"Mr Potter?"
He turned to see Professor McGonagall walk over to stand behind him. It was his first morning at Hogwarts and he was awed by everything. The castle was bigger than Casterly Rock and he couldn't wait to explore it and start learning. Little Godric was sleeping on his bed and he had already extracted a promise from the house elves to take care of him.
"Yes, Professor?"
McGonagall's brown eyes narrowed as she studied him. "You brought a lion cub to school."
"He is a cat. Cats are allowed," Harry said, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't they? I'll make sure he doesn't eat anyone."
Ron paled but continued to eat. The other Gryffindors around them stopped eating to look at them, their eyes wide. They had all noticed the lion cub that Harry had brought with him. Of course, a certain few students had been awed. Some had been sure that the cub would get taken away from Harry as Hogwarts didn't allow dangerous animals in its castle.
"Where did you get a lion cub, a white one to be exact?" Professor McGonagall questioned. "You didn't steal it, I presume?"
Harry vehemently shook his head. "Of course I didn't. The mother lion told me to take him. And it wasn't like Jaime and Genna weren't going to let me."
"Jaime and Genna? Are those people friends of yours? Zookeepers, perhaps?"
Harry was about to say no, to say that they were from Westeros when he realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to talk about his trips to Casterly Rock. He certainly hadn't heard anyone talking about it and he hadn't read anything about it in books. "Uh, yeah. They're zookeepers. I'll take good care of Godric. I promise."
Minerva McGonagall blinked, her lips twitching up into a small grin. "Godric? You named the lion Godric?"
Harry nodded.
"I will need to talk with Albus," McGonagall remarked. "But you could consider giving Godric to Hagrid to keep during the day. He certainly knows how to handle potentially dangerous animals."
"Of course he can keep the cub with him," Albus answered, smiling and his eyes twinkling.. "Anything he wants. Within reason, of course."
Once Harry settled in to Hogwarts a few weeks later, he slid into the chair in the Gryffindor common room opposite Hermione. Godric peered up at him, backed up a few inches and leaped up onto his lap, curling up contentedly. The girl was sitting across from him, reading a thick, leather bound book and looked up at him after a second or two. Her lips formed a frown but otherwise didn't comment. They weren't as good as friends as Harry and Ron but he did want to get to know her.
"Hi, Harry."
"Hermione."
"What do you want?" Hermione asked, bewildered that he would choose to talk with her. Her eyes flicked to Godric, softening at the lion cub. Harry grinned, knowing that she wanted to pet him.
"I just wanted to say hi," Harry spoke tentatively. "You want to pet Godric?"
Hermione's eyes widened, flicking to the lion cub on his lap. "I thought he would eat anyone who touched him except you."
"He's not big enough for that," Harry argued. "He's only roughly a month old."
"How is he not clawing you to bits anyway? Is that a magic thing?"
"I… don't know," Harry said, narrowing his eyes in thought. "Have you… heard about anything like this?"
Hermione's eyes widened then she lit up. "You'd have to search the library and maybe even the restricted section. Though maybe not. It is restricted. You-"
"What?"
"You must have some idea," Hermione said.
Harry tilted his head then shuffled his chair around the small table towards her, making it so that she wouldn't have to reach very far to touch Godric. Her arm reached out then she pulled back in, glancing to him. He nodded and she cautiously reached out again, placing her hand on Godric's white fur. Her eyes lit up and she started to stroke the cub's fur and when Godric started to purr, she smiled. "I have some idea but it's…"
"What?"
"It's not of this world."
Hermione froze and stared at him. "Not of this world?"
"Have you heard of wizards or witches traveling to other worlds?" Harry questioned quietly.
Hermione blinked. "I could look… Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Yes. I've traveled to another world," Harry answered.
When Harry first saw the dragon egg in Hagrid's hut several months later, he knew exactly what he would do. Hagrid, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all sat around the little table and watched the dragon within hatch, its little claws scratching its way out. Godric sat in Harry's lap, with his front paws up on the table watching too. The cub had grown so much within the past few months that now Godric reached up to Harry's knees. The lion was now a bit too big to fit in Harry's lap though he did enjoy having Godric in his lap. The animal emanated so much warmth and those claws… Harry felt safe with the lion and Godric always slept with him.
Hagrid had said something last week that Godric was growing fast, faster than was normal for regular lions. The fact that Godric was a white lion was fascinating to everyone who saw the lion. All of Gryffindor House had voted Godric their mascot and Godric spent the evenings lazing about before the hearth in the common room. During the day, Godric spent his time with Hagrid outside the hut.
