Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters whose names can be found in the Harry Potter books.
The shops were relatively quiet for a Tuesday afternoon. A black haired boy stood in Myers, a store he had only recently discovered thanks to the two girls standing with him. One of the girls had long brown hair that flowed smoothly down her back, the kind of hair you see in shampoo commercials. Her eyes were the same rich brown as her hair and mischief was etched on her slim face. Her mouth was set in a predatory smile as she handed outfit after outfit to the boy. The other girl was standing back, her blue eyes rolled up in her head. Her mouth was set in an amused smile as the boy began to sink under the clothes handed to him.
"Think you've got enough clothes there Harry?" Heather asked the black haired boy.
"Oof" was all Harry managed as yet another outfit was thrown on him. "Fia, I don't think they're going to let me in the change rooms with this many clothes. Hell, I don't think I'd fit in the change rooms."
Fia looked serious, "you might be right. I know we can try them on in loads. Here take these three."
"What?" Harry found himself shoved towards the change rooms, clothes piled up in his arms.
"Alright, dump the lot here and just take three in." Fia said.
"What!" Harry exclaimed. "If I try all these on in threes we'll be here forever, can't I just pick a few?"
"Nope." Fia remarked, shoving him towards the change rooms with three shirts in his hand. "Hurry up I want to see what they look like."
Help me, Harry mouthed to Heather. The young nymph just shook her head and laughed, pointing towards the change rooms.
Sighing, the black haired boy marched dramatically into the rooms.
After three hours of shopping Harry found himself with seven shirts, he had insisted he only needed three, five pairs of shorts, a hat Fia had insisted was essential, though Harry was still wondering what was so great about a multicoloured cap with a spinner on top. He'd also bought a sensible hat to wear in the sun. Burdened down with all the shopping, which Harry had known he would end up carrying, the trio sat down, or in Harry's case collapsed, into one of the tables in the food court.
"What is in this thing?" Harry asked, holding up a bag that felt like it weighed a tone.
"Oh just this and that." Fia remarked offhandedly, Heather had gone to get something to eat.
Harry peered into the bag, shocked just how much someone could pack in.
"Back guys," Heather called, carrying a tray laden with food.
The trio continued to talk and eat, occasionally throwing a few fries at one another.
"So you're Meric's new kid." A deep voice remarked from behind the trio.
Flipping around the group saw a young boy standing behind them. He had short spiked blond hair and hazel eyes.
"Hanging out with some wimps aren't we?" The boy said. "Nymphs, they can't do anything."
"What did we do to you Garth?" Fia asked.
"You were born," Garth remarked with a sneer, reminding Harry strongly of Malfoy.
"What do you want?" Fia asked.
"I just wanted to meet the new kid, nothing harmful at all. No need to get aggressive." Garth said smugly.
"You've met me," Harry said calmly, deciding he hated the boy. "Now would you leave?"
"Awww," Garth sighed. "He doesn't like me. What a pity, I was being so nice too. What if I don't want to leave?"
Harry felt the sudden urge to snarl at the boy, but repressed it. "Would you just go away?" He said instead.
"No," Garth said, plopping himself down next to Heather who had gone very quiet during the exchange. "Heather here likes me, don't you Heather."
"Go away Garth." Heather said, her voice sounding a bit nervous.
"Awww, I'm hurt. I just wanted to talk." He said, putting his hand on his heart.
"We asked you to leave." Harry repeated, his temper starting to flare.
Garth's face became predatory as he turned his eyes on Harry. "You want me to stay away. Alright new kid, I challenge you to a fight. You win, I leave you alone. You lose, that's punishment enough, trust me."
"I'll fight you," Harry said, his voice deepening.
"Good," Garth said, getting up and straightening his clothes. "Next Monday, in free period," he said and walked away.
"Harry do you even know what you agreed to?" Fia asked as Garth walked away.
Looking down sheepishly, Harry grinned. "No idea."
Heather sighed. "Basically Garth is a pain and he pretty much made it his mission in life to annoy everyone else."
Fia took over telling the story. "He challenged you to a fight. There's an arena at school, every Monday they have scheduled fights. The teachers came up with it as a way for the students to sort of their differences without killing each other. There are rules and everything. You can't hit an opponent if they surrender or if they lose. Stuff like that, to make it fair."
"And Garth rules the arena." Heather added. "That's the whole reason he came over here, to get you into a fight."
"I figured that much," Harry remarked, his face serious. "What exactly happens in the arena?"
"Well you have a referee but pretty much anything is allowed as long as it doesn't result in death. Then the two opponents face each other and well, fight." Heather said.
