DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Five - The Library Heist
Harry blinked slowly and smothered a yawn with the back of his hand. His eyes shifted from the slip of blue sky revealed by the window to the Professor floating at the front of the class. Resting his chin on the back of his folded hands, he yawned again and allowed his eyes to drift closed. History was definitely the most boring class in the curriculum and should be banned, he thought lazily. Frowning at the faint nudge to his side, he opened one eye and glared at Hermione.
"Pay attention, Harry." She admonished, quill flying as she made notes on Professor Binns' lecture. The witch appeared frazzled as she tried to keep up with the professor, muttering under her breath every now and then.
"At least I'm awake." He mumbled, tipping his head and gesturing at Ron. The redhead was slumped in his chair, book standing open before him and chin resting on his chest. Smirking, he watched Hermione shoot an angered look at Ron before shaking her head in exasperation.
"Wake him up." She hissed, the tip of her quill slowly burying itself into the table under her parchment. "I'm not letting the pair of you use my notes again. I swear-"
"Is there a problem, Mister Potter?" The Professor's stern voice broke the relative silence of the classroom. Immediately all heads turned to look at the student in question, not wanting to miss the chance of seeing a classmate issued a detention.
"I'm sorry, Professor," Harry purred sweetly, sitting straighter in his chair and donning the persona of the perfect student. "Hermione was talking, could you please repeat that?"
Frowning in warning, the ghost shook his head and turned to face the blackboard. Mumbling to himself for a minute, he reread his last notes before reissuing his last comment. "Please flip to page two hundred and four in your text."
Rolling his eyes, Harry slid back down in his hard chair and narrowed his eyes at the thick tome resting closed in front of him. Planting an open hand on the book, he dragged it closer and turned to the first page. Sitting beside him, Hermione thwacked 'History and it's Mysteries' with her wand and ordered it to turn to the correct page. Shaking his head and sighing over her enthusiasm, Harry flipped to the second page and stared blankly at it before flipping to the next page. In the way of many students, rather then flip immediately to the assigned page, he took his time and revisited past lessons.
A moving picture on one page caught his eye and he halted his slow turning. Smoothing the page down, he pulled the book into his lap and read the title. Chewing his lip, he glanced at the image. A massive green dragon spat fire and threw its angular head back, golden eyes flashing. Its wings curved and snapped downward ruthlessly, long tail skidding across the dirt. Wizards rushed around the silently roaring beast, wands leveled as they secured the chains binding the animal in place. The picture stopped there; the dragon completely secured and awaiting its death.
Reading the short blurb, he frowned and replaced the book on the desk. Drumming his fingers on the scarred wood, he allowed his eyes to travel over the short passage next to the picture. Over a three-month period, two hundred Mage Dragons were killed mercilessly. The most successful hunting troop was led by Lord Reginald Malfoy; his prowess and ingenious methods of trapping led to the capture and destruction of sixty-three dragons. As ordered by the council, no Mage Dragon was left alive. Resistance against the court motion was small but extremely troublesome and led to no more then six deaths. The last Mage Dragon was destroyed in 1573.
Licking his lips, he watched as the dragon's capture was played out again. Not once did the dragon seem afraid. Its shimmering eyes promising a painful death as it thrashed against the metal pinning it to the earth. Held in a submissive position, the green dragon screamed defiance. Running a finger over the animal's head, he closed the book and sat up in his chair.
"Professor Binns?" He called out, waving a hand to get the ghost's attention. Paling under the Professor's icy gaze, he slowly lowered his fingers.
"This is the second time you've felt the need to interrupt me, Mister Potter. Please tell me what could be so important as to disrupt my class?" The Professor drawled out, floating down the aisle toward Harry. His shimmering form became transparent as he passed slowly through a beam of sunlight.
Swallowing, Harry reddened under the gaze of his Professor and his classmates. Rubbing a gash in the desk with one finger, he lowered his emerald orbs. "I was just wondering if we would be covering the Mage Dragon hunt this year?"
"No, we won't." Binns' grumbled moodily, turning around and gliding silently back to the front of the classroom. Swinging about, the ghost stared at him for a moment. "Mage Dragons aren't covered until seventh year. If you want to learn more on that subject, I suggest checking the library."
