CHAPTER ELEVEN

Barty was not liking the fact that he was getting used to butterflies making rounds in his stomach; it was going to ruin his reputation if he was not careful! It had been two days since Lord Slytherin's little party, and Barty had just finished some more business on his father's behalf, when Hedwig the snowy owl arrived at his window at around seven-thirty in the morning. Barty had hoped he could sleep in, considering he had worked into the early hours of the morning, but he also knew the consequences of keeping Hedwig waiting.

That owl was a right madam, and would give you a matron-like look that translated to 'how dare you keep me waiting, you insufferable human!' Barty had made that mistake only once and had very nearly found a dead mouse in his ink pot as revenge for it.

What the Crouch heir had expected was a letter from Harry or a drawing from Layna, who was Barty's biggest advocate out of all of Harry's dragon children. What he had not expected to see was the elegant hand that clearly belonged to the Lady Regent.

Dear Mr. Crouch,

Forgive my presumption to write to you – I know it is untoward but I frankly have run out of options and have no one else I can turn to. In fact, it was Evan Rosier who suggested I ask you for assistance, considering your fine job with the wards around Mossbridge and the dragon reserve.

You see, my late husband was working on some very sensitive cases, on of them was the investigation into the attempted murder of the Minister. Now, because James was naturally suspicious and wanted to keep me out of his work, he coded all of his journals and notes pertaining to all his cases. Would you be willing to come to Mossbridge and see if you could take a crack at a few of them?

Apologies in advance if Hedwig woke you up,

Lily Potter, Lady Regent of House Potter

Barty could not decide which he was most surprised by: the fact James Potter had the foresight of a Slytherin, or the fact that Evan had been willing to throw him a bone. Barty's jaw clenched slightly; the only reason why Evan would ever consider being this generous is if he already got something out of it.

No doubt, whatever had been Evan's reward concerned Harry. Barty was no fool. So without hesitation, Barty had written a quick reply, sent a very impatient Hedwig off with it and wasted no time in getting washed and dressed, taking about a good hour to do so. He also made sure to call into the office in advance to give notice that an urgent matter had arisen that was unavoidable, thus Barty would not be coming into the Ministry that day.

He had been secretly relieved that his mother was not awake yet as he grabbed a sandwich from the kitchen before Apparating straight to Mossbridge Hall. That was when the butterflies in his stomach had taken off and began racing around. Barty would never admit it out loud, but Lily Potter was fearsome. She was lioness through and through, and he knew that one wrong move would mean he would end up as lunch.

As the wannabe Wardmaster walked up the gravel drive towards the decrepit, ivy-cloaked house, he heard laughing and incoherent chatting coming from around the back of the house, in the beautiful, Otherworldly garden. The Ravenclaw in him simply did not allow Barty to walk to the front door, and instead his legs carried him down the small pathway at the side of the house, deciding to investigate the commotion.

When Barty did find out the source of the raucous, a smile spread itself from one ear to the other on his countenance. Draco Malfoy was sitting in a garden chair, wearing sunglasses and petting a jackalope in a manner akin to a James Bond villain. Blaise Zabini was being used as a perch by several different corvids, much to the chagrin of the young boy and the amusement of everyone else. Lawrence Rookwood, Adrian Pucey, Marcus Flint, Theo Nott, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were all splitting their sides laughing while Harry himself was watching a Runespoor – yes a Runespoor – painting on a canvas. Barty could barely believe his eyes as he watched the three headed snake now and again peer around the canvas to see if their subjects had moved and to study their subjects carefully before continuing.

"I swear if any of you tell a soul about this, I will make sure none of you have dates for Yule Balls from now until you're one hundred!" Zabini thundered as a magpie settled onto his shoulder and began to snooze very comfortably there.

"That's all right. We will just sneak the memory into a bunch of Pensieves," Theo Nott answered the moment he managed to regain the ability to speak.

"I am so buying the painting once it's done," Gregory Goyle added, smirking.

Steam was now coming out of Zabini's ears. "DON'T YOU DARE, GOYLE!"

"Oh come on, Zabini, you know I have been trying to replace that old portrait in my father's study with something with a bit more … pizzaz to it," Goyle grinned. "This one is just the ticket. I am sure my father would love it."

"He would love it – so he could blackmail me whenever he feels like it!" Zabini exploded.

