Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Eragon

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Eragon.

Chapter 9- Meeting old friends

Harry sat on a grassy knoll, eagerly righting to Ron, Hermione, Sirius and Dobby. Dobby's letter was more of an explanation of how Harry was on some sort of vacation. Ron's, Hermione's and Sirius's talked more about the dream he had had, and his concerns. He sent the letters off with a disgruntled Hedwig. With the arrival of Jurza, Harry had forgotten that he had another winged friend.

"Have a safe flight," he said to the bird and he was replied with a light nibble on the ear. Hedwig lifted off his shoulder and started her long journey back west.

Harry jumped onto Jurza's back and the dragon spread his enormous wings. Harry felt the familiar feeling euphoria, not bothering with the cloud cover spell, seeing as they would be over the ocean almost the entire day. Jurza seemed to be anxious to get back in the air, jumping and beating his enormous wings. They started gaining altitude and entered some low fog. It took them several seconds to break through the clouds and soar over a different sea.

With the clouds beneath them, they were looking at completely different world. Clouds had shaped large spires and the scene looked like an enormous blanket of pure cotton. Jurza flew low and skimmed the clouds, and Harry thought it was a good idea to put his hand into the fluffy substance.

He stuck his right hand in the clouds and started to feel himself slide sideways. He had forgotten to strap himself into the saddle. By the time he realized this, it was to late. Harry watched it in slow motion as his left foot was lifted into the air and he started to tumble into the clouds.

Harry! Jurza started to turn and dive deep into the clouds and raced after Harry.

Harry burst through the bottom of the clouds and saw Jurza to his left, while the ocean below him was racing up at an incredible speed. Crap crap crap, was all that Harry could think as Jurza sped past him and flew in front of him. They were barley six or seven hundred feet in the air and Jurza seemed to be coming closer to Harry.

Get into the saddle as I'm coming up to you, he said with extreme concentration.

Harry nodded, which was stupid because he knew Jurza couldn't see him, but the dragon started to ease up faster. Harry spread his arms and legs to slow his rate of fall and managed to grab a strap on the saddle. He pulled himself on to the soft leather and Jurza pulled up just in time for his claws to scrape the salty water.

DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN, Jurza screamed at Harry while letting a spout of steam escape his nostrils.

Calm down, Harry said lightly back. I'm okay and your okay, so what's the problem?

The fact that we could have both died up there didn't bother you? Jurza asked confused.

Man, Harry said blowing off the thought of death. I've been threatened with my life almost eighty percent of the time I've been on this planet. And seventy percent of that has been at the Dursleys. Now take us back up, I want to do it again.

Your crazy Harry, Jurza said beating his wings and staying low to the water, refusing to go higher than ten feet.

Come on Jurza, Harry pleaded. That could be a good battle tactic. It possesses the right amount of crazy to surprise your enemy.

But Jurza wouldn't budge, and Harry sat in a huffy silence for the remainder of the trip, occasionally pulling out they same book as the day before and reading. It took them several hours, but they finally saw land in the horizon. Harry pulled out his wand and cast the same spell as the day before. A nearby cloud circled them and gave them perfect cover.

They flew high over France and started to head north, since they needed to leave at the northeast part of the country. Nearly an hour into their flight over the landscape, Harry felt a small poke in his consciousness. He tried to push it away and it gave him a violent prod. Something felt familiar about the invader, but he couldn't put his finger on it. But it seemed that Harry wasn't the intended target. He felt it leave his mind and flow down into Jurza's mind.

Jurza, thinking this was a similar invader like the dream, started to thrash around violently in the air, threatening to throw Harry off. But all of a sudden, he stopped. It seemed as if he was getting instructions and Harry tried to contact him, but he ran into a steel hard mental defense. Jurza banked left and started to fly directly north. Harry tried, but he still couldn't talk to Jurza as they flew north and into colder weather.

They flew for another hour in complete silence and Harry was close to jumping off the dragon to try and get him to talk, when Jurza started to descend.

You can release the spell now, Jurza said.

Nice of you to tell me what's going on, Harry said angrily, pulling out his wand and obeying all the same.

Sorry, said Jurza, not sounding sorry at all as the cloud sifted away from them. I needed to focus, and that meant cutting out all distraction.

Harry was about to tell the large animal off when he realized what they were flying at. It was a large castle in the middle of a valley hidden in the mountains. It was beautiful, more made for looks rather than Hogwarts, which had it's own medieval charm. This on seemed like it was a more modern castle, probably less then fifty years old.

There were three people in front of the castle, two he recognized, and one he didn't. The most dominant was Madam Maxime, who was standing with awe covering her face. The second was a young girl with silvery hair that looked vaguely familiar. The last was none other than Albus Dumbledore, who was smiling with the same twinkle in his eye.

Jurza landed and Harry jumped off the dragon and ran up to the headmaster.

"What, How, Who?" was all that he could sputter. Jurza was roaring in laughter and steam erupted from his nostrils. Harry threw him an angry glance. Shut up you stupid lizard, he hissed through their mind connection.

