Adriane lead them through the mountains to find her bonded. Hadrian followed cautiously, his new sword strapped loosely to his back, prepared to be used. His cousin didn't question why he now had a sword, but rather focused on finding Storm.

Suddenly she turned, sensing something nearby.

The rock she had picked up was rolling behind them.

"Isn't that the rock you found?"

"According to the Fairimentals it's a Drake egg. A red crystal Drake egg, which has been sleeping for thousands of years waiting to hatch."

"A...Drake? You mean to tell me you stumbled on a dragon egg of all things?" Hadrian stared at her in open mouth disbelief.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just that I've had bad experiences with baby dragons."

"You've met a baby dragon?"

"The Gamekeeper at the castle won a dragon egg in a card game and hatched it. He named it Norbert."

"What happened to it?"

"He had to give it up. He lived in a wooden house, and it grew too big to keep it secret. So me and a friend snuck the dragon up to a tower and Ron's brother sent some people to pick it up. It's currently in a preserve in Romania."

Adriane shook her head in disbelief. Her cousin was weird...but in a good way. Probably why they got along so well. Hadrian continued walking, eventually humming a tune that kept bugging him. Which is how Zach found them, running after the Drake egg.

Looked like the Fairimentals realized it was missing.

"What's that tune you're humming?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's something I heard off of a movie, and I can't get it out of my head."

"Which one?"

"Holes."

"Oh that one. I've seen it, and it wasn't all that bad."

"If only, if only the woodpecker cried

The bark on the trees were as soft as the skies

The wolf down below, hungry and lonely

Cries to the moon, if only if only."

"Not too bad cousin."

It wasn't long before they were surrounded by orcs. Hadrian had only one thing to say.

"Those guys look nothing like they did in Lord of the Rings."

They took shelter in the many caves in the area. Much to their horror, the egg suddenly began to hatch. But when they turned, there was nothing there.

Adriane and Hadrian went out to stand and fight, and Zach reluctantly joined them. Without warning the orcs turned and fled.

Standing behind Adriane was a large, red, DRAGON. Soon the fight for the drake became a fight for fleeing. Zach could only help two so Hadrian pushed his cousin with the drake. She had to find Stormbringer and give that black wolf the fairy map.

When Hadrian woke up, he realized he was in a large sack, and someone was chanting something about a stone. The wagon bumped and he felt the bruises on top of bruises. Bloody orcs.

Why did this thing think he was a magic rock? Sure he had the Sora crystal, but he was no rock! He winced, as a particularly nasty bump reminded him of his injuries.

He blacked out for a moment and when he came to, he could feel something was different.

It took him a moment to figure out what. Then it hit him.

He didn't feel the bruises anymore. Clearly his magic had healed him again, just like it did when he was stuck with the Dursley family.

When the wagon stopped, he braced himself, and sure enough the bag he was in was lifted up and roughly put down.

He could hear voices, something about magic that slept for thousands of years and a queen. A feeling of dread filled him, and he had a sense he was about to meet the one who hurt the creatures of Aldenmor.

He was unceremoniously dumped on the cold stone. An orange...thing glared at him furious! The only thing that crossed his mind was that Ron would love to meet this thing. His favorite color was orange.

"YOU! You stole Scorge's magic rock!"

"I am not a magic rock, nor would I have any idea what you are even referring to. Besides, if you were foolish enough to trust orcs when it comes to magic, then it's your own fault," Hadrian said flatly.

Scorge glared even worse at him. He glared right back. Snickers at the orange thing's expense quickly turned to cold laughter.

"Silence!" said the cold voice.

Hadrian finally got a look at the woman that Scorge called Queen. Then he took in his surroundings. He was in a cathedral sized room with embedded crystals which looked like it had been carved out of a mine.

"Where is my dragon?" she demanded.

"I haven't the foggiest. Go ask an orc," said Hadrian flippantly. After the ride here he wasn't in the mood to listen to this self proclaimed queen.