"Well, I think you're making a fuss over nothing," Pucey stated. "You dunked Harry into the pool and put him into a Body Bind in front of his suitors. You should have known that something like this was bound to happen!"

Barty froze for a moment when he heard that, barely allowing himself to breathe. Harry had been … embarrassed about being put into a Body Bind so publicly? The young Lord really cared that much about what Barty, Evan and Rodolphus thought? Barty swallowed at this. He needed to make sure that Harry knew that he didn't care about that! It was just some fun between friends. It was nothing to be ashamed of.

"It isn't fair, though! Draco is at least enjoying himself," Zabini retorted.

"I am the one who gave the idea, so I get off much more lightly," the Malfoy heir stated gleefully.

"As I said, not fair!" Zabini grumbled.

"That's life, Blaise," Flint grinned. "You know what else isn't fair? That Harry's suitors have met his dragon children but we haven't."

"If you really want to meet them, I should give Lila and Anya the heads up," Harry spoke up for the first time, looking up from his Runespoor's work. "The other dragons are still a little bit apprehensive about strangers, for good reason so-"

It was at this moment that Harry seemed to sense a new presence, and one that was watching them. His Seeker-sharp gaze turned to Barty's direction and elation quickly plastered a brighter smile onto Harry's countenance. "Barty!" he waved, many of the pureblood heirs looking in his direction too. "What a surprise! What are you doing here? Come over!"

Barty, flushing slightly with embarrassment, obliged. "Good morning, my Lord," he bowed formally once he reached Harry. "I was invited by your mother. She has some business that she would like to discuss with me."

"Runes?" Harry guessed immediately.

"Of a kind," Barty smiled smally. "She wants me to take a look at some of your father's work."

Harry caught on in an instant. "Ah, yes. My father's journals. They have been the bane of Mama's existence. It really is annoying when you are trying to clear out the study and attic of garbage and you don't know if it is important or not so you just leave it."

Barty had to chuckle internally. Clever, Harry. Very clever.

"What do you think of the painting, sir?" Vincent Crabbe asked the Crouch heir carefully and politely.

Barty frowned and turned to look at the canvas the Runespoor was working on. All three heads had a different type of brush in their mouths, working very carefully, mixing paints several times to make sure they had the correct colour. To the Wardmaster's surprise, the magical serpent was constructing a very accurate picture of the image in front of them. The Malfoy heir's arrogance and sense of superiority and the sass given by the jackalope were captured to perfection.

"Barty, I would like to introduce you to one of my oldest friends," Harry smiled. "Meet Clarisse, Nesrin and Vanya."

Each head turned around and hissed in greeting as Harry called their names and then quickly went back to work. Barty bowed his head to them in greeting, chuckling to himself. "I thought Severus had been joking when he said that one of your animal friends was a Runespoor."

"We didn't believe it either until Lady Potter once brought them to a parent's meeting to talk about Harry's grades," the Nott heir informed him, the young boy shaking his head at the memory. "Harry's grades were falling in History or Astronomy – I forget which one it was but it was one of the two – and Lady Potter showed up at Hogwarts accompanied by Clarisse, Nesrin and Vanya, who were Glamoured to look like this weird feather boa. It was Lady Potter who allowed a few of us to get to meet the three of them in their true form just as long as we kept our mouths shut about Harry's old Runespoor nanny."

Barty pinched the bridge of his nose as he listened to the story, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."

"Oh, it was a good fun sneaking Clarisse, Nesrin and Vanya past Dumbledore's nose!" Harry laughed.

"I can imagine!" Barty chuckled.

The conservatory door slid open. "Ah, Mr. Crouch! There you are. Nipsy was all in a frazzle trying to find you," Lady Potter stated jovially, smiling in the exact same mischievous way as Harry did. "Shall I get us a nice jug of iced tea and we get down to business?"

Barty bowed to her. "Certainly, Lady Potter. Forgive my tardiness-"

"There is nothing to forgive," Lady Potter reassured easily. She then turned her attention on the amused Malfoy boy and the sulking Zabini heir. "Blaise, my dear, I see you have made some new friends!"

"Against my will, I assure you, Lady Potter," Zabini stated coolly.

"Oh that's a pity. Our corvid friends usually do not take to a person so quickly. I think they must see something rather special in you," Lady Potter commented, causing the young heirs once more to start guffawing.

