The Boy with the Dragon Spirit

Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER

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/

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The Byzantine Shadowfire.

A dragon that hadn't been seen by any recorded human, let alone a Tamer, in any part of the world for nearly threehundred years.

'Yet Harry has one on his clothing,' thought Charlie, once again remembering Dumbledore's explanation, his strange request and the way he'd hinted at Harry in response to Charlie's question.

'Could he really be one of the Dracomancers? And, if so…oh Merlin…oh, Draco…what have I gotten myself into?'

Chapter 4: Friends in Strange Places

For Harry, the first day back in his birth country was an interesting one to say the least.

Even though most of it was taken up by sticking close to Charlie, who seemed willing to answer any and all questions Harry had – mostly about dragon training, but the elder redhead didn't seem to mind – and help the young boy feel at home, Harry still managed to feel like he could enjoy being in the UK. Even the meals he ate with the rest of the Weasley Family were warm and very filling – though, to the shock of Ginny and the Twins, Harry managed to beat Ron's record of six helpings by downing twelve before he was full – as was the company of the other siblings.

Of all the Weasleys, Harry ranked Charlie at the top, followed by the Twins and Ginny, tied for second-place, and, finally, Mrs Weasley, who was a bit motherly, but not too pressuring, especially since she knew her charge of Harry's care had come from Dumbledore himself.

Curiously, Ronald Weasley seemed the most put-out by Harry, if only because of how Harry seemed more interested in dragons, learning a bit more about what was going to happen at Hogwarts and even wanting to study. When Ron brought up Quidditch, Harry said he didn't know what the redhead was talking about and, even worse – at least, Ron thought so – Harry didn't care enough to listen for more than a minute before he told Ron he didn't care at all about Quidditch.

And when Ron called Harry the Boy-Who-Lived, he got this dark look in his eyes that seemed to be hurt by the redhead's words, though Ron couldn't understand why.

After all, Harry was rich, famous, rich, famous, rich, famous and…did he mention rich?

Who wouldn't care about that?

Dragon

Later in the day, Harry got a chance to meet Arthur Weasley, who was beyond surprised with the fact that the famous Harry Potter was back in the country and alive, as well as a young lady whom Charlie introduced as his girlfriend Nymphadora – Don't Call Me Nymphadora, as she insisted when Charlie introduced her – Tonks, whom Harry took to calling Dora.

To the amusement of the others, sans Ron – who didn't see what was so interesting about Charlie's girlfriend, other than the fact she could make herself look drop-dead gorgeous: a statement that earned him a Stinging Hex from Charlie and Tonks, while Harry laughed at Ron's misfortune, only worsening the redhead's opinion of the Boy-Who-Lived – while the girl with a very funny, if not interesting skill – Metamorphmagic, as she told him when he asked – also seemed to stay as close to Harry as Charlie did.

Then, eventually, it was time for bed.

However, not everyone in the house was as restful.

Dragon

With his first day as a member of the Romanian Tamer Corps getting closer, Charlie was up for a while after everyone else, making sure he had everything he needed, spending a little quality time with Tonks – while, thankfully, silencing the room so they didn't disturb anyone – and thinking more on Dumbledore's last words and request to him.

As he decided to mull his thoughts over a strong cup of decaf to help him ease off, however, Charlie was a little surprised when, as he left the kitchen, he found the front door to the Burrow was open.

Grabbing a cloak to fend off the evening chill, Charlie made his way to the door where, as he peered outside, he was a little surprised, if not curious, to see the newest member of their household, Harry Potter, standing by the main gate. He had his arms resting on top of the gates, while he was also almost-completely naked save for a pair of knee-length shorts that seemed to wrap around his young frame like a second skin.

Against the light of the moon, Charlie was a little surprised to notice how healthy and strong Harry looked; he could also see the muscle and athletic form held by the young boy that made him look a little older than he seemed.

However, as Charlie looked at him, he was more than a little surprised to notice tears shining in the moonlight, each one trickling down Harry's cheek while one hand toyed with a fang; one of many, which was looped through a small chain that Charlie hadn't even noticed Harry wearing.

