It is a long chapter, so bear with me!

Thanks for reading!

11111111111111111111111

Chapter 22. Still Looking Back!

Alchemy was always my end goal, as the canon which I have ruthlessly avoided, where Delphini Riddle is born from the loins of Voldemort to Bellatrix, depicted my adult years growing into a recluse dabbling in Alchemy, after Astoria, my wife, died from blood curse.

It was always my end goal, to mould elements and transform objects, the transmutation and the permanent change to elements, at least the scientific ones, not the esoteric fire, earth, water and air, was something that was my fantasy for this world.

And this was not for the Philosopher's Stone, as either the secret of making one, involves human souls, self-sacrifice or mutilation, Daedric and eldritch beings, or Speed Force. None of which inspire me to fetch after them.

And I know, I tried the Speed Force Equation, and no, it didn't work across the dimensions. I know now, now that Harry Potter world exists, that other worlds exist too.

I would love to travel on those adventures, and perhaps get a sponsor or a system to accompany me, but until then, I will make the most of what I have, and what I can do. After all, I am dealt a good life, a good social standing and loving parents. And there is MAGIC!

Just because, nobody found a solution to living immortally without elixirs, doesn't mean there is no way. I will find a way!

I enjoyed the early days of the second year, listening on the stale gossip that found its way to me through the lovely mouths of Daphne and Hannah. The gossips were about what 'untoward accidents' the Zabinis and Notts suffered, and how the young Ronald Weasley suffered an accident during the vacation, and lost his thumb and index fingers of his wand arm. Shame Really! I hoped for the entire arm.

%%%%%%%%

Flashback to the Summers

Hannah, Susan and Daphne were always at my house, and had bonded with my mother. Hermione after shifting into the new house, which we purchased near our property to house the Grangers closer to the magical community, was also a regular visitor.

They all had gotten along superbly with mother, and often I would come into the hall and find the girls and mother chatting over a cuppa.

Rather odd, because, I am certain sometimes they were all at my home, even when I was not. Once I pointed it out, and my mother shushed me and chatted with the girls ignoring me.

I was sure I missed some stink-eye my mother kept shooting in my direction.

Anyway, I had always met with Hermione and Susan on weekends, and sometimes Hannah and Daphne would drop by even on weekdays and stay over for dinner.

%%%%%%%%

As I came into the hall, I saw Mr and Mrs Granger chatting with mother. Father was not as prejudiced as before, but he was particularly salty to muggles. As such, he never met the Grangers and only greeted them politely and briefly when there was no avoiding them.

I had already informed father of Hermione's talent with bookish knowledge, and how good she would be when she grew up. And he liked the idea of me grooming my personal lieutenants.

Mother, on the other hand, had instantly gotten on her aristocratic feet, never disrespect anyone, until they think you are their best friend, and as such, she was polite and faux welcoming to them. That turned into warmth however, when she saw Hermione showing her parents the charms she learnt at Hogwarts.

Even mother saw, Hermione's talent and 'book-sucking' abilities, and nodded at me. When I came to the table, I chatted with the Grangers, asked about their practice, and got to hear about a complaining old man who was a hypochondriac.

After that, I took Hermione away from the table and into the study. I always enjoyed hugging her and resting my head in her hair. I was taller than her, by about 4 inches, and could easily envelop her in my arms.

I was always a hugger, and it took some time to break all girls from their inhibitions.

As I hugged Hermione, and she held me back, I asked, "So how is it that you always come over early, but never wake me up?"

"And how am I supposed to wake you up? Walk into your room and pull the blankets off you?"

"I wouldn't mind a morning kiss to wake me up, you know. And why can't you just knock on the door?"

"Um…uhh…Kiiis lllip"

"Oy, get your head out of the gutter, you Anime trope."

"What's Anime trope?"

Anime trope…uh I don't think they have the shit of 2020s now, do they? I mean, I know Naruto and all the ecchi anime started way back, but there was no horny Japanese anime guy in the 80s right? I really hope so! Wait! Not my immediate concern!

