This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.
In this chapter the Daily Prophet coverage of the dragons flying with Harry Potter shakes up Magical Britain. Dumbledore plans to move against the goblins but gets into trouble in the Wizengamot. Harry and Hedwig return to Hogwarts with their friends and everyone asks lots of questions.
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Chapter 33 Changes and Questions*(+++++)*
SCENE: Reaction to Flight of DragonsAfter the reporter and photographer returned from their assignment to photograph Harry Potter flying on a new Cleansweep broom, the desk editor reviewed the pictures and the story with growing excitement. The 'top' reporter, Rita Skeeter, was on Christmas holiday, and the wizard assigned to the story was a relatively new employee who wanted to make a good impression on the editor and the wizarding public with an accurate story of the momentous event.
Once the story was complete, the desk editor contacted the publisher at his home in London where he was celebrating the holidays with his family. Bartholomew Coffle was displeased by the interruption but the desk editor demanded his boss return to approve the headlines, story and photos.
When he came through the floo, read the story and studied the photos – of the flight of dragons, children with new brooms, and owls – Coffle seemed to be lost in thought for several minutes.
"I agree this story will be good press for the goblins," Coffle told the reporter and desk editor. "But I think it'll be good for everyone except the old guard."
"Who do you mean?" the daily editor asked.
"Fudge, Dumbledore, the old fuddy-duddies on the Wizengamot," Coffle explained.
"Cleansweep Brooms and Gringotts will be in our debt when we report this properly. And we'll make money on posters too. Ragnock will grin like the devil and grind his teeth but he'll pay for these photos with his dragons."
The editor grinned; he did enjoy not worrying about Deatheaters and hopefully someday, he'd not have to worry about Dumbledore. He authorized the printing of a thousand extra copies of tomorrow's paper and for the art department to create layouts for posters.
_)**(_
SCENE: Conversations at HogwartsThe next morning, there were many conversations in the Great Hall at Hogwarts when the Daily Prophet was delivered. The students staying over the holidays shared a dozen copies of the paper and the staff each had a copy to study. There were shouts across the different tables as the students stared at the photos in the paper and then turned to the other tables with reactions to the photographs of their classmates flying with dragons.
"Look at Potter leading everyone through the air!" exclaimed an older Hufflepuff, holding up the cover of the Daily Prophet. "How do they…"
"Is that a dragon? A real dragon?" asked a Ravenclaw, with the paper open to the inside photographs. "How did they keep from being eaten?"
Professor Hooch grinned and nodded at Deputy Headmistress McGonagall who failed to keep the smile off her normally stern face. Both witches had witnessed the students flying with Harry Potter and the owls but they'd kept the story to themselves and not informed the headmaster. That Mr. Potter would lead dragons into the air, didn't surprize either witch.
At the Slytherin table, the conversations were very quiet compared to the other tables. The students wondered how Potter – a half-blood – was able to communicate with the dragons. The revelations of the Dark Lord's origins as being practically a muggleborn had shattered many beliefs in pureblood supremacy; the Dark Lord has so much power, the purebloods of his generation made him their leader.
"Potter was named the 'Great Speaker' during the sorting," one of the seventh years reminded the other Slytherins. "He might be the new Heir of Slytherin."
"He's just a firstie," complained a sixth-year girl. "How can he be so powerful?"
"Did you see the photos of him leading dragons in the air?" asked the seventh year. "Dragons!"
"They're just creatures… they can be trained…"
A sixth year snorted, pulled out his copy of Fantastic Beasts and opened it to the extensive chapter on dragons.
"Scamander never tamed a dragon… he worked with an injured one once but never attempted to teach it any tricks," the young wizard reported. "The boy-who-lived talks with dragons! We must learn if he's dark or light."
Albus Dumbledore was late to breakfast this morning. He entered the Great Hall in a set of robes with dancing snowflakes and radishes – an old set of robes that he'd added the snowflakes for the holiday. He sighed with disappointment as no one noticed his robes; they all stared at something in the Daily Prophet.