It took him only a moment to piece together the reason for the boy's tears.

Taking an almost-inaudible breath to calm himself, Charlie pushed the door open before he walked outside, though when he made his way towards Harry, the redhead's eyes widened for a brief moment when Harry asked, "Did…did I wake you, Charlie? I'm sorry…I…"

"Couldn't sleep?" asked Charlie, earning a blush from the young boy before Charlie smiled, standing next to Harry while he took a drink from his cup as he added, "I suppose your body clock's a little off thanks to wherever it is you were raised, huh?"

"I'm not telling you," said Harry, earning a soft laugh from Charlie.

"I'm not asking," explained the older boy, standing next to Harry while he leaned casually against the gate as he added, "I can figure out enough by looking at you: I mean, it's nearly 11pm and you're wide awake, which either means your body would be awake at this time where you were raised or, more-likely, and don't be ashamed to admit it, Harry, but…my guess? You're homesick."

Judging by the flinch from his companion, Charlie knew he was right.

Heaving a sigh, he took another drink from his cup before he looked to Harry as he explained, "There's nothing wrong with that, kid: trust me, I've only visited my new place on a few occasions and, on my first night, I was up and down like a yo-yo; heck, I had a little cry myself because I missed home that much, so don't be embarrassed. Anyone, especially anyone your age, has the right to feel it when they're away from home."

While Harry smiled in response, he looked up at Charlie before he asked, "Can…can I tell you a secret?"

"If you think you can trust me," said Charlie, draining the last of his drink before he looked back to Harry, "Go on, what is it?"

"I…I don't like sleeping in a bed," admitted Harry, nodding up towards the moon as he explained, "When I'm…uh…back at home, I'd either sleep in a special, secret spot with my…with the ones who looked after me or, when I was a little older, my…my oldest friend actually had a hammock put up for me so I could sleep in my own space, but still be near my…my friends…"

Dragon

Charlie didn't know it, but it actually hurt Harry to have to hide the fact that he used to lie with dragons and that they were his family.

Yes, he was homesick, but it was more than that.

As Professor Dumbledore had discovered, on more than one occasion, when he was younger, Harry had slept inside Nyx's mouth, wrapped up in her tongue and warmed by her inner fire. Then, as he'd told Charlie, the Dragonmaster had made him a hammock, but it was a special one because Nyx had actually burnished it with her flame and lathered it up with her saliva so it felt like he was back in her maw.

Weird?

Maybe, but that was the sort of thing Harry liked and it had always made him feel safe.

Either that or he'd shift into his dragon form and snuggle down with his Mother – or, again, in her mouth, even in dragon form, which he knew was normal for a Shadowfire hatchling – shielded by her wings and her love for him. But now, away from Pendragon's Peak, he didn't have his special hammock or his Mother and, because he didn't know how they'd react, he didn't dare shift into his other body.

All he had in this strange new nest was a normal human's bed – and not even a comfortable one, but he hadn't wanted to appear ungrateful – which he'd always hated because it was constricting and made him feel like he wasn't able to move or breathe.

He didn't even have a brazier or hot coals to use the warmth to help him sleep or make him remember he wasn't alone in the Peak.

Nor were there the roars and movements of the nocturnal breeds, who'd always made Harry feel safe from enemies and monsters in the night.

After all, who'd be crazy enough to challenge a dragon as old as 99% of the breeds in the Peak and not think they were going to wind up as little more than an appetiser for threatening the nests?

But now, he didn't have that.

Dragon

As Harry thought about his home and the way he preferred to sleep, he didn't realise Charlie was speaking to him until the older boy nudged him, startling Harry for a moment before Charlie told him, "Sorry, I was just saying: if you'd rather have a hammock, I can conjure you one and have Mum and Dad move the bed out of the room…"

While Harry seemed thankful for the offer, he shied away when Charlie mentioned a room, which seemed to be the cue for Charlie to feel a jolt of realisation as he looked up at the stars overhead. "You…you prefer sleeping out in the open, don't you?"

