DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Twenty-One - Defending Dragons
It was an annoyed hiss that had Harry opening his eyes and sitting up, glancing in the direction of the sunbatheing dragons. Scanning the slowly stirring beasts, he narrowed his eyes and nudged Draco just as the threatening hiss was repeated. Ignoring the blond's unhappy grumbles, he rose to his feet and walked toward the Mages. Both Black Lady and Silverhawk had their shimmering eyes focused on something in the sky, their angular heads twisting and turning fluidly. Parting her jaws, the black dragon snarled and slammed her tail against the ground while arching her long neck.
A shadow raced toward him across the grass, the bulky black outline causing him to tense his shoulders and tilt his head back. Smiling grimly, he nodded his head in greeting to the wizard hovering above him. "Cooled down, have you?" He asked quietly, watching as the transparent green wall that separated them stretched tendrils of power toward the trailing end of the older wizard's dark cloak.
"Potter, Dumbledore wants to speak with you." Mad Eye Moody stated calmly, his good eye locked on the blond sprawled next to the raven-haired wizard. Tightening his grip on the broomstick he sat upon, he tipped his head in the direction of the front gates. "And Malfoy's father is here for him."
Draco sat up suddenly, the silver sheet pooling around his waist. Blue eyes widening, he clambered to his feet and barely managed to catch the sheet before it floated to the ground. "My father?" He croaked as his face paled.
Moody gave a sharp nod of his head, magic eye swirling to peer beneath him. "They're waiting for the pair of you." He said, floating higher on the broom to avoid the magic creeping slowly toward him. Tipping his head, he studied the younger wizards before shaking his head and speeding off.
"I suppose we should go and meet them," Harry murmured, turning to face Draco. Pursing his lips, he lifted a hand and brushed his fingers through his hair, only managing to rumple the already messy dark locks.
"My father." Draco repeated, wrapping the sheet artfully around his lithe body. Patting the knotted ends of the sheet to make sure they were secure, he bent over and picked up the empty wine bottle. Straightening, he allowed the bottle to dangle from his right hand while sliding his other hand over his face. "This isn't going to end well." The blond predicted.
"Probably not," Harry agreed with a heavy sigh. Without thought, he offered the blond his hand and coloured when it was taken. Clearing his throat, he tightened his grip on the cool fingers and headed toward the old manor. His shoulders tensed at the sudden clatter that began as they walked away; the crack of wings and rasp of scales as the dragons unwound themselves and fell in behind the pair.
"This probably doesn't look good." Draco mumbled, indicating the sheet he was draped in and the empty bottle of wine he still held loosely. Shaking his head, he tipped his chin up and squared his shoulders, pasting a knowing smirk on his lips as his quick gait changed to a leisurely stroll.
"Oh, it looks good, it's just not appropriate right now." Harry whispered, snickering as the blond's cheeks flushed and he tugged his hand away. Still chuckling softly, he pulled on the front of his Quidditch jersey and tried to erase the wrinkles and mud that covered the material. His attempt to repair several days' worth of damage had the blond snorting in amusement and brandishing his wand.
"You may as well leave it for the house elves. There's not a spell in my repertoire that will erase stains that bad." Draco commented, scratching at the patch of dried dirt on the back of his hand.
The pair walked around the corner of Shirestra and paused; searching the crowd gathered before the gates for the wizards they had come to see. Their appearance caused a stir among the group, raising hands and voices. Resisting the urge to turn around and walked inside, they shared a steadying look and nodded their head heads in agreement. It had to end today.
A flash of silvery blond hair turned Harry's head and had him gritting his teeth at the forbidding picture Lucius Malfoy cast. "There's your father," he murmured, indicating his position with a tip of his chin. "And Dumbledore is right next to him."
"How cozy," Draco muttered, giving Harry's sleeve a quick tug as he began to walk forward. The raven-haired wizard fell in beside him, his fingers dropping toward his wand in search of its comforting length. Frowning, the blond grabbed the patting hand and squeezed the fingers in warning. "Don't act nervous, act like you're in the superior position. You have everything to gain from remaining here, remember that because they'll try and convince you otherwise."
Harry bobbed his head as they approached the waiting wizards, clasping his hands together before him. "Hello, Professor, Mister Malfoy." He greeted, bowing his head politely. Next to him, Draco mirrored his gesture, accompanying the motion with an insincere 'it's good to see you'.
"Boys," Dumbledore said firmly, managing to make the one word into a reprimand. Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he looked the pair over, taking in Draco's sheet clad body with an arched eyebrow. "Might I ask the current location of your clothes, Mister Malfoy?"
"They're on the bedroom floor," Draco purred suggestively, crossing his arms and cocking his head in an arrogant manner. "Did you really come all this way to ask me about my clothing? If you did, I might have several helpful suggestions for you." He ran his gaze up and down the older wizard's robes, internally cringing over the pattern of moons and stars.
"Draco," Lucius hissed, pale eyes widening in warning. His cane ground a small hole in the dirt as he rolled it between his hands in a repetitive motion.
