Written for the Pokémon Journey Challenge

Prompts: sudden, beginning

Word count: 1,889

The moment he arrived in Romania, Harry's stomach dropped. After apparition this wasn't so abnormal, but it was the sight of the red-haired man waiting that made a sudden terror fill his veins. He almost apparated back right then. For a few minutes, the two of them stood there staring at each other. Harry had no idea what the man could be thinking, but his own thoughts were surrounded on Ginny. Beautiful, lovely Ginny. Harry felt his throat catch. Shivers began to rake down his back and his hands shook. His vision began to tunnel and he barely remained standing. This wasn't his idea. He didn't want to be here. He wanted to go back. Harry took a step away but Charlie was next to him in a flash gripping his wrist. Harry could see words in his eyes, but said nothing. Harry looked away, unwilling to read them. Then Harry found his eyes trained on the familiar red tint of hair. Red... Red swept across his vision and black soon followed.

Charlie was glad he had a hand on Harry as the man fainted. Charlie felt his own emotions fluttering inside but he held them at bay and side-apparated Harry to his home. They landed in the guest bedroom and Charlie gently laid the shaking man onto the bed. As he stood, he looked down at Harry. The 27 year-old man's face was starting to get premature worry lines. His eyes were sealed shut, and Charlie watched as tears built up in the corners. But they didn't fall. Charlie felt his breath leave him and he collapsed into the chair next to the bed. He hadn't known what to expect, but this nervous man was not it.

But Charlie could admit to himself that he wasn't completely unprepared for it. Ron's owl had said Harry was in a bad way. Everyone else in the Weasley family had tried something to help, Hermione included, to no avail. Despite this, Harry had refused to go to a mind healer. Charlie wasn't sure how he was supposed to help where others failed. Charlie had been planning on talking to Harry, but the panic that had colored the man's eyes... Charlie didn't think they were at talking yet. But he didn't have much else to offer.

Harry felt much calmer when he woke up, the world in its natural hues. He lay perfectly still and stared at the stone ceiling above him. It reminded him of Hogwarts a bit. A comforting thought. Harry suddenly became aware of another set of lungs in the room. Slowly, to not start whoever it was, Harry turned to look. He saw Charlie Weasley slouched in a wooden chair, his chin resting on his chest and his arms crossed. He was sleeping. Emotions warred in Harry. He still wanted to run. But he had promised Hermione he would come here. He had promised to try. How could he not after seeing Hermione break down into tears. Harry shut his eyes and took a deep breath.

Harry knew he wasn't OK. He knew that. But why did he have to be here with another Weasley. Why did Charlie have to have the same red hair and the same eyes as Ginny? Ginny... Harry felt as though a fissure deepened in his chest and he gasped. His breaths came faster and faster as he fought to keep the memories at bay. He got lost in his mind and didn't realize his body was thrashing as his hands were clawing at his chest

Charlie woke when he heard a gasp. He looked up to see Harry's nails digging at the center of his chest. Charlie reacted on instinct. He cast a detection spell. No magic lingered under Harry's fingers. This was both a relief and caused him worry. Charlie took a fortifying breath before he walked over to the bed. Harry's eyes were flickering just under the lids. A nightmare than. He remembered what his mom used to do for his nightmares so he gripped Harry's face with his hands. Keeping the head still he began to rub his thumbs in circles softly over Harry's temples.

At first Harry didn't respond. For the first five minutes Harry didn't respond. Charlie almost gave up hope but then Harry slowly began to still. Finally, he stopped moving his fingers rigid but no longer digging into the blood that had welled up. There was a moment, then Harry let out a shuddering breath and his whole body seemed to deflate. Harry didn't open his eyes but opened his mouth.

"Thank you Charlie." Charlie wasn't sure what to say, so he placed a hand against Harry's forearm. Harry stiffened and Charlie froze. Before he moved his hand away again Harry relaxed slightly. He repeated the words. "Thank you Charlie."

Three days later and Charlie was still at a loss to how he could help Harry. They hardly spoke to one another. Charlie had heard from Ron that Harry liked to put silencing charms around his bed so no one could hear his nightmares. So he spent his nights in the wooden chair, although he had the sense to cast some cushioning charms the second night.

Charlie was still thinking of things he could do when someone began hammering on his door. Without hesitation, he went to the door and opened it. Jackson stood there and opened his mouth to say something but then glanced behind Charlie and froze. Charlie turned to find Harry standing there, a wand at the ready. Charlie felt horribly stupid. "Harry its OK. He's my coworker." Harry changed from poised to frozen for a moment before slowly lowering his wand. But he noticed that Harry didn't put it away. Charlie turned back to Jackson. "What's going on?"

Jackson took a moment to reply his attention still on the man behind Charlie. But then his eyes lit up in remembrance. "It's the Opaleye. We don't know what's wrong; she's huddled in a corner and hissing at everyone and everything."

"Is she pregnant?"

Jackson shook his head. "The spells detect nothing like that, no pregnancy, no illness, not even a splinter."

Charlie nodded. "Ok. I'm coming." Charlie glanced at Harry before continuing. "Harry, come with me."

Jackson spoke up. "Weasley, you know we can't have a..." Jackson stopped at Charlie's glare. "Fine. But it's your responsibility."