"Um...dragon?"

"That rock you were looking so hard for was a dragon egg. Was an egg."

The woman looked at him with ice cold eyes, furious.

"WAS? It hatched?"

Hadrian found himself in the air, and realized he could care less. After two years of near death adventures in Hogwarts, something like finding himself in the air courtesy of an iron grip around him throat wasn't going to break his cool.

She pulled out his Sora stone, and said "Interesting...very interesting."

"Um...smaller stone, smaller reward?" asked Scorge hopefully.

Hadrian stared at him in disbelief. He seriously believed someone like this hag would pay him?

Two figures went behind Scorge, and suddenly he was saying he didn't need a reward. As soon as he was gone, the sorceress pulled back her hood.

Strikingly beautiful, she had alabaster skin like a porcelain doll, rich red lips and long white blond hair streaked with bolts of silver lightening. But her eyes...they were as cold as Voldemort's and just as creepy.

His first thought upon seeing the Dark Sorceress in person was...Is she related to Malfoy?

"So it was you I felt at the portal."

Hadrian just looked at her blankly.

"Come child I know you can speak."

"Why?"

"Why what boy?"

"Why hurt the animals? Surely there are easier ways to get the magic you want?"

She looked at him closely, and then broke the string holding him up.

"Easier, yes, but no where near as satisfying. I plan to make those blasted Fairimentals pay. And what better way than to rule the place they hold so dear?"

Hadrian shrugged.

"At least your excuse is better than that hypocritical snake obsessed idiot who kills without remorse."

The Sorceress stared at him before cackling.

"Where is my dragon? I have tracked it's magic and I know full well it hatched. Who did it imprint on?"

"Haven't a clue. Really I don't."

"What an honest boy. Pity your stone is only tuned to you. What is your bonded?"

"Hedwig."

"No...you haven't met your bonded yet have you. Which means...you must be the new Protector. A pity I cannot corrupt you."

She waved her hand, and two guards marched him off to the dungeons.

Adriane fretted over her cousin. Where was Hadrian? Where did the orcs take him? Storm pushed her nose against her hand. Once she brought the map to the mistwolves, Moonshadow reluctantly forgave her and Zach. Drake kept hovering over Adriane, and Storm was absolutely amused at the sight.

I am sure Hady is alright. He is used to such situations if you remember.

"I know Storm. But I can't help but worry about him. He's never had anyone care enough to worry about him before."

True. I am sure he will give us a sign as to where he is soon enough. Until then prepare to rescue and eventually rub it in.

"Thanks Storm."

'Don't expect me to run to the rescue of some human.' snarled Moonshadow.

"I don't expect you to. But I have to help my cousin. I'm the only family he has that he can trust."

'Oh? And what is this cousin's name?'

His name is Hadrian Potter.

Moonshadow stiffened.

"What does my cousin's name have to do with anything?"

'This Hadrian...does he carry a wing shaped stone? And has no bonded?'

Adriane looked at Moonshadow suspiciously. Why did he ask that?

"Yeah, he had a wing shaped stone. As far as we can tell he has Hedwig as his bonded."

Hedwig is his familiar, not his bonded packmate.

"What's the difference?"

A bonded has magic of their own, and can talk to the one they bond to. A familiar has limited magic, and can't talk. But Hadrian has come as close as he can to being bonded to his owl. At least he can understand her fairly well.

"Oh."

Moonshadow grumbled... then said 'Fine. We'll help rescue this Hadrian. But first you have to find out where he's being held.'

Adriane was surprised. Why the sudden change of heart?

Sensing the surprise, he explained.

'The spinnels have been spreading rumors about the new Protector. They gave his name and general description so we would recognize and assist him when needed.'

"What does being the Protector have to do with anything?"

Moonshadow gave her a look.

