The Book
I pulled an old brown tome from the bag, marveling at Hermione's minor expansion charm to fit them all, and laid down on stomach to start reading. Snape curled himself near the entrance of the cave, blinking slowly at me as he settled down to sleep. He hadn't lain with me since that first night, always choosing instead to sleep by himself near the entrance. I don't know if he did it for an easy escape or for our protection, but I didn't push him. I was just glad I wasn't alone.
I usually read until I felt tired enough to sleep, sometimes I even read out loud to hear something other the wind howling outside. Snape didn't seem to mind…or at least he never told me to stop. I had been reading this book for days trying to find anything regarding the oddities of Snape's dragon form. I was so grateful to Hermione that she had even bothered to put a book of dragons in her bag. Most were assigned school tomes, but a few were for her personal quest of learning everything…well, that and the one grey book that I had given to her as usual when I was finished with it.
I thought she had returned 'Dangerous Dragons: A Directory for the Determined and Disciplined by Dalton Douglas'to the library ages ago. And what was it with wizards and matching titles? But it appeared as if she had decided to hold onto it for just a little longer. Lucky for me, I guess.
I was just considering calling it a night when I finally found what I was looking for.
"I found it!" I exclaimed loudly, watching Snape jerk awake so suddenly that I actually winced a little. His eyes were wide, frills fully extended, and head whipping around as if searching for a threat. "Sorry," I mumbled as I shuffled closer to him. I made a mental note to never startle him awake when he started to breathe fire. "Look, I found it," I pushed the book towards him and waited as he calmed down once he realized that we were not under attack.
He glared at me, and I gave him an apologetic smile. "It says you're a Snow Dragon," I began pointing at the illustration. "They are apparently the smallest of dragon species, the largest type no bigger than a pony," I glanced at him, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Looks like you won't be burning villages to the ground or carrying off any princesses for ransom."
"Pity," Snape commented dryly. "Remind me to cancel my holiday plans when we get back."
I snorted in amusement and returned my attention to the book. "Snow Dragons are also the only species to have dual pollex on either wing…huh?"
"It means your innermost digit, the thumb," Snape added helpfully, and I fought the embarrassment as I returned to the book. Seriously, how did he just know these things?
"Right, so you got two thumbs on each wing – which we already knew – and look here, apparently once mature, your fire will burn hot enough to even kill adult dragons. It says its so hot, that when the die-diethyl ether," I stumbled over the word, but he didn't say anything as I continued to read, "catches fire in mouth, the flames are colorless for up to several feet before turning violet, indigo, and then blue. Why would flame be invisible?"
I turned to Snape as he deigned to answer my question. "Do you know the difference between red-hot and white-hot?" He asked and continued after I shook my head in negative. "The answer is about a thousand degrees," I blinked in surprise, but he continued, stuck in his teaching mode. He did that a lot, I was beginning to notice. When I didn't understand something, Snape would lecture me on the subject as if we were in the classroom.
"The hotter the flame the further into the blue-violet end of the visible spectrum it is. Muggles can't see as much of the visible spectrum as Wizards can, but even still, our eyes cannot perceive the entire scale. Blue flame is even hotter than white. It burns between fifteen-hundred and seventeen-hundred celsius. That is hot enough to melt steel as well as bone."
"And how hot is…violet?" I asked, rereading the passage on fire.
Snape shrugged, or tried to in his dragon form. It came off as more of a bobbing motion. "I'm not entirely certain. I have had no need to ever use a violet flame, but my best estimate, hot enough to melt most of the basic elements."
"I'm guessing that's really hot," his sidelong glance let me know how ridiculous of a comment that it was. "Right," I turned back to the book…I've had quite enough with embarrassment for one day. "So, it says here that there are two types of Snow Dragons. There's the Arctic Snowflake and the Himalayan Cloudjumper."
Snape's eyes roamed over the page, tilting his head this way and that. "And which one am I?" I gave him a toothy grin and he groaned loudly. "Let me guess, the Snowflake," he spit the word as if it was something disgusting.
