The boys returned to Henry’s bed after that, laying side by side, simply chatting, laughing at jokes, enjoying each others company. They managed to stay like this for half an hour before three sharp knocks rang through the room, coming from the door. The boys immediately grew silent.

Charlie held his hand out toward Henry, and Henry knew exactly what it was for. The older boy reached silently to his bedside table, gently picking up the ironbark wand that sat atop it, and moving it into Charlie’s hand.

With a wave of the wand, a bubble surrounded the bed, making everything outside of it seem like a haze. Charlie stood now, careless of the sound, knowing that nothing from inside the bubble could be heard from outside.

“Do you have a way to look outside your door?”

Henry nodded, standing and pointing to a door on the other side of the room to the bed. “Sigil protected, so only the two of us can see it. You’re the only person I trust enough to let see it.”

Charlie smiled. He held a finger to his lips, earning a nod from Henry, and with another wave of the wand, the bubble surrounding them faded, bringing the room back into focus. Charlie began walking ever so slowly towards the door, holding Henry’s wand before him, keeping it pointed to the floor, checking if any spots he plans to walk across would make any noise. The same series of knocks rang again. Charlie ignored them, walking in a straight line, only diverting from this line when the floor before him would creak.

He reached the door. He turned back to see Henry still in the bed. When Henry gave him a nod, Charlie opened the door, stepping silently through, closing it behind him. He could see sigils on the dark walls, sigils that told him he didn’t have to be fearful of making noise. The boy walked through the short, thin, curved corridor, wand in hand, only stopping when reaching the door at the other end. He knelt, pointing the wand to the gap under the floor. He sent another bubble to rise around the door, one that would not only stop any sound from leaving, but one that would also stop him from being seen.

Charlie stood and opened the door, stepping through, careful not to leave the bubble. He turned to face Henry’s bedroom door. He grimaced at what he saw. Five people, all with wands out or hands forward, pointed towards the door. He turned and walked back the way he had come, letting the bubble fade before leaving it.

When he made it back into the bedroom, a wave of the wand in his hand made the walls of the room seem hazy. The same kind of magic that had surrounded the bed earlier now encompassed the whole room. Charlie hurried to the bed, tossing Henry’s wand to him.

“Get your valuables, some clothes, papers, important things, put them all in a bag and tell me when you’re done. Casters are outside.” The younger warned.

Henry nodded, standing quickly, waving his wand around the room. Some things began making their way to the bed. Clothes, papers, books, and a few items of jewelry. They all carefully made their way into a bag that Henry was now holding open.

Once all the items were carefully in, Henry made his way to Charlie’s side. Charlie took the older boys hand in his own.

“I’m gonna need a fucking nap after this.” The younger spoke before closing his eyes. Henry knew what he was doing, and so he did the same.

Not many magical beings could transport themselves through space, but Charlie had been slowly perfecting it. A low rumbling sound could be heard in the boys ears, and when it faded and they opened their eyes, they were standing in the middle of Charlie’s room.

“Well, that was mildly terrifying.” Henry stated, walking to Charlie’s bed as he did so. He sat on the bed, letting his bag unpack itself, placing his wand on the bedside table while it did.

The older boy lay down on the youngers single bed, pushing himself against the wall so that Charlie could lay with him. Charlie, in return, did just that, laying on the bed, not caring that his body was brushing against Henry’s. They managed conversation like this for a few minutes before Charlie fell into a peaceful sleep.