Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Lol, I wrote and watched movies all day, and now I'm tired, so I'll post it in the morning. My internet connection is going wacko right now anyways.

Chapter 6

"WHAT THE HELL?!" I screamed.

"Acora?" Hagrid asked, look very alarmed. "Are yeh alright?"

"The dragon just talked to me, and I understood it! Shouldn't I be alarmed?" I shouted. I paled when I saw the curtain rustle, and caught a glimpse of white blond hair. "Malfoy," I whispered.

"He's seen us," Harry grimaced.

I hope you realize that I am a she, not an it, a voice whispered to me. I had a very bad feeling that it was in my head and that no one else could hear it.

I went into panic mode right then and fainted, my head hitting the floor of Hagrid's cabin with a dull 'thunk' as voices began to whisper in my head.

x~x~x

In my dream, I was dancing with the boy from the Mirror. We danced in a graceful waltz, and I suspected it was him making it graceful because I was as clumsy as an elephant.

The people around me all wore masks. All the mask were the same, but we were the only ones not wearing them. Some people whispered and pointed at us, and I had a feeling they weren't talking very kindly about us.

"Don't worry about them right now, 'Cora," he told me. "We have more important things to worry about than petty gossip."

"Alright," I muttered, even though I wanted to jinx them into oblivion.

"I would prefer you to know everything, but Dumbledore won't tell you what needs to be told, sooner or later. I'd prefer the sooner to save us from a lot of shit, but Dumbledore's a stubborn old mule, I'll give him that," he murmured to me.

"Sadly, I have given a blood oath not to tell anyone what you need to be told, so I can only try to push you in the right direction," he stated.

"I don't understand," I said slowly, wondering what was going on.

"Look in yourself for answers, Acora. In time, you'll find them. Trust your instincts, even when everyone tells you that they're wrong. Good luck," he said as he gave me a gentle smile as everything faded away.

x~x~x

The next week, Malfoy had a creepy smile on his face. I soon wiped that smile off of his face. Literally. I found a spell that would put his lips on his foot. I hope his shoe taste terrible.

I tried to avoid Hagrid's cabin after the incident with the dragon, but Harry dragged me with them to check on him.

"Just let him go," Harry told him. "Set them free."

Thank you very much, but I like it here. I can scare little Gryffindors.

I glared at her. For some reason, I thought it was a girl. Maybe it was the sassy attitude.

"I can't," argued Hargrid with Harry. "They're too little. They'd die."

I gave Hagrid a very strange look. They were three times the size they had been before, and he said they were too little! Even the annoying silver dragon was giving him weird looks.

"I've decided to call Norbert," said Hagrid, with strangely teary eyes. "I haven't thought up a name for ter other one, an' I think Acora should name her."

"How do you know it's a girl?" Ron asked.

"Why, her snout shape, course," Hagrid answered.

Would you mind naming me Silverfire? asked the silver dragon.

"Okay," I said with a sigh. "She says she wants to be named Silverfire."

"You know, I still can't get past the fact that you talk to dragons," Hermione said. "I've read about them, and there's nothing in the books that says some wizards can talk with them."

You're a smart girl, but you're looking in the wrong place. She's my Keeper, that's the only reason why I can speak with her.

"She says you're looking in the wrong place and that I'm her Keeper, whatever that means. That's why we can talk to each other," I told them.

"Keeper?" asked Ron. "Doesn't that mean that you're Bonded?"

"What does that mean?" I asked, Harry and I both giving him strange looks.

Hermione gasped. "It's really rare, and it only happens between a human and an intelligent creature. It only occurs when you're there at their birth. I've never heard of it happening with dragons, though. It's usually phoenixes or sphinxes, something really intelligent."

I'm intelligent! snapped Silverfire.

"Of course you are," I said, rolling my eyes.

Hey! I am intelligent, you rude Gryffindor!

"Keep telling yourself that," I said with a smirk.

Silverfire glared at me while I watched the conversation before me unfold. "Hagrid, give it two weeks and Nobert and Silverfire are going to be as long as your house. Malfoy could go to Dumbledore at any moment," Harry explained gently to Hagrid.

