DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Eight - Raveana Draconis and the Dragon's Maw
Blaise swept into the library quickly, bestowing an innocent smile on the glaring librarian. The grin fell from his face as he swept between the shelves, eyes traversing the spines and signs marking the different sections. His fingers twitched as he spun down a row and halted abruptly.
Hermione Granger regarded him from the other end of the small corridor, her eyes narrowing at his sudden appearance. Both glanced from each other to the dusty collection of books resting forgotten on a low shelf.
Giving an arrogant nod in greeting, he glided forward and dropped to one knee in front of the books. He licked his lips as he read over the titles adorning the spines, a gasp of relief escaping him as he found the book he was searching for. His fingers froze above the tome as a shadow fell over him.
"Excuse me." Hermione purred sweetly, batting her eyelashes at him as her ink-stained digits hovered over a book resting several shelves up. The darting of her orbs to the book he was almost holding had him internally wincing and moving his hand slightly to rest over the tome next to it.
"No problem." He lied grimly, locking his fingers around both books and pulling them from their places. Straightening, he stared into her blank eyes for a second before offering a chilling smile and nodding his head in farewell. As he stalked around her, he made sure to keep the first book hidden beneath the second, crossing his fingers his actions had gone unnoticed. "See you in class."
"Later." The Gryffindor witch replied absently, her gaze already resting on the row of books he had abandoned.
Shaking his head in anger, Blaise stormed toward the librarian's desk. The elderly witch shot him a warning look when he slammed the tomes down in front of her, eyebrows arching when she read the title of the second book. "Good morning." He offered suavely, tugging gently on the sleeve of his robe.
"Good morning, Mister Zabini. Doing a little research?"Mrs. Pince asked, recording the name of the book and several other facts. Sixth and seventh years were allotted the privilege of removing books from the library for short periods of time due to their increased class schedules and workload. This new rule had been enacted after several Gryffindor and Slytherin seventh years had gotten into a fight which led to the destruction of several hundred books, some of which were irreplaceable.
"New hobby." Blaise returned calmly, glancing at the clock to see how much longer he had before class started.
"Ah, well be sure to take care of these books." She murmured, patting the cover of one of the books lovingly. Blaise gritted his teeth in a parody of a smile, her words reminding him of the tome now resting in the bottom of his desk drawer.
Smiling in thanks, he accepted the books and fled the cavernous room. He glanced over his shoulder as he pushed the door open, managing to catch a last look at the Gryffindor witch watching him from the shadows of one of the shelves. Smirking, he slid the books into his bag and made his way to class.
XxXxX
Blaise sat down across from Draco at the Slytherin table. His eyes flew over the vast array of food presented for their lunch before darting to Draco. The blond was eyeing him with a concerned look, one of his hands wrapped around the base of his cup. Hauling his bag into his lap, he rifled through its contents and drew forth one of the books he'd borrowed from the library "The Dragon's Maw." He muttered, finger stabbing the cover as he dropped it in front of Draco. He shook his head when the blond arched an eyebrow and stared doubtfully down at the cover.
"The what?" Draco mumbled, placing the tips of his fingers on the book and spinning it around on the dark wooded table. He glanced at the Gryffindor table, noting the narrowed emerald eyes focused intently on him. Curling his lip, he returned his attention to the wizard staring blankly at him.
"The Dragon's Maw. The DM etched into the flute stands for Dragon's Maw." He explained, sliding forward on the bench and gesturing at the book. Grabbing an empty cup, he dragged a pitcher of juice closer and poured himself a glass.
Draco's face brightened in interest as he flipped the book open. His lips moved as he read the table of contents. Pale eyes widened and the book was closed slowly, gaze rising to meet the dark-haired wizard's sitting across from him. "What can you tell me?"
"The flute was designed and created in the late thirteen hundreds. It was originally crafted for an Egyptian wizard who wanted to tame the Mage Dragons. Apparently he believed they could be tamed and used for battle. His theory was wrong and the flute got passed around to various individuals and collectors over the next few centuries." Blaise stated, glancing up as Pansy flopped down next to him unceremoniously. She sighed heavily and grabbed his cup of juice without bothering to ask. "That was mine."
"Thirsty, sorry." She responded, handing him the empty cup and pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "What are you looking at?"
"The flute Draco took. It's called the Dragon's Maw. It was crafted to summon Mage Dragons to the player and holder of the flute. However, merely holding it doesn't guarantee the wielder control of the dragons. This was a frequently made mistake by the people who took possession of the flute." Informed Blaise, smirking as Draco chuckled at the irony of it.
"You're saying they forgot that they couldn't control the dragons? How stupid." Pansy commented, refilling Blaise's cup. She shrugged her shoulders as the wizards shot her questioning looks. "I'm just saying it doesn't seem very bright to me."
