AN: First a thanks to SuNoYo who took the time to clean up chapter 1.
Now about the changes in characters and such – Gellert insisted he needed to be in here, Albus looked worried but accepted, Severus shrugged, and Voldemort agreed so he could have another scene. Albus and Gellert are an estranged couple here, and the tale will not show much couply things between them. Sorry if this spoils your fun.
Dragons and Phoenixes
The rest of the week was spent alternating between going through the research on Immortality potions and working on the potions they were attempting to create. Severus showed them how to extract the essence from dragonfly wings and attempted to learn how to eat, sleep, and move around with a dragon constantly draped on his person. The embarrassed section of his mind was partially relieved when Yu closed his eyes during his more personal business.
Kasem watched as Severus settled into his seat carefully, not leaning back against the backrest nor crossing his legs as was his previous habit. Shifted his gaze to where he thought Yu's face was, he addressed the dragon. "Master Yu, Severus needs to move as normal or all who know him will suspect something. Is he capable of leaning back through you, of sitting on seats normally, and crossing his legs over each other without it being noticeable that you are present?"
"I am a Spiritual Dragon, a Shen-lung, he can move as if I was not here if he wished." Yu's answer seemed as quiet as a whisper but as loud as an exploding cauldron at the same time.
Zhu watched as Severus relaxed into the seat, his posture still straighter than normal, but looking far more comfortable.
Jin-sun leaned forwards, his hands resting on the table, his gaze directed at Severus' shoulder. "Can others hear you?"
Over the past several days they had become accustomed to the dragon giving helpful advice, and becoming a resource on ancient potions that had never been recorded or whose records were lost. His knowledge on techniques they had only read about came from first hand observations, and the five were soaking in as much as they possible could. They had become used to the dragon's voice correcting them, directing them, and periodically a clawed paw stopping them from doing something extremely stupid, but Jin-sun knew the moment the dragon spoke at the convention, they would become the centre of attention if anyone else could hear him.
"Only those who were touched by the joss smoke that clung to me when I first arrived can hear me, Jin-sun. Do not worry, many shall believe your group has lost their mind for I require answers to my comments." Yu laughed quietly at the humans' expressions. "You may tell them a dragon has joined you, I would enjoy watching their faces."
"Except that the madman can't learn of you – he might actually believe it." Kasem leaned back a slight frown marring his brow. "Will others be able to sense you are there?"
"Not many."
As the group smiled in relief, Severus wondered if Dumbledore would be one of those who could.
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Gellert Grindelwald was bored. Then again, he has been bored for the last forty almost fifty years. The first several years sitting in Nurmengard fuming and planning on ways to get Albus back for his imprisonment. Ming was the one that talked him out of that. Having a Ti-lung join him during his travels was as surprising to him as the phoenix joining Albus. The dragon, who was only visible to him and Albus, spent many years talking him, teaching him how to balance out his yin and yang. His light and dark tendencies in simple term, but Ming's explanations and lessons were far from simple. Through those conversations he learned he needed Albus in his life, even just as a memory, as Albus was the yang that tempered his yin.
Ming flowed through the crack under the door, his brown scales standing out against the grey stones that made up his prison.
In a voice not as rusty as one would think it should be, Gellert spoke to his companion. "What's the news?"
"You're going to have visitors." Ming curled about the edge of the room, his head coming to rest on the back of Gellert's hard wooden chair. "Voldemort and two of his minions are walking up the stairwell right now."
Lids drooped over calculating blue eyes as Gellert studied the door. "Can we use this to carry out our plan for my escape?"
Ming agreed to help him leave Nurmengard the day he showed true remorse for his actions. All he wanted now was to have a wand and live outside of these stone walls. He even accepted not hunting down Albus, no matter how much he still missed the man, he would not pull his other half from the school where he taught. He and Ming planned every minute detail of his escape, including how to fool the guards into thinking he was dead.
"It would seem to be the perfect set of circumstances. Everyone would believe that Voldemort killed you."
Smiling slightly, Gellert leaned back in his rickety wooden chair, crossed is booted ankles, and waited.
The door opened quickly, as if to startle him. The edges of his lips curled into a mocking smile as the three walked into the room. Scanning over the minions quickly, he studied Voldemort while he waited on them to speak. Taking in the red eyes, noseless face and general feel about the newest Dark Lord, Gellert wanted to shake his head. 'Dark Arts gone wrong – that is what he's an example of.' A flash of the edge of a tattoo on the arm of one of the minions almost made him raise an eyebrow. 'Playing with soul bonding magic as well?'