"Nothing you'd know! And you could knock on my door, or even come in. I do not sleep naked, I'll have you know."

"N-N-N-Naked?"

"Now-now, don't be such a prude. You plan to go to French beaches next month, don't you? There are a lot of nudist beaches there, you know that right? On second thoughts, perhaps we could join you, and I could take you to those beaches. Sounds good, right?"

"Eep"

When I turned around, Hermione had run away with a squeak. Well, she'll come back.

I took an esoteric Rune Poem Collection, and left for the snake pit, where I was sure Hermione ran to, to meet the girls who are gathered and waiting for me.

I am not chanting any runes in any language without knowing what I am doing. The summer garden party incident and the subsequent label of "Dragon Prince" were too much of a reputation!

%%%%%%%%

Flashback within a flashback!

After my rituals, I had grown to care for the creatures and especially the snakes, thunderbirds, and dragons. I enjoyed scaring my friends and ensured none of my snakes and thunderbirds would hurt my girls or my parents.

They were all well fed, well cared for, and with me around the girls had grown accustomed to the snakes as my quirks. During the summer, I took permission to bring a snake with me to school, as long as it was not poisonous and could be carried around.

I settled for Occamy! They are choranaptyxic, and when coaxed properly, are very peaceful and snuggly. They are not inherently hostile or territorial, nor too toxic. And Occamies make for the best scarf to wrap around the neck!

I always put a warming charm on the snakes in the winter, when I take them around. And with the permission, I could take Occamy to school.

I reached the snake pit, dubbed as Draco's Lair by the girls and my mother. Once some guest wandered in the gardens, and came to my snake pit. They saw me lounging on my Basilisk's back, and reading quietly. As most of my mother's company was Slytherin or Ravenclaw, they all knew what I slept on.

Watching me lazing on a snake like a prince, and that too, on the Basilisk, made the wandering guest run back to her bevy, and bring back all her friends. With the power that our family wield, when my mother hosts a party, every invitee ensures to attend the party. Even Augusta Longbottom and Amelia Bones come, despite the tension between the Dark and Light Families.

Thus, when all the ladies from the party, came to see me, Amelia and Augusta, who were with the group, were brave enough to approach me. "Heir Malfoy-Black, I can see you enjoying the sun." I had already smelled the witches come, and wanted to look cool. I waited for some dimwit to attack the basilisk, but all women were either cautious or fearful of a Basilisk's gaze.

When Augusta and Amelia approached, all snakes turned as one and hissed at the ladies. I raised my hand, and all snakes quieted down. I heard some "oohs", "aahs","Oh my", and other interjections, but my gaze and presumably my Basilisk's was on the older witches, who were quite a powerhouse themselves.

They saw the basilisk turn towards them, and raised their wand against it. I patted the agitated king, and soothed him with a good petting. I called for my elf, and told him to bring a pig for my basilisk to feast on which had grown to about 30 feet in its 3 years as my pet.

It seems, like a natural predator at the top of the great magical food chain, Basilisks have a short gestation period, shorter period to reach a physical maturity, and their magic keeps on growing till the day it dies. It has an unnatural lifespan, and because of its unnatural birth process, can live a lot, and I mean a lot!

So their breeding was prohibited, and I made it public, that we bought it from India. Obviously, looking at the aggressive stance of witches, Basilisk was restless, and ready to attack. My bribe with the meat, therefore, settled it down, and as I fed it, and petted its belly with some pushing charms on its belly wandlessly to massage it, because a Basilisk's skin is too rough near its lower half.

I turned now to the witches and said, "A pleasant surprise my dear ladies. I welcome you to the Manor, Lady Longbottom and Lady Bones. Forgive my impertinence, my ladies, I was engrossed in the book to keep track of time. I was told, my mother was hosting a party, but I was lost in the book."

I bent over and picked up my robes, as I was only dressed in my trousers. I had a good defined body; my muscles were ripped, not like Bruce Lee, but enough to be used as an Anatomy model. I had grown about at least three inches since my last birthday, and with my height of about 5'5", I looked more like a man, rather than a pre-pubescent boy.

