I own neither Harry Potter or Warcraft.

A note: In this fic, a creature that lives 10,000+ years matures at a slower rate than one that lives 100 or so. Harry Potter's drakes have mental maturity in the range of a 15-18 year old human. Granted the war, loss, and bloodshed has had an impact on them also.

Drakes are teenage dragons, in Elune's Pebble and Blizzard Cannon.

Chapter 12: Headmaster

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After the previous day, no one in the castle woke early. Eventually though, nature called, and habit asserted itself. Aurogos awoke to a whispered conversation and it didn't take him long to realize that he had shifted during the night, exposing a common morning condition among males of many species. Thankfully, he could hear from his breathing patterns that Jason was still asleep.

Sighing as he forced himself awake fully, as soon as he was fully aware he shifted himself into his other shape. Looking at the startled teens, he tried to reassure them. "I'm sorry about that. Some of the discussions last night brought up pleasant memories. Did you two get enough sleep?"

He saw the nods of their bright red faces and found himself thinking the blushes were rather cute. Perhaps he had grieved long enough? He would never forget, but maybe he could move on.

"Good, wake Jason. Castle? An Elf please." As requested, an elf in the Hogwarts uniform showed up. "Elf, I need a trunk that's in good shape from the Room of Requirement. Can you sense what I am?."

"Yes Headmaster Draggy. We's knows yous not human. But wes serves you since yous the Headmaster."

Smiling at the elf, Aurogon finished his chain of commands. "I'm very happy to have your loyalty. After you leave here, I also want you to gather all the elves together and tell them that my not being a human must remain a secret. I could be chased out of the castle if the humans find out, and there's so much I want to teach the students about magic. Make sure any elf that enters the castle that isn't Dobby the free elf or Kreacher of the Black Family either doesn't learn, or can't tell okay? I'm going to be relying on the house-elves of the castle a lot in the days to come, we have a lot of work to do together. Is there anything you need or any questions you want to ask me?"

Stammering, the female elf shook her head wildly, throwing her ears about. "No Headmaster! We's not be needing anything or having questions."

"Okay. I want the elves to know they can come to me if they need something or need an order clarified. I want the elves of this castle to be the healthiest, strongest, smartest elves in the world, and I want everyone to know it. Go about your business." The elf immediately popped away after that. Only a moment later, a trunk in good repair appeared at his feet.

Naomi spoke first. "Wow, laying it on a little thick there, Headmaster?"

Aurogon snorted. "I didn't lie. House-elves are strange little creatures, but they have their own pride. I'm not about to short them praise when they do so much. Anyone with power over others that doesn't want the best for them doesn't deserve it in the first place. Use the restroom down the hall if you need, I'm going to be casting an expansion charm on this trunk. You three will need to ride in it for a bit, there's a Fidelius in effect between us and my supplies."

Not long after, the three were standing to the side as he finished casting the charm and ensuring the charm was stable. "Can you transfigure a ladder and whatever furniture you want? It is still early, but there's a lot to do today."

Within a few moments his Dragonsworn hopefuls were seated in the trunk and the room unsealed. Aurogon quickly made for the closest staircase, and it was nice to watch them rearrange themselves for his convenience. Ten minutes later and he was walking into the Chamber of Secrets. He was surprised how many people were just now rising from sleep down here.

Though he needed his supplies, he stopped to bow in his human form before his Lord. "Good morning Harry. I apologize for not returning, but I had an opportunity to remove the wards from Dumbledore's control. I collected the best students in the castle in the field of warding, and I took control of the other three stones. Albus Dumbledore is no longer welcome at Hogwarts, and the castle, along with the elves, recognizes me as Headmaster."

Harry was impressed. "Well done, um, rise? You don't need to bow to me, really."

Aurogon just smiled as he rose. "I know my Lord. Sadly, there was a small complication, and three students were present when the last wardstone acknowledged me as Aurogos of the Blue Dragonflight, along with the world where I was born. I offered the three a place as my Dragonsworn, to keep the secret and they agreed. I'll give them one last chance to back out, but I think the benefits of the position have convinced them."

"Dragonsworn? I don't think we've discussed that term yet. What did you offer them?" By now, much of the rest of the Chamber was listening in, very curious as to what was going on.