Ignoring the play between the blonds, the raven-haired wizard lifted his chin and smiled faintly. "Professor, let's be frank, shall we?" Harry stated, gliding forward several steps. "I'm not leaving until you can assure me that my dragons will be safe." A smile curved his lips as the group of wizards gathered behind the professor gasped and started to argue angrily amongst themselves.
"Harry, the Mage Dragons are on the Ministry's Extremely Dangerous Creatures list. I'm afraid that I cannot promise you any such thing." Albus said, holding up his hands for silence as the groups volume increased.
"Then I'm afraid I'm done speaking with you," Harry returned, walking backwards with his hands held out before him.
"I cannot promise you their safety here, however, if you are able to control them, then I shall allow you to bring them to Hogwarts." Dumbledore stated suddenly, taking a slow step backwards.
"They can't remain at Hogwarts forever." Harry stated, pausing beside Draco. He wondered why the older wizard was being so agreeable until he felt a gust of warm air bathe the back of his neck. His peripheral vision was suddenly filled with red scales as Basta stretched his head past him and hissed at the wizards beyond the wards.
It was Lucius Malfoy who responded to Harry's words, taking an easy step forward and folding his hands atop the silver head of his cane. "I shall handle the details of the dragons safety, Potter." The blond said, glancing at his son who gave a faint bob of his head in thanks. "Draco, gather your things so that we might leave."
"Where are we going?" Draco inquired, pulling the sheet closer to his body and tightening his grip around the neck of the bottle. He exchanged a quick look with Harry as his father glanced at Dumbledore, the older wizards sharing a long look before turning back to the two boys.
"You're being transferred to Durmstrang," Lucius announced, widening his eyes and arching an eyebrow as if to suppress any argument his son might have attempted. "All of your stuff is already on the way there."
"Give me a few minutes." The younger blond replied, nodding his head in acceptance. Bowing deeply, he straightened and turned to head toward the manor, grabbing Harry by the front of his jersey as he swept past him. "Come on, Potter." He mumbled, absently patting Silverhawk on the chest as they walked between the large dragons.
A flabbergasted Harry allowed himself to be pulled along, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Did we win?" He asked in confusion, slapping the blond's hand away from the front of his robes and falling into step beside him.
Draco gave a small smile and tipped his head back, glancing at the pale sky. "You can thank me later," he said as they climbed the stairs at the front of the manor. The doors groaned open under his hands, allowing light to spill into the darkened entrance hall. "It's up to you to see that the dragons remain safe. Pansy and Blaise will also have to be informed of what has occurred."
Harry blinked as his mind replayed the last few minutes, remembering what Lucius Malfoy had said after promising him that the Mage Dragons would be safe. Draco was being transferred to Durmstrang, or at least that's what the older wizard was telling everyone. Shaking his head, he stormed into the large bedroom and went straight for Draco.
"You don't have to do this, Draco." Harry snapped, grabbing the blond by the shoulders and giving him a hard shake. His brow drew down when the Slytherin smiled and placed a calming hand on his cheek instead of pushing away his bruising hands.
"Yes, I do." Draco breathed, patting the raven-haired wizard lightly before turning around and unwinding his sheet. He let the silver cloth drift to the floor as he bent to pick up his dirty clothes, cringing at the smell rising from the garments. Tossing the jersey on the bed, he pulled the tight white pants on one leg at a time. "Blood may mean nothing to you, Harry, but to me and my family . . . it's everything."
"Draco, nothing good can come of this." Harry hissed, stepping back and pacing the length of the room. He let out a harsh cry and whirled around, hands held before him in a placating gesture. "You're safe here, within the wards."
Smiling wryly, Draco sat down on the bed and grabbed his boots. "I can't hide forever." He murmured, sliding his left foot into the coordinating boot. His fingers flew over the laces, pulling the cords tight until he reached the buckles above his knees. Running a finger over the shining metal, he lifted his gaze and stared at the wizard standing across the room. "Neither can you; Harry Potter can't just disappear. What did you think was going to happen?"
Huffing angrily, Harry threaded his fingers through his hair and tipped his head back. "I sure as hell didn't think your father would come and withdraw you from Hogwarts." Shaking his head, he stomped back and forth tugging gently on his hair with each stride.
"Calm down, there's nothing that can be done about it." Draco soothed, wiggling into his second boot. He ran a hand down the side of the dark leather, fingers brushing away old dirt and grime.
"I can protect you," Harry said, collapsing onto the bed next to the blond. His fingers wrapped around the handle of his wand, clenching the wood tightly as he stared at the patch of floor between his boots. "You are the carrier of the Dragon's Maw, that assures you the protection of the Mages."
"But who will protect my parents?" Draco questioned quietly, beginning to work on his boot laces. A small smile crossed his lips at Harry's silence. "Exactly," he mumbled, flicking the buckle into place and standing.
Rubbing his face with both hands, Harry sighed and cupped his forehead with his palm. "What are you going to do?" He asked finally, exhaling heavily. The sound of Draco's boots on the floor had him rising and turning around, hands settling on his hips as he watched the blond search for the rest of his clothing.
