Disclaimer – I solemnly swear that JKR owns everything Harry Potter. Whether or not I am up to no good with her characters is for you to decide.
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Harry Potter: Dragon Whisperer
Chapter 24 – Farlys' Tale
9:20am
Tuesday, 23 August 1995
Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, Romania
.
Harry landed hard, wobbled, stumbled forward but miraculously, managed to stay on his feet. Looking around, he grinned at Sirius, Remus and Charlie.
"Well done, Cub, you're finally starting to get the hang of portkeys," Remus said.
Movement from the right caught his attention and he turned to see Alexander, the Reserve's Head Dragon Handler striding towards them. Accompanying him were Delilah and Antony, two other dragon handlers.
"Glad to see you're finally back," Alexander greeted them.
Harry cocked his head at the man, there was something hard about him, as though he was on edge. The fact that the other two with him kept glancing from the four of them to the top of the ridge beyond which was the great canyon where the dragons lived had Harry starting to feel as though something was wrong.
"Good to be back, Boss," Charlie said, shaking Alexander's hand.
"How'd it go? What was the problem?" Alexander asked.
Everyone suddenly looking at him had Harry realising that he was expected to answer.
"Something – a bunyip – had been getting in and stealing the dragon eggs," he replied. "It got three of the four clutches before we even got there, which was why the dragons were so on edge and not letting any of the handlers in."
"So, it was a bunyip?" Alexander asked.
"We saw it in the newspaper, that article of yours, Harry, but until we'd heard it from you, we weren't sure whether to believe it or not," Antony said.
"Believe it," Charlie stated grimly. "That thing was as mean and as ugly as anything that I've ever seen!"
"But it's gone now?" Delilah asked. "The eggs are safe?"
"Yeah, we caught it," Harry replied.
"And the dragons roasted the thing; melted the bunyip and the cage it was in to nothing but a charred mess," Sirius added grimly.
"The dragons are back to normal now," Charlie said, "so, we took the first portkey home."
"Don't forget that Harry's got an invitation to go back to watch the eggs hatch," Remus said.
"An invitation? From who?" Alexander asked.
"Dankrum, the lead dragon of the Australian weyr," Harry shrugged.
Alexander stared hard at him for a second before shaking his head. To either side of him, Antony and Delilah simply stared, both of their jaws slack.
"Has Charlie explained the significance of that?" Alexander finally asked.
"Yes, Sir," Harry replied. "And I'll be sure to take my new magical camera with me to record it."
"Omnioculars would be even better," Delilah said. "They can record the entire hatching, not just a couple of seconds at a time like a magical photograph would do."
Alexander eyed her for a moment. "Good call. Order a pair in for the lad."
"You know it's not just Harry that got that invitation," Sirius said off-handedly.
"Charlie?" Alexander asked, sounding hopeful.
"Sorry, Boss," Charlie replied with a grin. "Not one of us. Harry's girl, Daphne, is the lucky one."
"How in Merlin's name did that happen?" Alexander asked incredulously.
Harry shrugged. "I was talking with Daphne using the magic mirrors that Sirius gave me while I was with the dragons so that she could 'meet' them too. Dankrum just invited her all by herself. I didn't ask or anything."
Harry blinked at his boss. Yes, he could understand that this was a BIG DEAL but for a man of his age and someone so rough to look like he was about to burst into tears, was something that Harry simply couldn't get his head around.
"How's things been here?" Charlie asked, and Harry was thankful to him for breaking the tension.
At least, that's what he thought would happen. Instead, it only made things worse. All three handlers suddenly went very still, their heads or eyes flicking to the ridge once again, not that Harry could see what they were looking at with the forest between here and there.
"Funny you should ask," Alexander replied, his eyes now firmly fixed on Harry. "Come with me, my lad."
Harry glanced nervously at Sirius, then Charlie, then Remus but none of them helped when Alexander's great, muscular arm landed around his shoulders and simply steered Harry away.
They walked in silence for nearly a hundred metres but, instead of making their way up the hill towards the top of the ridge where Harry expected, they walked around the base of it, only stopping when the view between them and the top of the ridge was no longer blocked by the forest.
Alexander turned him towards the ridge and gestured, as though looking was explanation was enough. Which it was.
There was a dragon crouched on the very top of the ridge, its head currently facing out over the canyon beyond. That, in itself, may have been slightly unusual, except …
Harry blinked at it.
It was green.
Green!