"It can't be that bad." Harry remarked.
"Never say that." Fia said quickly. "Along with; I wish something interesting would happen and how funny would it be if we got on the wrong train."
Harry raised his eyebrows. "Do I want to hear this story?"
"No," Heather said, shaking her head, a smile on her lips.
"What?!" Fia said indignantly. "It was an easy mistake to make, how was I meant to know it went to Carinda?"
Heather just shook her head in mock disgust.
The next morning Harry dressed quickly and hurried to the common room, skidding into the room he found Nath and Toby already there, Meric hadn't arrived yet. As soon as Toby saw him he bounded over.
"Is it true?" Toby asked.
"Is what?" Harry sounded confused.
"You're fighting Garth in the arena on Monday."
"Oh, right." Harry said. "Yeah it's true."
"Did you know he's a fourth year and a competent fire elemental? Hell, the guy's a ruddy chimaera."
"A chimaera?" Harry asked, sounding awed.
"Yeah, what do you know about them?" Toby asked out of curiosity.
"Just appearance, they have three heads; lion, goat and dragon and they have the body of a goat and tail of a dragon."
"Do you know anything about personality?"
"No," Harry answered.
"They're basically built to fight. Chimaeras are renowned for their quick tempers and Garth's no exception. You'd better watch out for him."
Harry nodded solemnly as Meric walked in.
"Well what are the lot of you doing standing around here?" He barked. "Get a move on!"
Harry felt like his entire body was on fire as he entered the transformation classroom. The teacher, a ninch, was standing at the front of the classroom, waiting for everyone to arrive. When the last few students trickled in the teacher stepped forward. Professor Hiastra had long black hair that fell to her ankles, her eyes were black too, one of the few signs that she was in her natural form. Being a shape shifter it was very hard to tell when she had altered her appearance. Her face was thin and bird like, complimented by a sharp beak. Her fingers and toes were clawed and she had feathery yellow wings.
"We'll be trying something different today." Professor Hiastra squawked. The class, now used to her accent, listened carefully. They had only studied the history so far, people and clans who possessed transformation powers.
"We'll be doing practical work today; we're starting on the first of the many stages of transformation. The first stage of complete transformation is to know your creature. To know how they think, how they feel. To change your body and must know what you wish it to change it to." Saying this professor Hiastra's clawed hand changed into a pincer then moved swiftly into a paw before settling back as a hand.
"Most of you have the ability to take on multiple forms; however some of you have only one form. Today you will decide on one form you will work on, those with only one form will have no trouble with this part of the exercise."
There were a few weak laughs from the class.
"Work is individual, as each of you are working towards different goals. I expect no talk since that is the case. Don't do anything yet." Professor Hiastra said as the class went start working.
"Thank you" She said as the class settled back down. "The easiest parts of your body to change are your hands and feet as there are no vital organs in these areas. I recommend that no student attempts to change their head first as I have seen some of the nastier results of these transformations."
The class seemed to pale slightly, each student imagining the results.
"You may begin."
Harry got up and moved to one side of the room, away from the others. Aidan had taken to riding on his shoulder rather then staying concealed within the tattoo.
"So what exactly am I meant to be doing?" Harry asked.
"Didn't you listen to a word?" Aidan huffed.
"Yeah I get the idea." Harry said indignantly. "I meant how I do it."
"Well you didn't say that." Aidan remarked smugly.
"You're just doing that on purpose now." Harry said, glaring at his familiar.
"You're right I am," Aidan replied, smirking as best a phoenix could. "But you need me so there's nothing you can do about it."
Harry just rolled his eyes at his familiar. "So are you going to tell me?"
"Alright, alright" Aidan said. "Spoil my fun."
Harry just smiled.
Aidan pulled himself up to his full height and Harry recognised the stance as the one his familiar took when he was about to give a particularly long lecture.
"As you know, your magic is descended from the dragons however you are also descended from humans. That means you were born with two natural forms."
"I have another form?" Harry interrupted.
Aidan ruffled his feathers in annoyance. "What do you think you're doing here if you don't have another form?"
"Well I figured it was something like how wizards become animagus."
"Well yes," Aidan said, taking this into account. "Though you will have noticed I said natural forms. A wizard's animagus is not a natural form. It is created by the magic to serve as an expression of the wizard's power, personality, a combination of many things, but I won't explain right now. You however have another natural form, a form that you were born with, not one that you must create."
"Why do I have two natural forms?" Harry asked.
"Well, because you are descended, both from dragons and humans, you have the ability to take on both forms. You were born in human form but your dragon form lies dormant. Since your body has never had the need to use this form it doesn't know how to make the transformation."