Blushing at the snickers running loudly around the room, Harry nodded and slumped back down in the chair. Sighing, he allowed his eyes to slide shut and crossed his arms over his chest. If nothing else, at least he'd leave the classroom filling slightly rested.
XxXxX
Hermione settled herself at one of the long tables in the library. The large room usually appeared cavernous and heavily shadowed but in the middle of the afternoon, full of chatting students, it seemed very small. Arranging her books and study materials around her carefully, she shot an annoyed look at the arguing quartet sitting down the table from her. Two Slytherins and two Gryffindors fought angrily over ownership of a small book, all four looking ready to draw their wands and commence dueling.
Raising an eyebrow, she watched Harry plod toward her and drop his book bag on the floor at her feet. Seeing the raven-haired wizard in the library this early was unusual. Especially since he was there of his own free will. His arrival halted the debate occurring down the table, the young Slytherins shooting an anxious glance at the senior Gryffindors before scurrying away and vanishing among the shelves. Smirking in appreciation, the two lion cubs opened their newly acquired book and began to read.
"Watch my stuff, will you?" Harry muttered, already trudging away from the table. Shaking her head in amusement, Hermione opened her history book and pulled a piece of parchment forward. Dipping her quill in the inkpot resting on the table, she tapped her chin with the long feather and glanced about. Nibbling her lower lip in thought, she watched Harry wander down one of the long bookshelves, fingers running along the spines absently.
"Stay away from the restricted section, Harry." She whispered under her breath, cringing as the wizard sauntered by the chain marking the small area as off limits. Sighing in relief when he stopped further down before a heavily stacked shelf, she shook her head and went back to her essay.
Working diligently, she easily filled five inches of parchment before sitting back and putting her quill on the table. Raising her hands, she ran her fingers through her hair before looking around. Sliding her chair back, she tilted her head and peered down the aisle she had least seen Harry in. The raven haired wizard was sitting on the floor leaning against a shelf, in his lap a dusty book was perched precariously. He appeared completely engrossed in the text, ignoring the students stepping over him.
Smiling softly, Hermione reread her work and made a few corrections before flipping to the index of her book. Running a finger down the column of words, she paused and looked up as a small disturbance occurred just inside the library doors. Narrowing her eyes, she watched as Parkinson and Zabini whispered heatedly back and forth before separating. The witch glided toward the librarian's desk, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder as she went. Zabini slipped down one of the far aisles, appearing interested in the books shelved there.
Something was a foot, Hermione thought. Glancing back and forth between the pair, she observed the Slytherins carefully. Zabini was drifting slowly closer to the restricted section, eyes narrowed as he read over titles. Her eyes widened when the Slytherin wizard tossed a furtive look at his partner before stepping over the chain and entering the restricted section.
Mouth falling open in shock over his blatant disregard for the rules, she could only gape as he ran a hand over several books before yanking one free of the mess. A sharply raised voice had her head jerking around, blinking as Parkinson slammed a book down on the librarian's desk and stormed from the room. By the time she turned back to look at Zabini, the wizard was standing several books down from Harry.
"Do something, Harry." She mumbled, disbelief over the Slytherin's actions colouring her words. Hermione smirked pridefully as Harry's lips moved, obviously rebuffing the Slytherin. Her grin faded when Zabini smiled and replied to Harry's comment, flicking his fingers in farewell before exiting the library. Hissing softly, she waved a hand at the raven-haired Gryffindor and waited for him to come over. Tapping the feather of her quill on the table in a quick rhythm, she raised an eyebrow when Harry stopped beside her. "Well?"
"Well what?" Harry asked, brow drawn down in confusion, he placed the book he had been reading on the table and pulled out a chair.
"What did you say to Zabini?" Hermione asked, collecting her papers and closing her text. She widened her eyes when Harry grinned and patted the top of his book.
"Oh, that. I said 'good job'." Harry announced on a grin, chuckling softly at Hermione's loud scoff. Still smiling in appreciation over the ease with which the other wizard had pulled the little heist off, he shook his head and flipped his book open.
Sighing softly, she rolled her eyes and slid her books back into her bag. She raised an eyebrow as she glanced at Harry, finding him completely absorbed in the tome he held. "I'm leaving now, are you coming?" Mumbling under his breath, Harry waved a hand and turned the page in the book. "Alright, I'll see you next class. Don't be late." Swinging her bag over her shoulder, she walked from the room, leaving Harry to his reading.
