Chapter 13- Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons
Minerva McGonagall stared into the amber depths of her tumbler and wondered if this was the best method of dealing with Halloween. The sun was barely up on a Sunday and she was trying to drink herself awake. She shook her head and looked at the tumbler again.
The last one she vowed. With a deep sight she closed her eyes and winced as the once quiet and docile cat that sat in her magic thrashed and roared. After she had been returned to her original form and hustled to the hospital wing for observation, her animagus form had begun to fight her. It felt bigger and wilder than before and so she had sequestered herself in her quarters to sort out her inner beast. It was luck that the feast had taken place on a Friday so the teachers could recover from their ordeal.
Flitwick had taken over and the troll had been captured and removed from the school grounds by troll trainers who had been called in by Flitwick. Dumbledore was displeased that the troll protection had to be removed but there was little that could be done about that. Minerva sighed and tossed back the remains of the brandy in her glass and stood, tightening her tartan dressing gown before she wandered over to the small kitchenet that was attached to her quarters. She set the tea kettle on the fire and brought out her tea pot and mug, setting them on her small table. The kettle gave a faint whistle as she was prying the lib off her biscuit tin that she had pulled from her emergency stash.
The hot water was poured out with a flick of her wand and she set it to steep as she sat down in the overstuffed wingbacked arm chair that sat next to the fireplace. Her slipper feet were set up on a footstool and the tin was tucked into the crook of her arm. With another wave of her wand the tea pot floated gently over to her with the mug trailing it. A full cup of strong, Scottish black tea was poured as she settled properly.
As ready as she could get, she absently munched on the traditional shortbread and sipped the tea as she poked and prodded at her inner cat, trying to figure out what had been done to it.
Severus Snape sneered at the platter of fruit that a house elf had just delivered. Ever since he had been turned back he had been craving fruit. It went so far that he felt soothed by gnawing on a chunk of honeydew melon.
He growled and sent an ink pot from his desk flying. It smashed against the wall and the shining black liquid dripped down the stone like an impressionistic painting. He threw himself into the padded leather armchair next to the fire and snarled at the flames, vowing to find and make some Gryffindors pay.
As he fumed, his hand snuck out and picked up a chunk of melon and he found himself nibbling daintily on the fruit. He growled in fury and tried to hurl the offending treat away but found himself unable. With a long suffering sigh he returned his arm from its attempt to throw and consigned himself to his fruit munching.
Quirrell twitched as the sound of a cat's meow caught his ears. He fought a strong urge to flinch but was still rewarded with a stab of molten hot pain through his mind as his master punished him. Apparently, the fur on the giant rat he had become was enough to hide his master face.
Unfortunately, his master had nearly suffocated under the thick, waterproof coat. 'Another bottle Quirrell' his master hissed and Quirrell found himself awkwardly tipping a shot of premium Firewhiskey into his master's mouth with his arms bent like a contortionist. The back of his head had taken on a tingling, numb sensation that he usually felt in his lips and fingers when drunk. He found himself wondering if this was what he had signed up for.
Dumbledore picked at his teeth, trying to removed a thread that had become stuck in his teeth from his latest escapade. It wasn't the first time he had been transformed into a goat, though the last time had been several decades ago whilst he was on a rather memorable journey in the American city of Las Vegas.
He smiled a little forlornly at the lost hedonism of his youth before returning his attention to the myriad of combs that were currently recombing his beard and hair, neat beards of knee length didn't maintain themselves after all. He tried to stand and winced at the deep pain in his joints from the spell.
The transformation had been the hardest on the ancient wizard and easiest on the first year who had been turned into a crustacean. He pondered the non-information that Sirius had given him about his journey and the questions to if Aralas was truly the long lost Harry Potter. The answer had been depressingly short.
"No, he is not Harry" the depressed Black told him as he sank into his chair with a weary and broken expression on his face. "Silandra is Aralas' mother without a shadow of a doubt. She says that his father was someone she met whilst traveling, apparently, there have been people who slipped between worlds before.