"We probably haven't mentioned it yet my Lord, it isn't a very common practice, though some Flights use it more than others. A Dragonsworn gives their service to a Dragonflight or individual dragon in exchange for knowledge, long life, the eventual ability to speak Draconic, and stronger magic over time."

One of the Weasley twins, it was too early to be sure which, let out an impressed whistle. "Any chance you can bottle that stuff? How much power? And how long a life?"

Aurogon responded quickly. "No, it really varies a lot, and roughly a thousand years for a human with an expected life span of eighty years. These three will probably live longer, but I'm just not sure how much yet. They'll be useful as we repair and enhance the wards my Lord; if nothing else they really are skilled. The only downside is I will be providing protection for their families if they want, but I doubt you would have a problem with that.

"Also, I need to work out a way to send a message through the portal. You see, I left a book I will need for some of the Dragonsworn magic behind because I never expected to need it. It was written by a dragon that was arrogant and very convinced of his own humor, but it remains the definitive work on that subject of magic. In fact, Senegos might be willing to send the rest of my collection as well. I didn't have a huge horde of magical objects, but I do have a few shiny things lying around."

Ron looked at Harry. "Do you think Hedwig could handle it? She could be the first owl post delivery between worlds!"

Harry sighed. "I think she'd get angry if I didn't give her the chance. I haven't even seen her since this started. Aurogos, go ahead and act as you see fit. We'll get my owl to the portal later, I'd like her to have a few protection charms at least."

With that said, Aurogos moved over to the storage room, quickly finding his pack and setting to work. Normally, an oathstone would require much more time to craft, but he really didn't have time to spare. In any case, this was something he'd done before, including all the imperfect attempts he'd thrown away. With what he needed, he stepped down into the trunk and spread out his tools onto a table. He showed the three teens the rocks in his hands. There were various stones that could be used, but for these three he had chosen a magically infused blue granite mined from the area surrounding his Flight's main settlement.

"Okay, you three, I'm going to be carving the oathstones now. If you decide you don't want to join me, I'll get you out of here after you make a binding agreement to keep my secret. Don't try to run if you get cold feet, there's seven other dragons up there and some of them are kind of twitchy right now. We're secure down here with two doors that require a magical language and a Fidelius over the only exit.

"Now, a little more information while I carve these. First, do not let anyone know what you are. My magic will be 'nudging' yours to make it grow and if you end up in the Department of Mysteries getting dissected, we don't have the resources yet to rescue you yet. Same with going against either Dark Lord. Secondly, we will be protecting your families as best we can. Jason was right, there is a storm coming, and the best thing we can do right now is to make this school a rock on which every storm will break. We'll be upgrading your families wardstones, or supplying them as needed.

"Third, as far as relationships go, you're free to 'follow your heart' as long as you don't compromise any secrets in doing so. Three Dragonsworn is already a little much for me, but one of the other dragons can offer this deal to a mate of yours so they share your longer lives as well." There, Jason's stone was finished. Just the standard effects, with another that would let his 'patron' know if he was in danger. He'd include that on the girl's as well.

"Something else you should know. After a century or so, you will start to resemble my true form more and more." Hmm, what else to include on theirs… Remembering that dream and how I woke, perhaps something to control their fertility? If they choose to lay with me, now would be a bad time to have little Dragonspawn running around. Easy enough to add, I'll default it so they can't get pregnant right now, but if I die or they decide to start a family they'll be able to. Perhaps something to stabilize their bodies to prevent pain and discomfort from their reproductive cycles? Hmm, dampening pain is always dangerous, it's safer to prevent it. Hmm, just have it use their magic to minimize discomfort then.

What else? I can add something to help them stay in the peak of fitness, and add that to Jason's too. How to do that? Nudge their bodies to keep positive physical changes and reject the bad? That would let them build muscles and not lose them, well lose them easily anyway. I don't think there's anything else I can add right now. Coming out of his near trance, he saw the three looking at him with clear respect. They had seen him carving runes with a clawed finger sparking with magic, and modifying them on the fly. Then he went back and added a whole subset to the first stone, as if doing that without unbalancing the whole sequence was no big deal.

"I added a few things to the oathstones. I can only add a few permanent effects with it, so I was rather limited. All three stones, when used, will attach a permanent tracking charm to you. More importantly, the magic includes a portion that will alert me when you are in danger. Also, all the stones contain a set that will help keep you fit. A strong body helps give you strong magic, so the second effect will keep you strong and fit. Essentially it prevents the normal deterioration of muscles when you stop pushing yourself.

