't push it. He wasn't ready to talk just yet.

As soon as you were ready and walked out of the bathroom, wearing your pajamas consisting of a pair of shorts and a tank top, he patted the bed beside him and waited for you to take place. With the gentlest fingers he'd ever touched you, he smeared some healing salve across the lengthy burn mark across your skin, gritting his teeth each time you winced in pain.

Your eyes followed each and every movement he made, but mostly forgot your eyes on the little frown that almost permanently took over the space between his brows, the little crinkles seated beside his ever so concentrating pair of eyes and soft, plump lips he seemed to bite each time he brushed the cream against your skin.

"I love you," the words escaped you without hesitation as you watched the love of your life tend to you as though you were ready to break any second. He lifted his head, meeting your intense gaze, before you pressed your lips against his, feeling like a mere touch of his could heal you completely. His hands moved to your cheeks, tilting your head for better access, letting himself enjoy the warmth he so desperately needed from you. But his guilt once again overpowered him and he couldn't keep quite any longer.

"I'm so sorry," he breathed against your lips, eyes still closed as he pressed his brows against yours. "I could have warned you, I could have trained you," he repeated, each word holding more and more guilt, a never ending self-deprecation.

"What are you talking about?" You watched as he shook his head, gritting his teeth.

"If I had just paid attention, I would have known about the task and could have warned you," he hissed, anger building up deep inside him.

"Charlie," his name left your lips in a soft whisper. "Charlie, look at me," you placed a hand on his cheek, trying to get him to open his eyes, but he shook his head. He couldn't look at you. Not when he felt so guilty, so useless. Not when you stood in front of him, blood dripping from your arm. "I'm begging you, love, look at me," you tried once again, and it seemed to work. His eyes finally opened and met your gaze. "You couldn't have told me about it. It would have been against the rules. But even if you found a way, you couldn't possibly predict which dragon I'd choose, nor could you train me in such a short amount of time," his seemed to lighten, but his body still felt tense under your touch.

"I could have found a way," his voice trembled as his gaze dropped from yours to the ground.

"No, you couldn't," you shook your head as you pulled back and lifted his head. "And I wouldn't have let you. I was foolish enough to throw my name in the Goblet of fire, but I'll do this competition to the best of my abilities. I accept any and all help, but I don't want to win or place second, third or fourth, knowing I didn't do it with all I've got," your words seemed to lighten him up as his shoulders finally sagged. "I'm here, I'm okay and you are here with me," you pressed a soft kiss against his lips and wrapped your arms around his neck. "I don't need anything right now, only you and you are here. So, what do you say we stop moping over what happened and instead we hold each other? I kind of missed you," you said with a cheeky grin spreading across your face. Although Charlie tried to stay serious, he couldn't stop the half-laugh half-scoff escaping his lips as you playfully wiggled your brows.

"I won't let you go. Not even for a second," he replied with somewhat of a relief in his tone, making you feel just a tad lighter in your skin.

"I think I like the sound of that," you chuckled as you held your wand towards the door, locking it with a simple spell. "Anything particular in mind?" You arched a questioning brow, anticipating a night tangled up in each other's body under your heavy duvet.

"Yes, sleep! Don't you think for a second that I forgot you're injured," he huffed with half seriousness, though he was fighting hard against the smile that attempted to spread across his lips.

"You're officially the worst boyfriend ever," you grimaced with an annoyed huff as you pulled your arms back from his neck and folded them in front of your chest, sulking and pouting like a child.

"And I thought I could stay here tomorrow too. I guess I was wrong," he shrugged his shoulders as he met your wide eyes.

"Do you mean it? Will you stay here tomorrow?" You asked, grabbing his arm, and wrapping yours around his, looking up at him with a hopeful glint in your eyes.

"I planned to, but since I'm the worst boyfriend ever, I wouldn't want to bother you," he played his part well and he knew you wouldn't believe a word he said, but you replied anyway.

"No, no, I have no idea where you heard that from. You're the best boyfriend ever," you grinned at him as though you were ready to devour him as your personal dessert. A loud chuckle left his lungs as he pulled you onto your bed, avoiding your injured arm and wrapped you in his embrace.

"I missed you so much," he said with a soft smile as you looked up at him and he pressed a light kiss on your forehead.

"I missed you more," you whispered as you locked your fingers with his and let your interlocked hands rest on his chest. "Thank you for coming," sleep was taking over you faster than you had anticipated, but you struggled against it with the heart of a warrior. "I know it might sound silly, but it didn't feel right that you weren't there," your voice was barely louder than a whisper, your eyes already shut tight as you fought against the darkness. Though you were slowly stepping into dreamland, you could still hear his hushed reply.

"Because it wasn't. You complete me the same way I complete you and I wouldn't have it any other way," he spoke with his deep, silky voice, earning a tiny, but satisfied smile from you. "Now sleep, love. We will have all of tomorrow for ourselves," after a last weightless kiss on the top of your head, you let the heavy slumber take you over, squeezing Charlie's hand in the process, making sure he was still there with you.

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If you enjoy my stories, please consider donating and supporting me on Ko-fi. Of course, it's completely your choice, I will continue updating for free anyway :) Thank you <3 [ ko-fi.com/heloisedaphnebrightmore ]