Hey!

Look! I'm alive! i know it's been almost a mont since I last updated and I'm sorry, but this document got half-destroyed (half of what I wrote just diappeared) and then I just had no will to write. But, I've finally finished it and here it is...

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I forgot to write it in the last chapter, but I think it's obvious tht the brilliances called Inheritance and Harry Potter don't belong to me. they belong to Christopher Paolini and J.K. Rowling.


CHAPTER 4: Decisions Come with Price

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.

-Tony Robbins


They certainly are an interesting group, thought Eragon in mild amusement as he watched the people in front of him.

Three Professors, two of them with a dark past - one hiding it behind a bright and carefree demeanor, whereas the other one didn't try to conceal it, but chose to be cold and a bully.

A healer that treated the weirdest of wounds without so much as asking how the injured got it.

And, of course he mustn't forget the three teenagers.

A redheaded boy that originated from a poor but kind family.

A bushy-haired girl that was incredibly bright and didn't even know of her potential until she was eleven - much like the third boy.

Now, the messy-haired boy was an interesting one. He had experienced things no one no matter the age should have to. And yet, he remained loving and caring beyond possible. Eragon decided that he liked him.

I like him, too, hummed Saphira, the vibration in her chest making Eragon relax. He's had some difficulties in his life, though. After seeing his memories I'm glad that nest-master-Garrow treated you right.

I've never thought of it that way, he answered thoughtfully. But, I'm glad, too.

"Mr. Bromsson?" a pleasant voice brought them both out of their private musings.

They looked up – or rather, he did, Saphira had to look down - at Albus Dumbledore, who was smiling warmly at him.

"I apologize," Eragon said. "We were lost in our thoughts. What did you ask?"

"Do you mind telling us something about yourself?" the old man asked. "You know most thing about us, you, however, are a mystery to us."

The Blue Rider tipped his head as he studied Dumbledore and others.

They want to be on equal ground, he noted, the situation humoring him despite himself.

Well, can you honestly blame them? replied Saphira, though with a hint of amusement in her voice. We broke into their minds. We know their memories, feelings, practically everything, whereas all they have about us are our names. And names can be made up. You know I speak from experience.

He sent her an equivalent of a nod with his mind while he answered Dumbledore, "Of course," he said. "Ask away."

The old man conjured up seven comfortable-looking chairs, making Eragon and Saphira's curiosity peak, but they didn't show it. The seven people sat down on them, though their wands, Eragon noticed, were still at arm's reach so that they had no trouble getting them should it come in need. Snape even gripped his tightly, refusing to relax. The dislike the Lead Rider felt for the Potions Master seemed mutual, then.

Eragon patiently waited for the others to speak, though the pain in his ribs and arm was getting stronger and realer with every second passing. He gritted his teeth, not wanting to let out a sound of pain.

Dumbledore was the first one to break the tense silence, "How old are you?"

"Seventeen," he answered, maintaining the eye contact with the bright blue eyes of Dumbledore's.

"You're just a child, then," he said, quickly hiding his surprise behind a mask of calmness.

"I am an adult by my people's standards and yours. I am no child, nor have I been one since Saphira's hatched for me," he replied defensively.

They were all taken aback by his cool, almost cold, reply, but surprise showed only on the younger ones' faces.

"But by our standards, you should be in school," said Minerva McGonagall, her tone terse.

"We both finished our education a year ago, deemed so by our masters – or Professors, as you call them."

It took them a whole minute to respond.

"Where are your parents, boy?" growled Snape, tightening his grip on his wand. It was obvious that he tried to provoke Eragon by labeling him of nothing more than a child. Saphira glared at him and let out a low growl, but Eragon rubbed her cheek to calm her.

"Dead."

And everything was silent once again.

"I'm sorry for your loss," offered the black-haired boy, Harry. Understanding shone clearly in his eyes, while the other two teenagers were looking sympathetic, but not even close to understanding.

Well, he's never met his parents either, has he? Eragon thought sadly.

You've met your father, Little One, Saphira reminded him gently.

