Sands of Change

Lady Countryrose

Ch. 9

At sunset, they made landfall, like Neville had told them. Lucky for them, they didn't have to get on a dinghy to make it to shore. There was a dock that was freshly built. Neville led them down the dock and onto the land. Just past the trees, they found a temple.

Hermione was taken back at the sheer size of it. 'His family mansion was huge. Why wouldn't his temple?'

Lucy jumped up and down. "What have you found so far?"

"Just weird looking Runes, more ancient than we have ever seen before." He led them to a table. Pulling some photos from a leather folder.

Hermione grabbed them. "These are Viking Runes," she looked at him in disbelief. "Do you not know how to read them?"

Neville shook his head. "That knowledge was lost. Only the Dragons knew how to read them."

Hermione glared at the paper. "Dragons were born out of the house of Slytherin. When the wizard disease ripped through our world, with a vengeance. It didn't stop there, it leaked into the non-magical world. Causing the extinction of the Wizarding World.

"Only to birth the era of new Dragons, creatures, and mages. As well as humans that could learn a holder magic. Without having to have the blood to support it. Draco, the first Dragon made from humans, became the king of all Dragon kind."

Neville had grabbed a piece of paper and madly wrote everything down. Before handing her another photo.

"Draco, after losing his temper. Had found that his power coincided with Celestial powers. He roared to the Heavens with great power. Only to bring an earth shuddering discovery. We're not the only lifeforms in the cosmos.

"A being called the Celestial King came to Draco. He told him, due to low birth numbers after the Wizarding World. Magic was called into action to correct this oversight. The king told Drago, it was the third time magic had done this. First time was after Atlantis sunk. Second was during the time of Merlin, when there were few in number."

Hermione felt tears leaking out of her eyes. 'Magic is conscious enough to correct things like this? Making sure that magic will survive. Even if it has to adapt to do so.'

Lucy had gasped, "The Celestial King was here before? I mean, he must have, if he came to me."

After Neville wrote more notes. He had given Hermione another photo.

"Draco learned that someone he knew from the house of Gryffindor, was moving through time. The Celestial King had asked him if he could give her some of his gifts." Hermione gulped at reading that statement. "Draco told the king, she would be the only one I would trust to have them."

She noticed the sadness in Lucy's eyes after that statement. But she had to read on.

"The Celestial King told Draco how to share his magic with a human. He could do it in person or do it through the same time doorway she used. After learning both, Draco clawed into the time door. Wishing and willing his magic into the time traveler. Giving her the first Dragon's gift. The gift to create, destroy and protect life."

Hermione put the photos onto the table. Falling back onto a large rock. Using it as a chair. Losing herself into her thoughts.

'He did give me these gifts and I didn't know it. He ripped through my time portal. Just to give them to me. Oh, Draco, you must have been scared.'

Lucy looked towards Neville with glee. "Could we go inside the temple?"

"In the morning, you can. Let's get you two a tent. Share a meal and go over the plans for tomorrow."

The two followed him towards the temple, where many tents were put up. He pointed to a tent near a bathroom hut. Telling them that it would be their tent. While others were scattered about from there. Giving them more privacy.

After tossing their bags into their tent. Used the bathroom. Then made their way to the kitchen tent. Where they were given bowls of stew.

After having a quiet meal. Neville told them. "After breakfast, which will start at eight. We will go into the temple. I want you to read the walls for us. Since it would be quicker if you read them.

"We will explore as much as we can, every day. But it will be slow-going. It is a very large temple. Filled with hidden chambers. Luckily, there aren't any traps."

Lucy looked uncomfortable. "Are there always traps?"

"It's rare to find no traps. Then again, not all temples survive the testament of time. But it is still really rare for one to have very little to no damage. Just like the one behind me."

Hermione turned to see that Lucy looked uneasy for some reason. Seeing that, she was squirming in her seat.

"Thank Mavis, Natsu and Gray aren't here," Lucy whispered ever so softly. Making Hermione want to question her. But she decided to go to bed. Since tomorrow felt like it was coming way too fast for her liking.