Disclaimer: don't own
A/N: sorry it took so long to update, and thankies to my reviewers
Of Blood and Magic
Chapter 9: Scale and Flame
The darkness was abrupt as they walked underneath the nearly leafless branches of the first line of trees that marked the beginning of the Forbidden Forest. The scant moonlight that did filter through the thick upper branches was ample illumination for the two vampires to see.
"Where we going?"
"Where are we going," Xeven corrected.
""Whatever, you know what I mean, now answer the question."
"Elsewhere."
"Xeven!"
"I have already told you, it is a surprise. Now be an obedient vampire and be quiet. Perhaps if you stop asking I will take a shorter route." Xeven's voice was blithe, but his jaw had a serious set to it that Tevelle had learned indicated anger. Something was bothering Xeven and his frustration at Tevelle's pestering had been the last straw in whatever had been keeping Xeven's anger in check. Xeven's anger as long as Tevelle had known him had never become hot or violent, but rather it was a chilling calm anger like winter's ice that in Tevelle's opinion was more frightening than Xeven throwing things. Now that cold anger seeped out and radiated off of Xeven causing the air immediately around him to drop several degrees. She could tell though, that this anger was not directed at her.
"I thought you said I would enjoy this."
"You will."
"Then why are you angry?"
"It has nothing to do with you."
"Maybe I can help."
"Very well," Xeven conceded, "I will tell you when we reach our destination, you will understand then."
They walked the remaining distance in silence. The trees mimicked them in their silence, giving the feeling of waiting to the dark forest.
Suddenly a roar pierced the relative calm of the forest and Tevelle sh0t forward like an arrow from a bow. She knew that roar. Another roar rang out into the night. "Where is my vampire!" The roar formed words unintelligible to any human ears.
Xeven easily caught up to her and together they ran towards the roar with a speed no ordinary creature would be able to maintain. As they reached a clearing, Tevelle's smile turned to a frown and the source of the elder vampire's displeasure became apparent.
Fenced in at the center of the open space were four dragons. Tevelle recognized the four as nesting mothers that lived in Xeven's dragon reserve in Romania. The four great winged reptiles beat their wings against the air in protest at being confined to such a small space unable to fly.
Tevelle rushed over to the pen and leapt over the fence into the enclosure. A hum emanated from the dragons in greeting and she felt a smile grow on her lips.
"Why are they penned up in such a small space?" She asked Xeven.
Judging by the grumbling tone of his reply in her head, she knew this was the problem he had been gnawing on during their walk in the forest. "The humans, more especially the judges, are worried about the champions finding out about their task with enough time to fully prepare. They fear that were the dragons to have the run of the forest they would either go wild or reveal themselves. The fools do not listen when I tell them the dragons would know not to do any such thing. Despite the evidence humans still see them as beasts."
Tevelle remained silent as she greeted each dragon in her preferred way in turn. The Swedish Shortsnout received an affection pat, the Chinese Fireball a tickle under the chin, the Welsh Green a tug on a wingtip, and the Hungarian Horntail a hug round the neck.
"Where is my vampire, young one?" The Horntail rumbled in query once Tevelle had pulled back slightly.
"He's coming, be patient." She responded aloud, laughing inwardly at the possessiveness in the dragon's tone.
Dragons did not have names in the sense that humans, vampires, goblins, centaurs, and other creatures did, instead they referred to others as either theirs or not theirs. The vast majority of the dragons on Xeven's reserve considered Xeven and his coven "theirs", through only a couple referred to Xeven as theirs personally. These dragons were the leaders of their families or colonies, though a few were young hatchlings that Xeven had helped raise. Only three dragons had claimed Tevelle personally as theirs, and each were newly hatched.
"Come, my vampire!" The Horntail demanded, absentmindedly snaking her tail around her clutch of eggs. Xeven appeared only seconds after the dragon's summons.
"My Lady? You called?" He said, a rare affectionate note creeping into his normally very carefully controlled voice. He touched his head to the tip of her snout as a parent dragon might greet their hatchling. Tevelle was not surprised, all of the dragons who had been born on the reserve knew Xeven from hatching, and as Xeven didn't age, he had been an unchanging figure present though their lives. Those without living parents often considered Xeven their sire, and Tevelle couldn't blame them.
"My wings ache; there is not enough room to stretch them here. Could you ask the humans if we could fly? All four of us know the need for secrecy here, we will not be seen." The mother dragon's tone was that of a plaintive child.
"I will speak with them. I too chafe at the restrictions placed by the humans." Xeven answered before calling to the nearest human. "Charlie!"