Dragons weren't supposed to be green. Quickly, he amended that thought. Dragons in the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary weren't supposed to be green.
Hungarian Horntails were black, as were Norwegian Ridgebacks, while the Ukrainian Ironbelly was grey. Even the pairs of Portuguese Long-Snouts and Swedish Short-Snouts weren't green, being red and blue-grey respectively. The closest that the Reserve had to a green dragon was the Romanian Longhorn but its scales were a green so dark that most of the time they appeared closer to black. Not this vibrant green colour.
Harry knew of only one type of dragon that looked like the one that was now staring back at him. He'd even seen it up close and spoken to one of them but that was nearly a year ago, back in Britain. Where dragons that particular colour could be found. The Common Welsh Green. But they only lived in Britain. There wasn't a single one anywhere else in the world.
"Um, what's that?" he asked.
"Common Welsh Green," Alexander stated simply. "Thought you'd know that."
Harry glanced up at him before his eyes were drawn back to the anomaly.
"We don't have any Common Welsh Greens here," he said, before quickly adding, "do we?"
There was, after all, the possibility that one had been added to the Reserve while he'd been away.
"We're not supposed to," Alexander confirmed. "That one turned up yesterday. Won't let any of us near it. And the other dragons are being rather protective of it as well."
"Okay?" Harry asked.
"Well, off you go, Lad. Talking to dragons is your speciality. Go find out what it's doing here and where it came from," Alexander said jovially before simply turning around and walking away.
For a full minute, Harry stared after him but Alexander neither looked back nor altered his pace towards the big lodge and his office.
Finally, he turned back to the dragon. The Common Welsh Green hadn't moved a muscle. For a fleeting instant, he considered pulling his shrunken trunk from his pocket, retrieving his Nimbus and flying up there. Somehow, he thought that would be a bad idea. Startling any dragon, especially one unknown to him, was never a good idea.
Instead, he did the smart thing and began the climb.
It didn't take long for the dragon to notice him. He saw the great head swing towards him which gave him a better view of the two spiked horns on top of its head. The closer that he walked, the more detail that he could see. While big, it wasn't as large as a Horntail, nor quite as long as an Opaleye.
Ordinarily, Harry wouldn't be worried. Even knowing that none of the other dragon handlers had been able to approach the dragon wasn't something that he needed to be worried about. He was, after all, Speaker for Dragons. Thus, he kept on, keeping as steady a pace as possible on the uphill climb.
The ground had just started to level out when the sound of great wings beating the air drew his eye upwards. Two dragons, a Horntail and an Ironbelly were coming in hard and fast, obviously aiming to plant themselves between him and the foreign dragon.
One look was enough for Harry to break out in a massive grin even as he raised his hand in greeting.
§Ramaranth! Grouleth§! he called.
Both dragons paused mid-flight, hovering just above the ground, their long necks stretching down towards him.
§Speaker! Speaker! You have returned§! Ramaranth bugled.
§It is good to see you returned to us, Speaker§, Grouleth called.
As they were landing, Harry looked past them to see the Green's reaction. The dragon had risen and taken a single step towards him, and he noted that the orange-red that was in the dragon's eyes had morphed into a green with yellow undertones.
The instant that his two friends had landed, Harry raced forward, before throwing his arms around firstly Ramaranth and then leaping across to Grouleth.
§How are you both? I've missed you§, he said.
§We are well, Speaker§, Grouleth replied.
§And the hatchlings§? Harry asked.
Ramaranth looked over her shoulder and for a split second, Harry expected to see four tiny dragons come tumbling over the top of the ridge towards him.
§The hatchlings are well, Speaker and have asked for you each day that you have been gone§, Ramaranth replied.
§I look forward to seeing them§,Harry said earnestly. §First, though, I believe there is a visitor§?
He motioned towards the Green, standing back, watching and listening to them.
§May I§? he asked.
Simultaneously, the two great dragons inclined their heads, a movement that Harry copied before walking between them.
§Hello§,he said cautiously. §Welcome to Romania and the weyr§.
§Speaker? Do you not remember me§? the dragon asked.
Harry's mind raced. Could it be? He had only ever met a single Common Welsh Green. At the First Task of the TriWizard Tournament, there was a Welsh Green that the Beaubaton's Champion, Fleur Delacour had had to get past. After the Task and everything had settled down, Harry had gone down to the pens where the dragons were kept with Neville – even if Neville had stayed well back where he could barely see the dragons – and Harry had spoken to each of the dragons. Including the Welsh Green.