"You are Gellert Grindelwald?" The blond minion pointed his wand at Gellert, causing Ming to shift between them.
Shifting his attention, Gellert cast a silent Legilimens and slipped into the blond's mind. Of all the spells this one was the easiest to practice during his imprisonment. The guards never knew that he was gleaning knowledge from their minds every time they opened his door. In the forefront of Malfoy's mind was his loyalty to Voldemort, and Gellert found it easy to manipulate his memories to bring up the Dark Mark he heard about, proving that it was the tattoo. Shuffling about carefully, he reviewed all that Malfoy knew of Voldemort before turning his attention to the man himself.
"Answer me!" Malfoy stepped closer as he jabbed his wand towards the old man just sitting there.
The second, heavier set Death Eater shifted to block the open door, watching Gellert not the hallway, making Gellert wonder what happened to his guards. Clasping his hands in his lap, Gellert shifted his attention back to the blond. "Of course I am, who else would be in my cell?"
"Enough of these games." Voldemort strode forward, his wand in hand. "I am Lord Voldemort, the most powerful Dark Lord of all time. I -"
Gellert interrupted him. "Really, the most powerful? How many countries do you control? Britain, most certainly, as it is your home country, but how many more? I had significant control of most of Eastern Europe before my … last fateful meeting with Dumbledore."
He watched as a slight flush crawled up the minions faces while Voldemort stiffened. He knew Voldemort had yet to control a single country.
"I am walking free, and you are imprisoned, Grindelwald," spat Voldemort.
Gellert nodded once slowly. "Yes, it took the most powerful wizard in the world to capture me; I hear a babe killed you. Your proficiency in the Dark Arts seems to be keeping you among the living, though not as well as they should have. I wonder what you did wrong."
Pointing his wand at the prisoner, Voldemort curled his lips. "I should kill you, and perhaps I will after I get the information I am after. Where is your wand?"
"My wand?" Finally standing, Gellert closed the distance between them by half. "It is in the safest place I could leave it."
Yes, Albus was the safest place for the Elder wand. He would know what it was and just what carrying it means. Gellert sometimes wondered if the Headmaster of Hogwarts still searched for the Deathly Hallows.
"Where is it!?"
Red eyes glared into his and Gellert felt the pricks of someone attempting to enter his mind. Strengthening his Occlumency shields, he raised an eyebrow, his face conveying his contempt of the attempt. "It is a safe place because its location isn't known."
"You will tell me where it is, or you will die!" Voldemort glared at him, incensed at being thwarted.
Ming curled around Gellert, ready to carry their plan out.
Seeing nothing but brown dragon scales, Gellert began to mockingly laugh at his enemy who had no idea what he was about to do.
"This is your last chance, old man, tell me!"
Gellert laughed louder.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A true smile graced Gellert's face as the green curse flew towards him. Ming stopped it and then vanished them both away. Left on the floor was a pile of dirt and a puddle of water.
Malfoy stared at the remains. "Just like you, My Lord."
Voldemort spun about and strode out of the cell, leaving the door standing wide open.
In a small cottage deep in the Black Forest, Gellert sank onto a sofa and smiled. In a moment he would take a bath, find fresh clothes, and dig out his original wand, but for now he was going to enjoy the soft, comfortable seat. His smile broadened as Ming draped himself over a wing-backed chair.
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It was late summer before Severus made it back home. After the convention, which Yu's prediction of people thinking they were crazy came true, Kenji insisted he stay in Japan for a few weeks after which Zhu convinced him to travel to China, and Jin-sun refused to be left out so he went to Korea for several weeks. Yu enjoyed the trips and Severus collected ingredients and knowledge.
Banishing his luggage into a heap in his spare room, Severus opted against unpacking most of it as he would be heading to Hogwarts in a couple of days. He washed everything at Jin-sun's yesterday, and the research notes and potion ingredients were going with him.
The dragon head resting on his shoulder lifted as Yu peered about the house. "This is your home, Severus?"
"Yes." Severus knew his place was not magnificent, but it was his home. Jin-sun's and Kasem's places were just as rundown. Zhu's home was grander than Malfoy's manor, and Kenji's temple was just not comparable. He let Yu gaze about as he headed to the kitchen. He was in dire need of a good cup of British tea.