A tall gangly red-haired young man made his way over to the fence. He had been in the process of unloading supplies, but at Xeven's summons he dropped what he had been carrying and made his way over.
"Tevelle!" Charlie's arms wrapped around her in a bear hug. Tevelle was not short, but the red-haired human stood easily at least a head taller than her. The vampire poked him gently in the side to prompt him to release her.
"Hey! That hurts!" Charlie pulled back, clutching at his side dramatically. "Just because you have superhuman strength of a vampire doesn't mean you should use it! Especially on a lowly human like me," Charlie lamented, though he was having difficulty containing his laughter.
Tevelle scowled. "I wasn't, weakling," Her expression immediately cleared. "It's great to see you. Why are you here?"
"The first task of the Triwizard. This is the first task. The champions have to get a golden egg, but you didn't hear it from me."
"Charlie, I have a concern," Xeven interrupted and the red-haired human turned his full attention on the elder vampire, "The dragons require more room to fly. I realize the ministry does not wish them to be seen for several reasons, but the dragons are capable of being discreet and are willing to fly only by night."
"I already asked, but I'll ask again; I think their answer will be the same though."
"Then inform them that either myself or Tevelle would be willing to fly with them to remind the dragons on their need to be inconspicuous." Xeven added, his tone calm but firm.
"I'll take care of it right away. Nice to see you again, Tevelle." Charlie said as he walked purposefully away.
Tevelle watched him go for a few seconds before turning back to Xeven. "You mean it? I can go fly with the dragons while I'm here?"
"Yes, and the thestrals, though I'm sure you already promised you would go flying with them."
A sheepish smile crossed Tevelle's face. "You know me too well."
"Perhaps," was Xeven's dry answer, "Though do refrain from flying out of the country as I know you will want to do. If for some reason the thestrals do not bring you back in time for breakfast, it will be suspicious, and we would be forced to come up with a plausible reason for why a student disappeared from the castle without setting off the wards. Of course it will be your responsibility to think up a plausible excuse for your absence.
"I'll just blame you." She smirked.
"And I will deny any knowledge of it," countered Xeven. "Who do you think will be believed?"
Tevelle's mind worked for a second, trying to come up with a good response, unable to, she simply sighed, "Fine you win. I'll stay in the country."
"Of course." Xeven didn't smile but he came as close to it as was possible without actually smiling.
"Vampire!" The Horntail demanded their attention now that the matter she had been concerned about had been remedied.
"Yes?" Xeven said to show he was listening. Tevelle smiled as well.
The dragon shifted her large wings to uncover the clutch of eggs she protected. "What thing you, my vampire, of my eggs?"
A rare smile crossed Xeven's face. No doubt he had been waiting for the mother dragon's permission to admire her eggs. Among dragon-kind it was often considered rude to look at or speak of another dragon's eggs until the mother demanded an opinion. Now that this mother had granted her permission, Xeven stepped forward and ran a hand gently over the smooth, mottled shell of the foremost egg.
"A fine brood," he remarked as he inspected each domed shell for cracks or imperfections, " a fine brood indeed. You should be proud."
The horntail hummed her pleasure at the praise.
"Now," Xeven continued in a business-like tone, "stretch out your wings. I must be sure nothing was damaged during travel."
Once Xeven was satisfied nothing was wrong, he moved onto the other dragons. In the same manner he inspected first their eggs and then the mother for any damage or injuries. Tevelle hung back. None of the dragons quite trusted her enough to go near their eggs. She did not mind. In their eyes she was still a child and even though many other vampires knew she was older than she appeared they too still thought of her as a child, and it took no stretch of the imagination to know that others did as well.
"Tevelle," Xeven said once he was finished, "Go fetch Charlie. Tell him I want a complete inventory of all supplies he and the others brought with them, including any food, treats, bedding, or nesting material. Also, tell him to feed the dragons before they feel the need to hunt for themselves. I highly doubt the Centaurs would appreciate it if four dragons ate up all of their game."
Tevelle rushed to do as she was bid. Perhaps if all of this official business were out of the way Xeven would let her get in a quick flight with one of the dragons or a thestral before dawn.
Apparently, luck was not with her tonight. When she returned to Xeven from her errand he ushered her back to the castle saying, "Dawn is nearly here. We must hurry back."
With that they set off through the forest at a brisk run.
"Wouldn't it be faster to catch a ride on a dragon or a thestral?" Tevelle asked as they ran.
"We would risk being seen. Unless you would like to explain what you were doing out of bounds after curfew and after the headmaster asked specifically for you to confine your wanderings to the castle?"