Settling into his throne, Dumbledore stated, "Breakfast."
It was almost two seconds before a full, hot English breakfast appeared in front of him. (The house elves had their own copy of the Daily Prophet with the amazing photos, and even better, the Potter elves popped in with stories of riding with the wizards and witches. "There were owls and the dragons all around us while we flew with the Great Speaker.")
In brief moment he waited, Dumbledore's gaze wandered to the bottom half of the paper lying beside the placemat in front of him – the photo of Harry Potter flying with a group of other students captured his attention. He reached for the paper and sat back on his throne to scan the article and then open the paper to find the other photos.
Further down the table, Severus Snape cursed under his breath – the headmaster would demand to interview the two students from Slytherin who attended the event – who flew with Potter and the others. Neither family would permit such an interview to occur and Snape would be caught in the middle.
The head of Slytherin paused to consider the implications of Nott involving his grandson – the surviving Deatheaters would slink away before tangling with that powerful old wizard. And Greengrass had positioned himself as the leader of the neutral wizards by supporting the goblins and Ogden and Nott; he'd hosted the boy-who-lived with his friends – pureblood and muggleborn to fly with dragons.
For a moment, Snape imaged Dumbledore barging into Gringotts, demanding to free Potter, and being introduced to the fire-breathing dragons. The dancing radishes and snowflakes on the hideous robes would not stand up to flames.
_)**(_
Albus finally turned his attention to the breakfast that had grown cold. He called for a new meal but the elves merely took the cold breakfast and returned it with heating charms applied to the table – the toast was burnt around the edges, the eggs hard and the sausages crispy. Worse still, his pumpkin juice had been heated and burned his tongue.
Glancing around the Great Hall, Dumbledore found the students who'd remained over the holidays to be engrossed by the paper. Glancing left and right, he found his staff had already folded their copies of the newspaper and put them away. Flitwick openly displayed his wand – casting shields over the tables of students to prevent any obliviating or compulsion spells.
"Very interesting news this morning, Headmaster," Professor Hooch said.
"I would characterize the news as disturbing," Albus replied. "That any adult would endanger children in this manner with dragons… I just can't imagine."
Snorts and muffled laughter from Moody and Sinistra were echoed by the deputy headmistress.
"It appears that the children were perfectly safe flying with the Gringotts dragons," Minerva said. "I am certain they were much safer with the dragons than they were with the troll on the third floor in October."
"And I referred to the generous donation that Cleansweep Brooms is making to Hogwarts – the dozen brooms the children flew at the Greengrass home will be donated for flying classes here," Hooch said as she folded up her copy of the paper. These photos would be framed and placed on the walls of her office before luncheon today.
"Brooms?" asked Dumbledore. He'd skipped over the story about the donation but before the headmaster could continue, the door to the Great Hall opened and an Auror ran across the room to stop in front of the headmaster.
"Grand Wizard, the minister for magic has suffered a heart attack. The news in the Daily Prophet so upset him, he collapsed and was rushed to St. Mungo's," the man reported. "You're needed at the Ministry."
"Auror…"
"Smyth, sir. Martin Smyth," the man informed Dumbledore.
"Auror Smyth, my title is 'Chief Warlock', not 'Grand Wizard'," Dumbledore corrected the young man. "Remember to use the proper titles."
Perplexed for a moment, the young wizard replied, "Of course, headmaster. Will you come sir?"
"Yes, yes," Dumbledore agreed with a gentle smile and a twinkle in his eye that confused the Auror.
"Shall we go then, sir?"
Dumbledore frowned and waved the young man away, "Return and tell… Who sent you?"
"Director Bones sent me, sir."
"Tell Amelia that I shall appear within the hour," Dumbledore explained as he rose to return to his chamber and choose the most appropriate robes to wear to the ministry.
