Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything in the franchise is the property of J.K. Rowling, Dungeons & Dragons is a property of TSR. Rating is PG-13 for mild violence and swearing, may turn to R in later chapters.

Harry Potter & the Coming of the Dragon

Chapter 4-DADA and Revelations

Entering the defence classroom they found it greatly changed from previous years. Not only had the room's decoration changed but the very shape as well. The stuffy classroom from previous years had been replaced with a large circular room with the desks lining the edge and facing the centre. Of the walls and ceiling, there seemed to be none. Beyond the edge of the room was a grassy clearing surrounded by forest.

Harry and his friend stopped just inside the doorway taking in the scene. Alec walked farther into the room and spun around once, a huge smile on his face. "What so happy mate?" Ron asked,

"This is Aowyn, the Dragon Spine forest. It's Jayxom's home. The second half of every school year we go here, kind of a field trip to learn about woodcraft.

Hermione standing beside him commented, "It's beautiful, is this in America?"

With a secretive smile the boy answered, "Not Hardly."

As if saying his name had been a summons the Elf Lord appeared in the centre of the room causing an uncomfortable murmur among the Hogwarts students. No one, according to Hermione and her books, was supposed to be able to apparate within the school grounds. Standing in the middle of the room he swept about once to survey the students, giving them a chance to examine him as well.

Jayxom was dressed differently than he had the previous evening. He still wore the silver circlet holding his hair in in place as well as the green hooded cloak that he had worn the night before. Beneath it he was clothed in a silky, off-white shirt with green embroidered trim made to look like vines, an ornate leather vest, comfortable looking cloth breeches and well worn leather boots. His clothing was obviously well made and of expensive make but lacked the ostentation of Lockhart's wardrobe.

Bidding the students to take their seats he addressed the class. "My name, as you know is Professor Silverheart. In this classroom you may address me as Jayxom. This year we will continue to develop your skills in defence against the dark arts but after speaking with the Headmaster we will be following an additional course of study that will be new to most of you."

"The followers of Lord Voldemort can employ spells that can look into your minds and find uncover your thoughts, dearly kept secrets and even your deepest fears. All of these are weapons to be used against you and the light. Even as we speak, the thoughts of most all of you are open to me." With that statement several Hufflepuff girls turned a brilliant shade of red. "We will begin to learn to build shields that will protect you from intrusion. No spell is needed and even a muggle can learn this skill. My students will all help you in erecting and learning to maintain them."

Gesturing for Alec to come forward and then to the Blaise the elf lord continued, "There is another aspect of your training that has been neglected at this school for some time. I think a demonstration will expose it far better than simple words." Having the two stand facing each other he continued, "We will have a quick duel. Disarming your opponent only. Alec, just so you know, in a wizards duel you take the ten paces, turn and wait for the count of three to begin. It ends when you have relieved Mr. Zabini of his wand... Ready?"

Receiving nods from both students he bade them both turn and take ten paces each. Facing each other now, the Slytherin held his wand at the ready with an evil grin on his face while Alec stood in a loose stance with his hands loose at his sides. Jayxom, stepping back from the two and casting a ward around them to keep stray spells from hitting the other students began the count. "One... Two... Three!"

Before Blaise could begin to cast his first spell Alec whipped out a dagger and threw it hard at the Slytherin. Barely having time to register the object coming at him he screamed out "Reducto!" The dagger, hit by the spell, bounced away and impacted impossibly hard against the wards. Turning to face the boy again, Blaise' face showed only confusion when he found his opponent missing. Desperately searching for something to attack, he waved his wand this way and that until suddenly within his arms reach Alec appeared, simultaneously grabbing the boys wrist, twisting his arm and bringing forth a cry of pain that had him dropping the wand from his nerveless fingers.

Stepping back from the Slytherin Alec held out his hand and the wand flew into it. Blaise, fury evident in his features charged the other boy, who dropped to his back and pulling the stunned wizard along with him kicked him a good distance across the room where a mat magically appeared to prevent serious injury. Laying for a moment to catch his breath the boy turned over and scrambled to his feet, rage now plastered across his face. As he moved to approach him again Jayxom came between them and called for a halt. "Enough. Mr. Zabini, if you are not too sorely hurt I'd have yourself and Alec please take your seats. What you have witnessed here is a truth for all wizards that have been trained in the last seventy-odd years. You have become so reliant on your magic that you no longer have the ability to defend yourselves physically. This is a weakness we will begin to erase starting in the morning.

Harry's heart dropped to his stomach as he remembered "Alec's words from breakfast. As if confirming his fears the professor continued. "Each morning for the rest of the term you will be up and present here at five o'clock in the morning dressed in loose clothing and trainers. No robes or wands allowed. You will, for this class wear the same clothing I described earlier with the addition of your wand and books. For the rest of this class today we will review your knowledge of defence from previous years and begin from there."