"It isn't completely effective on its own, but it should help. There's two other effects on the stones for Naomi and Sarah; you should enjoy the additions but I'll discuss them later. I will warn you, this is the last chance to back out, once the oath is taken it cannot be reversed."

Becoming very serious, and retaking his true form, Aurogos handed each of the teens a small stone, carved with the individual in his mind. "Jason Atreides, Naomi Lyon, Sarah Summerland. The stones you carry contain a binding oath, service to me for the rest of your mortal lives in exchange for my boons and protection.

"The Blue Dragonflight of Azeroth was charged with the protection of Magic itself. Our tasks have been many, from maintaining the ley-lines that are the very pulse of the world to keeping certain magics away from those who would be destroyed by them. Now, my task on this world is the teaching of Magic, of showing students it's mysteries and majesty. If your choice is to stand with me as helpers for the centuries to come, place the stones on your flesh above your heart and repeat after me. 'I do hereby accept the oath upon this stone. I swear to give my service as it is demanded of me until my final breath, so shall it be."

Each of them said the words as guided, and the stones shattered in a pulse of magic. A small shard broke off of each and entered their flesh. Azure symbols appeared on their skin above their hearts, runic markings that formed a single word in Draconic: Sworn.

Aurogos stood proud in front of them as they fell to their knees, covered in sweat and shaking as they felt the first tendrils of draconic magic snake through their flesh. It wasn't painful, though in the past it was described as excruciating. That wasn't the first impression most wanted for their Dragonsworn, so the process was improved. The drake could feel a sliver of their magic touch him as well; he smiled at the impression of each of them, so eager to learn what he would teach them, so enamored with studying magic for its own sake.

He'd guessed that already, their chosen paths and the time they'd spent studying were proof, but it was nice to know he had been right. He could feel a true eagerness coming from them, a drive he could respect. From Sarah and Naomi, something else that made him want to smirk. Perhaps he had been alone for too long. Well, he would first make absolutely clear it was their choice, he would not force them into his bed and would accept rejections.

"How do you feel, my Dragonsworn?"

Jason retook his feet first, flexing his hand several times in near wonder. "I feel strong, like I just drank a pepper-up potion that was made far too potent. This can't be the way it feels all the time, can it?"

Laughing as the girls got up, Aurogos smiled, his heart feeling lighter than it had in some time. "I understand that you'll get used to it. My magic is bolstering yours, and in doing so, your own magic will grow over time. In time, your body will grow stronger as well. You should age normally, if a bit slower than normal, until you reach your peak, that point where to grow older would mean growing weaker. It will be a very long time until you begin to feel the ravages of old age."

His cheer was infectious, and the teens were still smiling themselves, though covered in drying sweat. "Now, my first direct order is this: You will not share, or allow to be taken from your mind, the secret of what you are without my direct permission. The same goes for the other secrets you will see once we leave the trunk and enter the Chamber of Secrets."

He paused at the awed looks around him, especially the one on Jason. "What? We needed a hiding place here, and no one was using the space. My second command is this: You will not be influenced by any form of compulsion or mental effect, save the Dragonsworn oath. My third command is this: You will only obey orders which are intended as orders, you will ask for clarification if needed. That is in case I say something conversationally, or in jest. My fourth and final command is this: You will come to me if you need something. I will take pride in you three, in your joys and accomplishments. Now, any questions before we see the Chamber?"

The three teens shook their heads with the looks of those who still haven't caught up with the recent changes in their lives. Aurogos, told them to head up while he collected his supplies. Quickly, he didn't want to miss their expressions, he cleaned up his work station along with the dust from the oathstones.

He did laugh when he stepped out into the main chamber to see the three staring at one thing and then another, not sure what to ask first. They all three quailed at the sight of the Basilisk, but an orange furry creature climbing on it and cutting pieces off the corpse killed the tension there. Alira gilded over, seeming to have become a little antsy on the ground in the last few days, and introduced herself with a slight bow of her head. She seemed excited to have so many people down here, even if it hurt security.

Spying Harry sitting down to eat, he made his way over. "My Lord, I think I have a plan. I wasn't intending to be the Headmaster of the school, but the previous one needed to be kept out. Now that I am, I'm considering a drastic reshaping of the curriculum. From what I've heard and read, your teachers have nearly made learning magic boring! Snape was neither a good teacher or man, your defense teachers have mostly been terrible, and the teaching in History is only good for catching up on other work.