One cup was drank and Severus was considering the second and a good book, when he felt the summons. A dragon paw landed onto of the mark covering the entire thing, the claws pinched against the thread, almost severing it.
"What is this, Severus?"
Severus summoned his robe and mask. "That is how the Dark Lord summons his followers. It means the book and chair will have to wait. Are you ready to check out your opponent?"
Yu curled tighter against Severus. "Yes, it is time to see what we are up against."
Severus donned on his the robes and mask. With a slight twist, he Apparated away, trusting that Yu would be able to stay with him, making sure to envision him the best he could. A small crack sounded as they appeared near a graveyard.
"Yu? Are you okay?" It was not the first time Severus wished he could see his companion.
"You are worried something might have happened to me?" Yu turned his head and peered into the unseeing eyes. At the slight head nod, Yu chuckled. "No one has worried about me for centuries." He breathed out a warm gust of moist air, letting it fan across Severus' covered face and his eyes. "As you can see, Severus, I am whole."
Severus felt his eyes widen. He really could see the dragon looking at him. Not the smoke version either. Grey-blue scales flowed down his body, which Severus could now see as well as feel, a white fur surrounded his head from which two large black highly branched antlers stretched, long white tendrils trailed away from his face, and a pair of endless black eyes peering at him. "I can see you." It was whispered, but Severus knew Yu could hear him.
"I granted you the ability." Yu shifted his attention, watching the other robed figures entering the building.
Severus noticed where he was looking, and strode after them. Tension radiated through the dragon's body as he came to a stop in the inner circle. Severus could feel the muscles flexing as Yu lifted his head up and examined the room they were in as well as its occupants. His leg was freed as the dragon's tail uncoiled and formed a protective circle around him. The Death Eaters standing near him unconsciously moved, leaving more space around him than normal.
"Severus, these people..." Yu's voice trailed off as a red eyed man walked into the ballroom followed by a large snake. His whiskers flared out as the scent of the man reached him. Narrowing his eyes, he shifted so that his back claws were clasped about the connection the madman had with Severus. The rest of him flowed forwards, expanding as he crossed the distance between the inner circle and the Dark Lord.
"He smells awful, Severus. Like something past dead."
Yu's words resounded in Severus' ears, but there was no way to tell the dragon about the resurrection that occurred just over a year ago. His shoulders tightened when Yu walked over Nagini, his front claws almost impaling the snake, in his attempt to get closer. The great viper lifted her head, her tongue flickering about, sensing the air before she coiled up tight hiding in the Dark Lord's shadow.
The Dark Lord never noticed while he was conducted his meeting.
Almost wishing he couldn't see Yu now, Severus blanched as the dragon wrapped its way around the Dark Lord as much as it could with one clawed paw around Severus' bond. Even as he watched, the paw slid up the connection until it was where it joined the Dark Lord. A bereft feeling washed over Severus until he met Yu's gaze. Onxy met endless night and Severus knew Yu was still helping him.
Yu coiled about the Dark Lord until Severus could not see him nor Nagini anymore only grey blue scales. The dragon's head lifted high above the coils, claws appearing to be clutching something in the air, his jaws slightly agape, his ears up, eyes narrowed, and the tendril-like whiskers flowed back from his face as a wind picked up, swirling through the room. Grey-blue wings flared open as the dragon took off for the ceiling
Training his gaze on the now visible Voldemort, Severus could see the suspicion and uncertainty that flashed across his face before the man smoothed it away. Red eyes searched the circles, looking for the perpetrator, the one who dared to cast such a spell during one of his meetings. Severus hoped that Yu wouldn't do anything to draw attention to where he stood.
As the meeting proceeded, Severus felt more that saw a small Yu drape himself back on his shoulders and then walk down his left arm, stopping only when his head rested on top of the Dark Mark and his paws were once again wrapped around the connection. His tail wrapped around Severus' upper arm, the tip of it resting on his shoulder.
Yu didn't move or speak again until they were back in Severus' living room, and a cup of tea for both of them was served.
"He is dead. That man is only walking about because he has tied his soul to this plane. That body – it is a golem – it is made out of parts." Yu sipped his tea for a moment before looking back at Severus. "Even if I had not given my word to help you, I would remove this … creature from the world. He is the antithesis of what should be here. When the time comes, when you poison him, I will cut all his bonds, especially every one that is tying him here."