'If I'm to assume the position of Minister for Magic with the death of poor Cornelius Fudge, I must look like Merlin,' Dumbledore decided. While the headmaster was lost in thought, the young Auror looked around the room and found Alastor Moody at the table.
"Return to Director Bones and report the headmaster's reply," instructed Moody from his spot down the table. Nodding at the old Auror's instructions, the young wizard turned and hurried from the Great Hall with Dumbledore following behind him at a slower pace.
With Dumbledore gone to his office, Minerva turned toward Filius and Pomona. Alastor, Sinistra and Burbage leaned forward to join the conversation while Severus hurried from the table. He would contact Nott and Greengrass this morning to forestall any conversations between the headmaster and the Slytherins.
"Why did Bones send an Auror rather than a Patronus message?" Filius asked. "The Patronus would have been much faster."
"She wanted to be able to view the memory of the 'Chief Warlock's' response," Moody explained. "She's planning something for certain. She knows Dumbledore – his 'hour' will be at least half that length again."
_)**(_
SCENE: Changes at the MinistryIn fact, it was almost two hours before Albus Dumbledore appeared in the Atrium of the Ministry. He stepped from the floo and banished the soot that clung to his green robes with purple grapes – he had finally decided on these robes as the perfect complement to the purple robes worn by the regular members of the Wizengamot. As Chief Warlock, he granted himself the right to dress differently.
There were normal sized crowds of wizards and witches moving about the ministry this morning. All were dressed in heavy robes suitable for the winter weather and while he received nods of recognition, no one bowed to Dumbledore.
Making his way to the Wizengamot chamber quickly, Albus relaxed when he saw the members gathered around the doorway – they'd not begun yet and he could take charge.
"You're entirely too late, Albus!" Lady Marchmain declared as she walked past him, heading toward the elevators. She was satisfied that the headmaster's attention would be focused on the school now. As director of the education testing services, she'd demand improvement in the OWLs and NEWTs this year or begin to join McGonagall in her moves to push Dumbledore out of the school.
Lord Ogden smiled as he passed without a word. The paper's story had already spread overseas and there were inquiries from shops in France, Egypt, India, and America about the new brooms. With an influx of galleons, Ogden would use the gold to support anyone wanting to unseat Dumbledore.
More of the members in their hideous purple robes hurried by Dumbledore who kept trying to begin a conversation and discover what had transpired in the chamber, but everyone ignored him.
Finally, Lord Greengrass and Director Bones approached the 'Chief Warlock' and led him into the chamber.
"Dumbledore…" Bones began.
"Chief Warlock Dumbledore," Albus attempted to correct the woman.
"Actually, you're not Chief Warlock any longer," Greengrass replied. "I am."
His face displaying true surprize, Dumbledore rebutted, "You can't be Chief Warlock! It takes a two thirds majority to unseat me and elect someone new."
"We had all members of the Wizengamot present except for yourself," Bones explained. "First, there was a vote of no confidence in Fudge and then a second vote of no confidence in you."
"You don't have the votes…" Dumbledore insisted. "Longbottom and Potter votes would have blocked…"
"At the beginning of the session, we installed new proxies for Potter and Longbottom," Bones explained. "Lord Greengrass holds both votes as directed by the official guardians for Heir Potter and Heir Longbottom."
"But how could you do this to me? To Cornelius?"
"Mr Malfoy made the motions," Greengrass declared. "That was unexpected but carried the vote."
"Who did you place as minister? Not Umbridge?"
Amelia frowned and exchanged glances with Greengrass.
"Delores Umbridge is a prisoner in the goblin mines under Gringotts. That happened back in the summer," she reminded the headmaster.
"What? How dare the goblins lay hands on a ministry official!"
Shaking her head slightly, Amelia explained, "The Undersecretary tried to assassinate the chief of the Gringotts horde in his own office, and Cornelius refused to speak up for her…"
"And what happened to Augusta?" Dumbledore demanded.