"I think I can convince Lucius Malfoy to back new classes if I'm careful not to let him get too much influence. I want Hogwarts to teach how to work in a magical forge, how to create a true familiar bond, and most of all how to appreciate the majesty of magic! If my guess is right, I can bring you and Draco forward as supposed equals under me, and you can sway the students to your side. At the same time, with a few careful words and a well-known reporter under a contract, we can repair your image and build you up as a future leader."

When Harry started to object, Aurogon countered him. "I know you would prefer to simply be a man my Lord. But right now your government is massively corrupt, Voldemort is regaining his power, and the man your world would turn to oppose him tried to murder every student in the school yesterday when his misdeeds were exposed. Your people need a good man to lead them. It is your choice Harry, but I want you to know that every one of your dragons believes you can do it, we've talked about it extensively. We believe in you, and will be with you every step of the way."

Harry hesitated for a moment. "I, I don't think I'm leader material. But I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't do everything I could to help. Go ahead with your plans, I trust you."

"For now, the best way forward seems to attempt to keep events moving slowly while we build up power. If you give me six months or a year I can have this castle impregnable by anything either Dark Lord might attempt. We can train you physically, magically, and in how to lead. I think… I think before the Nexus War my old master wanted me to be his successor, maybe the replacement Blue Aspect. I can teach you everything I know, and I will."

With that, wanting to leave his Lord to think on his words, Aurogos gathered his Dragonsworn to him and turned to head up. Talion had given them the secret after confirming they were sworn in, so his group was ready to head up. With a wave to Harry, his group left the Chamber.

Once the inner door closed behind them, Naomi started to laugh. "I should have known Potter was waist-deep in this. I didn't use to believe the rumors about him, but then I saw Slytherin's monster being processed. How on Earth did that poor boy get mixed up in this?"

Aurogos chuckled, finding the humor contagious. "Well, Azeroth is a mess right now. A group of five dragons called on the goddess of the moon, and one in particular offered his unending service in exchange for getting those he cared about to a safe world. About the same moment Elune accepted Tendrion's offer, Harry Potter had a very strange dream. We owe him greatly for his freely given aid. More than that, I find myself very much looking forward to teaching him everything I know.

"Harry Potter is going to be a truly great man if he lives long enough. Not just for his magical potential, believe me, I've seen much more powerful humans back home. He is so special because he cares, and even with everything that was done to him, he has a will of steel. If he has a few years to learn what he needs to, your world will have one of its greatest leaders ever."

Turning to them as they walked, Aurogos laid out some of his plans. "Today, we're going to solidify our control over the school. In the days to come, we will be walking the castle, the four of us and hunting down every chink in the wards. I'm not sure why, but there's a lot constraining them. As long as we don't endanger the students, we will be doing everything we can to let the wards run free. Jason, your first task is to talk to Malfoy, I'm going to be setting him up as the leader of his house, and one of the leaders of the school.

"For now, just tell him we had a late night, but we did lock the Headmaster out of the castle. Tell him I have a few tasks left to do before I can come back to the common room, but when I do I need to speak with him, probably just before lunch. I'll see you in the Slytherin common room, take some time to yourself." As they reached the top of the stairs, the door was opened and he headed out.

Smirking, he pulled out a small crystal covered in runes. "Stilly!" When an elf showed up that smelled like he worked around a fair bit of booze, Ralion handed him the crystal. "I need you to take this and place it in the Room of Requirement in an area that has enough room for at least three people to stand side by side, and stand back. I'll give you a few moments."

Turning to the two girls, he smiled. "I don't know who invented your 'apparition' ladies, but the version back home is vastly superior. Stand close please."

With that, and a small smile, he wrapped an arm around each of them and focused on the crystal. It contained enough of his magic to act as a handy beacon for a teleport spell. It wasn't a terribly difficult spell really, but good aim was essential. With a dull whooshing sound, the three found themselves in the Room of Requirement, which appeared as a plain brown cube. Taking control of the Room through the wards, he quickly pocketed the crystal. With a bit of will, the Room shifted to the obsidian ritual chamber with the glowing portal to Azeroth.

