HP ficlet: Laughing at Danger [Charlie/Harry, general]
Title: Laughing at Danger Author: celandineb Fandom: HP Pairing: Charlie/Harry Rating: general Length: 370 words Summary: "Harry had fallen in love with Charlie for his sense of humour..." Note: For quill_it, 100.3, prompt 2, "laughter". For secretsolitaire who requested this pairing.
Harry had fallen in love with Charlie for his sense of humour: playful, easy-going, never malicious, always infectious.
The first time he visited Charlie in Romania he was astonished to discover that virtually all of the other dragon handlers shared that quality. The refectory where they took their meals rang to the rafters with laughter every night, and Harry hadn't been there for two days before he was the recipient of good-natured practical jokes just like everyone else.
He commented on it that night, after they had made love and lay sweaty and content in each other's arms.
"I think you pretty much have to be easy-going to do well working with dragons," said Charlie, scratching thoughtfully at the ginger stubble on his chin. "For one thing, dragons can sense if you're nervous, and they don't like it. For another, well, it is dangerous, and laughter is a pretty effective way to cope with stress. I mean, there are other abilities that are necessary for the job, but they're not enough.
"There was a bloke here several years back who came with the best recommendation from his Care of Magical Creatures instructor I've ever seen. He was from East Africa and had practically cut his teeth working to subdue nundus that attacked local villages. His spell work was just amazing. But he was also the most sullen, humourless bastard I ever met -- worse than Snape and Binns put together -- and he didn't even last three months here."
Harry nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense." He tightened his embrace. "Charlie?"
"What?" Charlie kissed Harry's shoulder.
"Do you think I could get a job here at the reserve?"
"Probably, but don't think it's all fun and games. I wasn't kidding when I said it was dangerous."
"I fought Voldemort," Harry reminded him. "I can probably handle the risk."
"True, and you did do brilliantly with that Horntail when you were just a little titch yourself. Yeah, I think if you're serious, Leopold would take you on."
"Great. I'll talk to him tomorrow," said Harry with a grin, thinking that then he could stay with Charlie all the time. He had never expected the dragon reserve to be such a congenial place.