My first impression of Harry Potter was that he was a child. Not because of his age, although he was young, but he had the frightened, flinching look of an abused child thrown out into the world with no guiding hand. Was this the prophesied savior of the wizarding world?
As a servant of the Dragon and warrior of her line, I was chosen to meet this Boy Who Lived, to learn if he was as formidable an opponent as he was reputed to be, and to assess whether he had any chance of winning this war. What I found was a slender boy who looked as if one hard blow would kill him. But those famous green eyes held an expression that I knew well- the look of one who has seen too much death, too many battles, lost too many he loved, and still kept fighting. He had courage and strength beyond anything one could imagine to look at him.
He had no reason to trust me but his own instinct, and I, no reason to believe he had a chance but for that courage in his eyes. Yet despite it all, we trusted each other from the start. Perhaps it was fate. Or perhaps it was simply that warriors recognize a comrade.
But let me go back to the beginning: The second great Wizard war had begun, but this time it was not only the wizards. Voldemort had recruited Dementors, giants, some werewolf packs, every being and creature he thought might support his evil. Even inside the insulated world of the Vampire Council court, we knew of him and his ambitions.
I never expected to be involved in the war. After all, I was no more than the Dragon's "pet", and the Dragon, like the other Vampire Council members, chose to remain aloof of such struggles except where they directly affected the Council or their power base.
Strange indeed can be the ways of Fate.
I knelt before the Dragon's throne, controlling my expression with the ease of centuries of practice. Showing my soul-deep loathing of her risked punishment, or being taken to her bed. It was difficult to say which possibility was more repellent.
"Harry Potter," she said bluntly. "What do you know of him?"
"Very little, my mistress," I responded, and it was true. I had heard the name spoken in the Council court, but casual conversations tended to stop when the speakers realized I was near. "I know that he is a wizard, and involved in their war."
"He is considered the best hope of victory against Voldemort. The fulfillment of a prophecy." The twist of her mouth showed her opinion of that. "Voldemort has approached the Council seeking an alliance." My heart went cold. I knew enough of Voldemort to realize that the possibility of his victory could be a nightmare that would spread far outside the confines of the wizarding world. "The Council has not yet voted," the Dragon continued. "Some of them like his methods, but his massacres of non-magic humans wastes our food. Furthermore, I believe that given the chance, he would destroy us as well."
It was startling to hear my own opinions from the Dragon's lips. Then again, evil and petty though she was, she had never been stupid and she had not risen to the level of Council member by ignoring survival instincts.
"The Council wishes more information," she continued. "As such, you will make contact with this Harry Potter and report if he and his rebellion have a chance of winning against Voldemort."
"I?" I questioned. I had not been allowed even to leave the court in decades, was she truly planning to send me on this mission without her?
"We think you are the best choice," she replied airily. "But do not let the freedom go to your head, Caden. You will be watched."
"Yes, Mistress," I responded, for there was nothing else I could say.