The crackling of the dragon egg drew Harry's attention as the dragon within toddled out. It was black, with white eyes and two leathery wings and two sets of clawed limbs. It was unlike the dragon on the banner of Rhaegar's house but it was a dragon. He only wished Rhaegar could be here for this but Harry would make sure the Prince got a chance to see the little one.
"Oooh," Harry whispered, reaching out a finger for the dragon to sniff. Godric too reached towards the dragon with his nose, scenting the air around the other animal.
"Harry, no!" Hermione exclaimed. "Dragons are dangerous!"
Godric leaped up onto the table, the mane around his neck moving and causing the table underneath him to shake. Godric's mane wasn't as big as the lions in the movies but it was certainly growing. The dragon hissed, burping smoke. Harry raised an eyebrow as Godric growled back, staying in front of Harry. "Enough you two."
Harry reached out, laying his fingers on top of the little dragon's nose and just waited. Hagrid drew in a sharp breath but didn't make a move to intervene. The dragon peered over to him, its eyes zeroing in on him and stilling its body. Harry felt it as the dragon took a deep breath, scenting him, then tentatively leaned into his hand as Harry started to stroke its head and neck.
"Harry… What?" Hermione murmured.
"I have a friend," Harry offered then glanced up to Hagrid. "Can I keep her?"
Hagrid blinked, staring at him with wide eyes. "She's a dragon, Harry."
"We can keep her here and then when she gets bigger, she can hunt in the forbidden forest," Harry said. "Please Hagrid. I want to give her to one of my friends and that friend is quite capable of taking care of her. He's like you but all his knowledge is on dragons."
"Which friend is this?" Hermione asked, looking between Harry and Hagrid and then the dragon. Godric had moved tentatively towards the dragon, his claws leaving tiny dents in the wooden table. The dragon moved too and then they ended up together, their noses touching.
"I'll explain later. I can train her before then," Harry spoke. "Please?"
Hagrid took a deep breath then sighed. "What are you going to name her?"
Harry peered over at the tiny black dragon, who was now curled into Godric. The two animals were content, sniffing each other and learning each other's scents. "Joanna. Jo for short."
When Harry met the Dursley's at the train station after first year was over, his aunt and uncle looked at the lion at his feet and screamed. Harry rolled his eyes, peered down at Godric and reached down to stroke his fur. "He's not going to eat you guys. Unless…"
Harry trailed off, watching as Vernon and Petunia's eyes widened so much that he thought they would fall out of their heads. He grinned and walked past them, Godric at his heels and opened the car door. Hedwig flew into the car with them, sitting on Harry's lap. "Other people won't be able to see him and I have food and stuff for him. I'll take care of him, aunt Petunia. I promise."
Harry watched in bemusement as both his aunt and uncle opened their mouths to most likely berate him. They then realized a minute later that they were in full view of Harry's wizarding friends and closed their mouths, walking over to get in the car.
"Besides, he won't hurt anyone that treats me nicely," Harry remarked idly, as Godric curled up beside him. Petunia let out a strangled cry and Harry watched as his aunt and uncle exchanged fearful looks and smiled at the thought of a better summer than the last one.
Seven months later, Hogwarts was dealing with yet another mystery. Mr Filch and his cat had gotten petrified somehow and half of the school was adamant that he was the heir of Slytherin.
Harry sighed as he walked to Hagrid's hut in the middle of the night, after another nightmare of some unknown evil. The castle was deserted since it was the beginning of the Christmas holidays. He had pleaded to Dumbledore to let him stay and the headmaster had agreed since he was taking care of both Joanna and Godric. The dragon and the lion had both grown so much and they both enjoyed each other's company.
Joanna was about as tall as his waist, her wings a bit bigger than the range of his arms. Dumbledore had again let him keep her but with the rule that she stay with Hagrid. The ministry had fought Hogwarts' headmaster but since Harry was apparently the boy-who-lived, they couldn't very well argue with him. Especially since Godric had gotten very much more protective of him since they had both faced Voldemort on Quirrell's head last year.
Godric was now two years old and still growing and for a white lion, was beautiful. He reached up to Harry's head, the mane around his neck fluffing out with each month. He was under his invisibility cloak as he walked, pondering when he would next see Jaime. He wondered what the other boy was getting up to, maybe getting trained as a squire.
Wondered if Cersei had found another person to bully. Wondered how Rhaegar was doing. In the two times that he had been in Casterly Rock, he had heard bad things about Rhaegar's father. How paranoid he was and how mad. He sighed and was just over the hill to Hagrid's hut when he felt the most minute yet familiar pull. He stiffened, peered down at the hut and yelled, taking off his cloak at the same time and stashing it. He stowed it in the trunk that he always kept on his person now, shrinking the trunk and tucking it in his belt.