Barty was almost sorry to leave the group – it was not every day one got to see two heirs to some of Britain's most prominent pureblood families sit for a comical painting done by a Runespoor – but the prospect of deciphering a code created by the late Lord Potter was very tantalising indeed.

As she promised, Lily Potter got a jug of cold peach iced tea from the kitchen – herself, Barty noted – and then beckoned him to follow her upstairs. Here was when the butterflies actually returned. Only trusted allies and family members were allowed up onto the upper floors of a family home; it was one of those rules that was unspoken but upheld by everyone, and he was under no illusion that Lily Potter knew exactly what she was doing.

Barty tried to ignore the interested or surprised looks from the portraits hanging on the walls of the upper floors and instead tried to focus on the detailing in the architecture around him. One would not say it but for such a run-down exterior, the interior was beyond reproach. There were such exquisite detailing in the woodwork and the ceiling that it was frankly quite dizzying.

The study that once belonged to James Potter and now was used by his widow was on one hand nothing that Barty had expected but on the other hand, there were elements he saw that were painfully predictable. The colour scheme of the room was red and gold – the colours of Gryffindor – especially when it came down to the carpets. The arched, mosaic windows added blues and greens to the reds and golds, thanks to the sunlight. The built-in bookcases covered almost the entirety of the walls, had it not been for the gallery of statement pieces hanging above each bookcase. The ceiling was painted in an exquisite lilac colour and had paintings covering it as well. The furniture in the room was made of a heavy antique wood. It was on one hand uncharacteristic of James Potter but fitted the position of Lord Potter very well.

"Thank you in advance for agreeing to do this on such short notice," Lady Potter stated as she walked over to one of the larger circular tables that was covered by leather bound journals and folders, conjuring two glasses as she set the jug down. "I would not have troubled you-"

"It isn't a bother," Barty reassured her quickly. "Though I am rather surprised that Evan suggested seeking my advice on this matter."

Lily's verdant eyes shone knowingly. "Indeed. I must confess that I gave him incentive to be generous."

Well, at least that suspicion was confirmed. "I see."

"He wanted information on Harry," Lily Potter continued candidly, sitting down and pouring the iced tea. Barty pulled up a chair opposite her. "Something that no one else knows about him."

"Oh," Barty tried his best to keep his tone as neutral as possible. He cleared his throat. "And would you be willing to tell me something about Harry that no one knows as well?" he asked tentatively.

A smile formed on Lady Potter's face. "Of course. I do not play favourites. Besides, I do love seeing some fairness in a game, even if it is a courting game. Especially when it concerns the heart of my son. Is there anything specific you would like to know?"

Barty shook his head. "Anything will do, my Lady."

Lily Potter pondered for a moment and then she lit up again. "Harry, Sirius and Remus once went Nessie hunting and they actually found something in the waters."

Barty looked slightly taken aback. "The Monster of Loch Ness? Black and Lupin took Harry to try and find it?"

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "We were having a hiking and camping holiday. Harry was around nine or ten at the time. We got to Loch Ness and Sirius suggested that since we were there, we should "see if Nessie is home", as he put it. I refused – I was being a bit of a chicken, admittedly. But the boys, they spent almost two hours trying to see if they could find Nessie. Until Sirius and Remus came fleeing out of the water, screaming about something in the lake. I didn't believe them; notorious pranksters that they are! But the next thing I know, Harry comes out of the lake, looking indignant and telling Sirius and Remus off for "scaring away his new friend". He then said he had promised this friend that we wouldn't tell anyone where she lived, apparently. Harry kept his word and never told anyone about it."

"So there is something in Loch Ness?" Barty couldn't believe his ears.

"Apparently," Lily sipped her iced tea. "My son is many things, but a liar? No."

"No, he doesn't peg me as a liar either. Cunning and mischievous, yes. But a liar?" Barty shook his head.

The Lady Potter smirked. "Harry told me you want to take him to Lincoln next week."

Barty flushed. "With your permission, of course."

"Oh, you have it. It would do Harry some good – I realise I hide him away a little too much sometimes," the Lady Regent stated, a look of regret entering her peridot eyes. "Plus, I hear Lincoln Castle is stunning, and that the Cathedral is also worth a visit."

"Absolutely," Barty agreed with a grin.

"You will bring me a souvenir?"

