A/N: Re-uploaded for your enjoyment! Please review.
I had completely missed all meals that day, being busy raiding Filch's office and appeasing Draco. I wasn't particularly hungry this morning either, and I intended to skip today's meals. I made it passed breakfast and lunch before Harry, Ron and Hermione noticed.
"Come on, Amy." They cajoled me before Sunday dinner. "You've got to eat something."
"You haven't eaten since Friday night!" Ron was horrified.
"I'm not hungry." I replied, for the millionth time. I sighed and buried myself deeper in my armchair, trying to resume my reading.
"Please?" They begged. "For us?"
Stubbornly, I shook my head. My hand strayed to my pocket, where the little rock stayed. It had softened some since I had got it and I was still trying to work out what it was.
"We'll force you to eat." They began again – a new tactic.
"No." I said half-heartedly, ignoring them. Eventually they left for their dinner, threatening to bring me back food. Once they had left I moved closer to the fire, close enough that I could feel the heat wash over me. In my pocket, I felt something twitch. My hand went to the pocket, and I glanced furtively around the common room. No one was back yet, or if they were, they weren't around. I pulled out the small egg-shaped rock, but it was no longer rock like, or hard. In fact its surface had become more leathery to the touch. It was still egg-shaped, however, and a brief thought flitted across my mind; what if it was an egg?
I held it closer to the fire, and it began clicking slightly. I held it closer still, until the heat was burning my hand, and I couldn't put it any closer. The clicking was clearer now, as if the heat was helping it. I heard a small chirrup, and then the egg, for that's what it had to be, burst open, and whatever was in it nearly fell. I caught it, however, gently. Looking at it, I was shocked. It turned to face me, small eyes blinking.
It looked like a miniature dragon. My thoughts flashed back to last year, taking care of Norbert, Hagrids' dragon. It chirruped at me again, and I thought it might be hungry. Then dismissed it immediately. I couldn't keep it. It was a dragon.
"Oh no." I whispered to myself, and the dragon. "What am I going to do with you?"
It cocked its head at me. 'Feeding me would be good.'
I jumped, startling it, and it's small talons dug into my hand.
'Don't do that!' It hissed. I was staring at it.
"You – you talk?" I was immensely surprised.
'Not to everyone. Just you. Can you please feed me? I am awfully hungry, you know.' It looked pleadingly at me. He, I decided, for his voice was more masculine.
I started, then looked around as I heard the portrait-hole open. I dropped him in my pocket. He squeaked in surprise, but I put a hand over him.
It was Fred and George. I stood, and made my way over to them.
"Do you know where the kitchens are?" I asked them desperately. Surely their map could tell them that. They looked surprised, but nodded.
"Can you take me there?" I asked them.
"Okay…" One of the twins said. They turned around and led me downstairs, to the Entrance Hall, then down a corridor similar to the one that led to the Slytherin common room, but was hung with several paintings of food. They led me to a bowl of fruit, and began to tickle the pear, which started giggling, before turning into a doorknob. They opened the door with a flourish, and then looked at me.
"Here you are. Do you want us to wait?"
"Or should we just leave you here?"
"I'll be fine. Thanks guys!" I hurried in the door, before stopping. Beyond the door was a huge room, as large as the Great Hall above, with five tables mimicking the hall above as well. Heaps of house-elves were clearing up the remains of dinner. They all bowed to me as I entered, and one hurried over to me.
'Please?' The dragon reminded me.
"Miss?" The house-elf in front of me squeaked. "What would you like? Jam tarts?"
A tray zoomed towards us, carried by house-elves, bearing several selections of food.
"Uh…" I hesitated. "Do you have any scraps of meat?" I asked. The tray whizzed off, as another one zoomed forward, heaped with meat. I looked at it, then around at the house-elves.
"Could I have a bowl or something? And take some of that?"
"Certainly, miss." The elf squeaked, handing me a bowl, which I filled with choice selections of meat. Once finished, I looked around.
"Thanks. I don't suppose I could do this regularly?"
"Of course, miss. Would you like anything else?"
"Uh, no, thanks. Maybe next time?" I countered. The elf beamed.
"Certainly, miss."
I backed out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of meat in one hand, the other hand covering my pocket. I found a deserted classroom, and pulled the dragon out of my pocket, looking at him closely. He, however, was eyeing the bowl of meat. I picked up a slice, pulling a small strip off, and offered it to him. This continued until he was satisfied, and his stomach distinctly rounded. I looked at him.
"Is that healthy?" I asked, poking his food-stuffed stomach slightly.
'Hmm?' He looked up briefly, eyes clouded with sleep. 'Oh, yes it is.'
I looked at him closely, at his dark scales. I couldn't tell his colour; it was too dark. I sighed.
"What am I going to do with you?" I murmured to myself, not really expecting a reply from the drowsy dragon. "I can't keep you!"
He looked up startled. 'You have to!'
I looked at him quizzically. His eyes widened, and he shook his head, like he was shaking off the sleepiness.
'You can't leave me, dragon-lizards, we bond at hatching.'
I looked even more puzzled. "Okay, I get hatching, but how do you mean bond?"
'Bond!' He said, looking at me, as if I was mentally ill. 'Bond! We bond with a human, and we can't leave them, or them us. You can't get rid of me! We bonded!' in his urgency, he'd started squeaking, little sparks flying out his nose.
I stared at him. "I can't?" I asked, horrified. I liked him, but I certainly couldn't keep him.
'Nope.' He curled back into a ball, satisfied I understood. 'I think you should think about it tomorrow. You're tired. Sleep is good.'
As he said it, I realised it was true. I was tired. Yawning, I made my way up to the common room, where Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting.
"Where were you?" They pounced on me as I entered.
"I was busy." I yawned again, failing to supress it. "And I'm tired. 'Night everyone."
I made my way into my dormitory, and collapsed onto my bed, barely managing to get changed. The dragon-lizard – my dragon-lizard – nestled against me, as I slipped into darkness.