The Safe Wizards

2: The Burrow

Harry immediately heard laughter coming from the Burrow as he landed about ten yards from the house. His heart warmed instantly. The happiness and love that still emanated from this family, despite Fred's death, was contagious. He walked through the November chill to the front door to knock. He was surprised to see the door open on Charlie. Harry's breath caught as he discovered him. The dragon rider had red hair, ocean blue eyes, square shoulders, and shapely muscles that showed under his white shirt.

"Uh... Hi," Harry stammered, confused by the redhead and embarrassed that he had allowed himself to stare at him like that.

"Hi Harry. I am delighted to see you, I hope that we will have for once the occasion to discover each other," said the man of a warm voice while letting his glance slide along the silhouette of the brown haired with a big smile.

Harry did not know any more how to react. He had no experience in love and was afraid of misunderstanding. He felt like he was blind to the effect he could have on others. It had already taken him many weeks, and Hermione's help, to realize that Ginny was flirtting with him in sixth year when she had not been the most subtle. His relationship with the youngest of the Weasley clan had only lasted a few weeks before they broke up at the end of the school year, as Harry didn't want to risk putting her in danger. During his quest for the horcruxes, the dark-haired boy had realized that his dreams were not populated by female forms, but by male figures that had repeatedly left him hard when he woke up. Two men in particular had put it in this state: a blond and a redhead. He had not recognized the blond. This one seemed to be tall, thin but muscular, with amber eyes, thin lips, and incredibly white skin. In his dreams, he seemed sad and overwhelmed by too many emotions. Harry thought this man was beautiful, but he didn't know anyone who looked even remotely like him, and he thought that his imagination had created him out of nothing. However, the other man in his dreams was different, as he was standing in front of him that night and giving him looks that Harry was afraid to misinterpret.

After the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry had explained to his friends that he was gay and they had all taken it very well. However he hadn't been in any relationships since Ginny and didn't know if he was ready for one.

"I wasn't expecting to see you," was all Harry could think of to say to the Dragonlord.

"It wasn't planned, but I had a few enforced days off."

Harry didn't quite understand what Charlie was implying, but he couldn't go any further as Molly came in their direction to greet him. Soon Harry was swamped by a stream of Weasleys and away from Charlie, allowing him to regain his composure. He accepted the beer Ron handed him and began to laugh with his friends. Only Ginny was absent since she was a seventh year at Hogwarts and unlike them, was not allowed to leave the castle on weekends. Conversations were light, easy to follow for Harry, who spent a lot of time glancing at the dragon rider leaning against the doorframe, right in front of him, chatting with his elder.

"Harry, what did the goblins want with you this morning?" asked Ron after a moment.

The conversation the dark-haired man had had in the morning came back to him, as well as the fact that he had to talk to Bill.

"To talk to me about my inheritance and to meet with my advisor at the bank who will help me manage it. Actually Ron, you just reminded me that I need to talk to your brother about this," he added as he stood up.

As he took the few steps to join the elder Weasleys, Harry saw Charlie put his hand on his brother's arm and nodded. Their conversation stopped immediately.