Disclaimer: Anything you may recognize as the works of Ms. J. K. Rowling or Mr. Christopher Paolini do not belong to me in any way possible. Other things may be recognized as well, so take care to note that these, too, are not of my possession, but just of my use in this story. Finally, any character that is not recognized, and the plot-line, belongs to yours truly.

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The OpalEye Chronicles

The Code of The Dragon

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Chapter One

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"Endaira, you've changed."

Endaira Rezagrats looked at her friend, Hikari Moon. "Of course I have. A lot has happened to me."

And a lot had happened to her. A year ago, Endy had bonded with a dragon. Yes, a dragon. It was an Antipodean Opaleye, to be exact. Endaira then learned that she was a witch and would be attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the same year as the famous trio from the books by J. K. Rowling. There, she had learned magic, made friends, and even learned to fly Selena, the dragon. At the end of the year, Endaira and Selena had reluctantly gone before Lord Voldemort to try and save Ron Weasley's older brother, Charlie. They were successful, but Endy had been seriously wounded. When she awoke, she was in St. Mungo's Hospital and Alfred Murtogh, the Death Eater who had nearly killed her, was in Azkaban prison.

"Endaira, you don't talk to us anymore. You just sit there quietly, lost in your own thoughts. What's bothering you?" asked her other friend, Arasik Fletcher.

"I miss Selena. That's all." It was true. Due to her size, Selena wasn't allowed to travel home to America with Endy and had to stay behind at Hogwarts.

It was now the beginning of August. Outside the library window, the high summer sun shone brightly on the faded green lawn. In two weeks, Endaira would be leaving to go to Diagon Alley to get her new school things.

"When are we going to meet your dragon?" Hikari asked.

Endaira shrugged. "When they let her come home."

"I'm bored," Ara sighed. They were sitting at a table in the teens' section of the local library. Arasik had good reasons to be bored. There were no books of any interest to be found in the library. She stood up. "Let's go outside."

Endaira and Hikari stood up and followed her out of the library. They walked on the sidewalk as cars whizzed by them on the busy street.

"Where can we go?" Endaira asked.

"We could walk to the bowling alley. It's right down here," Hikari said, pointing to the right.

Endaira looked at Arasik and they shrugged.

"I've got money," Ara said and Endy nodded in agreement.

"Should I call my mom to let her know where we're going?" Endy asked, pulling out her cellphone.

"Whatever suits you."

Endaira flipped open her cellphone and scrolled down her address book until she got to "Home." She pressed "call" and waited as the phone rang.

"Hello?" came her sister's voice.

"Anale? Could you put mom on the phone?"

"Hold on."

She waited. "Endy?"

"Mom, we're heading over to the bowling alley. Is that alright with you?"

"Do you have money?"

"Yes."

"Okay. Just call me before you leave.

Endaira rolled her eyes. "Okay, Mom. Bye."

She hung up and closed her phone, shoving it back in her pocket. "Okay, let's go."

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"Strike!"

"Nice one, Kari!" Ara called.

"Hey, I got the fries," Endaira said, setting the tray down on the table and shoving a fry in her mouth.

"Hey, Endy?" Arasik said.

"Yeah?"

"Is Fred hot?"

"What?!"

"Well, is he?"

"Yeah, and what about George?" Hikari asked.

Endaira glared at her friends and shook her head. "They're both ugly, happy?"

"No," came the reply.

Endy sighed.

"Fine. They're both hot. Now is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Yes."

She groaned. Her friends were hopeless.

"Hey! What are you going to wear to the Yule Ball, Endy?" Hikari asked.

"Dress robes."

"But what color?"

"I don't know. I'll see when I get them."

"I wonder who's going to ask you to the ball," Ara said. To Kari, she added, "Can't you just see her going with Harry?"

"Eugh! No! Oh, my turn."

Endaira grabbed a bowling ball and stepped up to the lane. She swung her arm back and brought the ball forward, letting go of it. It landed on the lane with a thud and sped down the center. It veered to the left near the end and hit a single pin. Endy waited for the pins to be reset before she took another turn. This time, five pins were knocked over.