That doesn't mean that I knew him, he retorted. Harry hasn't either. The only difference is, that their reasons were nowhere near similar.

She had no answer to that.

"I've made my peace with it," he said, tilting his head with his eyes softening as he looked at the boy. "As have you, haven't you?"

"This, I will not allow," huffed McGonagall angrily. "You have no right to ask him such questions."

Before Eragon or Saphira – who didn't seem too pleased with the said Professor – could answer her, Harry interrupted, "It's alright, Professor." He gave her a reassuring nod before turning his head back to the dragon and her Rider. "Did your parents die when you were a baby, too?"

He found himself at a loss of words at the boy and because of the pain increasing in his chest.

Well, that's a first one for you, teased Saphira warmly – though there was worry in her voice – and a second later answered Harry, That's a story for another time, hatchling. Eragon felt a wave of immense gratefulness for Saphira wash over him and he allowed himself to close his eyes for a second, his pulse increasing. Now I have a question. Saphira's voice was strong, but it sounded so comforting to him that he felt himself slowly losing consciousness. Black dots were dancing in his sight and his mind was becoming fuzzier. Where are we?

"We're at Hogwarts' grounds in Scotland," replied Hermione.

Eragon's confusion and slight worry mingled with Saphira's. Albeit she was the one that responded. Is it near Alagaësia?

His breathing was becoming shallower and more rapid but it was quiet and no one else but Saphira noticed it. Her snout creeped closer to his shivering shirtless body and her eyes were softly shinning in worry. She didn't say a word, though.

"What is Alagaësia?" added Ronald, looking just as confused.

It took a moment or two for the statement and the wizards' puzzled faces to register into Eragon's fuzzy mind. But once they did, he turned his head – which was previously facing Dumbledore – towards the young redheaded wizard sharply. But, unfortunately for him, his ribs weren't agreeing with his movement. He fell forward with pain burning in his ribs and tasting blood in his mouth. His right arm instantly clutched his ribs while his left arm tried – and failed – to support his weight. It buckled and he found himself with his body pressed in the moist and cool ground of the forest. But it felt nice – the cool ground eased his pain somewhat.

The wizards and witches – excluding Snape – were immediately at his side, the mediwitch being the first one. Saphira who was standing protectively over him and managing to look threatening and worried even with her wings broken did little to hinder their worry for his condition. Poppy Pomfrey was touching his shoulder lightly while she examined his broken arm. She said something to the old wizard, but it was too soft for Eragon to hear.

"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Bromsson," Dumbledore's voice came floating to his ears as if from miles away, but Eragon could hear the worry in it. "I've forgotten that you're injured. Let us take you to Hogwarts and heal you."

Saphira, however, had no trouble reaching him. Eragon, you have to heal yourself.

I can't… He had trouble making coherent thoughts. My magic… it'll… scare… them.

To hell with that, she retorted fiercely. You know we can fight them off. I won't lose you because of it! Heal yourself, Eragon! Now!

He raised his eyes to meet Dumbledore's. "It's alright," he rasped slowly. "I… can do… it."

He pushed himself upwards on his knees – with a little assistance from the wand-wielders and the energy Saphira sent across their link –, assembled the spell he would use in his head, reminded himself of the right pronouncement of some words and started chanting in the Ancient language.


Harry was not the only one that jumped back from Eragon as the silver mark on the said boy's started shinning again. Eragon was saying something in some weird language and Harry found himself reaching for his wand yet again. But that time, it was different than the last time Eragon had used the strange language. Shinning blue magic wrapped around the dragon's companion's torso and left arm. They could all hear Eragon's bones snap back in place and the bruise on his chest disappeared. His arm no longer bent under a weird angle and the skin on his stomach that was red and raw before became pale and smooth once again. He stood up, his tall and lean form looking intimidating. He said something in the strange language once again and the magic healed Saphira's broken wings, healed the gash on her cheek and chest and washed the grime off of both of them.