He is the same species as her because no matter the father, the child will always take more strongly after the mother with only minor fringe benefits. Her sister remembers the pregnancy vividly, apparently Silandra started hoarding massive amounts of jewels and gold during the pregnancy." Dumbledore frowned "but what of the inheritance?" he asked and Sirius shrugged. "Honestly I don't know. But Aralas is not James and Lily's child.
Not even blood adoptions can change someone's species, you know this" he admonished the headmaster who rubbed his forehead. "Very well, I'm sorry for doing this to you Sirius. I had hoped, but there is nothing to be done" he told the younger man with a sigh. Sirius had stood up and walked tiredly from the office, most likely to drown himself in a bottle again after such a crushing disappointment.
Dumbledore sighed and leaned back, this meant that all his plans were now back to square one. He stared at the family tree that had given him the idea. It stated, clearly and easily that Aralas Parthunax Stillglade had once been Harry James Potter.
"What was going on?" he wondered. The ink on the parchment squirmed like a collection of worms, catching his attention. He sat up and leaned forward, watching the lines as they found new positions. Aralas Parthunax Stillglade. Son of Silandra Kavira Elthiria Stillglade and a simple black line sowing someone with literally no name. this line was connected to Lily Potter in what could have been a sibling or something unknown. The line for Harry potter showed the young boy was a cousin of some kind to the young Aralas but the boy who had been Harry Potter was no more.
A small symbol of a dragon had formed next to Silandra and Aralas' names, it glowed a fiery gold that confused the elderly wizard there should have been no gold on the paper. Warily he prodded the symbol with his wand. There was an eruption of flame as a golden dragon leapt from the symbol. It spread its wings and roared, shocking the Headmaster as he fell back in his chair. It turned a blazing golden eye to Dumbledore and glared, baring its white hot fangs. "Kropah ni ko trun do dovah, fah hi los fask ahrk pruzah voth zal" [meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and good with salt] It roared in a thunderous voice.
It then it vanished with a flash of blinding light and Albus was left to stare at the strange, jagged runes that were now burned into the top of his ancient, oak desk. "What was that about?" he mused aloud and turned to look at Fawkes who appeared to be snickering at him. "What?" he demanded but the phoenix simply snorted a collection of sparks as his shoulders shook, causing his feathers to sparkle and dance like a merrily shivering flame.
Dumbledore turned his attention back to the sheet of parchment before him and scowled. No magic that he was aware of could change a lineage parchment after it had been created, and nothing that he knew of could make on lie either. He frowned deeply and set to work trying to unravel this mystery.
Fall swept past and the Christmas break had appeared on the horizon. Aralas, Neville and Hermione had fallen back into their rhythm, though they and a handful of other students found themselves missing Nirn. The weekend practices had become more popular, with Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabb and Gregory Goyle begging to join them. After some lightning, fast negotiations with Draco's father by Silandra, Draco and his cronies turned friends joined them whilst Silandra's vaults acquired a slight padding from the vaults of the Malfoy family.
Farkas was now being paid just as much, if not more than the instructors at the college as well as bringing updates on how Remus was doing, secluded away at Silandra's estate in the pale. According to Farkas, the poor Terran werewolf was being put through every pace he possessed and being forced to learn and adapt at a rate that was the classic Aela teaching style of sink or drown. At the current moment, he was wandering around the pale in little more than his small clothes and a set of boots.
Until he learned to accept his wolf and willing shift, he would have to return to the hall for regular frostbite treatments. Aralas didn't think it would be long before the Terran gave in and shifted out of sheer desperation for a fire and a cooked meal. Currently the trio were sneaking through the halls just before they were all sent home for Christmas. Hermione had finally buckled down and was now gliding through the shadows with an almost frightening ease, Serana had postulated that if Hermione were on Nirn she would make an excellent Silent mage, one who went unseen until they wished to be seen.
