A boy ran into the compartment. "The dragon is on the train and he's coming down the corridor." He told the others.
"The dragon?" the muggle born girl asked.
"He's bad, very, very bad. He's someone you don't ever want to meet." The boys hissed back as he moved away from the door.
"He's coming in here!" the girl said seeing the man outside stop and the handle on the compartment door turn.
"Oh crap." The boy replied as the dragon entered.
Draco entered the compartment and ignoring the cowering students kicked Harry's feet and asked, "You awake Potter?"
"What… What did you call him?" the boy asked now the colour of death.
"He called me Potter, which is my name although I haven't used it in many years. And you should always use the right name of things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself. A great man once told me that." Harry said as he removed his hat from his face. The children looked into the green eyes and saw the scar on his forehead. They knew instantly who shared their compartment.
The students sat there shaking with fear. Their worst nightmare was in the seat across from them, large as life. One boy got shakily to his feet and edged slowly towards the door. He was soon out and running for the far end of the train. One by one the others followed suit, leaving the dragon and Harry Potter sitting alone in the compartment.
"Now I am the one they fear. Ironic isn't it" Harry said bitterly, "I give up my entire childhood, watch my friends die one by one and finally defeat Voldemort and save the wizarding world and this is the thanks I get. I'm You-Know-Who now. The boogieman. The evil one destroying the world."
"What did you expect Potter after what you did, after what you became. That you would be happy? Life doesn't work like that. I know that better than most. I turned my back on everything I was brought up to believe and worked for you as a spy and what happened? As soon as the war is over, they confiscate my home and everything my family owned. Oh, they said thanks for risking you life and everything, but they still left me to starve, penniless without a friend in the world. And I left out the part where you killed my parents right in front of me." The dragon's words dripped with bitterness saved from those years long ago.
"I did what I had to. What choice was I ever given?" Harry said with bitterness in his voice. He sat silently thinking of the years of his youth. Finally closing his eyes and lying back he asked, "Why did you have to find me?"
"Because she asked me too. You're not the only one that owes her, you know. She kept me alive all those years. Helped me become a Private Auror. That's what I do. Take care of problems other people won't touch. And I'm good at it. So when she asked me to find you I did, although it took me nine months. You are the hardest job I ever had but that's what she asked, so that's what I did. I wouldn't have done it for anyone else." The dragon told him.
"How is she?" Harry asked
"As well as can be expected," the dragon replied.
"And… Ron?" Harry asked hesitantly
"The same" the dragon replied quietly.
Harry's face was gaunt at the answer. It tore him apart even to think of his best friend.