And if they looked fearsome and terrifying before, it was nothing compared to what they looked like now. Eragon, though he looked small next to Saphira's large but slim form, was tall, at least as much as Dumbledore if not even taller. On the contrary to the Hogwarts' Headmaster, however, he wasn't thin but lean and muscular. He had strong relatively broad shoulders, which tips of his dark brown hair brushed. Harry felt that Eragon just lacked the sword that he had with him when they found him in the forest to look even more powerful than he already did.

Saphira next to him looked intimidating with her sapphire blue scales refracting what little light there was in the Forbidden Forest and her head held highly. She was flapped her wings a few times, sending gusts of wind in Harry and the others. She was a beautiful sight to behold.

Nevertheless, he still held a grip on his wand as did the others, because they didn't know if they'll attack again or not.

"What kind of Dark Magic is this?" growled Snape. Harry noticed that he was gripping his wand so tightly that his knuckles were white.

"Well, of course you'd know everything about Dark Magic, but this isn't," said Eragon, not much kindlier than the Potions' Master. "This is my magic or Gramarye. But don't worry, I won't hurt you with it." Saphira gently growled in agreement – or at least, Harry hoped it was agreement.

"Your magic?" repeated Hermione, dumbfounded. "You have different kind of magic?"

Of course he does, Saphira answered flatly. You don't see him waving a stick around and yelling something senseless out, do you?

In Harry's opinion, Saphira's description of their magic was surprisingly accurate.

Dumbledore seemed to agree, though he didn't let go of his wand. "A most fitting description, Saphira," he said, his eyes twinkling in amusement. Saphira hummed. "But how does your magic work?"

The dragon and her companion looked at each other. "Well," Eragon began, turning back to them. "I have a pool of energy inside me and to use my magic, I have to access it."

"And the strange language you use while doing it?" asked Professor McGonagall.

That's Ancient language. One cannot lie in it. By using it we use the true name of an object and thus calling it to our aid. For example, brisingr means fire.

"Everything is a bit hard to explain, really," said Eragon, rubbing his temples. It must had been causing him a terrible headache. "The energy inside us has its limits and if you cross them or come too close to them, you drain of any energy and you die or lose consciousness."

Harry had a strong suspicion that Eragon partly spoke from experience.

But, one can share energy with another being. For example, Eragon and I can lend it to each other as long as our minds are connected.

"Your minds?" asked Ron incredulously, his face horrified. The prospect of sharing his mind with another living being seemed to scare him.

He must've forgotten that he has a friend that shares a similar bond with the darkest wizard of all time, Harry thought humorlessly.

Meanwhile, Eragon sent a light glare towards the sapphire dragon. "You had to," he accused. "You just had to, didn't you?"

In response, she puffed smoke into his face. She turned her head towards them gracefully, watching them sit back into the armchairs. Back in Alagaësia, she paused. It seemed that the thought of Alagaësia, whatever or wherever it was, brought her pain. There are people that-

"-ride astride dragons. They're called Dragon Riders."

A few get chosen by a dragon and when they do they are treated with respect.

"You see, when a dragon lays an egg, Elder Dragon Riders perform a spell on it – with the mother's consent, of course –, a spell that prevents the dragon in egg from hatching until they sense their chosen Rider. And when the dragon hatches and the Rider touches him or her, a mark appears on the Rider's hand," Eragon held up his right hand where the oval-shaped mark was.

It is called Gedwëy Ignasia or Shinning Palm in common language. Once the Rider is marked, there is no returning. We are one, she said and nuzzled Eragon with such love and affection that made Harry realize that even if Eragon didn't have his parents, he wasn't alone or unloved. The Rider responded just as affectionately, hugging his dragon's snout. A bond creates between the dragon and the Rider and we are able to hear each other's thoughts and communicate in this way, too.

Harry had trouble following their switched talking – the pair didn't even seem to notice –, but he managed to keep up and suddenly, a thought entered his mind and even if it wasn't a nice one, he had to ask, "And if one dies?"

All people present, even Snape, in the clearing turned their heads towards the young wizard. Saphira, especially, had such an intensity in her eyes that Harry started wishing that he hadn't asked the question.

