Disclaimer: You already know, I own no one except Draconis the dragon.

Previously: "Minerva, contact Lady Nasuada. Tell her we have found the new rider."

Ok on with the story…

Ch 2- New Friends, New Enemies

Lady Nasuada paced in her office in King Orrin's castle located somewhere in Surda. She began to grow frustrated. Here they were coming to war, and they hadn't even found the new rider yet! Suddenly, she heard a pop, and in front of her stood Albus Dumbledore.

"Albus! To what do I owe this visit?" Nasuada asked formally.

"Lady Nasuada, we have found the new rider." Nasuada gasped. She hadn't been expecting this all of a sudden.

"What is his name? We need to start his training… I need to contact Eragon or possibly Arya immediately!!" Nasuada started pacing back and forth at a rapid pace.

"It is a girl, and her name is Hermione Granger." Dumbledore corrected. "She has already established a connection with the dragon, whose name is Draconis."

"Thank you for informing me first Albus. I will send Eragon and Saphira as soon as I can to start their training." Dumbledore bowed, and with a pop he was gone.

Hermione waited in Dumbledore's office for him to return. He walked in looking slightly aghast.

"Ms. Granger, I must inform you now and let you know that you are a rider."

"A what?"

"A rider is a person that has a connection established with a dragon. Long ago in a country named Alagaësia, there was a conflict between elves and dragons. They soon came together to try to make piece, so they created the riders." Dumbledore explained. "You will need much training. In fact, they are sending the only other rider in Alagaësia to come train you. Alagaësia is at war right now, and they need as many riders as they can. The fate of a country depends on you Hermione." That was the first time Dumbledore had ever called her by her first name.

"Now, once the dragon stands taller than you, they will start his training. But Eragon, the other rider, will start your training as soon as he arrives, which will be in a matter of days. "Remember, don't let anyone see Draconis. Keep him hidden until he grows taller than you, then you will take him into the Forbidden Forest or the Room of Requirement, where his training will begin. You may be excused."

Hermione put Draco in her book bag and left Dumbledore's office. She walked toward the Great Hall, where breakfast was being served.

Do you have anything to eat? The dragon announced itself.

What do you like to eat?

Meat.

I'm pretty sure I can get you something.

It was early in the morning, so there was still no one in the Great Hall. There were no Gryffindors, one or two Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff, and her favorite Slytherin, Draco Malfoy. Hermione sat at her spot in the Gryffindor table and grabbed herself some pancakes. She slipped Draconis 5 sausages and a piece of bacon.

Don't choke on the bacon! Hermione thought jokingly. The dragon looked at her questioningly before it devoured the meat it gave her.

More!!

Now, now we don't want you to get fat, do we?

Hermione ate her pancakes and some egg. Once she was satisfied, she relaxed and went over her potions essay.

"Hello Granger," Malfoy approached.

"Malfoy." She approved of his presence, he sat down.

"Um, Granger? Well, I was sorta wondering…canyouhelpmewithmypotionsessay?" Malfoy stuttered.

"Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that," Hermione smirked, she had understood it perfectly.

"I said can you help me with my potions essay?" Malfoy said while glaring at her.

"Of course." Hermione smiled in a sickening way. "Meet me in the library at…(she looked at her watch) 1pm, its 12 pm right now. See you in an hour." And with that Hermione left on her way to the kitchens, where she was going to ask Dobby a favor.

Hermione was immediately greeted by Dobby as soon as she walked into the kitchens.

"Dobby, I need to ask you a favor."

"Of course Ms. Granger!! Dobby will do as you please."

"Well, you see I have a slight problem, and I am hoping you can take care of it. I have a dragon, and he needs to be fed constantly. So I am hoping that while I'm at lunch, you could come feed him for me? I'll feed him during breakfast and dinner."

"Of course!! Dobby would be delighted! The dragon is only a baby right?"

"Yes," Hermione gave a sigh of relief. "Thank you Dobby, you only have to feed him when I have class. So in other words, you can start on Monday."

