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 Ch8

Harry woke abruptly not knowing why. Having nodded off the previous evening while sitting vigil with Draco at his father's bedside, he had slept undisturbed until something had roused him just then. Looking across to the other side of the bed he could see the blond sitting slumped against the mattress with his head cradled in his arms. The raven-haired boy slumped back in his chair and started to go back to sleep when he realized that they weren't alone in the darkened room. Standing at the end of the bed was a shadowy figure with glowing red eyes.

Jumping to his feet and whipping out his wand, he felt ill prepared for whatever danger lay before him.

"Lumos." A whispered spell cast by the shadow brought a ball of golden light into the palm of its hand. Now bathed in the warm glow of the spell the figure resolved it self into Lord Silverheart. Moving the light higher over the bed and leaving it floating there, the elf lord, motioning for the boy to remain quiet, moved silently past Harry and to the head of the bed.

Touching Lucius' head lightly with one hand he closed his eyes and seemed to go into a trance for several minutes. Harry watched the man with mixed emotions. The man radiated a feeling of security with his presence but at the same time the prospects of the link and what it could bring frightened him. With a quiet sigh the man stepped back from the figure on the bed, motioned for Harry to follow, and slipped from the room.

Exiting the infirmary he found the elf leaning against the wall in thought. "Professor?"

Looking up from his thoughts, the elf replied, "Please call me Jayxom. I'm sorry I startled you in there but I wanted to check on Mr. Malfoy without disturbing anyone."

Harry, too agitated by the entire episode to be diplomatic, snapped, "Well you didn't to a very good job, I nearly hexed you!"

Smiling in spite of the boy's tone the elf tried to put the boy at ease. "Sorry, I forget sometimes humans here are un accustomed to high elves," waving a hand in front of his face he continued, "Our eyes glow like they did in there because we can see in full darkness. A handy skill, but somewhat unsettling to sleepy people in dark rooms."

"What are you two doing out here?" Both turned to the new voice coming from the doorway, Draco stood partially hidden behind the door a cross look upon his face.

Jayxom heaved another great sigh and beckoned to the Slytherin, "Step out here Mr. Malfoy, I've things to tell you about your father's condition."

They all stood in the hallway for a few moments with the only sound the crackling of the torches that lined the walls. Draco, his hair normally perfect, now mussed from sleep, stared impatiently at Professor Silverheart waiting for him to continue. "I came tonight to examine your father because I thought I may be of some assistance. You know what happened to him last evening?" The Malfoy heir nodded, his face pale. "The dementor wasn't able to complete the kiss, your father still retains his soul, but it along with his mind has been wounded. I repaired what damage I could and put him into a trance that may assist in the healing process but he could be like this for weeks, months... or he may never recover."

"I've spoken with Professor Dumbledore, your mother will be here in the morning. She and your father will be staying in special quarters that are being prepared for him elsewhere for the length of his convalescence. Albus had suggested we take him to St Mungos but after the attack on him it is obvious his presence would pose a danger to others there. Your family will be safe, don't worry; I am assisting with the warding of their quarters myself. That being said, I am sending both of you back to your houses for the rest of the night. Get some sleep and be up for callisthenics in the morning, the exercise will help calm your mind."

Jayxom led both boys away from the infirmary and back towards their houses until leaving them at the entrance to his own. The boys continued on, not speaking or really paying attention to their surroundings when they found themselves standing atop the astronomy tower. The air, not yet sharp with the chill of the coming winter felt good on their faces as they sat on the parapet watching the stars.

"Do you miss him?" Harry was pulled out of his own private musings by the other boy's question. "Your father I mean."

Feeling a lump forming in his throat he answered, "Yes, well its not that I really remember him or my mother but I know they loved me. They died to save me." then quietly, "everybody who loves me dies."

The silence went on for a short while when Draco spoke. "I've never lost anybody before. Well my grandfather when I was little but I barely remember him. This..." his voice caught for a moment, "God Potter, how do you stand it?"

Harry thought a while, his parents, his life with the Dursleys, Sirius' death; he had survived it all somehow. "I had to. Part of it, I guess is everybody is depending on me to stop Voldemort. If I quit, gave up, a lot of people would die but its more than that. I have people that care about me, it doesn't take away all the hurt but it makes it bearable."

Draco thought about what Harry had said for a moment. "When I was six my father took me for a ride through London, he had the driver go through some muggle slums. As we rode along and looked out the window at the people he went on about how low these people were, that we were so much better. While he went on I watched a man holding his son and spinning him around. The boy was laughing so hard I thought he might cry. The joy they had together doing such a simple thing I had never felt with my father, nor have I since. I hated them for that."