'You have no idea about anything, do you? The Protector is the strongest magic user in any world, and his magic comes directly from Avalon itself. He can never be corrupted, and only ever works for the good of magic. Should he ever be corrupted or go dark, he would instantly lose all his magic, and a new Protector would be born.'

"You talking about your cousin? The one the Fairimentals chose to be Protector?" asked Zach.

"Why does everyone immediately change their tune when they find out he's the Protector?"

"Protectors are connected to Avalon direct, and can find it whenever they need to. With him on your side, saving it is easier. But separated..."

"Our magic takes a blow, doesn't it. That's why I've been feeling off without him. But when we were fighting the orcs, I felt like I could do anything."

"We need to find your cousin."

Hadrian found himself in a dungeon full of sick animals. His heart broke at the sight, and he went to the closest one. It was a pegasi and said with a voice almost gone "Corintha?"

He saw another pegasi, still. He shook his head sadly, and the pegasi cried.

"A human!"

"A magic user!"

Hadrian looked in his bag, which he had forgotten he still had around him. Inside was the food he was going to feed the animals at Ravenswood. He handed out the food silently, and noticed a cage of glass.

Inside was a beautiful silver mistwolf. He tried to break it with his magic, only to find the glass scratched badly instead of broken.

So he drew his new sword, and found his eyes drawn to it. Why was it glowing? And why were the animals looking at him like that?

A single word was passed between them in wonder.

Protector.

He swung the sword in a downward arc, and the glass shattered to pieces. He knelt beside the wolf and felt the Black Fire try to grab hold of his magic...before recoiling.

He had to do something. These animals would die otherwise. An image of Emily came to mind, and he focused on that.

Slowly, but surely he felt his magic respond. His stone glowed an emerald green and ruby red. The feeling grew stronger as he hummed a tune that came to mind. It was by an old musical group Kansas, and the song had stuck.

"Carry on my wayward son,

There'll be peace when you are done,

Lay your weary head to rest,

Don't you cry no more

Once I rose above the noise and confusion,

Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion,

I was soaring ever higher,

But I flew too high

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man,

Though my mind could think I still was a mad man,

I can hear the voices when I'm dreaming,

I can hear them say

Carry on my wayward son,

There'll be peace when you are done,

Lay your weary head to rest,

Don't you cry no more

Masquerading as a man with a reason,

My charade is the event of the season,

And if I claim to be a wise man,

It surely means that I don't know

On a stormy sea of moving emotion,

Tossed about like I'm a ship on the ocean,

I set a course for winds of fortune,

But I hear the voices say

Carry on my wayward son,

There'll be peace when you are done,

Lay your weary head to rest,

Don't you cry no more

No!

Carry on, you will always remember,

Carry on, nothing equals the splendor,

Now your life's no longer empty,

Surely heaven waits for you

Carry on my wayward son,

There'll be peace when you are done,

Lay your weary head to rest,

Don't you cry no more

Don't you cry...don't you cry no more."

As he sang, his magic spread throughout the dungeons, and beyond. Where his magic touched, the Black Fire was contained and destroyed. Wounds healed, fur was regrown and any damage done was repaired.

It had another effect, because as soon as he finished healing, a series of loud pops was heard. Both the D-flies and Spinsters were there!

The D-flies opened a channel to Ravenswood, while the Spinsters opened one to Adriane and Zach.

"Hadrian! Where are you?"

He looked up surprised. She had actually worried about him?

"I'm in the Dark Sorceress's dungeon. According to her, she can't corrupt me...whatever that means."

A black wolf showed up in the Spinsters screen.

'If she corrupted you, you would become useless to her. A corrupt Protector loses their magic the minute they turn dark.'

Hadrian blinked.

Well that was informative. At least I'll never have to worry about becoming like Voldemort then...

"Anyway, I managed to heal the animals here who were hurt by the Black Fire. But we'll need someone who knows the place to escape. Those tunnels look exactly alike."

I know how to get out.

Lyra?

