Chapter Two
The first time Hadrian noticed something was different with him was in first year.
Part way through the year he had begun to feel a pull urging him towards the grounds outside, in the direction of the forest. A few days later he, Ron and Mione found out Hagrid had a dragon egg. He had been drawn to the egg, barely able to fight the call of the unborn creature. It had only gotten worse when the egg hatched.
The first time he was in the room with the hatched dragon he felt almost complete. It was even better than the feeling Hogwarts gave him. But there was still something missing, like a puzzle piece trying to be fit in the wrong space. The little dragon even seemed to like him more than the others. It was constantly shooting flames at Mione, and when Ron had said something hurtful to him the dragon had bit the red head in his defense.
When Charlie's friends had come and got the baby dragon he had cried himself to sleep. Even the castles embrace had not helped the first night the dragon was gone. He had of course gotten mostly over it by the end of the year and with the troubles of the next two years had mostly forgotten the odd feeling, but he couldn't fully forget the feeling and had secretly studied everything he could get his hands on about dragons.
When he got to meet Charlie before forth year and speak with the older red head about dragons he had listened intently. While everyone else thought Bill had the coolest job he thought it was Charlie. Mione said it was his adrenalin addiction. He didn't think he was addicted to adrenalin but arguing with her did no good.
When he went back to school the news about the Triwizard Tournament came out and he was vaguely interested, until his name came out of the goblet on Halloween. He had tried to fight his way out of the tournament but it would have been at the cost of his magic, which he refused to give up. So he had sat out on the battlements on the seventh floor under his invisibility cloak alone with only the castle for company while his friend and the rest of the student body shunned him.
None of the other students ever reacted to the castle like he did, it was like they couldn't feel her, but he could. He could feel her moods and most of the time she helped guide him to the shortest path and she helped the stairs go where he needed to be. Mione and Ron never realized that the castle had led them to the third floor on purpose in their first year. The one time he had mentioned it Mione had called him childish and said he had a big imagination because the castle wasn't sentient, it was just a building. Even the other students didn't react to crossing the wards like he did. He had watched when they had gone to visit the village or go to the train just to see. Where the wards always welcomed him and gave him the sensation of a hug, he hadn't seen anyone else react as though they were affected.
He had studied the feeling in books and the only thing he came across that would maybe cause the affect was that his magical core was in tune with the people who laid the ward bases. He supposed it was possible after finding out that he was related to Godric Gryffindor in second year. He still hadn't told anyone he had begun learning about his history, he knew enough to realize it was purposely being kept from him so he would just let them think they had succeeded.
It was two weeks before the first task and he was being shunned by the whole school, including his supposed two best friends, when he first met Luna. He had been on the battlements under his invisibility cloak due to it being past curfew and she had walked right up to him and lifted the edge of the cloak and crawled under to his surprise.
Luna had simply smiled and said she could feel it too. By it she meant the pull coming from the forest. It was the same as when Hagrid had Norbert, but several times stronger. He wasn't stupid, he knew that meant there were dragons in the forbidden forest. The next week Hagird had led him into the forest to see the dragons, to give him a warning even though he wasn't supposed to know. The dragons had sensed him and he could feel them calling to him. When he began to understand what they were saying he had run, worried it was part of being a parselmouth.
Luna had met him that night back on the battlements. She had smiled and before he had a chance to say anything she had begun talking in the same odd chittering and soft growls the dragons made, and he had easily understood and responded in the same language. She had explained that it was the language of the dragons and the last ones able to speak it had been born over a thousand years ago. She said it would make sense that summer but not until then and he had seen the truth in her eyes. He knew that even though others called Luna odd and crazy, that his blond friend knew things that she had no reason to, no his friend was a seer and she hid it well.
Right before the task, when everyone was still glaring at him, even after he had warned Cedric, Luna came up to him in the great hall and with her silver violet eyes glowing had informed him in front of everyone that all he had to do was ask for the egg. When she gave him a brief hug before turning he could see an odd bright green glow on reflecting from her skin. It took a moment to realize his eyes had lit up like hers. He ignored the odd looks from their display and jokingly offered her his arm to lead her out to the stands.
To everyone's shock he had done just as she had instructed him to. The spectators only heard the strange chittering language dragons used, while to him it sounded just like english. After the task Charlie Weasley and several of the other handlers came over to him while he was ignoring Ron and Mione, who had tried to befriend him again. He was talking to Luna in the same chittering dragon language when the handlers asked for their help to calm the dragons, who were all upset over the destroyed eggs Krum had caused.
He and Luna had immediately agreed, even though the headmaster and everyone else tried to stop them getting close. Hadrian just ignored them and while holding his new best friends hand he had run into the enclosure the dragons were in. He and Luna had spent the afternoon and evening with the dragons, closer than any of the handlers had ever been allowed. It shocked everyone watching as the giant dragons bumped their noses against the tiny humans like over grown house cats who wanted attention.