Barty had not expected that question! He blinked a few times. "Of course, my Lady …"

"Good!" Lily grinned. "So," she turned her attention on the journals in front of her and pulled them to her. "These are the journals I was referring to. All I am able to tell you is that they refer to James' work from 1978 to 1981 – as to the details, that is what I need from you."

Barty nodded as Lily pushed them towards him. "Other than being part of the Team, what else was the late Lord Potter involved in?" he dared to ask as he opened the first.

"Erm, the usual for Aurors. Dark wizard catching, murder investigations, bodyguard work, guard duty and espionage work, sometimes in consultation with the Muggle secret services," Lily responded. The latter took Barty by surprise. The Lady Regent smiled weakly. "There are sometimes deaths in the Muggle world that can't be explained so, the Muggle Prime Minister now and again asks for Aurors to take a look at the cases."

"Yes, I think I remember some of his cases. My father would not stop talking about the young prodigy outshining the older class of Auror," Barty scoffed as he studied the strange array of symbols, figures and Arithmantic equations on the first five pages of the journal. Some of them were more than familiar to Barty but then there were others that looked like nonsensical squiggles. "Have you spoken to any of the other Team members from back then?"

Lily nodded. "Both Frank and Alice Longbottom expressed to me that they were worried about James. They said he seemed off; more irritable. I barely noticed because he simply hid himself away in his study most of the time and when he did come out, he would always be nothing but kind and … looking almost lost. I didn't dare to ask why because I knew his work was stressful and I didn't want to add to it. There was also a letter once from James' superiors, stating in no uncertain terms that if he ever disobeyed an order again, he would be kicked out."

Barty frowned. "Normally I would not be surprised to hear about James Potter disobeying orders but in this case, I have to say, my Lady, that it sounds … weird."

"I know. I never confronted him about it, though. I just filed it away for a later date," Lily Potter sighed.

Barty took out his parchment, quill and ink from his bag. He then fished out a few Arithmantic charts that he always kept with him, just in case he would ever need them again. He smirked at the Lady Regent. "Well, let's see what secrets can be unravelled!"

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"So, Barty Crouch is whipped," Marcus commented as the group made their way over the mossy fairy bridge, heading towards the dragon reserve. Harry's impromptu visit with his friends had been cleared by the Head Dragonologists, especially since the Hebridean Blacks had insisted on meeting their papa's friends – nothing ever seemed to escape their sharp senses. Except in the dark.

Harry scoffed.

"Yeah, you can scoff, Lord Potter, but I have eyes," Marcus grinned. "Crouch barely ever smiles; now he smiles almost as soon as he sees you."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Our Harry has them all whipped! I heard Evan has not looked at another skirt or male butt since agreeing to court our favourite Grey aligned Lord," Vincent stated, which earned him a sharp whack around the head from Gregory for that comment. "OW! What? It's true! Everyone knows Rosier makes Zabini look monogamous!"

"You really are a blithering idiot, Vince," Adrian rolled his eyes.

The verdant eyes of the young Lord Potter had darkened slightly and his jaws had set slightly. "What were his other lovers like?" he dared to ask.

"You haven't asked him yet?" Blaise was genuinely surprised by this.

"Blaise, unlike you, Harry is aware you don't ask questions like that until at least the second or third date," Lawrence gave him a pointed look. "Plus, he avoids magazines like the plague for a reason."

"Hey, I do hear some rumours," Harry protested. "But we all know what they are like half the time, so can someone at least tell me something about the ones that are … known?"

"Don't you think you should just ask Rosier?" Adrian frowned. "Mother always said to me that she and Father made their arranged marriage work by talking about everything – just being honest with each other."

"I think he would try to avoid the subject," Harry admitted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I mean, I am much younger than him-"

"You genuinely think he'd patronise you like that?" Marcus could hardly believe his ears.

"I guess," Harry shrugged, avoiding as much eye contact as he could, his cheeks flushing red.

"I think if he would do that, it would be more due to shame for his own licentious behaviour than it having to do with your age," Draco reassured him. "I mean, everyone is surprise he hasn't been mentioned in gossip papers for weeks now!"

"Can you at least tell me about one or two?" Harry begged.

"The most explosive one was his liaison with Aurelius Smith," Blaise answered, more than happy to dish out the gossip. "Smith was set to marry a Wainwright but that match pretty much fell apart when Smith was caught in a," he cleared his throat, "compromising position with Rosier."

Harry blinked a few times at this.

