The Boy with the Dragon Spirit: A Harry Potter Fanfiction
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its associated characters: all rights belong to JK Rowling. I do not own any crossover references used in the story: all rights belong to their original creators. I do own any OC spells explained at the end of a chapter.
Plot: On Halloween Night, Harry Potter vanished for ten years: however, when his Hogwarts letter reveals the fact he's still alive, the world's in for a shock. So, if I might offer four words of advice, Magical Britain: Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titilandus.
Author's Note: So, I couldn't believe when I managed to dig up this old fossil, along with a couple of other projects I imagine people may remember from back through my long time as a fan and avid writer on FFN, but, anyway, here we go again and, fingers crossed, things go better the second time around…or maybe I'm just suffering from the definition of insanity: who knows?
All I will say is the usual:
Don't like it, don't read it.
Recommended Reads: Saviour of Magic by Colt01, Emerald Dragon and Trickshot by JustBored21, Dragon Chronicles 1: Muggle-Raised Champion and Dragon Chronicles 2: Harry Potter, Dragon Whisperer by Stargon1, Harry Potter and the Revival of Soul Magic and Harry Potter: Frost Fire by AlphaPheonix, How To Tickle A Sleeping Dragon by Winged Seer Wolf, Harry's A Dragon, And That's Okay by Saphroneth, Little Dragon by FCTSyndrome, There Be Dragons, Harry by Scioneeris, Dragon Singer by Na'hiel, The Dragon Child by GoddessHecate89, Order of the Dragon by mindofemmette, The Rise of the Drackens by StarLight Massacre and DragonKin by Fyreheart
Key Pairings: Eventual Harry/Luna; Charlie/Tonks;
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Thought-Speech'
/Parseltongue-Draconian/
Chapter 1: A Lost Hero is Found
Ten years.
That was how long the world had watched, waited, wondered and whispered several ideas, theories and beliefs, all centred around one surprising event that had taken place on the night they celebrated the end of the Dark Lord Voldemort.
The disappearance of Harry James Potter, Last Son and Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter.
No-one knew how or when it had happened exactly; all they knew was that, thanks to some anonymous insider information, which had been leaked to the wrong ears, on the same night the Dark Lord had been vanquished, a great, but still mysterious magical event had taken place. One that had not only eradicated all traces of the living nightmare of a dark spectre in question – at least as far as anyone knew and hoped – but, in the process, this unknown magic had also, somehow, stolen away the sole survivor of the tragic events of that enigma of a night.
Harry James Potter, a little boy who, at the time, had been no older than fifteen months, and yet, when the Aurors and other wizards checked the ruins of the Potter House, all they'd found was evidence that suggested his crib had been destroyed by whatever magic had stolen him away or, in the minds of many, vanquished him along with the Dark Lord.
For some, the notion of such a fate befalling the infant was poetic justice for destroying their lord.
To others, it was a source of controversy that usually erupted into fights and arrests made by the Aurors.
But, for one person, it was something he flat-out refused to believe.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore: Headmaster of Hogwarts, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot of Great Britain and Ireland, recognised-Grand Sorcerer and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederacy of Wizards.
All these were impressive titles to say the least, but, for ten years – or the better part, thereof – not one of those titles had said or done a thing to try and put his mind at ease. Instead, for ten years, he'd watched, wondered and felt woe and worry in spades with how little he'd been able to do to reunite the lost hero with his true home and those who cared about him.
Dragon
He could still remember the agonisingly-painful howl of fear and sorrow that had erupted out of Rubeus Hagrid when he'd found the crib destroyed and the now-orphaned little boy conspicuous by his absence. He also remembered the anger that had driven Sirius Black to do what he'd done not soon after, which had been born of what he'd found and what Hagrid had told him.
Most of all, however, the one thing Albus had never been able to forget was how helpless he had felt every day and every night since then as word continued to reach him of the lack of success in locating so much as a body of the lost hero of magical Britain.
