He was on his back. He really didn't remember how he had gotten here. But it didn't matter. It was so warm. Maybe he should sleep. A part of his brain todl him to check his surroundings first. He sat up with a groan.
He was in the forest. At least he thought it was. It certainly looked like it, but it didn't feel like it at all. Suddenly, a figure starting walking towards him. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw it was his dad.
"So! I thought you'd be here soon. It's good to see you. Let's get started, shall we?" said James in a lofty voice, as if he didn't have a care in the world.
"Da- Dad? Is it really you? Where am I. What are you doing here?" asked Harry in a voice shaken with bewilderment, and fear. He really had no idea where he was, and if he could trust what he was experiancing.
James sighed and said, "Look. Before we get started. We don't have time to get teary eyed. I have to teach you. Your in the Hall of the Phoenix. Where magic all began. A few select ever find the place, and even fewer survive it. Here, you will learn to be the most important wizard of your age, whether you use the knowledge you garner here for good or for evil is your choice. I," he said with a small smile, "am here to teach you to become an animagi, or, i'm gonna teach you how to turn into an animal."
Harry was wracked with excitement. "Ever since i learned you were one, i wanted to try it..."
James smiled and said, "Yes, well the nice thing about learning here is you get to pick. Think now. What would you like to be, above all else?"
Harry frowned. He could turn into anything. What would be the most useful? He grinned. He had one.
"Dragon. I wanna be a dragon."
James laughed and said, "Alright, but the bigger you are, the harder it is to learn. Let's get started."
They started off with a potion. It was a brilliant gold, kind of like Felix felicis, but when he drank it, it was if his blood was boiling.
James said in a hurried voice, "Concentrate now son! Think of the dragon! Of it's claws, it ability to breath fire, it's-" What happened shut him up straight away.
With a pop, Harry turned into a mid-sized ice blue dragon.
"How-! Well. My lord. I haven't seen a transformation like that take place, since...ever. You are now allowed to leave. As is the custom, you may ask me a question, and i have to answer it as honestly as i can."
Harry thought for a minute.
"Is there any way, without using dark magic, to bring someone back to life?" his voice was layered with uncertaindy.
James smiled knowingly, and said, "Yes. There is." He flicked his wrist and a scroll appeared in his hand. "The details are here. But i will have you know: me and your mother are happy. It would be unkind if you brought us back. But that's up to you. For now, good bye. I have a feeling you'll break the expectations of the others, so i think i might see you soon. Remember, you can morph whenever you want. Good bye Son."
--
Harry woke with a start, next to the bird he had strangled. Wondering if it was all a dream, he tried to morph into the dragon. It worked. Roaring with joy, as he about to leave, when a wizard he knew very well stepped out fo thin air. Lord Voldemort was here, and with a viscisous snarl, Harry made to rip him to pieces.
The thing that was once Tom Riddle sneered and said, "Stupid boy. I am an apparition. Non-existent. I am your next teacher. I'm here to tell you what will get you into my world, the world of death, the world of power, of torture. Some might call it evil, but it is power nontheless. For you to enter my domain, you need to kill. Human. You know the curse."
With a smile he dissapeared.
Turning back into his human form, he made for the exit. He had seen enough of this place for today.
--
It took him five minutes to find his way back outside. He turned into his dragon form, and spotting Hogwarts, made towards it. It took only five minutes for him to fly there. He landed in front of Hagrids cabin with a resounding thud. Hagrid came out wide eyed, saying, "Easy thar, that's a goo' dragon, you jus' come with uncle Hagrid, he'll ta' care of ya."
Harry morphed into Human form and Hagrid's jaw dropped.
"'Arry?" his voice was full, expectedly, not of fear, but awe and respect.
"Yeah it's me. Don't ask. Is it time for the meeting?"
Hagrid looked absolutely amazed.
"Erm. Yeah. I was jus' on me way up thar, meself."
They walked together, in silence. Harry could tell Hagrid kept throwing him furtid looks, and in exasperation said, "Ok. If i morph and let you touch me once, will you stop looking at me like that!?"
Hagrid fervently agreed, and, afther the dead was done, they walked, not in silence, but talking cheerfully about how cool dragons were.
Their mood's changed drammatically as they entered the great hall.
Everyone was there waiting. Ginny ran up to him and threw her arms around him, shaking like mad. she looked close to tears.
"I've been shaky all day. I missed you so much!" She went to kiss him but he shook his head and adressed the crowd.
"Thank you for coming. Some of you," he glanced around the crowd warily, "are not going to like the sound of this. The bare minumum requirement for being in the order is this: an unbreakable vow that you will never knowingly hand us over to voldemort, that you will never betray the order, and that you will lay your life's down if necessary."
A few people gasped, and eventaually everyone seemed to accept it. "Those will all be done today, here, in a few minutes. A fidelius charm will also be put into place, with me being the secret keeper."
"And now, for the part people are really not going to like. In order to be included in the more risque, top secret missions, you are going to take my mark. Just as the people fear the dark mark in these true times, so will those scumy deatheaters fear The mark of the Phoenix!"
And he inscribed a lightning bolt shaped mark on the ground in front of him.