"We believe we shall have a working potion next summer." Severus sipped his tea, knowing he would have to report everything Yu found to the others later, but for now, he was going to relax.
The dragon stretched out, his upper body resting across the sofa while his lower body was still wrapped about Severus. "It does not matter if your potion appears to be one for immortality, the moment he drinks it, I will severe the bonds and he will die."
Severus felt one more burden fall off his shoulders.
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Severus felt Yu shift as he walked through the gates of Hogwarts. The dragon stared at the pigs on the gateposts and then directed his attention to the Forbidden Forest. Shift his gaze towards that direction as well, Hagrid's hut caught Severus' attention. 'If only Hagrid could see...' He stopped the thought before it could finish. The image of Hagrid attempting to examine Yu was scary considering the dragon was still using him as a resting place. The half-giant had been crazy enough about the dragons used in the tournament last year, and they weren't even legendary ones.
Continuing on his way to Albus' office, Severus kept an eye on the dragon. The moving portraits and stairwells always caused a reaction. He was not disappointed, but had forgotten to think of Yu reaction to Fawkes as they entered the Headmaster's office.
Yu raised his head as high as it could go in his position, the shifting of his weight almost causing Severus to fall. As it was, Albus noticed his stumble.
"Severus, there is a phoenix here!" Yu twisted his neck until he was looking into Severus' face, blocking his view of Albus and Fawkes. The face moved closer, blocking his view of everything but the Yu. "Why is there a phoenix here?"
Ignoring the dragon, hoping Yu would accept he could not answer yet, Severus walked through the room by memory only, praying that Albus had not rearranged things.
"Ah, Severus my dear boy, how was your summer?" Albus poured a cup of tea and offered it to the Potions Master.
Severus held out a hand to accept the tea he heard Albus pour, and made it to his normal seat without incident. "It was informative."
"Voldemort didn't summon you much after the beginning of July?"
Severus wished his could see Albus' expression so he could tell if the Headmaster was as happy as his tone indicated. There was an underlying current of uncertainty laced through the tone. "I left early for the IPA convention, and then spent the rest of the summer travelling through Asia researching a potion the Dark Lord wishes me to brew. He summoned me on the day of my return."
Yu finally shifted, his attention focusing on Fawkes, who was watching him intently. While Severus reported about the meeting, Yu decided to ask the phoenix his question. "I am Yu, companion and guardian of Severus Snape. As he is too busy to answer my question, will you tell me why a phoenix is here?"
Fawkes flew across the room, landing on the mantle near Yu. "I am Fawkes, companion and guardian of Albus Dumbledore, which is why I am here. Severus did not have a guardian at the end of last school year, how did he acquire you?"
"I was requested to aid him by his ancestors, and Severus agreed to the aid. At the moment, my presence is not needed to be known by anyone in the school. Severus and I need to discuss whether there is an advantage to letting Albus know of it. Our current plan does not hinge on your companion's aid."
Fawkes nodded. "You have travelled here without your phoenix? Or is she currently residing in Severus quarters?"
Yu shook his head. "I have not seen my phoenix in three centuries. Your dragon? Where is he?"
"In Germany with his companion." Fawkes would say no more about the dragon that accompanied Grindelwald.
Yu could see the strain of loss on the phoenix as well as the resolve and pried no more. He understood it all too well.
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Severus shut his door behind him, glad for the automatic silencing spells that keep sound in. "Try not to get in my field of view while I walk down stairs." He crossed over to his arm chair and dropped into it. "I do know them well, but a nasty spill can still happen. Also, as I can no longer see through you, can you not block people who are attempting to talk to me?"
Yu flowed out from around Severus and stretched across the floor, the connections still held between his claws. "I had forgotten that you could not see through me. I will endeavour not to do so again. Fawkes explained why he is here."
Severus made a mental note to thank the bird.
"Do you think it will be alright for the companion of a phoenix to know about me?" Yu rested his head in Severus' lap, his body going limp except his arms.
"Albus may not approve of our plan, but I do not see why he cannot know of your existence. I'll tell him later tonight, maybe after dinner."
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A knock sounded on Severus' door. "Come in."