He never forgot the feeling of failure, which had originally been there on the night in question, but had grown in force with each failed search, every negative response and even when Fawkes, his beloved phoenix, had tried flashing to Harry – using a lock of his hair Dumbledore had been given by Lily and James as a keepsake, though, at the time, it was used as a source for a spell he'd hoped would be capable of seeking him out – only to return and flat-out refuse to try again.
Almost as though whatever magic had actually terrified Fawkes so much that he would sooner die a permanent death than try again.
As days turned into weeks, then months and, eventually, years without success, Albus' hope wilted with each passing day.
He knew he'd failed, not just with that stupid prophecy and encouraging Lily and James to put their faith in the wrong man, but he'd failed with Harry, a boy whom he'd sworn he would protect, guide and care for as much as though he was his own flesh and blood. He had always tried to do right by Lily and James, one of whom he knew was the last true heir of a legacy that would grant the Chosen One with the greatest powers in the history of magic.
As for the other, whom he'd always looked at like the daughter he never had – though he told no-one about it – she was one of the brightest witches to come out of Hogwarts since Rowena herself, not to mention the kindest heart Albus had ever known…and yet, he had failed her too.
As for their child, he had become a shining light in the dark times that had plagued their world, especially for Lily and James.
Dragon
Even now, ten years and more after the big day, Albus could still remember the feel and even the smell of the little baby when he'd been passed to the Headmaster while Healers had wrestled with Lily's unnatural illness, brought about during her labour pangs.
He still remembered how silent and yet adorable little Harry had been.
Most of all, Albus remembered the horror, fear and desperation he had seen when, even after she was made stable, Lily found Harry still didn't cry and didn't seem to respond to the stimulations from the Healers.
He remembered her begging him to try something…anything to save her baby boy. He remembered how dangerous the act had been when he'd tried something he never wanted to believe he would have to try and how even his older and much wiser friend, Nicolas, had cautioned him of how the consequences of Albus' actions would be unpredictable, yet the rewards could be as bountiful as Magic itself.
That had been all the conviction he'd needed.
And yet, apparently, it was all for naught: Harry was gone…missing…possibly even dead, not that Albus chose to believe such a thing.
No…he knew Harry was alive: Tom would not win this final stand against Albus and his friends, not at the cost of one who could become so great that he might even surpass and succeed Albus Dumbledore himself one day.
He would not let that happen, hence why he'd spent more time on the search than he had on his duties as Headmaster, let alone Chief Warlock, which was how Sirius had wound up in Azkaban – without a trial, which Albus had found stupid to the point of insane, but that was Barty Crouch and Bagnold for you – not to mention how many of the Death Eaters had gotten off by claiming they were under the Imperius.
Had he been there, he would have dared any of them – especially that dark slime Malfoy, who'd also, most-recently, somehow managed to become the COO of the Hogwarts Board of Governors – to claim they were under the Imperius.
When he'd managed to find an opportunity to visit Sirius, Albus had been even more-alarmed when the man had snarled at him, cursing him for doing what Albus knew he'd been a fool to do, before he'd told the Headmaster straight. "Find my godson…then we'll talk about you testifying my innocence…until then, thank you kindly…now, fuck off, Albus: I'd sooner suffer with this lot than be out there without my boy!"
How anyone would prefer Azkaban over even the smallest sliver of hope that their last ties to an old friend and the family they never had was a mystery even Albus couldn't solve.
But he'd done as Sirius had demanded and yet, since then…nothing.
Maybe, as much as he didn't want to even think it, Albus had to wonder…maybe Harry really was dead and gone…maybe it was time for everyone to move on…
Maybe…
Dragon
"ALBUS!"
Suddenly, as Albus contemplated his next moves and the possibilities that would rise because of it, he actually fell back – only managing to keep himself upright thanks to the magic that he'd mastered over the years – when the door to his office flew open, revealing a white-faced Minerva McGonagall, his deputy as well as the interim Headmistress whenever Albus had gone off-campus.
Her face was filled with disbelief, but when he looked into her wizened eyes, Albus also saw something he'd only ever seen in the mirror;
Hope.