"Jo! Godric! I need you!"
He simultaneously heard two roars, one from a lion and one from a dragon, and watched as they appeared out of the forest. Godric had taken to spending more time in the Forbidden Forest since he had more room to run and to hunt but Harry grinned as he saw them running towards him. Jo had taken flight, big beautiful black dragon contrasting with the white lion. Godric got to him first and then Joanna reached him within a second after and he laid one hand on each beast before all three of them were pulled away.
A week into his second year, Harry pulled Joanna aside one afternoon after classes. The dragoness walked over to him with no hesitation, her wings beating idly in the sun. She had seemed intelligent, as smart as Godric was. The lion hadn't left his side, staying with him even at the Dursley's.
"Hey, pretty girl," Harry whispered, reaching up to stroke her neck. She trilled under his hand, leaning into him and almost purring. It had seemed easy to name her after Jaime's mother and the dragon was just as beautiful as the human Joanna had been. "If… When we travel to Westeros, you might like Rhaegar more than me."
Joanna's white eyes narrowed as she opened her mouth a little, smoke coming out of her nostrils.
"I won't take offense, okay? Rhaegar needs a friend like you and if you stay, you can keep him company. I think he has a prophecy too, like me."
Jaime was just sparring with Prince Rhaegar Targaryen when a loud yell drew both their attention. They were at Lord Connington's home in Griffin's Roost, by the east coast of Westeros and outside, in one of the practice fields. But when he felt a familiar person fall into him, he went with it, dropping his sword and letting Harry fall on him. He looked up into familiar dark green eyes and grinned. "Hey."
Harry smiled. "Hey."
A low, excited yowl proceeded a furry head arching into his hand and he looked down, his eyes widening. "Is that… who I think it is?"
"Yep, that's Godric," Harry spoke, scrambling off of him and offering a hand to lift him up. He was still staring at Godric, seeing the tall, lethal lion stand before him. Long, thick paws lead up to a big, sturdy body and head ringed by a thick mane. "I also have-"
"Harry?"
Jaime turned towards Rhaegar, seeing Ser Arthur and Ser Lewyn behind the prince draw their swords. Jaime's eyes widened even more when he saw what was behind Harry. Right next to Godric, there was a dragon. A dragon. Jaime blinked and blinked again, rubbed his eyes. "Harry, what is that?"
"Her name is Joanna," Harry remarked, glancing over to Prince Rhaegar, who was frozen in place and staring at the black dragon before them. He looked back to Jaime, his green eyes soft. "Jo for short."
Jaime stared and then sighed, not wanting to admit out loud that his heart had skipped a beat at hearing that Harry had named a dragon after his mother. "Seven hells, you're impossible."
Harry snorted and elbowed him before walking over to stand right in front of… Jo and stroked her neck. "Your Highness, I did promise, didn't I?"
It was quiet for a few minutes, the only sound being the crashing of the waves against the cliffs. There were no bird sounds or animal sounds, likely every other animal was sensing Godric and Joanna's presence. The sun beamed down on them, making Joanna's scales almost sparkle.
"...You did," Prince Rhaegar finally spoke, his skin even more pale than usual. His purple eyes were wide and he looked to be clinging onto his sword with white knuckles. "I… Harry, you didn't have to."
"But you seemed lonely," Harry spoke, raising an eyebrow.
"Prince Rhaegar, you probably should indulge him," Jaime said, crossing his arms in exasperation. "He'll only offer to bring you more impossible things. How come you haven't brought me something impossible?"
Harry rolled his eyes though Jaime could swear he saw a glimpse of mischief. "I could. When's your next nameday?"
"Next year."
"Then I shall endeavor to bring something for you next time I come. Jo… don't eat him."
Jaime watched as his knightmaster, Prince Rhaegar, walked over to stand a few feet in front of the black dragon. Rhaegar sheathed his blade, his purple eyes still wide with awe.
"How old is… Jo?"
"She's six or seven months," Harry explained as Godric loped over to him and headbutted him. Harry laughed and stroked the lion's mane, appearing to dig his fingers into Godric's neck. The white lion went loose, its golden eyes widening with pleasure. "You can have her, if you like. I haven't ridden her yet."
Harry watched as Rhaegar waited patiently, hands at his sides. Joanna peered down at him, three or four feet taller than the human prince, then walked over to stand right in front of Rhaegar, getting into his space. Rhaegar didn't even step backward, just stood there and tentatively reached his arm out and Joanna lowered her head to sniff him.