He smiled at the girls as he released them and began looking at the magic surrounding the portal, his eyes glowing as he observed the active magic. "Thankfully the portal remains stable. This is the portal to Azeroth, my homeworld. Since there is so much more magic running through the air there, it's pouring into this world, through the stones and into the ley-lines. With the castle under my control, I can alter the castle a little to encourage the magic to flow faster. That way the castle gains a higher saturation of magic, feeding the magicals who live here."

The three spent a few moments in discussion of magical theory while they ate a light breakfast of fruit, toast and eggs. When they were finished, the girls wanted to find a shower, but he stopped them. "Sarah, Naomi, I wanted to talk to you about a few things. First, there were a few things I included in your oathstones that Jason didn't have. One thing was magic that would lessen the discomforts that are a part of your regular reproductive cycles.

"Also, there's a part of the magic that will prevent pregnancies until it is turned off. That one will function until either you ask me to do so, or until I die." He watched the two of them have a whispered conversation.

Eventually, they turned to ask him why he'd done that. Looking into their eyes and speaking seriously, he explained. "The most important part of what we discuss is what I'll say next. You have the choice of whether or not to share my bed as well as my life. I will not force you, or use anything to alter your mind. That said, your lives going forward will be different.

"For all the benefits, one downside will be the difficulty you have making lasting connections with others. A relationship with me could provide stability when you need it most. And it would be enjoyable, though I don't exactly have a wealth of experience, I am a quick study and the thought of seeing my mate writhe under me is very appealing. Not to mention there's a wealth of spells that can enhance pleasure. The relief of pain, weaved into the rune over your heart was simply a courtesy; while the conception prevention was necessary if you would choose to bed with me. Many spells to prevent conception fail around magical creatures. While I would like children in the future, now isn't a great time."

There was quiet for a moment. Then at his will, the room changed. A large bed appeared on one side, a door at the other. A large pool with a waterfall appeared in front of them. Steam began to fill the room as Aurogos returned to his true form. "I am going to bathe and 'rest' for a few hours before I return to my work. Would one, or both, of you ladies care to join me?"

Sarah was the first one to speak at that. "Both? You want us both at the same time? How would that even work?"

Smirking, a wide toothy smirk, he replied. "My lovely Dragonsworn, finding that out is half the fun. Now, remember I won't think less of you two either way." With that, he stalked into the pool, his tail waving behind him. The two girls looked at each other for a moment, shrugging before beginning to disrobe.

Aurogos was truly happy as the two teens began to strip. Deciding he ought to be mostly clean before they joined him, he dove under the warm water, ignoring the instinctual panic that surged through him. Dragons did not belong in deep water, they weren't made for it. Even when he had learned several spells to allow him to breathe beneath the waves, eventually the instinct that told him to get out of the water, that he would die beneath the surface, would break his concentration and likely kill him. Breaking the surface he walked under the waterfall, enjoying the warmth.

***Explicit adult scene edited out and moved to its own fic on Ao3.***

Again, a blindfolded house elf brought them something to drink. After the small creature left, he began to speak. "That was the best sex I've ever had Naomi, thank you. Sarah, though I would love to ravage you right now, I need some time to cool off first. There's a small problem, you see the only thing keeping my seed from catching in you two is that bit of magic incorporated into the Oathstone.

"It's still active in the rune on your chests, but if I'm not careful, my desire to see you carrying my young will be greater than my desire to remain in control of myself. You are both gorgeous in your own ways, different yes, but most certainly beautiful, and I keep seeing you smiling and visibly pregnant in my mind's eye. I didn't actually realize how much I wanted offspring. Now, another command for just the two of you. If you have any concerns or fears about a relationship with me, you will share them with me. A lot of awful feelings can bloom if they're allowed to fester."

Naomi went first, thinking of what she'd guessed from his dominating behavior during their romp. "I think you were hurt by someone that had power over you, my… What is the proper address between us? Anyway, if you're willing to share, I'd like to know more about what caused you pain so I can help you as we go on. Unless you've deceived us, we're going to be around for a long time, and closer than I expected at first."

Grimacing, Aurogos asked the room to provide two globes hanging in front of them. "We don't have time for a full explanation. This is my home world, as it was before the Demons and the Sundering, and as it exists now. We lost eight tenths of our landmass, and more lives than we could count, whole species were never seen again. You see the three main continents?" Here the globe that had shown a massive continent, lush with lakes, rivers, jungles and plains faded away. It had been shaped from a memory of a single map in Senegos's private study once. The ancient dragon had been answering a question about what had been lost in the 'War of the Ancients.'