"Aw, don't be like that," I cooed at him, laying my chin down on my arms and batting my eyelashes at him. "I think it's adorable."
Snape hissed at me, raising up onto all fours and glaring heatedly as his tail lashed behind him furiously. He really did look like a disgruntled cat. "Cease this-this teasing."
I blinked at the vehemence he put behind the word, taken aback by the hostility in it as just moments ago we had been getting on. His emotions flipped like a switch and left me reeling. I could feel his anger coursing deep through me, no not anger. It was fury…and shame. I raised my head slowly, glancing down at the book before flicking my eyes back to him. "I'm sorry," I began slowly, feeling out the words carefully to make sure I didn't stumble and make it worse. "I didn't mean anything by it."
His glare flicked between the book and me before he was calm once more. Snape lowered himself back to the ground gradually, and he huffed loudly as he relaxed. "Just don't do it again," he rumbled. Deep within, I could feel tendrils of embarrassment and mollification.
I resettled myself carefully next to him, afraid to set him off again. I got the impression that he thought he had overreacted, but my mind was stuck on the reaction itself. What did he think was my intention behind the light-hearted teasing…and why would he react so negative to it?
The only possibility led me to thinking of Dudley, and I suddenly felt very sad. It appeared I wasn't the only one that was used to being bullied. Any teasing from one like Dudley was meant to cause harm, either physically or emotionally. I didn't like that Snape associated me in the same way as my cousin.
His eyes snapped back to mine and I realized I had been staring at him. Flushing, I turned quickly back to the book and started to point out the different characteristics between the two types of dragons. I hoped that moving back to a safer topic would help ease this sudden strain between us.
"See here," my finger trailed over the detailed illustration. "You've got coloring. Cloudjumpers are white with different shades of metallic greys and silvers mottled into the hide and wings." My eyes played over the drawing, fascinated by how mercurial the design was. They were really beautiful.
"Males have darker shades…smokier. And the females are lightly mottled with bright silvers." Snape's eyes followed my fingers are pointed out the differences.
"And Snowflakes?" He asked hesitantly. His voice nearly stuttered over the word, but he didn't speak it with any hostility this time at least.
I turned the page and showed him a different set of illustrations that were dotted with anatomical names and brief descriptions. The Arcticum Galanthus, which I knew from my Latin courses translated closer to snowdrop than it did snowflake, was smaller than its cousin species, the Himalayum Nubisaltus, but prettier. They were both from the Wyvernidae family, having two limbs and two wings like the Horntail and Ironbelly. Those from the Dracorexidae family had four limbs and two wings as the Common Welsh Green and the Swedish Snortsnout did.
I remember Charlie telling me that though they were all technically considered dragons, they were not actually the same at all. Any dragon species under the same family could interbreed, which I knew that reserves hated as they tried to keep them pure – just like wizards I realized. But any species from the Wyvernidae could not breed with a Dracorexidae, and in fact, they couldn't even tolerate each other.
He had once said that while a Ridgeback would endure a Vipertooth in its hunting territory (but not its breeding territory – which apparently a completely different thing) swathes of land had burned in disputes between the two types when a four limbed dragon and a six limbed dragon even encountered each other.
There were actually four families of dragons, I had learned when researching. The third was a very rare Asian dragon that flew but had no wings at all, and the fourth were Sea Serpents which could breathe ice. Nobody knew much about the last two families, as Asia believed the non-winged dragons to be sacred and guarded the information with extreme prejudice. And as for the Sea Serpents…well, they were deep beneath the waves and rarely did a body wash up on shore. Those that went looking either found nothing or were lost at sea.
My attention returned to the book and I tried not to giggle at the scientific name of the species, Dracoraptus Minimum (subspecies Dracoraptus Minimum Nix) but it made them sound so petite. In fact, the Snow Dragon was the only breed of dragon that fell under ten feet long. Merlin, the Horntail was in the largest species list – the Dracorapts Capitaneum – fifty feet and more. How the smallest of dragons had hatched from one of the largest eggs was beyond me.
