The sun was setting as Charlie dragged himself home. He was hot, sweaty and exhausted. There was a healing burn to his right side that itched and a slash to his left forearm that remained tender despite the wound being closed.

It had been a long and busy three months on the reserve. Their normal mild winter had given way to wetter weather and they had been inundated with rain.

Flooding had been a frequent trial. They'd had to relocate several of the nests while territorial disputes and fighting amongst the dragons had become commonplace. And then there were the illnesses. Resp sickness, foot rot, and parasites had been rampant amongst the animals.

Of course the human population had had its own share of illness as well. Pepper up potions had been taken two, sometimes three, times a day.

They had lost more than one handler when they had been sidelined due to the elements. The rest had taken to camping in the fields rather than wasting the time to fly back and forth. Finally though things seemed to be settling and the crew were able to take a few days to rest.

Entering his cosy cottage Charlie made his way straight to the shower, soaking in the hot water until he felt human once more. Afterwards he made himself a simple but large dinner. Taking it with him he collapsed onto the couch.

His eyes landed on the mess of letters scattered across the table in front of him. He picked up one and grimaced. After Harry's letter about the petrification of his classmate and Nearly headless Nick Charlie had lost his head a bit and had done something he knew he would regret. He'd written to his mum about his suspicions concerning the headmaster. Her response had been less than enjoyable.

Dear Charlie

Oh it was so nice to hear from you. You don't write nearly enough. I do wish you had been able to come home for Christmas. After Bill convinced us to stay home to save galleons the children were able to come home from Hogwarts and even Bill was able to come for the day. You can't tell me that you couldn't pull yourself away from those dragons for your family. You really need to start sorting out your priorities.

Now what's this nonsense about Dumbledore? You know very well he wouldn't put any of the children in danger. I'm sure anything you've heard is just exaggeration. You should be ashamed of yourselves for thinking so poorly of such a great man. I don't want to hear another word about it.

Now dear, are you eating enough? Getting enough to sleep? Have you met a nice girl yet?

Charlie crumbled the letter and tossed it aside. It was just like his mum to disbelieve anything bad about Dumbledore.

Well he hadn't listened to her, not really. He'd written a letter to the school governors but hadn't managed to send it yet. He swore to himself that it had been the problems on the reserve that had stayed his hand and not his mother's words.

Thankfully things had been quiet for the last few months. Well mostly, he amended grimacing as he picked up one of Harry's letters.

Dear Charlie

Your latest letter about the Vipertooth nest getting flooded was funny though I know how dangerous it was for you and the others. Still though I can practically hear the sounds the silly dragons made.

I hope that is the last of the trouble you guys have with the rain. How are the nesting mothers taking it? You said you thought the Horntail was going to be laying eggs soon. Will she still lay them if the nest has to be moved?

You are keeping safe aren't you? I know how you get sometimes. You're so concerned about your dragons that you forget to care for yourself.

Things have been pretty quiet here this week. No more petrifications. Moaning Myrtle flooded her bathroom again. It seems someone threw a book down a toilet and it went through her. Silly ghost. What does she think is going to happen when she insists on resting in the toilet pipes. She should be glad that it was just a book and not something more disgusting.

Why would someone throw a book in a toilet anyway? It was nothing special when I picked it up. It's just an old blank diary.

Hermione was really excited when I brought it back to the common room. She tried a couple spells and something called a revealer in case the writing was in invisible ink.

Ron was sitting with Hermione when I got back and he was acting even more unusual than normal. Instead of just ignoring me he kept glaring and he acted like he wanted to knock the diary out of Hermione's hands. It's just a book. What's the big deal?

Charlie thought about the letter he had sent in return. It had been a might harsh, full of scolding. But his father's teachings were too ingrained in him not to be fearful of Harry's lack of regard. He knew the kid hadn't been taught the dangers of cursed objects but felt like he should be a bit mindful after a year and a half of magic school.

Though judging from the letter he'd gotten a couple weeks later Harry hadn't read a word he'd written.

You'll never guess what happened. I found out that the diary absorbs ink so I started writing in it and it actually wrote back. Since the diary is fifty years old and according to Neville's Gran the Chamber was opened fifty years ago I asked if it knew anything and it showed me a memory. According to the book Hagrid was the one to open the chamber and release the monster. That's why he was expelled. I can't believe that he did it on purpose. Hagrid's not mean enough for that. But according to the memory a girl died last time. But if the monster killed last time why is it only petrifying this time?

That little stunt had gotten the kid a blistering lecture and grounded for a week. Charlie had also sent a letter off to Bill who had no idea what magic the diary was employing.

Charlie knew the memory had to be false in some way. He could see Hagrid befriending a dangerous creature or even accidently opening the chamber. But if someone had died and it really had been Hagrid's fault he would have been in Azkaban. Or at the very least he'd not have been allowed back on school grounds. Not even Dumbledore would have been able to allow a murderer to reside at the school.

Charlie's only consolation was that Harry no longer had the mysterious book. Not that he liked the thought of someone, most likely the one who had been terrorizing the school, had been able to get into Harry's dorm to steal the book back. Or that they were close enough to the kid to even know he had the book in the first place.

Of course the past months hadn't been all bad. All four children had gone their separate ways for the holidays allowing tempers to cool. Harry and Hermione had made up though their relationship was not as warm as it had been previously.

Ron had cooled off enough that he was able to be in the same room with his former friend, choosing to remain silent. He spent most of his time with their other roommates and surprisingly the twins. Charlie knew Bill had had a long talk with their youngest brother over the holidays and he himself had sent several letters but so far they've all been sent back unopened.