"I was born in Northrend, the Northern one. My Dragonflight, the Blue, had been struck down during the war that ended with the Sundering. One of the five Dragon Aspects, ancient immortal leaders of their Dragonflights empowered by beings called the Titans, betrayed the rest. He tricked the others into crafting a weapon, pouring their very essence into it. In the first engagement with the 'Dragon Soul', he turned it on the Demons, cleansing that battlefield. Sadly, he didn't stop there. Our allies, the mortals that we had shed blood with to protect the world, were destroyed as well.

"My Flight was gifted with Magic when we were empowered by the Titans, and when we were betrayed, the Blues rose up and attacked the traitor. They died. That dark day, and in the weeks to come, four out of every five Blue dragons perished, either in direct combat or the destruction that followed. Senegos, the ancient dragon I studied under for nearly thirty years, was there that day, and still bears the scars. He was lucky enough to be at the edge of the strike, shielded himself just enough to not die, and landed in some trees afterwards. He always keeps a spell up to hide the scars, but even ten thousand years later, they're horrific.

"Malygos, the Aspect of our Flight was injured and driven to madness. Neltharion was his brother, his close friend. Malygos had stood with the fallen Aspect and argued for the creation of the Dragon Soul, so the guilt, the injuries and the residual effects of being struck with warped bits of his own power broke his mind. After the world was broken, even as it began to heal, he never did.

"Ten-thousand years later, I hatched in the Azure Sanctum, a part of a temple that was once a meeting ground for the five flights, a place of unity." He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts, looking at his Dragonsworn watching the memories he hadn't fully meant to show. They showed the tower of Wyrmrest Temple that was built over the five Sanctums.

"I heard stories about some of the dragons at our main city, the Nexus. Probably the best master to study under there had a cruel streak, and her apprentices, especially the talented ones, tended to disappear. So I studied hard and long, and eventually presented myself to Senegos, one of the oldest and wisest dragons alive, requesting to study under him. He accepted me, sparing me life under Saragosa.

"Among all the Dragonflights, one thing we share is something called the Flight Bond. It is something that binds us together, gives us unity. It also binds us to the will of our Aspect, whether or not he's sane. When Neltharion, Aspect of the Black Dragonflight was corrupted, went insane, or just decided to betray all of us, that bond drug his Flight with him. I like to think there were some dissenters among them, some who chose to say no.

"While the Flight Bond is powerful, it can be resisted if you have a combination of Will, Power, and the Weight of a lived life in sufficient strength. Drakes like me have no chance, but I would bet there were some brave ones among the Blacks. Until they died anyway. My world hasn't seen an uncorrupted Black Dragon in ten thousand years," As he said this, a mortal Senegos had been very keen on introducing him to, came to mind. Wait, Ebonhorn? The only Highmountain Tauren I've seen with coal black fur, and brown antlers calls itself Ebonhorn? Might as well wear a sign. "as far as I know, anyway.

"During what the mortals call the Second War, but really there's been far, far more than that, a group of invaders found the Dragon Soul, slew its guardian, and later used it to enslave the Red Aspect and her flight. Senastrasz can tell you some stories about that. I didn't realize it until I spent a lot more time around mortals and the other Flights, but the Flight Bond was affecting us ever since Malygos fell into his madness and despair. You see, we were bonded to each other and our Aspect, and through that bond he was dragging us down with his despair and hopelessness. So long as we had enough genetic diversity left, ten-thousand years should have been enough time for us to replenish our numbers, to regain the strength of our Flight after that horrible blow. But we never did. My kind could never really escape those feelings that flowed through us as long as Malygos lived.

"Senegos was one of the few, or the only one perhaps, that saw what was happening. While each Aspect had a Flight to govern, the Lifebinder, the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza had been given leadership over us all. Senegos went to her and pleaded with her to help us, to create a new Aspect by transferring Malygos's mantle and power to another. Because he couldn't find a way to do this that would spare her 'brother' Alexstrasza denied him, and ignored all his attempts to convince her that we were suffering.

"When her guards dragged him out, his last words to her for millennia were a promise that if she didn't help the Blue Dragonflight she would come to regret it. That our suffering would spread if it was allowed to fester. He tried the other Aspects, but Ysera deferred to the Dragonqueen and Nozdormu said he couldn't interfere with the timeline in any way.