The ladies were quite swooning at me, and when I bent over to pick up the robe, I heard a "Merlin, look at his bum!" I ignored her, and kept the robes open in the middle. I picked up the Occamy, I was training to take to school, and kissed the knuckles of Amelia and Augusta. They were appreciative of me, and liked me enough to smile at me.

I was innocent of my parent's crimes and allegiance, and I had proved publically I was not a blood purist. And when ladies saw me carry a 40 feet Occamy, and it shifted into a small snake, to fit the inner pocket of my robes, they were gawking at me.

I greeted the ladies and bid them welcome, one by one. I was targeted with a lot of questions, and a lot of propositions, but I just glided along over those.

Augusta however, was quite relentless, "So, Draco", as after the initial formality, both Amelia and Augusta were on first name basis with me. I was polite and respectful to the ladies, and showed my admiration to the ladies quite openly. I was known as a, "Prince" in the social circles, and I heard some ladies greeting me, "Slytherin Prince", and I just let it pass.

"So Draco, Narcissa's worries about you were not unfounded at all. You do sleep with the dangerous creatures! And what could be more dangerous than a Basilisk?"

"No Augusta, my basilisk is harmless. Its gaze kills, true, but it is only when it hunts. Every now and then, I let every snake in the pit hunt on non-magical creatures and some livestocks in the hunting grounds.
If a predator is domesticated, its fangs get dull. On the other hand, a hungry predator loses its instincts and inhibitions. Keeping a predator's hunger and desire to hunt sated, makes every beast tameable.
My Basilisk looked at you now, but on my orders, no snake will attack a human, unless I tell it too.
The Basilisk was restless when you pointed your wand at it. All creatures instinctively know that wizards are the largest threat alive to any being and unbeing out in the wild. They are instinctually hostile to humans, and when you point your wand at them, they can feel the magic brewing in your magical focus: your wand. They react to it violently."

"Impressive boy! So now that I know one of your mother's complaints is true, is it true you go with the wampus cats and jaguars for the hunt in the summer?" I looked at mom, who was by now, standing next to me. She came with the last batch of ladies, when her entire party vanished off.

"You betrayed me mother!"

"Now now love, I didn't lie, did I? And besides, they have already seen you sleeping with that XXXXX Beast. Wampus cats and those magical felines are not much of a shock now. And I would stop gossiping if you didn't go hunting for boars and hogs in the wild, without a wand, a weapon, or even a broom. It's almost like you want to be feral like a werewolf. Thank Merlin, we have woods behind the manor secured by the wards, especially against werewolves and animaguses, otherwise you would surely be infected by now."

I was miffed! But alas, it was true, though I was not in any trouble or danger with my skills, and the cats were good training partners for training my stamina and endurance. I was keeping a good training regime for my physical skills, as well as magical. I was hunting boars with knives enchanted to not break or lose their edge, and simple levitation! No spells, no other magic, no shields, and no enchanted items!
And in dire cases, I knew how to apparate, and carried a portkey locket, so there was never any real danger. And i could smell different creatures around me, even before I could see them. My senses had grown to the extent of being able to sniff out a lumos charm in the air an hour after it was cast!

I was growing stronger, slowly and by a tiny amount, but I could feel it, and I revelled in it! I loved the feeling of growing strong as each day passes, and finally understood why the gym hype phase was so strong in my friends in my last life. I felt unstoppable, and I loved the feeling of strength coursing through every inch of me.

%%%%%%%%

Anyway, I accompanied the ladies, and since I was there, after missing the Spring Garden Party this year, I performed for the ladies, and did some transfiguration tricks Selene taught me. According to a small cinch in the Charter, magic was allowed for the underage under adult supervision, and I enjoyed and exploited this thoroughly.

I was just done performing for the ladies, and decided to end the performance with a cherry on top. I breathed in deep, and began chanting in Thu'um, the dragon kind, not the Elder scrolls one, and chanted a rune poem in the draconic language about the Solar rune, which was equivalent to sowilo rune in the elder Futhark, but in Assyrian.

