The Little Lightning Girl

55- Charlie Weasley Takes Our Dragon for a Vacation

Astra flew in through the open window of my cabin the next morning clutching a letter in her beak. Her soft cooing woke me, and she nuzzled her beak into my hair when I invited her to sit on my shoulder.

"Hello, sweet girl," I murmured, a smile on my lips as my owl's bright eyes turned to the letter she'd dropped in my lap. For a bird, she had a very expressive face. Looking back and forth between the letter and my face, the message was clear.

Aren't you going to open it?

I rolled my eyes but opened the envelope, finding a familiar untidy scrawl filling the paper. It was from Rose. Alana had written her the day before about the dragon, asking if there was any way her uncle Charlie could come take care of it. Alana knew absolutely nothing about dragons, and had only been able to give her description of the creature in terms of color, size, and how hot its fire breath had been. A small, extra bit of paper in the envelope, aside from Rose's letter, was from the dragon trainer himself.

Alana,

Rose tells me that you knocked out a dragon. I can't believe you fought one at all, and that you managed to knock it out. Most fully trained wizards wouldn't have been able to do it, and thank you for not hurting it. I think you've managed to find a dragon hybrid. Your description made me think it's an Ironbelly-Opaleye cross, which would explain it's impenetrable scales and size, as well as the coloring. I've been told I'm not allowed to ask why, but apparently I'll need you to meet me in a Strawberry field and lead me to the dragon. Could you meet me at eight o'clock tomorrow? I know it's late notice, but it's best for this to happen quickly before the dragon wakes up and causes more trouble.

Charlie Weasley

Glancing at my watch, I confirmed it was still not seven o'clock, so I had a bit of time before going to meet the dragon tamer at the camp border. Astra hopped off my shoulder and went to perch on the window sill. Clever girl, she must've realized that the letter was urgent and woke me up to read it.

After slipping on jean shorts and an orange camp t-shirt, I sat in my chair to read Rose's letter. She must've already cast the translation spell because despite the untidiness of her letters, I could read them perfectly well.

Alana,

You have no idea how hard it was to explain to my uncle that you managed to knock out a dragon, with a spell that doesn't exist, didn't get so much as a single burn, didn't get arrested for underaged magic, all while living in America in a camp that is invisible to the naked eye. I've told him to meet you in the field outside camp like you suggested, and I hope it goes well. Aside from that, I hope you've remembered that I'll be seeing you in a month's time for the World Cup. I think the best thing would be to have someone come get you and then we'll all go together. The Potters are going, as are most of my cousins. We've got tents and lots reserved, but it should only last three days in total. I meant to ask before school got out, but they're having a junior Quidditch match a day before the real match. Students from all around try out and then get placed on teams, then compete for a Junior World Cup. I thought you and I might go out for it, cause why not, right? Anyway, June fifteenth, someone'll come get you. Be ready, I can't wait!

Rose

I smiled at her enthusiasm, then tucked the letter into my trunk at the foot of my bed. I scratched Astra's head before running out of my cabin. I had twin daggers strapped to the inside of my belt and my wand in my pocket. I checked to make sure the daggers weren't visible under the hem of my shirt before walking outside camp borders towards the tall, red-haired man that stood in the middle of the field.

He smiled as I approached, and the spark of mischief in his face reminded me of the Marauders. Burn scars littered his arms, smaller ones on his neck and face.