"Minerva?" asked Albus, rising from his seat while he faced his deputy, "What is it? You look like…well, pardon the expression given the fact we have them, but you look like you've seen a ghost!"
"He…it…I…he…here!" insisted Minerva, magically throwing one of what Albus recognised as the standard acceptance letters to Hogwarts onto his desk, its inked address gleaming under the light that shone in Dumbledore's office.
When he saw it, however, Albus' eyes widened as he looked up to his oldest of friends and colleagues, his voice barely even a whisper of disbelief as he asked, "Is…is this…can this be for real?"
"Rowena herself crafted the quill, as you well know," gasped Minerva, reaching Dumbledore's desk before she looked at the envelope between them as she explained, "I…I cannot doubt it…its veracity even if I wanted to…which means…"
"He is alive!" gasped Dumbledore, a mixture of delight and relief filling every word he spoke as he looked down at the address on the envelope;
MR H POTTER
PENDRAGON'S PEAK
UNPLOTTABLE
"I knew it!" exclaimed Dumbledore, suddenly feeling much younger than his one-hundred-plus years made him look as he threw his wand into the air, firing off several golden sparks, which alarmed the portraits above him as well as Fawkes, who let out a cry of elation and relief.
As Minerva looked at the address, however, she frowned as she asked, "Where is this Pendragon's Peak, Albus? I don't think I've heard of it."
"You haven't," said Albus, swallowing hard before he looked up as he explained, "But I have…although it has been many years since I walked onto the peak. At the same time, this explains so much: my trackers couldn't pick up a signature, no Portkey could get there…and, of course, I should have realised Fawkes couldn't get there. The only way to get onto the peak is by special authorisation from Archmage Wulfgarden himself!"
"What?" asked Minerva, earning a nod from Dumbledore as she asked, "What could be that protected?"
"Oh, nothing much," drawled Albus, a glimmer of delight filling his eyes as he smiled broadly before he looked up at Minerva with a more-serious air;
"Just the supposed birthplace of all dragons, not to mention the only remaining nest of some of the oldest breeds of dragons in the world!"
Dragon
One week!
That was how long it took Albus to finally manage to convince Rameses Wulfgarden, Archmage and Chief Sorcerer of the ICW, to allow him one more visit to the Dragon Preserve known as Pendragon's Peak.
And, even then, he only accepted on the condition that he go with the old man.
As much as he wanted to ensure Harry's safety and help him adapt enough to, possibly, return to Magical Britain, Albus knew he had no choice, but to accept if he was to have any hopes of redeeming his failures.
He also wanted to see if he could find out exactly how Harry had wound up in a part of the world that even Fawkes hadn't been able to penetrate, not to mention how he'd stayed hidden there for ten years!
So, on the eve of the date that would be Harry's eleventh birthday, Albus used an International Portkey that took him straight to the entrance into Pendragon's Peak.
Dragon
To anyone else, the entrance looked like an abandoned Buddhist temple, located close to the very top of one of the highest points in the world, but, to those in the know, like Albus and Rameses, they saw it for what it was.
A hidden door to a magical realm hidden in the shadows of the peak of Mt Everest, which led to the most-unique place in the magical world.
Next to Albus, Rameses Wulfgarden frowned, his eerie, but empowered glare – comprised of a pair of electric-blue and mercurial-silver-blended eyes – seemingly adding to the icy winds and frost that blew about the top of the Himalayas. Unlike Albus, who was dressed in thick, protective robes that helped stave off the cold, Rameses was also dressed in a long, flowing blood-red cloak, with black mystical armour worn underneath, as well as a pendant around his neck that held the symbol of Magic itself – a fiery-blue-coloured pentagram – within a silvery frame.
Despite the fact he was also older than Albus, he didn't look it; instead, the man had inky-black hair with a streak of white that seemed to primarily cut across the sides of his hairline, giving him a dignified, but empowered look, which was only heightened by his armour, cloak, eyes and the air of great, ancient magic that seemed to cling to him.