As I chanted the forceful syllables of the poem, every witch could feel magic drumming in the air, as the air around me crackled. The moisture in the air around me heated as the air grew hotter rather than warm. I shed my robes on the floor, and reached out to the element in the air, as I took in heat around me with each breath. I felt my skin getting hot, and I looked at the sun above me. Strangely, it was not burning my eyes, but was comforting, rather than blinding.

I could taste the spicy magic in the air, as I reached the third line of the poem. I could now feel the vibration of the air clearly, as the air in the garden began to swelter. A few witches had cast cooling charms on themselves, and all of them, including my mother, had already stepped 10 paces back from me.

I could sense the momentum of air around me, but like a nudging push, I felt like I couldn't stop. I felt the magic burning my trousers, and my modesty robbed in scraps of Acromantula Silk, but I was not caring of it. It felt like hours, but my slow incantation of the poem in the Thu'um was not longer than a minute in reality.

I reached the end of the third line and felt the magic around me rotate and rise above me. I raised my hands instinctually and felt the air compress, and vibrate. The thumping sound in the air was now visible. My Occamy had already slithered far away from me, and I could feel my Basilisk come to the edge of where I felt my magic thumping. It stood near the witches and though they were afraid, but I was more of a focus at the moment. I heard a screech from far and a roar, as I heard a thump on the ground.

I didn't need to look to know that there were at least three dragons in the garden, and though all the witches took to the other end from the dragons and the Basilisk, the dragons were singularly focused on me, and after a glance at the fleeing humans, looked back at me with rapt attention.

I, unaware of my surroundings, had reached into my reserves, and was actively pushing magic in the air. The rotating whirling sphere of air which had risen above my head, had compressed into a ball of fire, and its heat crackled as my magic quite visibly flew into the sphere.

As I began the fourth line, the last one of the poem, I could feel the magic from the surrounding flow into the ball of crackling fire. It now, had grown to a man's height, and some women including Amelia, wanted to rescue me, but Narcissa stopped them all from approaching.

I had drained about half of my reserves before the fourth line began, and now, I could feel the magic draining rapidly. When I was at a quarter of my reserves the draining abruptly stopped as the ball of fire began to compress into a shape and glowed brightly. The ball was brighter than the summer sun above me, which unknowingly was right above me. I could feel the ball take a very definite shape, something I had never seen before, and it was taking a sharp shape, something I never saw before.

The dragons had begun to breathe fire in the air, as I chanted the fourth line. I felt the magic itself, singing as the rune took shape, one I had never seen before, but I could feel it said SUN. I don't know why, but I felt my remaining magic vibrate in pleasure, at the sight of the dazzling rune, which was now rapidly approaching the ground.

As I uttered the last syllable of the fourth line, the rune had begun to touch my hair, and the rune went through my body, touching every particle in my body, but not burning or hurting me. It washed down as I felt the rune lower and finally touched the ground, where it caught fire.

I stood in the garden on the granite, and the rune caught a fire as large as a pyre. My mother screamed and rushed at me, but my Basilisk stood guard and stopped my mother and other approaching witches. The Pyre burned for a few seconds, before flashing brighter than the sun above. The ladies averted their eyes, as the heat flashed in the sky.

As the temperature lowered, the unblemished skin on my body appeared and mother settled down. The dragons stood in their places and as soon as the pyre went out, marking the ground with the rune, I touched my chest and felt the same rune imprinted on me. I was feeling tired but, I still approached the dragons, who I recognized as Hebridean Black.

I heard Narcissa, Augusta and Amelia call out for me, but the obstructing Basilisk and the dragons' inactive posture delayed any actions. I had ignored their call and approached the dragons, as it seems my plan back-fired. I had planned for a rune poem singing and fireball conjuration, but instead unknowingly, I performed the perfect obscure ritual, as the timing and the necessary steps of the ritual were followed.

I could feel the warm heat from my chest as the rune burnt brightly glowing and emitting heat like a plasma torch. As I approached the dragons, I could feel them waiting patiently for me. There were five of them, now that I could see them, and the younger one who was closest to me, approached me, and bent its head flipping its tongue at my waist.

