Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Author's Note: This weird little idea is most probably just a one-shot. It takes place during the Triwizard Tournament at Harry Potter's first task where he confronts the dragon to get the egg. It is an AU version of what could have happened had he used his brains a little. Well, that's what fanfiction is for so that about wraps up this A/N. So without further ado, I present you with my latest piece of HP FanFiction!
Harry Potter stood, frozen with fear. His mind reeled as all his senses screamed danger.
Foes!
Fire!
Enemies!
Evil!
Run!
Escape!
Flee!
Or at least, that's what his practical half told him anyways.
However, his Gryffindor spirit urged him to do something beyond the norm, something that went beyond human comprehension, something that defied the way things had been done and to do something completely new and different than had been ever done before.
Basically, the young wizard was going to do something very unorthodox and very stupid.
Was he scared?
Check!
Was he worried?
Check!
Was he going afraid that his plan would fail and that he was going to die?
Check, check, and double check!
Oh, bugger, Harry thought dismissively. There are two more tasks and hardly anyone made it out of this accursed Tournament alive. So I'm a dead man anyways. Besides, if the dragon kills me then I'll be put out of the misery accompanied by the title of The-Boy-Who-Lived. Well, get on with it then lad. A bloke's gotta do what a bloke's gotta do.
With that thought in mind, Harry Potter steeled his manly reserves (what few he had), squared his shoulders, sucked in a deep breath, and stepped towards the dragon.
All around him, the spectators of the Tournament gasped and held their breaths as he fearlessly approached the dragon.
The great, serpentine beast unfurled its wings and snaked its fearsome head towards Harry. Harry paused hesitantly as the dragon sniffed the air in Harry's direction.
The dragon froze as if trying to decide whether or not Harry was a predator or prey, or neither. Or so Harry hoped.
Whatever the case, he decided to enact his master plan.
According to his best friend Hermione Granger, the dragon was actually just a giant reptile – really an overgrown lizard and, as such, a distant relative to the snake.
One or two years back, Harry had earned the ire of the school when it became known that he was one who could communicate with serpents and snakes.
For a moment, time slowed and Mother Nature herself seemed to hold her breath as Harry Potter waited in front of the dragon accepting his fate. It had been a good run even if his plan didn't work and if dragons were not related to snakes.
Oh, well, Harry Potter sighed, shrugging his shoulders. You never know until you know and that is when you know the best!
Taking a huge gulp of air, he let his body relax and turned his head upwards to face the dragon. Using all his skill with mind magic, he reached out his consciousness to that of the dragon.
Putting every ounce of energy into his plan, he tried his best to make it seem like he was a friend and not an enemy.
The dragon tensed and pulled back as if trying to digest the message Harry Potter was attempting to give him. After what seemed like an eternity, the dragon seemed to relax and lowered its wings taking a step back.
A wave of relief washed over Harry Potter.
Great, He sighed. Now for Step Two!
Swallowing hard, he closed his eyes and sent waves of friendship and peace towards the consciousness of the dragon. All the while, he gingerly stretched out his hand towards the dragon's snout.
Up in the spectator's seats, the crowd gasped and gossip spread in a hushed but noisy ripple all throughout the people.
What's he doing?
Is he mad?
That boy's gone mental!
The Daily Prophet was right after all. He really is a loony bin!
From somewhere in the crowd, Draco Malfoy jeered. "What's the matter Potter? Are you giving up? Too cowardly to fight off the beast?"
Since he had amplified his voice with magic, everyone heard it and the crowd gasped in horror. An eerie silence settled on everyone only to be shattered by an ear-splitting roar as the dragon directed its rage towards the crowd.
Harry Potter, meanwhile, was sweating buckets full and wished he had learned an anti-sweat spell from Hermione. Finally, the roar ceased and those huge, vermillion eyes returned to Harry Potter with a look of...sympathy? Acceptance?
Unable to stand the tension any longer, Harry enacted his plan by gently placing his hand on the dragon's snout.
Both wizard and dragon froze as it seemed the entire world did, the Wizarding World anyways. Fat lot of good they were right now!
Mustering up all of the courage within him, Harry reached out to the dragon's consciousness and used his ability to talk with snakes while closing his eyes and touching the dragon's snout.
Greetings, Oh Great One! Harry Potter said genuinely. I am called Harry Potter and I wish to call a truce.
For the longest time, Harry thought the dragon would not despond, unleash a torrent of flames, and devour him. But the doubt was put at ease when he felt the dragon's vast mind enter his.
Greetings, Chosen One, The dragon's deep voice said, reverberating through his head. Your reputation precedes you. I have never met a wizard as brave as you. Nor as foolish. The truce is accepted. Now, what do you with to speak with me about?
Harry Potter sighed and felt so relieved that he nearly wet his pants.
It is something most...abnormal, Harry said cautiously. Do you know about this Tournament and what it entails?
The great beast tensed and Harry feared he had stepped too far.
Aye, The dragon growled. Do you not see the infernal chain about my ankle? Normally such chains would not limit my strength and I could break through such puny bonds. However, a number of impudent wizards cast demonic spells over me and the chains making it impossible to break loose. Yes, I know about the Tournament as my kind has been captured and used in it for years. Finally, I thought it would end but no! Now they have done it again but this time they stepped too far.
What do you mean? Harry asked warily.
They stole my egg! The dragon roared. They stole my only egg to manipulate me into participating in this Tournament as an obstacle for you.