Albus closed the door softly behind him and crossed the room. "I was hoping we could enjoy dinner together tonight, Severus, as we are the only two here besides the house elves."
Severus stopped him as Albus moved to sit on the sofa. "Take the other chair, Albus. The sofa is currently occupied."
Albus blinked, studied the empty cushions, settled onto the chair, and gave Severus a questioning look. "What is it, Severus? I have never felt anything like this before."
"You can sense him?" It didn't truly surprise Severus, Albus was one of the strongest wizards around. At Albus' nod, he continued. "Yu is a dragon – a shen-lung to be precise."
"A dragon, Severus? One that cannot be seen? Can he be heard?"
Yu flicked his tail slightly. "No, he cannot hear me, Severus."
"Yu said that only those present when he first joined me can hear him. At the moment, no one but me can see him." Severus raised an eyebrow at Yu as he shifted about on the sofa, causing the cushions to be displaced. He had noticed early on Yu could touch any object closely associated with him, but it still surprised him to see it happen. "You might be able to touch him though, since you can sense him. Yu, would you mind if Albus attempted?"
Instead of answering, Yu raised his tail and held it within Albus' arm reach.
"Albus, if you would put your right hand out at chest height and move forward, you should encounter something." He watched as the Headmaster did as he requested. A smile curled those almost hidden lips as thin fingers brushed over dragon scales. Yu's head jerked up off the chair arm and whipped about to stare at his tail.
"Scales. I feel scales." Albus lowered his hand, and nodded towards the sofa. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Yu. Can others touch you?"
"He touched me, Severus. No one but you should be able to touch me." Yu's gaze did not leave Albus as he spoke.
"Albus is quite powerful and very skilled, Yu. The combination should explain why he can sense and touch you." Severus turned his eyes to Albus. "Yu says no other should be able to. You seem to be an exception."
Nodding slowly, Albus leaned back in his chair, pressing his hands together. "Why is Yu here?"
"He is my companion, Albus. Much like Fawkes is yours."
Yu's head whipped around and stared at Albus before looking back at Severus. "He is a phoenix's companion. I forgot that."
Severus shifted his attention to the dragon. "Yes, he is Fawkes companion. They've been together for a long as I can remember."
Albus' face settled into a soft expression, his eyes glazed over slightly as he reminisced. "Fawkes and I became companions long before you were born, Severus."
"That is why he can touch and sense me. It has nothing to do with the amount of power he has. Voldemort was unable to sense me, and they are close in power." Yu turned his head once again to study the older man.
Albus gazed at the sofa, patiently waiting until it felt like Yu was settled. "Can Yu stay in your room, or will he travel where he wishes?"
Severus returned his attention to the Headmaster. "Yu will stay with me. His presence will not be a distraction to myself, nor any of my students."
"True, he will not as he is not heard, seen, or felt." A quick nod was all that showed Albus made a decision. "We shall not inform the rest of the staff about him. Speaking of staff, the Ministry is choosing our new Defence Professor this year as no one will apply for the position."
Sighing, Severus leaned back in his chair. "Who? Do they at least know the subject?"
"Dolores Umbridge."
Severus raised an eyebrow at that. "The Undersecretary? Surely she is too busy to spend time here teaching. No, never mind, she works for Fudge, she isn't doing anything important."
Sighing, Albus nodded. "I wish she was, my boy. She's one we will have to be careful around. The Ministry is not happy with Harry or myself at the moment. She does have at least a working knowledge of the subject, but I don't know if she can teach."
Yu shifted slightly, knocking a throw pillow onto the floor. "Someone can teach students without knowing how to teach? Surely there are tests that teachers must take to become one? At least a civil service exam?"
"A Ministry appointed official will not need to pass the tests the rest of us did. As for a civil service exam, I don't know if they have to take one or not." Severus tipped his head towards Albus. "Did Umbridge take a civil service exam?"
Albus frowned slightly in thought. "I don't know if she did or not."
"It is neither here nor there, she is going to be teaching Defence for a year and will have the ability to report everything back to the Ministry." As Albus nodded, Severus sighed heavily. "Potter and yourself are going to be her main targets."
"I fear so, Severus. I fear so."
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The Welcoming Feast had Yu craning his head about, peering from one table to the next, his eyes taking in everything. "Children, Severus. There are children everywhere!"
"Yes, there are." Severus caught the slight grin that flashed over Albus' face as he whispered his response.