Greengrass sniffed before he told the tale of her actions that endangered the Longbottom vaults and her subsequent removal from the guardianship of Heir Longbottom.
"I understand she was sentenced to ten years in the mines along with her distasteful brother…"
Dumbledore erupted in anger, his wand out and his aura flaring, as he declared, "The goblins are in revolt! They are out of control! Locking away members of the government! Setting dragons loose among wizarding children! They are a danger to us all!"
The former chief warlock paused and listened for the cheering he expected to hear; there was none. He glanced at Greengrass who looked repulsed by the elderly wizard's outburst and then at Bones who had a sour look on her face.
"Mr. Dumbledore, I am suspending your voting privileges in the Wizengamot until such time as three independent healers certify that you are in your right mind," Greengrass announced.
"Director Bones, if you will have Mr. Dumbledore escorted to St. Mungo's, I would appreciate…"
"You can't do this to me!" insisted a nervous Dumbledore.
Greengrass paused for a moment and then affirmed, "Yes, I can. As Chief Warlock, it is my duty to confirm the fitness of every member of the Wizengamot."
Bones motioned a pair of Auror's closer and when they stepped close enough to capture Dumbledore's attention, Amelia grabbed the headmaster's funny wand that she quickly pocketed.
"Gentlemen, let's escort Mr. Dumbledore to St. Mungo's for an evaluation," she ordered as the two strong men guided the elderly wizard out of the chamber and to the floo in a nearby, private office.
Lord Greengrass watched without any additional comments. Once the chamber was cleared, he straightened his back and headed toward the offices of the minister – Amos Diggory had a tough road ahead of him and Greengrass was determined to help the new minister succeed.
_)**(_
The Daily Prophet reported the changes in the ministry honestly and Rita Skeeter attempted to write a scathing article on the hidden agenda of the new Chief Warlock but when she turned the article in, she was summoned to Coffle's office and fired. Protesting the decision, she grew angry and accidentally transformed into her animagus form. Rather than reverse the spell and reveal herself, Rita attempted to fly from the building. Pausing at the desk of an old circulation manager, the man dumped a pile of old newspapers on the water bug and crushed it. Her body did not resume its normal shape and the bug's remains were banished along with the old papers at the end of the day.
_)**)_
At St. Mungo's, the mind healers spent three days arguing with Albus Dumbledore but finally conceded the elderly wizard was still in control of his mental faculties and certified him sane. Chief Wizard Greengrass shared the report with all members of the Wizengamot, the Board of Governors for Hogwarts, and the ICW. Before the last day of the year, Dumbledore was back at Hogwarts, angry at the world for failing to recognize his position in the world.
'When Tom returns, then they'll need me,' he decided. 'Just wait until the boy-who-lived proves to be unable to handle the Dark Lord. Then they'll fall all over themselves begging me to help them!'
Fawkes didn't laugh much now. She watched the old man closely, wondering when he would slip over the edge. The phoenix would make certain he didn't harm anyone when he did.
_)**)_
SCENE: Another Ride on the Hogwarts ExpressPercival Weasley stood on the platform at Kings Cross Station for the Hogwarts Express and grinned when he saw his parents and younger brothers appear from the floo in the receiving room. He left Penny Clearwater to watch the last of the muggleborns and other students climb into the train as he ran inside.
"Mom! Dad!" he called before he hugged each of his parents.
"Percy! I missed you on Christmas morning," Molly told her third son as she held him close for a moment. Then Percy quickly hugged his father and surprized everyone by hugging Fred and George.
"I missed you two!" he told his twin brothers. "Christmas was nice but boring at Hogwarts without your tricks."
"We're going to turn over a new leaf," Fred announced.
"We're going to study," George continued.
"And be more like Percy, Charlie, and Bill," Fred concluded. "Getting your leg cut off, changes you."
"That's rot!" Ron whined. "Everybody spending all their time studying books and spells… no one wants to play chess or fly."