"Anyway, the dragon enclaves often take in children that would have died otherwise to war, famine, or just not having anyone to care for them. When the kids are old enough to make it on their own, they're given a choice to stay with the dragons that took them in and help us in our tasks or go back to their people. Some of the mortal's greatest heroes have spent childhoods with our kind. One of Senegos's friends, a powerful mage, had sent him a crystal that contained all of his town's children as their nation fell to a massive undead army, his last wish that they be raised among the dragons."

Here, the drake took a deep breath, both girls feeling his chest expand, then slowly contract. "During my time at the Azurewing Repose with Senegos, I fell in love with a young elven woman named Valiance Springrunner. I met her when she was thirteen, her kind develop at roughly the same rate as humans but age much more slowly after about twenty years of age. We spent a lot of time together, and she truly came to love her place amongst the Blue Dragonflight, all her fellow orphans as well. We courted through all her teenage years, and we were planning to be together for all our years. I..."

Here he choked up for a moment. He hadn't talked about this part of his story to anyone. Senegos knew, but the last time they'd spoken Aurogos had refused to accept that it wasn't his fault, what had followed.

"I had carved her oathstone out of a precious gem that I knew she loved. Dragonsworn magic doesn't make you live forever, but it does add years and years. Her kind reached their old age after three-thousand years, so as my Dragonsworn she could have had a life as long as mine. Then we heard that Malygos, our Dragonflight's Aspect had woken up, and was aware again. And my mistake killed her along with all of her friends." Here he closed his eyes as he shed tears. Both ladies moved to comfort him, but he held them in place. It was hard enough to say this much, he needed to finish.

"A few days before, we had our last time together alone. I had warded a section of beach and placed a fire pit. It was a glorious day. She had adopted the dragon's practice of not wearing unneeded clothes, at least in private, and it was all I could do not to bend her over on the sand. I chose to wait because I wanted us both to travel to the Coldarra, to stand before our Aspect, the reason every male Blue Dragon's name ends in 'gos.' I wanted her to be my equal in the service of our Dragonflight. We traveled there, presenting ourselves as loyal servants just in time to join the new war our Aspect declared against every mortal user of magic.

"I don't know if he was in his right mind or not, but it really doesn't matter in the end. I heard that Senegos had sent a message to the Dragonqueen, an 'I-told-you-so!' that involved breaking down into sobs because while we had survived so far on the hope of regaining our pride, our purpose, our strength, that was all dust in the wind now.

"Senegos simply asked Ysera, the Green Aspect for a few of her brood to keep the Blue dragons he had gathered and watched over for the last ten centuries asleep until the conflict had passed. In exchange, he swore to the temple that if Malygos came for his brood he would kill him at the cost of his life. Aspect or not, imbued with Titan power or not, fighting a user of magic who has spent twenty-thousand years studying magic and fortifying his home is no small thing. 'Beard a dragon in his lair,' indeed. Those under his protection, those that had not foolishly gone to celebrate a 'new day' for the Blue Dragonflight spent the war asleep in his fortress.

"There was a chance we could have fought Dalaran, the magical city-state and won, but when our vaunted Aspect began to redirect ley-lines he threatened the entire world. The Red Dragonflight intervened and my Dragonflight found itself in war against every other as well as every mortal user of magic. A good leader would have stopped then, realized he couldn't win and all he was doing was throwing lives away. Malygos did not.

"I lived through that awful, pointless war until a strike force broke into Malygos's sanctum and slew him. I knew right away when the war had ended, that drive that I couldn't escape left me, and I abandoned a suicidal charge against the Temple where I'd been born. My fellows might have thought I had gone insane at first, with my laughter, and we were led by a wyrm that could have, should have resisted Malygos, but chose not to. Now free at last, I said what I could to convince them, told the wyrm to go straight to hell, that the war was over and she could go die if she really wanted to, but I was leaving.

"While I had been forced into service on the front lines, Valiance and the other refugees had been pressed into the Mage Hunters, which is exactly what the group's name implies. When I reached the Nexus, I found a paladin mourning Keristrasza, a Red dragon that after being tortured by Saragosa, broke free and worked with a mortal to kill her. Malygos decided that since she'd cost him his consort, she would take Saragosa's place under him. But he didn't just want to rape her, he was working magic upon her that warped her mind, stole her will, it was even stealing her Dragonflight from her. When the paladin raised his weapon against me, I told him the war was over, and offered to help him lay her to rest.

