Chapter 3
Demonstration

Harry awoke to a loud banging noise causing him to nearly jumped out of bed, but his current condition prevented that. Slowly Harry tried to sit up to see what had made the noise. Judging by the light filtering through a nearby window it was the middle of the night. However, one corner of the room was lit up by a tiny glowing object. Harry could just make out Ron standing up next to him; he seemed to have been asleep on the floor.

"Lumos." Ron muttered, and a light appeared at the end of his wand.

Harry reached for his own wand, but couldn't seem to find it.

"Hermione? What are you doing?" Ron walked towards the corner of the room where their trunks were.

"Nothing!" She sounded disgusted. "None of my books ever mention any place called Pern! And none of this nonsense about telepathic dragons!" She continued throwing her books back into her trunk with loud bangs.

"Hermione! Stop it! You'll wake everyone in the whole building up!" Harry said as loudly as he deemed safe.

Hermione stopped throwing her books. "Oh! Sorry Harry! Did I wake you?"

Ron muttered something that earned him a punch on the shoulder.

Hermione walked over to Harry's bed and sat down at the foot of it.

"This is terrible! What are we going to do!" She moaned holding her head in her hands.

"I don't know." Harry muttered.

"I vote getting some sleep." Ron said very business like, and received another punch. "Will you stop that!"

"Will you stop being so childish!" Hermione said, nearly shrieking.

"Guys just stop it." Harry muttered. "We can figure something out in the morning."

Hermione started to say something but Harry had already begun dozing off and missed what it was.

The next time Harry awoke, it was well after dawn and sunlight was filtering through the window. His ribs felt a lot better after all that sleep, and he managed to sit up.

Glancing around the room for Ron and Hermione, he found them asleep on the floor leaning against the bed. Harry smirked. Hermione had curled up nearly on Ron's lap, and Ron had his arm around her.

There was a knock at the door. Harry glanced over at it, and Hermione jumped to her feet completely alert. Ron on the other hand rolled over a bit and snorted.

Harry smacked Ron upside the head just as they heard the bar slide off the door and it opened.

A woman they hadn't seen before quickly came in placed a tray on the table and then left, keeping her eyes averted the entire time. The door creaked as it was barred again.

"They're all hoping mad I tell you." Ron said through a yawn while standing up. "I say we make a break for it. I bet a simple Alohomora would unbar the door."

"Oh brilliant Ron, and then how about we take out a dozen guards, dragons, and carry Harry out of here all at the same time!"

Harry was meanwhile ignoring their bickering. "Anyone seen my wand?"

Hermione paused for a moment. "No." Now she looked worried. "When did you last see it?"

"Yesterday, right after F'lar tackled me..." Harry trailed off, F'lar wouldn't have…? Would he? Who knew what these dragonmen would do.

"You don't think he stole it do you?" Ron said, completing his thought.

"He could have… Hermione, give me your wand."

Hermione pulled her wand out and slowly handed it to him. "What do you intend to do exactly?" She asked, sounding worried and motherly as always.

"Get my wand back." Harry said simply.

"Harry no!" Hermione realized what he was going to do a split second too late.

"ACCIO WAND!" Harry shouted just as Hermione tried to snatch her wand away, but it was too late.

"Harry what if some one sees it! You can't just-" Harry never learned what he just couldn't do because there was a whistle of something flying through the air, and a tapping on the door. His wand couldn't seem to quite get to him. There were sounds of running boots to mix in with the tapping noise, and the guard outside the room started screaming.

"Oh for goodness sake!" Hermione strode over to the door and muttered "Alohomora."

The door flew open and Harry's wand flew to his hand. Unfortunately F'lar came running in just as Harry caught it.

"How did you do that?" He shouted reaching for his belt knife.

"Why did you steal my wand?" Harry countered.

"I didn't! I found it on the Hatching Ground!" F'lar seemed very insulted. "I would never steal anything!" F'lar seemed to feel quite strongly about this particular statement for some reason.

Lessa, Robinton and Oldive now entered the room.

"F'lar! What are you doing, this boy needs his rest!" Oldive said pointing at Harry.

"He… I…" F'lar stuttered, and then stormed out of the room. Lessa, with a quick glance at the trio, followed.

Robinton stared questioningly at Harry. Somehow the Masterharper had already figured out that Harry was the unofficial leader of the trio.

"I thought F'lar stole my wand." The look on Robinton's face told Harry that that was an unlikely story.

"You seem to have it presently." He said smiling.

Master Oldive grunted and walked up to Harry.

"You should be resting." He gently pushed Harry's shoulder down so he'd lie down.

Master Oldive left the room. Master Robinton started to follow him out the door, but then with a quick glance at the guard outside, he closed the door and turned to the trio.

"Would you be willing to, say, give a demonstration of the abilities you mentioned yesterday?" He asked with a smile.

Ron started laughing and Hermione sighed with exasperation.

Hermione swished and flicked her wand ("Wingardium Leviosa") and one of the plates of food the woman had brought it earlier floated into the air and over to Harry.

Master Robinton looked delighted.

Harry started tasting the food. It looked quite normal, and tasted normal too. The meat item that looked like turkey and tasted like it, there were some vegetables and a hot drink that tasted like tea.

Ron had started eating too, but Hermione was busily making various objects fly around the room. She even turned an unused chair into a gerbil.

Master Robinton was thrilled.

"Now, I must ask you three something," he said turning seriously suddenly. "Lessa told me Ramoth saw an interesting... event, yesterday when you three appeared on the hatching ground. She says one of you rid what must have been a tiny dragon." He looked absolutely perplexed. "Could you explain?"

Harry was grinning. "I'd happily show you, but…" He trailed off placing his hand on his chest.

Ron stared at Harry pleadingly.

"But I think Ron would like to," he finished smoothly.

Ron jumped up and ran off to the trunks. He popped one open and rummaged around a bit before pulling out Harry's Firebolt.

"Ta Da" Ron said and held it out to Master Robinton.

"You intend to sweep?" The Masterharper asked confused.

"With a Firebolt? Are you mad!" Ron almost screamed.

"Ron, just do it." Hermione said disgusted.

Ron didn't have to be asked twice. He quickly mounted the broom, kicked off from the ground and flew about a dozen laps around the room before landing again.

Master Robinton was beyond elation.