"Now that you put it that way…" Tevelle trailed off as they entered the castle. They slowed to a quick walk and stopped outside the Slytherin dormitory.
"You still owe me Bloodvelvet cake by the way." She reminded her mentor.
"I have not forgotten, little bat."
"Good." With that, Tevelle left Xeven and made her way up to her room to prepare for the day.
The next few nights Tevelle spent in the forest with the dragons. The officials for the Triwizard tournament had acquiesced to Xeven's request, though not without considerable coercion on the elder vampire's part and several conditions. Only one dragon was to be allowed to fly at a time and only within the skies over the Forbidden Forest. The flights were also limited to only two hours at the longest and the presence of a vampire during their flight was non-negotiable. Tevelle did not mind, as she was the vampire who would get to fly. The dragons trusted no one but Xeven to watch over their eggs while they were gone. Even though Tevelle got very little rest and had to complete all her homework in the scant few hours of free time she had a day, she enjoyed this arrangement. Still, the three days before the Tournament passed too quick for her liking. The day of the Tournament she made her way down to the stadium early in the event Xeven and the keepers needed one more hand to help get the first challenge set up properly.
When she arrived she could hear Xeven arguing with Crouch. Xeven's voice was dangerously cold, seemingly calm to Crouch's hot anger. Tevelle neared, careful to stay unseen. Xeven arguing was a rare sight, one she intended to relish. A small part of her pitied the Ministry official, but only a small part. Xeven's anger might be harsh and cruel, but never was it undeserved.
"The golden egg will not be hidden among the real ones!"
"The dragons will not protect the golden egg otherwise ruining the entire Task!" Crouch argued.
"If you use the real eggs in this Task, you will not have any dragons for the champions to get past. I will take them back to the reserve." Xeven growled.
"You cannot do that!" Crouch yelled, " The Ministry requires the dragons for the Tournament!"
"The Ministry has no authority over me," Xeven's voice was thick with cold rage. Tevelle could tell he was nearly on the verge of lashing out at Crouch. She couldn't blame him. She too was horrified by what the human was asking. The real eggs could be damaged or completely destroyed effectively killing the baby dragons within. It was horrible to even contemplate being responsible for such a thing, no doubt including those innocents who would be killed when the mother dragon went on a rampage, blinded by anger and pain. Tevelle emerged from her hiding place, feeling it was time to intervene.
"Perhaps we can reach a compromise," She said, careful to keep her voice even and at the same time hold back her inner beast from reacting the way Xeven wished to. If she succumbed to that side of her she held not the restraint of her mentor and would probably kill the human.
"Xeven and I can replace the real eggs with replicas and explain to the dragons the situation and that they must protect the golden egg and the other fake eggs as if they were their own. Xeven can watch the real eggs until the dragons can reclaim them." Tevelle finished in a rush. Xeven had calmed and regained his composure as she explained her idea and now studied Crouch with an expectant stare. Tevelle took her place beside her mentor and leveled her own gaze on the still livid human.
"How do you expect to explain it to the dragons. The beast would not understand," he spluttered.
Tevelle gritted her teeth, the beast inside her stirring to wakefulness at her anger.
"Calm yourself," Xeven ordered silently. Aloud he said, "It is either you do as my apprentice has suggested or you remain without a Task and a great many expectant spectators who will be quite discontent with this turn of events."
Reluctantly, Crouch nodded his agreement. "I will inform the other judges of this decision."
"Well done, little bat," Xeven praised Tevelle silently as they watched Bartemous Crouch's retreating back.
"I hope you don't mind that I was eavesdropping on you and Crouch."
"It is only eavesdropping when the person does not know of your presence. As it stands, you were only eavesdropping on Bartemous."
"You knew I was there?"
"Do not look so surprised. I may be old, but I am neither blind nor deaf. You need much more practice and stealth if you wish to sneak up on me."
"I wasn't even trying!" Tevelle rebuked silently.
"I am aware of this."
Tevelle rolled her eyes at Xeven's infuriating calm. If one had not been there, they would not even guess that the ancient vampire had been in such a temper.
"Now," Xeven continued aloud, "go find a seat before all of the good ones are taken.
"Sure you don't need any help?"
" 'Do not' is the correct way to say it."
"Fine. Are you sure you do not need any help?"
"Quite sure."
"Alright then," Tevelle gave Xeven a quick hug before ambling off to find a seat.
The spot she chose was close to the front where she could easily see, but out of the way so that no one would sit next to her unless it was intentional. Hopefully, no one would feel the need to sit by her; she preferred to be alone and unbothered by loud, unnecessary cheering right in her ear. She was disappointed.