I studied the differences between the male and female illustrations. The male drawing was white with an amazing array of colors. I compared the image with Snape beside me, taking in his lighter dusting of colors. "You're not mature yet," I supplied as I lowered the book back to the floor.
Snape snorted at me and I flushed again. Of course he wasn't, he had only hatched a few days ago. I wondered if he would look like the illustration. Deep purples were set in the membrane of the wings closest to the arms and following the path of the finger bones. It faded quickly into a navy blue so dark the transition was nearly seamless. Lighter shades of blue and an icy glacial teal dotted the rest of the wings as if dabbed watercolor. It really was pretty to look at.
Each spike along the back and the tail fins were colored similarly. Most of the hide was a solid white, but there were splashes of color that only appeared when the book was tilted in the light. Iridescent like an opal. I read the passage of the book aloud as I tilted it again to see the glimmering colors.
"…hide of the female is a solid white, the male however…blah blah blah…a pseudo-chromatic optical effect resulting in flashes of colored light known as play-of-color found usually within minerals…and diffract light resulting in displays of purple, blue, teal, and sometimes green," I stopped reading, turning my attention back to Snape who was also reading the passage.
"Is this how you read your assigned texts?" Snape asked snidely. "It's no wonder you're barely passing if you just skip most of the words." I ignored his comments, choosing instead to move the light of my wand over to him, slowly waving it back and forth. "What are you doing?" He asked slowly and I flushed with embarrassment at being caught.
"Um…looking for the play-of-color?" It came out more of a question than a statement as I returned my wand back over the book to light up the pages.
Snape grunted in annoyance as he gave me withering glare. "If you had read the full passage as I was just saying, you would have noticed that the affect only becomes noticeable when the dragon is 'mature and of breeding age' which, as you can see, I am not."
"Breeding age?" I asked, my cheeks flaming as I realized what the words actually meant.
Snape gave me a sidelong look that told me I was being childish about it. "Yes, breeding age…which I'm certain from your reaction that skipped over that section as well."
I spluttered indignantly, pulling my arms under me to prop my torso up. I didn't like talking about this kind of things, especially not with him. "Well, I might of. Why? Is it important?" I was trying to sound like the topic didn't bother me, but I could tell from his huff that he found my reaction more amusing than anything. His amusement only embarrassed me further.
"It explains why there were four dragons with a single egg, and how a Snow Dragon was hatched in a Horntail nest. And it wouldn't be in a book if it wasn't important," he snarked haughtily.
"Says you. You've clearly not read the erolit floating between the Houses," I added without thought.
Snape blinked slowly at me, his nictitating membrane exaggerating the movement. "The what?"
"Erolit," I replied quickly, already feeling my face heat up. Oh god, I did not want to explain erotic literature to my professor, let alone Snape of all people. "It's an uh…" my face scrunched up as I tried to recall the correct terminology. "It's a palindrome, wait…no. That thing, you know…when you combine two words to make –"
"The word your looking for is portmanteau, Potter," Snape interrupted, shaking his head and ruffling his fins in annoyance. "And what does that have to do with…whatever it was that you said?"
"Well," I swallowed, shifting uneasily and trying not to show my discomfort. "The lit stands for literature." I supplied, staring straight down at the book and refusing to look at him. I prayed silently that he would be able to put the pieces together and we could then move on from the topic…quickly.
"And what, is the euro for European? Why would European literature have to do with the importance of books?"
"N-no," I stammered, absolutely mortified. "It doesn't stand for European." I couldn't do it, I really couldn't say anymore. Merlin, I've never been in a more awkward conversation. The talk with Madam Pomfrey about menstruating, urges, and safe sex hadn't even been this uncomfortable.
His eyes narrowed at me, I could see the glow from the way his irises dim out of the corner of my eye. The silence was nearly oppressive. "Potter?"
I swallowed. "Yes, Professor?"