As the two men stood before the temple, the winds seemed to pick up around them before, after several seconds of the new chill had passed, the scene was broken suddenly when, from just in front of them, what looked like a Buddhist monk walked towards them, his eyes dark as he observed who they were, though when he saw Rameses, he bowed once.
"We are honoured by your visit, Grand Master," said the monk, his voice edged by a firm British accent, while his hazel eyes lowered before Rameses as he asked, "Now, I hate to have to ask it of you, Great One, but…do you have this week's code of authorisation? Just to verify your identity, you understand?"
"Of course, Master Matthias," agreed Rameses, drawing himself to his full height before he explained in a clear, strong voice, "Authorisation Code: Yggdrasil…serial number: Alpha-Zeta-Omega-Seven-Thirteen-Seven-Seventy-Seven: password: Ygraine's Bounty."
For a moment, the monk, Matthias, seemed to ponder the words before, nodding once, he added, "Code and password recognised: allow me to show you inside, gentlemen. May I ask which particular habitat you wish to visit today?"
"We are seeking someone who wound up here…somewhat-accidentally, ten years ago," said Rameses, giving Dumbledore a wary look that told him to keep quiet during this procedure, an order, which, even though he was Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump and, as revered among the people as he was – due to his achievements, accolades, his leadership and a certain event back in the late 1930s in Bhutan – the Headmaster seemed willing to comply with as he nodded once before Rameses looked back to Matthias. "He would have been a baby at that time, but now, as of tomorrow, in fact, he will be eleven years old: tell me, just to be certain…do you know of whom I speak, Master Matthias?"
"Not only do I," answered Matthias, stopping next to a large stone door, which he drove his hand into as though it was made of nothing more than slime and porridge; for several minutes, the only sounds were low growls and snarls that any unwelcome visitors or even the non-magical might mistake for a distant storm.
After several minutes passed, however, the door shone with a bright, golden energy, which slowly melted away to reveal a single doorway.
Gesturing for his companions to pass through, Matthias repeated the gesture on the other side, sealing the door, and the entrance, once again.
As Albus and even Rameses knew, if anyone other than the Special Task Force Security Corps tried that, they'd be incinerated on the spot, leaving nothing but wind-blown ashes that would then be buried by a convenient avalanche from the mountains around them.
Once the entrance was sealed, Matthias turned once, looking to Dumbledore and Rameses as he continued, "Now, as I was saying, not only do I know of whom you speak, Archmage, I also know he has been expecting your visit for some time, Headmaster Dumbledore. However, before I take you to meet him, I should warn you…"
Here, Matthias snapped his fingers, conjuring a ball of light, which bathed his face in darkness, emphasising the chill factor of his next words.
Words that even Dumbledore didn't know whether or not to believe as the aged monk addressed him;
"His Mother is very protective of her young hatchling…so be very careful what you say and do, lest you wish to end up as lunch!"
Dragon
Beyond the main entrance of the Peak, the magical aspects of the hidden sanctuary started to show themselves.
As soon as Albus and Rameses passed through the entrance, following Matthias into the grounds, the Headmaster felt a great swell of pride and memory rise up in him as he stared at the sight stretched out in front of him.
Instead of a single hidden building or small enclosure, the whole place was, quite literally, a hidden valley of mountain caves and hills, all of which were as large as the beasts themselves, each one decorated in crisp, white sheets of ice and snow that mostly covered the mountaintops, as well as grass and vegetation along dark, but wide stony pathways. As for said paths, they'd been cleared of the ice and snow; instead, the whole path was a pristine shade of fiery-reds-and-golds that wove between the caves and hills like a large maze.
As they stood on the edge of the viewing platform that led down into the valley, Albus cleared his throat before he asked, "So…can you tell me where I might find my young charge, Master Matthias?"
"I can," replied Matthias, though as he did so, he turned to the Headmaster and the Archmage with a solemn, apologetic look on his aged face as he added, "But before I do, I must, regrettably, ask you to surrender your wands and any other magical foci you may be carrying on you. As you well know, Archmage, none but the handlers and the Chief Dragonmaster may wield magical instruments of any sort in the Peak."
