The Fates We Face…
Chapter 1: The Things We Never Knew
"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."-Einstein
Professor McGonagall stepped briskly into her classroom. Her mousy, graying brown hair was tied up in a tight but messy bun on the back of her head, and her glasses were set squarely on the edge of her nose. She turned when she reached her desk and spun on her heel. She looked down at the three teenagers sitting sulkily in chairs in front of her. She pushed her glasses to the bridge of her nose, and sighed. She really wasn't sure about this plan, but Dumbledore had specifically instructed her to follow it in the case of his death. He had died two weeks ago, and ever since, she had been pondering on when and whether to follow through with his orders. She studied the teens in front of her warily. They were all seventeen, and only seventh years. The boy on her right had shaggy red hair, brown eyes, and was extraordinarily tall. The girl directly in front of her had long brown hair, dark brown eyes, and was looking extremely nervous, biting her bottom lip. The boy on her left was the most peculiar, though. He had messy, jet black hair, green eyes, and a lightning bolt-shaped scar. McGonagall glanced out on the Hogwarts grounds; the bright green grass, the glittering lake, the sounds of birds singing. It looked to happy, and she scowled at it like it was mocking her. She turned back to the threesome, and cleared her throat.
"Do you know the reason for me calling you three her today?" She asked in a monotone voice, knowing fully well that they wouldn't know the answer. She received three shaking heads, and continued, "Professor Dumbledore, just weeks before his…departure, gave me specific instructions." The three students ears perked at this, knowing anything Dumbledore had said was important.
"I am not sure if what he wanted to tell you, though, is the best option, but I will not go against his wishes; I'll tell you what he told me, and let you decide for yourselves," McGonagall paused before she continued, choosing her words carefully. "Do you three know…of the other…communities…there are in the magical world?" She asked, though her eyes landed expectantly on Hermione Granger. The girl shook her head, and McGonagall took her glasses off in thought.
"I am sure you have all come in contact with…dragons, correct?" McGonagall inquired. They had. "Well, you have only come in contact with one type of dragon. You see, Hagrid's dragon, Norbert, and the dragon Mr. Potter fought at the Triwizard Tournament, and even the dragons your brother, Mr. Weasley, tames, are the only type you have been exposed to." She put her glasses back on in a matter-of–fact sort of way.
"What do you mean, Professor? There is only one type of dragons, aren't there?" Hermione asked, surprising Ron and Harry with the fact that she actually didn't know something.
"Well, Miss Granger, there are actually two types of dragons. The kind you have never met before are only half dragon. They can turn into a human form." McGonagall answered.
"Oh, bloody hell! I'm surprised they haven't destroyed half the earth!" Ron exclaimed with a frightened look on his face. McGonagall frowned.
"These dragons are quite the opposite of their full blooded cousins. They protect magical creatures from harm. They even have their own government, The Dragon Council. You see, each country has a dragon to protect all the country's magical creatures." McGonagall explained.
"Excuse me, Professor, but why are you telling us all of this? I don't see how this could help us find horcruxes." Harry spoke up. McGonagall walked around the other side of her desk.
"But it has a very large impact on your mission for You-Know-Who's horcruxes. Dumbledore told me that there is one dragon you must contact if he was not around. He said this dragon would be a large help to your mission." McGonagall said uncertainly.
"Who, The English Dragon?" Hermione asked, curious. McGonagall shook her head.
"Actually, the dragon he mentioned is what surprised me the most. I, too, expected him to suggest our country's dragon, but I certainly didn't expect him to mention this particular dragon." McGonagall said with displeasure laced in her voice.
"What dragon?" Hermione persisted.
McGonagall sighed. "The American Dragon."
The three teens exchanged glances, and Ron asked, "Is there something wrong with him?"
McGonagall thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Well, not really…what I have a problem with him for several reasons…" She picked up a piece of paper from her desk and read out loud: "Here are some of his disciplinary problems; revealing identity to humans…misusing shape shifting powers…bringing a soul-sucking nix to a school dance…throwing a magical, non-magical party…and the list goes on. Another problem I have is that he is the newest dragon yet. He is the first American Dragon, and, not only that, but he is only thirteen!" McGonagall sat in the chair behind her desk, and stared at them with raised eyebrows. "But, I trust Dumbledore, and he insisted you meet with this dragon. That is all I wanted to tell you. Here-" McGonagall handed Harry a piece of paper. On it was an address and phone number. 'If you decide to meet him, that is how you can reach him. You are dismissed." All three of them hurried out of the classroom, and into the dark corridors.
"So," Hermione asked. "What are we going to do?"
"I guess we're going to New York City." Harry answered confusedly.
A/N: I hope you like it so far. I plan on making one of the threesome disapprove of Jake, but I'm not sure yet. PLZ, REVIEW! It encourages me to write more.