Jaime walked over to stand by Harry, looking the other boy over. "You look… different."
"I'm in my second year of school," Harry spoke, his green eyes narrowing then lighting up. "I don't think there's anything else that's different."
"She's different than the dragons of old," Prince Rhaegar commented, glancing towards them as Joanna finally nudged his hand with her nose. Rhaegar's eyes widened as he turned back to the she-dragon in front of him. "She has four legs and two wings."
"She's from my world so that probably accounts for it," Harry explained, running a hand through his hair and making it look more ruffled. "I've trained her a little so she knows not to eat people and she takes direction very easily."
Rhaegar nodded distractedly, all of his attention on Joanna.
"Are you squiring for the prince?" Harry asked, turning to look at Jaime questioningly. "Or are you just here because it's a coincidence?"
Jaime nodded. "It was a surprise for all of us, Cersei especially. I think Rhaegar's father, the king, had told him that us Lannisters weren't to be trusted."
"Then how…" Harry trailed off as they both watched Rhaegar slowly walk around Joanna and climb up onto her back. Joanna beat her wings cautiously then took off at a run. Godric let out a roar as Joanna climbed up into the air, coasting up into the clouds with the crown prince on her back. "I certainly don't trust you Lannisters."
Jaime snorted, hearing the teasing in Harry's voice. "He said… since you like me, that probably meant I wasn't a bad person."
Harry's eyes widened. He watched as Ser Arthur and Ser Lewyn of the kingsguard walked over to them, both of them stunned as they watched the black dragon disappear within the clouds.
"You have just changed Westeros," Ser Arthur spoke after a few minutes. Godric walked over to them, scenting the air, before loping into the trees just beyond the field.
"The king will not like this," Ser Lewyn added. "The disaster at Duskendale made Aerys so much more paranoid about his son."
"Duskendale?" Harry echoed, looking at Jaime for an explanation.
"The king was taken hostage at Duskendale last year," Jaime said wearily. "Prince Rhaegar had to rule for half a year while the king was gone. Aerys later thought that Rhaegar and my father had conspired to have him killed."
"Did they?" Harry asked, looking between the other boy and the two kingsguard.
"No. At least I don't think so," Jaime offered, shrugging. "Politics is my least favorite part of squiring for the crown prince."
As had become accidental tradition for Harry and Jaime, a few nights later, Harry woke up sweating and his heart beating so fast that it felt like he had just run a mile. He got up, feeling Godric shuffle over to him and curl around him. "Godric, let's go for a walk. I'm not going to get some more sleep now."
Godric yowled quietly, his dark golden eyes narrowed in worry, before jumping down off the bed. Harry followed, tangling his hand in Godric's silky mane and using the lion as a crutch, as he wasn't entirely awake yet. He yawned and they both walked out of the room that Lord Connington had given him. He wiped his eyes and opened the door and then the two of them walked out into the hallway.
He had dreamed of hissing and of Voldemort again but he didn't know why he had. He didn't think that Voldemort was behind causing the petrifications at school. Besides, Voldemort hadn't gotten the stone last year anyway. Harry yawned again, his feet stopping and he looked up at where his legs had taken him then laughed quietly, nudging the door open with his hand and with Godric's help.
Jaime woke up at the quiet hiss, shrugged and gestured for Harry to come into bed with him. Harry walked over and climbed up onto the bed. "My sister is back in Casterly Rock so she won't tell on us."
"Why would that be a problem?" Harry whispered, burrowing under the covers. They both startled as Godric leaped up onto the bed and curled up at their feet. Harry could hear Joanna a few rooms down the hall, her claws hitting the stone with a light scratching sound. She had fast taken a liking to the prince and Harry wasn't worried about Rhaegar not taking care of Joanna. "Cersei doesn't like me anyway. It's not like that's not common knowledge."
"We're not in Dorne," Jaime replied, turning onto his side to look at the other boy. "They don't care about two boys together or two girls."
"Oh."
Harry's lips turned down, frowning.
Jaime winced. "How did your schooling go?"
"Well, apparently, there's something big and mysterious petrifying students this year," Harry spoke, turning onto his back and glancing up at the stone ceiling. Jaime watched as expressions floated across the other boy's face and then Harry's words caught up to him.
"What."
"Petrifying students," Harry repeated. "And I think it's a snake. Or something. Everyone thinks it's my fault."
"Is it? Why do you think it's a snake?"
"'Cause I can talk to snakes."
Jaime's eyes widened then he rolled his eyes. "Of course you can."
"What's that supposed to mean? Jaime!"
"It just means I'm not surprised by you anymore."