"Whatever I have too." The blond said firmly, grabbing his jersey from under the silver sheet and giving it a hard shake in hopes of freeing it of some of the dirt. Deciding it was a lost cause, he pulled the shirt on over his head, hands running down his chest to guide the green cloth into place. He snatched the cloak from where he'd flung it earlier, draping it across his arm as he spun around and left the room.
Harry followed Draco quietly, internally attempting to come up with something else that might convince the blond to change his mind. The halls they passed down were oddly silent, as if the manor itself was mad over both wizards' looming departures. "You're sure this is what you have to do?" He demanded as they came to a halt in the foyar. Resuming his pacing, he tapped his chin and ignored the blond's soft chuckle.
Draco turned around to face the other wizard, fingers tightening in the cloak he carried. "Just promise me that when I call, you'll come." He said, meeting the raven-haired wizard's gleaming emerald eyes.
"Promise." Harry said quietly, prowling closer to the blond. He paused when the tips of their boots brushed, lifting a slightly shaky hand to brush a lock of pale hair off Draco's forehead. His fingers strayed over the other wizard's temple, caressing the side of his face as he stared into eyes the palest of blue.
Draco caught Harry's hand and held it to his cheek for a moment before pressing a quick kiss against the tanned digits. "Be good," he breathed. Stepping back, he reached out and ran a slender finger over the raven-haired wizard's chin. "Goodbye, Harry." Bowing his head, he turned on the heel of his boot and stalked through the doors, pushing them wide open as he glided forward with his chin in the air.
"Goodbye, Draco." Harry whispered, following the blond slowly. Halting on the top stair, he watched the Slytherin swagger toward the older wizards, the wind stirring his hair and yanking on the cloak he hugged to his chest.
He watched Draco glide down the gravel driveway, the faint sound of crunching stone ringing in his ears. His lips pressed together, Harry sank slowly to sit on the stairs, clenching his fingers around the edge of the stone he perched on. The iron gates swung open before the Slytherin, brilliant green wards fading until they were nothing more than a memory. A light croon turned his head and had him smiling faintly, extending a hand to the small golden dragon concealed within the shadows of the doorway.
As the Sandtongue slipped beneath his reaching hand, he turned his gaze back to the scene unfolding at the end of the driveway. Firming his lips, he watched as Lucius Malfoy reached out and placed a restraining hand on his son's shoulder, pulling him closer in a subtle maneuver.
From his father's shadow, Draco lifted a pale hand and wiggled his fingers in a silent goodbye before reaching out and resting his hand on top of his fathers. The pair disappeared in a small flash, leaving the raven-haired wizard staring at an empty spot on the road running past the manor.
Upon the cliffs, one of the dragons screamed, its haunting cry carried on the warm wind. Even as the call fell away, another rose to take its place, filling the silence. Next to him, Esdra lifted her muzzle and screeched, her amber eyes on the individuals walking somberly toward them. "Go," Harry ordered, his hand slipping down the animal's sleek body as she launched herself into the sky with a powerful flick of her wings.
"Are you ready to go, my boy?" Dumbledore asked, resting a hand on his head as the gust of wind from the Sandtongue's takeoff sent the pointy hat he had worn sailing across the lawn.
Harry bit lip to keep from laughing as several wizard's chased after the dancing hat, their efforts for nothing as a golden blur dropped from the sky and snatched the thing off the ground. "I don't have a choice, do I?" He queried, pushing to his feet. Shaking his long cloak out, he shaded his eyes with a hand and watched as the clan of Mage Dragons zipped across the sky above him, their course already set for Hogwarts.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review! I know its shorter then usual and I apologize for it.
E-san - I've never heard of the story you mentioned but did take a quick look to search for it, unfortunately I was unable to locate it. I'm glad that you're enjoying my story though.
kasmo - I imagine the Mage Dragon's just have a bad reputation due to their ability to use magic, thus making them appear stronger and more dangerous than other dragons.
RavenclawBest - Lucius is worried on both accounts: what the dark lord is planning and what his son is going to be expected to do.
PleiadesWolfe - lol, it was a good suggestion but I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
murdrax - lol, and to think that I thought the prologue would be a bit of a turnoff! I'm a happy H/D shipper but can promise you that nothing more then a little kissing will occur.
fraewyn - The combined power of the mages, the Maw, and the two wizards who can control them won't appear for several more chapters, I'd really hate to ruin the surprise.
NinjaoftheDarkness - Yeah, I'm kinda of leaning toward Harry being dominant but I still think Draco's coming off a lot smarter. Now what's better, brain or brawn?
IvySnowe - lol, wow, I think that's the first time anyone has been unhappy over my punctuality. Lucius is definitely worried about Draco and the boys are growing closer, or were until Lucius pulled his little stunt.
Shinigami - lol, I think Harry's going to end up being the more dominant one. Then again, strength isn't always everything and Draco was kind of calling the shots in this chapter.
Fiery Phoenix - I suppose with the amount of power he's just been handed he has to change his Gryffindor ways. Making stupid mistakes when you're powerful is never a good thing, it also tends to make you look stupid.