Luna had crooned to the dragon who had lost her eggs, trying to comfort her about her loss. They had even been able to talk the dragons into cooperating with the handlers to make their trip back to the preserve easier on everyone involved. The news papers had a field day, deciding he and Luna had used some weird arcane ritual to gain the power to speak to dragons, he and Luna just ignored it and spoke in their private language to keep their secrets. She had been his date to the yule ball and the first person he told about being gay, and when the hostages were taken for the second task she had been his. Rumors flew about them dating but they simply smiled secretly and refused to comment, even though they knew they would never be more than very good friends. The school had stopped shunning him and even though Ron and Mione tried to regain his friendship, he denied them, refusing to open himself back up to such a painful betrayal.
At the end of the third task the year had come to a head. Voldermort had used his blood to regain a body and had killed Cedric in the process. Luna had been by the side of his hospital bed when he woke and she had held him as he cried. When Dumbledore came into the hospital room with everyone present and tried to say it was even more important he return to his muggle relatives, it was Luna who pointed out that by using his blood in the ritual, Voldermort was now able to bypass the blood wards with ease. It was also Luna who mentioned that she and her father were going to Romania for the summer, to the dragon preserve and that she had already gotten permission for him to accompany them.
It was decided that he would be shipped out of the country secretly the last night of term and he would stay with Charlie Weasley. The preserve was beyond excited to have he and Luna there, and had agreed to any security measures, even though they both new they didn't need it with the dragons there. So now here he was in Romania having been greeted by not only Charlie but also the head of the preserve, Mischa Kaizer, and several of the handlers.
The moment he recovered from the portkey he felt the overwhelming draw, calling him so strongly he couldn't fight it. He felt his eyes begin to glow and saw the green tint where ever his gaze fell. He couldn't deny the pull and he ignored the handlers speaking to him and took off sprinting through the preserve to what ever was calling him. He knew the handlers were chasing him and screaming for him to stop but he couldn't fight it.
He passed several enclosures of several different dragons, and the handlers all watching in shock as he ran past them. As he passed them the dragons all bowed to him to the shock of the wizards and witches watching, he sent out tendrils of his power to give them a sense of joy, letting them know he was glad to see them as he passed. He didn't know how long he ran but soon he was climbing up on to the huge sun bathing area, where the dragons laid out on the huge flat rock that reminded him of pictures of the flat topped plateau's in Australia. The great dragons all watched him while the handlers watched in shock as he wasn't attacked.
When the handlers tried to follow him into their midst they shot flames and in the case of one dragon, ice, to keep the handlers back, preventing them from interrupting what was to come. When he finally reached the end of the tugging sensation he stood in front of a huge pearl and black colored dragon that was the largest on the rock. The dragon was mostly the white iridescent pearl color with a black ridge going down the back of its neck and black wings, eyes and claws. He was massive in size, but had a sleek frame that spoke of speed and grace.
He instantly knew this dragon was several hundred years old and if he were to guess he would say he was at least a thousand years old. He locked eyes with the dragon and was soon lost to the happening around him as his and the dragons magic began to tangle and tie them to each other. He could feel his very magic tying him to this magnificent specimen, but had no idea of why.
He felt a slight nudge on his mind and he willingly opened himself to the great dragon who passed memories and information to him and took memories and information in return. He learned the dragon was a wind rider, made for speed and grace in the air, his name was Kane and he was one thousand four hundred and twenty three years old. He had been waiting for Hadrian all that time.
"But why have you been waiting for me. Why am I so special?" he questioned.
"Because little one, we belong to each other just as strongly as we belong to our mates. Our mates are also bonded and just as you can feel the pull, so can they. They are coming now and will be here soon, the closer they come the stronger the pull. You can feel it just as I can little one. As for why we belong to one another, you are my rider, the first one in a millennium. Your memories of the girl who speaks our tongue let us know that she, too, is a rider. I believe, based on your memories, that she will belong with Oracle, the crimson and silver dragon behind you."
Hadrian turned to see the dragon Kane had spoken of. She was beautiful with her brilliant crimson base scales and sliver zebra type stripes and a silver ridge going down the back of her neck. She nodded her head at him and went back to grooming her scales.
He thought over what Kane had said before one thing stuck out. He had read the legend of the Riders, but as none were known they were considered just that, a legend. Riders were said to be chosen by the sisters of fate. They were rare and when one was triggered, the others, never more than four at a time, began to feel the pull as well. When a Rider bonded with a dragon they became all but immortal, living as long as their dragons which were said to live for several thousand years. When the Riders rode they were said to be perfectly in sync with their dragons, able to stand on the back of the dragons as they flew and use their magic in battle.