"Yes," whispered Harry.

"Even if it rains or there's a storm?"

"I don't fear it," said Harry, rather-defiantly, Charlie thought, but he also had to admire the bravery of the young boy.

At the same time, the Dragon Tamer-in-Training smiled as a plan formed in his mind.

Drawing his wand, he banished his cup back inside the house before, turning to Harry, he told him, "I've got an idea; come with me."

While Harry was confused by Charlie's delightful mannerism, especially given how late it was, he did as he was asked as he followed Charlie around to the side of the house where a smaller shed, as well as the car he'd noticed earlier, were both located. As Harry watched, Charlie put a finger to his lips before he used his wand to move the car next to the shed, tucked beneath the shade of a large tree.

Once the area was clear, Charlie used another spell to extend the fence that spread around the garden, only now, he extended it to run around them and reach the same spot where he'd parked the car.

Once the fence was a suitable size and length, Charlie vanished into the shed, returning a few seconds later with a long, but comfortable-looking sheet, which he magically fixed to one of the walls on the house. He then ran the sheet over to the nearest side of the shed, fixing it into place with magic so that, once he was done, it looked like a hammock had been set-up outside.

With another flick of his wand, Charlie lit a small campfire, which burned near the hammock, but not so close that it might burn down the house or the shed, let alone threaten Harry himself.

Cleaning the sheet with a final flick of his wand, Charlie turned to Harry before he asked, "There: a real home away from home: what do you think?"

What could Harry think?

It might not be like his hammock back home, but it was a good enough replacement; whatever enchantments Charlie had put on it had even left the sheet-turned-hammock as soft as clouds and even scented with a variety of floral fragrances.

As Harry climbed into the hammock – with surprising ease, as Charlie noticed – he couldn't help but shed another tear of gratitude and memory as he turned to his friend. "This…it's perfect, thank you, Charlie."

"You're welcome," Charlie told him, taking a breath before he looked back to the house as he explained, "Now, I'll have to let Mum and Dad know you're camping out here, just in case they worry tomorrow morning, but as long as you don't leave the little campsite here, I think they'll be all right with you staying outside when you go to bed."

"I won't leave here, I promise," Harry replied, earning a fond smile from Charlie before the older boy conjured a blanket – which had a green dragon, the same colour as Harry's eyes, stitched into it – which he draped over Harry, tousling his hair softly as he smiled at the now-sleepy-looking boy.

"Pleasant dreams, Harry…and I know it's not midnight just yet, but let me be the first to wish you an early happy birthday…sleep well."

With that, Harry gave a cute-looking yawn before he fell into Morpheus' embrace, leaving Charlie to wait a few minutes, if only to be sure the boy was fast asleep, before he returned to the house himself, where he wrote out a message for his parents explaining things.

He also planned to speak to Professor Dumbledore the next time he saw him about retrieving things for Harry from wherever the boy had called home, if only to help him when he was at Hogwarts.

Then, at long last, the elder Weasley joined the rest of his siblings in sleep's welcome embrace.

Dragon

'Blueberries?'

Weirdly, this was the first thing Harry found himself thinking about when consciousness returned to him after his restful night out in the makeshift camp that Charlie had created for him.

He didn't know how, but there seemed to be a warm, mouth-watering, appetite-stirring scent of the freshest, tastiest blueberries he'd ever smelled, or would possibly ever taste, which seemed to come from somewhere near Harry's camp as he found his body being pulled back into the land of the living with the rest of him.

Not only that, but as Harry body clock alerted him to the fact it was now morning and he was now, officially, another year older – at least, according to British Time, anyway – he was also aware of a feeling of low heat and darkness that told him one thing, even with his eyes closed.

He wasn't alone.

Screwing his eyes tightly shut for only a moment in a bid to calm himself down, just in case he should accidentally frighten whoever or whatever had gotten close to him, Harry drew in a breath before he slowly opened his eyes to see what could be disturbing his senses, making him think of the scent of blueberries like he did.