"Ok!!! Goodbye Ms. Hermione!!"

Hermione shuffled out of the kitchens and into the library about 30 minutes earlier than she was supposed to meet Malfoy so that she could have some time to herself.

"Um hey Hermione!! I was hoping you would be here." Harry said nervously.

Who's he? Draconis asked.

Just a friend.

There's something important he needs to tell you.

Oh really?

"Hi Harry."

"Um, Ron really wants you to apologize to him, for you know yelling at him." Hermione became enraged.

"Tell Ron, that I don't give a damn what he thinks." Hermione said in a contained voice.

"Um, Hermione please. Just say you're sorry, you know how Ron can be."

"I'm not going to say sorry Harry. He has to do it because it was HIS fault." And with that she turned and left into the depths of the library, which was unknown to Harry. Soon Malfoy arrived and the brawl was forgotten.

"Why so grim?"

"Don't want to talk about it, Ron is being an ass." Hermione muttered. "So what do you need help on?" With that Hermione explained to him the effects of the Polyjuice potion and what would happen if anything went wrong. They were working peacefully, when Ron burst into the library red in the face.

"Hermione, apologize!!!" he yelled at her.

"You want me to apologize, after what YOU said to ME." Hermione said in a deathly calm voice that made both Malfoy and Ron cringe.

"Yeah! I do."

"Ronald Weasley, you got mad at me, for talking to Terry Boot, and you want ME to apologize? Might I add, we're not even romantically involved." Hermione continued in the deathly calm voice.

"Hermione apologize, or I won't ever talk to you again."

"Ronald Weasley, I am not going to apologize." She huffed.

"Fine. You cold, heartless bitch." Ron glared. Then he looked at Malfoy. "And look at this!! You're fraternizing with the enemy now? This is all just to get me jealous isn't it?" Hermione lost it.

"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!!!" Hermione bellowed. Ron's arms and legs clamped together and he fell forward. "Ronald Weasley, if you ever speak to me like that again, I will curse you into oblivion. Think I'm bluffing? Well, I'm not. After the Department of Mysteries in 5th year, I've learned a lot of dark magic, and I've learned how to defend myself. When I release you, I want you to leave." With that, Hermione released him and he scrambled off as fast as he could go.

That wasn't very nice.

"He deserved it." Hermione said aloud.

"Excuse me?" Malfoy said.

"Oh nothing, just talking to myself. Okay, forget about that. On with the lesson." Hermione said and dropped the subject.

'Note to self: don't ever get Hermione really pissed, it's ok to mess with her though.' Malfoy thought to himself.

Hermione sighed, so far… she was not having a very good day. The only good news she's had in a week was that she was a rider, and that she would be tutored by somebody named Eragon. How cool is that? Then it clicked, she would find a book on them!!

"Malfoy, I'll be right back." Hermione said.

Keep yourself hidden she told Draconis.

Hermione looked for 15 minutes before she decided that it was hopeless, she couldn't find anything on the subject… let alone on Alagaësia. With a frown, she returned to hers and Malfoy's desk.

"Ok Malfoy, looks like you're pretty much done. You don't need my help anymore."

"Granger? I uh... I have a proposition for you." Hermione looked at him with interest.

"Go on."

"How 'bout we call it a truce, and become friends." Malfoy looked uncertain. Hermione looked at him quizzically before accepting.

"I accept Malfoy."

"It's Draco, Hermione."

"Draco. Of course." Hermione smiled.

"Ms. Granger?" Madame Pince called from her desk. "I've just gotten an owl, Dumbledore wants to see you."

"Ok. Gotta go Draco bye." Hermione said and with that went back to Dumbledore's office. She had been making a lot of trips to there lately.

"Ms. Granger, I have just been informed that Eragon and Saphira, his dragon, will be arriving in two days, on Monday." Dumbledore said.

"Ok, thank you Professor." Hermione went back to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Who are Eragon and Saphira?

They're gonna be our mentors, and teach us all about being rider and dragon.

Oh. Who was that boy in the library? He seems nice.