They talked on through the night. Both boys baring their souls, they're hopes, fears, and their plans for their lives after Hogwarts. Harry truly did feel for Draco then. When he had turned eleven his entire world had opened up. Magic existed, he had friends and other people that wanted him around and treated him like a person. The boy before him had been treated like a prince his entire life but had never been truly close to anyone. His father and mother had been totally distant, too wrapped up in their own lives to more than acknowledge the boys existence.

The sky had just begun to brighten in the east when St. Nicholas rose through the stones by their feet. "There you are Harry, all of your friends are worried sick. You must be ready for your morning exercises in a very few minutes... hurry now!" Both boys ran to their dorms, dressed and got to the courtyard as the class began. Whether it was fatigue from the class the day before or his lack of sleep, the difficulty in performing was much greater than the day before.

Harry staggered back to his room after the class had finished and lie on his bed covered in sweat. "Come on Harry," said Ron, "Dumbledore wants to see you before breakfast and you haven't even showered yet." Staring daggers at his red-haired friend Harry cleaned himself dressed and shuffled to the headmaster's office.

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Two large chairs now sat in the centre of the office, Dumbledore himself, Professor McGonnagal, Madame Pomfrey and Lord Silverheart all stood in a group by the headmasters desk talking. As the boy stepped into the room they turned to face him.

"Harry, dear boy," said Dumbledore, "are you ready?"

Nodding to the professor and taking a seat in one of the chairs he looked nervously up at the elf. "Sir, if we do this and it's me, you wont be putting me to sleep that second would you?"

Taking the boys hand in his own and sitting down across from him the man answered, "Relax Harry, there's only a chance that it will be you and even if it was we wouldn't do it that second. There would be preparations and I know you'd want some time with your friends. Now calm yourself, lower your walls." the elf smiled, trying to ease some of the boys tension joked, "We're really going to have to work on your shields later, your occulomancy is horrible."

Closing his eyes and letting the tension flow out of his muscles, Harry felt slim fingers brush against his temples. Harry was suddenly floating in a light mist. In front of him was Jayxom, his cloak floating around him as if alive. "We're in your mind now Harry, just stay calm and let it wander. We will come to the link soon enough."

The boy studied the mist around him and started to make out shapes in the swirling clouds. He was at the department of mysteries staring in Horror at the veil; Now he was flying a broom crazily to avoid the attentions of a Hungarian Horntail; next flying over a clearing on a hippogriff; Then He was dodging a bludger that seemed out for his blood, next he was at Kings Cross station, he had just met a red haired family and was learning how to get to the platform, then he was running from a little dog and climbing a tree to avoid it. He was alone in a room sitting in a pen; he could hear people running and screaming and a hollow maniacal laugh. The door opened and a red haired woman came into the room blocking someone behind her. She begged for the man to take her instead and there was a flash of green light.

He was in an orphanage, and he had just turned eleven. His father had abandoned him here when he was young wanting nothing to do with his freakish kind. He had just received a letter saying that he was a wizard and would be going to a special school... Now sixteen and heir and he had to be the heir of Slytherin, the chamber was open and power was in his grasp... this child was supposed to be his destruction, looking down at the little green-eyed babe over the corpse of his mother, laughing as the spell was cast one last time... Quirrell was a fool, "kill the boy." The boy's blood had sealed it. His new body rose from the cauldron, stronger by far than when he had been vanquished thirteen years before... The boy had escaped again. The fool Dumbledore had come to his rescue at the ministry when victory should have been assured... the boy... he was here!

Clutching his head Harry Jerked back from Silverhearts grasp. His scar throbbing with a level of pain he'd not felt before, he nearly fainted. Jayxom, not looking much better, rose unsteadily to his feet.

"The minds of madmen..."coming around the chair and cupping his face in his hands a few moments, he seemed to regain his composure. "Harry, I couldn't sense the dragon in either Voldemort or yourself. If you think you're up to it I'd like you to let Poppy examine you for the mark." With the boys hesitant nod he and Madame Pomfrey went into an adjacent room that he had never noticed before and Jayxom turned back to the headmaster.

The elf lord waited for the door to close and spoke. "If the boy doesn't have the mark then my job becomes more difficult. Voldemort may still have the mark and be unaware but if he doesn't have it either..." Dumbledore puzzled, "It could be anyone and time is running out. My children and I will stay on the rest of the year, hopefully something will present itself, if not we may have to move as many of your people and mine across before the end"

"Of course Jayxom," said the old wizard with none of his normal twinkle present, "but let us hope it doesn't come to that."

Both men quit speaking as Harry, his face cherry red, exited the adjoining room and straightened his robes. "He doesn't have the mark." Proclaimed the healer. With a strained smile they bade the boy go down and get some breakfast. The young Gryffindor went eagerly, happy that for once the responsibility for the safety of the world didn't revolve around him.

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