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 6-A bad day
The boys had made a decision by the time they reached the infirmary. While not friends, the handshake they had shared in Snapes office marked a fresh start for the two. As they walked they talked of quidich, arguing over the finer points of different teams. Harry began to realize that he enjoyed the competitive nature of Draco's as much as he would the faithful companionship of Ron faithfulness or Hermione's mothering attention.
Talking with Malfoy, he also realized just how intelligent he was. The blond made strong clever statements supporting his arguments. He seemed almost driven to prove himself right over the other boy. Remembering his first year and the conversation with the sorting hat Harry wondered what it would have been like if he had chosen Slytherin.
Madame Pomfrey's reaction as they entered the infirmary was priceless. Dropping an armful of linens, the healer rushed to the boys checking each over for serious wounds and full of questions. Fearing that the school had been attacked somehow, she asked if there were more injured and where was Professor Dumbledore. Speaking quickly the boys told her that they were the only ones injured and that it had been an accident.
Looking at the boys critically, the woman responded, "Well in that case it looks to me like you boys have been fighting. I will have to tell the headmaster."
The boys looked to each other, not wanting to chance getting in trouble again after their lucky escape of Snapes wrath. "But Madame Pomfrey, it's like this,"
"It's quite alright Poppy, I have spoken with Professor Snape and he informed me of the 'accident' in his potions classroom tonight." Both boys started as Dumbledore himself entering the room. "Good evening Harry, Draco," the balmy old wizard turned to the healer he asked, "Do you think you can put these two unfortunate young men back to rights?"
Already bustling to her office she called over her shoulder, "A couple of healing drafts would do the trick, but I think not too strong. There's nothing like a good bruise as a reminder of caution to a young wizard."
Turning back to the two, the headmaster looked at them critically yet with a twinkle in his eye. "You know I believe that it might be prudent to move your living quarters here. It seems that the both of you spend as much time in these beds as your own." turning his gaze to Harry alone, "Professor Silverheart has spoken with you?" Dumbledore nodded in reply to the boy's own. "Good, then if there are no objections I would like to have you in my office before your first class in the morning"
The old man tuned to leave and stopped at the doorway. "Oh and please don't stay up too late, I believe that everyone's day will be starting quite early tomorrow." They watched the headmasters exit, each unable to contain a shared moan in anticipation of what was to come in a very few hours.
Harry's return to the tower a short time later created pandemonium. Still bruised and aching, the boy could not hide his injuries from his friends. It had taken a better part of an hour to convince Ron and Hermione that he and Draco had both been injured making the potion and not by any underhandedness from the Slytherin. Finally the tower quieted and he was able to sleep soundly for the first time in weeks.
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Harry stood under the spray of the shower the next morning unable or unwilling to move away. Their day had started at four-thirty that morning. Getting into the clothing left for them and hustling to the defence classroom they found the Davens students already there and waiting. Each house was separated into five groups before leading them into school courtyard to stretch and do callisthenics.
For the first time in memory, Harry felt grateful for all the chores that his family had forced him to do over the years. All around him students were struggling with the most basic exercises. Not that he was immune to the torture that their new friends were putting him through, he had given up almost immediately, trying to keep up with Alec. The boy, by his own admission, had been following a similar routine for the last three years and had the strength and endurance to prove it.
After what seemed like an eternity a stop was called to the exercise. Harry lay in a heap on the ground feeling more spent than he had in his entire life. He was wondering if it would be all right with the professors if they could all just lay here and take their classes on the lawn when he felt someone tapping his shoulder.
Standing above him was Cory, the youngest of the Americans with a grin on his face and nudging him with his shoe. "Come on Harry, all you guys got to do is a quick three mile run and you're done."
Ron, in no better shape, lay beside him. "Harry, I can't move."
Having to force himself off the ground for the second time in less than twelve hours the 'boy who lived' pulled his friend to his feet. "Get up Ron, we'll run together."
When they had finally made it back to the Gryffindor common room Harry made a bee-line for the shower and had spent a half hour under the spray of the water trying to get the ache out of his muscles and forget that he would be doing this every morning for the rest of the term. Finally getting back to his room and changing into his school robes he and Ron met up with Hermione and they staggered down to the great hall for breakfast.
Entering he spotted Draco sitting by himself at the Slytherin table, giving a slight, almost imperceptible nod that was returned by the other boy, he followed his friends to their seats. They all started in on their breakfast, their appetites increased by the morning's workout they all ate with eagerness except Harry.
Anticipating the coming meeting in Dumbledore's office the boy couldn't seem to find his appetite. He kept going over in his mind what the man had told him the day before. Could Voldemort be even more dangerous than they had imagined? How could they expect him to stop a man who may be able to bring an end to the entire world?
Harry was snapped out of his thoughts as he noticed the professors getting up from the table and leaving the hall. Excusing himself to his friends, he hurried after them to Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonnagal was waiting for him in front of the gargoyle. Saying the password, they climbed the stairway to the waiting men.