To his bewilderment, the first thing he saw was a flash of silvery-blonde hair and a pair of bright, curious-looking eyes that were a clear, but warm shade of electric-blue that seemed to sparkle like electricity caught inside of a diamond. The owner of the brightly-coloured hair and eyes had pale skin that reminded Harry of the glow of moonlight and, as if that wasn't eerie enough, the stranger – a girl, as Harry soon noticed – was smiling at him, almost as though she was looking at an old friend and not a young boy alone in a hammock.

As Harry went to open his mouth to address the girl, however, he blanched when she cocked her head to one side before she spoke to him.

"Hello Harry Potter…did you know you growl in your sleep?"

Blinking several times in shock to the girl's frankness, as well as how she knew his name even though they'd never met before – at least, as far as he could recall, he'd certainly never met her – Harry pulled himself up before he looked around.

However, once again, the girl seemed perfectly-willing to cut him off as she explained in that soft, but eerily-enchanting, musically-toned voice of hers, "Oh don't worry, Auntie Molly and Uncle Arthur know I'm here…mind you, I hope they didn't mind Ginny inviting me. I think she wanted me to see that, for once, she wasn't just dreaming you were here."

As Harry looked back at the girl, she suddenly scoffed, rolling her eyes as she added, "Whoops, silly me: in all the fun, I forgot to introduce myself, didn't I? I blame the Wrackspurts, really; anyway, my name's Luna Lovegood and yours is Harry Potter, nice to meet me, isn't it?"

Before he could stop himself, Harry let out a soft laugh at the innocent air shown by his mysterious new companion before, swinging his legs over the side of his hammock, he asked, "Um…don't you mean it's nice to meet you?"

"That's what I said," answered Luna, looking Harry up and down with an air of impressed emotion in her eyes as she added, "It's nice for you to meet me, just like it's nice for me to finally be able to meet the special soul Gran-Gran told me about so many times before she went to the stars."

"Huh?" asked Harry, a part of him curious as to the girl, Luna's, meaning while another part of him was still amused, if not strangely-comforted and warmed by the way she presented herself with such a warm soul and a devil-may-care attitude.

Or maybe it was a couldn't-care-less one; Harry always managed to mix those up from time to time.

Before either person could say anything more, however, Luna turned while Harry looked up as a familiar voice asked, "Luna? What are you doing here this early in the morning?"

"Sorry, Auntie Molly," said Luna, rocking back and forth on her heels as she looked to Mrs Weasley, as did Harry, while the unusual girl explained, "I knew you invited me, but you never said about a time, so I thought I'd come and say hi to Harry before he leaves with the Headmaster…oh…"

Here, Luna turned back to the hammock before, to Harry's surprise, the young girl hugged him fondly, causing the tips of her hair to brush against and over Harry's nose in the process, which also revealed to Harry that it was Luna's shampoo, which had the smell of blueberries all over her.

"I almost forgot: happy birthday, Harry. Sorry I didn't have time to make a card, but I did bring you a gift."

"You did?" asked Harry and Molly in unison.

"Of course," said Luna, brushing her hair back before she smiled at Harry, giving him a wink that could have been described as either cheeky or oddly-flirtatious and amused as she asked him a question.

"Why? Wouldn't you call a new friend a gift when you meet them on your special day, Harry?"

Dragon

By the time he was done with breakfast, Harry had come to a decision about one member of the group that sat and celebrated his birthday with him.

Luna Lovegood was, without a shadow of the doubt, the strangest, most-enchanting, light-heartiest, most-eccentric, lovable, warm, weird, funny, silly and most-mysterious human he would ever meet.

And yet, he couldn't bring himself to care one bit about her…eccentricities.

As soon as Harry returned to the inside of the Burrow, Luna never left his side.

She sat next to him at breakfast, putting him between his strange new friend and Ginny, who appeared to be unable to stop blushing whenever Luna commented about Harry in one form or another. She also laughed and cheered when he asked for another helping while, at one point, while Harry had taken a strong drink of milk, Luna even took the liberty of wiping his milk-moustache away and refilling his glass.

