Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Hermione looked around at the flat she had lived in for the last five years. The walls, once painted the bright and bold shade of Gryffindor red, were now devoid of all pictures, decor, and paint. They were now painted the most depressing shade of millennial gray that you could imagine. The fireplace had been put out and blocked from allowing others to enter. The rooms, once carefully decorated by Hermione, were bare and cold. This beautiful place she had once called home now made her feel sick and disgusted.
She had been efficient at removing everything. Nearly everything that had been both hers and Ron’s were taken with him. She didn’t want them. She had taken a few things, such as her coffee maker, tea kettle, and toaster. They were expensive and she would rather die than let Ronald Weasley ruin her appliances.
Her bookshelves, which had been carefully carved by Charlie Weasley as a graduation present, all of her books, mementos, her clothes, and her pictures from her childhood had all been shrunken down and safely packed inside of her beaded bag. Any pictures that had included Ron while they were dating were given to Molly to do with as she pleased. The ones without him were safely packed away as well.
She was being sensible when she had immediately put the place up for sale. The flat was under name, so she had final say in what happened to it. Not long after she had posted the listing, an adorable older couple reached out and bought it. They were Muggle, which was why Hermione had to inactive the Floo. She was currently working on getting the place removed from the Floo Network entirely before Martha and George moved in. Though they were not set to move in for another few days, Hermione was about to leave to give them the keys.
Reaching into her very sensible jeans, she pulled out her letter from Charlie.
Hermione
Ron’s a fucking moron. Ginny, the twins, Bill, and Fleur all agree. Dad agrees too, but you know how he is when it comes to Mum. I’m so sorry for what he did to you, dragă. The next time I see him, I’ll hex his balls off.
Andrei said he would be honored for you to come join us here on the reserve. We haven’t had a properly trained Healer in months since Maria went on maternity leave. Having you there would significantly decrease traveling costs as well, since we all travel to you for our injuries.
While we both know you need no training in being a Healer, you do need training in being a dragon tamer. Since you know me, Andrei decided it would be best for me to be the one to train you. I know you only said you wanted to be a Healer, but making you a tamer while having you as a reserve Healer was the only way Andrei could justify bringing you on. Don’t worry, though. I have complete faith that you will be able to learn quickly.
During your training, all minor medical issues will continue to be sent to either the doctor in the village nearby or to the Healers in the Romanian hospital. You will only be asked for when the injury is dragon related. After your training is complete, that will most likely still be the case.
Since it’s now September, the weather is cooling off. I recommend bringing jumpers, cardigans, long sleeved shirts, and trousers. The more form fitting the better. Get hiking boots. They’ll provide ankle support and keep your feet warm while also allowing you to run. I also recommend pulling back your hair, Mia. I know you like letting it be, but you need to have clear vision at all times around the dragons. You and I both know that those wild curls, beautiful as they might be, block your vision from time to time.
We’ll talk more when you get here. Safe travels, Mia. I can’t wait to see you.
Charlie
Though Hermione had the letter and its contents memorized, she read it again just to be sure. She was going to be a dragon tamer. She didn’t mind really. After the incident with the Ukrainian Ironbelly, she had developed an extreme fascination for the creatures. She had wanted to be a tamer originally, but Ron was decidedly against that and refused to move away from London since he was in the Auror training program during her time at Hogwarts.
Instead, Hermione had studied to become a Healer in the Creature Induced Injuries unit. Her specialty was injuries caused by dragons, which is why the Romanian and Welsh Dragon Reserves sent their tamers here. She was the best there was. She took a deep breath to calm herself. She was being sensible. It’s only natural to follow your unfulfilled dreams after a breakup. And that’s all she was doing.
Despite working long hours at St. Mungo’s, Hermione kept relatively fit. Ever since the war, Hermione needed to stay in motion. A way to help this was running. Depending on her energy and the weather, Hermione ran anywhere from 1-5 miles everyday. It reassured her in a way. She knew that should she ever be chased by someone again, she could either outrun them enough to lose them, or outrun them fast enough to Apparate away.
Carefully, she gently folded the letter and put it back into her jeans pocket. Her smile was bittersweet as she looked back a final time at the flat before closing it and locking the door. She didn’t look back again as she zipped up her cardigan and Apparated to the park near George and Martha’s current home.
Hermione’s Portkey dropped her off about a mile away from the reserve. She hated Portkeys. No matter how many times she used them, it always felt like she had left her stomach back in the place she had just left. Then it would catch up to her, and she would collapse to the ground and try not to puke. She rarely did, but the off chance that she would puke was always enough to convince her to not eat at least an hour before traveling by one.
She had just stood back up when a brick wall collided into her, wrapped its arms around her waist, and squeezed her tight while spinning in a circle. She squealed.
“Charles Weasley! You scared the fuck outta me!” She exclaimed as she hugged him back.
“Sorry, Mia,” his low voice was deliciously close to her ear. She could hear the laughter and excitement in it. “I couldn’t help it! It’s just really good to see you again.”
She grinned up at him as he set her down. His blue eyes were soft and bright as he grinned back. Charlie was easily a foot taller than her and well built -years of being a dragon tamer would do that- but she knew that the way he looked at her made her feel equal in size and strength. She didn’t know how to explain it, but she wished he would never stop looking at her like that.
After a few moments of just taking each other in, Hermione cleared her throat. Sensible. She was being sensible. She was not checking out her ex’s older brother. “Come on, Charlie. I think you owe me a tour of the place that I’ll be living at.” She reached out her hand, and he laughed as he took it.
“You’ve been here before, dragă. Not much has changed since then,” he said as he led them over to the Jeep that she already knew would be silenced so as to not startle the dragons.
“You say that every time, and yet there’s always a new dragon or tamer or enclosure. I think that’s enough to warrant a tour.” She smirked as he playfully sighed in defeat before starting the Jeep.
“I’ll never win this argument, will I? Don’t answer that. I already know the answer.” As they sped off towards the Reserve, Hermione relaxed into her seat. Nothing had changed between her and Charlie, but somehow, it felt lighter, more playful.
When they finally crossed through the wards surrounding the Reserve, Hermione, like always, couldn’t help but be in awe. She had only been here during the summer when it was warmer and everything was green. Now it was fall, and Hermione decided that she much preferred fall here. The greens, browns, yellows, and reds all came together in a way that was almost reminiscent of Hogwarts, but somehow more magical. So wrapped up in the world around her, Hermione didn’t hear Charlie’s quiet words.
“Welcome home, love.”