§Farlys§? Harry asked, dragging the name up from the depths of his memory, hoping that he had it right.
§Yes, Speaker, it is I§, she replied.
§It's good to see you again§, Harry said. §How are your eggs? Have they hatched§?
§Indeed, Speaker, five hatchlings cracked their shells some moons ago§, she replied and Harry noted that the yellow flecks in her eyes calmed somewhat.
§That's wonderful§! he exclaimed. Then, taking a breath, he asked the Big Question. §Why have you come here, Farlys§?
§Speaker§, Ramaranth said, interrupting any answer that she would have given. §Memzath has asked that you be brought to the Weyr Council to hear Farlys' tale§.
Harry nodded. While he suspected that Alexander and the others would want to know sooner rather than later, the fact that he could find out at all, meant that they'd accept however long it took.
§Of course§, Harry said. §Might we go now§?
Ramaranth simply inclined her head before squatting down somewhat. §It would be my honour to take you, Speaker§.
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9:55am
Tuesday, 23 August 1995
Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, Romania
.
If Harry had expected a fast, direct flight from the ridge above the dragon handler's camp to Memzath's cave which was also the secret entrance to the Weyr Council Bowl, then Harry was sadly, greatly mistaken.
No sooner had he climbed up on Ramaranth's back and settled between two of her spine ridges than she turned, bounded across to the cliff edge and all-but fell off. Her wings snapped open and she took that first, important downsweep of her wings.
To either side of her, Grouleth and Farlys flew, each a head and neck length behind as they swept through the canyon, barely ten metres from the ground.
Which dragon was the first to take note of him, Harry wasn't sure but he sure knew the precise moment.
§The Speaker! The Speaker has returned§!
§The Speaker§!
§Welcome back, Speaker§!
The sentiment was bugled up and down the canyon even as every dragon took to the sky, winging after them. The dragon's echoes were nearly enough to deafen Harry, not that he really noticed, instead he was too busy laughing and waving and calling greetings to all those he knew the name of – which was more than he realised.
The hatchlings – Harreth, Potteth, Spekith and Painzz – were the only ones who dared to fly in front of Ramaranth and even that had more to do with getting close to Harry than it was to do with their mother.
Before long, though, Ramaranth landed in front of Memzath's cave where they were met by the great Horntail himself.
§Speaker, it is good that you have returned§,Memzath said.
§It's good to see you, too, Memzath§, Harry replied.
Before anymore could be said, the Weyr Leader turned and led the way into the cave. Harry made to dismount but Ramaranth was having none of that, and thus, Harry was carried all the way through the tunnel to the great hidden bowl.
Once there, he quickly swung his leg over and slipped to the ground, managing only a quick thanks before Ramaranth took flight and winged her way to perch on one of the tiers that rose above and around the bowl.
It took a surprisingly short amount of time before every dragon had gathered and taken their places, leaving only three with Harry still on the ground – Memzath, Farlys and Tyriath, the eldest of all the dragons in the weyr.
§Speaker, we have eagerly awaited your return to us§, Memzath began, having bugled the weyr into silence.
§Thank you, Memzath, it is good to be back§, Harry replied, giving the Weyr Leader a bow. §I was asked to bring greetings to you and to all dragons of the Romanian Weyr from Dankrum, the Weyr Leader of the Australasian Weyr. They are far distant in the world from all other dragons and weyrs and often feel forgotten; your greetings to them caused great joy and they wished their names to be remembered to you in return§.
Memzath inclined his head, a slightly deeper bow than Harry was used to seeing him give. §They honour us. Know, Speaker, that they, like all dragons, are respected and remembered. Were you able to help them in their time of need§?
§I was, Weyr Leader§, Harry replied. §There was a predator, a thief, that was sneaking in and stealing the eggs of the Opaleyes§.
As Harry expected, there was an instant uproar at the audacity of a creature, of anyone who would do this. Indeed, after talking with the dragons, Harry still didn't understand how the dragon handlers hadn't been flamed for daring to take nesting mothers and their eggs to England the year before.
§The thief was caught and appropriately punished§, Harry said, raising his voice. §The remaining eggs are safe and will hatch in due time. Dankrum has invited me back to their Weyr for the joyous occasion§.
§As is appropriate§, Memzath said. §You are the Speaker§.