"I can't just dump 'em," Hagrid said, biting his lip. "Besides, Acora and Silverfire are Bonded, so Silverfire has to stay here."

"Charlie," Harry said.

"While yes, we can give them to Charlie, it would cause both Silverfire and Acora pain to be seperated. We can let Charlie take care of Norbert, though," Hermione stated. "We're also going to have to think of a way for you and Silverfire to have met that doesn't put the blame on Hagrid."

"I'll say I went into the forbidden forest and found the egg there. It's better than all of us getting into trouble," I said.

"Alright, if you're sure," Hermione said, frowning.

When we finally left, we had convinced Hagrid to let Charlie keep Norbert and I had convinced the others to let me take the blame for Silverfire.

x~x~x

Ron arrived back in the common room after helping Hagrid feed Norbert and Silverfire, but Norbert had bitten him. It was a nasty bite, and it didn't look like he'd be able to do anything with his hand.

That night, Hedwig arrived with Charlie's answer, stating that he would take Norbert, but we had to get him up the tallest tower by midnight on Saturday. Harry and Hermione agreed that they would go, since if they got caught, at least I wouldn't have to spend any more detentions.

x~x~x

The next morning, Ron's hand had swollen to twice its normal size, and was green, almost as though Norbert's fangs were poisonous. He was afraid to go to Madame Pomfrey, but we made him. He told us that Malfoy had come by and asked for a book and taunted him, threatening to tell her what had really bitten him (he had told Madame Pomfrey a dog had bitten him).

"Oh no, I've just remembered, Charlie's letter was in that book Malfoy took," Ron moaned with horror. We didn't have a chance to respond because Madame Pomfrey made us leave, but we knew it was too late to have a change of plans now.

x~x~x

Soon the night came to take Norbert, and we would have been held up by Peeves had I not told him that we were preforming a bit of mischief ourselves. He let us through once I told him that, and then wished us good luck.

We arrived right on time and Hermione and Harry took the crate that held Norbert and quickly left.

Silverfire let me pick her up, and I quietly walked into the castle. I soon went up to the Headmaster's office, and with a quiet whisper of lemon drops and thanks, I was walking up the stairs very nervously. I knocked on the door and it opened on its own.

"Ah, Miss Bone, I've been expecting you for quite some time. I assume you walked with saw your friends off before you came here?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

I gulped. "Yes sir, I saw them off. How did you know?"

"Miss Bone, I know nearly everything that happens in this castle," the Headmaster answered.

"Oh," I said. "Then you know about me and Silverfire?"

"Yes, I do know that you and Silverfire have Bonded. An unusual occurrence, but not totally expected. An affinity for dragons seems to run in your family," Professor Dumbledore explained.

"It does?" I asked, surprised. No one ever talked about my family.

"Yes, it does Acora, but I'm not supposed to tell you. I've probably told you too much already," Dumbledore said.

"But I want to know! They're my family; I have a right to know about them!" I yelled.

"I know you believe that, and I promised that I will tell you when you're older."

"But-"

"No buts, Acora. We will speak no more of it." Dumbledore suddenly looked like the wizard that had defeated Grindelwald. Before, I hadn't been able to believe he could defeat a dark wizard. But now, power practically seemed to radiate from him. It made me take a step backward.

Dumbledore sighed when he noticed this. "Acora, I am sorry. I will tell you, but not now."

"Alright," I muttered. "What are you going to do with Silverfire, sir?"

"School rules state that any Bonded pet must stay with their Bonded human. So, Silverfire will stay," Dumbledore answered.

Silverfire nuzzled my cheek, showing her happiness through her almost cat like purse. She looked at Dumbledore's phoenix with unblinking eyes.

It seems your Headmaster has his own Bonded. Silverfire said.

"Ah, so it seems Silverfire has seen Fawkes. He is Bonded to me also. I met him years ago, right after I graduated from Hogwarts myself. He's a beautiful creature, isn't he?" Dumbledore said with affection towards the phoenix.