"I know." Charlie turned Harry. "Coming?" Harry's eyes flickered between Jackson, Charlie, and then up, as though contemplating his room. He bit his lip and his fingers tightened and loosened on his wand. Harry's eyes met Charlie's before slipping away again. But the man nodded his head. Charlie flashed him a smile, even though Harry has turned his head down and could not see it. "Good." Charlie nodded at Jackson before closing the door. He turned fully to Harry and held out his hand. Harry hesitated again, his hand slowly raising before hovering a hair's breathe away from Charlie's. But then it dropped into Charlie's palm, he felt how cool Harry's hand was to his, and they both disappeared with a large Crack!

They feel out of the tunnel of apparition at the entrance of a large cave. Charred earth circled the entrance. Charlie released his hand and told him to stay where he was. Harry watched as the man fearlessly walked into the cave and couldn't help but follow a minute later. He didn't have to go far. He was able to see the dragon only a few feet in. He was immediately stunned by its beauty. It was a light blue color with lines of pearl colored scales that swirled around its body. It was currently wrapped into a tight ball and the ground around it was lit with a vivid red flame. Harry's eyes moved to the only other thing moving. Charlie.

Harry gulped back his own fear as he watched the man approach with his hands raised. The dragon didn't respond at first. But its head soon lifted from the folds of body and lowered down to Charlie's hand. As it did so, it smothered the flames around it, starting with those closer to the man. Harry couldn't hear what Charlie was saying, but then Harry heard a slow rumbling that he could understand.

"My fire-child. I missed you." Harry watched in fascination as the dragon slowly relaxed at Charlie's touch until soon the man was sitting on the dragon's forearm and was slowly running his hand down the dragon's chest. The dragon was nearly purring and Harry nearly laughed at the words. "My beautiful fire-child. I am so glad I don't want to eat you. That it... just... ahhh. Yes. Fire-child that spot always itches lately. I wonder if I eat you if you could always itch it." Harry found himself snorting loudly despite himself. It was half humor-half fear. The sound echoed and two sets of eyes shot toward him. One was too far away for him to make out the emotions it carried, but the dragon's eyes entranced Harry. They eyes glittered blue, green, and purple. Harry took a step closer before he knew what he was doing.

The dragon saw still but didn't seem to be ready to attack so Harry took another step. Soon he found himself only a mere foot from the dragon, standing nearly nose to nose with it.

Charlie held his breath. He knew the dragon didn't feel threatened by Harry. But Charlie was still sure she would decide to eat him soon enough. He started to open his mouth to tell Harry to back away when Harry reached up and ran a hand down the length of the dragon's nose. The Opaleye shuddered, Harry looked fascinated, and Charlie was shocked. The dragon began to make the hissing noises she made whenever content, but then they both froze when Harry hissed at the dragon in response.

The dragon turned to look at Charlie for a moment before turning back to Harry and hissing at him directly. Harry hissed back. Charlie was dumped uncaringly from his perch as the dragon stood and began to walk around Harry. Charlie stood and watched as Harry held still as the dragon sniffed every inch of Harry and hissed at him.

Harry smiled slightly and hissed in response. Charlie felt his heart clench. He was talking to the dragon. Oh god! Charlie dropped back down to the ground, his knees having given up on him. Harry was talking to the dragon!

"Charlie?" he heard seconds before he felt the dragon nudge him with her nose. He looked up and it took a moment for his eyes to focus on the dragon before turning to Harry then back to the dragon. "Charlie?" Harry seemed a bit panicked and kneeled beside him, his hands hovering as if to check for injury. "Charlie, what's wrong? Did you get hurt when she stood up?" The dragon began hissing furiously and Charlie felt his breath catch as he heard Harry translate. "She didn't mean to. She said sorry. She didn't mean to hurt her fire..." Harry froze and closed his mouth at something the dragon said.

Charlie watched as the man's face turned bright red and he hissed back at the dragon fervently. The Opaleye shook her head and used her tail and head to nudge Harry closer and closer to Charlie. The dragon was only satisfied when Harry's knees were pressed against his leg. Charlie was still in a bit of a daze as Harry pulled out his wand and performed some spells on Charlie. Finally he found his voice. Charlie gripped Harry's arms. "Did you just talk to the Opaleye?"

Harry's eyes widened as his arms tried to pull from Charlie's grip. "I..." Harry glanced at the dragon and hissed something at her. She hissed back before curling her body around the two, her head resting on her tail. "She said that she was raised by Nu Wa... whatever that is."

Charlie gulped and released Harry before putting his hands at his own temples. The researching part of his mind was going crazy. "It's the Chinese version of Lamia." He answered even as he began to think of the possibilities. There was silence and so Charlie looked up and saw Harry didn't understand. "They are half snake." Harry's eyes lit up at that and he turned to the dragon and spoke to her. Harry nodded after she answered. "Yes. So she speaks mostly in snake-language when she is alone because it is her birth tongue... first language." Questions seemed to cram into their mouth each wanting to be asked, but Charlie swallowed them all. Unwilling to stop the conversation now flowing between the dragon and man.

The dragon hissed and released the circle of her body enough so that the two of them were only an arm's length away. Harry seemed to subconsciously back away from Charlie the moment he could, hissing at the dragon all the while. Charlie watched as the man in front of him began to have an argument with the dragon. Charlie realized that this was the most animated he had seen Harry. The first time he had seen Charlie and not had a minor panic attack. This would be good for Harry. Charlie also had to admit that he wanted to know more about the dragons, and Harry could help. Yes. This was only the beginning for them.

This is an updated version as of 3-9-2017

The updated word count is now - 2,320

The biggest motivator for me to re-touch my story as well as finishing it is all thanks to the people who continually favorite, follow, and reviewed it. So really ~ THANK YOU!

Thanks so much for coming to read my story! I hope you enjoy the rest of it!