"What does it stand for?" His words were precise and pointed. Damn him, he already knew…he just wanted me to say it.
"You're a smart cookie…I think you've figured it out," I replied diplomatically. My eyes were still set on the tome before me, but I hadn't read a single word.
Snape snorted loudly, startling me enough to look up. "Well," he started, looking both embarrassed and smug. "I don't know what you Gryffindors get up to, but I assure you, that kind of filth isn't tolerated in Slytherin House. Why Minerva allows it in hers, I've not the slightest."
Oh, I really shouldn't…I mean he was moving on from the topic. Snape was willing to drop it, but… "You don't know your Slytherins as well as you think you do, then."
Damnit…me and my mouth.
His eyes glowed in the dim light, his glare harsh and the rumble in his chest threatening. I continued before this could turn into another argument. "Look," I rummaged through Hermione's bag, pulling out a much smaller book…the one I had given her. The cover was a solid grey leather that had been charmed to hide the contents. Nearly every girl in the entire school above second year (and some boys) had one at any given time. Hermione liked to think herself above it, constantly teasing me because I sometimes had three or four in my bag, but I knew she secretly loved to read them just as much as I.
I flipped it open to the backside of the first page. It was blank until I touched it with my wand. Names started to appear, written in different colors of ink and in as many different styles. Hermione's name was at the very bottom, right beneath mine. "See this?" I turned to the book to show him. Snape squinted at the lettering and I briefly wondered if his new eyes made it difficult to read. I imagine a dragon's eyesight were designed more for movement-based hunting, not to stare at stationary symbols on paper.
"What of it?" He snapped, tilting his head quizzically.
"There are tons of these all over the school," I started, pulling the book back to me, my fingers dancing over the blank cover. "There all charmed to look the same and when someone is done with it, they hand it off to someone else. Like a reading group, or book club, I guess…just without the actual discussion. In order to be able to read the book, you must sign your name. It binds you, so you can't snitch on anyone else who has one. Even if I gave you this book, all you would see is a list of names and a bunch of blank pages."
"Get to the point, Potter!" He hissed, but I could tell he was curious about the intricate spell work that went into the books.
"The point is this…the first name on the list is the original owner of the book," I flipped the book open again, shoving the page towards him so he could read the first name.
Pansy Parkinson
Below her name was three more Slytherin's in various years, and then a slew of Hufflepuff's, a single Ravenclaw, and then me and Hermione. Snape's stabilizing fins fluttered, and I could sense the bewilderment he felt. "To be honest, Professor…most of these books started with Slytherin before they ever came to Gryffindor. Your closeted House has the dirtiest literature available. Sometimes even I'm surprised with how raunchy they can get."
He looked affronted, eyes wide and mouth gaping like a fish. I couldn't help but chuckle. I tried to smother it, covering my mouth with my free hand, but it was hard. "My…my Slytherins! Reading this – this drivel? This…I will not have it!" He shrieked and I was forced to cover my ears as it echoed around the small space. "I will not have this filth in my House!"
I burst out laughing, no longer able to contain myself. Snape was growling at me, smoke streaming from his nose and I quickly pulled the book away before he could light it on fire. "It's not filth," I giggled again, trying to enunciate it as he did. "It's an educational romantic book."
"That is no book! And it is not educational in the least–"
"Oh, I don't know, have you even read it?" I asked drolly.
Snape continued as if I hadn't interrupted him. "And that is not romance, it's erotica," he growled the word and it sent me into another bout of laughter. "It's trashy literature that should be burned!" He was eyeing the book as if he intended to do just that.
I hurriedly tucked it back into the bag and settled myself before the tome on dragons, trying to contain my giggles. "Call it what you will, but nearly every girl over the age of thirteen has read at least one. And there's nothing you can do about that."
"Thirteen! Those books are for mature–"
"So, it is a book now?"
"Adults! They are not for children!" He lowered his head, swaying it side to side in that threat display of his, fins erect and tail swaying slowly behind him. "When we get back, I will find every single one and destroy them. Points will be heavily deducted to anyone that has one in the possession…starting with you."