"Yes well, it disappeared for a couple of centuries. During the period of time the flute wasn't in use, the Mage Dragons resumed the life style of dragons. They killed, ate, and did whatever they wanted while keeping a safe distance from both muggle and wizarding communities." Blaise said, reaching over and grabbing the book sitting forgotten on the table. He flipped it open and flicked through the pages before pausing and settling it back in the center of the table. The black and white picture depicted a group of large dragons lazing on several cliffs surrounded by long green grass. However, the trees swaying in the background were barren of leaves, their branches covered in ice and snow.
"Of course their ability to do magic made them quite powerful. The demand for their blood and scales skyrocketed as new potions were developed and alchemy became a larger area of study. Everyone wanted to use the more powerful Mage blood to enhance and increase their potions strength." The book was again pulled away and the pages flipped quickly. Pansy let out a gasp of shock as her eyes glided over the list of mage parts and their selling price in the late fourteenth century.
"Because of their ability to do magic, the Mage was often put on par with us, which made it illegal to kill or hunt them. Anyway, in the mid fifteenth century a debate was brought before the council concerning the Mage Dragons. It was presented that their presence within the world might give the wizarding community away to the muggles. It was turned down but a new document concerning the equality rights and what creatures were considered equals and free thinking beings surfaced several months later. This document stated that Mage Dragons had no rights because they couldn't interpret right from wrong and therefore voided all rights to protection by law." Blaise whispered, leaning further over the table so the students sitting around them wouldn't be able to hear.
"It was granted." Draco said in understanding, straightening in his chair and closing the book with a thud. He glared down at the cover for an angered moment, closing his eyes on the realization his family had probably played a large part in the extinction of the entire species.
Blaise gave a firm nod of his head. Picking the book up, he put in back into his bag and pulled the draw string tight. "The flute reappeared in fifteen-sixty-nine. It was held by a witch named Raveana Draconis. She vanished mysteriously several years later with the destruction of the last Mage Dragon. The Dragon's Maw disappeared with her. It was said she called the dragons to her in an effort to protect them. That she might have succeeded if it weren't for the law stating they all had to be killed. The final part of the rumour was that she could control them."
"You mean a witch succeeded where all those wizards failed?" Pansy asked smugly, putting her nose in the air.
Blaise laughed dryly and shook his head. "It was also rumoured her disappearance was due to the fact she'd been eaten by one of the dragons she was attempting to protect. No one really knows what happened to her - or her flute."
"How did my father get hold of it?" Draco asked softly, eyes moving back to the Gryffindor table where the golden trio was just beginning to stir.
"That's the question I want answered." Blaise replied, picking his bag up and making to leave the Great Hall. His gaze was caught and arrested by Hermione's knowing eyes, the look on her face stating she knew something more then he did.
XxXxX
"Raveana Draconis!" Hermione snapped loudly, dropping a book on Harry's desk. She whirled around and planted her hands on her hips as she paced slowly between the beds. The startled looks on Harry and Ron's face told her they had no idea what she was talking about. "Open the book, Harry."
Rolling his eyes at the command, Harry walked to his desk and flopped down into the uncomfortable wooden chair. Pushing aside some used pieces of parchment, he slid a finger under the stiff cover and flipped it open. A pair of startling green eyes stared up at him from a still picture. "Where'd you get this?" He demanded, finger smoothing over the image. The witch was standing next to a large gray horse, one hand resting lightly on his flank. An attempt had been made to calm the mass of black curls falling over her shoulders, a silver ribbon caught amidst the strands.
"The library." Hermione muttered, casting her gaze heavenward and shaking her head before moving to look over Harry's shoulder. The resemblance between the pair was shocking. They would both be approximately the same height, their hair the same colour and texture. Most likely untamable. Brushing aside Harry's fingers, she flipped expertly to a picture further in and stopped.
Sitting before a massive brick fireplace, five individuals had been carefully posed. An older blond witch sat in a chair of blue silk. Gold curls cascading over her shoulder as she stared at the artist with wide blue eyes. Standing behind her, a wizard with dark curls glared through angry brown eyes, fingers resting on his wife's shoulder. Three children knelt around their mother's knees. All had bright blue eyes and cheerful smiles. Two bore golden curls while the third a twisting mass of black hair.
"They all have blue eyes." Harry mumbled, raising a hand and rubbing the side of his head in confusion. His eyes dropped to the words scribbled below the image, his mouth falling open in awe.
"Yet they're related to you." Hermione whispered softly, moving aside so Ron could peer at the picture. "The Potter's of the fifteenth century: Melinda, Corace, Geneva, Merna, and Raveana."
"You said 'Draconis'!" Harry accused, his gaze still locked on the picture of his family ancestors. Shaking his head in confusion, he flipped back to the first page and stared into the emerald eyes gazing up at him.
