The first week with his dragon were an interesting experience for Harry. He found himself alternating from utter amusement, blissful peace, and sheer terror as it wandered around the small confines of the castle, getting into any and all sorts of situations that it could find. One moment, the tiny creature would be crawling around the floor, sneezing adorably as the heavy dust found its nose, and the next it would be jumping off a tall bookcase in the library with its wings spread-only to crash into the ground when they failed to hold its weight. Even the minor incident concerning its attempts to eat a book and Harry only just managing to save it left the tome half-burnt and the dragon hacking up charred paper. Harry wasn't quite sure how his dragon managed to burn it, since they weren't supposed to breathe fire for quite a long time, but he suspected a nearby candle and the shrouded memories of him cooking meat with his wand and a fire spell that the dragon tried very hard not to think of.
Besides dealing with an adolescent reptile, however, Harry found his days filled with the discovery and absorption of as much information as he could find in the castle's library. Long hours were spent digging through book after book for as much information he could find on dragons and how to care for them, as well as anything on the Rider's, Galbatorix, or the history of the world as a whole. It was only when the dragon, with a questioning hint to its thoughts, projected an image to Harry of the windows in the great hall and their blue sky beyond, that the wizard realized he hadn't gone outside in days.
Before the dragon hatched, Harry had explored that last staircase in Vrael's study, albeit briefly. Perhaps unsurprisingly now, it had led out onto what appeared to be the roof of the balcony, a massive, open-air balcony that could easily hold several large dragons. The view, as well, was utterly breathtaking. Utgard, as he had learned the fort was named, sat perched atop a great mountain, unreachable to any who could not fly. To the west and north stretched a vast range of mountains, stern and intimidating with their white caps and grim forests. A small valley ran directly past the fortress and into their depths, marked by a deep river, and Harry thought he could see two small clusters of buildings but from the height could not be certain. Southward and to the east were plains, flatlands that spread out wide and further than he could see.
Now, Harry stood staring out at the horizon, his old firebolt clenched in one hand and the ivory dragon at his side. Together they stared over the flimsy railing, trepidation and excitement ringing in equal measure through both of their minds. Harry, because it had been a long time since he flew, especially for pleasure, but also in fear of stepping outside Utgard. It had been a peaceful place for him, the first in this new realm of Alagaesia, and one Harry felt would always hold as a sort of home for him. And the dragon, because it had long wondered about the outside world, recognized only through Harry's memories and the stories he tended to tell as they fell asleep curled together, but also fear as it looked down at the ground, far below.
Noting the emotion in his partner, Harry dropped down and threw his arms around the dragon, rubbing its scales softly. By now it was no longer the size of a small cat, but rather stood at thigh height to him, closer to a large dog. He could see, as well, the distinctive ridge spikes that marked it as a her, female and proud. In response to his hug the dragon snorted, embarrassment at having to be comforted slipping through their bond. Harry smiled against her scales, laughing.
"Come on then." The wizard said, standing, and after only a moment's hesitation, the dragon leaped up onto the railing. It was only when Harry realized that she was about to jump that he shouted in surprise, leaping forward to grab her again. "Woah, not like that! You're nowhere near old enough." he pulled his dragon back, wincing as she threw a wave of annoyance at him, along with derisive questioning as to how they were meant to fly. In answer, he worked to free one arm without releasing her, before using his wand to cast a sticking spell between them. The effect was instantaneous, and Harry couldn't quite hold in a smirk as he felt the dragon squirm. It was perhaps the first time he had used magic on her, and she made it obvious just how much she appreciated the sensation. He ignored the rapid mental complaints and images of burnt and eaten hair to calmly mount his broom. Then, with only a single warning thought, Harry kicked off, soaring into the air.
It was glorious. The instant they were airborne the dragon stopped fighting, instead focusing her attention on gripping the broom tightly with her claws as she lay across it in front of Harry. He didn't mind at all, as the cessation allowed him to revel in the feeling of wind in his hair and speed under his fingertips. Before long, they had reached a peak, and harry allowed the broom to hang there for a moment. His partner, who had been pressing herself tightly against the broom, let out a small whimper, despite Harry's own joy and emotion spilling through their connection. The wizard, for his part, felt a surge of pity for her, but the next instant it was gone, and he tilted the broom downwards to dive like a falcon dropping on its prey. Adrenaline flooded his veins, and the next instant the dragon joined him as her fear was forgotten in the sheer rush.
With a crash of air and sound Harry pulled up at the last second, their feet just touching the ground as they skimmed it for a few seconds before rising. Now the dragon was chittering, excitement and understanding filling it as they pulled into a tight spiral towards one of the nearby mountains. Harry could feel the primal sensation it felt as they flew, ancestral memories flooding their connected minds. They were hunters of the sky in all their glory, and Harry let out a sharp whoop.