"Yes, he is," I answered with a smile. I couldn't help but wonder if someday Silverfire and I could be so comfortable together, and not argue all the time. I imagine I would miss all of our arguments then, though. Besides, we strangely show we are friends with the other by making fun of them.

Silverfire and I soon left the office after agreeing that she could stay with me wherever I went. Professor Dumbledore also said that he would tell the other professors about my predicament, and that I had one day of detention. I thought that wasn't much considering I thought that I would have a week of detention.

x~x~x

The next morning, Harry told us that Malfoy had got caught by McGonagall and had tried to tell her that they were bringing a dragon. They had succeed in their endeavor to get Norbert to Charlie's friends. I was very happy to know that Malfoy had also gotten detention.

Then, they told me they had gotten caught because they had left the cloak in the tower. Neville had also been caught and fifty points were taken from Gryffindor for each of them. People suddenly started hating them, and me, just because I hung out with them.

Days later, Harry told me that Snape and Quirrel had spoken to each other again. Ron was still convinced that Snape was guilty, but Hermione and I thought Quirrel was the one after the Stone. Harry refused to take a side, and said that he would believe it when he saw it.

The next morning, notes were delivered to those of us serving detention, and it stated that our detentions were to be served at eleven tonight. I decided to bring Silverfire with me, since she had permission to go everywhere with me.

Filch lead Malfoy, Neville, Hermione, and I towards the forbidden forest, and we were soon met by Hagrid. Filch then told us that we were going into the forest for our detentions, even though I was sure Dumbledore had said at the beginning of the year that the forest was, well, forbidden.

Hagrid explained to us that we were trying to find a hurt unicorn. He showed us a silvery liquid on the ground that he said was unicorn blood. We were soon split into teams: Hagrid with Hermione, Harry, I; and Fang with Neville and Malfoy.

We walked around the forest a little while, all of us musing about what might have attack two unicorns and managed to kill at least one.

"GET BEHIND THAT TREE! Hagrid suddenly shouted. He grabbed Hermione and Harry while I ran behind the tree that he had set them behind. He armed his crossbow and raised it, an imposing figure to any who would threaten us.

After a few minutes, he muttered, "I knew it," and lowered his weapon. "There's summat in here that shouldn' be."

"A werewolf?" Harry asked.

Hagrid shook his head. "That wasn' no werewolf an' it wasn' no unicorn, neither. Right, follow me, but careful now."

We walked until we came to a clearing, where Hagrid called out for whoever, or whatever it was to show itself.

Silverfire tightened around my neck. A centaur, it seems.

Then we say him. He was man from the waist up, but the horse from the waist down. Since I was warned, my jaw didn't drop to the floor, but Harry's and Hermione's did.

Hagrid and the centaur spoke, and I soon heard his name was Ronan, and that Hagrid was relieved that it was him and not something bad. Hagrid quickly introduced all of us to him. He started to talk about Mars, which made me curious, but I didn't ask why he seemed so fascinated with the night sky and stars above us.

Ronan then said something that caught my attention, right after Hagrid had told him about us looking for the unicorn. "Always the innocent are the first victims."

Very true, Silverfire whispered, and I had to agree with them.

Soon another centaur came, called Bane. He looked very wild and had dark hair and a dark horse body. I noticed that both of the centaurs kept on mentioning that Mars was unusually bright.

We soon left the centaurs, and I started to get a nasty feeling that started from the tips of my toes and went to the top of my head. It just screamed at me that something was wrong.

"Trust your insticts," came the words of the boy from my dream. I decided to, and told Silverfire quietly about them.

I also have that feeling, my little Gryffindor. It is a nasty feeling indeed.

Then we saw red sparks, signaling that the others were in trouble. Hagrid took off to save them, and told us to stay where we were on the path.

Hermione whispered, "You don't think they've been hurt, do you?"

"I hope Neville's okay," I muttered.

Hagrid soon came back with Malfoy, Neville, and Fang, and explained that Malfoy had sneaked up on Neville and he sent up the red sparks.

