Hermione had gone to sleep to the active sounds of the weyr, being runner hold bred she was used to an early bed and an early rise with almost absolute silence in the interim. She had stayed up late last night, the weyr had had a party to welcome their new candidates. The girl allowed herself a smile, she had been so glad to be searched. The career with the greatest prospects and rewards on the whole of Pern was being a dragon rider. Her mouth watered at the thought of all the records she would have access to if she rode gold but even green would be fantastic.

A sleepy voice called out her name, it was Harry, she had met him and Ron on the wagon train she had taken to the weyr and they had fast become friends in the few days it had taken to get to the distant volcanic crater. "Hiya Harry. Where's Ron?"

"He's gone to the lake to bathe, thinks it will improve his chances of impressing."

"I'm going to get breakfast and have a look around."

"Don't you ever stop working?"

"Not really."

She walked across the bowl of the volcano towards the lower caverns where she would find food. Entering the caves she looked at the vision before her, the weyrwoman was standing near the hearth talking to a rider. The weyrwoman was a beautiful but severe looking woman early in her fifth decade, she had beautiful green eyes and her presence dominated the cavern. Realising that she was staring Hermione turned her attention to getting something to eat while she had the chance.

For her part Minerva had noticed the new arrival, out of all the candidates young Hermione was the most promising. Although she wasn't entirely sure that the girl had the temperament to ride Gold, she would be an asset to the Weyr. "May I join you Hermione."

"Sure Weyrwoman."

"Just call me Minerva, you're here now, not in the Hold, we stand on less ceremony in the Weyr."

"Sorry it's just a little hard to get used to."

"I do understand, I was craft hall bred at one point. How are you finding the weyr?"

"It's a different way of life, as though I stepped into another world and found out that magic was real." The older womans answering smile was genuine.

"What are your plans for today?"

"I asked the Weyrlingmaster if I could watch the Weyrlings from the last hatching practicing."

"That is a good idea, although if you impress Gold you will be training with me most of the time. But if you get Green you will be with T'math."

"Which do you think that I will get?"

Minerva patted her on the shoulder, "As with most things it's that dragons that decide." The older woman brightened up as her Weyrmate strode into the room, "Good Morning D'dor." The affection between them was plainly evident, as the older bronze slid into the seat next to his Weyrmate.

"Hello you must be Hermione." It wasn't a question, those twinkling eyes already knew. D'dor was one of those people you just had to love and Hermione was no exception to this rule. "Sediths eggs will be hatching in the next day or so, I hope that you are prepared."

"I just hope I have prepared enough. If you will excuse me Weyrleaders I will go and observe the Weyrlings now." With a bow she turned and left.

The two Weyrleaders smiled indulgently, "Were we ever that young?"

"You still are D'dor, I was never that young."

"I guess time will tell with that one, this close to a pass we need all the good riders we can get, no matter what colour they ride."

Their attention was soon drawn by the arrival of the Master Harper of Pern who had arrived promptly so as to not miss the hatching of the weyrs lesser queen. "Greetings Weyrleader D'dor rider of Bronze Areth, Weyrwoman Minerva rider of Gold Brath, I hope your dragons are well."

They both responded to the ritual greeting and the harper sat down. "Brath should be rising to mate soon, should she not?"

"Yes very shortly now, perhaps a few weeks."

"Another clutch by Areth and Brath on the hatching sands? A good omen with the pass drawing near."

D'dor smiled, "Well I'm sure that Brath has other preferences but Areth will always catch her." Minerva looked at him sideways; this was the first time that he had ever mentioned the fact that Brath and Areth were not as close as they should have been. "But even though the dragon usually makes the choice sometimes they submit to what the rider wants."

A distant humming made them all rise swiftly from their seats, the eggs were finally hatching. Outside the candidates were running to exchange their clothes for the impression robes that were their traditional garb, before they headed to the hatching sands.

Hermione walked at the head of the column of girls towards the golden queen egg, she looked up at the immense Gold dragon protectively guarding her eggs. She bowed to the dragon respectfully before moving towards the egg. The other girls followed suit but Sedith did not pay them the same close regard that she subjected Hermione to. It made her a little nervous but she tried hard not to show it, under her breath she began to mutter all the information that she had learnt about dragons.

To her right one of the normal eggs cracked and a hatchling emerged crying, it was a small Brown. It raised its head searching for its rider and then its cry changed – it stumbled towards Harry and their eyes met. They impressed and Harry gained a partner for life and a change of name, he was now H'ry. Meanwhile on the other side of the ground Ron was embracing a Blue hatchling. She smiled and turned back to the queen egg.

A huge shadow fell over her face, looking up into the too close face of the queen dragon. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself, it was a huge insult to speak to anothers dragon without express permission. She took a step back. The dragon moved closer to her and lowered her head. Hermione shot a worried glance up at the Weyrleaders who looked as shocked as she did. The dragons' teeth were perilously close, Hermione stood her ground knowing that dragons never hurt humans but broody queens were notoriously bad-tempered. What had she done to offend her so?

Sedith nudged Hermione sideways with her head away from the queen egg. The girl nearly fell and the dragon shot out her arm to catch her gently. Hermione looked up into the dragons whirling eyes, they shone at her with encouragement, they both looked at the Golds rider who was standing on the sidelines trying to attract the attention of her dragon. "Where do you want me to go?"

The others

"The other girls?"

No

"The other eggs?"

Yes, go now

The girl allowed the dragon to shove her towards the other eggs. "Thank you."

Minerva nudged D'dor, "I guess she'll be a green rider."

The same thought was going through Hermiones mind, on some level she was relieved to be getting a green although it was not what she had expected. The egg nearest her began to crack, a warbling sound emerged as did a Bronze head. Hermione gazed surprised at the hatchling before turning to the gold dragon, Sedith inclined her head and the small Bronze cried again. Hermiones head turned to face the sound and her eyes met those of her dragon.

Hermione, my name is Seth

"His name is Seth."

She looked up into shocked faces, knowing but not fully comprehending the enormity of what had just happened. She was the only girl in history to impress a male dragon and soon the whole of Pern would know it.