They flew for nearly an hour, drifting anywhere from gliding to soaring, to death-defying dives that left both dragon and wizard gasping for breath. Finally, however, the fun was over, and Harry directed them to land at an empty clearing in one of the mountain forests. With swift, assured movements, he unstuck the dragon, before putting his broomstick away. When she cocked her head at him in curiosity, he smiled and explained.
"We've both been cooped up in that castle for far too long." Harry said gently, rubbing her head. "And i figured since we're out here, it's about time you learned to hunt."That statement, as he had expected, was met by an excited tackle as the dragon launched herself at him, squawking happily. It was several long moments until he had disentangled himself, but finally, the unlikely pair set off.
At first, things were relatively peaceful, with Harry's spells and the dragon's surprising stealth as she crept quietly across the forest floor, and soon enough they had bagged several small rabbits and even a fox, bloody from where the dragon had chomped its tail to prevent escape. Fairly soon the two were sitting across a campfire from each other, Harry telling his partner a tale of his old life.
"-And then, Ron threw up the firewhiskey, all over Hermione's front. I swear, I've never seen anything so terrifying as 'Mione on a rampage." Harry's eyes shone as he spoke, the memories of his friends burning in his mind as the dragon hummed a deep, draconic laughter. He had abandoned them, abandoned the Wizarding World as a whole, yet Harry couldn't help but laugh himself, humor winning over the small pang in his heart. Before he could find another story to tell, however, a flicker of movement caught his eye, and the dragon stiffened from where it lay stretched out on the ground.
"Harry." The word, spoken in a quiet, feminine voice, made Harry freeze, and he turned towards his dragon. Eyes like pearls bored into his, and tension slid through the bond between them until Harry's hand gripped his wand tightly as it fell from its sheath. The next second, he had cast a silent supersensory charm, reaching out to their surroundings in a search for anything wrong. Soon enough, he found it, a near-silent crack of wood to one side, and the subtle shifting of weight amongst dry leaves to the other. In an instant, Harry shot to his feet, throwing a stunner in the direction of the first.
Even as he acted, the dragon was already moving with a lightning fast pounce into the treetops, aided by a sharp flap of her wings. A second later, she crashed to the ground atop a large grey form, tearing into it with razor sharp claws. Harry didn't notice, however, as he was too busy dodging wave of three arrows, each flying from a different direction. He dropped, rolling behind the short log he had been sitting on, throwing a small blasting hex as he went. A wet explosion rocked the air as it hit, and he heard a deep, guttural scream. Harry didn't stop to analyze the sound, however, as he threw off two separate cutting curses to split yet another arrow as it drove towards his chest.
The next moment, Harry was no longer dodging arrows, as two forms, even larger than the one the dragon was currently mauling, came charging into the clearing. The wizard got a flash of grey, gravelly skin, and horns, before stepping swiftly to the side to dodge a wickedly curved sword that tore through the spot he had just been in. The next blade he blocked, a simple shield charm sending it to lodge in the armor of its owner's partner. The creature gave a guttural roar and tore it back out, before throwing it at Harry's head haphazardly. He ducked, and while crouching fired a Reducto point blank into its stomach. He winced as blood splattered all over him from the giant hole his spell blew in it. Still, the wizard kept his wits about him, turning to the other creature even as it bull rushed him; quite literally, considering the large curved horns on its head.
He couldn't quite avoid the charge, and Harry cried out in pain as the creature struck him a glancing blow across his flank, sending him rolling into the ground. He kept his grip on the wand in his hand, but that was rendered useless a moment later when the thing landed atop him, one powerful hand pinning other he found clasped around his throat, squeezing tightly. Harry's eyes bulged as he started to choke, staring at his adversary. A cruel, monstrous face glared down at him with utter hatred and fury in its pudgy gray eyes, and his nose wrinkled from the putrid scent of its breath.
"Die, human." The creature, whatever it was, growled in a voice like grinding stones, sneering as it pressed its face close to his. Harry struggled against its grip, writhing and gripping, but the creature was far too strong for him, and intelligent enough not to loosen its grip on his wand arm. Slowly, he grew even weaker as the world started to darken, the edges of his vision fading.
"You shall not have him!" Just as Harry felt himself slipping from consciousness, there came a roar, higher pitched than the others but with a primal fury that would have sent shivers through him had he not been so close to death, and an instant later the pressure was lifted from his throat as the creature went flying to the side. He gasped loudly, gulping in a deep breath, and then another. Finally, when he could no longer feel the burning of his lungs, he struggled up onto his elbows.