We then changed groups, Neville with Hagrid and Hermione, and Malfoy with Harry, Fang, and me. Hagrid apologized to us, but told us we were the best choice because Malfoy couldn't scare us as easily.

We then set out, and walked out into the heart of the forest for nearly an hour. The blood seemed to be getting thicker, and a clearing came into view. A unicorn laid on the ground, dead.

Harry had taken a step forward, when suddenly a slithering sound rang out. I stepped closer to Harry, feeling frightened. A bush at the edge of the clearing rustled, and a hooded figure emerged, crawling across the ground. When it reached the unicorn, it lowered its head to the unicorn's wound and drank.

Malfoy then screamed a very girly scream and ran away with Fang on his tail. The figure then looked right at Harry and I, and then came at us. Harry clutched his scar and scramble backwards while I froze.

I won't let you hurt Acora!

Silverfire came at the figure and raked her claws on its face while a centaur charged at the figure. The centaur was a different one, younger than Bane or Ronan. He had white-blond hair and a palomino body.

Harry had fallen to his knees while clutching his scar, and helped him to his feet. "Are you both all right?" he asked.

I couldn't answer, but Harry did for me. "Yes- thank you- what was that?"

Now that is the million dollar question. Sileverfire said. If she had eyebrows, I'd imagine they'd be raised.

The centaur didn't answer. "You are the Potter boy," he finally said. "You had better get back to Hagrid. The forest is not safe at this time-especially for you, or any who are friends with you. Can you ride? It will be quicker this way. My name is Firenze," he introduced himself.

He lowered himself so Harry and I could climb on. Bane and Ronan suddenly galloped into the clearing, right as I was trying to get on. It caused me to fall right on my butt.

They soon started arguing about helping Harry and I, but I sort of tuned it out and rest my eyes. I must have dozed off, but was soon shaken awake by Firenze, who told me in a quiet voice to get on his back, which I quickly did. Bane and Ronan looked pissed off, and it was more than enough initiative.

We soon arrived at where Hagrid was at, but I myself was half-asleep. I told Harry and Hermione to explain what had happened to us without me. I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

x~x~x

In the afternoon, Hermione told me that Harry had found his cloak in his bed with a note. The note was simple, just saying 'Just in case'.

We somehow made it past the exams. I was sure that I passed all except for Herbology, which Neville had offered to tutor me in next year. I excepted because I wasn't used to the feeling of not understanding something.

We were all hanging out at the lake after the exams, when suddenly Harry jumped up. "Where are you going," Ron asked.

"I've just thought of something. We've got to go and see Hagrid, now," Harry answered.

"Why?" Hermione and I asked at the same time.

I couldn't listen to Harry explanation with my full attention because Silverfire was already explaining to me.

I was wondering when anyone would think of that. Hagrid suddenly gets an illegal dragon's eggs when Voldemort shows up too? That can't be a coincident.

We arrived at Hagrid's, and I immediately got to the point. "What did the stranger look like, the one you won Silverfire and Norbert off of?"

"Dunno, he wouldn' take his cloak off," Hagrid answered.

"Did he mention Hogwarts, or anything unusual? Did he do anything weird, or seem a bit off?" I demanded, shooting questions at Hagrid rapidly.

"He asked about me job, an' I told him about it, like the creatures I look after, things like that. I also told him about me wantin' a dragon. It's sorta fuzzy, he was buying me drinks, yeh see…. He offered to play cards with me for ter dragons' eggs he had. I told him that after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy…"

"And did he- did he seemed interested in Fluffy.

"Of course he'd be interested in Fluffy. I mean, he's a three headed dog," I said.

"I told him that Fluffy's a piece o' cake if yeh know how to calm him down, jus' play him a bit o' music an' he'll go straight off ter sleep-"

"Music causes Fluffy to be sleepy?" I asked.

"I shouldn' have told yeh that! Forget I said it! Hey- where are yeh goin'?" Hagrid asked.

We rushed towards the entrance hall, trying to find Dumbledore. I couldn't for the life of me find the stairs that would go there, though.

"What are you doing inside?"