Summer 1998

Charlie,

I arrived safely in Perth. Mum and Dad are doing well and Steve says hi. I think our mothers must be in contact because as soon as I arrived, Mum started feeding me and telling me I needed more meat on my bones—something she has never said to me before.

She also walked into my room while I was getting dressed and saw my tattoo. Let's just say that you're lucky that Muggles can't send Howlers. Steve wasn't so lucky and Dad and I tried not to laugh as she marched into his shop and dressed him down.

Their dental work is going well. So well, that they've decided to stay in Australia and open their own practice. They've asked me to help them get their house in London sold so I'll be doing that as soon as I'm back home.

Professor McGonagall says I can go back and finish my schooling in September. What do you think?

Miss and love you,

Hermione

Hermione,

I will face a hundred Howlers from your mum for that tattoo!

I've been busy since you left. Turns out that except for Sheila, none of the dragons that flew to Scotland for the battle are leaving. Sheila is still in Cornwall with Bill and Fleur but the rest haven't left school grounds. The Ministry and the Reserve are not sure what to do.

I talked to Kingsley and suggested opening a small sanctuary outside of Hogwarts. The Ministry owns so much land around the school that there is plenty of room, and all of it is already warded against Muggles. If that happens, I would be moving back.

I hate the idea of being apart from you for another year, but I know how important school is to my sexy swot. I will support you in whatever you decide. But know that every Hogsmeade weekend will be spent with me in a room above the Three Broomsticks.

I can't wait to see you again, my love.

Charlie

Summer 1999

"Charlie?" Hermione asked as she walked into his house.

Well, it was their house now.

Hermione had gone back to Hogwarts to finish her final year and after finishing her last N.E.W.T. exam the night before, she was officially done with school. And officially moving into Charlie's house that sat on the outer edge of Beithir, the new Scottish dragon sanctuary just outside of Hogsmeade.

In addition to Sheila, Norberta, and the four other dragons that had arrived for the Battle of Hogwarts, Charlie and the other tamers had found a few dragons that were native to the British Islands and brought them over. There were now a total of ten adult dragons, and three of the females had laid eggs.

Including Sheila. Turns out their little girl had taken a liking to a Chinese Fireball. Charlie had never seen an Antipodean Opaleye and a Fireball mate before and everyone was looking forward to seeing the new species. The egg was due to hatch any day now.

"Out back!" Charlie's voice called from the open door that led into their back garden.

Hermione walked out and grinned at her boyfriend. He was laying in the grass on a blanket, Sheila wrapped around him, her red egg was wrapped in Hermione's old purple jumper and sat between her front feet. The back garden was actually part of the sanctuary and every time she had been here, Sheila was there to greet her. It was like having a massive dog.

Dropping a kiss to Sheila's nose, Hermione dropped onto the blanket and Charlie pulled her into his arms.

"Free at last?" he asked.

"Finished my Defence N.E.W.T. last night. I can't believe that part of my life is finally over."

"Have you decided what you want to do?"

"I think so," Hermione told him. "There is an opening in Magical Creatures at the Ministry. I got a letter from the Department Head and he said he wants me for the job."

"Kingsley will be disappointed you turned down the Auror job again."

"I've had enough dueling for one lifetime. I'll stick to fighting in the Wizengamot."

"Good. I don't want my wife out there chasing dark wizards."

"Wife?" Hermione asked with a laugh. "I don't remember us getting married."

"Well, not yet," Charlie said. He pulled a small box out of his pocket and placed it in her hand. "But hopefully soon."

Hermione gaped at Charlie before opening the box. A ring with a silver band and the most sparkly round cut diamond she had ever seen sat inside. It was really sparkly. It couldn't have been a normal diamond. She held it up to the light, but instead of being clear, it was opaque. Charlie laughed before taking pity on her.

"Sheila provided the stone."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Sheila," Charlie reached up and rubbed the dragon's side, "donanted one of her scales for your ring. Bill helped me grind it down and press it into a diamond shape."

"A dragon scale ring? I've never heard of that."

"That's because this is one of a kind. You can only do this to scales that are freely given, which as you know, dragons rarely give their scales away." He paused as he watched her finger caress the ring. "You still haven't answered my question."

"You still haven't asked me one."

"Hermione, draga mae, will you marry me?"

"Absolutely!"

Charlie whooped as he took the ring from the box and slipped it on her hand. Sheila nuzzled against both of them as they kissed, joining in their celebration.

They stayed outside and for the rest of the day. They had so many people to tell about their engagement, but they wanted time to enjoy it together before they spread the news. They made love under the open sky and had just put their clothes back on when a loud crack sounded from nearby. Hermione jumped, grabbing her wand, but Charlie stilled her. They weren't in danger. Sheila's egg was hatching.

They sat with the new mum all night as she waited for her child to escape from its egg. Hermione had summoned their camera and made sure to take pictures throughout the process. Not just for educational reasons, but because she knew her dad would want to see them.

In the early hours of the next morning, Sheila roared in triumph as her child was fully free from its shell. Hermione finally got to see with her own eyes what Charlie had told all those years ago. Baby dragons were adorable.

The little girl, Charlie had checked, was a round little thing, with rolls of fat all over her body. She was a beautiful light pink with golden spikes around her head and her scales were just as sparkly as her mother's.

"What should we call her?" Hermione asked.

"Printesa?" Charlie said, a lift to his voice. "It means princess in Romania. We can call her Tessi for short."

"I think it's perfect."

Hermione floated the camera to hover in front of them, and like they had the first time she met Sheila, they took a picture. Hermione on Charlie's lap and Sheila's head on her leg. But this time, Charlie also held little baby Tessi in his arms, and Hermione showed off her new ring. As they looked at the picture later that day, they both agreed it was the perfect way to announce their engagement and send a copy to both of their parents.

A/N: Thank you all for reading. I loved every review! Writing about dragons was a new thing for me so I really appreciate all the love.