The Red Dragon | Charlie Weasley

Chapter 9

"Here."

Charlie turns his head to face her and when he spots the shots in Haela's hands, he shakes his head. "No, absolutely not. I'm not taking shots with you while we're trying to track a group of poachers."

"Come on, Charlie," Haela pouts, pushing the shots in Charlie's hands and taking the other two for herself, "You can't do this stone-cold sober. Let's have a bit of fun while we work. Josué said to blend in, and what better way to take some shots!"

Before the red-haired man can answer, Haela lifts one of the glasses to her lips and downs the liquid. The alcohol burns as it flows down her throat, but Haela keeps her face carefully blank. When Charlie doesn't move, she downs her other one as well before placing both glasses upside down on the bar.

She gestures to the shots in Charlie's hand and the man glowers at her. Haela crosses her arms and glares back.

After a few moments, Charlie averts his eyes and downs the two shots while Haela cheers him on. His face contorts as he swallows and Haela barks out a laugh.

"See? That wasn't too bad," she laughs as Charlie coughs, "You can drink Pumpkin juice for the rest of the night if you'd like."

Charlie places his glass upside down on the bar behind them and when the bartender comes to collect them, he orders one Granizado, at which Haela pointedly raises her eyebrows. After looking at Haela, he makes it two. The bartender nods and disappears for a moment.

"Are you ordering for me now, Weasley?" Haela asks. Charlie grins at her, his eyes crinkling as he does so.

The bartender returns quickly, waving his wand and two glasses appear out of thin air on the bar in front of them. The wizard conjures a few bottles and mixes the drink in front of their eyes. After pouring the liquid into the two glasses, he garnishes it with a slice of lemon and a straw. A wave of his wand makes the drinks light up with magic. The Dragonologist quickly pays before turning to Haela and explaining: "This is one of Andorra's most popular drinks. Non-alcoholic, though I'm sure you'll like it either way."

He hands Haela the glass and she wraps her lips around the straw to take a sip. The taste of lemon bursts into her mouth and Haela hums in satisfaction. She has to hand it to the man, this is delicious. Charlie grins victoriously as he regards Haela and sips his own drink.

They make their way over to one of the roulette tables as a seat opens up. Charlie looks rather unsure as the dealer eyes him expectantly. When it is clear Charlie isn't going to take the seat, Haela places her glass on a coaster and sits. Charlie steps closer so he is almost pressed against Haela's back. She can feel his body heat through the fabric of her dress.

"Letting the lady play? Are you sure that's a good idea?"

The man on their left smirks as he looks between Haela and Charlie with a knowing glint in his eyes. He has two young women plastered to his sides, both covered in shiny jewellery. Haela grimaces at the man, deciding to ignore him and focus her attention on the dealer, exchanging a few galleons for chips.

Charlie, on the other hand, grins at the man, "She is the lucky one."

Haela eyes the rest of the table before leaning over and placing a few chips on the red square on the numbered table layout. As soon as she does, the chips and square light up, indicating the bet placed.

The man on their left laughs and places his own bet. The other people at the table place theirs until the dealer says 'No more bets' which directs everyone's attention to the roulette wheel. As the ball whirls, the red and black of the wheel blurring together as the wheel spins, it seems like the world stops for a moment. Everyone's eyes are on the little white ball that bounces around before landing on the red number twenty-three.

Haela is repaid her chips and her profit and the next game begins.

A few games go by, and the people at their table come and go, but only the man on their left stays. It's been ages since Haela last set foot in a casino and she gets so involved in the roulette game she barely remembers what they are here for.

Charlie pulls her back into the present by wrapping an arm around her waist, tucking her closer into his body. Startled, Haela looks up from the spinning wheel.

"-you know how women are," Charlie says to the man on their left, "All these fashion trends to keep up with. Right, doll?"

Doll?

Haela glances over at the man whom Charlie apparently has been conversing with. He can't be much older than they are. He is thinly built, with tanned skin and dark hair that is styled to perfection. The mint-coloured suit he is wearing looks expensive and as he places his bet, Haela notices the shiny jewellery decorating his fingers. The two girls are still plastered to his sides, giggling things in Catalan and sipping their cocktails. Behind the man is another man, seemingly a bodyguard, who glances over his shoulder at Charlie and Haela before turning back to assess the room.

Haela musters a fake smile, ignoring the way her heart starts beating faster as she is pulled into Charlie's chest. When she glances up at the redhead, she notices he is trying to communicate something to her, but his expression only confuses Haela more. After a few moments of trying to figure out what Charlie is trying to say, Haela decides to just play along and hopes she'll say the right things.

With indignance laced through her voice, Haela says: "You promised me you would get me those shoes. Are you telling me you lied?"

She narrows her eyes at Charlie and tries her hardest not to laugh at the man's facial expression. Charlie's face goes from confused to carefully blank as he smiles down at her. His eyes dart over to the man in the mint suit before he says through clenched teeth: "I didn't lie, doll, I would never lie to you. But I also told you how hard it is to get a hold of authentic Norwegian Ridgeback hide. You know I'm trying my hardest to make sure you get those shoes. Why don't we just enjoy our vacation and discuss this when we return home?"

Haela huffs and wiggles out of the arm Charlie has wrapped around her. She turns back to the roulette wheel and the dealer who eyes her to see if she is going to place a bet. Haela places a few chips on the 'even' square and decides to pay more attention to the conversation Charlie struck with the man.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but did you say Norwegian Ridgeback?"

Both Haela and Charlie look back at the man in the mint suit. Before Charlie has a chance to answer, Haela nods enthusiastically and says: "Yes, Norwegian Ridgeback. Carneiro wrote in Witch Weekly about how their scales are the exact colour that will be in fashion next autumn."

The man nods slowly as if he has an idea of what she is talking about before turning to the dealer and placing a bet. Haela exchanges a look with Charlie who raises his eyebrows in question. Haela shrugs, what was she supposed to say?

A few more rounds go by but the man in the mint suit remains focussed on the roulette wheel with the girls plastered at his side. Haela feels conflicted. On the one hand, she would like to stay put in case the man has more to say, but on the other hand, she has already wasted enough time at this table and it would be wise to explore the rest of the casino.

"Do you want to have a go?" Haela asks Charlie, turning her head to look up at the Dragonologist. She seems to interrupt some deep thoughts as the man startles lightly. He glances over to the man in the mint suit before turning to Haela, a bright smile framing his mouth: "Sure, doll, I'll have a go."

Haela ignores the way the nickname makes her stomach flip as they switch places. With Charlie seated on the chair with her chips, Haela takes their empty glasses from the coasters. She sends a smile to the man in the mint suit and heads over to the bar for a refill. 

When she returns with their drinks, she realises Charlie managed to get the conversation going again. They fall silent when Haela leans over to place Charlie's drink on a coaster. Seeing an opportunity to leave the table and investigate the rest of the casino while also not losing a possible lead, Haela decides to leave Charlie alone. Without thinking too closely about it, Haela presses a kiss on Charlie's cheek and says cheerily: "I'm going to see if I'm as lucky at blackjack as I was here."

With those parting words, Haela nods goodbye to the man in the mint suit and moves to another table. When she casts a look over her shoulder, she can see the faint blush colouring Charlie's cheeks and has to suppress a smile breaking out on her face.