Lyra conveyed the directions to one of her sisters, and Hadrian saluted the girls at Ravenswood. Moonshadow had a parting word for him though.

'Count on us to arrive soon so you can make a clean escape.'

"Alright, see you guys soon."

The D-flies broke first, and popped back to Kara and the others. The Spinsters stayed with Hadrian, who followed the magical cats. He spotted Scorge, and since he wasn't completely heartless, he freed the strange creature.

"Make your own way out. Follow us if you wish, or take another route. It's your choice."

He held up his hand, and they paused. He walked out confidently and said "Is this the Hogwarts Express?"

Without warning the thirty animals charged, startling the guards. He destroyed the staffs which held the Black Fire, and it appeared they had made a clean escape.

"HADRIAN!"

He grinned, and followed his cousins voice. The Shadowlands were bleak and foreboding. It was nothing but bleak sandy land, and behind them were small volcanoes with doors coming out of the bases. Farther away were distant dunes, so he lead the animals in that direction.

Adriane was there. He cheered and ran to his cousin. His grin split his face, and the animals continued on past the mistwolf.

Adriane tackled him into a hug, and soon he got a lot of wolf kisses from Stormbringer.

"You found me!"

"Naturally. With all that magic you're letting off, it was hard not to find you."

"You know this is the first time someone has ever bothered to come save me. Usually that's my job!" he was grinning wider.

Their happy reunion was ruined with the Manticore's appearance.

The animals bolted and yelped when he appeared, and the manticore leered at them.

"We meet again. What magic do you have for me this time?" it sneered.

Hadrian hated that voice. It reminded him far too much of Malfoy when he was being an ass.

"Go away," he answered coldly.

"I was told to bring you back alive. But accidents happen."

Hadrian brought out his stone, and let loose a magic whip of golden amber fire. The manticore opened it's mouth and swallowed it, drawing in a breath. Hadrian was being pulled towards it!

"Adriane! Storm!" he cried out.

The two held onto him fast, and the animals lent him their strength to shield him.

Right as it looked like the manticore was about to spray Black Fire at them, something happened. Black flames licked at it, causing the foul beast to howl with pain. Standing on a dune was a magnificent ebony black unicorn with silver horn set in a star base.

It whinnied, and charged the manticore. Armored serpent guards showed up, and it looked hopeless. The Spinsters began spinning wildly around Hadrian, and his sword glowed like fire in the darkness.

He ran to the Manticore, and without even realizing it, he found himself on the unicorn's back, sword at hand. The spinnels were flying around him, boosting his magic.

The manticore sneered.

"Your magic is strong. But you cannot win."

Hadrian could feel his wizard magic and the spinnels fairy power combine and join seamlessly. He smirked coldly right at the manticore.

"Watch us."

Wolfsong filled the air, as the mistwolves arrived to join the fray. A huge thundercloud, black and gray, was moving towards them. The cloud spilled across the sand dunes and began to form into individual shapes. The entire pack had come!

Behind them was Zach with his elven sword out, ready to protect the lumbering baby dragon beside him.

"THEY COME!" the manticore roared to his minions. "Tonight we finish this! Ready!"

As one the serpents raised their staffs high, and pointed it at the mistwolves. They glowed the fell green of Black Fire, as it raced across one staff to the next into a single web of roiling fire.

It was a trap!

"Remember! We want them undamaged!"

Green lightning lit the night skies as the fiery net flew from the line of staffs.

The manticore's eyes blazed with truimph. "Yes!"

But Hadrian's magic would never allow more harm to come to the animals who trusted him.

"NEVER!"

His magic flared, and hit the net dead on right as the mistwolves shielded the animals. The magic of the Protector was not to be denied, as the staffs exploded in the hands of the guards. The net changed colors, and became a golden red. Instead of entrapping the animals, it trapped the manticore instead!

The manticore roared in rage, as Hadrian used his magic to transport all the animals directly to the Fairy Glen.

They had won once again.