"You are difficult to find. Why are you sitting all the way over here?"
"I was hoping you and your cronies wouldn't see me, Malfoy."
"Why would that be?" The blond sat arrogantly down next to Tevelle and she found it difficult not to hurt him. She was not in the mood to deal with him and his constant snide comments on the Champions. "We Slytherins have to stick together," Malfoy continued.
"Go away, those seats are taken."
"By who?"
"My invisible friend Bob, now he will be very angry if he finds you in his seat, so skedaddle." Tevelle glared at him and made a shooing motion with her hands.
Malfoy merely snickered, settling deeper into the seat. Crabbe and Goyle laughed dimly and took placed directly behind them.
"You are very funny, Tevelle." Malfoy told her, smiling.
"Oh really?" Tevelle bared her fangs in a parody of a smile, forcing a laugh. "Seriously, though. Go away."
"Why? No one else will need these seats."
"You're annoying me. I don't know how much clearer I can be."
Malfoy merely formed his lips into a smug half-smile and turned his attention pointedly towards the arena, purposefully ignoring Tevelle.
Sighing, Tevelle realized that it would take more effort than it was worth to make Malfoy move. She settled for ignoring him and his friends completely. As long as he remained silent she could pretend he wasn't there.
The rest of the crowd arrived, filling up the remainder of the stands. The stench of excitement and expectation roiled off the crowd making Tevelle crinkle her nose in distaste. After a few moments the steady roar of nervous chatter from the assembly was silenced and Ludo Bagman explained the rules of the Task to the spectators.
Cedric was the first to come out into the arena and face his dragon. He preformed a nice little trick, transfiguring a rock into a large dog. It would have worked perfectly had the dragon not changed her mind while going after the dog and charged Cedric instead. The first champion to face his Task was still successful and managed to snatch the golden egg. The dragon roared her protest at being bested, but as she knew the egg was not hers, her anger quickly dissipated and she followed Xeven out of the arena as he carried her eggs.
"How can he do that without getting mauled?" Malfoy turned to her, astonishment in his eyes. His voice was difficult to discern beneath the cheering of the crowd.
"Who? My father?" Tevelle responded distractedly.
"Yes."
"He owns the dragon preserve in Romania. He's worked with these dragons all of his life. They trust him." It was not exactly the truth, rather the reverse of it, but it was the same general idea.
"Oh," was all Malfoy said.
Tevelle shrugged and returned all her attention to the Tournament. It wasn't until later that Tevelle idly noticed that there had not been any trace of smug snideness in his words.
The rest of the Task went by quickly. Fleur's method of obtaining the egg did not stick in Tevelle's memory. She felt a mixture of anger and relief when Krum took his challenge; anger at the spell he cast on the dragon, relief that the eggs crushed were not real ones. She growled low in her throat when Karkaroff gave his student a perfect ten. Harry surprised her when he managed to grab his egg the fastest against the Horntail. Though flying on a broom was probably the best method. The Horntail was less agile in the air than say a Welsh Green or Chinese Fireball and especially a small broomstick ridden by a seeker. His trick might not have worked so well against one of the smaller dragons.
As soon as the Horntail left the arena Tevelle made her way down to the woods where she knew Xeven would be looking after the dragons. She did not see much point in waiting for Harry's results. She would find out soon enough.
"How's the Fireball doing?" Tevelle asked approaching Xeven where he tended the Chinese dragon's eye. They were back in the forest away from the spectators. The Fireball crooned, curling a tail protectively around her clutch of eggs, no doubt achingly grateful that the eggs she inadvertently crushed were not real.
"The damage done by the boy was primarily superficial, and nothing permanent. Still, it will take time and several strong options to return her sight to normal before the dragons are sent back to the reserve." Xeven stroked the Chinese dragon's eye ridge and stepped back, running a hand distractedly through his hair.
"What ingredients do you need? I'm sure Professor Snape has them."
"Good idea. And no doubt he would not mind assisting me in brewing these potions. Some are rather complicated and only have a limited amount of time before they lose their potency. There would be complications if I were to brew all of them at once."
"I would help."
"You hardly have the skill. Only the most experienced of potion masters would be able to complete these to my satisfaction."
"You have high standards."
"Better that than complications arising from an improperly brewed potion."
Unable to find any good argument, she conceded that Xeven was right.
"Don't worry about the dragons, I will take care of them. Go head up to the castle. I know you have work to do." Her mentor said sternly. He left no room for dispute.