I heard in Thu'um, "Don't be impatient youngling, wait for him to introduce himself." I petted the head of the little dragon, and looked at the speaker, "I greet you in my house. I am Draco of House Malfoy…"

I was interrupted by the adult dragon who spoke earlier, "Stop youngling, you cannot greet yourself to the dragons with your human name anymore. Your magic before the ritual was like a young Dovahkiir, and even without Qah, the rune of Krein on your chest makes you a royalty among the dragons.

You taste of other animals like the spirit bird, and the serpents, but you are one of us now. You cannot claim your human name. Choose a Draconic Name Now, and don't disgrace the magic that courses through your veins."

When I heard that last statement, I growled at the dragon, as I felt my throat grow hot, and I breathed out fire at her. She, and I knew the dragon was feminine, blew her own dragonfire, and stopped immediately when I did.

Fire, of any kind not counting dragonfire or fiendfyre, was harmless before today, and now even Dragonfire was like cold water. Her fire didn't even redden my skin, and I realised how I reacted savagely, almost like a dragon!

I replied with the first word that came to mind, like it was almost there. I wanted to lay claim to the Elder Scrolls legend and claim the name Alduin or even Akatosh, but I felt like replying with, "Velaryon."

I stopped to think where that came from, like almost instinct, and decided to roll with it. "My name is Velaryon, and I greet my guests. May I bring flesh to feast on, and may I request you not to attack the humans behind me?"

The dragon snorted in agreement, and huffed smoke, "I don't care for them, they can get lost. And bring a lot of meat, we are hungry."

I called my elf, and had the dragons feast on raw flesh and cooked flesh alike, as I walked towards my mother who had relaxed now, but the other guests were blushing and whispering loudly. I had the elf bring me a robe, as the robe had burnt off, along with a pair of trousers.

I wore the trousers, and put on the robe, and approached the ladies blocked by my basilisk with a Bristleball. It was a ball of hard thorns from a magical cactus from the deserts in Sahara, and was especially good to scratch itches off the dragonskin, or even Basilisk's. I gave the ball to the Basilisk as a thank you, and he slithered off to the pit.

"Sorry for that, I did not know, I timed the poem exactly at the noon, and it became some form of ritual. The dragons would not hurt you, if you don't disturb their peace. And I am sorry for the incident it was not my intention to create a nuisance for you ladies."

As I apologized, I heard a lot of consoling and swooning, as the ladies praised me. Amongst the cacophony of sounds, the clear and loud voice of Amelia was distinct, and as soon as others heard it, others stopped talking, "It wasn't so much a nuisance, as it was a marvel Draco. We witnessed magic condense into a fireball, as all the air thumped with magic, almost like magic was singing to provide rhythm to your chants.
And the dragons, and that too Hebridean Black the most violent of them all, came to see you like they were drawn to your calling, standing guard to you chanting. They breathe fire in the air, and we felt the heat here but you were untouched by the fire and heat.
And then the fireball took that shape and burnt you in the fire, yet you came out unharmed. And then, somehow you conversed with the dragons, something that only Merlin could do, in legends, and calmed the dragons!
So no Draco, it was not disturbance but a revelation! I think magic itself, blessed you when you unknowingly performed the ritual.
But the question remains, what language was that? And what were you chanting? And how did the fire not hurt you even before the ritual?"

I looked at mother, who was now caressing my face in front of all the ladies and rubbing her hands all over my shoulders and back. "I could always speak to dragons, I even have a pet Ukrainian Irontail in a cavern where I sleep sometimes.
The dragons never hurt me, and always called me youngling in Thu'um, that is the dragonspeak, but youngling in Thu'um is not human child but dragon-child. And fire never hurt me.
I convinced my parents to cast elemental spells at me, and I think anything short of Fiendfyre couldn't hurt me before the ritual. Now that I can breathe fire comparable to an adult dragon's, I don't know what else has changed.
And the incantations were an Assyrian Poem which I sung in Thu'um which praised the sun. It is an ancient poem, and I loved how it sounded in Thu'um before. And now I know why! I planned to conjure a fireball from elemental spell, without wand or chants, while I sang the poem, but as I began, I lost control over my senses, and had to complete the poem."