"Oh," I smiled at him, more amused by the threat than annoyed. "And how are you going to do that. You've seen the inside of this bag several times and never saw it before." He blinked at me in confusion, so I explained. "You only saw it because I showed it to you. Until you sign your name, you're unable to read the contents within. And unless someone who has signed it gives it to you willingly, you're unable to even perceive its existence. It will appear to be just any other book, easily forgotten."
Snape finally stopped his angry swaying and instead directed an interested glance at the bag. I pulled it open to show him and I saw his eyes dart to each object inside – every single time his eyes slid right past the little grey book. He hissed in annoyance and I bit my lip to fight off the chuckle I felt brewing in my chest. I knew it would only start another fight.
"Explain it," he grumbled, finally turning away from the bag and choosing instead to glare at me.
"Hmm?" I hummed inquiringly. "I know it's hard…but do try and use full sentences. I heard it does wonders for your vocabulary," I threw his words back at him from this morning and he snapped his teeth at me in annoyance.
"Explain how the books are hidden," Snape snarled.
"Oh, a bit of a repelling spell with a dash of oath-binding." I replied dismissively, turning a page in the book on dragons. I held the next page up between two fingers, like I was about to flip it. The air of nonchalance I was going for seemed to work even on him as I saw him puff back up like a cat out of the corner of my eye. I felt my lips twitching and I forced myself not to grin.
"You don't know, do you," Snape changed tactics. He was trying to go for the high ground by questioning my intelligence, hoping to get me angry enough to slip up.
"I should hope I do," I commented idly, flipping the page I held aloft even though I hadn't read a word of the text. It was all for show anyway. "After all, I am the one that spelled the first book." Let him chew on that one.
"You?!" He spluttered, his eyes darting back to the bag like he expected the secrecy spell to fail simply because I was the one who had cast it.
"Mm-hmm," I hummed in confirmation.
He gave me another glance, this time more inquisitive than frustrated. "How are you able to cast something so complicated and yet utterly fail at the basic understanding of wand work?" I would have been offended by the words if he didn't sound so completely bewildered. I shrugged dismissively which only made him hiss in annoyance again. It was my turn to be the smug one…for once. "Where did you even get one of those – those…" he couldn't even say it.
I completely failed to hide my smile as I answered him. "It's a book… and Aunt Petunia has a whole collection." Was that my imagination or was his scales turning green? "Anyways," I continued, changing the topic back to our original discussion. "You were about to explain to me why there were four dragons in an egg, yes?"
Snape glowered, as if I had personally affronted him, but he allowed the conversation to deviate. "You're on the wrong page."
He directed me to go back a few pages and I turned back to the book, my finger darting around the words and paragraphs before I finally got to the one that he must have been talking about. "…don't have their own nests as they do not lay eggs. As the only species to give live birth – wait…live birth?"
"Yes, Potter," Snape grunted his tail flicking in irritation. "Live birth, as in baring living children like most mammals do. I assume since you read that drivel you know what that means."
I cast a side glare at him but let the comment slide. My eyes found the sentence I had left off from and I continued to read, silently this time.
What I read was fascinating. Snow Dragons didn't lay eggs, instead a female would steal into another dragon's nest and break open one of the eggs. She would then birth her young into the egg and reseal it. The newborns, which were cognizant and aware as any newly hatched dragon, would consume the yolk of the undeveloped embryo within. Once they became too large to share the egg, they would break through the weakened section of the egg that their birth mother had made and…the rest made me sick.
The meat I had just consumed lay heavy in my stomach as I read on.
They would, as individuals, break into another egg within the dragon's nest and seal themselves inside. By then the original hatchling would be mostly formed…and they would eat it. One pregnant Snow Dragon could destroy an entire nest. By the time the eggs were ready to hatch, only fully mature Snow Dragons would burst free.
"It seems cannibalism runs in the species." Snape commented sardonically next to me and the only thing I could think of to do was close the book. I had read enough for one day.