The Riders were meant to be warriors and were said to always be extremely powerful wizards and witches, and they had mates, which were always other riders. If what Kane was saying was true, then his mate was already bonded with their dragon. He sure hoped it was a guy, because the female form did nothing for him.
If this news came out, which it would, then the dragons could be in danger from the Dark Lord and his death eaters. But on the other hand, it did explain how he had survived the killing curse as a child. He would have been born already bonded to Kane, and in turn, had an immunity of sorts to death. It wouldn't have been fool proof until the full bonding, but it was enough to apparently block the killing curse.
"I can already feel the bond Kane, my magic has bound me too you. Where do we go from here?" he questioned softly. He had a feeling that once the shock had sat in he would freak out, but for now, he was just trying to absorb the information.
"You are hungry little one, I suggest we get you back to the other wizards and get you sustenance." the great dragon chuckled.
Hadrian opened his mouth to argue, but then his stomach rumbled. He blushed in embarrassment and nodded yes to Kane. He turned to walk back to the main buildings when he noticed just how far he had come. He had run over a mile to get to Kane and he hadn't even realized it. He had also climbed up the huge plateau and he had no idea of how he had done so. Kane rumbled out a purr and he could feel the dragons amusement through the bond.
"It is time for you to learn how to ride little one. Come to me." the other dragons watched in interest as he approached Kane.
The elder dragon instructed him to climb up on his foreleg and from there Kane lifted his leg up high enough so that he could launch himself up to the arch at the base of his neck, right in front of the wing joints. Surprisingly, it was comfortable, like he had been doing it all his life. This explained why he loved flying so much and why he was so good at it. It felt so natural and he instinctively knew just how to sit and where to hold.
He could see down to the base of the plateau where Charlie and several of the handlers were trying valiantly to get up on the plateau, supposedly to rescue him. There were several dragons that had taken flight and several more who were standing guard at the base of the plateau to keep them from getting up there. He guessed it was to allow Kane and he to bond.
Well, they shouldn't be kept waiting. With that thought he spoke to Kane.
"You ready for our first flight?" he asked, only slightly nervous.
"Yes Little one, hold tight." the great dragon chittered before hunching and then launching them up in the air with one powerful beat of his wings.
Kane flew up in the air faster than he had ever gone on a broom stick and it was so much smoother than he thought the ride would be. Once they were up in the air he leaned forward, wanting to be seen by the handlers before their actions ended up pissing off a dragon. With that movement it was like Kane knew exactly what he wanted and the huge dragon pulled a flip in mid-air and dove down getting a startled yelp from the handlers who threw up flame shields out of fear that the elder dragon would attack them.
He couldn't help the whoop pf excitement that escaped him as Kane pulled up softly right before they would have plowed into the ground, to land softly. That was when the handlers noticed him on the back of the dragon. It was amusing to see their faces as he jumped down from Kane's back. The dragon caught him with his wing, curving it down so that he slid down until he landed on the ground like a cat on all fours.
The handlers were all in different states of shock, looking at him like they had seen a miracle, which in a way they had. They had just seen a legend come to life before their eyes. Finally Charlie regained his brain functions and came slowly forward.
"Harry, can you tell me how you were just on the back of that dragon without getting eaten. Dragons refuse to let anyone ride them." he spoke calmly in a soothing tone, watching Kane out of the corner of his eye as he moved towards Hadrian as if he would explode. Hadrian couldn't help but chuckle which earned him several odd looks. When he spoke he used a bit of his magic to let his voice sound enough for them all to hear him without him having to yell.
"I, Hadrian James Potter, am a Rider, the first in a thousand years. The legends are true and the riders come even now. I can feel them draw nearer. Within a few days the Riders who are already bonded with their dragons will be here, all thirteen of them. Luna will be here in two days and she is a rider as well. There is are another out there, though I do not know who. Once the bonded riders are here we will go get them." he said calmly.
"Now, I don't know about you but I am hungry and am headed back to the mess hall." with those parting words he turned and in half the time as it had taken before he was up on Kane's back and with another powerful beat of the dragons wings they were up in the air and flying towards the compound. He looked down to the ground to see the handlers all jumping into action and pulling out shrunken brooms and the ones without brooms heading off on foot. There were even two on muggle atv's. It only took a few powerful beats of Kane's wings before they were landing in the courtyard of the compound.