"I do know this, yes," agreed Rameses, lifting his hand once before, to the slight awe of Albus and Matthias, the aged warlock summoned a long, thick staff, which was twisted around itself like a strand of DNA, each strand on the staff made of different woods, as was evident by their form, as well as their colourings and looks.
Through the centre of the staff, a red, blue, yellow, green, black and clear-silver set of crystals filled the space between the strands, before coming to a stop at the top, where a single, large green-and-blue-coloured orb engraved with reddish-golden-coloured mystical symbols shaped topped the staff. These same symbolic runes also seemed to glow in the light of the valley, each one illuminated down the twisting shafts that made up the Archmage's personal foci and weapon of choice.
Handing the staff to Matthias, Rameses turned to Albus before he smirked knowingly as he added, "Now for you, Albus, and, once again, as I did the last time you came here, I must ask you to remember to hand Matthias both wands you own, your own original wand and the Elder Wand."
"Very well," agreed Albus, summoning his former wand as well as the Elder Wand, which emerged from its holster, before he handed both of them to Matthias, who carefully placed all three magical instruments into a seemingly-bottomless box.
As for said box, it was then stored in a cache on the wall of the entrance, which shone with red light as it was sealed up.
"There," said Matthias, turning back to the Archmage and Dumbledore as he explained, "You will be reunited with your wands and staff when you leave, gentlemen: also, just in case you were planning something, I must inform you that Portkeys, Apparitions and transportation magic, such as the power of a phoenix, for example, are negated by the magical fields surrounding the Peak."
"I know," agreed Dumbledore, earning an apologetic smile from Matthias.
"Apologies, Headmaster Dumbledore, protocol and all that," explained the old man before, to Rameses' amusement, Matthias snapped his fingers, changing his monk's robes into a sleek, dark set of skin-hugging clothes, which not only looked like a more-uniform variation of Rameses' armour, but they also looked like they might withstand the worst of the worst and then some.
Once he was fully-changed, he looked less like the peaceful man of meditation and religion he'd been outside and more like the hardened warrior charged with the safety of such amazing magical beasts.
Seeing the amused looks on his guests' faces, Matthias chuckled as he remarked, "Do you know something? I always enjoy seeing that look on our guests' faces. Still, to any apart from welcome magical guests, who else would the non-magical expect to meet at such heights in the world?"
"Indeed," agreed Rameses, indicating the valley ahead of them before he asked, "May we go and meet young Mr Potter now?"
"Of course," replied Matthias, leading the two gentlemen down a narrow flight of stairs and into the valley itself.
As they reached the base, Albus shivered once when he heard loud roars, as well as growls and sounds of life from all around, though the reason he trembled was because of the air of raw magic that each sound was filled with. Here and there, more men and women dressed in the same well-fitting uniforms as Matthias moved between the caverns, some carrying boxes filled with meat and other produce while others had trolleys with potions and vials and stacks of parchment.
At one point, one of the mages emerged from a low cavern carrying a bloody fang, which dripped a yellow, pus-like substance onto the ground.
Seeing this, Matthias stopped before he asked, "Did we finally manage to deal with Nero's toothache then, Cassius?"
"Yes Master," answered the young man, his voice edged by a gruff, but loyal tone, while he hefted the fang in one hand before he asked, "Shall I dispose of it in the usual fashion?"
"Yes, but be sure to drain the venom and identify the source of the affliction first," replied Matthias, earning an obedient bow from the young man before he walked on, heading through the paths with a practiced air until, to Dumbledore's surprise, he found their steps taking them towards what looked like the largest of the caverns.
Even as they walked, however, Matthias pointed out the young man who he'd just addressed as he told them, "One of the newer recruits who also happens to be my apprentice: an eager mind and a strong sense of care for the dragons…but even he is not like they are with young Harry."
"May I ask," asked Dumbledore, keeping his eyes on the road ahead while he addressed Matthias, "What can you tell us about how Harry arrived here ten years ago? How would you describe it and, if I may ask, why did you never attempt to inform others of his presence, not even Rameses?"