Then, when he was full, Luna helped him to an empty chair and, perching herself on the arm, she reached down and began massaging his belly, though not before she giggled as she told a shocked Weasley Clan, "Well, this is a day of miracles, isn't it? I mean, I never thought I'd see the day someone else beat my cousin with how big an appetite he has…then again, we can't deprive a growing boy of his food, can we, Uncle Artie?"

Arthur Weasley could only shake his head while Harry seemed unable to bring himself to tell Luna to move.

Either he was too full of food or too content at the friendly atmosphere to care, but as he looked up at Luna, Harry managed a small smile as he asked, "So…are you going to school with us, Luna?"

"Yep," said Luna, patting Harry's stomach once as she added, "Just imagine it, Harry; every night, a big meal in the Great Hall and then, afterwards, I can help you digest it and let you drift off to the land of dreams. And when we're not enjoying the food, we enjoy the ambience, especially if my two lovable rogue cousins decide to introduce you to the fun of being a Marauder's kid."

Curiously, something about the mention of Marauder caught Harry's attention, but before he could ask about that, his attention was pulled back to the Weasleys when Molly told her house guest, "Now Luna, you know there's no guarantee you and Harry will end up in the same House, so you shouldn't make the poor boy uncomfortable."

"I don't think she ever could," observed Tonks, sitting next to Charlie while she smiled fondly, which also resulted in her hair colour brightening up – a feat of magic that had surprised Harry at first before Charlie had explained about her being something called a Metamorphmagus, which made Harry wonder how she might react to him occasionally changing his colour and features – as she indicated the two kids before she went on. "Just look at Harry: I know I've only been here since yesterday evening, but, except for when he was hanging out with Charlie, I don't think I've seen him so calm since…well, since I met him."

"That is amazing," agreed Arthur.

"That's Luna," chorused the Twins, earning a shrug from Luna while Harry straightened himself in his seat.

Looking back to the Weasleys and Tonks, the young boy cleared his throat as he asked, "I…now I have a chance to ask…um…did I…I mean, I hope I didn't worry anyone last night, did I?"

"Charlie told us about your habit of sleeping outside," explained Molly, though, judging by her somewhat-stern tone of voice, Harry could tell that she was uncomfortable with the idea, but she'd let it go because, if anything, Harry was comfortable. And, more than that, she'd been tasked to ensure he was as comfortable as could be by Dumbledore himself, who was someone they saw as someone more like a leading figurehead to the Weasleys as it is, so she let it slide and accepted what she saw and heard.

While Harry sent Charlie a thankful smile, Molly cleared her throat, returning Harry's attention to her as she went on, "And while you are free to sleep in your camp outside while you're staying here, you need to realise, when you go to Hogwarts, you'll have a real bed in a dormitory to sleep in, so, if you don't mind, Harry, I'd like you to try and spend one night inside before school starts."

"I…I'll try, Mrs Weasley," said Harry, blushing as he did so while his stomach also clenched at the thought of having to stay inside, in a bed, instead of being outside in freedom and comfort.

"Mind you," Luna suddenly piped up, earning curious looks from the others, including Harry, as she added, "You never know, Aunt Molly: you might be wrong about that. After all, being Harry does have its privileges."

"Huh?" asked Harry, earning a sideways look from Luna before the emerald-eyed scion looked back to the Weasleys, some of whom – meaning Ron, Ginny and even Molly and Percy – looked more-exasperated than dumbfounded or lost by Luna's choice of words.

"Sorry about that, Harry," said Ron, indicating Luna as he explained, "Luna's always been a bit of an oddball; it's why a lot of people like to make fun of her; it's also why they call her Loony Lovegood."

"Who calls her that?" asked Harry suddenly, though when he did so, every Weasley, including Charlie, jumped out of their seats when they heard a low, ferocious snarl lacing Harry's words.

At the same time, the fireplace in the Weasley home suddenly ignited, sending a plume of fire shooting into the air while a ferocious wind suddenly rattled the windows. While Arthur looked around in alarm and Molly let out an exclamation of horror as she moved to shield her children from the flames and the wind, in case it would break the windows and shower them in glass, Charlie quickly moved from his own seat, crossing the room in a few strides before he kneeled down, taking Harry's hands in his.