"One of his genuinely more sweet affairs – one where people were sure an engagement would follow – was with Castor Spencer," Gregory quickly added, seeing a sad look enter Harry's eyes. "There were only articles on dinner dates, attending balls and parties together, and shared holidays. Nothing too salacious or scandalous …"

"Until Evan cheated," Blaise finished, a bit too curtly for the liking of the rest of his friends.

Harry deflated visibly. "I knew that Evan has commitment issues," he whispered, "but do I really want to risk my heart on someone who has such a track record? I mean, Old man Selwyn told me that Evan never brought his other lovers to the duelling club but-"

"I still cannot believe that Rosier did that!" Marcus chuckled.

"I am betting it was to make the other two jealous, though," Theo stated.

Draco smirked. "I think I have an idea on how to test just how serious Rosier is about pursuing Harry."

A lot of eyebrows went up in an instant. The Malfoy heir chuckled gleefully. "Has Evan met the dragon children yet?"

Harry frowned for a moment, and then his eyes widened. "Come to think of it … no he hasn't. Rodolphus has and Barty has, but not Evan."

"Well then! I think you should ask your dragons if they want to meet him and then write to him, telling him your dragons have been badgering you to meet the third 'mate'," Draco looked rather pleased with himself. "I am willing to bet that an offer to meet Bartok, Synok, Layna and Rocla is not something he will refuse, especially if he wants to actually win you over."

Harry grinned. "I should have thought of that sooner. Thanks, Dray."

"Where would you be without me?" Draco preened, earning himself more than a few eyerolls.

"Not having spent so much time in the shampoo isles in the Potions shops," Gregory answered immediately, causing everyone else to laugh and Draco to scowl.

Draco did not have time to make a retort because the group had walked through the gates of the dragon reserve by now and were greeted rather enthusiastically by Harry's adopted dragon children. None of Harry's friends had expected the four of them to be so big though; they had expected them to be a little smaller, like in some of the photos Harry had sent a few months ago. But Bartok, Synok, Layna and Rocla could almost look them directly in the eyes.

It just brought it home a little more for them all just how potentially dangerous these creatures could be and that Harry, Anya, Lila or any of the other employees on the reserve could end up in the hospital with just one swat from those giant claws. But at the same time, the group kind of melted at how adorable the four of them were. The siblings greeted their papa's friends like they were long lost family members, each taking in the scents of every one of the wizards.

Bartok took to Gregory and Marcus first. Synok liked Theo, Vincent and Adrian the best. Layna's quick favourites were Lawrence, Blaise and Theo. The latter was very pleased to have earned the approval of two dragons. Rocla gave her approval to Draco, Marcus and Lawrence, who could not stop grinning.

The group were bombarded with questions.

*Are you all in the Snake House at your school?*

*Have you got an eye on a mate yet?*

*Would you like to meet our friends?*

*Who won the flying horse race?*

Admittedly, the pureblood heirs didn't know which ones to answer first; Marcus, Adrian and Lawrence flat out refused to answer the question on courting, which the four dragons were not too pleased about until Harry warned them about being too nosy.

Marcus did eventually turn the topic onto one of Harry's suitors. "Have the four of you met Evan yet?"

*Evan? Who is Evan? Wait, is he Papa Harry's third mate?* Rocla frowned.

"I think that is a no," Blaise grinned. "And yes, Evan is the third."

*Why hasn't he come to visit us before?* Synok asked, looking a little affronted. *Does he not wish to meet us? Rodolphus and Barty have.*

Harry looked a little guilty as he translated.

"Would you like to meet him?" Adrian questioned.

*Are you joking? Of course we would!* Bartok sniffed, looking slightly offended at the question. *We have to see if he is worthy as well.*

Draco laughed. "Never mind Lily Potter! Those three have four dragon kids to worry about."

*You would not allow your mother or father be with someone who cannot do their duty to their mate, or hatchlings,* Rocla pointed out.

"Yeah, the dragon has a point there," Vincent agreed, chuckling to himself. "Merlin, I never thought I would be saying that out loud!"

*Inyala would say the same. We are going to see her right now. Be careful though, she is still stressed about her eggs almost being stolen,* Layna warned.

"We know," Theo reassured her. "We'll be very careful."

"They still haven't caught the intruders, have they?" Gregory asked Harry directly.