That was Draco.

He has the same name as me!

Yes I know, I named you after the dragon constellation.

Draconis's eyes were the same color as his scales, a dark blue, almost black. Those eyes bore into Hermione.

Are there other dragons besides me and Saphira?

I don't know, that's a good question.

I'm hungry.

Hermione laughed. "Want some food?" The dragon snorted in approval. Hermione giggled. By now people were roaming through the halls. Hermione had to take him to the kitchens and feed him there. Hermione went back to her dorm and dropped Draco off there. She went back outside and found Ginny waiting impatiently for her.

"Hermione, what is wrong with you? You've been so preoccupied lately, like you've been in a nutshell or something. And then you got into a fight with Ron? He was only trying to help." Ginny scolded her.

"Trying to help? Ginny, you're brother was getting mad at me for talking to Terry. What is wrong with him?"

"That still doesn't give you a right to threaten him."

"What is wrong with you people!!?" Hermione cried exasperatedly. She stormed off; she ran outside and sat in her tree next to the Great Lake. She cried silently.

Hermione?

Draco?? I thought our bond was only when we were together.

I guess not. What is wrong? Did that boy Ron hurt you again? I swear once I grow I'll-

No it's not that, his sister confronted me though. Said he was trying to help.

You should talk to Draco Malfoy, he seems really nice. In fact, as I'm looking out the window, he's approaching the very tree you're sitting in.

You're looking out the window?! Make sure you aren't seen.

Hermione had become very fond of Draconis.

"Um, Hermione?" she looked down to see Draco looking up.

"Hey, come on up." Hermione looked away as he sat on the branch next to hers.

"Weasley must really drive you crazy huh?" Hermione let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, he does. At the moment, you're the only one who I can talk to that doesn't bring him up as a positive person."

"Does it annoy you?" Draco asked playfully.

"Yes." Hermione stressed the word.

"Well then, I think Weasley is the most brilliant person you could ever meet." He said mockingly. Hermione pushed him playfully, but not hard enough so that he fell over.

"Ugh, it's like people ENJOY tormenting me," Hermione rolled her eyes playfully. "Could you stop bothering for like two seconds and just listen to what I have to tell you?"

"Well, you are quite tormentable."

Draco, should I tell Draco about you?...Whoa that sounded weird.

Do you trust him? If you do, then tell him.

I should wait. I don't think I trust him enough for a secret like this. After all, he could be trying to get close to me to give information to Voldemort right?

If you say so, whatever you think Hermione. Your choice.

I'll wait.

"So what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Draco asked.

"Well, I –"

"Hermione!! Hermione are you up there??" Neville asked. Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed. She climbed down from the tree.

"Hey um Hermione, Ron really needs to talk to you. I think he's gonna apologize!"

"Fat chance." Neville still hadn't noticed Malfoy and was surprised when he jumped down from the tree.

"What was he doing up there?" Neville stuttered, wide-eyed.

"We were talking, come on Neville. Bye Draco." Draco waved and walked away silently.

"Ok, so where's Ron?"

"In the Common Room." Hermione and Neville walked silently and told the Fat Lady the password. When she walked in she found a pissed looking Ron and Ginny, and a very nervous Harry.

"Hermione, I demand that you apologize." Ron spat. Hermione smirked.

"Do we really have to go over this again Ron? I told you, I am not apologizing because there is no need for it."

"Hermione please apologize." Harry said in a small voice. Hermione looked at Harry with eyes that blazed with a desire he had never seen before. A desire to kill or severely hurt someone. Since when was Harry so meek?

"Harry, stay. out. of. this." Hermione spat. "I'm going to my room." Hermione had changed the charm on a door to whomever touches it besides her will have a very strong electrical shock pulse through their body. They will also have the feeling that they're burning and freezing to death at the same time, but it won't hurt them at all.

'Too bad.' Hermione thought to herself

Are they creating trouble for you again? Draco asked as she entered the room.

Sadly yes, today Draco. I have made new friends, and new enemies.