Grabbing a blank piece of parchment he sketched out a quick note to his young friend, letting him know that they had finally overcome the rain and asking about the quidditch match he knew would be happening the next day. Attaching the letter to his owl he stumbled into his bedroom and the first good sleep he'd had in over three months.

He slept for almost for almost two days straight. It look a long shower and a full breakfast before he noticed the white owl sitting on the counter watching him in amusement.

"Hey girl," he greeted. He fed her a piece of bacon in exchange for the letter she held.

Dear Charlie,

Your letter was a very welcome distraction. I really love hearing about the dragons. They are so fascinating. I'm glad that you're finally starting to dry out. I was beginning to think that you would either have to move the whole reserve or start getting a different breed of dragon. Is there such a thing as a water breed?

I saw that you still didn't mention anything about yourself. I'm pretty confident that you're not seriously hurt, I think I would feel something if that were the case, but it doesn't tell me how you're doing. I'm interested in you too you know.

McGonagall came around and told us we need to pick our third year subjects. Only I don't know which classes to pick. Percy said how what we pick will determine what jobs we can get after Hogwarts but I have no idea what I want to do after school. What kind of jobs are there? Obviously I would love to work on the reserve with you but are there other jobs on the reserve? What sort of classes do I need to do what you do?

I really don't want to add any more pressure on you, I know you've had to go through a lot the last couple months, but well I guess you would get pretty upset if I didn't tell you. There was another attack yesterday. Neville, Hermione and I were talking about the Chamber again on the way down to the pitch. Just talking! I mentioned how you said I might be hearing a snake taking and Hermione suddenly realized something and took off for the library. This is completely normal for her so we didn't think anything about it.

Anyway the game was just about to start when McGonagall comes out and cancels the match. Wood was beyond steamed. If we would have won this game we would have won the Quidditch Championship. I thought McGonagall was going to hex him when he told her how unfair it was.

I was disappointed too and I was already thinking about how I was going to tell you why it was canceled without you turning grey with worry. But then McGonagall came over and she took me, Neville and even Ron to the hospital wing.

Hermione was one of the one's petrified. It was really bad seeing her laying on the bed like that. McGonagall says that she'll be okay and once the mandrakes are ready that they will wake her up but that's still a couple weeks away. Is she in pain while she's laying there? Does she get hungry?

If worrying about her wasn't bad enough the professors have put all kinds of restrictions on us. We can't go anywhere alone and the professors escort us to every class. After diner we're locked in the common room. You probably think this is great and are going to tell me to stop complaining but it's really hard. The professors are all short tempered and even the upper years are really stressed out. Everyone sits in the common room every night worrying about who's going to be attacked next. It's suffocating and there's no relief from it. Worst of all we're not allowed to visit Hermione.

The only good thing to come out of this whole mess is that Ron's talking to me again. He said we have to stick together for Hermione's sake.

Harry

Charlie stared down at the letter in disbelief. Two more students had been attacked and all that it had accomplished was a miserable lockdown for the students inside. Was anything being done to find and stop the person? Why hadn't they sent the students home? Were they waiting for someone to die?

He held his head in his hands for a moment before grabbing parchment and scribbling his response.

Dear Harry,

First off just let me say how sorry I am about Hermione. I can't imagine how I would have felt if my best friend had been attacked when I was twelve, or even now for that matter. Just to make sure you understand, this is not your fault. There is nothing you could have done to have prevented this. The professors could have done something and this is squarely on their shoulders.

I'm sure Hermione will be just fine. I imagine it's a bit like waking up from a long sleep. I'm sure she'll be upset that it happened and that she's losing a chunk of her life. Given her personality if you take really good notes in classes for her I'm betting that will make her feel better.

I'm horrified that the school hasn't been closed yet. No scratch that. I'm flat out furious that the professors are continuing to put you all in danger. At what point do they say it's enough? If I thought they would listen I would tell my parents to pull everyone out of the school.

I'm sure you're wondering where that leaves you. It's something I'm struggling with. I desperately want you to be safe but that would be opening a whole can of worms with Dumbledore that I'm not sure I can handle. And what if Bill and I are off on our assumptions about this bond? What if it's not as legal as we think it is? Dumbledore could boot me out and prevent any further contact between us.

Even if I do have the right to pull you from the school, what then? You'll always have a home on the reserve but you have to go to school. I guess that's something I'm going to have to start looking into.

For now please pay attention to the security measures and don't do anything rash. I know it's a pain in the arse but try to make the best of it. I bet it would be easier if you and your friends organized games in the common room. The house elves will help you out with anything you need. Just something simple as an exploding snap tournament or a chess playoff will go a long way. Even a pie eating contest would be a big hit. Get the twins involved.

I don't know what to tell you about your new electives. Don't feel like you have to become a dragon handler just because I'm one. But If that's the way you're leaning Care of Magical Creatures is all you really need. Plus it's a really great class. As for other things you could do on the reserve, we have warders that keep us safe and keep the dragons from attacking each other. You would need runes for that. It's a bit like curse breaking so if you want more information you should write to Bill. We also have healers here, one's that special in dragon healing. You would need arithmancy for that.

It's always good to take three electives that way if you really don't like one you can drop it. Try to stay away from divination. Everyone will tell you that it's an easy grade but it's really not and the professor's barmy. Plus it doesn't help you at all later in life. I don't understand why it's even offered.

I'm perfectly fine. Better now after some decent sleep. No need to worry about me.

I mean it Harry. Try to get through the rest of the year and stay safe.

Charlie

Handing the letter off to Hedwig he hesitated only a moment before grabbing the letter he had prepared for the school governors and sending it off with his own owl.