XxXxX
Blaise glided into the Slytherin Common Room with a roguish grin gracing his face. His eyes glowed as he ran his fingers over the dark leather of the bag that hung over his shoulder, feeling the book hidden by the cloth. He paused in the center of the room, eyes searching for Pansy amongst the sea of green and silver. Nodding to the witch, he patted his bag before heading in the direction of the sixth year dorms. The spacious room was empty upon his arrival, beds made neatly and desks organized.
Boots thudding gently against the stone floor, he padded to his desk and dropped the leather bag onto the glossy wood. His fingers trembled as he pulled the book from the depths of the bag, smoothing the dusty cover with a sweep of his hand. Blaise pulled the chair out and collapsed into it, licking his lips and flipping quickly to the table of contents. He glanced at the clock sitting on Draco's night stand, checking the time before turning his attention back to the stolen book.
"Ten Thousand Flutes and their Founders." Smirking over his successful heist, he ran fingers through curly hair while scanning the table of contents. The book listed the flutes alphabetically, each chapter representing a letter. "D, four hundred three." He whispered softly, turning quickly to the indicated page. His face fell when he observed the length of the chapter, groaning loudly.
Shaking his head, he turned the page and began to read the name of each flute. The name of the flute Draco held started with the letter D and contained a second word beginning with an M. It's intricate design and dragon engravings made him assume the instrument had something to do with the large winged creatures.
"Dragon it is." He muttered, turning slowly and looking for the word. Finding it at the bottom of page four hundred eighteen, he grinned. Dragon Aid. Dragon Breath. Dragon Call. Dragon Fire. Dragon Flare. Crossing his fingers, he drew a deep breath and turned the page. "Bloody hell!"
Running up the center of the book was a line of torn and shredded paper. The letter E lying darkly upon the next page. Looking at the back of the last remaining page of D, he found the final flute listed as the Dragon Love Lure.
"What's the matter?" Pansy asked, leaning into the room. One of her hands rested on the door knob while the other was settled upon her hip, eyebrows raised as she wondered over his sudden outburst.
"Some bloody fool ripped the page out!" Blaise bellowed loudly. Slamming the tome closed, he leaned back in the chair and ran his hands over his face. He couldn't believe it, he really couldn't believe it. After all the trouble they had gone through planning and stealing the damn thing it didn't even have the bloody page they needed.
"Nonsense." Pansy murmured soothingly, "I'm sure it just got tucked in somewhere else." Walking across to the fuming wizard, she picked the book up and held it by the covers. Flipping it upside down, she gave it a firm shake and paled when a ripping sound filled the room."I guess we won't be returning it like we'd originally planned."
Peeking between his fingers, Blaise sighed mournfully and shook his head. "It's fixable." He said, watching as Pansy tried to reattach the cover to the spine. Reaching out, he took the back section and the cover, placing them upon his desk and whispering an attachment spell. As the glow from the spell faded, both Slytherins could see the cover had bound itself back to the book. Backwards. "Maybe no one will notice."
"The title is still visible on the spine." Pansy offered, patting him on the back of the head in a comforting gesture. The clock sitting on Draco's night table beeped in warning, causing the pair to pull apart and shoot an anxious look at the time. "We'll be late for Ancient Runes." The witch gasped, spinning around and running from the room to get her books.
Snorting at her inelegant exit, Blaise pulled the drawer of his desk open and dropped the book inside. Glaring down at the now useless text, he smiled slightly and shook his head. He did love a good mystery.
XxXxX
She was running hard, chest burning as she gasped for air. Her long black hair snagged in the grabbing branches, yanking painfully as she pressed onward. Emerald eyes watered from the wind and the constant sting of branches slapping at her face. In the distance, a dragon screamed loudly. The same high-pitched shriek that had shaken the fine glass of her castle's windows. Panting, she winced as a thin whip like twig slapped her across the face, leaving her skin burning in its wake. Feeling the first drop of blood roll from the small wound, she fell into a small clearing.
