The mind transcends the world,
And the world bypasses all barriers
Constructed by the mind.
And all problems shall fade before the might
Of what can only be seen through the night.
How a motherfucking dragon, of all things, existed was not currently Harry's concern. Instead, he was more concerned with how he would hide the damn creature from the rapidly approaching authorities. He heard a strange grunting from behind him, and somehow it was familiar, as if a second language he'd been speaking for years. He turned and intended to speak to the dragon, but his questioning statements came out as a gentle growl. Further attempts to speak resulted only in similar noises, so Harry inspected himself and saw something quite worrying. In the place of his usual body was that of an eight-foot Direwolf.
Only one thought really passed through his mind at that point:
Well, FUCK.
This simple ponderance unleashed an enormous wave of others from their kennels, flooding his mind in an almost painful way. This cascade of ideas and attempts at understanding ceased as Harry attempted to rise shakily from the ground he had slipped to during his musings, only for his hind paw to bend awkwardly under his weight. Growling in pain, Harry rose and limped to the edge of the woods before he fell again. There, he rested and glanced around for the dragon he remembered. With a strange sense of relief at seeing the enormous beast deeper into the forest to which it had escaped during his thoughts, Harry laid his head on the ground and slept.
In an attempt to escape
The shackles of our pains
We often lose
Our footing on the path
That keeps us sane.
Harry gradually rose, feeling incredibly refreshed. Glancing down at himself, he saw just… normal Harry. No wolf, just… Harry. Assuming that it had all just been a fevered dream, Harry leapt out of a bed… that wasn't his. Into a room that wasn't his. Looking in a mirror nearby, Harry saw a reflection that wasn't his own. Rushing to a window with a growing sense of trepidation, Harry looked out upon an unfamiliar and harsh mountain range.
The Isle of Skye; we currently reside on the Cuillin ridge. Good morning, milord.
Harry jumped, searching around quickly for the source of the voice. His eyes settled on the door to the room, and he slowly approached. Laying a hand on the doorknob, he gathered his courage and flung the door open to find…
An enormous house. And curled around a pillar was an even larger dragon.
Welcome to the ancestral home of the Dragon Masters, milord. Here, you will be educated until you attend Hogwarts, something which you will sadly be required to do.
Harry stumbled over words for several seconds, before finally deciding to ask a simple question.
"Are you going to kill me?" He blurted out only to glare as the dragon chortled.
No, milord, I am going to aid in your education. I am Odium. You, Master Harry, are a Dragon Lord; or Dragon Master, if you prefer. You are also a mage, a higher form of wizard, and a freeshifting animagus. Allow me to explain, milord.
Harry listened with rapt attention to the teachings of the dragon, until the inevitable growling of his stomach interrupted the lesson for a much-needed lunch. During that time, Harry conversed with Odium on the future of his lessons; the nine-year-old was simply stunned to discover his abilities, rather understandably.
Some have to grow up rather fast,
Unable to focus on the future,
Incapable of dwelling upon the past.
And though they hope for life to go smoother,
They are strangers to a path without precipice.
AN: I hope that wasn't too fast or too much exposition. Like I said, this is my first serious fanfiction of any length and so I'm not really sure how to do it. Most of my writings of this length are academic in nature, mostly homework, so this is an unfamiliar yet inviting medium. Reviews and criticism are welcome; accusations of stolen ideas are not. Thank you very much. Also, sorry about the wait and the cliffhanger.
-The Last Soldier