Yu's head swivelled to face the doors as the first years entered following Minerva. "More children? What is happening Severus? Why are they not sitting down? Why do they not have special colours on them?"
"Watch and see." Even though his answer was quiet, Umbridge turned her head towards him and gave him a questioning look. Holding back a growl, Severus focused on the Sorting. He felt more than saw Yu turn his back on the pink witch. The dragon had voiced his dislike for her after the first staff meeting, and Severus completely agreed with Yu's feelings.
After dinner, while he was addressing his house, he came close to scolding Yu for talking over him only to remember none of the children could hear the dragon. Doing his best to block out the near constant commentary, he studied his charges. This was the group he was going to save. These were the children he was going to prevent from throwing their lives away.
"Professor Umbridge has a unique perspective to teaching. If you find yourself at a disadvantage, or not understanding the material, come see me during my office hours." He made eye contact with the prefects, letting them know that they were the ones he expected to let him know. "The hour is late, head to bed, tomorrow you start classes."
Striding out the door, he focused on the dragon.
"Snakes! So many of them in the decorations. They are so detailed, Severus." Yu moved so he could see his companion while not blocking the man's line of sight. "Why are there so many in there?"
Severus felt the corner of his lips curl up. "Because we were in the House of Slytherin, which is represented by the snake. I am positive that the other houses have their animal symbols decorating their rooms."
Turning the corner, Severus headed for his classroom to finish his last preparations for his NEWT classes tomorrow. "I ask that during my class you do not distract me. It can be very dangerous to the students if I am not focused."
Yu sighed but agreed.
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'He did what? I thought that dragon would know how to act in a potions' lab.'
Severus grinned at Zhu's comment as he responded. 'Yes, he did play with the smoke rising from the cauldrons. He'd make them turn into rings, curls, s-shaped lines, and other things. One time he reached out and wove himself through a group of fumes, doing his best not – and succeeding – in not touching a single tendril.'
'Maybe he was doing that the entire time he was at the convention and in the lab here.' Kasem words were shaky as if he was laughing as he wrote them.
'Maybe, but now I can see him and it's distracting!'
'The best part is him telling you what's wrong with the student's potions and expecting you to convey it to them.' Jin-sun was referring to the conversation last night where Severus told them about the almost explosion Yu warned him about. The dragon dictated a scold he insisted Severus repeat. Severus only complied because it was far more cutting than what he could have come up with at the time.
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Severus settled in the professor section of the stands doing his best not to be pulled to and fro by Yu as he whipped his upper body about in an attempt to see everything. When he swung about, blocking Severus' view of the pitch, the Potions Master tapped the dragon's tail to get his attention and then glared at him.
A huff of air ruffled Severus' hair, but Yu moved. Glancing up, Severus noticed the dragon was holding his head as high above Severus' that he could and was still peering around.
"The wind Severus! Feel the wind. It is singing."
Yu's voice still sounded as if it was resounding next to his ear instead of at least three above it. Instead of answering out loud – Umbridge seemed to think her permanent seat was next to him – Severus just nodded. Yu would understand.
A movement on the pitch had both Severus and Yu's attention. Slytherin and Gryffindor teams were now crowding around Rolanda Hooch. One whistle blow, and they were off.
Severus tracked his team, watching them as they fanned out across the pitch. Draco was paying attention to where Potter was, the chasers had the quaffle in hand after one of the beaters blocked a Gryffindor chaser, and the keeper was keeping a sharp eye on all the events. Turning his attention to Gryffindor's keeper, Ronald Weasley, Severus knew that the boy was nervous – he had a lot to live up to as his older siblings were all known as good players – and he hoped that his team would capitalize on that nervousness.
Rain scented air caught his attention, making him look to the sky above the Forbidden Forest. The game would never be called for rain, but maybe Umbridge would leave if it was hard enough. Dark clouds hung low over the forest and were moving their way fast.
"Severus, a storm is coming." Yu's head dropped. "Surely they are going to call the children out of the sky."
Severus shook his head slightly, hoping that Yu would understand.
"No? But it is a bad storm, a monsoon filled with lightening and thunder. For their safety, they need to land."
The wind picked up, almost tossing Malfoy and Potter about. The keepers had problems keeping their spots near the goal post.
