Chapter 1 - Dragon Boy

Harry was staring down the train track after just saying goodbye to his two sons. He was more worried about his youngest son, Albus, because he was just starting his first year at Hogwarts. James was starting his second and was getting a kick out of his younger brother's nervousness. Ginny stood next to him with a hand on his shoulder as she looked up at him. Hermione and Ron walked up next to them to look down the tracks as well.

"Should we still be able to hear the train?" Ron asked. Harry didn't even notice until Ron spoke, but he was also hearing train. It sounded like it was getting closer. The four of them, along with the rest of the people still standing at Platform 9¾, turned to see another train arrive. This one only had one car attached to the engine. Harry's Auror training kicked in and he approached the train but didn't take out his wand. Ron told Hermione and Ginny to stay back and he joined Harry; unlike Harry, Ron took out his wand. When the door opened, a tall thin boy stumbled out. Harry actually grabbed his arm to stop him from falling. When the boy looked up at him, Harry recognized who he was.

"Kevin? Are you all right? What's going on?" Kevin was the newest Auror Harry had, joining this past summer. Kevin stood and huffed, blowing away his long black hair off of his face. He patted himself off, as if there was dust on him, but there wasn't. He smiled up at Harry and Ron.

"Hiya boss! I have urgent news from the Minister. Can you two please come with me?" Kevin said in an upbeat tone. Harry looked back at Ron – who shrugged.

"Well go ahead and tell us mate" Ron said. Kevin looked around at all the people looking back at him. He leaned in close to Harry.

"It's really something the public shouldn't hear about yet sir"

"Alright let's go" Harry said patting Kevin on the shoulder, and turning back toward Ginny and Hermione; "You'll be alright by yourselves won't you?" Ginny reassured him they'd be fine but Hermione spoke up.

"Wait what's going on?"

"Official Auror business ma'am" Kevin told her, as politely as her could, "Can't go around telling people yet" Kevin spoke with an American accent, which is why most people continued to stare when others had left. Ron cupped Hermione's face and smiled at her.

"I'll be back before supper" Ron kissed her forehead and hugged her. He ruffled his son's hair and told him to take care of his mother. Hugo nodded and smiled at his father.

"I can't go to Hogwarts, now I can't go with dad" Lily whined. Harry smiled and said goodbye to his frowning daughter. He hugged and kissed Ginny before getting on the train with Ron. Kevin joined them after a friendly smile and wave at the crowd.

The engine began to move and was now headed off after the train to Hogwarts. Inside the only car, Harry and Ron stood just inside the door. They both now looked to Kevin to explain the situation. Before he could speak, another man came out of the booth closest to them.

"Hello brother" the man said, coming out with a small smile on his face.

"Charlie?" Ron was surprised to see his brother, "What are you doing here? Run out of dragons to study?"

"Not quite" Charlie's response was rather serious. Charlie was now forty five but his physical appearance would fool others into thinking he was younger.

"What's going on Charlie?" Harry asked, noticing his serious tone.

"I'll have Kevin here explain" Charlie looked over to the boy.

"Right so I've been assigned to transport Charlie and some 'special cargo' to Hogwarts" Kevin explained, "What I've been told is that Charlie has been put in charge of a…well…" Kevin looked toward the dragon expert.

"In North America there were wizard's performing experiments on dragons. The Ministry there took care of them but needed help with the dragons that remained there. One of their experiments…" Charlie looked away, "It'd probably be better to understand if I showed you" Charlie walked to the booth across from the one he came from and knocked on it lightly.

"Alex? May we come in?" Harry or Ron didn't hear a response but the door opened. Harry saw a boy come out that looked to be around Albus' age. But he didn't look like any boy Albus' age.

"This was one of their experiments" Charlie said with a hand on the boy's shoulder. Harry and Ron were looking at, what can simply be described as a dragon boy. Small red scales replaced skin on the edges of his face. His shaggy brown hair covered most of it, along with his hazel eyes. The back of his neck had more scales, but nothing else could be seen beyond the collar of his shirt. He shyly looked up at Harry and Ron. Harry's eyes were wide with shock and Ron's mouth was agape.