"That's not true Ron," Percy said. "We're getting new brooms at Hogwarts for the flying classes but you'll have to pass the certification class before you can fly one."
"Why? I've been flying since I was five!"
"Yes, but you crashed and destroyed a broom in October… Remember?" Percy reminded his youngest brother.
_)**)_
The train was full of happy children and everyone tried to stop by the compartments where the firsties from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were camped out. The other students continually bombarded them with questions about flying with dragons until the prefects finally stepped in and ordered the other students to leave them alone.
"This questioning is going to drive me nuts," Harry announced.
"And it'll be worse at Hogwarts," Justin said as his contribution, leaving Harry, Neville, Susan and Hermione slightly sick on their stomachs. But the genius muggleborn came up with an idea quickly.
"We should hold a press conference," Hermione told the other children.
"What's a press conference?" asked Ernie and Hannah.
"We all sit at a table and the students can ask questions of any of us, but only one at a time. After we answer the question, the next student can ask their question."
"That'll take a couple hours!" Susan said. "The Slytherins will have as many questions as the Ravenclaws this time."
"But it'll be the only time they can all ask," Harry said. "The professors will like that idea."
Pulling out a biro and a pad of paper, Harry composed a letter to Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick with contributions by all of his friends. Once they were satisfied with the letter, Harry called for Apollo.
"Mr. Harry Potters calls for Apollo?" asked the excited elf.
"Hey Apollo. Can you do me a favour?"
"Certainly, Mr. Harry Potters."
"Duplicate this letter and then deliver one copy to Professor Sprout and one copy to Professor Flitwick," Harry said.
Taking the letter into his hand, Apollo nodded and disappeared.
Suddenly, another of Harry's elves, Venus, appeared and asked, "Would Mr. Harry Potters like tea for him and his friends?"
"Yes!" Justin exclaimed. "I haven't had any of Juno's good biscuits in over a week!"
The elf grinned and popped away but almost instantly, she returned with the other Potter elves and stands for the many firsties from 'puff and 'claws in two different compartments. Then the elves popped away as trays appeared on the stands with a full Hogwarts tea.
Across the whole train, the house elves from Hogwarts delivered tea for the students with beverages, biscuits, and cakes. It was the best ride into Scotland any of the children could remember.
"I have the best elves in the world!" Harry exclaimed and his friends echoed his claim.
_)**)_
Wandering about the train later – you can't consume a full Hogwarts tea and not fall asleep unless you get up and walk – Harry made a point of talking to students from all four houses. Dora Tonks was quiet but very helpful with news about the other students. After she explained that several fifth year muggleborns had resigned, Harry asked her, "Why are you coming back?"
"I'm just a few months away from my Newts," she explained. "My parents wanted me to finish Hogwarts before I apply to university. I'll pass my Newts next June and hopefully start university in the fall."
"How can I help you?" Harry asked. Dora blinked at the boy for a moment, but then smiled.
"Could… Could Miss Hedwig work with Professor Binns more this winter and spring? She can help us all prepare for Newts in history."
"She'll love that," Harry explained. "She teaches me and the dragons about history all the time."
Dora nodded and added, "Mom and Dad were really worried about you and the other kids flying with dragons…"
Harry waved away the seventh year's worries. "We were safe with the babies. They're strong but like all kids – goblins and wizards."
"You're strange Harry Potter," Dora said.
Harry grinned and replied, "Why thank you, Dora Tonks. That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me today."
_)**(_
Later, as the train began the last hour before arrival at the castle, Harry, Justin and Neville were exploring the baggage car – it was filled with empty wooden boxes labelled 'Potion Ingredients'. Sitting on one of the boxes, they found a seventh-year 'puff.
"I know you… You're Roger Heathcliff!" Justin said as the three firsties began asking the older boy about his holiday.
"I'm not good company, guys"
"What's the matter?"
Roger sighed, "My girlfriend, Cathy Watson, is one of the muggleborn who resigned from Hogwarts over the holiday."