I told them the truth, as I conjured a small fireball, which now seemed hot enough to blister skin from close proximity. Amelia and mother even took a step back, when they saw the fireball.

"I think that would have been very impressive, if we did not witness your earlier spectacle, which was a fitting tribute to the Sun, given this was a Summer Party. You may have outdone yourself boy." As always Augusta was blunt and managed to compliment while sounding almost reprimanding.

I swallowed the fireball and noticed my reserves getting filled back which managed to impress the ladies. They all took turns rubbing my chest and swooning at me, calling me affectionately as the "Dragon Prince", which was tickling my newly found pride.

I managed to salvage my modesty after the witches reluctantly stopped molesting me by all the inappropriate touching, when mother forcefully took the crowd back to the garden after a "tiring afternoon" for lunch. She strictly 'ordered' me to take my lunch privately to 'recuperate'. The chuckling Greengrass, Abbot, Longbottom matriarch and my huffing mother let all the ladies know they had reached the very edge of my mother's patience.

I thanked the ladies and got smothered in innocent and some 'misleading' kisses and hugs, picked up the irritated Occamy who whispered its protests and complaints, tickled its wings as I brought a couple pixies and gnomes for it to feast on, and left for the dragons, unknowing that the Dragon Prince Title was stuck as my label.

%%%%%%%%

As I came to the snake pit, I saw the girls standing on the edge of the pit. Without me around, no one dared to approach the pit, and only the elves came over to feed the snakes. The snakes were all harmless, but the girls were, I think squeamish and disgusted by the slithering creatures. I greeted the girls with a tight intimate hug and a sweet kiss on their cheeks. I loved how the girls felt me up and Hannah even boldly squeezed my toned ass. I enjoyed their reactions and how they expressed their affection for me.

I knew they loved me very much, and were somehow acting like a Harem anime characters, but there was not much teenage competitions and backstabbing, at least not in my presence.

The girls loved it, when I kissed their cheeks, and when my hands wrapped around their waist tightly. I made this my ritual for greeting the girls every day, and I enjoyed ensuring the girls how much I care for them. They knew I need to pick up a snake to pet and accompany me all day, and since I am taking an Occamy with me to school, the pythons and the adders were growing clingy these days.

They would slither up the pit and reach my room in the manor and sleep in my bed. Once my mother saw a python slither up the hall, and scolded me to keep the snakes away from roaming freely in the manor.

After some coaxing and petting, and a lot of generous bribing, I relented to carry every one of them at least once with me, and go hunting with them every evening. Today was the Desert Adder's turn, and it was particularly snippy at strangers, though all my snakes have grown accustomed to my parents and the girls.

I went to the Desert Adder, and picked it up as it eagerly glided towards me. Snakes can be especially fast and agile, and adders have been known for ultra-fast reflexes and speed. The Desert Adder was a cute regular non-magical snake with horn like protrusions and it loved it, when I scratched its forehead just between the horns.

The girls sighed as I happily left with the adder around my neck and the book in my hand. Hannah was teasing Hermione about seeing me naked, and Daphne had taken the distraction to worm her hand around my arm.

As Susan complained "Not Fair, Daph!" I kissed Susan's miffed face and said, "Don't worry darling, I'll kiss you twice to compensate. How's that for equalizer?"

And as always, Hannah retorted, "What about us?"

"I will go to those beaches with Hermione in France to compensate her, as for you, you already took advantage of me right?"

"What did you do Hannah?"

As Hermione bickered with Hannah, I settled into the relaxed state of mind, I always feel when the girls accompany me. I think I enjoy their company and need it, much more than they do, and the funny thing is, they don't even realise it! Or perhaps they do! I'd never know, with the devious little minxes!

11111111111111111111111

Ciao! Read and Review!