Neville had lost much of his clumsiness but he was not a naturally stealth inclined boy. So his sneaking was serviceable. "What do you think is behind that door?" Aralas asked them, pointing to a slightly ajar door that most likely lead to another abandoned classroom.
"Probably nothing" Neville answered but Hermione had already eased the door open a little more out of curiosity.
"Guys, there's something in here" she reported and the two boys followed her in.
Snowpaw took up a post near the door as look out for Filch or Mrs. Norris. Aralas eased the door closed and stood up from his crouch. Hermione was staring at a massive mirror, nearly nine feet tall with a stunned expression. Aralas exchanged a look with Neville before walking over to her. "Hermione?" he asked quietly.
"I can see myself as an adult Aralas, I'm beautiful" she whispered as if in a trance. He looked at her in concern.
"What do you mean?" he asked and Hermione reached out, her fingers brushing against the glass. "I'm tall, wearing master robes in the Arcanum. It's mine now. You're there too, so is Neville. We look so happy" she continued, her face now filled with longing.
Aralas yanked her hard away from the mirror. Rolling the pair of them across the floor, away from what had enchanted Hermione.
"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." Neville read from the top of the Mirror. "What do you suppose it means?" he asked them as Hermione shook her head to clear it. Aralas looked up and was about to warn his friend but too late. Neville was now standing in front of the mirror, his face a mask of pure joy. Tears were streaming down his face. Aralas grabbed him to pull him away but Neville fought him.
Aralas finally tackled him, shoving him out of the way. Unfortunately, this had switched their positions and Aralas now found himself gazing into the mirror. He saw himself. Taller, stronger, clad in flexible, stealth armour and holding a bow. His family, headed by his mother and Serana stared at him with proud smiles. He knew that he had done a great deed like his mother and saved Nirn. Nevil stood to his left, clad in heavy plate with a massive great sword on his back, clearly his shield brother. Hermione was on his right wearing the robes of a master mage, with armour covering the vital areas and holding a staff. Her eyes had a mischievous glint in them and Neville was grinning from ear to ear. They were heroes, masters of their craft, feared by their enemies and lauded by their allies.
He tore his eyes away and turned his back on the image with an effort that felt almost titanic. He stumbled away from the mirror and turned his attention to his friends. "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." Hermione read again, looking shaken. "It's a riddle. I show not your face, but your hearts desire" she translated.
"A trap" Aralas muttered, "lies made of glass, used to ensnare the unwary" his voice showed his distaste for the artifact.
"I would say this was a Daedric artifact, but I don't sense any Daedric energy in it" he mumbled. "Let's just get out of here" Neville mumbled in a sad voice. Hermione and Aralas looked at him in concern but he shook his head, refusing to comment. It was a somber trio that made their way back to the Gryffindor common room.
All wrapped up in what they had seen in the Mirror. As Aralas slipped in to bed Snowpaw climbed up and snuggled into his side. The Saber cat was growing and was now about the size of a beagle. 'just because whatever you saw was not a prediction does not mean that it is not a possibility' he told Aralas as he purred.
Aralas buried his face in the thick white fur. "How do you know what I saw?" he asked and Snowpaw turned his massive yellow eyes to him. 'I know you, you saw yourself making your mother proud. You do that everyday, so don't think that it is unobtainable' the cat told him sternly. Aralas smiled let himself drift off to sleep.
The Christmas break Was finally upon them and Aralas watched the buildings of London pass bay as the train pulled in towards the station. Hermione had her nose buried in a thick leather-bound tome and Neville was working on a potion essay, trying to get it out of the way. There was a chime that warned them of their approach to the station, Hermione and Neville put away their things and he smiled at them. They each shrugged into their winter gear as they left the warm safety of the train.