"The fighting had been bad, she'd been dead for weeks and just left to freeze in that room. I helped him burn her body under the stars and we spoke for a brief time; I was trying to build my courage, convince myself that Valiance and the others had somehow broken their oaths to Malygos and fled, that they had stood aside and been spared while mortals broke in and took the mad Aspects newest toy from him. When I told the paladin as he gathered ash from the funeral pyre that I was looking for my friends, he just looked at me with broken eyes and told me he was sorry.

"He rode off and I couldn't hold off my panic any longer. I charged into the halls, there were corpses of the Blue Dragonflight and its servitors everywhere. I found the first of those I sought being eaten by her own hound. I found several more after that, before I found Valiance, long dead and frozen solid. I can't, I can't even remember how she died, through the tears I gathered her and the others, broke into the storerooms and used enough priceless alchemical reagents to earn me the ire of every Malygos loyalist forever to burn their corpses in the halls where they died.

"When the fires stopped I left and took to the air and flew, not really having a destination in mind. When my wings screamed in agony from overuse, I used magic to keep going. In hindsight, I really ought to have died doing that, flying over the ocean at all is dangerous, there's a reason dragons have a crippling, instinctual fear of submersion and a lesser one of flying over the water. My body took over a week to heal when I collapsed in front of Senegos, my wings having brought me to what I considered home on their own.

"I have a few other old hurts, but that is the one you wanted to know about, sweet and clever Naomi Lyon. Until today I had forgotten how much I was looking forward to having children with Valiance." With that, he shifted a little and released them. Checking a clock he saw that he still had a few hours with the two before he had to get moving and be composed again.

Aurogos was surprised when gentle hands started to stroke his face, and realized that he still had tears to shed for Valiance after all. His head was gently pulled into Sarah's lap, and Naomi wrapped her arms around her neck, both kept up the gentle touches. When Sarah, drawing on lessons she'd taken from her mother dealing with a younger brother, told him to let it out, not to hold onto the pain because it would only fester, the drake started to sob. For his lost love, for all his friends that had died with her in that pointless war, and for his own heart still unable to let go of the burning hatred of a dead dragon even though he knew it was foolish.

Until he needed to compose himself and head out amongst the students again to further his plans for this place, Aurogos stayed with his Dragonsworn, taking the comfort they wished to give him. Together they returned to the water, as Aurogos introduced them to the draconic custom (necessity) of washing each other. Their time together in the water wasn't really sexual this time, just the sharing of comfort. Both girls were sore, and Aurogos managed to reestablish his self control as they bathed together. Eventually he was needed elsewhere, as much as he wanted to remain with them for much longer.

"Thank you both, Sarah, Naomi, my loyal Dragonsworn. I've held that back for several years now. I should be giving you some token for this, but I would like to court you both. My culture permits that, as long as all parties consent. I will make every effort to keep you content and happy with me for all our time together, whether it be only today or until the stars burn out.

"If the next few weeks go well, this castle will become our first stronghold. If it goes poorly, we have a fallback under the Fidelius Charm, and an island that is open to us. If we can keep Talion alive for another ninety years, he'll be able to raise islands out of the depths, with enough practice. So long as we aren't careless, we will be safe. And as for the Dark Lords of this land, well..."

Here he gave his girls a very toothy smirk. "No Blue Dragon worth his scales fears a wizard. I have been through two wars, seen fire and bloodshed on a scale neither one of them can imagine, fought against horrors that would freeze the blood of Dumbledore and cause Voldemort to flee this planet.

"You two can dress and come down, or you can remain here. This room can access vast amounts of books, and I'll assign an elf to come when you two are ready to eat. Though I doubt you'll be very hungry, Sarah. I hope to see you tonight." With that said, the drake left behind two satisfied teenagers and went about this day's business, resolving to return to them as soon as he could.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

A/N: Next Chapter will be in two weeks. I've had life rear up and spite me lately, I'm getting near the end of what I've written. I'm working on the rough draft of 15 right now, but, looking at 13 again large chunks of it need to be shaved off. I hope to go back to putting out a chapter every week soon, but I'd rather put out a good chapter every two.

Many thanks to hkurtz2013 on for his continuing editing help.

This is my first adult scene ever read by anyone else. Let me know I did!