The rest of the period was taken up with a question and answer period where the professor quizzed the students on their knowledge and filled what gaps of knowledge that he could in the short time they had. Harry found the class to be exhilarating, they now had an instructor whose knowledge at least equal to the headmasters coupled with hundreds of year's experience actually dealing with magical opponents. His teaching style was also far different than they were used to.

When he brought a new subject up he would give some basic information about it and then he would coax the class into questioning him, letting their curiosity draw out the information. Not relying on books he simply talked about his own experiences and observations. He did encourage them to refer to the books to review what they had learned and to look for anything that they thought had been missed in the lesson. "I don't want you to rely solely on your books. While they give a fine example of what to expect from the typical spell or creature, you will find that life is rarely 'typical'."

Harry had also spent the period surreptitiously watching Malfoy. Though the blond Slytherin had kept his usual façade of arrogant distain up throughout the entire class, Harry had begun to see beyond his carefully erected mask. Draco, He could tell, was just as drawn into the animated discussions, as he was himself. When Blaise had been beaten by Alec Draco had yelled along with the rest of his house in anger but there was a hidden glee evident to someone looking for it.

As the class ended and the bell rang, Harry gathered up his books, dreading the detention he would have to spend with the other boy under Snapes watchful eye. Before he could move towards the door a voice called out, "Mr. Potter, a word please before you go... alone." Confused by the request, having done nothing wrong that he was aware of and putout by the dismissal of his friends, Harry put his books back on the table and approached the Elf.

As the last of the class filed out and the doors closed the elf took a long look into Harry's eyes. "So Mr. Potter, May I call you Harry?" With the boy's curt nod, the man continued. "Harry then, I have a favour to ask of you."

Now truly flabbergasted by the mans statement the boy asked, "What could I possibly do for you professor?"

Taking the boys arm he led him towards the image at the edge of the room. "Walk with me and we'll talk."

Not knowing what the teacher had in mind as they approached the wall, Harry was surprised even as he told himself that he shouldn't be anymore as they walked into the image. They now stood in the clearing that they had seen in class. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back to feel the wind and sun on his face. The smells around them were wondrous. The scent of the trees and flowers seemed to be more intense than he remembered the last time he was near the forbidden forest. Everything seemed so vivid. "It's beautiful." Jayxom, a far off look in his eyes, answered, "more than you know."

Starting a slow stroll across the meadow he began to speak again. I have asked professor Dumbledore if it would be acceptable to ask your permission to enter your mind."

Stopping to look at the elf he asked "Why?"

The answer was and wasn't what he expected. "Voldemort. He left a piece of himself with you when he cast his spell fifteen years ago yes? Not waiting for the boy to answer he went on. "There is something coming, dangerous to wizards and muggles alike. Your Lord Voldemort, knowing or not, may play a major role in bringing it about and I am attempting to stop or at least slow its coming that your people may be more prepared when it happens."

Harry walked along no longer paying attention to the beauty around him. "What does this have to do with me?"

Jayxom lead the boy to a path on the edge of the woods leading into the trees. "Voldemort is bound to you just as you are to him. I need to see into his mind and soul, determine if he is already a part of what is to come."

"Why not just go and find out from him in person, why do you have to go through me?"

They had stopped at the edge of another clearing, a huge tree sat in the centre, the trunk easily thirty meters in diameter. At the base was a door and windows scattered around, among the roots of the tree someone had built a house. "If I go and face Voldemort directly we will likely fight and I will kill him." Forestalling Harry's next comment he continued, "If I do I may prematurely bring about the very thing I am trying to prevent."

As they talked a huge creature circled above them and landed close by. Larger than even the biggest horse, it had the rear quarters of a lion but the forelegs, neck, wings and head were of a giant eagle. Harry was stunned, staring as the great beast shuffled up and nuzzled its beak along side the elf's head. "Hello Galliard, good to see you old bird."

The man ruffled the creature's feathers and bade Harry to rub her neck. "Harry, meet Galliard. She is a distant descendant of Griff, my first Griffon mount." Frightened by the size of the creature's claws and beak but drawn to the very symbol of his house, Harry gently ran his fingers along her neck. Regarding the boy a long look that seemed more an internal debate on whether or not to treat him as a meal, the creature soon purred from deep within showing her approval.

They stood a while just admiring the animal when Harry, his curiosity piqued, asked a question that had been flowing about in his mind since it was mentioned. "Sir, if I may ask, you said that there was something coming even more dangerous than Voldemort. He is the most evil and powerful dark wizard in history, what could be worse than him?" Jayxom didn't answer for the longest time. He let his eyes wander the forest and into the slowly darkening sky. "What is coming will wipe away your entire world as you know it. Few wizards and fewer muggles would survive."

Looking into the boy's eyes he said, "My home is beautiful isn't it? It is more alive, beautiful and dangerous than anything you could have ever seen on your world, but you will if I cant stop it. The danger that will destroy your world is mine...."