"We couldn't," admitted Matthias, adjusting the collar of his uniform before he cleared his throat as he explained, "Admittedly, the method in which he even arrived was a shock: it was just before sunrise here when it happened. We had just made the rounds with our nocturnal breeds when, all of a sudden, the skies became filled with lightning of many different colours."
A look of awe crossed Dumbledore's face as he heard this while Rameses had a troubled look on his face as Matthias went on, "At the same time the storm filled the skies, each and every one of the dragons woke up, even those who'd been dead to the world, and let out this great roar."
As he said this, Matthias' eyes glazed over in wonder as he continued in a soft, awestruck tone of voice, "It was unlike any I'd ever heard before; and I have worked here as Chief Dragonmaster since before your last visit and before then, Supreme Mugwump Dumbledore. It was so strong, it seemed to rip the very heavens open, while the mountains, even Everest out there, trembled with seismic force, but when it did so, this blackened tornado, born of unknown magical forces, the likes of which I still can't identify even today, rained down on the very habitat I am taking you to now."
Here, Matthias visibly shivered while he also drew out a long, deep sigh as he explained, "To be honest, when it happened, we feared the unusual phenomenon might result in the deaths of several beasts. The magic in the air…it was greater and more-terrible than, dare I think it even now, but it was even worse than an Obscurus on the rampage!"
"Merlin's beard," whispered Rameses, earning a slow nod of mutual agreement from Albus, as though he couldn't have put it better himself.
Matthias, on the other hand, gulped before he added, "Then, in the space of three minutes, as quickly as the storm hit, it was over…in just three minutes. At the same time, the dragons grew calm again and, curiously, a light snowfall began to cloak the Peak, like nature itself was apologising for what had just happened."
"And…Harry?" asked Albus.
"We didn't even find him until a full week later," explained Matthias, his voice edged by awed wonder as well as a hint of amusement as he said, "In that time, we'd had to do a full round of inspections on every dragon, to see what damage, if any, had been done by the storm. As the one kept furthest from the others, as well as one of the most-resilient, we'd made the decision to leave Nyx's nest until the very end…which was when we then found the little one upon reaching her."
"Nyx?" asked Dumbledore, earning a nod from Matthias before he asked, "Is that the name of the dragon we're to see?"
"Yes, and the one I also warned you about earlier," added Matthias, earning an uneasy look from Dumbledore as he added, "Harry's Mother, which, before you say anything, Albus, you should know he has called her since the first time he was here. It took us some time to get through to him, of course, but, eventually, we came to realise that, in an unusual way, when he'd come here, Harry must have somehow imprinted on Nyx and her on him, like a newborn chick imprinting on its Mother in the nest. Since then…well, see for yourself."
At his last words, Matthias indicated ahead of them, which told Albus and Rameses that they'd reached their destination: there, in front of them, was a large cavern that looked like something out of a cheesy film as the entrance had stalactites and stalagmites sticking up and down, like the jaws of a great beast waiting to swallow wayward travellers whole.
The rest of the cavern stretched up taller than even Dumbledore would have thought possible, the outer shell of the cavern built into the side of what looked like the largest of the mountainous slopes in the Peak. Almost like the cavern was, literally, built into Mt Everest itself, though this new mountain was at least a thousand feet taller than Everest.
Standing at the mouth of the cavern, Matthias cleared his throat before, lifting his voice, he called into the darkness, "Nyx? Are you in there, dear lady? I have two visitors wanting to see you…and your little one."
'I know what they want, Dragon Master,' a powerful female voice suddenly replied, much to the shock of both Dumbledore and Rameses, the lesser of whom looked to Matthias in alarm as he swallowed hard.
"She…she speaks through telepathic force?"
"Hers is one of the last dragon breeds born with the ability," answered Matthias.