"Your turn, Kari."

While Hikari took her turn, Arasik turned to Endaira.

"So. Any cute boys there? Anyone you like?"

Endaira thought. Anyone I like? Her thoughts traveled to a certain boy. She must have smiled, because Arasik gasped.

"Who is it? You have to tell me!"

"No, I don't," Endy replied. "It's your turn."

Arasik glared at her, but stood up. "You'd better tell me."

"Tell her what?" Hikari asked, taking Ara's vacant seat.

"Nothing," Endy said.

Hikari narrowed her eyes at her friend, but said nothing more. Endaira let her gaze wander away from the bowling lanes to the doors leading outside. It took her a moment to realize that perched in the tree by the doors was a white owl.

She stood up, grabbed a few French fries, and headed for the doors.

"Hey!" Hikari called. "Where are you going? It's your turn!"

Endaira looked over her shoulder and pointed in the direction of the doors. Hikari's expression remained confused. Endy just rolled her eyes and walked out the sliding motion-censored doors.

With a hoot, Hedwig flew down from her perch to land on Endy's out-stretched arm. She offered the owl the French fries and took the letter from Hedwig.

Sitting on a nearby bench, Endaira opened the envelope and pulled out the parchment inside. She recognized Hermione's handwriting and smiled.

Dear Endaira,

I'm using Hedwig with Harry's permission. I would have used Pig, but I'm not sure he could have survived the journey.

We're going to the Quidditch World Cup tomorrow. Although, I suppose by the time this letter reaches you, it will be long over. You probably know the outcome already, right?

I cannot wait until the start of term.

Write back soon!

-Hermione

Endy searched her pockets and found what she was looking for. A pen.

Turning the parchment over, she wrote back.

Hey Hermione!

How was the match? I doubt the after-party was fun, though. What with the main attraction being the Dark Mark.

I'll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron in two weeks to get my school things. This year we have to get dress robes.

I have to go now. We're bowling, and it's my turn.

-Endy

Endaira put the parchment back in the envelope and gave it to Hedwig. Unfurling her wings, the snowy owl took off, quickly disappearing over the top of the building across the street.

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"I'm home!" Endy called as she opened the door.

"How was it?" her mother asked from the kitchen.

"Fine," Endy answered as she walked into the kitchen where her mother was sitting at the table reading the mail and her father was cooking dinner. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with ice and water. "What's for dinner?"

"Spaghetti and meat sauce," Mr. Rezagrats answered.

"Okay." Endaira headed downstairs and sat down at the computer desk in the Rezagrats's library. She logged on and went to check her e-mail. There were five messages in all, the computer said. Three were junk mail, so she quickly deleted those. The other two were from Persephone Williams and Darren Cay, the other two Dragon Riders from America who attended Hogwarts with Endy.

She clicked on the one from Persephone first.

How are you getting to England? Knight Bus again? Or a more Muggle way?

Endaira frowned. She clicked "reply" and typed back.

Don't know. I guess Knight Bus, most likely. E-mail me back, soon, okay?

She clicked "send" and then opened the e-mail from Darren.

Hey. It's been a while, but there's a lot going on. Mr. Pearson is having trouble finding me a new foster home, so until them, I'm stuck in this orphanage. The owners are alright, I suppose. There just too many kids. And it smells.

Right now I'm at the local library. This is the only computer the have, so I've got to go.

See you soon.

Endy smiled, even though she wished that Darren didn't have to go through all of that. Ever since his family had been murdered, he had been in the foster-care program. Endaira was probably the only one at school who knew.

Hey! Great hearing from you. I miss you. I can't wait till term starts. Are you staying at the Leaky Cauldron before the train leaves? I am. I'm leaving in two weeks. Hopefully, I'll see you there.

Endaira hit "send" just as a new, smaller, window popped up. It was an Instant Message from Arasik.

AraSparrow404: so, r u gonna tell me hu u like?

Endaira sighed and typed back.

Dragonstar296: no

AraSparrow404: y not?

"Endaira! Dinner!"

Dragonstar296: gtg. Dinner.

Quickly, she signed off and ran upstairs to the kitchen for dinner.