But if they stole your egg, Harry said slowly. Then what is that golden thing on the pedestal?
That, The dragon hissed. Is an abomination. That is not a real egg but a phony and a fraud created by the wizards. It is what you must get to find out how to win your next task. Did you not think that dragon logic would see this?
Um, of course, sure, Harry stammered. Look, I know this sounds crazy but I was also forced into the Tournament against my will. Someone hoodwinked the Goblet of Fire and cast my name into it without my permission or even desire. I despise fame and popularity since it is so fickle and can even get you killed by the bad guys. Or hurt by your own supposed friends.
Well that is saying something, The dragon admitted. Ironic, isn't it? Both the greatest predator of my kind and the greatest wizard of your kind tricked into some pathetic tournament just to satisfy the naive and pathetic public. What do you say we turn this about for the better, eh? What do you say we give them something they would never expect?
What's that? Harry asked, feeling slightly suspicious but equally curious about the dragon's plan.
I will grant you free and safe passage to the egg, The dragon replied. If you use your magic to unchain me and place me and my kind under your protection.
Protection? Harry squeaked. But I'm just a kid! I'm not even seventeen yet. How can I protect anyone let alone a dragon?
Apeculiar rumbling sound emanated from the dragon's throat and Harry was pleasantly surprised to realise that it was laughter, dragon laughter. What was the world coming to these days?
You are The-Boy-Who-Lived and the Chosen One who vanquished the Dark Lord Voldermort may he burn in Hell for a thousand years! The dragon chuckled. You are a god to these mindless sheep of the Wizarding World, an icon and role model to look up to. If you had any brains at all you would become the new Minster of Magic and create a better Britain.
You would make peace with the goblins and dragons and magic folk, and become known as the Greatest Wizard of All Time. The people would follow you to the ends of the earth and then some. It is your destiny, what you have been fashioned for since birth. It would not be wise to pass this up.
What about Fudge...and Dumbledore? Harry stammered in feeble protest. Dumbledore said that there are Blood Wards around my home to protect me from Death Eaters. He said the only safe place is at Hogwarts.
Bah! The dragon scoffed, snorting in derision. That nincompoop is nothing but a fool, too caught up in his plan for the 'greater good' to see the need here and now and act upon it. He is preparing for the future, a possible future and one that might very well happen...if you go on as it was and not what it should be.
Okay, Harry reasoned. So supposing that I really am as loved and famous as you say, how can I do this? Someone dies every year around me and England is still crawling with Death Eaters. Voldermort is still lurking about somewhere. How can I defeat him?
With us! The dragon answered. Release me and I shall help you win the Tournament. Release me and I will be your companion and guard as long as you live. No one would dare to attack someone who is the friend of dragons. For I am the Queen of Dragons and you have my word that I will be on your side no matter what. My kind will be your army and your servants to do with as you will. Do we have a deal?
Well, this certainly was not a part of the plan!
Harry gulped as he realised he got more than he bargained for. Still, it was probably his best bet and a friendly dragon would be imperative help in the dark days to come.
Dumledore was certain Voldermort would return and Harry would need all the fire power he could get.
What the heck? Harry thought to himself.
Shrugging his shoulders, he grinned up mischievously at the dragon who gazed down at him with a twinkle in its eyes.
Deal! Harry said.
Then swear the Wizard's Oath and it shall be so, The dragon said.
So it was that man and beast swore their respective oaths while the crowds watched in confusion. Dumledore was just about to go down and see what the problem was when there was a terrific clap of thunder and a flash of brilliant white light from the boy and the dragon.
The dragon roared unleashing a torrent of flames into the air even as his chain broke loose and disintegrated into dust. Harry grinned as he felt the weight of a thousand worlds vanish from his shoulders.
Letting out a whoop of joy, he cast the appropriate spell and summoned his broom. In a flash it appeared in his hand and he hopped onto it, zooming towards the egg.
The crowd held their breath only to explode into cheers as Harry snatched it up. Their cheers died down instantly though, when the teenaged wizard flew on his Firebolt to the dragon's back.
Grinning like a fool, he leapt onto the dragon's back lifting his egg triumphantly into the air. The crowd gasped as the dragon reared on its hind legs and spread out its wings in victory.
Then it roared in sheer joy and Harry smiled as the crowd followed in suit. Harry's grin turned wicked as the news reporters' cameras flashed off like rapid fire, making the memorable scene go on down in history.
But for now, he contented himself with the momentous applause as the dragon took off majestically into the air performing a breathtaking series of dives and swoops. The crowd cheered all the more while the press had a field day.
The Slytherins booed. Snape turned to stone from fear. Draco wet his pants. All the other Heads of Houses and Dumledore were in hysterics while the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws went wild with pride and cheers.
Too caught up in the moment, Ronald Weasley amplified his voice with magic and shouted.
"Three cheers for Harry Potter!"
And the crowd went mad as they followed in suit.
"Hip-hip-hooray!"
"Hip-hip-hooray!"
"Hip-hip-Hooray!"
The End...
...Or Is It?
A/N:Well there you have it! This was meant to be just a one-shot but I have a few other ideas planned out, even for the other two tasks. So, should I continue this compilation or keep it how it is? Any advice, suggestions, and feedback in general are greatly appreciated and I know Harry Potter and the dragon are all a little OOC but they're meant to be so who cares? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Leave a review and let me know so that I can make this better yet!
~ Elf Knight ~