"What breed would I be?"
"You're thinking of it too much like an animagus transformation." Aidan informed him. "You're not simply borrowing the form of a creature as an animagus does. You were born as the creature. You are a dragon. Unlike an animagus you won't have signature markings from your human form; I doubt you will even be a known breed. You will simply become what you would have been, if you had been born a dragon."
"Do I have an animagus form?"
"Now that is in interesting question," Aidan remarked. "Since you are technically, at least partially human, you should have an animagus form, though I'm not entirely sure. It's a topic to investigate. For now you should concentrate on finding your other form. The knowledge of the form will be somewhere within your core."
"Alright one more question though," Harry said. "Why have I never known about my dragon form before this?"
"Your other form is kind of like accidental magic for wizards." Aidan started to explain. "When you feel a particularly strong emotion, your body will make the transformation. The knowledge of your form is integrated within your body, as a safe guard of sorts, but since you have had no need for it your form has never been used."
"Okay, one more," Harry said.
"Fine, one more." Aidan conceded.
"You said I would gain some dragon traits. Does that have anything to do with this?"
Aidan nodded in confirmation. "I've said you're half human, well it's a bit more complex then that. Essentially you are more like one quarter human and three quarters dragon. Because you are more dragon than human your dragon form will start to seep into your human form. It happens in puberty because that is when dragons themselves go through changes. Enough questions, you have to start soon. Your professor is getting edgy."
"Right," Harry said, looking up and seeing the bird like women's glare directed at him.
"So what do I have to do, exactly?"
"It's a lot like meditating, the knowledge of your form is somewhere inside your core, the first step is finding it."
"How hard can it be to find a dragon?" Harry remarked, dropping instinctively into a mediative state.
An hour later a bell to signal next lesson rang and Harry drew himself out of his meditate state.
"Looks like it is hard to find a dragon," he remarked to Aidan as he rose, stretching his stiff muscles.
The rest of the week was very normal. Along with classes, homework, training and hanging out with Fia and Heather; Harry spent all the time he had left trying to find his dragon form. He had only made small amounts of progress; he had seen glimpses of eyes and sometimes claws but nothing more. The weekend had ended too quickly for Harry's tastes and at half past three he was facing the prospect of fighting a chimaera, a specious renown for their fighting abilities.
The day past quickly and all too soon Harry was walking back to east wing to drop off his books before the duel. He met Fia and Heather in the common room as he was walking out.
"Hey," Harry said, his voice betraying his nerves.
"Don't get too badly beat up." Fia remarked after Harry's greeting.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Harry remarked sarcastically, though his voice was touched with his amusement.
"No problem at all." Fia said, grinning. "We'd better get going though if you don't want to be late."
"Yeah," Harry said, glancing quickly at his watch and exiting the common room at a run, Fia and Heather ran at first but quickly took to the air, finding it easier to keep up with Harry when they were flying. Harry grinned in pride, despite the upcoming duel. He was defiantly getting faster.
The duelling arena was located on the south side of the grounds. From the outside it looked like very much like a quidditch stadium. The metal stands looked to be at least four stories high. Entering the arena was like stepping into another world. The area in the middle of the stands looked to be the large as a four football fields. Scattered through the area were different terrains all blending into one. There was a lake, mountains, grass plains and a desert. Across the terrains were numerous hiding places. Already in the arena Harry could make out a chimaera. Having never seen Garth without a glamour charm, Harry could only assume this was his opponent.
"Looks like you made it on time." The chimaera, who was now identified as Garth, snarled at Harry.
Harry remained silent, choosing to stretch rather than talk.
Garth just grinned, all three heads looking predatorily towards the black haired boy. "I'm going to enjoy this."
The stands began to fill up. It appeared duels were popular and Harry soon found himself being watched by at least two hundred other students. One of the teachers stepped into the fighting area. The teacher had three legs and a pair of wing. His entire body was covered in fur and his four eyes watched what was going on around him. In one claw he held a whistle and Harry assumed he was the referee.
"The rules are simple." When the creature spoke it had a high pitched voice, not what Harry had expected. "No one is to aim to kill, there is to be no more fighting after the opponent has lost. A loss is declared if a participator can no longer continue to fight or admits defeat. Understood?"
Both boys nodded.
"Alright," raising the whistle to his lips the creature gave it one sharp blast before leaping out of the way as Garth charged across the ground.
Harry barely had time to throw himself out of the way before the chimaera pelted through the space he had just been occupying.