With a side glance at Umbridge, Severus mumbled under his breath. "The game is never called. They keep playing until the captains agree to end or until the snitch, the small golden ball, is caught by a seeker, in this case Potter or Malfoy."
A low rumble was Yu's only response.
As the game progressed, the storm came closer and closer until all the players spent more time controlling their brooms than playing. Rain slashed down onto the pitch and into the stands. Umbridge deserted her spot next to Severus, who had been secretly cancelling her impervious charms in hopes she would do just that.
Thunder rolled across the sky, bouncing off the stands and reverberating loudly inside the pitch.
"Severus, I will be back." Yu stretched his wings out as he uncoiled from around his companion.
"I have survived without you for years, a minute or two should not make a difference." A dragon was blocking his vision as he finished.
"You will not die now. I will not allow it."
A paw rested on his shoulder, tips of those long claws catching in his robe, before the dragon took the sky. Severus watched as Yu steadied brooms as he soared through the pitch, only to lose sight of him in the storm cloud. Minutes later the wind picked up, but miraculously not one of the players were buffeted by it, and the storm blew away from the field.
He felt Albus' approving look as Yu settled back around him. The castle and the lake were being pelted by rain and shook by thunder, but the pitch had clear skies.
§§§῏ᵕ῟§§§
'Are you positive Umbridge is not working for the madman?' Kenji's question asked what they others were thinking.
Severus wrote back while one eye was watching Potter clean the cauldrons he assigned him. The more detentions the boy had with him, the less he could serve with her. 'I have not seen her at any of the meetings, and I truly think her pink shoes would stand out.'
'That's why she didn't join.' Zhu paused for a dramatic effect before continuing. 'The madman wouldn't agree to pink robes! She just couldn't stand black.'
Gritting his teeth to keep the laughter in, Potter would never understand it, Severus watched as Kasem and Kenji both replied one after the other.
'Her pink shoes would just clash with such a dour colour.'
'No, she knows that Severus is the one who dresses in black – maybe she is attempting to imitate him but had to pick a different colour?'
Another quick glance showed Potter hard at work still, though the pile of first year cauldrons was greatly reduced. Turning back to the journal, he answered Kasem's comment. 'Black isn't dour! It's stately.'
'Dour, but needed in our profession as it hides stains well. Since you work with students, you need to wear them the most out of all of us.' Kenji's comment soothed the bit of hurt at being called dour by his friends, no matter how implied it was.
'Talking of profession, what's your opinions on using Aloe vera in the madman's potion?' Severus question steered them back onto the original reason for the journal meeting.
When Potter finally finished his detention, Severus started test brewing.
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"His potion is the wrong colour, Severus." Yu peered back into the cauldron. "I think he added too many porcupine quills, or he didn't prepare them right."
Not replying to Yu, who wasn't expecting him to, Severus strode over to where the top half of dragon was, the bottom half was still wrapped around him. "Mr Drayton your potions is not correct." He glared down at the Ravenclaw's cauldron. "Explain what imbecilic mistake you made, and if your feeble brain can come up with a correction, try it."
Blue eyes peered into the cauldron before looking up at him. "I need something to counteract the porcupine quills?"
Severus nodded slowly. "But what was wrong with them, surely you can tell me that?"
With a shrug, Mr Drayton stared at the bubbling surface. "They were too long?"
Vanishing the potion, Severus glared at the boy. "Write me a three foot essay about the correct way to make this potion, explain what you did wrong, and ways to correct it."
Spinning about, he glared at the rest of the class who immediately set back to work.
Later that evening, Severus shut the door to his private lab, opened his journal, and began brewing the next version of the Voldemort's potion. Zhu offered a new idea and suggested Severus attempt it. As it blended well with Kasem's thoughts, he decided to brew both of them that evening.
Yu rested his head on top of Severus' while he brewed, watching every step and change, and played with the rising fumes.
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Albus twitched a parchment onto the done pile. Work was never done. Most people thought being the Headmaster was an easy job – no lessons to teach, no students to work with – but they were very wrong. The work was different, but it took up just as much time if not more.
Dipping his quill into the ink pot, he glanced at the crystal sitting next to it. Multicoloured lights drifted about the inside of a faintly etched image of Hogwarts, and to most that is all it looked like. To Albus, on the other hand, it was the location of his professors, each represented by a different colour. Severus' bright green light was still in the Great Hall, causing Albus to be concerned. Severus never paused longer than ten minutes while on patrol, but he entered the Great Hall twenty minutes ago.
