Under the Sea

Chapter Fifteen

Charlie looked over at Harry, concern evident all over his face. To be fair, Harry probably would have had the same reaction if someone he just re-met from his childhood had declared that he was going to die seemingly out of the blue. Then again, Harry was facing the potential of a fiery and painful demise at the tender age of fourteen so maybe the declaration wouldn't be so shocking.

"That's an extreme reaction," Charlie said, trying to keep his voice calm. "The dragon trainers will be there to make sure nothing happens to you, plus I'll be there working as a dragon trainer, making sure nothing happens to you."

"Charlie, I can't do a summoning charm!" Harry snapped, any attempt to keep calm flying out the window as he began spiraling into a full blown panic. "How am I supposed to make sure my broom makes it from the castle to me when I'm face to face with a dragon when I can't do it in the class room fully relaxed and in no danger of becoming a piece of human shaped charcoal?"

Charlie paused and raised his fingers to his mouth in thought. Harry couldn't help but think of his old swim coach doing the exact same thing as they worked to see how Harry could lower his time in his meets. However, even though Charlie seemed like a nice guy, Harry had a sinking feeling that he couldn't pull off the impossible. "You have a good point. However, have you considered the alternative?"

"What alternative?"

"Practicing! You're in the perfect room for it," Charlie chuckled and Harry gaped at him. How could he joke at a time like this?

"Charlie, I can't be here all the time! I've got class, heck I've got to eat! Hermione would lead a bloody search party if I'm not back in the Common Room tonight, and who's going to help me practice? Half the bloody school hates me and would probably just pelt me with the nearest thing they had on hand and the other half probably think I'll pull something out of my arse and don't need to practice!"

"You done?" Charlie asked at the end of that rant. Harry nodded, still breathing somewhat heavily and Charlie sighed. "Okay, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to help you with the charm—don't even argue," he said as Harry opened his mouth to do just that. "Even if this is against the rules or technically just a conflict of interest, everyone does it. I'm sure Krum and Fleur and Diggory all have their own form of help with them right now."

"Should I panic now?" Harry asked, slightly unsure about how this would play out. Charlie groaned.

"No! Well, you can if you want but let me help you!" he said. "Believe it or not, I'm pretty handy with a summoning charm."

Harry looked unconvinced and to his credit, he had enough of a reason to be. What if this violated his magical contract? What was the punishment of violating a magical contract anyway?

Something told Harry that he just didn't want to know.

"Harry, it's just a spell," Charlie said, unaware of Harry's turmoil going on inside his mind. "Let's not even consider it as helping you with the tournament. I'm just a friend helping a younger friend with his homework. His necessary, life saving, going to be possibly harmed by a dragon if he doesn't get this down pat and the dragon trainers fall asleep on the job homework."

"Okay," Harry said slowly and Charlie grinned, somehow taking off five years off his appearance. Clapping his hands, Charlie hopped up from his seat and pulled out his wand.

"The trick is to concentrate," he told Harry as he wished for a book that the room provided. "Hold this," he told Harry, tossing the book his way. Harry, despite having a second of warning, snatched the book out of the air. Seeker skills really came in handy at times. Charlie backed away until he was on the other side of the room.