"Ron, please" Charlie said, and Ron's mouth shut.

"They did this…to a kid" Harry said, trying not to sound as horrified as he was.

"There's more than just what you see" Charlie said, and before Harry could ask what he continued, "They somehow replace his lungs with a pair of dragon lungs. Causing him to –" Alex snuffed and a puff of fire emitted from his nose, "- do that." Harry had never seen anything like this in his time as an Auror. It was both fascinating and revolting to look at this child. The revolting part mostly coming from the part of the brain that would ask, why would anyone do this to a person? A child?

"Alex is something extremely rare and needs to constantly be under a watchful eye" Charlie said, breaking the silence that had ensued after Alex displayed what he could do. "Since the North American Ministry wanted nothing to do with him, I pulled some strings at Hogwarts and we're gonna put him there"

"Why did you need us to come along?" Harry asked, looking up at Charlie.

"Well the Minister told me you'd be at the platform and that I could pick you up on the way," Kevin took over the explaining once more, "Charlie requested that Ron come along as well"

"Is there any danger to him?" Harry asked.

"We have reason to believe that some dragon dealers have put a bounty on his head for capture" Kevin told him, "Our task is to escort him to Hogwarts, and wait for further orders from the Minister"

Harry knelt down in front of the boy and stuck out his hand. Alex looked at him warily.

"Hi there Alex. My name is Harry Potter. It's a pleasure to meet you" Alex snuffed and a puff of fire came from his nostrils. He took Harry's hand.

"Everyone knows who Harry Potter is. Even in Canada" Harry now noticed that there were scales on the back of the boy's hands as well. Like Kevin, Alex spoke with an American accent. Ron also introduced himself and too his surprise the boy knew who he was as well.

"And just when I thought you were the only famous one around here"

Alex went back inside his booth, and Charlie further explained his situation.

"From what we can tell, those are the scales of a Chinese Fireball dragon. We think they used the lungs of the same dragon they got the scales from"

"He doesn't have a tail does he?" Ron asked. Harry and Charlie both glared at him. "Sorry just a question"

"No he does not have a tail" Charlie told him.

"Do you know who did this to him? And why?" Harry asked.

"Yeah and why doesn't the Ministry in America take care of this?" Ron asked.

"The American Ministry wants nothing to do with this. Flat out called the kid an abomination. As for who and why – I have no idea. Heard the dragons had killed them all before the Ministry arrived." Charlie said.

"Does he not have any family?" Harry asked, in a rather sad tone. Charlie shook his head and explained that he was just an orphaned wizard.

"No one thought much of it when he went missing, according to the report I read" Kevin spoke up; his happy demeanour now was a serious one. When Harry asked how long Kevin had known about this, Kevin explained he had only gotten on the train a few hours ago.

"What's he gonna do at Hogwarts though? Be a student?" Ron asked.

"He's still a wizard and thus needs to be taught. I'll be there helping with all things dragon" Charlie explained.

"I reckon he'd be in Slytherin then" Ron chuckled.

"Really Ron?" Harry and Charlie both said.

"Right I guess that's not very tasteful" Ron leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"Minerva insisted that he take place in the sorting ceremony, if he is to be a student" Charlie told them.

"Minerva? Didn't she retire last year?" Harry asked.

"Didn't you hear? The Ministry has yet to find a replacement, so until further notice she will remain Headmistress" Kevin said.

"Poor old fart." Ron said shaking his head.

"Who are you calling old?" Charlie said with a laugh.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron frowned. Harry and Kevin had a laugh too.

Not much was said for the rest of the ride and Alex had stayed in his compartment until the sun was setting. Alex walked out of his booth, wearing a cloak over his robes. The cloak had a hood which he already had on to cover his face.

"We'll be arriving soon won't we?"

"Yes Alex, in a few minutes" Charlie responded.

Alex went back into his booth to get his things. Harry stood to wait by the door, and was joined by Ron.

"Bet you never thought you'd be coming back here, eh mate? At least not by train"

"Most certainly not" Harry said staring out the window and up at the castle that was once his school, his home, his life.

A/N: Edited and cleaned 26/10/2011. Details on my profile.