Dragon Keys
By Kryptonite
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Everyone was chatting happily as they ate their dinner. Ash and the Wonder Trio, along with the three other Weasley's were sitting on the end of the table closest to the teachers' table. Suddenly, Ash fell backwards out of her seat, scuttling away a few inches before standing up.
No one had seen the amount of fear that was shining out of her eyes at that moment. In anyone. Her head snapped around, looking for an invisible threat.
Ash? Ashley, you okay? A bunch of people were worried, everyone liked Ash to an extent, minus the majority of the Slytherins. And even a few of them would admit, albeit grudgingly, that she was not so bad. She looked once towards the teacher's table, towards Dumbledore, then sprinted for the doors.
She ran the entire length of the hall, skidding to a stop as the doors literally exploded inward. Pausing long enough to shed her robes, Ash turned and started running in the opposite direction. A tiny silver blur followed after her.
Ash stopped, clutching at her neck, and dropped like a stone to the floor. The entire hall was silent as men in white suits and masks were seen through the smoke that had engulfed the doors. A group stood in the door itself, carrying guns which most wizard-born students had never seen, just waiting for an excuse to fire.
Another two men stepped towards Ash, moving slowly.
Think she's alive? One man asked. His voice was deep and slightly scratchy, like he had a sore throat.
If she truly is a Pendragon, she's fine. You get her hands, I'll get her feet. As the first man moved forward, Ash's feet swung up and knocked him down. She flipped up, ripped the tranquilizer dart from her neck and flung it at the second man who fell instantaneously.
Moving her hands in an indecipherable pattern, she seemed to form an energy ball, which she flung from herself and straight towards the guards, disarming them in one shot.
A sudden sound ripped through the hall but the only one it affected was Ash who fell to her knees clutching her ears. Taking a deep breath, Ash started singing, softly at first but getting louder going from the lower reaches of the scales to the high piercing notes. Once more, the only ones affected were the men in the white suits.
The teachers suddenly surged to their feet. Madame Pomfrey and professor's McGonagall and Lupin rushed to Ash's side, to see if she was okay. The other teachers formed a barrier between the men and Ash.
Dumbledore started muttering a spell, raised his wand and brought it down in a quick chopping motion. The other teachers shouted two words and brought their wand down in the same motion, pointing towards the invaders.
A brilliant flash of light lit up the Great Hall, making it impossible to see, many people started screaming, and when it cleared the men in the white suits and their machines were gone without a trace.
Are you okay? Dumbledore asked, turning to Ash after not moving for a few seconds.
Yes sir.
No you aren't. Madame Pomfrey contradicted.
Let's get back to the common rooms everyone. Ashley, I'd appreciate it if you would go with Madame Pomfrey to the hospital wing.
I'd appreciate it if you'd call me Ash like everyone else does. She muttered, not expecting him to hear.
Alright Ash. Now everyone go. Unless you're still eating? Dumbledore looked around at the empty plates and smiled. The students let out a collective breath and everyone stood up and started chattering together.
I hope Ash is alright. Hermione spoke. Ron, Harry and Hermione were walking just behind Ginny and Neville as the new couple walked hand'n'hand back to the common room.
She will be. Madame Pomfrey's the best. Harry interjected, smiling as he thought about something or other.
Yeah, she'll be fine. I just hope Ginny will.
Huh? Hermione and Harry asked at the same time. Ron's sentiment had come out of no where.
Even after what happened last year, she still thinks of Hogwarts as this... this... fortress of safety, where the students are safe from everything. As long as Dumbledore's here, of course. And then, this student who she's best friends with, gets attacked by men who forced their way in here.
Jump. Ginny reminded Neville when they reached the trick step.
You have a point.
I mean, she never saw exactly what happened and she never learned the full details. She probably thinks Hogwarts is the safest place on the planet.
The group continued to troop up the stairs and into the common room.
*Rewind*
Come along. Madame Pomfrey led Ash to an empty bed and handed her a pair of pajamas. Change into these and when you're in bed, I'll come check on you.
I'm fine, really I am. I don't need to be here. Ash's protests fell on deaf ears. Her shoulders slumped in defeat and she quickly changed and got under the covers.
That burst of magic you used will catch up to you in a little bit. I'd rather have you here than collapsing on the steps on your way to your common room.
Madame Pomfrey took Ash's blood pressure and made her take a dreamless sleep potion.
Thanks ma'am. Ash mumbled as she snuggled into the warmth of the bed.
Your welcome. Madame Pomfrey whispered back. Turning off the lights, Poppy Pomfrey went to a teachers meeting in the room off the great hall. Ash slept soundly the whole night.
*Rewind*
I thought all of Arthur's descendants were dead. Minerva half stated, half asked. The teachers turned to Albus for the answers, since he usually had them.
She's the Key. Remus said just as Albus went to speak.
Maybe, my dear boy, maybe. But we can not rush her if she is.
But if she's the Key we need to start training her. The Key is to bring about the downfall of the Dark Lord.
With the help of the Severus sneered at the werewolf.
She's still the main piece in his downfall. She needs to be aware of the part she's to play-
If she is indeed the Key we are looking for. Albus said, loud enough to be heard without shouting. And no, my dear Minerva, not all of the legendary King Arthur's descendants are dead. Obviously they changed their name to protect themselves.
Who were those people? In the white suits? Professor Trelawny, in her stupid airy way answered Professor Sprout's question.
They are of no concern to us, the students or the upcoming war. She waved her hand in dismissal.
They attacked a student, right under our noses. They came in and we couldn't stop them. They are a threat to us, to our students. Sprout was trying to keep from yelling. Sybil simply sniffed and looked away with a pained expression.
Silence. It is enough for now that she is alive and well and that we know more about a new threat than we did before. I'm scheduling a teachers meeting, with the prefects and head students, in two days. We will talk more then. Everyone get some sleep. The meeting was dismissed with nothing really being resolved.
God's help us all.' Shaking his head, Albus shuffled off to his chambers, desperately thinking of a way to keep Miss Ashley Pendragon-Thomas alive long enough to help Harry in the final battle. The Key is the only way the war can be ended before it even begins.' Shaking his head sadly once more, Albus drifted off into a troubled sleep.
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