All of the handlers came out and watched in shock as he jumped down from Kane and the great dragon nudged him with its snout. He hummed softly and scratched beneath Kane's ear when he laid his massive head on the ground. It was shocking just how big Kane was. Standing as tall as he could Hadrian would be able to stand in Kane's open mouth if the dragon opened his jaws the whole way, granted he was small for his age due to the malnourishment he had suffered as a child. From snout to the end of his tail he was longer than the Basilisk that Hadrian had fought in his second year. Laid out on his belly, his back was the height of three men standing on top of each others shoulders and to the top of his head if he were standing on all fours was the height of six men and it was the height of four and a half and if he was on his belly it was four.
Hadrian ignored everyone as they watched in awe as he leaned peacefully against the huge dragon, not in the least afraid he would be eaten. As the handlers that had been out at the base of the plateau arrived they told his story and everyone looked at him in awe. He ignored most of them as they all ran around setting up supper in the mess hall. It was humorous to him when one of the handlers came and asked him nervously if he could get Kane to light a fire to roast a cow on. Hadrian chuckled as the others watched on and he chitterd the request to the dragon.
Kane nodded his large head and when a pyre was set up and the cow slaughtered and put on a metal pole over the pit Kane roared and blew out a burst of fire. Hadrian was in slight awe of the blue fire, he had never seen anything like it. Normal dragon fire was red or yellow but this was blue on the edges and white in the middle. He questioned Kane on why and the dragon said it was a mark of his species. It only took a few minutes for the whole cow to be cooked through. They roasted a few other things quickly as well before a huge feast was laid out in the mess hall. Charlie grabbed them both a plate and drinks and then cautiously edged over so he could sit on the ground next to Hadrian who was using Kane's foreleg as a chair.
The others, seeing that Kane wasn't trying to eat anyone or hurt them in any way, edged closer as well, pulling benches, stools, crates and anything else they could sit on to eat. They passed the evening with telling him legends that weren't written in many books, and knowledge about dragons that was passed on only to handlers. He also learned that dragons can understand human languages just fine, they just don't care what regular humans have to say most of the time.
He learned by the handlers asking questions for him to ask Kane and Kane answering back. Kane told of things he had seen in his life and of meeting the last group of Riders before they had gone to Shangri La. When he said their names Hadrian had been taking a drink at the time and had choked on it. When the handlers asked what was wrong he answered.
"I know the identity of the last Riders, you are never going to guess who it is." he laughed out.
"Well tell them little one, teasing them isn't nice." Kane chittered at him. He chuckled at the reprimand before speaking.
"The last Riders were a group of four friends who are called the founders of modern witchcraft. The four founders of Hogwarts."
He could have laughed at the looks of shock on many of the faces. Even if they had gone to one of the other schools around the world they had all heard of Hogwarts and her founders. Charlie looked like he was going to faint and Hadrian couldn't blame him and when he thought over the fact that they were still alive and according to Kane, were on their way there even now it was even more amazing.
"I can't believe it, we get to meet the founders." he grinned wickedly, smiling at Charlie.
By the time the meal was finished and everyone was either heading off to their posts or to their bunks he was exhausted. When he got up to follow Charlie Kane used one of his claws to lift him by the back of his robes. Hadrian was three feet from the ground and facing an unamused Dragon.
"Where do you think you are going little one?" Kane growled out. Hadrian blinked in confusion before replying.
"I am going to Charlies room in the bunk house. Why?"
"You will nest with me under the open sky this night. When the other Riders arrive I can trust your safety to them, until then you will remain with me. If you like your wizard friend may nest with us, but you will not be with out me." the great dragon ordered.
Hadrian blinked in shock before nodding and being sat down to explain the situation to Charlie and the other keepers.
"He says he doesn't trust me with just wizards and that I am not allowed to leave him until the other Riders arrive. He has said if you wanted, you would be welcome to join us in the nest, but he won't let me come in the bunk house."
The other handlers debated what would be best to do before deciding they would do best not to argue with a dragon. Charlie wouldn't let him sleep out with the dragons alone so he went and got blankets and pillows for a pallet along with a few other necessities for sleeping under the stars. Instead of going back to the plateau, Kane roared out an invitation to the other dragons to nest right next to the compound for the night.
Over twenty full grown dragons as well as several hatchlings came to nest for the night with them. Before they laid down for the night, Charlie showed him where he could preform his ablutions for the evening and change into his night clothes. When he returned, Kane had grabbed some of the thick wool blankets and made them into a small nest that he had then curled his massive body around. He instructed Hadrian to climb into the nest. Charlie had been taken in by several of the hatchlings who even as babes were his size. He was having the time of his life being so accepted by the creatures he loved.
Hadrian leaned his upper body against Kane's neck and looked up to the night sky. He marveled at the stars, he had never seen so many stars. The compound had a few lights but not near as many as Hogwarts at night, so the stars were visible and twinkling away brightly. He chirped a good night to Kane and Charlie and with a smile on his face he let the darkness take him.