A/N: Sorry there's no point of view shift in this chapter.
Chapter Four.
Harry realized as soon as he woke up that running into the other dragon that night had caused him to forget about Malfoy. Had it been Malfoy he had sensed in the forest, or had it been the dragon?
Even though he'd stayed up so late, Harry didn't feel all that tired. From experience, he knew it would all catch up to him tomorrow, even if he got a good night's rest tonight.
Harry made it to the Great Hall for breakfast with Ron and Hermione. As Harry took his usual seat, he sensed Malfoy entering the Great Hall. This time it was different. Instead of clenching his fists and glaring, Harry felt the same as he had after losing the duel last night—the feeling that he shouldn't make eye contact.
Had realization been a physical thing, it would have struck Harry so quick and hard it would have left brain damage. Harry had sensed that Malfoy was nearby in the forest, but he'd only found a dragon. He'd submitted to this dragon and then at school he had the same submissive feeling around Malfoy. What if Draco Malfoy was the dragon?
Hermione rested her hand gently on Harry's forearm to get his attention. "Harry, are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a little tired."
Hermione accepted this response, nodding understandingly as she removed her hand. "Did you finish your essay last night?"
"Yeah. I think that's the first time I've ever finished a homework assignment the night it was given."
Hermione advised, "You shouldn't force yourself to do all of your homework in one night. We have study periods for a reason."
"I'll take a nap later today," Harry said, and then quickly added, "If there's time."
Ron swallowed his mouthful. "Don't do that. If you do, you won't be able to sleep tonight."
"You're right. Okay, then, no nap, I'll just go to bed early."
The morning announcements were given by the headmistress. Then the owls delivered the post. They came in through windows that were almost invisible because of their nearness to the enchanted ceiling that so perfectly matched the sky outside.
The only class they had for the day was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Everyone was anxious about the new professor. Hopefully Standish could teach better than he showed emotion.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down at a table together. The DADA classroom looked utterly normal. Nothing new had been added to give the room personality or any inkling of what might be taught there. As the students were making their way in and finding seats, Harry curiously watched a student wearing Ravenclaw robes who could be a third year walk in and place a book on the professor's desk. The student didn't look up or talk to anyone as she left.
Professor Standish walked in and started the lesson. "Mr. Weasley, you will pass out the syllabus." Standish handed Ron a stack of paper.
"Yes, sir." Ron stood up quickly, nearly overturning his chair.
"The first hour of this class will be lecture. The second hour will usually be practical." Standish opened a desk drawer and put the book the third-year had brought into the drawer. He then turned around and picked up a piece of chalk to begin writing on the board.
The students followed along in the text book. They were learning about strong summoning spells that could bring dark things through from other dimensions.
At the end of the lecture hour, Standish asked the class, "Does anyone remember who came in and placed something on my desk?" When the students hesitated, he rephrased the question. "How many of you know what house colors she was wearing?" Harry and four other people raised their hands. "How many of you could pick the person out if you saw her again?" Two students lowered their hands. "Miss Granger, what house colors was she wearing and what did she place on my desk?"
"She wore Ravenclaw colors, and she placed a potions textbook on your desk."
"Correct," said Standish. "Five points to Gryffindor for good observation. It is a skill that is essential for good Defense magic."
The professor then commenced the practical portion of the lesson. He would draw a magic circle on the flagstones with his chalk and have the students study them to determine what the circle was for. It made Harry regret never taking Arithmancy or Ancient Runes because both were used to make magic circles.
If Malfoy was the dragon, he hid it well because he didn't do anything out of the ordinary and didn't look the least bit tired from staying up late.
After lunch, Harry was fighting to stay awake. He, Ron, and Hermione had gone to the library to finish some reading for class, and the library was quiet and comfortable and the lights were just right. After reading the same paragraph and still not taking it in, his eyes staying closed longer every time he blinked, Harry set the book aside and stood.
Hermione looked up at him as she turned a page. "Did you finish the reading?"
Harry shook his head. "You know I can't read that fast. I'm going to take a short walk and then finish the reading. I'll be back." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and wove through the tables and left.
Harry wasn't expecting someone coming in the other direction to round the corner just as he was rounding the same corner. The impact was solid and Harry stumbled to keep his balance. Instinctively, he knew who he'd run into—or, more accurately, who had run into him—and he couldn't bring himself to look up. Harry knew his instincts were correct when he realized he recognized the expensive shoes.
"Watch where you're going, Potter," Malfoy said as he moved to maneuver around Harry.
Harry had almost replied with, 'Yes, sir,' but managed to say instead, "All right."
Malfoy's movement hesitated as he gave Harry a strange look. He must have remembered that he had someplace to be getting to because he didn't say anything and went on his way.
Harry was now wide awake, but he started off on his walk again anyway, because now he needed to walk off his anger. Why did he just give in to Malfoy? It had been Malfoy's fault he'd run into Harry because Malfoy had been on the wrong side of the corridor.
Harry went to bed early that night, taking the white dragon's advice about rest.
The next night, he pretended to go to bed early. He ended up really falling asleep, but woke up a few hours later. All of the students were asleep and Harry snuck out easily.
The clouds outside were thick and their edges glowed as they rolled past the waxing moon. He made it to the tree with the thick 'S'-shaped branch. Shifting form was a brief, sweet pain that reminded Harry of the feeling of sore muscles after a grueling Quidditch practice.