"We do not wish to live without each other, though some do," answered Eragon softly, his hand gripping one of Saphira's spikes. It answered his question quite nicely.

Silence ruled over the clearing as everyone was lost in their thoughts.

Eragon eventually broke it. "How did we get here?" he asked.

Hermione tilted her head. "You don't remember?"

The Dragon Rider pair shook their heads and Saphira answered, The last thing we remember is that we were in the middle of a storm and we hit a patch of light. From there on, everything is somewhat blurry.

"Well, you fell from a patch of light," offered Ron. "And landed in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, where we found you and took you," he nodded towards Eragon. "to the hospital wing."

Eragon inclined his head. "Thank you for that."

Though it did little good, added Saphira bluntly, causing Eragon to send another glare towards her. Madam Pomfrey huffed, offended by the sapphire dragoness' statement.

"Forgive her," Eragon apologized for his dragon, who refused to regret her statement, holding her head high. "She gives her opinion no matter the consequences and refuses to apologize for it later."

The young Rider ran a hand through his hair in attempt to soothe his nerves and he revealed strange fact about himself.

Pointed ears.

The witches gasped at them and he looked at them in confusion.

"Your ears, Mr. Bromsson," explained Dumbledore kindly. "Your ears are pointed."

Realization crossed Eragon's face. "Oh, that." He ran his hand through hair nervously. "That is kind of amusing story, actually." He cleared his throat rather awkwardly. "I'm kind of a hybrid between a human and an elf."

"Elf?" repeated Professor McGonagall with a sniff. "I find it hard to believe that one of your parents was a small creature that is considered a slave in the wizarding world."

Hermione bristled at her words and opened her mouths to say something, but Harry and Ron send her looks that made her shut her mouth.

Eragon let out a dry chuckle. "If you're referring to the poor creatures your kind's so brutally enslaved, then no. In our world, elves are creatures similar to humans but immortal, with pointed ears, fairer features and better abilities. But, my parents were both fully human, at least to my knowledge. No, this," he gestured to his face and ears. "and improvement of my senses were dragons' doing. "

He was a human 'til his sixteenth year, said Saphira. Dark-creature-Shade, Durza-

"Oh, so now Shades have names?" drawled Snape. "Please, do tell, what a shade is."

Now, I would watch out, Sev, Saphira snapped back at him, making Eragon, who was sitting next to her, snicker. Because of a reason that was unknown to Harry Snape paled to the point where he looked like death. We're not just some students you can bully and put in detention. It would do you well to remember that.

"But since you did ask so nicely," said Eragon sarcastically and with a nasty glare for the Potions' Master. "and to get this question out of our way, Shade is a dark creature that knows not love nor friendship. It is merciless and bloodthirsty. It is what used to be a person for a Shade is made by spirits taking control of one's body and increasing his or her abilities. It can use magic like mine, only it is darker, and its battling abilities nearly match an elf's." He looked at Professor Snape again, his eyes challenging, daring him to say something else.

However, the greasy-haired man stayed silent.

So, as I was saying before I got interrupted, continued Saphira airily. Dark-creature-Shade-Durza inflicted a horrible scar on Eragon's back before he killed the wretched being.

"The scar caused me pain every time I over-exerted or strained myself and during a celebration of the bond made between the dragons and the Dragon Riders, the reflection of their race changed me, healed all of any scars I've ever got and gave me abilities that I've thought unnatural before. And so it is that I look like an elf, though I was born human."

"So…" began to summarize Harry. "You're what used to be a human, but with more beautiful features and better abilities?"

"Pretty much, yes," nodded the young man, his brown eyes serious as he tilted his head to side, observing them – Harry, especially – with unnerving intensity. "But your world is in a war and you're the middle of it all."

They looked at him, aghast.

Saphira and her Rider chuckled. You seem to forget that we've seen your minds quite quickly, noted Saphira playfully. Do give us some credit. We're not idiots, you know. We recognize a war when someone describes it.


"How?" asked Professor McGonagall.

Eragon sighed and shifted uneasily. "Well, we were in one, for a start," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

Ron choked. "You were in a war?" he asked, baffled.