As he did so, Dumbledore's eyes widened as a loud crashing sound filled his ears, making the cavern and the rock formations tremble in their sockets. As for Albus, he had to try very hard not to fall down, let alone back away as the sound drew closer and closer. After a few moments of this nerve-jarring resonance, Albus' eyes widened with a mixture of awe and genuine surprise when he saw the dragon that had caused the sounds.
She – as her name, Nyx, aka the Primordial Lady of Night from Greek Mythology, told him it was a she – was as large as the Hogwarts Express was long: her scales were a deep, warm shade of darkest-purple, like blackberries or Byzantium purple, with hues of midnight-blue and black here and there about her body like a leopard or cheetah would be dotted with spots. She had a pale, silvery-coloured underbelly that reminded Albus of the colour of moonlight while four sets of large, serrated claws crashed against the ground as she walked towards them.
As she walked, Albus felt a lump form in his throat when he also saw four large wings, each one measuring somewhere close to 15ft in width, yet they were currently wrapped around her body even as she walked, like a shadow enveloping her. As she emerged, she also revealed the fact that her face was smooth and rounded, the edges of her head pointed, giving the impression of a crescent moon with her jawline, while a pair of purple-and-silver-coloured dragon's eyes glanced down at the humans before her with interest and curiosity.
As the beautiful creature – and there was no doubt in anyone's mind, she was beautiful…and then some – emerged from the cavern, poking her head out through the stones in the entrance, her dual-coloured eyes looked to Albus before she addressed him.
'I remember you, Old One…my Father gave you a treasured gift when last you visited my nest…'
"Yes," replied Dumbledore, a note of wonder as well as interest and intimidated emotion in his voice as he swallowed hard before he added, "And I…I made sure to take care of it, dear lady, I assure you."
'So, I see,' agreed the dragon, Nyx, her voice filled with a mixture of warmth and amusement as she told him, 'For without it, my little one would never have come to me, so you have my thanks for that.'
"Harry?" asked Dumbledore, earning a low growl from Nyx before, swallowing hard, Albus asked, "May…can I see him? Please? I assure you, I mean him no harm."
For a long moment, Nyx was silent, but then, lowering herself down, she muttered, 'Very well…come on out, little one: it's safe.'
As everyone watched, only Albus looked alarmed when Nyx suddenly opened her mouth and, unfurling her tongue, she revealed a very strange sight indeed, at least as far as the Headmaster was concerned.
There, sat on her tongue like a bird might sit in a crocodile's mouth when it cleaned their teeth, was a young boy with warm, well-tanned skin – the sight of which surprised Albus, given where they were and the weather conditions around the place – and hair that was both raven-black, but also had streaks of the same Byzantium purple as Nyx's scales.
Curiously, he wasn't dressed in the same outfit as Matthias, but rather, instead, he wore a pair of knee-length shorts and nothing else, revealing a healthy, strong-looking physique, as well as a necklace, which was tied around his neck, the charms of which looked they were made from the teeth of many dragons.
His eyes were still the same shade of vibrant emerald-green – just like Lily Potter's – that Albus remembered, though as he looked at the boy, he gulped when he saw a faint, purple-coloured ring around the outside of the iris, again the same colour as Nyx's scales.
'Go on, little one,' said Nyx, flicking her tongue forwards as she told the child, 'Be polite…and don't be afraid; I will not allow him to hurt you.'
"Yes Mother," replied the boy, his voice as soft as silk, but edged by this air of magic that, now he thought about it, reminded Albus of the air of magic he'd sensed walking amongst the other dragons' habitats back there.
Without needing to be told twice, the boy slid off of Nyx's tongue, petting her snout as he did so before, looking to the old headmaster, he bowed respectfully, spreading his arms out to the sides like a dragon might extend its wings, before he addressed him, "It's an honour to finally meet you, Headmaster Dumbledore and Archmage Wulfgarden…you, I'm honoured to meet, sir. Mother speaks very highly of your care for her and those before her."
"I imagine she would, child," agreed Rameses, looking to Nyx for only a moment before, humming softly, he asked, "Not to sound too curious or morbid, but, tell me: aren't you ever afraid of being eaten by her, Mr Potter? For a young hatchling of a Byzantine Shadowfire like Milady Nyx to crawl into their parents' maw is normal, but…a human?"