Part of him felt like he needed to find the white dragon; the other part was nervous about confronting the white dragon again. He hadn't thought for very long about what he was going to do when he sensed a now familiar presence. His first thought was, Malfoy,but instead the pale dragon stepped out of the shadows.
Harry must have thought the name loud enough the other dragon heard it mindspoken, because he mindspoke, "I wondered when you would figure it out, Potter. You cannot tell anyone."
That same thing deep inside Harry told him he couldn't disobey a direct command. "You knew it was me?"
"Yes. It wasn't that hard to figure out."
"Is your animagus form a dragon, too?" Harry felt silly for asking when he heard Malfoy laughing in his head.
"Is it yours? Is that why you're asking?" Malfoy's amusement was tangible.
"Yeah," mindspoke Harry. He was dreading Malfoy's answer before he even asked his next question. "You mean yours isn't?"
"What I'm about to tell you, you cannot repeat to anyone." The white dragon's tail lashed behind him in a menacing way and his wings partially unfolded and tilted in such a way as to make him look intimidating.
Harry felt like he was supposed to answer. "I won't. I won't repeat it."
Malfoy's posture relaxed. "I am not human. I am a dragon of the blood. It means I am different from all other dragons. Dragons of the blood have the ability to shape shift. If humans, muggle or wizard, knew we still existed, they would hunt us down and kill us."
"Why would they hunt dragons of the blood? You seem to blend in with humans naturally."
"We are a danger to them."
"How?"
"If you don't know, it's best I not tell you."
"I'm a dragon because it's my animagus form. That doesn't make me a dragon of the blood, does it?" For some reason, Harry was disappointed that he wasn't the same as Malfoy.
"You have a dragon form and a human form. You perform magic and can communicate with me through mindspeech. You are as much a dragon of the blood as I am."
The disappointment was replaced with an inkling of pride.
Malfoy asked, "What did you plan on doing when you came out here?" He gestured at the forest with a slight tilt of his head.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't have any plans."
"I planned to go hunting. You may join me if you wish."
"I've never gone hunting before," Harry admitted.
"It's easy," Malfoy mindspoke."You fly until you see your prey, then you swoop down and kill it."
"Er." Harry fidgeted. This would have been a lot easier to confess to a dragon he didn't know, but knowing it was Malfoy, Harry was reluctant. "I—I don't know how to fly yet."
Harry could feel Malfoy staring at him.
"I didn't really have a chance to—" Harry started, but Malfoy interrupted.
"Then I'll have to teach you. Do you think you can scale up the castle walls?"
Harry looked in the direction of the school. He couldn't see it through the thick foliage, but picturing the rough-cut stone, he answered, "I think so."
"Good. Scale the Arithmancy tower and I'll meet you at the top. I don't think I have to remind you to be quiet and keep to the shadows as much as possible."
No, Harry didn't need reminding.
Malfoy swiftly climbed a tree and then flew off. Harry watched him, wings twitching with eagerness to learn to fly.
The rough-cut stone was exactly how Harry had imagined it. It would be hard to climb as a human because the stones were so large and humans don't have talons. As a dragon twice the size of a human, it was fairly easy.
Malfoy was already at the top. A break in the clouds allowed silvery moonlight to glint off his white scales as he moved.
"When flying," the white dragon mindspoke, "let your instincts guide you. For now, just watch me."
He dove off the tower. Spreading his wings, he shot forward over the lake. A few strong beats of his wings increased his elevation and he skimmed over the tree tops. Moonlight making his scales glow as he circled back. His landing on the tower was much more graceful than Harry thought was possible for such a large creature.
Harry looked over the side of the tower. A strong gust of wind was blowing. It was exhilarating just being up this high. "It can't be too much harder than learning to fly on a broom, right?"
"Whatever helps you," mindspoke Malfoy. "Can you control your wings?" He fluttered his white wings in demonstration.
Harry practiced moving the appendages he'd never used before.
"Good. For the first time, just follow." Malfoy again leapt off the tower, letting gravity take him, wings half folded.
Harry followed without much thought. It was better to not think too much about things like this. Trying to copy the position of his wings, Harry looked over his shoulder to make sure he had it right.
Malfoy spread his wings just before hitting sparkling surface of the lake, propelling him parallel to the water. "Don't look at your wings."
Harry spread his wings too, and realized very quickly that the position of his tail was just as important as the position of his wings. Pumping his wings as hard as he could and hoping instincts would guide his tail, Harry tried to keep up with the other dragon and gain some altitude so his feet wouldn't keep dragging in the water.
"Try to keep up." Malfoy aimed for the clouds and flew up.
Harry could see the muscles working beneath the white scales of the dragon in front of him. He worked to stay just behind Malfoy. They were both breathing hard as they made it to the clouds.
They then leveled off and wove through the puffy clouds. Malfoy made it all look so easy as he effortlessly glided along. Harry was determined to learn and keep up.
Malfoy mindspoke, "Stop flapping your wings so much. Just glide. Let the air guide you."
"I know I see you doing it, but half of my brain is still saying that if I stop flapping I'll drop like a rock." Nevertheless, Harry attempted to copy the technique. Before long, he'd gotten the hang of it. "This feels really good."
They flew in mostly silence, Malfoy only giving tips and advice every now and then. After a while, Harry was successfully keeping up with Malfoy.
They didn't end up hunting that night.