Scrambling to his feet, Harry started running towards the mountain terrain. While the chimaera had a distinct advantage on speed, the mountains would make sure that speed couldn't be used effectively. His senses immediately picked up on the sound of hooves thundering towards him and Harry threw himself to the side again but it seemed Garth had anticipated this and breathed fire at the black haired boy, skidding to a halt a few metres away.
As the fire came at him, Harry threw his hands up and parted the fire, letting it die out as it hit the ground. Scrambling to his feet again the young Potter got only a few steps before he felt Garth closing in on him. As he felt the chimaera almost on top of him the black haired boy put both palms to the ground and fired pure magic out through his hands. The energy pushed the boy up into the air and Garth didn't have time to stop. His sheer body weight made it so he had to keep running for at least four metres, this gave Harry time to land and flee into the protection of the mountains.
Up in the stands one of the teachers sitting next to Meric was commenting on the fight.
"Your boy's got brains." The teacher remarked as Harry fled into the mountains. "Don't see many like that. He didn't try to fight Meric straight on but used the field to his advantage. That's not to say he doesn't have power either, the way he used his magic like that. Shooting raw magic out of his hands to avoid the attack, now that takes power that does, but why am I telling you this. You'd know all about combat."
Meric simply grunted. His eyes fixed on Harry as he darted through the mountain terrain.
"He's good," Meric remarked as the emerald eyed boy scrambled up the side of the mountain, swinging easily between the sparse hand holds. "But I'll make sure he gets better."
Harry's senses were on high alert as he fled into the remote areas of the mountains. Garth wasn't stupid and he would know Harry had the advantage in terrain, however Harry had done research on chimaeras and found they had almost no patience. Garth's temper was likely to get the better of him and he would charge into the mountain range fairly quickly, disadvantaged or not. He needed a plan, and fast. Coming to rest on a small ledge where he had an unobstructed view of his surroundings Harry's brain went into overdrive. A chimaera's greatest weakness was water; as they were a fire elemental and because of their body weight they couldn't swim. His best bet was to somehow lure Garth into the lake. While chimaeras were fiery they weren't stupid, Garth would stay well clear of the lake. Levitation was out of the picture as Garth was simply too heavy and would struggle too much for Harry to lift him into the lake, he wasn't even sure how deep it was. The water could turn out of be only a few feet deep. Tricking Garth into running into the lake was also not an option. Once the chimaera realised that Harry was headed for the lake he would stop chasing him and simply breathe fire. Hearing hoof falls coming closer Harry knew his break was coming to a close. Leaping between the peaks in the direction he knew the lake, Harry was grateful for all the times he had been lost in the forest. His sense of direction had significantly improved for all the hours he had wondered, lost in the trees. Reaching the edge of the mountain range the black haired boy saw the lake was approximately two hundred metres away, across open land. Garth was still in the mountains behind him and hopefully wouldn't emerge soon. If the chimaera emerged too soon Harry would be caught on open land with nothing more then his wits to defend himself. Bunching his muscles in preparation, Harry darted out of the mountains, sprinting full force across the plains.
When the lake was only fifty metres away Harry heard the distinct sound of hooves advancing on him. Not looking back to check if he was right the black haired boy felt his chest tighten. His whole plan rested on the fact that the lake was more then a few feet deep. Hearing the hooves advancing and with only twenty metres left, Harry shot two fire balls behind him, not looking around to check the results. With only six metres to go Harry bunched his muscles, preparing to make a dive for the water. If it was shallow then Garth would trample him. He heard the chimaera's footfalls hesitate for a second and in that second Harry knew the water was deep. Preparing to dive, Harry never got the chance, as he felt his back explode in pain. The black haired boy was flung around like a dog toy. His body clamped firmly in the jaws of the lion head of the chimaera. Feeling the pain start to overwhelm him, Harry flung fire into the lions face. The only problem with fighting a creature with multiple heads was that when one failed the other took over, and the dragon head was quick to clamp down on him and its scales protected it from the fire Harry flung at it. Barely conscious, the youngest Potter shot a jet of cold water at the chimaera, a spell he had practised many times to get his twin out of bed.
Garth let go instantly, mostly due to shock, because a chimaera naturally fears water. Harry was dropped bodily onto the ground and only the force of the throw allowed him to get into the water. The instant he entered the water Harry felt his breathe leave him, the lake was indeed deep; he couldn't see the bottom. Sheer will was the only thing that allowed Harry to roll himself onto his back and float to the surface. Breaking the surface the black haired boy took mouthfuls of air, the water turning rapidly red around him. Hoping that his healing abilities would be able to stop the bleeding before he hit unconsciousness, Harry managed to flip onto his back, floating in the water without using any effort. The world was rapidly going black around him and sleep began to sound very inviting but a small voice in his head kept him from letting unconsciousness take him. We haven't won yet, it whispered to him. Harry's mind was losing thoughts as rapidly as his body was losing blood but one thought seemed to stick in his brain. There must be other creatures in this lake. "Help me," Harry whispered before the blood loss finally took its told and he was claimed by unconsciousness.