"I am Mother's hatchling, Sir!" replied Harry, a note of childish insistence in his voice as he explained, "She would never eat me…and never has on any other night either. She has only ever kept me warm in her maw, both when she found me and since then, and she has also used her tongue as my bed, her teeth as a means to clean and scratch at me and her fire and her food to nourish me to full health…she would never eat me and if you, or anyone else says otherwise, I…I'll burn you!"
To Dumbledore's shock, Harry's eyes seemed to become more-purple than before, while a strange, mystical warmth started to fill the air around them, undoubtedly reacting to the boy's rage.
However, before anything else could happen, Nyx leaned forwards and nuzzled the top of Harry's hair with the tip of her snout, letting out a soft, consoling purr-like noise as she spoke to her hatchling, as Harry had claimed. 'Now, now, little one, don't be angry with them. They do not yet understand what a special little hatchling you are. And besides, that's not entirely true: I do threaten to eat you when you're being a naughty boy, but you are correct that I'd never actually do it…not to you, my little drakeling.'
To the awe of the Headmaster, her words seemed to calm Harry, if only enough to return his eyes to their former colour and the eerie, mystic air in the atmosphere to fade away as he sighed before he put a hand on his Mother's snout, petting her scales softly as he nodded in agreement.
"Extraordinary," whispered Dumbledore, swallowing hard as Harry's eyes met his before the old man lifted his voice as he asked, "I confess: you seem remarkably well-spoken and strong-willed, Harry…but do you know why I've come here today?"
"To return me to the humans who would rather slay me, Mother and my family than try to understand us," replied Harry, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore's as he explained, "I know who you are, Albus Dumbledore: Mother told me of you when she told me of my status as a semi-human-mage, but I will not go back to be turned against my family."
"Semi-human?" asked Albus, looking to Nyx, who growled once before, with a look of shock, the Headmaster asked, "Have…did you tell him?"
"About the dragon's blood in my veins?" asked Harry, earning a stunned look from Dumbledore as he looked to the boy, who then nodded;
"Yes, she did and, thanks to Grandfather's gift, I've taken the power of that blood and made it my own. And neither you, Archmage Rameses…nor even Emrys himself will make me ever disgrace that gift by becoming some disgusting Dragon Torturer and Slayer like the rest of your people, Albus Dumbledore, so if you've come to turn me into that, you might as well go back to where you came from!"
Wow, talk about a start that really grips you from the word go: Harry's been raised by dragons, seems to be the hatchling of a rare breed of dragon and is a well-spoken advocate for those beautiful beasties, but, still, might anything convince him to return to his former home?
Also, what sort of power could he be talking about and…wait…back up…did he say he had dragons' blood in his veins?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Cooler heads prevail as Albus has a calmer, more-civil talk with Harry, resulting in a tough choice for the hatchling; also, our hero gives the two visitors a taste of his power when Rameses questions something off about a former visit; also, Harry makes a very tough decision, the ramifications of which might just prove the Hogwarts motto true;
Please Read and Review
AN: Portrayals
Matthias: Ben Kingsley
Rameses Wulfgarden: Benedict Cumberbatch
(Don't know why, but when I think of the ultimate power in HP – that's NOT a crossover, anyway – my first thought is Doctor Strange, so, naturally, BC is my choice for the portrayal)
Albus Dumbledore: Jude Law
Nyx – voice: Ming-Na Wen (aka the Cavalry from Agents of SHIELD)
AN2: Byzantine Shadowfire
So, I know this seems completely random and weird, but, at the same time, inspiration went mad when coming up with this dragon; First, I thought of basing it on Purple Dragons like Spyro, but MUCH bigger; then, weirdly, I had Toothless in my head too, which is where the idea for the head of Nyx came from, as well as the idea for the wings;
So, in an odd way, I put them together and this is what I came up with…weird?
Maybe, but that's the fun of Fanfiction