Be careful, said Jurza in a playful manner. I could tear you in half.

I dare you, Harry said in the same tone.

"I see you finally got here," said Dumbledore.

"But how did I get here?" Harry asked bluntly.

"Well, I told Jurza how to get here."

"Then that means that you were the one who invaded my mind."

"Well, yes. Dragon's have an extremely fortified mind, except, of course, through their Rider. You could say that it's their only weak spot."

"But he can block me out. I haven't talked to him in the last hour."

"Well, he has the right to privacy in his own mind. But over the years, he'll find that's harder to do and in time your minds will become one."

Harry pondered this for a while until he noticed that there were two other people there.

"Where are my manners," said Harry in a dignified voice. "It is good to see you again, Madam Maxime."

"And you as well," Maxime said in her throaty voice. "We are glad to welcome you our castle. I 'ope you remember Gabrielle 'ere," she said gesturing to the small girl beside her.

Harry looked at her and it finally clicked. "I saved you from the lake. Your Fleur's sister."

"Ze one and only," Gabrielle said with a small curtsey. She looked like a miniature form of her sister with as much breath taking beauty. But then Harry remembered that she had a crush on him after the second task, meaning that she was probably using her veela powers to try and seduce him. Well, he thought to himself. I might as well play along.

"The pleasure is all mine," Harry said bowing and taking the girls hand. He brushed his lips slightly on the back of her hand and looked up to see the young girl blushing a bright red.

Dumbledore and Madame Maxime chuckled lightly as Harry backed away. That's when he noticed that Madam Maxime and Gabrielle were looking at Jurza who neglected to come forward.

"Oh, that's Jurza," Harry said.

Jurza, get over here, Harry said to him stiffly.

No, Jurza replied taking a step back.

Why no-, Harry started when he figured it out. Your shy, aren't you?

N-no, Jurza stuttered as Harry started to laugh out loud.

"What ez it?" Madam Maxime asked.

"He's shy," Harry said and started to laugh again.

Come get this ridiculous saddle off me, Jurza said snorting. Harry walked over and got the leather pad off the dragon. No sooner had Harry unlatched the last strap then Jurza spread his wings, knocking Harry to the ground and left to hunt.

Be back soon, Harry tried to say, but found the same mental wall around Jurza's mind. He's pissed, Harry thought to himself.

"Would you like to come in?" asked Madame Maxime in her heavy French accent.

"Yes please," Harry said as he walked into the large stone fortress.

"Welcome to Beuaxbatons," Gabrielle said and followed Harry into the brightly lit entrance hall.

Everything was decorated in blues and grays. There weren't any of the familiar armored suits in the castle like Hogwarts, but instead a collection of sculptures and exquisite paintings. These paintings were whispering to one another, obviously wondering why this outsider was within the school walls.

"If you 'ad been 'ere several years ago, you would have noticed that we 'ave 'ad many renovations done to ze castle to make it look younger," Maxime said in a prideful voice.

"That is an idea for Hogwarts, seeing as the place is getting rather old," said Dumbledore thoughtfully.

"Hogwarts is fine how it is," said Harry feeling a pang of homesickness. Hogwarts was the only home he really had, and the fact he couldn't go back was depressing.

"I did enjoy ze castle while I was zere," Gabrielle said, stepping close to Harry and making him uncomfortable.

They gave Harry a quick tour and led him to a corridor that seemed to have been made in haste. There weren't any decorations and it led to a plain wooden door. When Harry opened the door, he saw that it was a richly designed bedroom, complete with a small fridge full of food and a bathroom.

"WE can't keep you in ze main castle," Maxime said lightly. "But you can stay 'ere as long as you promise not to leave during ze day."

"Why?" Harry asked.

"None of ze students are supposed to know your 'ere," Maxime said, giving Gabrielle a sharp glance. "Little Gabrielle is on 'ere because she eaves dropped on Dumbly-dorr and me and insisted zat she would be zer to greet you."

"Well thank you," said Harry happily jumping onto the mattress. "I promise I won't leave the room during the day, but is it okay to leave at night?"

"Of course, just try not to be seen," Maxime said cheerfully, glad that Harry would follow her instructions.

"May I come and visit you sometimes," Gabrielle asked, blushing slightly.

"Sure," said Harry, and with that the girl smiled and left the room skipping. Dumbledore and Maxime left soon after and Harry drifted off into a dreamland full of pretty girls with silver hair and a dark haired girl chained to a bed.

AN- Sorry again for how long it took to update. Yes I know that Brisingr is coming out, I already have a copy on reserve and can't wait. But back to the story, I thought this chapter was pretty good, but then again I'm biased and I think everything I write is as influential and great as the bible (Hahira just kidding). My original idea was to have Fleur there herself, but then decided that that would be weird. So I settled with her sister. It might be like the relationship Eragon and Trianna had where Harry will have a small attraction to Gabrielle, but don't worry, this is still a Honks. That is unless you guys would like a manaja twa. Please give me more feed back and I'll have the tenth chapter ASAP.