At the same time, Luna actually slid down onto Harry's lap before she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him close even as Charlie whispered in a hushed voice, "Harry, don't let it control you! I know you must be angry to hear someone likes to insult your…your new friend, but you can't let your anger come out like this."

"He's right," agreed Luna, surprising Charlie when he saw her nuzzle her head against the crook of Harry's neck before, to his shock and Harry's surprise, the blonde kissed her young friend on his cheek as she remarked in a singsong voice, "Never tickle a sleeping dragon, my Harry; words to live by and, if you have your way, words they'll remember…but not yet, all right?"

To Charlie's amazement, Luna's chaste peck on Harry's cheek, as well as the kind words from his friends, seemed to be enough to snap Harry back to reality, which also caused the wind to slowly die down while the flames in the fireplace were blown out by the breeze, or perhaps by whatever magic had made them ignite in the first place.

Looking from Charlie to Luna, Harry let out a low growl, which was only heard by his two closest companions, as he told Luna, "No-one calls you that, not anymore! Any who do, you tell me."

"Of course," agreed Luna.

Looking back to Charlie, Harry gulped as he added, "I…I'm sorry I lost my temper, Charlie: but you were right…I do hate that Luna gets called that name, especially since I know she's not what they say she is."

"Aww…" said Luna, teasing Harry's black hair with her fingers before she stroked his cheek as she asked, "Do you know my secret now, Harry?"

"I do," said Harry, looking back to Charlie before he explained, "I've met witches like Luna before, so I know them when I…when I meet them."

To the curiosity of the Weasleys, Luna suddenly snorted loudly and in a very unladylike manner, as though she intended to hack up a lot of phlegm, before she swallowed it down as she added, "Sorry; had to clear my throat."

"And yet you're right," said Harry, though he did so in a low voice as he pressed his forehead to Luna, putting his arms around her in such a way that even the still-alarmed, but relieved-looking Molly Weasley could have sworn he was claiming her.

With their heads pressed together, Harry whispered in a soft voice, "I smell it in you, Luna-girl…and I don't ever want you to hide it."

"I'll show them mine if you show them yours," drawled Luna, earning a soft laugh from Harry as he winked at Luna before the young girl returned to her spot on the arm of Harry's chair.

While the others checked on the status of the house and began clearing up the cutlery and the dishes from breakfast, Harry's eyes narrowed suddenly when he looked in the direction of the front door; before Charlie could ask what was wrong, another familiar voice cut through the Dragon Trainer-in-Training's question.

"Hello the house!"

"Wow," gasped Luna, even as Molly went to respond to the voice, the eyes of the blonde shining brightly as she looked back to Harry;

"Spending breakfast with the famous Harry Potter and meeting the great Albus Dumbledore on the same day? Are we sure it's not my birthday?"

Chapter 4 and, aww, Harry's not only found a new friend, but, if you ask me, it looks like our little dragon-in-wizard's clothing is starting to build his own nest, but will he be able to watch out for that nest at Hogwarts?

Also, could Luna's strange gift, her way with our hero and his uniqueness have anything to do with the fact that another who knew of what would one day come to pass also shared the name Lovegood?

Or is it all just one big coincidence?

Keep Reading to Find Out

Next Chapter: While the Burrow becomes Party Central, Harry takes a trip to Diagon Alley at long last, but in the process of acquiring his things for school, our hero also has a memorable first encounter with a certain someone…and not who you might be thinking either;

Please Read and Review

AN: Luna

So, in case you didn't realise, in this story, I've upped Luna's age so she is in the same year as Harry and yet, she's still the same lovably-random girl we know and admire; Come on, it's Luna: can she be anything different? I very much doubt it;

Also, her 'secret' is something along the lines of what people might guess she can do, but not quite the same as that either; Confused?

Well, we are talking about Luna…so just keep reading to find out;