Hermione in a muggle jacket, Neville in a long wool coat and Aralas in a thick fur cloak. Their guardians were standing in a group and conversing amongst each other as they waited. Madam Longbottom stood stiffly in thick woolen winter robes as she traded pleasantries with Silandra who was decked out in thick snow white fur. Serana, in her usual, thin robes that showed far more skin than any normal person would be comfortable with in the freezing air, chatted amiably with the Grangers who were bundled up against the cold. As the three approached, the adults broke from their conversations to greet their respective progeny.
"Hatchling!" Miranda cried as she grabbed him in a bone breaking hug. Aralas returned it with equal fervour, breathing in the comforting scent that clung to his mother.
"We missed you little one" Serana told him before prying him out of his mother's arms and giving him a similar hug, though being careful to not actually break bones.
"Missed you too" Aralas mumbled as he snuggled into her arms. Hermione was babbling animatedly to her parents after having hugged them both while Neville stood a little nervously next to his grandmother after having been bestowed with an awkward hug. Serana simply shifted the slowly growing elfing in her arms, refusing to put him down. Aralas squirmed a little before sighing and giving up. Serana had not had a chance to hold her godson in almost two months, she would not waste the opportunity to cuddle him as much as Vampirically possible.
"I'm happy to take you up on your invitation Lady Longbottom. My sister, son and I will be thrilled to attend your winter celebrations" Silandra was saying to the Lady Longbottom who nodded cordially to the Elven woman. "In exchange, we invite both you and the Grangers to our new life festival, I believe you call it new years" Silandra added. "I can offer transportation and lodging" She added and The Grangers smiled.
"We'd love to" Mr. Granger answered. Lady Longbottom pursed her lips as she considered before she nodded. "I would be honoured to attend as well" The dowager replied with a thin smile that, though it was genuine still looked odd on her severe features.
"Wonderful! now we must be off. I promised Aralas to take him on a hunt when we got home" Silandra told them with a smile.
"Bye!" Aralas chirped from where he was imprisoned in his Godmother's arms and waved at his friends. Hermione and Neville smiled at him before they too said their goodbyes. The Grangers and Longbottom's watched in a cross of amazement and amusement as the Nirnian trio vanished in a swirl of purple.
"Change your gear Aralas, We're going hunting!" Silandra told him with a grin as they arrived at Lakeview manor.
"What are we hunting?" he asked and Silandra gave a feral grin. "Dragons" she answered. Aralas let out a whoop and jumped off Serana, sprinting for his room to change.
"Really Sil?" Serana asked dryly and Silandra nodded, looking proud of herself.
"Parthunax said there is a dragon near Markarth that is causing trouble, refusing to stop the burning and pillaging. So he asked me to take care of it, and I thought it would be a perfect bonding experience… Wanna come?" she replied, her eyes glowing with excitement.
Serana's grin grew across her face, exposing her fangs to the winter sunlight. "Wouldn't miss my little one's first dragon hunt for the world Sil" she replied, hurrying to the armoury to change into more appropriate clothes.
A/n- I LIVE! hello to everyone, I have emerged from the pit of exams. I ope you like. One thing I would like to point out is that Aralas is a great deal younger than his compatriots. At eleven human children are begining to take their steps away from childhood, at least physiologically. Aralas, as the member of a much slower growing species is much younger physiologically despite being the same age chronologically. Thus his need to sleep with his wolf pelt, and his much younger seeming actions when around his mother and Serana. He is in essence putting up a brave front for the school, pushing himself to act older than he really is to keep up. That said, children have to grow up fast in Nirn, and living as the Dragonborn's son he is no exception. Silandra believes in giving him what he can handle and she can be extremely protective of him because he is still so young. Malfoy Sr is trying to schmooze up to Silandra in order to gain contacts in Nirn wile Malfoy jr is actually wanting to change. Crabb and Goyle are discovering that they can actually succeed at something rather than feel left behind all the time. Ron is still a child, living in a child's world of black and white, while those in Aralas' circle are discovering that there are shades of grey. As always, Enjoy
Safe travels, Trojan Seeress.