All around was carnage. Six corpses of the horned beings were scattered across the campsite, torn and blasted by both spellfire and savage claw marks that Harry knew instinctively came from his dragon. Speaking of, the ivory reptile was crouched in the centre of it all, her beautiful white scales splashed in crimson to paint the image of a terrible beast amidst its slaughtered foes. Yet, as he looked at her, Harry felt no fear. At least, not for himself.
"Are… you alright?" Harry tentatively reached out with his mind to the dragon, wary of the sea of rage he felt coming from her. The moment he touched, however, it calmed, and she turned to look at him with pearl eyes.
"Harry." For the third time, though only the second he quite recognized, Harry heard that soft, feminine voice, now filled with a warmth and relief that he scarcely believed possible. The next instant, she was at his side, nuzzling gently against him. Harry stared dumbstruck at the dragon.
"You talk?" He asked, not entirely certain he wasn't dreaming. The books he had read did say she would speak eventually, or at least as close to it as dragons could get with thought-speech, but… it was really early.
"Yes." Was her only answer, besides snuggling even closer, her humming warmth comfortable against Harry's side. Almost without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her body, humming back. For a long time, they sat there, reveling in each other's existence even as Harry realised that he could have been killed.
It was a strange thought to have, surprisingly. Not necessarily the dying part, he had faced that often enough in his school years that the threat of death meant little to him personally. But somehow, Harry found himself filled with a cold dread as he looked at the bodies around him and his dragon, then down at the great reptile herself. Just how deeply did their bond extend, he wondered? It had been hardly a week, at best, and yet somehow he couldn't see himself without her at his side, any less than the reverse. It was a shocking revelation.
"So…" harry wasn't quite sure why he started speaking, perhaps simply as a way to break the silence, but when the dragon perked up slightly, curious, he found himself somehow continuing. "So… I think you should have a name." The dragon, turning its head fully to looke at him, blinked. Then he felt a wave of amusement crashing through the bond.
"Of course." She didn't say anything else, but Harry got the feeling that she was waiting for something. Surprised at the suddenness of the conversation, the wizard desperately cast his mind around, searching for a name. Sifting through all the female names Harry knew, he finally came up with two that seemed to fit.
"Well, there's Morgana. She was a great sorceress, and companion to Merlin, the most powerful wizard to ever live." Something in the dragon's eyes sparkled, and Harry felt rush of embarrassment starting to creep in. It sounded kind of pathetic, when he thought of it. But still, there was a slight hum from the dragon, and she nodded slightly.
"Perhaps." For a second, the wizard wondered if that was an affirmative, but she simply continued to stare at him until he grew slightly uncomfortable.
"Er, there's also Rowena. She… well she was one of the Founders, and really wise and clever."Again, the dragon hummed, and Harry found himself wondering what had brought on this sudden change in demeanor. In the time since hatching, she seemed so curious and bright, if a little snarky in her emotions. Now, however, the dragon seemed almost different in the wake of the attack, as if something had changed in her. Perhaps it was killing the creatures-which he still had not identified- or perhaps it was seeing Harry nearly die, but she seemed… quieter, somehow. And slightly more grown up. He was drawn away from his thoughts, however, when the dragon finally spoke up.
"I am… Morgana." Harry shivered as the words echoed through his mind, and the newly named Morgana gave a draconic grin. "And you are my rider." For a long moment, there was only silence as Dragon and Rider stared into each other's eyes. And then Harry smiled, and nodded.
"Always."
XXX
Alright, so that's finished, and damn, what is with you guys and crossovers, I swear. They're like fanfiction crack or something. Also, why all the reviews that literally just consist of "Good job, looking forward to more."? I mean, really, if you're going to take the time, at least put something with more substance. Maybe tell me a particular thing you liked, or something I could've done better. And if you do, make sure to leave it with an actual account, so I can respond. To the one person who did leave a sizable review, thank you very much for your comments, and yes, I put quite a bit of effort into Harry, and hope to do so more in the future.
So, before I let you go, I just have a couple more things to say. First, this shall hopefully be the last of the short chapters. It is, primarily, a mix of it being late at night, and me wanting to get the ball rolling. Next time expect much more content, more development of Morgana, and quite possibly leaving Utgard behind. Also, to any fans who are artistically inclined: I will be putting out a request for cover-arts for all my stories, and more besides if anyone feels obliged. Please, if you feel any desire, I would love to see any art of my works, since I absolutely suck at it, and can barely draw stick figures.
Anyways, that should be it for now, so without further ado, I will see you later, and don't forget to Review!