Inside, everyone sat in comfortable chairs obviously waiting for the boy. Dumbledore, seeing Harry, rose to his feet and motioned for the boy to take a seat before him. "Lemon drop?" nodding as he was declined, the professor sat back in his own seat and motioned to Jayxom. The man came over to the desk and spoke. "Before we begin Harry, I'm going to tell you a little more of the reason you are here."
Perching himself on the edge of the headmasters desk he continued. "I told you what was coming but I never explained the why or the how. I want you to know these things because you're a smart lad and it might become useful for you to know. You may have not noticed but you people have really mucked your world up the last few hundred years or so. Not you personally or even wizards, but people in general. Your world is sick. It has been abused, polluted and over-populated for hundreds of years and it has finally become too much to bear".
"This has happened in the realm from which I come. Millennia past, when the insult to it became too great, the land wiped itself clean. Earthquake, floods, a plethora of natural disasters tore their civilization apart. Man and his machines were not simply destroyed but were actively hunted. The Reign of man and his machines was brought to a fiery end with the coming of the dragons."
Harry had Jayxom from continuing, "Dragons? Dragons already exist here, they're an endangered species and protected and all that." Shaking his head the elf explained, "The creatures you speak of are dragons, true, but they are as a housecat is to a lion against what is coming. The true dragons are already here and have been since the beginning of time. Buried deep underground in their lairs, sleeping and waiting for their slumber to end. This awakening is what we must halt or slow. Until the dragons awake, there will be no cataclysm."
The boy rubbed his head, all of it too much to take in. "But how is Voldemort involved in all this? Is he trying to wake the dragons?"
Getting up from his perch on the headmasters desk, Jayxom began to pace restlessly. Following the elf's progress with his eyes, he noticed the other professors in the room for the first time since the conversation had begun. The horrified expressions on their faces were a testament to the fact that they were learning all of this for the first time as well.
After a short pause to collect his thoughts, the Elf Lord continued. "I do not know that it is for a fact Voldemort that I am searching for. That is why I am here. To wake the dragons it requires the intervention of IO, the great dragon. He is a great spirit, a 'god' of dragons. For him to become involved his children, Bahamut and Tiamat must be woken first. They are his eyes and ears in this and every world.
Hagrid, standing quietly until then spoke up. "Then it's a couple a dragons yer looking for."
Jayxom shook his head, "If only it were that simple. The avatars inhabit human bodies. They are for all intents and purposes asleep as the other dragons are. They live normal human lives and wake for a short while each time their human body dies. The next time both become awake they will hear the cry of your world and call IO. This is what we have to forestall.
Harry was now becoming impatient. "I still don't see how this involves Voldemort. You think he is one of the avatars?"
"Occasionally." Jayxom continued, answering Harry's question. "They will awake while they still inhabit their human host and make them incredibly powerful as a consequence. One of the avatars could have already awakened and be waiting for the other. If your Dark Lord is an avatar and has awakened, our time will be short to prepare for what is to come. It is my hope to find the avatars and prevent their awakening long enough for you people to either ready yourselves for the coming or to give you time to heal your world and prevent it."
"There's more to it isn't there?" the boy reasoned, "That you've involved me I mean. You think that I may be an avatar."
"The relationship of Bahamut and Tiamat are opposites. One good, the other evil; chaos and order. There are similarities in their relationship and your own that must be looked at." said Silverheart sadly.
With a sinking feeling, Harry asked, "What will you do when you find them?"
His eyes unreadable Jayxom answered. "The best way would be to do a 'Sleeping Beauty'. To charm the person into a deep sleep and put them somewhere well protected until the danger has passed."
The boy blanched, "That could take years."
"Or centuries," The man completed for him. "It isn't something we would do lightly. Whoever we put into this sleep will likely lose everything dear to them. Their sacrifice, however, would be nothing compared to the loss of your entire world." Harry flinched at that last bit. "How will you know if either of us is the avatar?"
Looking into the boys eyes he answered, "If it has awakened I will know when we link, if not the only sign is a particular birthmark that they both will have, an eight pointed star slightly smaller than a dime usually hidden under the hairline or in some other inconspicuous spot. I am hoping when I touch his mind that he is aware of the birthmark, if not its significance. Do you have such a birthmark?"
"No! Professor..."
Seeing the boy's distress, Dumbledore quickly raised his hand. "I believe that will be enough for now Lord Silverheart... this is entirely too much for one sitting. Harry, you will be excused from your classes for the rest of the day, go get some rest. We will talk again tomorrow."
Not even bothering to answer the headmaster the boy ran from the room, through the empty hallways into the Gryffindor tower. Throwing himself on his bed he buried his head in the pillow and screamed all of his frustration and rage into it until, exhausted, he fell asleep.
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