Author' Note: Hi all, had this idea for a while but finally got around to outlining and writing. Adventure and Romance forthcoming.
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all the characters and ideas of the Harry Potter world. I don't plan on making any money from my stories, they are just for fun.
Dragonflowers
The title of the book grabbed everyone's attention when it was first released. The juxtaposition of dragons and flowers made everyone wonder enough that the book did a brisk business, of course the authors; Miss Hermione Granger, graduate of Hogwarts, friend to the famous Harry Potter, and soon to be expert on all things herbal and Charlie Weasley, dragon keeper, rider and soon to be foremost authority on dragon habits, helped to pump up the interest level as well. Of course there were skeptics who saw the combination as a gimmick that the publishers had no doubt come up with, possibly because the research was faulty.
Severus Snape, potions master of Hogwarts was most certainly skeptical but curiosity won out and he purchased the book over the Christmas holiday, mailing a request to the booksellers to have a copy sent to Hogwarts rather than be seen purchasing it in public, after all, curiosity was one thing but healthy skepticism should never be discounted.
It was December 28, the castle was thankfully quiet, almost all the children had gone home, grades were in, syllabuses for next semester had been submitted and Albus' token gift had been delivered, the order was not scheduled to meet till the new year, barring any disasters and Voldemort had been quiet for the past two days…bliss. He prepared himself for the worst, unwrapped the volume sat down before the fire with a tumbler of firewhiskey and opened, interested to see, the culmination of what Hogwarts two best students had to offer.
Severus caught on quickly to their reasoning for combining efforts; like dragons, medicinal wildflowers are found in some of the most remote areas of the world, terrain difficult to negotiate alone, so the book became a travel log, research tool, and diary about their discoveries in searching out the hidden mysteries of dragons and flowers.
After the first page Snape was prepared to discount the value of the research because of all the other competing elements of the book but after finishing the first chapter he was engrossed. Miss Granger's handling of the flowers, potions testing and cross referencing had sparked ideas in his mind to modify a few of his own potions and Charlie's description of the tracking and observing of the various types of Dragons left one on the edge of the seat. At the end of each chapter they would meet back at a campsite, pull together and compare notes, discussing other events and scenes that had happened on their daily expeditions. It was at the end of these chapters that personal accounts were given, diary style; hopes, dreams, fears, frustration and friendship threaded through the entries and as Snape delved deeper into the accounts he began to fall in love as he was sure Charlie Weasley must be as well.
He admonished himself for such childish thoughts and continued on, determined to no longer read the diary entries, he had purchased the book for its research value and he would not be pulled into this voyeurism the publishers were using to sell books. But his resolve didn't last to the end of the next chapter.
It took him only three days to finish and on the last evening he lay on his bed, savoring the last chapter.
Excerpt
Hermione Granger, Africa, fynbose Thursday, December 25, 2005
Charlie has not returned yet but I am not worried, he was checking out a possible dragon egg sighting on the other side of the jungle. We have constructed a safe tent, wards holding well against the various jungle animals. It is Christmas day, I only realized this morning when the local missionaries greeted me on my way out. I'm afraid my social graces have become rusty, buried as I have been in my flowers, feeling remiss and knowing the type of family Charlie comes from I have procured the ingredients to brew him some holiday cheer.
Our trip is drawing to a close and although we are loathe to leave our adventure we are anxious to see our families, both of which thought our expedition 'unconventional' to say the least. My hope is that they will come to a better understanding of why we chose to combine our book and take as many risks in gathering our information. Dragons and flowers on the surface appear well defined, one seemingly violent and overpowering and the other fragile, but on closer inspection we have found quite the opposite, the dragon for all its show weakens under the slightest change in conditions and becomes undone by its impatience and anger whereas the wildflower persists, its resiliency in temperature change has confounded Charlie and I on more then one occasion, there is a toughness that hides amongst the delicate petals as much as there is a weakness that dwells behind the iron scales. Perhaps, in these dark times we can take comfort from our findings and search for the wildflower in ourselves.
The book slid from Snape's hand to the floor and he closed his eyes in reverent silence, longing for another life.
Snow flakes fell from magical ceiling in the great hall, but disintegrated quickly. Snape scowled at the high table, exhausted from reading late into the night and could barely muster a salutation for Professor Dumbledore when he took his place.
"Severus, slide down, no reason for standing on ceremony when there are so few of us remaining."
Snape slid down to the seat next to Albus but continued to stare at his food.
Albus ignored his manner and chatted amiably.
"I have news; we will be taking on two lectures this semester."
Snape looked up with disdain and questioning, "Lecturers?"
"Yes, Hermione Granger and Charlie Weasley have agreed to spend the second semester with us discussing the details in their book, I think the children will be most excited." Dumbledore gazed innocently at Severus.
"They are coming here, to Hogwarts." Severus voice betrayed his interest but he quickly corrected himself upon seeing Dumbledore's satisfied expression.
"How can we fit them into the schedule? Does Minerva know of this plan?" He tried to sound perturbed but they were all hopeful questions.
"Not yet, but I'm sure you two can figure something out, she is due back this evening."
Dumbledore turned his attention back to his plate and began eating, signifying the end of discussion on the topic.
Snape however couldn't eat and excused himself to ponder the news in the dungeon.