§It may be, Weyr Leader§,Tyriath said slowly, §that the Speaker has the right of it. He has brought greetings from the far Weyr and has taken our greetings to them. He is a bridge that spanned two weyrs from across the world. All Weyrs have become insular, perhaps there is another way§.
Memzath looked long at the Elder Dragon before he inclined his head.
§You are wise, Tyriath§,Memzath said. §Wiser still is Farlys who has come to us from her Weyr, before these thoughts even came to us§.
§Memzath, why has Farlys come here§? Harry asked, hoping that he was finally about to hear the reason.
§It is best for Farlys to answer for herself§, the Weyr Leader replied.
Harry turned to regard the Welsh Green and waited as patiently and as respectfully as he could.
§Speake§r, she began. §I have come seeking you. While I did not know that you had been named Speaker for Dragons, I did remember how you spoke to us at the two-leg place many moons ago. It was the hope of the dragons of Albion that you would be able to help us and that Ramaranth might know where you were and how to find you§.
Harry blinked at the unusual word. Dragons often used words in a different way than humans did and there were more than a few – weyr, for example – that he'd had to learn and, indeed, had taken back to the dragon handlers as well. But Albion? That one was new.
No. No, he decided on second thought. Not new. Old. Very old. It was a word that Harry had only heard once, maybe twice in history class. Ancient History at that. Albion, the ancient Celtic word for Great Britain. Farlys meant Britain? The dragons of Britain? Which made sense, her being a Common Welsh Green and Britain was the only place to find that type of dragon.
§The dragons of Albion are looking for me§? he asked slowly, carefully. §And you need my help? What's happened§?
§Two-legs have come§, Farlys said, her eyes spinning with reds and oranges. §They have come to all of our weyrs and begun transporting us to a faraway island§.
§Transporting you§? Harry repeated.
His mind was whirling as he absorbed the information and tried to make sense of it. Why would men, wizards, be moving the dragons? He had no doubt that the magicals knew where all the dragons in Britain were, after all, they monitored them in order to ensure the Statute of Secrecy. But to start moving them all of a sudden? And to an island?
§Is it just dragons like you, the Greens, who have been moved§? he asked.
§No, Speaker. Blacks have been brought to the same island§, she replied.
Blacks, Harry nodded. That would be Hebridean Blacks, he decided, the other species of dragon native to Great Britain.
§And all the dragons are being moved to an island§? he repeated slowly, beginning to pace as he tried to understand why this would be happening.
Britain was one of the few places in the world that still allowed their dragons to remain in their own secluded places. Everywhere else, the dragons had been rounded up centuries ago and placed into weyrs like this one, where the dragons could be watched and where it was easier to get the bodies of dragons when they died to sell.
Harry looked up at the dozens of dragons perched on their ledges as they watched him. As far as he knew, this was a unique place for dragons. No other weyr had a Council like this, certainly there was nothing like it at the Australasian Preserve.
Suddenly, Harry froze.
Preserve. The Australasian Dragon Preserve. The Romanian Dragon Reserve. They were just two of the five dragon reserves that were signatories of the contract that he'd signed. That thought led him to another letter, another potential contract – the one that Charlie had received not long ago.
What was it called? he asked himself, before, with a snap of his fingers, he had it. The Dragon Reserve of Great Britain.
With the possible answer worked out, Harry looked up at all of the dragons again before settling on Memzath and Farlys.
§I think I understand what has been happening§, he said slowly. §It is possible that the two-legs from … from Albion, have been gathering the dragons to create a Weyr like this one§.
Memzath, slowly nodded his great head. §Once, long ago, hundreds of moons before even Tiriath was hatched, dragons were gathered and brought here. Not all, for this has always been a dragon's weyr§.
§Why would the two-legs do this to us now§? Farlys asked.
Harry shook his head. He had an idea and, if it was what he thought it was, it was one that turned his stomach and made him want to throw up.
§Without asking them, I'm not sure§, he hedged. §With your permission, Memzath, Farlys, I'd like to talk to the two-legs who look out for you here and ask their opinion§.
§You are the Speaker of Dragons§, Memzath stated. §You are trusted as our Voice, to Speak for Us and to our benefit§.
Harry bowed low at the great respect that he was being given. This wasn't going to be an easy fix, even if he could fix it and Harry was afraid that he'd fail his friends. For a second, he almost wished he was back hunting mythological creatures that dared to steal dragon eggs.
§I will return as soon as I can§, he promised before turning and striding from the cavern.