Chapter 1: And So It Has Come
In the days of Merlin his four greatest students came together with the purpose of creating a school where all those who were able could learn to use magic. This school became known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The school's four founders, Helga Hufflepuff; Rowena Ravenclaw; Godric Gryffindor; and Salazar Slytherin, were extremely proud of their school, but had some concerns about its security. They could not build wards strong enough to protect all of who dwelled within it's grounds from the upheavals going on in the outside world.
To secure their school and protect those who lived within its grounds, the founders called upon Merlin himself for help. Merlin came to the school and set up wards to protect the castle, however, the grounds were still not protected enough. Merlin then decided to reach out to some old friends of his. These friends of Merlin's were well known for their strength, both physical and magical, but most people feared them and wished them dead. Merlin's friends were the last of the Great Dragons. Dragons of such power and intelligence that they could speak and understand any language, they could read and write, and they had the ability to pass their magic onto their descendants making them increasingly more powerful with each generation. The Great Dragons considered themselves to be the protectors of the world, and yet the world wanted them gone.
The Great Dragons had been hunted to near extinction; of the hundreds that once roamed the earth, only seven remained. They were known as Andraste, Bran, Louarn, Brigantia, Taranis, Innogen, and Vercobret. Merlin had helped them to hide when the people began to turn against them and as such they owed him their very lives. So, when Merlin called they came.
"You have called to us Merlin and we have answered. What would you have of us?" asked Bran.
"This land needs protecting old friend. No matter how hard we try we cannot make wards strong enough to protect the land around this school. As long as this land is unprotected all who dwell here will be in danger." Merlin told the noble dragon.
"I see. We will need time to find the best way to protect this place. We will begin at once." Bran stated and signaled for the others to begin.
"Thank you, my old friend. You have my gratitude." Merlin responded.
"We owe you a great deal Merlin, but do not think our help comes without a cost. We shall speak more of this when we have decided the best way to protect this school of yours." Bran said as he left to follow the others.
"There always is a greater cost, my friend, there always is." Merlin mumbled as he walked back to the school.
It took the dragons three days to look over the grounds and come up with the best protections possible for the area around the school. During that time people had noticed them and had sent word to others that there were Great Dragons that still lived. Hunters began to make the trek to the school to have a chance at killing one of these magnificent creatures and at that time the dragons themselves knew that they would not survive the coming hunt if things did not go according to plan. With such thoughts on their minds they called out to Merlin to meet with them again. Merlin and the Founders made their way out onto the grounds to meet with the dragons and to see what they had come up with.
"Greetings mighty Bran, what news do you have for us?" called out Godric Gryffindor as the five witches and wizards approached.
"We have come up with a way to protect this school of yours, young one." Bran responded.
"What is this plan of yours then?" Salazar Slytherin demanded.
"Watch your tone young Slytherin. That is our king you speak to." Vercobret snapped at the arrogant young man.
"Forgive Salazar, great Vercobret, he is just worried about the safety of the school; in truth we all are." Helga Hufflepuff stated as she tried to pacify the irritated dragon before her.
"We share your concern, sweet Helga. Vercobret has always had a bit of a temper but he means nothing by it." Brigantia said to soothe, not just Helga, but all the humans.
"As enlightening as all of this is, Merlin mentioned something about a price." stated Rowena Ravenclaw, every the practical one of the four.
"Yes, the wards we plan to cast will be unbreakable by any witch or wizard for somewhere around one thousand years, but the casting of these wards will severely weaken us and without the five of you helping us we will not survive what is to come after." Andraste stated sadly.
"After? What do you mean, after?" Merlin asked slightly alarmed by what he had heard.
"Dear Andraste has seen what is to come if you do not help us. The hunters know we are here and draw closer even as we speak. We will be too weak to defend ourselves for long once the wards are cast. We will all die here unless you help us." Louarn stated.
"My friends, how could they know you are here? None of us have spoken a word of your presence to anyone." Merlin asked.
"We are the last of the Great Dragons and as such are not hard to spot. The moment we left our hiding place to come to your aid was the moment that we died." Innogen spat. She was the youngest of the seven dragons and had been the last Great Dragon hatched and as such she was still somewhat bitter about the betrayal of humans.
"I am so sorry to hear that my friends, what can we do to help you?" Merlin asked, there was no question that Merlin and his students would help the dragons survive.
"There is a ritual that will trap us within your school until those who are worthy of our power are born into this world. Our souls and our magic will then merge with these worthy few as if they were our children. If you agree to this I will pass the knowledge directly into your minds, so you can get started on the ritual while we cast the wards." Taranis spoke for the first time, his aged voice relaying his great wisdom and power.
"Of course, we will help you. It is our fault that you are being hunted again, so it is our responsibility to help you survive." Helga exclaimed.
"Make no mistake Helga, we will still die, but this way we can pass on our knowledge and create a new race of dragons. One that can take human form and protect this world as our kind have been sworn to do." Bran replied.
"No matter. We will do what we must to not only protect our students but all of you as well." Godric said, meaning every word.
"I believe I can speak for everyone when I say we are more than ready to help you all in any way we can so let us begin." Salazar stated.
"Very well, let us begin." Taranis stated before transferring the knowledge required to the five witches and wizards before them.
Once the knowledge had been transferred the Founders and Merlin made their way into the castle to begin the ritual and the dragons moved to begin casting the wards. Once the wards had been cast the dragons collapsed in exhaustion they barely had the strength left to drag their tired bodies close enough to the castle for the ritual to work, but they managed. Once the dragons were in place the Founders and Merlin began the ritual. As the ritual began all the people in the area could hear the pained, screaming roars of the dragons as they were sealed within the school. When the ritual ended the Founders and Merlin went out onto the grounds to tend to the bodies of the last of the Great Dragons. For all the pain that they went through the dragons merely appeared to be sleeping. So, the Founders and Merlin shrunk the bodies down and hid them within the school in a place where only those who were worthy would be able to find them.