"Raveana Potter was disowned in approximately fifteen-sixty-seven due to a belief she had. She proclaimed the wizarding council was wrong to condemn the Mage Dragons to death. She made a very public display on the matter and was quickly abandoned by her family. In her anger, she cast aside the name Potter and took one she felt fitting." Hermione explained, flipping to another page and pointing out a paragraph. Her fingers drummed against the table as the wizards skimmed the short narrative.
"She was married?" Harry questioned, eyes darting up to meet Hermione's. He vaguely recalled the gold band that had been visible on the hand resting upon the horse's flank.
Smirking with pleasure over the reaction she knew she was about to receive, she nodded slowly. "Engaged, actually. The Malfoys broke it off after she was disowned. Apparently she didn't fit their ideals. There was also the fact her fiancé was one of the most renowned dragon hunters."
Ron's mouth fell open and a small squeak emerged as he stumbled backwards and collapsed on his bed. "Malfoy? She was engaged to a Malfoy? A Potter and a Malfoy?" He garbled, blinking as he looked back and forth between the pair for assistance.
"Yes, one Reginald Malfoy. Upon his coat of arms, a wolf was painted." Hermione said quietly, "It was white."
"My dream," Harry whispered in understanding. "Raveana was trying to save them while Reginald was trying to kill them."
"Exactly, Raveana however possessed a flute called the Dragon's Maw. It was written that she was one of the best flutists of that period, writing much of her own music. The Dragon's Maw had been used in the past to call the Mage Dragons forth. Raveana was summoning them onto her lands where she could protect them." Hermione stated, glancing away from Ron to look at Harry. He appeared to be engrossed in the book. Eyes skimming over paragraphs and peering closely at pictures and diagrams scattered throughout the book.
"What happened to her then? If she was protecting them, how did they manage to become extinct?" Harry asked, closing the book and turning around in his chair. His hand remained upon the text, a strangely protective gesture.
"She disappeared. There's a section in the back of the book considering different theories and rumours but nothing was ever proven. Experts said it was like she just vanished, which could have been possible. I mean, stranger things have happened, right?" Hermione gave Harry a hesitant smile and ran her fingers through his hair with a sigh. "One of the more prominent whispers was that she had been killed by Reginald in a final battle over the Mage Dragons, but once again that theory lacked proof. Until last night.
"Malfoy has her flute." Harry hissed in excitement, fingers clenching around the back of the chair. He darted a look back and forth between the pair before the realization hit him. "He did kill her. He killed her for the flute."
"It's hard to say, Harry." Hermione whispered, the glow in her eyes dimming as the raven-haired wizard stared sadly up at her. Shaking her head, she sat down on the bed and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Placing the other around Ron's neck and dragging him closer in a stranglehold.
Harry slumped weakly in the chair, glad for the comforting presence of his friends as he mourned the death of a woman he had never met, yet felt closer too then anyone else. "We have to get the journal and flute from Malfoy."
"It could already be to late for that. Last night's incident makes it obvious he has played the flute. The fact that a Mage actually answered is slightly scary. Consider how strong and powerful he must have grown over the years. There must be more. If one survived the hunt, so did others." She said, arms tightening for a moment. Slowly letting go, she shifted and looked out the window at the darkening sky.
"I'm not about to let him kill off what could be the last Mage Dragon, Hermione." Harry hissed stiffly, promise hinting every word of his statement. Closing her eyes, she smiled smugly as Harry found yet another new purpose.
"Good, Harry. You do what you have to and know Ron and I will help you, you only have to ask. Now, we have to go finish our last night of detention so we'll see you later." Hermione announced, giving the wizard a final pat on the shoulder and dragging Ron to his feet.
"A Potter engaged to a Malfoy." Ron mumbled, heading towards the door without saying goodbye or waiting for Hermione.
Rolling her eyes, she chased after him, pausing in the doorway and looking back at Harry's still form. "Harry. Malfoy may have called the mage dragons here, but he hasn't shown that he has any control over them. Remember that."
Harry nodded as he watched the witch vanish from the doorway. Turning back to his desk, he opened the book and looked into ethereal green eyes. Silently, he promised to finish the job she had begun so long ago.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. I wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope to see you in 2007.
Kasmo - Not all Mage Dragons are small, merely the Sandtongue. In the prologue I introduced the dragon from chapter 6, however I have also introduced two other dragons: Blue Knight and Scarlet King. These dragons would have been a completely different breed of Mage Dragon, making them larger then the Sandtongue and more colourful.
NinjaoftheDarkness - lol, I imagine there are quite a few breeds of Mage Dragons. Feel free to make up your own and send me the details and I can probably fit it in here somewhere. Just give me a breed name, colour, etc.
firedragon-luver - lol, it'll take them just a little longer.
Wizli - Hermione and Blaise are still a little worried about the intentions of each other. An event that shall occur in the next chapter will definitely force them to work together.