"Was she a fifth year?"
"No, she's a… She was a seventh-year like me. But her parents thought her time would be better spent preparing to attend muggle university that wasting her time at Hogwarts. She's going to take a couple of the NEWTS in June but then study healing muggle style. She can't get into St. Mungo's to become a healer."
Justin asked, "Are you going to write to her?"
Roger shrugged, "I don't know how to send muggle letters."
"Well, Justin and I can help you with that," Harry volunteered. "Do you have her address in the real world?"
"What's the 'real world'?" the older 'puff asked.
Neville grinned and said, "That's what the muggleborn call their homes and families."
"Yeah, Magical Britain is like a fairy tale," Justin agreed.
Pondering this for a minute Roger nodded. "It's been a bad dream for me this year… Cathy is afraid of my parents. Over the holidays, my mother admitted that she threatened Cathy."
"Why? What did she say?" asked Harry. Roger explained that his mother threatened Cathy with an 'accident' if she kept seeing her son.
"They don't like her because she's not a pureblood or even a half-blood. I want to spend my life with Cathy but my parents threatened to disown me if I marry her."
Harry shook his head. "All that pureblood stuff makes me angry. Are purebloods stronger that half-bloods or muggleborns?"
Roger shook his head. "Most half-bloods are stronger than anyone else. But people like my folks have lived with the idea that purebloods are better for their whole lives."
Neville nodded. "My grandmother believed purebloods were better than muggleborns but she didn't know any muggleborns."
"You can write to her, Roger," Justin said. "Harry and I can get your letters posted in the muggle mail and Cathy can write back."
Harry asked, "You're working on a special project, right? Something that will establish your name as a powerful, creative wizard?"
"Yes, I am improving apparition – making it easier, more accurate and faster with arithmancy equations…"
"Wait, wait!" Harry demanded. "You'll need to explain that to Neville and Hermione, not me."
"Or me," Justin agreed while Neville grinned.
"I'd like to hear about your equations, Roger!" Neville agreed.
"Anyway, once you're famous, you can pick your girlfriend who becomes your wife without your parents making a fuss…"
"Oh, they'll still make a fuss but I can disown them if they do."
Neville grinned, "Or better yet, once you're seventeen, sign a magically binding betrothal agreement with Cathy and add punishments to anyone who interferes. You can make your parents back off or take their magic and make 'em muggles."
Justin grinned and said, "Neville Longbottom, you know everything!"
Roger nodded but then said, "You three kids are pretty dark."
"Yeah," Harry said. "I keep getting compliments today."
Pointing to himself and bowing, Harry continued, "I'm supposed to be the Great Speaker. That means I can talk to all the creatures like owls and dragons."
Then he pointed at Justin and said, "Future Dark Lord."
The muggleborn boy smiled and bowed. Neville nodded and added, "I decided if my friends are going to be dark, I should be too…"
Now Roger laughed and said, "Dark lords hiding in Hufflepuff! Slytherin doesn't stand a chance!"
_)**(_
SCENE: New Year at HogwartsThe welcoming feast was great with Flitwick and Sprout standing around the tables before the meal began to limit the questioning of the 'dragon flyers' as some of the other students referred to the group from the Daily Prophet article.
Headmaster Dumbledore appeared to be withdrawn as Deputy Headmistress McGonagall and Healer Troutman kept after him to eat, drink and be quiet. The students were excited about the announced question session for the students who'd flown with the dragons and began preparing lists. Being that the next day was Saturday with no practical classes scheduled, McGonagall announced the questions would be allowed beginning at 1:00PM in the Great Hall.
_)**(_
Dumbledore sucked on a particularly sour lemon drop as he sat on his throne in the Great Hall the next afternoon. Severus Snape refused to bring Daphne Greengrass or Theodore Nott to the headmaster's office last night for questioning.