Yes, sighed Saphira impatiently. Now, do we look like a pair of useless babbling idiots to you?

They all shook their heads, even Snape. Eragon felt touched.

Good. Then stop acting like we do.

"You were the heroes, too, weren't you?" asked Harry with calmness that was unnerving for a fifteen-year-old.

Eragon closed his eyes and nodded slowly. "Yes. We were the people's newfound hope."

"Did you win?" Ron inquired.

Yes, but at terrible costs.

There were so many casualties, Eragon remembered sadly.

Garrow. Brom. Ajihad. Quimby. Hrothgar. Kvîstor. Oromis. Glaedr's body. Wyrden. Islanzadí. And many more, whose names he didn't even know. They had all died for what he awoke in them.

There was grave silence as the wizards and witches let them grieve the losses for a minute.

"What will you do now, Mr. Bromsson, Saphira?" asked Dumbledore softly. "You do not know how to return to your home, do you?"

"No, we do not."

"Well, you're welcome to stay at Hogwarts for however long you wish," offered the old wizard. "as long as you promise to not hurt any of the students living in the castle."

"We would never. Vel einradhin iet ai Shur'tugal."

Vel einradhin iet ai Skulblaka.

"So, will you stay with us?" asked Harry, his green eyes shining brightly.

Eragon thought about it. He was hesitant to simply forget his friends and family back in Alagaësia.

We won't forget them, Eragon, Saphira's gentle voice swept through his head. We will simply live our own lives.

But we cannot just-

We can, Little One. It is time that we start living our own lives. For the past two years we have let duty control and drive us. Since I've hatched all I did was fight. I want to live, Eragon. We must learn to live.

But the eggs-

Arya and Fírnen will take care of the eggs, as will the Eldunarya.

They'll think we're dead.

We can attempt to contact them, but we cannot return to Alagaësia. There's no way. They're strong, Little One. They'll survive, as will we.

I cannot fight another war, Saphira. Not after we've just finished one.

We're a dragon and a Dragon Rider, she whispered in his mind. We are the peacekeepers, we stand between the light and the dark and keep the balance between the two.

He had to smile as she told him what Oromis had once told him. But it quickly disappeared from his face as he realized what he was about to do. He raised his head skywards and closed his eyes.

Arya, Roran, Katrina, Ismira, Murtagh, Nasuada, Orik, I'm sorry, he whispered to himself. But this is something we have to do.

He looked at the anticipating wizards and witches and together, he and Saphira, said, "We'll stay."


Aaand so begins our adventure. Sorry if this chapter seems a bit rushed. But I really had to hurry because I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and I wanted to post this chapter before that. I hope you liked it.

Vel einradhin iet ai Shur'tugal. - Upon my word as a Dragon Rider.

Vel einradhin iet ai Skulblaka. - Upon my word as a dragon.

So, here are answers to your reviews:

Cynder2013: I know, right? But I think they thought that Shadeslayer was more ridiculous.

Guest reviewer: I'm glad you loved it! And my test went well, thank you.

Peyton: I've always wanted to see Snape get what he deserved, too. I hope your question was answered in this chapter, but if not, yes, Eragon adn Saphira do know about Lilly and Snape.

Guest reviewer: I'm so glad you liked it! :) But, no, I didn't mispell latter becaouse it means the second of two people, things, or groups previously mentioned.

Quintain Apprentince of Alduin: I understand your point, but Eragon and Saphira were injured and wanted to make peace with them, not cause another fight with the wizards. There was some good hate between Sanpe and Eragon&Saphira. Hope you liked it.

Awesomepants: THANK YOU! :D I'll try to make it as long and enjoyable as possible. And you can be assured that I won't pair Arya with Harry or Eragon with Ginny, though I do think the latter two would make good friends. And I'm sorry that the description of Umbridge didn't come in this chapter. I'll do my best to put it in the next chapter. But I do hope that a Shade's description was satisfactionary.

Random Guest: I'm so glad you think that way :D Thank you.

Zek: Thank you. :D

Love,

EA4E.