It was Rocla who answered. *We all have been trying to see if we can track the scent around our home. Owaine and his lady friends have been trying to help; Metis too. But … nothing. We will know if we smell them again, though.*

"Anya and Lila have been trying to get a hold of people in the Auror department of the Ministry, but we keep getting the same answer over and over again. There is no physical evidence, so there is nothing they can do," Harry added, steam coming out of his ears. "I have a right mind to ask if we can install some CCTV cameras around the reserve, or the magical variant of it."

"CCTV what now?" Marcus blinked. "What is that?"

"Muggle thing," Harry clarified. "In order to protect their homes and shops from thieves, they put cameras up on their buildings to capture anyone walking in the streets and coming in."

"Creepy," Theo commented, shivering.

"Agreed, but in this case it could actually be useful," Draco pointed out, looking a little disgusted with himself as he said it. "Granger and Finch-Fletchley talked about them once. Apparently those cameras on Granger's parents' dental practice helped to catch a thief."

"Erm … stupid question: won't the dragons object to those things being installed?" Vincent asked.

*Cameras capture photos and film – they would have helped. But we don't want them everywhere,* Layna replied. *Especially in our dens. Or near our watering hole and our spa pool. But I wouldn't mind them on the borders and paths.*

Her siblings agreed.

Inyala the Opaleye shared a similar opinion when asked on the matter. She was also very indignant that Evan had not been invited to the reserve to meet Harry's dragon family yet. Harry grumbled as his friends radiated smugness at her answer. Owaine, Arca, Masha and Guendolin also were not too happy about the prospect of a human device in their territory but were more than happy to meet Harry's third mate. Metis the Pendragon, on the other hand, was ecstatic about extra protection and a visit from Evan.

*The more protection for my hatchlings the better,* Metis stated as she nuzzled one of her beautiful pearly-grey-and-blue eggs. *They were after Inyala's hatchlings but it could well have been mine, especially since they are close – HARRY! I knew it would be any day now. Blessed Mother Aithusa, look!*

Harry, his friends and the Hebridean Blacks watched in awe as the egg in question began to shake and the shell began to crack. They did not dare to blink as they watched a small scaly claw began poking out of the shell. Very soon afterwards, a cute, little snout squeezed its way out. The young Pendragon was a beautiful white-and-gold colour, with big blue eyes, already looking around at the world with fascination as it freed its wings and tail from the egg, splitting the rest of the shell around it.

"Damn," Blaise commented breathlessly. "This is a sight you don't get to see every day!"

"A girl," Harry identified immediately, grinning from ear to ear. "Congratulations on your first born, Metis!"

"She's so cute!" Vincent cooed unabashedly. Metis preened at this; her daughter cocked her head at him curiously.

"And she's not alone!" Adrian added as he spotted more cracks beginning to appear in two other eggs. "Her siblings have decided to come out and have some fun."

*FINALLY!* the Hebridean siblings hissed excitedly. *We have been waiting for this for ages!*

*I will go and get Eddie and Harlow,* Rocla immediately decided, setting off to find Metis' primary keepers.

Not a moment too soon, because there were soon around seven new-born Pendragons to deal with, all of whom were very quickly getting hungry. Eddie and Harlow fortunately came back with an enthusiastic Rocla, carrying more than enough meet that could have fed up to four prides of lions.

"Pity your suitors missed this," Draco teased Harry lowly. "But then again perhaps it is a good thing they did – your kids would probably ask them when their human siblings will arrive!"

Harry flushed red. "Draco, do not give them ideas!"

"What? They are now siblings to a bunch of new baby dragons; they'll be waiting for the human ones next – OWWW, did you have to zap me?"

Harry dusted off his hands, grinning. "I think I will send Clarisse, Nesrin and Vanya's portrait to Lord Slytherin."

Draco paled whiter than snow. "HARRY POTTER, DON'T YOU BLOODY DARE!"

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Oh dear, poor Draco! Let's hope Evan agrees to a visit to the dragons – Bartok, Synok, Layna and Rocla would not be happy if he refused to. Will Barty be able to crack James' code? And there are new baby Pendragons; hopefully Metis' worst fears do not become real … What will happen next? Stay tuned to find out!

Disclaimer: I am just building a sand castle in JK's sand pit. I am not getting money from this or own any of the characters.

So guys, I know I haven't been updating this story as regularly as I would like but balancing two stories, an article I am writing and looking for a job is not easy. So I thank you in advance for your patience.

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