Setting his quill into its holder, Albus decided to go investigate.
He opened one of the doors to the Great Hall slowly, peering through, hoping to see what had caused Severus to pause so long. His eyes were greeted by the sight of his Potions Master laying on the Hufflepuff table watching the sky shown by the ceiling. Concern flooded Albus and he rushed through the door only to bounce back out, staggering to keep his footing. Drawing his wand, he prepared to blast through the invisible barrier keeping him from Severus.
"Yu said you can climb over him, he'll be sure not to move while you do so."
Severus' voice calmed him, and he held out a hand to brush the dragon. What had felt relatively small, for a dragon, before was now huge. Each individual scale was larger than his splayed hand. "How can I climb over what I cannot see?"
"If you reach up as high as you can, you can reach the top of Yu's tail. There is a spike there to pull yourself up with."
"I am an old man, my boy, climbing over invisible dragon tail's is for younger ones." A chuckle drifted his way and Albus felt the scale slide up away from his hand. Soon there was nothing to feel. Walking forward carefully, he entered the Great Hall, closing the door behind him.
He made his way to Severus making sure to feel before he stepped, dragon hide was hard. Settling on a Hufflepuff bench, he looked about the room. He could not see the dragon, but he could feel it everywhere. "Why are you in here, Severus?"
Black eyes left never left the ceiling as Severus answered. "Yu wanted somewhere to stretch out and the dungeons do not have the space for it. Here, though, there is room, and the ceiling looks like the sky."
Albus nodded slowly, his eyes straying to the ceiling, hunting out constellations playing behind drifting clouds. The moon was barely waxing, so they were more prominent. A feeling of relaxation filled him. For just this one moment, he wasn't planning, thinking, or doing anything that required him to be Headmaster Dumbledore or the Head of the Order of the Phoenix.
Some time later, Albus wasn't sure how long it was, Severus' question pulled him back to reality.
"What are you planning to do after the Dark Lord is defeated, Albus?"
A quiet sigh left him. "I do not think I will see that day personally, Severus."
Severus turned his head and glared at Albus. "If you do see it, what would you like to do?"
Chuckling, Albus laid back on the bench, turning his attention to the ceiling. "Do? I think I would like to retire somewhere warm and maybe run a book store."
"Retire? A book store?" Severus sat up and looked into the older man's face. "I figured you would be one to pass away in the Headmaster's office."
"If I survive, I will have lived through two Dark Lords – both of which I will have personally helped to neutralize." Albus stretched out as the bench under him enlarged to fit him better. "Minerva or yourself are capable of taking over the school and watching the children."
Severus shook his head. "No, once the Dark Lord is defeated, I am also retiring from here. I am going to invest into being a full-time Potions Master."
Albus smiled softly. "You should look for Yu's phoenix. No dragon should be without its phoenix."
Severus laid back down. "Yu says she is already gone."
"Ah, but phoenixes can be reborn. Watch for her, you never know when she'll reappear, Severus. He sounds like he has given up, so watch for him." Albus wondered if Fawkes would find Ming again once he died.
"If you say so, Albus. I will watch."
Albus' lips curled into a peaceful smile as the two fell silent, both watching the charmed sky – one also watching the dragon while one was just aware of it.
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Gellert walked quietly through the Black Forest, listening to the animals and wind rushing through the leaves. The last several months had been of healing, not of any physical illness but mentally and emotionally. Ming was near him as always, watching over him, gauging how he reacted to sounds, sights, and other people.
He discovered while shopping how much Gellert Grindelwald was remembered by the Wizarding world causing him to change his name to Gel Hummel. Other changes occurred as well. His hair, which he had been plucking out of his head because he was bored, grew back, he gained a healthy weight, and once again felt life worth living. The only thing that would make it perfect was Albus.
Gel shook that thought out of his head. Albus was lost to him the day his sister died. Stopping suddenly, he looked in the direction of Britain. Just because he would never have Albus didn't mean he couldn't help him. He knew the Dark Arts better than most people – Ming indulged his love for them while he was trapped on the promise to work out defence measures for them – so he was eminently qualified to handle the soul curse he branded his followers with. He could even create a spell that determined if they were true followers of Voldemort in their hearts.
Turning quickly, he headed for his home. He had to tell Ming they were travelling.
