Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe J.K. Rowling does. I'm just playing around in her sandbox for my own personal enjoyment and will receive nothing back (except reviews I hope).
Chapter 2: Awakening
Over time the world forgot the truth about the Great Dragons, even the magical world. They became little more than myths and legends. Not even the Headmasters and Headmistresses that came after the Founders knew about the dragons that were contained within the school. Merlin and the Founders had kept the knowledge to themselves and together they decided to fill the room containing the shrunken bodies of the dragons with the knowledge that they felt would help the young dragon hybrids when they finally came to the school. Merlin and each of the Founders created their own separate entrance to the room, which they had named the Chamber of Hope. Merlin's entrance was called the Observatory and was located in the Astronomy Tower. Helga's was called the Den and was located between the Hufflepuff Dorms and the Kitchen. Rowena's was called the Heart of Knowledge and was located in the Library. Godric's was called the Hall of Courage and was located at the end of a little used corridor on the third floor. Finally, Salazar's was called The Chamber of Secrets and was located beneath the lake and was accessed by way of a girl's restroom.
Each entrance had a challenge to gain entrance. To gain entrance to the Observatory you had to solve a puzzle involving a model of the solar system. For the Den you had to find all of the clues to fairly judge a mock trial. To enter the Heart of Knowledge someone would have to answer many difficult and challenging riddles. The Hall of Courage required a person to face off against their worst fear to get through. The Chamber of Secrets required a person to not only be a Parselmouth, but to also match their wits with three separate guardians, the first of which was a Basilisk.
Merlin and the Founders put additional security on the Chamber of Hope itself, to make sure only the ones that were chosen were allowed entrance. Since they knew that the chosen ones would be both human and dragon, they sealed the Chamber of Hope with a mixture of human and dragon blood. This way only someone who had a similar combination of blood could enter and receive the knowledge stored within.
The Chamber of Hope had also been designed as a safe haven for the new hybrids should they need it. Not only were there books and scrolls filled with information that the hybrids would need, there were also beds and couches and chairs. There was a kitchen area that could be stocked with plenty of food and a dining area to eat at. There were desks, torches, candles and candle stands, rugs, throw pillows and blankets. There were fireplaces, and even a boys and girls bathroom. The Chamber contained everything that they could think of that these chosen few could need, including portraits of each of them to provide guidance when the time came. Now, all that was left was to wait.
So, with everything prepared Merlin and the Founders went on with their lives. They knew, without having been told, that the dragons would not rise again within their lifetimes and they doubted it would happen in their children's lifetimes either. What they did not know was that it would take around one thousand years for the dragons to be awakened and begin to rise once more.
The first to awaken was Brigantia, whose brave heart and thirst for knowledge settled within a baby girl who was born into a family without magic. The next to awaken was Vercobret, his firey temper and cunning mind were situated within a baby boy born to a woman who would, eventually, have more husbands than children. Andraste was the next to awaken, her noble mind and heart made their home within a baby girl whose early life was marred by tragedy. Louarn was next, his cunning mind and sharp wit came to reside within a baby boy whose father had decided to bow down to a pretender. Bran and Taranis awoke on the same day and laid claim to two baby boys whose lives had been marked by prophecy. Finally, Innogen lived up to her name and was once again the last born, claiming a baby girl who, like her parents, was a bit odd.
The guardians of these children, because not all of them got to grow up with their parents, would never know just how special they truly were. Some could care less as they had never wanted the little freak in the first place. Some would wonder at the strange things that would happen around their little girl. Some would only see the child's parents and never the child. Most would wonder at the strange names that the children had for their imaginary friends, never knowing that the dragons were speaking to the children and doing what little they could to guide and protect them until the time came for them to fulfill their destinies.