"I have explicit instructions from Lord Greengrass and from Mr. Nott that you are not to question either child about the events on Boxing Day. If you try to question them, both gentlemen, promised to sue you in the ministry courts and the goblin courts."
"Bah, the ministry courts…"
"The courts are under the direction of Chief Warlock Greengrass now," Severus reminded the headmaster. "And the goblins would charge you with endangering the vaults of both families. You could end up digging out mine shafts with Augusta Longbottom and Delores Umbridge for the next ten years."
"Go away," Dumbledore snarled, displeased to be denied the chance to gather information. In his dark mood, he barely glanced at Minerva's report on the withdrawal of eight muggleborns from the sixth- and seventh-year rosters. The students were from Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor so the headmaster ignored the change in the castle's demographics.
Now he waited impatiently for the question session with the children who flew with the dragons. He'd find out what he wanted to know… 'Was this a plot by the goblins to destroy the ministry? Were the goblins planning to attack Hogwarts with these dragons?'
Ten minutes later, the headmaster grumbled even louder – Deputy Headmistress McGonagall refused to allow him to be first or to ask more than one question.
"But I am headmaster!" he practically whined.
"And when their heads of house and their guardians agree, you can ask the children more questions," Minerva said. "Otherwise, be silent!"
The questions from the children focused on flying on the new brooms, the names of the different dragons, what the dragons like to eat, and if they could talk.
Harry Potter was asked more questions than anyone else but he deflected many of the questions to his classmates – he let the girls explain the favourite colours of the dragons and their favourite foods. He let Neville and Hermione explain about Whatcha's obsession with maths and arithmancy.
The longest answer he gave was the description of the hatching and how the little dragons adopted Hagrid as their father, Fang as their mother and him as their big brother.
"They climbed up our robes and slept in our arms that first night. They were very warm and it was great."
He described how Fang fed them baby dragons with the many of the children making faces but he laughed and explained it was a natural for the parent to regurgitate partially digested food for the infants.
"I looked it up and read all about it!" Harry explained.
"But how can you talk to dragons?" asked Marcus Newsome. Severus frowned and promised himself to lecture the seventh-year boy about asking such questions in a public setting.
Harry grinned. Hedwig and Ironstream had prepared him for just question. During the train ride, he'd asked Neville and Hermione to help him with the answer.
{I'm a parsel-mouth. I can speak to all dragons, snakes, alligators and crocodiles. I understand the gators and crocs are poor conversationalists but snakes and dragons love gossip and tell the best stories.}
"What was that, Potter?" asked Marcus, shouting out a second question.
"He said he's a parsel-mouth, Newsome," Neville replied.
"He talks to dragons and snakes," added Hermione.
"And to crocodiles and alligators but they're not very forthcoming with information. If you want to hear gossip or good stories, talk to snakes and dragons," Harry said to finish.
"You're going to be a dark lord!" shouted Ron Weasley from his place among the Gryffindor students. George, Fred and Percy all cast silencing spells on their brother but the label was thrown out.
Justin grinned at Susan – they were both predicted to be 'dark' and they'd begun to accept the idea. If Harry and Neville joined them, they'd rule Hogwarts by their fourth year.
"Well, Potter, are you going to be a Dark Lord?" asked Dumbledore, rising from his throne, his funny wand in his hand pointing toward the boy-who-lived.
Harry grinned as Hedwig moved behind the headmaster. Fawkes also appeared and if the headmaster threw spells at Harry Potter, both birds would attack Dumbledore.
"I won't ever be evil, Headmaster Dumbledore," Harry explained. "I will study some dark magic but it'll be under the supervision of my professors."
Rising from his chair, Alastor Moody drew his wand, approached Albus Dumbledore on his throne, and said, "At one time you knew that 'dark' doesn't mean evil. If you remembered that you'd also remember that evil comes in many forms and right now I see a light wizard pointing his wand at an eleven-year-old boy with evil intent. I guess that makes you a 'dark lord', Albus."
_)**(_