Her eyes widened at the sight before her. One of her dragons was pinned to the ground, wings flailing desperately as he fought the chains holding him. Blue scales glittered under the soft moonlight, marred in places by long gashes and deep cuts. Chest heaving, she felt her throat tighten as the dragon threw his head back and bellowed in agony. The flash of metal caught her eye and she turned quickly, stilling almost immediately.
A wizard with shaggy brown hair was perched atop the dragon's back, hand locked around the wing joint. His face was drawn as he used a sharp blade to saw through the bone and nerves attaching the wing to the dragon's body. With a dull tear, the final tendon snapped and the wing slid free of the heaving, twisting dragon. Her knees weakened and she felt herself begin to retch as the dragon shrilled in pain. Bending at the waist, she gagged and vomited. Spitting in an effort to clear her mouth, she ran a hand over her lips before straightening and raising her chin.
One of her pale hands slid to the small of her back, grasping the handle of the dagger tucked there. "You're trespassing upon my land." She stated firmly, her empty voice drawing the man's gaze. Her hand clenched around the dagger, fingers caressing the cool iron patiently.
The wizard slid slowly down the dragon's back, dropping lightly to the ground. His eyes traveled cooly down her body, tongue running over his lips as he took her bedraggled appearance in. "Court ruling," he said loudly. Smirking he glided toward her and wiggled his eyebrows. "Perhaps a trade? A quick shag for a dragon's fang? They're worth a lot, you know."
In return she smiled, a baring of teeth before she rushed him. The dagger slid easily through the air, wind whistling lovingly over the metal before it sank into his throat. She danced nimbly back as made a half-hearted effort to wound her with the blade he carried, sinking to his knees as he gurgled. "No deal." She whispered, bending over his twitching body and pulling her dagger free. The dragon gave another shrieking cry, blood running freely from the stump that had once supported a proudly arching wing. Drawing a deep breath, she pried the long blade free of the wizard's limp fingers
Her skirts were tossed gently by the wind as she approached the dragon. A gold eye rolled to watch her, a plea for aid creeping from between his bloody jaws. She rested a shaking hand on the dragon's muzzle, fingers smoothing the warm scales. "I'm sorry, my poor Blue Knight." She murmured mournfully, dropping her forehead to rest against his cheek. Whispering loving words quietly, she raised the blade and rested it against the fine skin of his throat. "I failed you." She said, moving the blade in a merciful stroke. The dragon's head thudded against the ground and the gold eye slid closed.
Dropping to her knees, she rested an arm over the giant muzzle and pressed her face against his. Tears slid down her cheeks as her ears picked up the faint strain of dragon song in the distance, the first notes of what would become a mourning melody. Sniffling, she slid a hand into her pocket and withdrew a silver flute. Leaning against her Blue Knight's head, she raised the flute to her mouth and played, tears rolling down her face as she stared up at the glistening moon.
XxXxX
Draco rolled to the side of his bed and heaved, body shaking. Gasping, he whimpered and raised a hand to push his sweat dampened hair away from his mouth. He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand as he stared at the mess on the floor. His fingers trembled as he reached for his wand and vanished the mess. Replacing the wand, he stared at his night table before reaching over and opening the top drawer slowly.
The wooden flute case was warm beneath his touch, making him jerk his hand back in shock. Drawing a deep breath in, he pushed the drawer closed and glanced at the clock. He still had plenty of time to sleep but even as he went to lay back down he saw the dragon's flashing eyes in his mind. Balling his hands into fists, he struggled free of the blankets and walked toward the adjoining bathroom.
He stalked straight into one of the shower stalls, sliding his boxers off and tossing them at the far wall. Spinning the knob for the warm water, he sank to his knees beneath the hot spray. "What do you want from me?" He whispered at the white walls, hands resting on his knees as he looked through the mist. Shoulders shaking, he dropped his head and let the warm water beat down on his back.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review!
NinjaoftheDarkness - My brother once again proves my theory as he goes speeding off in my car during the middle of a snowstorm.
IvyeSnowe - lol, glad you like it.
keeper of most knowledge - lol, you do that and I'll start writing the next chapter (Which I've been drooling to write)
wizli - Glad you like it. If there's a chance to make it magical I will always do so.
dreamerlc - I should take my time and I do but as soon as I post a chapter I immediately start writing the next.