Jaime heard Harry snort and he froze as Harry shuffled around, moved on top of him. Harry peered down at him, his green eyes lit up with amusement and sleepiness.
"I'll show you. Be prepared to be surprised next time I come visit."
News traveled quickly in Westeros and soon enough, four days later, there were thousands of people traveling to Griffin's Roost to see the dragon. Harry's eyes widened as multiple people stared at Rhaegar and Joanna as they came in for a landing in the courtyard. Jaime was holding Rhaegar's sword as the prince hadn't wanted to be encumbered during their flight.
Harry blinked as Rhaegar dismounted, his purple eyes lit up with happiness, and announced that there would be a tourney. The competition would be in the next few days at Griffin's Roost and anyone who would like to enter could.
"I'm going to compete," Jaime remarked.
"Good for you," Harry teased, his lips twitching up into a grin.
Jaime elbowed him.
Godric headbutted Jaime at the waist, whose eyes widened so much that Harry laughed, drawing the attention of several onlookers.
"Be careful," Harry said, looking up at Jaime from the ground. His friend was on the back of a tall, white horse and was getting ready to joust. The stands were full of people and at the center of them was Prince Rhaegar and the two kingsguard knights. Joanna was lazily curled up in the sun in front of the stands, opening one eye to glare at anyone who came close except Harry, Jaime or Rhaegar.
Jaime saluted him then trotted off to join the others. Harry watched briefly before walking back to the stands, giving Joanna a little pat on her neck before running up the stands. Rhaegar had offered him a place next to him and Harry had hesitated before taking the prince up on the offer.
"Your Grace," Harry said, dipping his head in lieu of bowing before Rhaegar. Also, the outfit that he had on was limiting in his motions which was weird. It was tight on him, a red tunic and black leggings. Though by now, he should have been used to wearing nice clothes.
Rhaegar gestured for him to come closer, all proper and official crown prince of the realm. Harry ambled over to sit next to the silver haired Prince, Godric on his heels.
They watched the first few jousts in silence before Rhaegar spoke.
"You are quite the intriguing young man," Rhaegar remarked. "You brought me a dragon."
"If you hurt her, I'll be duty bound to hurt you," Harry whispered back, knowing that Rhaegar could hear him.
Rhaegar laughed, shaking his head. "I won't hurt her. You have my word."
Harry narrowed his eyes then nodded. "Good. If I may ask…"
"Ask what you will and I will attempt to answer."
"Why did you really choose Jaime to be your squire?" Harry questioned, clapping with the crowd as Jaime won another joust. This was Jaime's fourth joust and he had yet to lose. "Jaime told me that since you liked me well enough…"
Rhaegar turned to look at him, his eyes narrowed in thought. "I do like you."
"Yes, and?"
"I might have dreamed about you before you came."
Harry's eyes widened as he turned to look at Rhaegar. "Before I came this time?"
"No. Before you ever came to Westeros," Rhaegar answered quietly. "I didn't know it was you at the time though."
Jaime grinned as he was pronounced the winner of the tourney. He saw Harry running down the stands right towards him, slowing to a stop in front of his horse. Harry grinned too though Jaime could see that something was amiss. Harry's eyes were distant, occasionally flicking back up to where Prince Rhaegar was then back down to him.
"I won!"
"Congratulations! This is your first tourney, right? Or first tourney won?"
Jaime nodded. "The youngest ever. My father will be proud."
"He should be already proud. His son a squire to the crown prince," Harry spoke, his green eyes happy.
"He is. Ever since his proposal to marry Cersei was turned down," Jaime said.
"King Aerys turned Lord Tywin down?" Harry murmured as they walked away from the celebrating crowd. "Why? I would think…"
"I don't know but since then my father quit being Hand of the King."
Jaime watched as Harry frowned, his eyes knitting in concern.
"Who's Hand of the King now?"
"Lord Jon Connington. Rhaegar's friend."
Harry spent the last few days with Jaime and often enough, Rhaegar, advising him on how to train Joanna. He still had a few of the dragon books that he had read himself with him so he gave those to Rhaegar, knowing the prince liked to read. Harry even placed the smallest protective ward on Joanna, one that would prevent arrows from impaling her.
He watched Jaime sparr with Rhaegar in the morning before he left and Jaime spent some time teaching him some new motions. Harry had the distinct notion that Jaime didn't like it when Harry described how he had gone into danger alone but he had said that he had had Godric with him. And since Jaime had continued to teach him how to use a sword the two previous times he had come here, he wasn't a beginner anymore.
He disappeared from Westeros a day later, only taking Godric back with him, and arriving back in Hogwarts, during Christmas break.
