A/N: Dragon Riders are mine.

Dragon Riders

'So he knows we're watching his regular hide outs?'

'Yes.'

'A small price to pay. The forest trolls would have been obvious despite their superior intellect compared to that of their cousins.'

'They are hard to hide, sir.'

'But he doesn't know what else we've got for him.'

'No.'

'Of course not. Not even Dumbeldore could see it. Unleashing the Dragon Riders from the very circle of hell, none will see it. Not until it is too late.'

'A brilliant, flawless plan master.'

'I know.'

* * *

The Shrieking Shack was not watched, and since it was not a regular hideout of Harry's, he knew it would be safe to stay. He watched as last minute Christmas shoppers bustled along the roads in a mad rush to get some slightly acceptable gifts. Harry had to laugh. He looked up to the sky through the nearly completely boarded up window and sighed. The stars would not be out for another few hours, so he had no hope of contacting Sirius at the moment.

He decided to take rest in one of the slightly dusty chairs of the house when a thought came to his mind. Harry leapt gracefully up the stairs and came to the room that held a memory he would never forget. The only thing that had changed from that day in his third year was the extra layers of dust everywhere. The bed covers were still slightly rumpled when Ron had laid on them years ago, nursing a broken leg. There was still a burn mark on the ground where Scabbers the Rat had been forced to reveal his true identity. He was also surprised to see that the footprints left by Sirius, Remus, Peter, Hermione, Ron, Snape, and himself were still slightly visible, even beneath the new layers of dust. He smiled, sitting on the bed and reliving that night over and over again.

It had been the night he was sure he'd die. He'd prepared himself for it the moment he saw Ron dragged beneath the Whomping Willow. Somehow he'd known that that dog was Sirius. However he had never predicted that that night would end with Crookshanks leading Remus and Ron, chained to the man who had truly betrayed his parents, the man who had passed as his best friend's rat for nearly thirteen years out of the secret door to the Willow. An unconscious Snape trailing them, Sirius pointing Ron's wand at him the whole time, and Hermione and Harry both bringing up the lead. If any had been watching, it definitely had to have been a sight to see.

Once more Harry sighed, wishing that those days of innocence would return to him. He'd relive it all if he could. Now he was hiding. Now it was Harry on the run, but not from the law. Unfortunately. Harry had learned from his godfather and Peter Pettigrew how you could hide from the Ministry. The Ministry had to follow certain rules in obtaining a criminal, and killing was never an option. What Harry was running from had no rules of engagement, and would sink to any level to bring his head to their leader. He shuddered at the thought, but was soon distracted upon hearing a familiar voice outside.

'I don' know where he is! E'en if I did, I wouldn't be tellin' the likes o' you!'

Harry sat up, peering out of the boarded window. Hagrid was arguing with a cloaked stranger whom Harry could recognize was up to no good.

'Won't you please sir, its concerning his godfather.'

'And what would yeh be knowin' 'bout Sirius?' the anger in the giants eyes was palpable, even to one who barely knew the normally gentle man. 'I'll relay the message to him meself!'

'Ah, but you just said you don't know where he is.'

'I can make sure he gets it.' Hagrid rumbled. 'Tell me what yeh know or I'll be throwin' you out o' this town faster than yeh can say-'

'Now now, Rubeus, there's no need for that. I'll simply talk with the headmaster.'

Harry was surprised when Hagrid's fist shot from one of the pockets in his moleskin coat and wrapped itself firmly around the man's cloak.

'I don't like yer tone. Yeh sound like a troublemaker.'

The man squirmed from Hagrid's grip, and not with ease.

'Well, I'll put that to good note. Farewell, Gamekeeper.'

With that the cloaked stranger left, leaving a disgruntled Hagrid standing alone. His eyes were set firmly on the man, though seemed to soften as he moved away. His eyes rested on the Shrieking Shack, though did not find the green pair of eyes staring back at him.

Harry's heart broke as he saw the tears forming in the giants eyes while he turned from the place. He wanted so much to call out to his friend, the first friend he had ever had in this world. But he could not. Sadly Harry watched as Hagrid mingled with the crowd, though did not disappear in the slightest due to his abnormal size. Sighing, Harry pulled away from the window, only to find the stranger standing in the doorway of the bedroom.

* * *

Hagrid sighed, sitting down and ordering a mug of ale to quell his nerves. That man had set him off, and the fact that he was asking to see Harry was all too unnerving. Hands shaking, Hagrid could not find the strength to lift the bucket sized mug, and so sat back in the shadows of his corner table and watched as strangers and students alike poured in and out of the bar. He waved to a few, more so dismissively than in greeting. Sometimes he found himself waiting to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione step through that door, but with a sadness he remembered they had graduated last year. He had been proud of them, but he had been sorry to see them go.

With all the trouble they often caused, he missed them sneaking down late at night to visit him, or ask him questions he knew they had no right to know the answer to. Sadly, hearing of and seeing the predicament all three were in these days, he felt he had betrayed their trust. Of course they hadn't expected him to ever protect them, even during their time at Hogwarts. But he'd expected that from himself, and somehow that expectation had not died, even upon their leaving the school.

'Yer a fool.' Hagrid growled to himself. 'A derned blasted fool.' Finally he took a swig from the mug, drizzling the ale down his beard and coat. He didn't care.

* * *

'Who are you?'

'You don't know?'

'Obviously.'

'Your friend is wise.'

'What do you want with me?'

'A talk.'

'What else?'

'You already know I think.'

'And if I refuse?'

'You won't.'

* * *

The children went to sleep without an argument. There had been less of that recently. No question why.

'Goodnight.' Mrs. Weasley called to Ron and Ginny, the last to leave the sitting room.

'G'night mum!' Ron replied dryly. Ginny was in front of him. They made their way up the stairs, neither saying a word to each other.

Mrs. Weasley sighed, sitting at the table, a cup of tea in her hands. 'Tomorrow's Christmas.' she pointed out plainly to the men sitting around the table.

'Yes it is.' Sirius stated, drumming his fingers on the table's surface.

'No hope then of having Harry over?'

His eyes drifted to the forest where surely the Troll was watching them.

'No.'

She sighed. 'Very well.' She stood and left, Sirius also left some time later leaving Arthur and Remus at the table. He reached his room and pulled open the window, stepping lightly onto the roof. He looked up at the star that had give him his name and smiled.

Harry? Nothing. Sirius frowned. Harry are you there? Again there was nothing. Maybe Harry wasn't out tonight. No, he thought, eye contact broken from the star. He would be out. Unless something had happened. Worry started to flood through him, making his limbs shake.

'No!' he demanded verbally of his body and mind. 'No, stop this.'

He looked up at the star, calling once more. Harry, are you there?

Sirius?

Harry! What took you?

Sorry.

Harry was being unusually short in his responses. Is something wrong?

Um, I'm not sure.

What's wrong?

There was a very long pause that Sirius did not like. Harry? He asked once more. There was no answer this time. Sirius cursed and went inside, falling into fitful dreams. He didn't see the dragons pass over the harvest moon, riders cloaked in black and silver on their backs.