Harry clamped his eyes shut as light that had assaulted him.
"Harry!"
Braving the light, Harry open his eyes halfway. He appeared to be in a hospital wing. Fia, Heather and Toby were all sitting beside his bed; Aidan was perched on Fia's shoulder.
"You're awake!" Fia said happily, her smile lighting up her features.
"About time," Heather remarked, though she too had a smile on her face.
Toby didn't seem interested in the fact that Harry was awake; his mind was fixed firmly on the fight.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" He yelled.
Both girls looked around fearfully at his outburst and hushed him hurriedly. "Do you want her over here?" Heather hissed in a whisper. "Keep quiet."
"Want who," Harry asked in a whisper.
"The nurse of the ward," Fia whispered back. "She's well, yeah." She didn't seem to be able to find the words to describe the nurse they so obviously feared. "You'll find out." She decided on.
"Never mind that," Toby's voice had returned to normal volume. "What did you do before you fainted?"
"What do you mean?" Harry asked, sounding confused.
"You don't know?" Toby said, his voice graining volume in his excitement but decreasing when Fia shot him a glare. "As soon as you passed out the whole lake started bubbling. Garth was getting really edgy, backing away from the lake and all and then these water goblins started popping up, hundred of them, then came the weirdest thing. Cause water goblins stick to themselves but they all started chattering and they looked at you, looked at Garth and then they all flooded out of the lake and charged towards Garth. He looked like he was going to wet himself. He started running but they trapped him really quickly and they were all manipulating the water and chattering about being called and then Garth looks like he's going to pass out in terror because the goblins built this bubble of water around him and were thickening it and he was running out of air and when he tried to run out of it the water just moved with him. The entire staff went going into action, I've never seen Meric fight but he did then. He took out the water goblins left, right and centre. They were no match for him, it was incredible. We're lucky there weren't any other creatures in the lake, otherwise I think they would have attacked too. One of the teachers fished you out of the lake and started running up here with you. You were bleeding like there was no tomorrow."
"Haha," Harry remarked sarcastically. "Bleeding like there's no tomorrow. You're so funny."
"Aren't I?" Toby remarked, sounding proud at his attempt at humour. "So what exactly did you do?"
"Nothing," Harry remarked, feeling a bit stupid. "I just asked for help."
Toby's eyes got so big Harry thought they might be in danger of falling out. "You asked for help." He repeated. "That's it?"
"Yeah," Harry replied, shifting uncomfortable, already his wounds were healing over, though he wondered how long he'd been out. He voiced his question, steering the conversation away from the fight.
"Half an hour," it was Heather who answered. "Which is pretty amazing for someone who lost as much blood as you and with being human, I thought you would have been out for at least two days."
Harry grinned. "Blame Aidan," he remarked. "He's the reason my healing abilities are so fast." Aidan simply trilled, his song soothing the group.
"So Garth won then?" Harry asked, just to be sure.
"Yeah," Fia sighed. "Though I reckon you should have, seeing as Garth couldn't fight the water goblins."
It was at that moment that the nurse came around to Harry's bed.
"You're awake!" She yelped.
"Um," Harry murmured.
"Get out!" The nurse screeched to Fia, Heather and Toby. The three practically flew to the door. Toby's tail barely made it around the door before the nurse slammed it shut.
Aidan sat perched on Harry shoulder as he sat up.
"The phoenix can't stay." The nurse said sharply.
Aidan made an indignant sound in reply to this. "The phoenix has a name."
The nurse jumped back in shock.
"I'd thank you for your services but we won't need them." Aidan said snippily, clearly offended. "Harry is fully healed."
"I'll be the judge of that, he's not leaving until I've seen him."
A fire seemed to come into Aidan's eyes and Harry quickly got up as his familiar took to the air, his wings creating a wind in the hospital.
"You will not question me." Aidan hissed his voice low and commanding. Harry had never seen his usually calm familiar become so enraged.
The nurse seemed quite fearful of the angry bird and backed away a few paces. "Go then," She snapped. "But don't expect to get back in here."
Harry just smiled; glad no one had changed him into a hospital gown so he could walk straight out. Holding out his arm Aidan landed softly, though his eyes bored into the nurse as Harry exited the hospital.